Top Homeopathic Remedies for Costochondritis

Costochondritis refers to inflammation of the cartilage that attaches ribs to the sternum (means the breastbone). These areas of joining are called costochondral junctions. Costochondritis is also known as costosternal syndrome or chest wall pain. It results in chest pain and the pain can be mild or severe in intensity. The pain sometimes can be so intense as to mimic a heart attack. Homeopathic remedies for costochondritis offer a very safe, natural and effective solution for cases of costochondritis.

Causes

The exact reason behind it remains unknown for most of the cases. However there are certain conditions that can lead to it. It firstly includes an injury / trauma to the chest like from a fall, a blow to the chest.
Second reason is over use of the arms, physical strain as from activities like intense exercise that involves the upper limbs and chest wall, heavy lifting and severe coughing.
Next cause is joint infection with bacterial, viral or fungal infectious agents. Some examples of such infections include syphilis and tuberculosis. Another cause behind it is arthritis (means joint inflammation). Some of its examples include rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune disorder in which there occurs inflammation, swelling, pain and stiffness of the joints.
But it can also affect other body parts including the eyes, lungs, skin, heart and blood vessels), osteoarthritis (joint inflammation arising from wear and tear of the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones) and  ankylosing spondylitis (an inflammatory autoimmune joint disease that usually begins with inflammation of sacroiliac joint and over the time causes fusion of the joint. Other than the above joints, it tends to affect vertebrae in the lower back, hip joint, shoulder joint and the cartilage that joins ribs with the breastbone).
It may also arise from tumours of the costosternal joint area. Other causes include history of chest infections, history of any surgery affecting the chest wall. When no cause is found then this condition is called as idiopathic costochondritis.

Symptoms 

The main symptom of this condition is chest pain on either side (usually occurs on the left side) of the breastbone that can be mild to severe. The pain can be aching, stabbing, burning, or sharp in nature. Sometimes it just feels like a pressure sensation. The pain may radiate to the back or the abdomen. Movement, deep breathing, coughing or stretching tend to make it worse. In some cases the chest may be tender to touch. More than  one rib is affected with this. Among the twelve pairs of ribs the second to fifth ribs are most commonly affected. People older than 40 years of age are commonly affected with this. In some cases of severe intensity the pain may shoot down the limbs.

Homeopathic Medicines for Costochondritis

Homeopathic medicines help to reduce the inflammation of cartilage and bring symptomatic relief in such cases. With use of these medicines the frequency and intensity of the symptoms is gradually reduced. These medicines aim at targeting the root cause behind it to bring great recovery in these cases. One should never self medicate in these cases. Any sufferer should visit a doctor to differentiate if the chest pain is because of costochondritis or some heart-related issue. A doctor can best diagnose it and provide appropriate medicine for it. In case of mild to moderate cases of costochondritis homeopathy is beneficial but in case of heart related issues it is advised to take conventional treatment. Also one should seek immediate help from conventional mode of treatment if the chest pain is continued or  chest pain is radiating to the arms, neck, shoulder, jaw, or back or if the chest pain is accompanied with trouble breathing,  high fever, nausea, sweating, dizziness/lightheadedness, dark coloured sputum or blood in sputum or there are signs of infection like pus, redness, tenderness, swelling at the rib joints.

1. Argentum Met – For Pain in Right Side of Chest

This medicine is useful when there is pain in the right side of chest and breastbone. The pain is usually shooting type. It worsens when stooping forward. A sensation of pressure is also felt in the chest. Lastly it is indicated for pricking pain felt in the chest.

2. Bryonia – For Stitching Pain in Chest

It is a natural medicine prepared from roots of plant Bryonia Alba commonly known by the name of wild hops or white bryony. This plant belongs to the family cucurbitaceae. It is a highly effective medicine for cases where stitching pain is felt in the chest. Persons requiring it feel worsening of pain from taking deep breath. They also feel increased pain when coughing,  movement or when turning in the bed. They get relief from taking rest. This pain may go from chest through to back. A fullness sensation is felt in the chest. Next the chest may be sore and sensitive to pressure. Lastly heat or burning sensation in the chest may be present.

3. Ruta – For Chest Pain Resulting from Injuries

This medicine is prepared from a plant named Ruta graveolens commonly known as Rue. The family of this plant is rutaceae. Use of this medicine is considered when chest pain follows injury. Persons who need it have chest pain that may be aching, biting or burning type. It is attended with a sensation of fullness in the chest. The sternum may be painful to pressure.

4. Belladonna – For Painful Pressure in Chest Extending to the Back

Belladonna is prepared from plant deadly nightshade. It belongs to family solanaceae. Use of this medicine is considered when there is painful pressure in the chest extending to back. Apart from this it is used when there is sharp, shooting or stitching pain in the chest when coughing. Last indication for using it is burning pain especially on the right side of the chest. 

5. Arnica – For Chest Pain Worsening from Movement, Breathing or Coughing

It is prepared from a plant named Arnica Montana commonly known as Leopard’s – bane or fallkraut. It belongs to family compositae. It is very significant medicine for cases in which chest pain worsens from movement, breathing or coughing. There are aching pains in the chest where this medicine is required. People needing it often feel pain in all the cartilage attachments of the chest. They feel as if this area is beaten or bruised. Lastly, a burning sensation in the chest may occur along with the above symptoms. It is also one of the best medicines for complaints that follow trauma or injury from blunt objects.

6. Ledum Palustre – For Soreness to Touch on the Chest 

This medicine is prepared from plant Ledum Palustre commonly known as wild rosemary and marsh cistus. This plant belongs to family ericaceae. It is beneficial medicine when the chest is sore to touch. Along with this burning sensation or stitches are felt in the chest. In some cases shootings pain in the chest is there which occurs usually from raising or moving the arms.

7. Rhus Tox – For Chest Pain Worsening from Using Arms

Rhus Tox offers great help when chest pain gets worse from using arms. Other than this it is helpful for stitching pain in the chest. This worsens from deep breathing,  sitting bent, sneezing and at rest. It is one of the best medicines for complaints that arise from over straining a part, over stretching and over lifting.

8. Ranunculus Bulb – For Sharp, Cutting, Stitching Pain in Chest

This medicine is prepared from plant Ranunculus Bulbosus commonly known as buttercup. This plant belongs to family ranunculaceae. This medicine is recommended when a person has sharp, cutting, stitching pain in the chest.  In some cases pressure is felt in the lower part of the chest. This worsens from movement and stooping. Its next guiding symptom is bruised pain in chest and abdomen. On slight movement these pains become cutting and sharp in nature.

9. Silicea – When Chest Pain Worsens from Coughing or Sneezing

It is a very useful medicine for cases presenting with chest pain from coughing or sneezing. The pain can be aching type. Next there can be shooting or pricking in chest. This may sometimes go across the back.

10. Natrum Mur – For Sore Pain or Bruised Feeling in Chest

Use of this medicine is recommended when there is a sore pain or bruised feeling in the chest. Next it is given for sharp chest pain experienced while coughing or during deep inspiration. In some cases needing it the pain from the upper region of chest may go to the shoulders.

11. Merc Sol – For Chest Pain Extending through to Back

Merc Sol is a homeopathic medicine that works well in cases in which the chest pain extends through to the back. This happens specifically on sneezing or coughing. Mostly the nature of pain is stitching type.

12. Phosphorus – For Burning Pain in Chest

This medicine is indicated when there is burning pain in the chest. With this soreness is present in the chest. Next it is indicated when there is pain in the right side of chest that worsens from pressure and lying on the left side.