ALTERNATING REMEDIES

HOMOEOPATHIC RECORDER

MONTHLY

VOLUME XII

1897

(Page No. 559 – 563)

ALTERNATING REMEDIES

Edited By: Dr Ravinder S. Mann

Translated for the Homoeopathic Recorder from “Willst du Gesund 

weren ?”

There are in homoeopathic practice states of disease, the 

symptoms of which viewed in their completeness, point to a 

single remedy of the homoeopathic treasury of medicines, so 

that when rightly applied the said disease can be thereby fully 

extinguished. But not less numerous are the cases in which a 

single remedy carries us only to a certain point; then changes 

appear or symptoms still remain which point to another remedy; 

and the time for its application has come, when the improvement 

makes no further progress. In this case, however, it is 

by no means indifferent what remedy is elected to follow immediately 

after the other, for experience shows us that there are 

some remedies which are especially adapted to complement one 

another's action, while there are others which mutually repel 

each other. There is not at the present time any satisfactory 

explanation of this phenomenon which, however, rests on experience 

and observation. 

We also frequently find in homoeopathic practice that simultaneously 

two remedies are prescribed by some physicians to be 

used in alternation. This mode of treatment, which is especially 

frequent in acute diseases, but also used in chronic cases, is not, 

indeed, in agreement with the method of our master, Hahnemann, 

who directed that only one remedy should be used, yet 

the choice of two remedies may be perfectly justified even from 

the homoeopathic standpoint; for there are states of disease 

which point to different remedies, not only by some of their 

secondary symptoms, but even by their fundamental character. 

The latter is, indeed, very rarely the case, and we find more 

frequent instances where alternating remedies are prescribed, not 

from necessity, but with a well meant intention of hastening 

the cure. And this result may, indeed, be hastened by the use 

of alternating remedies, when these remedies are mutually concordant 

and supplementary. But the use of alternating remedies 

has also its drawbacks, which appear when one of the remedies 

is unsuitable and not adopted to the special case, so that its influence 

instead of furthering the cure only serves to obstruct the 

action of the other remedy. On this account we ought from 

principle to continue our observance of Hahnemann's doctrine, 

that only one remedy should be brought into action at one time. 

The image presented by the provings were obtained and continue 

to be so from the use of one single remedy at a time on a 

healthy person. But these results only obtain their full value 

when they are confirmed by practice, and for this it is necessary 

that the respective remedies should be prescribed singly. The 

more frequently a remedy has thus been “confirm” under 

certain circumstances the greater will be the confidence of the 

practitioner in its virtue and the more easy will it then be possible 

for him to associate with it another remedy in consequence 

of the experience he has gained. By this the practitioner also 

is led to see that there are remedies which serve specially to 

complement one another. 

As an example of this I would here mention Silicea, 

Calcarea fluor., which gives splendid results in caries of the 

bones. We may further refer to Sulphur and Mercurius, which, 

when used alternately, are very effective in the cure both in 

humid and in dry herpetic eruptions. I have had much experience 

in the latter disease, so that I may say that in the course of 

years these two remedies have been of the greatest service to me 

in many herpetic cutaneous ailments ; I have used them in the 30, 12 

and 6 potencies. Usually these remedies were given alternately, 

every 4 or 6 days, one dose of one or the other. In humid eruptions, 

with an inflamed basis with violent itching, of which we find 

especially many cases with children, I have found these two 

remedies effective with hardly an exception. When such eruptions 

come to suppurate Hepar sulphuris is to be preferred; still 

remedies like Graphites and Juglans cinera, etc., may still be 

considered, especially when the success of the former remedies 

has not been decisive and permanent; but Sulphur and Mercurius 

are always the chief remedies and will continue to be so. 

Of course the treatment of a chronic cutaneous disease will always 

require months. 

Two additional remedies, which are mutually concordant and 

supplementary, are Arsenicum and Carbo vegetabilis in chronic 

ulcers on the legs. These remedies are indicated when dilatation 

of the veins lies at the bottom of the disease, and this is well 

known to be the case in most instances of this ailment. They 

are indicated in cases where the process is inert for a long time, 

and where the secretions from the ulcer is slight in quantity and 

perhaps occasionally sanguineous, and where there are burning 

pains, occasionally also stinging pains, while there is no intermission, 

even at night. 

Arsenicum and Carbo veg. are given in herpes somewhat more 

frequently than Sulphur and Mercurius. We may also give for 

two days three doses a day of one remedy and then, after a pause 

of one or two days, give the other remedy in the same manner. 

It is certain that chronic ulcers on the legs are improved and 

cured in this manner without necessitating a cessation of the 

usual employment. The remedies mentioned last I have preferably 

used in the 12 potency, also in the 30, but rarely in the 6. Instead 

of Carbo veg. it may also become necessary to use Lachesis, when 

the limb affected is much disfigured by considerable swellings and 

the parts around the ulcer have a bluish-black appearance. 

Two other remedies which also supplement one another's 

action remarkably well are Calcarea carb. and Nux vom. when 

the catamenia appear too early and are too profuse. This 

ailment may also be caused by a certain weakness, and is not 

always due to change of position, ulcers, etc. In such cases, 

Nux vom. and Calcarea carb. in the 30 and 12 potencies, one dose 

every third day, prove very curative. Even in cases where female 

physicians had operated on the patient, and where the irregularity, 

according to their statement, was due to a thickening of the mucous 

membrane, I have been able to effect a cure through the two remedies, 

demonstrating that modern surgery is not always 

the last sheet-anchor for suffering patients. In these cases also it is, 

however, necessary to continue the treatment for several months. 

I do not mean to be understood that in the above-mentioned 

diseases only the two remedies there mentioned ought to be used. 

I myself have, indeed, learned to know and value these remedies 

by very many observations, but another practitioner may also 

discover other remedies which used together may not be less 

effective. I have only desired to make a small contribution to the 

doctrine of alternative medicines, and perhaps assist one 

or another practitioner to a certain success in similar cases. 

The following from the Medical Advance gives a good idea of the 

nature of the recently published Gross' Comparative Materia Medica: 

The first edition appeared in 1866, and for many years this 

splendid volume, upon which the author spent so many years of 

hard labor, has not been obtainable. If our practitioners will use 

this work in comparing the action of two remedies, the symptoms 

of which are opposite or more or less similar, they will have very 

little excuse for alternating remedies. Here are about 500 com- 

parisons of 100 of our most frequently called for remedies, and a 

little work will yield an abundant harvest in the brilliant cures which 

follow the carefully selected simillimum. Never before has the student 

of Materia Medica had such an opportunity to become familiar with 

the essence of his armamentarium as is here offered. A study of these 

comparisons will speedily remove the erroneous impression 

of the student in the similarity of drug pathogeneses, for the complaint 

is frequently made that the symptoms are nearly the same in every drug. 

On the contrary, after a study of Gross, the question more frequently 

asked will be, “Where is the similarity?” It would certainly be difficult 

to find the similarity in the following remedies so often given in 

alternation by those who believe in and practice poly-pharmacy: 

PULSATILLA                                               SEPIA 

Inclination for open air                         Aversion to open air. 

Hot and painful swelling of                  Painless swelling of glands. 

glands. 

Eruptions more humid than                   Eruptions mostly dry. 

dry. 

Heat on suffering part.                           Sweat on suffering part. 

Taciturnity.                                             Loquacity. 

Mood gentle, distrustful.                        Mood  Irritable, rarely amorous. 

Mania from suppressed menses             Mania from profuse menses 

Catamenia too short and scanty.           Catamenia protracted and profuse. 

Worse from warmth of bed.                   Better from warmth of bed. 

Better from pressure.                              Worse from pressure. 

Mostly worse after sleep.                     Better after sleep; but worse  when            

                                                                   disturbed. 

"Frequent reference to this work will not only save much 

valuable time in a sharp and clear-cut individualization of the 

remedy, but it will often demonstrate that our examination of 

the patient has from some cause been imperfect, something vital 

has been overlooked by the physician or patient, and a new and 

more complete examination must be made. Those who have 

used this book most consider it almost indispensable when a life 

depends upon the selection of the perfect remedy. A very 

trifling change may often decide a momentous question. Be 

sure you are right, then go ahead."