Joint pain - ankle, elbow, feet, hand, knee, wrist

Dosage:

Unless otherwise indicated, 6C, 12X or 30C every 4 hours for mild pain or every 2 hours for more severe pain* or see the Dosage Chart.
Stop when improving.
If not improving after a day or two, try a different remedy.
Repeat if pain returns but not for more than two weeks, at which time you should be evaluated by a professional.

Notes:

Any joint pain (especially weight bearing joints) that is accompanied by high fever, chills, swelling must be evaluated by your health care practitioner promptly.
If a self-selected remedy – however well indicated – doesn’t help and your symptoms do not improve or your joint pain is chronic, seek medical expertise. A doctor will provide a diagnosis and/or a professional homeopath can evaluate your symptoms in the context of your whole person.
It is best to start homeopathic treatment of arthritis early in the disease because after there is damage to surrounding tissues, we are aware of no cure. Before determining which remedy might work, refrain from using pain relievers for 24-36 hours (if your physician approves) because these can mask symptoms that are important in choosing the correct homeopathic remedy. As well, if you have been using steroids for pain management, see a professional homeopath because prior use of steroids or gold can complicate the path to finding the correct remedy.

Symptoms	Remedy
Arthritis Painful joints Stiffness Musculo-skeletal injuries with: Inflammation Pain Swelling View Remedy	T-Relief – Mobility Multi-remedy formulation Follow package directions -May also use- T-Relief cream
Minor arthritis Minor muscular pain due to overexertion Especially suited to back and neck View Remedy	Arthritis Pain Formula Multi-remedy manufactured by Hylands Follow package directions
Joint pain Rheumatic pain View Remedy	Arnicare Arthritis tablets Multi-remedy by Boiron Follow package directions
Painful knee joint View Remedy	Comfrey cream 1.76oz Comfrey cream– 3.53oz Apply to affected joint 3 times/day May be continued for weeks at a time If no improvement after several weeks try a different remedy Study below** was for 6 weeks
Dislocated joints View Remedy	Arnica montana: immediately for pain/shock while enroute to the doctor and intermittently for pain after relocation, follow with Ruta graveolens one dose every 3 hours stop on improvement maximum of 9 doses or Bryonia (if swollen, very painful to move) one dose every 3 hours stop on improvement maximum of 9 doses
Soreness and stiffness all over after overexertion Pain after injury sprains and strains dislocations with bruising, swelling Knee pain Gouty arthritis with sore, bruised feeling Bed feels too hard Worse: when jarred or touched View Remedy	Arnica montana
Hot, red, swollen joints Burning, stinging pain Pains wander May be awkward and drop things Affects knees, shoulders most Restless Irritable Better: Cold applications Worse: Heat, touch, pressure View Remedy	Apis mellifica
Acute severe stitching pain Hot, swollen, red Edema around joint Wants no one to touch or move the part Restless, but afraid to move May have dry mouth and be very thirsty Worse: least motion Better: with pressure lying on the painful side or part rest View Remedy	Bryonia
Knee pain degenerative osteoarthritis rheumatism Edema (fluid swelling) around knee joint Person tends to be hot blooded Better: movement open air Worse: pressure/touching knee rest heat dampness night View Remedy	Kali iodatum
Sudden onset of severe, sharp, pain May disappear just as suddenly Stiffness, inflammation Pain may migrate from joint to joint Pain radiates down Rheumatism arising after suppressing arthritis Worse: With motion Cold, cold wind or becoming chilled Left side may be more affected Night Better: Warmth View Remedy	Kalmia
Joint pain Degenerative osteoarthritis Bone pain Better: rest Worse: night motion damp View Remedy	Phytolacca
Rheumatism/Arthritis Pain worse: at rest with weather changes on first movement Pain after injury, over-lifting Sprains and strains Swollen, red, hot, cracked joints Trembling Stiff after rest, but better with movement Restless – keep moving affected part Worse: morning on waking cold, damp, drafts sitting still Better: continued movement stretching, rubbing, exercise warmth: hot soaks, baths, showers View Remedy	Rhus toxicodendron 6c four times/day up to 2 weeks ****
Tendonitis Very stiff throughout, constant, bruised feeling especially after injury sprains, strains Restless needs to change positions frequently Extremities feel weak, lame May have deposits along the tendon ganglion cysts in wrist (Similar to Rhus tox but warmth/movement don’t help as much) Worse: exertion of the affected joint View Remedy	Ruta graveolens
Rheumatism arising during: cold, damp weather moist basements change of weather View Remedy	Dulcamara
Changeable pain and location Usually in larger joints Person may be sensitive, weepy, emotional Restless Better: Cold applications Open air Continued motion Worse: Heat and warm rooms Evening First motion View Remedy	Pulsatilla
Red, swollen joints Pain in small spots Pains wander Sleeps with legs crossed Worse: before a storm, rough weather windy, damp, cloudy weather when seasons change at rest wine, fruit Better: after a storm motion heat View Remedy	Rhododendron
Sudden severe onset of joint pain After exposure to cold or cold, dry wind Joints hot, swollen and very sensitive Tingling, numbness Anxious, restless Worse: touch Better: open air View Remedy	Aconitum napellus
Acute pain of the hand, wrist Sometimes feet and ankles Worse with slightest exertion View Remedy	Actea Spicata
Sudden, severe inflammation burning of joints Swollen, red, hot, very tender Throbbing pain Spasms May have headaches, swollen eyes, fever Anxious, restless Worse: Motion, jarring, touch View Remedy	Belladonna
Acute pain and gout: Stiff Swollen Lameness Better: Profuse urination with sediment View Remedy	Benzoic Acid
Pains moving from joint to joint Sudden twinges of pain May also be prone to kidney issues View Remedy	Berberis
Acute pain of the, toes, hands, fingers, ankles Pain may roam rapidly between joints May be related to time of menses May have other uterine difficulties View Remedy	Caulophyllum
Wandering rheumatic pain and gout Joints hot, red, swollen very sensitive to touch Worse: Slight motion If urine is suppressed View Remedy	Colchicum
Acutely inflamed joints especially wrists and fingers Hot and burning Worse: Heat, hot applications Better: Cold applications View Remedy	Guaiacum
Acute rheumatism/joint pain especially ankles, feet, big toe shoulder and hip simultaneously pain starts lower and ascends Gout After effects of steroid injections Painful small joints with cracking noises Swelling Chilly but better with cold applications Pain moves up the body Better with: Cold applications Worse: night in bed heat View Remedy	Ledum
Acute rheumatism Red, swollen joints Pains shift Can be associated with Meniere’s syndrome Worse: touch motion cold Better: heat View Remedy	Salicylic Acid
Edema/Swelling around joints when Kali iodatum and Bryonia don’t help View Remedy	Sulphur

References

Birnesser H, Stolt P. The homeopathic antiarthritic preparation Zeel comp. N: a review of molecular and clinical data. Explore (NY). 2007 Jan-Feb; 3(1): 16-22. (Zeel has now been replaced by T-Relief, linked above)

Boericke, William. Materia Medica with Repertory. Boericke & Tafel, Inc. Publ., Ca. 1927.

Castro, Miranda. The Complete Homeopathy Handbook, St. Martin’s Press, New York, NY, (1990), pp. 192-93.

Giannetti B, Staiger C, Bulitta M, Predel H. Efficacy and safety of comfrey root extract ointment in the treatment of acute upper or lower back pain: results of a double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled, multicentre trial. Br J Sports Med 2010; 44: 637-41.

**Grube B, Grünwald J, Krug L, Steiger C. Efficacy of a comfrey root (Symphytum offic. radix) extract ointment in the treatment of patients with painful osteoarthritis of the knee: results of a double-blind, randomized, bicenter, placebo controlled trial. Phytomedicine. 2007 Jan; 14(1): 2-10.

Hershoff, Asa. Homeopathic Remedies. Penguin Putnam, NY. 2000; pp. 104-06.

Hershoff, Asa. Musculoskeletal Healing. North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, CA. 1996: pp. 112-119.

Huh YH, Kim MJ, Yeo MG. Homepathic Rhus toxicodendron treatment increased the expresion of cyclooxygenase-2 in primary cultured mouse chondrocytes. Homeopathy. 2013 Oct; 102(4): 248-53.

Knuesel O, Weber M, Suter A. Arnica montana gel in osteoarthritis of the knee: an open multicenter clinical trial. Adv Ther. 2002 Sep-Oct; 19(5): 209-18. (Patients with mild to moderate knee pain used Arnica montana from fresh plant gel, twice daily for 6 weeks with significant reduction in pain)

****Lockie, Andrew, The Family Guide to Homeopathy, Fireside, 1st Ed., New York, NY (1993), pp. 231-32.

Morgan, Lyle. Homeopathic Medicine, First-Aid and Emergency Care. Healing Arts Press, VT (1989): p. 35.

Morrison, Roger. Desktop Companion to Physical Pathology. Hahnemann Clinic Publishing, CA. 1998: pp. 324-330.

National Center for Homeopathy. Find a Remedy. Retrieved on July 9, 2019.

Patel DR, Ansari IA, Kachchhi YN, et al. Toxicodendron pubescens retains its anti-arthritic efficacy at 1M, 10M and CM homeopathic dilutions. Homeopathy. 2012 Jul; 101(3): 165-70.

Patil CR, Rambhade AD, Jadhav RB, et al. Modulation of arthritis in rats by Toxicodendron pubescens and its homeopathic dilutions. Homeopathy. 2011 Jul; 100(3): 131-7.

Phatak, SR. A Concise Repertory of Homeopathic Medicines, 4th Ed. B Jain, Publ, India. 2017: p. 226-27.

Pinto S, Rao AV, Rao A. Lipid peroxidation, erythrocyte antioxidants and plasma antioxidants in osteoarthritis before and after homeopathic treatment. Homeopathy. 2008 Oct; 97(4): 185-9.

Sarkar A, Datta P, Das AK, Gomes A. Anti-rheumatoid and anti-oxidant activity of homeopathic Guaiacum officinale in an animal model. Homeopathy. 2014 Apr; 103(2):133-8.

Schneider C. Traumeel: An Emerging Option to NSAIDS in the Management of Acute Musculoskeletal Injuries. Intl J Gen Med. 2011; 25(4): 225-34. (Note: For those who cannot find Traumeel, the same ingredients, but one are found T-Relief)

Staiger C. Comfrey: A Clinical Overview. Phytother Res. 2012 Oct; 26(10): 1441-1448.

***Ullman, Dana. The Consumers Guide to Homeopathy. GP Putnam Sons, NY. 1995: pp. 265-67.

van Haselen R. Development of a Prognostic Factor Prediction Model in Patients with Musculoskeletall Pain Treated with Homeopathy: An Individual patient Data Meta-Analysis of Three Randomized Clinical Trials. Complementary Med Res. July 2020.

**van Haselen R, Fisher P. A randomized controlled trial comparing topical piroxicam gel with a homeopathic gel in osteoarthritis of the knee. Rheumatology, 39(7), July 2000: 714-19. (The homeopathic gel contained symphytum(comfrey, rhus toxicodendron, ledum palustre applied 3 times daily)(these ingredients and more are included in T-Relief-Mobility above)

Wahwani GG. Homeopathic drug therapy. Homeopathy in Chikungunya Fever and Post-Chikungunya Chronic Arthritis: an observational study. Homeopathy. 2013 Jul; 102(3): 193-8.