Homeopathy and Grief

By Caroline S Walrad, Ph.D., CN

Grief can be raw but sometimes it is not. Some grief is stuffed away and not felt. Other times, grief finds a way to long term depression. At times the heart feels cold and unfeeling after grief. Those who cry daily understand the true state of this pain. How a person reacts to grief depends on many factors. No two people react exactly the same way. Losing a job can be as drastic to someone as losing a pet is to a child or a parent losing a child. There are as many remedies for grief in homeopathy as there are kinds of reactions to loss. We will talk about these remedies in this article.

When someone comes to the office for a physical symptom and in the process of talking, begins to cry, it is important to let the person talk about those feelings right then. Many times the remedy for that grieving state is the same remedy for their current physical symptoms. That is the magic of homeopathic remedies and homeopathic philosophy. It is called, ‘totality of symptoms’.

IGNATIA AMARA
The head of the list of homeopathic remedies for grief is Ignatia Amara, better known as simply Ignatia. There is truly not a better remedy for new grief where the person has a lump in their throat and cries when thinking of the loss. As with all remedies, it does not change the individual. They do not forget about the loss. Remedies work so differently than drugs in the body. The remedy result is more like a soft lapping of water….quietly moving to balance. There are no side effects with remedies, so Ignatia may be taken as often as the grief is interfering with normal life. The sun begins to shine again after taking ignatia and new ways of looking at the loss become positive and settling. The physical side effects of grief dissolve and vitality and sleep return. The grieving person now comes to peace with the event and finds enjoyment in life again. Ignatia helps us go through the stages of grief so that the stages are healed.

Symptoms of needing Ignatia:

1. Feeling of lump in the throat
2. Easily hurt feelings; easily offended
3. Sighing
4. Aversion to consolation
5. Alternating Moods – laughing to weeping
6. Desire for and better from traveling
7. Feelings of always being disappointed
8. Idealist – feels world should be a certain way.
9. Perfectionist, demanding and sensitive

NATRUM MURIATICUM
Because deep grief and sorrow are main hallmarks of this remedy, most people will identify with this remedy type of personality. Whether for ourselves or someone we know, when grief finds itself unresolved Natrum Muriaticum is the best choice of homeopathic remedy.

Symptoms of needing Natrum Muriaticum

1. Children are well-behaved and mature beyond their years.
2. Closed, responsible, dignified and much affected by grief.
3. Depression and sarcasm
4. Too serious and overly proper and responsible
5. Easily offended or wounded
6. Sad, yet unable to weep
7. Does not like company.
8. Orderly. Must have things in proper order and place
9. Dwells on past griefs and humiliations Does not ‘forget’
10. Fears of robbers or break-ins. Will recheck locks at night.

PHOSPORIC ACID
Homeopathic Phosphoric Acid is for those exhausted from grief. They cannot perceive information as well as before. Debility comes from grief, mental shock, unhappy love, homesickness or even bad news. They will give short answers and they dislike talking. They may say that ‘life is useless’ and everything feels ‘dark’. The biggest characteristic of someone needed Phos Acid is “Indifference to those things that used to interest her the most.” (Kent)

Symptoms of needing Phosphoric Acid

1. Apathetic or a burned-out state
2. Weakness starting on the emotional level
3. Mild and yielding disposition
4. Slow to answer
5. Forgetful
6. Overwhelmed by grief and unable to respond

CAUSTICUM
Grief affects the individual needing homeopathic Causticum by weakening the nervous system and the connective tissues. There is often a history of slowly progressive debility, stiffness, and even paralysis. The ‘Causticum’ personality is serious, intense and sensitive and often overly sympathetic. This is especially true when hearing of unfortunate people, animals or events.

Symptoms of needing Causticum

1. Long standing grief
2. Unable to tolerate other’s sufferings
3. Rebellious. Political. Dislike of authority.
4. Checking and rechecking tasks compulsively
5. Fear ‘something bad may happen’
6. Sincere, intense, idealistic
7. Feeling that they did not do something ‘correct’

This information is taken from: Desktop Guide by Roger Morrison, M.D.

Please refer to Storage and Taking of Homeopathic Remedies. 

Homeopathic remedies may be purchased over the counter at a health food store.