Homeopathy for uterine fibroids

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, Nov, 2004 by Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman, Robert Ullman

"My temper runs hot. If I come home and there's a mess in the kitchen, I lose it. I wish I had more patience. But people like to be around me because I'm happy and upbeat. Most of my friends are granola-types: hiking and all of that. I'm the wild one. They used to invite me to parties because I laugh and goof around and have fun. Of course, I used to drink too much back then, too. I never drink more than two or three glasses anymore because it makes me depressed the next day.

"I'm a very emotional person. I cry a lot. When I'm really happy, sad, disappointed, or when I get my feelings hurt. Tender-hearted, like when my stepdaughter picks on our dog. I never had kids of my own. I wanted a career instead. Having children was never something I needed to do."

Janis' only fear was being alone without a partner. She dreamed often about everyday problems. She tended towards chilliness and slept poorly when stressed. Food cravings included pizza and chocolate. Janis enjoyed spicy food, but found that it triggered stomach distress. It was in the early '80s that Janis suffered from ulcers while in an extremely high-stress job. It was at this time that she was also diagnosed with a spastic colon. Stress still went right to Janis' stomach. When I asked if she had ever had a problem with constipation, Janis answered affirmatively and explained that for a period of time she took daily Metamucil.

At this point Janis was avoiding red meat and eating poultry on a daily basis. She was drinking Essiac tea and using progesterone cream topically. The size of her fibroid had not changed in a year.

A Text-Book Case for Homeopathy

I am not presenting this case because of the difficulty of prescribing. It is so clear-cut that even a beginning homeopath would likely think of only one medicine: Nux vomica (Quaker's button or Poison nut). It is a well-known medicine for competitive, workaholic, stress-prone individuals who resort to alcohol to relieve their pent-up tension. These individuals typically like spicy food but have a tendency to develop ulcers. They are famous for their impatience and their lives, and often their dreams, revolve around work. I understand now, though I did not then, that Nux vomica is a member of the Loganaceae family. Along with Ignatia, Gelsemium, Spigelia, and other plants, those needing this group of medicines are highly sensitive, particularly to disappointment, grief, and shock. The tendency to hold tension in their body is best exemplified by Strychninum, in which the muscles are rigid and inflexible to the point of spastic tetany.

Homeopathy treats patients, not diagnoses. The prescription of Nux vomica 200C was based on what we call the "totality" of symptoms, including those mentioned previously. It is, however, also indicated for tumors of the uterus, uterine "fibroma," ulcers, spastic colon, heavy menstrual flow, and is a well-known medicine for uterine pain. Due to the sensitivity of those needing this family of medicines, it is not surprising that her uterine cramping was so severe that it took her to the emergency room.