Homeopathic medicine, treatment and remedies for Dengue

• Arsenic Album
  Common Name: Arsenious acid
  Symptoms: The following symptoms can be noted in an individual who benefits from this remedy:
  • Restlessness
  • Severe headaches, which are relieved by cold application or cold weather
  • Cold skin
  • Burning pain in the head and eyes, stomach, chest and tongue
  • Great weakness when experiencing a headache
  • Irritability
  • Severe sensitivity to light
  • Bleeding gums
  • Throat pain and difficulty swallowing
  • Nausea after eating
  • Darting pain in the right lung
  • Dry cough and palpitations
  • Trembling and twitching of feet
  • High fever
  • Extreme exhaustion and fatigue
  • Cold sweats

Symptoms get worse after midnight and on consuming cold food. Symptoms may get better on lying down with the head elevated and after taking warm drinks

• Bryonia
  Common Name: Wild hops
  Symptoms: Wild hops are indicated in case of the following symptoms:
  • Excessive irritability
  • Nausea and fainting
  • Splitting headache that gets worse on bending forward, with motion or on opening one's eyes
  • Frequent nosebleeds
  • Crushing and piercing pain in eyes, which worsens with touch or moving the eyes
  • Dry mouth
  • Loss of taste or experiencing a bitter taste
  • Burning pain in the abdomen
  • Stomach area sensitive to touch
  • Stiffness and pain in knees
  • Swollen feet
  • Pain and swelling in joints
  • Tearing pain in limbs on moving
  • Fast pulse
  • Fever accompanied by dry cough and chills
  • Hyperhidrosis

Symptoms get worse in the morning, due to warmth, motion and touch. Symptoms get better on taking enough rest, on lying on the painful side, and on applying pressure on the affected area.

• Belladonna
  Common Name: Deadly nightshade
  Symptoms: This remedy is suitable for the following symptoms:
  • Throbbing pain in the head with difficulty breathing
  • Pain in the forehead
  • Headache that gets worse with noise, light, and on lying down and in the afternoons
  • Throbbing pain in the eyes on lying down
  • Swelling in eyes
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Spasms in the stomach
  • Violent palpitations
  • Throbbing sensation throughout the body
  • Shooting pain in the limbs and joints
  • Stiffness in the neck
  • High fever with icy cold feet and absence of thirst
  • Inability to sleep due to pulsation of blood vessels
  • Sweating only on the head

Symptoms get worse in the noon, on lying down and on touching the affected area. Symptoms may get better on lying in a semi-erect position. 

• Calcarea Carbonica
  Common Name: Carbonate of lime
  Symptoms: This remedy works well for treating the following symptoms:
  • Headache with cold hands and a sensation as if there is a weight on top of the head
  • Headache and nausea due to mental exertion
  • Excessive sweating
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Itching and pain in eyelids
  • Skin ulcers
  • Presence of small wounds on the skin, which do not heal easily
  • Rashes all over the skin, which get better in cold air
  • Boils
  • Fever with sweat
  • Night sweats, especially on the head, neck and chest
  • Chills at 2 pm, which usually begin in the stomach region
  • Swollen tonsils
  • Eyes get tired easily
  • Sensitivity in the abdomen
  • Palpitations after having dinner
  • Feeling a weight on the chest
  • Cramps in calves

Symptoms may get worse in cold weather and with mental and physical exertion, but get better in dry climate and on lying on the painful side.

• Eupatorium Perfoliatum
  Common Name: Thoroughwort
  Symptoms: This remedy helps alleviate the following symptoms:
  • Throbbing pain in the head
  • Pain in eyeballs
  • Pain in the head after lying down along with a sensation of weight
  • Soreness and pulsation on the back of the head
  • Aversion to light
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Chest pain
  • Cough, which gets worse at night
  • Severe backpain
  • Chills between 7 am and 9 am
  • Body pain
  • A sensation as if one would fall to their left
  • Pain in bones
  • Fever accompanied by a throbbing headache
  • Vomiting bile after having chills
  • Extreme fatigue

Symptoms get worse periodically but get better when the patient sweats.

• Lycopodium
  Common Name: Club moss
  Symptoms: The following symptoms can be noted in individuals requiring this remedy:
  • Pressing headache, which gets worse from 4 pm to 8 pm, on stooping or coughing
  • Redness in eyelids along with ulcers
  • Skin ulcers
  • Violent itching of the skin
  • Fever that is associated with chills between 3 pm and 4 pm
  • Blisters on the tongue

Symptoms get worse with the intake of warm foods and drinks and on lying down on the right side. Symptoms may get better after midnight and on moving about.

• Nux Vomica
  Common Name: Poison nut
  Symptoms: This remedy can be used effectively for treating the following symptoms:
  • Extreme irritability
  • Headache in the region over eyes
  • A feeling of being drunk that gets worse with mental exertion
  • Congestion and pain in the head 
  • Aversion to light, which gets worse in the mornings
  • Presence of blood in the saliva
  • Swollen gums
  • Cough that leads to a bursting headache
  • A sensation of tightness in throat
  • Nausea in mornings and after eating
  • Stomach pain
  • Shallow breathing
  • Severe backache
  • Cracking in knee joint on movement
  • Fever with chills
  • Pain in arms and legs
  • Sweating only on one side of the body due to fever

Symptoms get worse in the dry and cold weather, during mornings and due to mental exertion. Symptoms get better in the evening, on taking enough rest and on applying strong pressure on the affected area.

Homeopathic remedies are widely used for the treatment of several ailments. However, these remedies are made from highly diluted substances and tend to lose their potency easily. Here are certain lifestyle changes that one can adopt in order to make sure that no external factors interfere with the function of these remedies; these changes will have a positive impact on the action of the remedies and will help in achieving overall health: 

Do’s: 

• Maintain personal hygiene.
• Keep your surroundings clean and sanitised.
• Replace processed foods with healthy foods, which are rich in fibre and nutrients. 
• Maintain a good posture.
• Lead an active lifestyle by engaging in regular mild exercises such as yoga or jogging.
• Wear airy and comfortable clothes.

Don’ts: 

• Reduce the intake of beverages such as coffee and tea. 
• Consumption of alcohol and other substances, which will interfere with the working of the homeopathic drugs, is strictly prohibited. (Read more: Effects of alcohol on body)
• Avoid foods which are high in salt and sugar.
• Refrain from using artificial scents such as perfumes and room fresheners.
• Avoid the use of temperature control devices such as air conditioning or room heaters.

There have been several dengue outbreaks where the use of homeopathic remedies proved to be extremely effective in bringing down the number of reported cases. During an outbreak in Brazil in 2001, a single dose of eupatorium perfoliatum decreased the dengue incidence by 81.5%. In another outbreak in 2007, remedies such as phosphorus and crotalus horridus along with eupatorium perfoliatum brought down the dengue incidence by 93% within the first 3 months. However, it is important to remember that the symptoms in dengue are due to the natural immune response of the body, and each individual’s reaction to the causative agent is different. Therefore, different individuals may benefit from different remedies.

A randomised double-blind placebo trial done in 2012 indicated that homeopathic remedies are effective in the management of dengue symptoms including headache, mylagia and fever.

In a case series of dengue, conducted at the Central Research Institute of Homoeopathy, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, India, four dengue patients were succesfully treated with eupatorium perfoliatum. None of the patients showed any side effects or complications. However, the study concluded that more evidence-based research is needed to confirm the findings.

Homeopathic remedies are generally safe to consume. This is because these remedies are obtained from natural substances and are administered only after a careful examination of the patient's medical history, thus reducing the chances of allergic reactions or side effects. However, to get the maximum benefit from homeopathic treatment, it is always best to take these medications under the supervision of a certified homeopathic practitioner.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection with mild to severe symptoms such as fever, headache, severe bone, joint and muscle pains. Though there is no treatment for dengue, it can be prevented with a few careful measures to protect oneself from mosquito bites. However, if an individual gets the infection, it is absolutely necessary to treat it in a timely and effective manner to prevent complications.

Homeopathic remedies are helpful in improving the overall health of the patient. They are generally safe to consume and do not cause any side effects. Always refer to a qualified physician before taking any homeopathic remedy on your own.