Kalmia Latifolia: Homeopathic Medicine – Its Use, Indications And Dosage

Homeopathic medicine Kalmia Latifolia is derived from the plant ‘mountain laurel’ also known as ‘calico bush’. It belongs to family Ericaceae. To obtain this medicine, fresh leaves of the plant in its flowering stage have to undergo potentization. It is a process of preparing homeopathic medicines which arouses medicinal properties of a crude substance. After this process, it is converted into a magnificent homeopathic medicine Kalmia Latifolia. Its use is highly recommended for managing neuralgia (nerve pain), joint pain, back pain, neck pain and certain heart issues.

The ‘Kalmia Latifolia’ Constitution

This medicine suits well people having predisposition to suffer from joint complaints and nerve pain. It is also suitable for persons who have certain heart-related issues.

Drug Action

Though this medicine acts well on many body parts, the most important ones are joints, back, neck, limbs, nerves and heart. The other parts where it shows its action include eyes, face, stomach and head.

Clinical Indications

Joint pains, neuralgia (nerve pain), back pain, neck pain, heart disease, angina pectoris, palpitations, headache, ptosis, trigeminal neuralgia, tobacco heart, stomach pain, diarrhea.

Scope As A Homeopathic Remedy

1. Back And Neck (Pain, Neuralgia – Nerve Pain)

This medicine has a well-defined action on the back and neck. Here it is highly effective in managing neck pain that radiates down the arm. Additionally, neck muscles are sore to touch as well as on movement. It has shown great clinical improvements in neuralgia cases when pain from the neck radiate to fingers particularly fourth and little finger, worsening in the early part of the night. Neck feels tender and stiff. Kalmia Latifolia is well indicated for Brachialgia cases in which a pinched nerve in the neck causes pain in the arm. It is a prominent medicine for pain specifically in the upper three dorsal vertebrae (these vertebrae lie below the base of neck) that extends to the shoulder blade. Besides these, it acts well on the lower back where it helps to relieve back pain when attended with heat and burning sensation. Pain increases from motion. There is weakness in the lower part of the back where spine curves at the waist. It gets worse in the evening in bed. Lastly, it is beneficial to manage back pain during menses.

Key Indicating Features

Neck pain radiating down the arm

Neuralgia means nerve pain when neck pain goes down specifically to fourth and little finger

Pain in upper three dorsal vertebrae (that lies below the base of neck) extending to shoulder blade

Lower back pain accompanied by heat and burning sensation

2. Limbs (Joint Pain, Neuralgia – Nerve Pain)

Kalmia shows prominent action on limbs as well. Here it can settle issues related to joints and nerves primarily. It works wonders in case of joint inflammation when there is redness, heat and swelling of the joints. The slightest motion worsens the pain. The pain can also increase in the evening and from exposure to cold wind. There may be pain in the shoulder, arm joints and wrist, especially the left one. Pain may be felt in the hips radiating to legs and feet, knees and in the ankles along with swelling. A peculiar feature is the sudden shifting of pain from one joint to the other. The pain is sharp and shooting type. Pain mostly begins in the upper limbs and then shifts to the lower limbs.  Pain may also occur in a large part of the limb and then quickly shift to another part. This medicine also helps to give substantial relief in the deltoid muscle (triangular muscle in shoulder) pain, especially on the right side. Apart from the joints, it is a great nerve remedy. Kalmia shows tremendous benefits in managing neuralgia (nerve pain). Its use is considered for nerve pain that shoots down the limbs. Numbness and pricking sensation with weakness in the limbs is a classic symptom guiding its use. Limbs may feel cold too. It is the main medicine for pain felt along the ulnar nerve (this nerve travels from neck downwards near ulna bone which is a bone in the forearm towards the little finger side) radiating to the third and fourth fingers.

Key Indicating Features

Sudden shifting of pain from one joint to another

Neuralgia for nerve pain that shoots down the limbs

Numbness and pricking sensation with weakness in limbs

Pain along ulnar nerve radiating to third and fourth finger

3. Eyes (Pain, Iritis, Scleritis, Ptosis)

With its action on eyes, it proves helpful in cases of eye pain that gets worse from eye movement. There is a drawing sensation in the eyes along with stiffness that is felt when the eyeballs move. Its use is recommended for cases of Iritis and Scleritis. Iritis refers to inflammation of iris. Scleritis is inflammation of white part of the eye. The specific indication for using it is iritis or scleritis in cases associated with joint inflammation. Other than these, it can be given to manage itching in the eyes. This medicine is also successful for managing cases of ptosis (drooping of upper eyelid).

Key Indicating Features

Pain in eye worsening from eye movement

Drawing sensation in the eyes and stiffness on moving eyes

Iritis or scleritis in cases associated with joint inflammation

Ptosis

4. Face (Trigeminal Neuralgia, Facial Pain)

Further action of this medicine is on the face. Here it is preferred for treating trigeminal neuralgia (sudden severe pain in the face from pressure over trigeminal nerve or damage/injury to this nerve). It is the most helpful for right-sided neuralgia. Pain is shooting, pressing or sticking type in cases needing it. Pain may be attended with numbness. It gets worse from exposure to cold, while it gets better by eating. Another noteworthy indication of this medicine is nerve pain in the face after Herpes Zoster (a viral disease caused by varicella zoster virus, characterised by painful skin rash with blisters).  Lastly it is valuable to manage pain in teeth of upper jaw.

Key Indicating Features

Trigeminal neuralgia of right side

Facial pain of shooting, pressing or sticking type that may be attended with numbness

Facial pain worse from cold exposure and better from eating

Nerve pain in face after Herpes Zoster

5. Head (Headache)

The most important feature based on which Kalmia is selected is headache beginning at sunrise, worsening at noon and leaving at sunset. A very unique symptom is relief from headache after profuse urination. The pain is felt in the front and the temples of the head that extends to the nape of the neck or to teeth. It also works well when pain begins in the nape of the neck and goes to the top of the head and face. Additionally, it is capable of relieving pain in head above the right eye (supra orbital pain). Vertigo may occur along with headache.

Key Indicating Features

Headache beginning at sunrise, worsening at noon and leaving at sunset

Headache gets better by profuse urination

6. Heart (Angina Pectoris, Pain, Tobacco Heart)

Kalmia is an important medicine for managing certain heart complaints. This medicine is well indicated for cases of Angina Pectoris (heart pain occurring from reduced blood supply to the heart), heart pain that is sharp, stabbing/burning/shooting type. The pain extends to the left scapula and arm. Pulse is slow and feeble. Its use is also indicated when there are palpitations, that get worse from leaning forward and better by sitting erect. It is attended with anxiety and difficult breathing. It is a leading medicine for managing heart-related issues that appear from excessive use of tobacco (tobacco heart).

Key Indicating Features

Heart pain of sharp, stabbing, burning, shooting nature radiating to left scapula and arm

Palpitations worse from leaning forward and better from sitting erect

Tobacco heart (heart-related problems resulting from excessive use of tobacco)

7. Gastric Problems (Stomach Pain, Loose Stool)

This medicine can tackle certain gastric issues as well. First among these is pain in the pit of stomach that worsens from bending forward and better from sitting erect. The pit of stomach is sore to touch. Kalmia is used to relieve cramping pain in stomach along with belching of wind. Kalmia can be given for loose stool when accompanied by stomach pain, nausea, weakness and dullness. Rest of its indications include obstructed gas with nausea, abdomen pain above the navel and sensation of weakness in abdomen.

Key Indicating Features

Pain in pit of stomach worse from bending forward and better from sitting erect

Loose stool attended with stomach pain, nausea, weakness and dullness

Modalities

Worsening factors: Complaints get worse by bending forward, stooping, turning eyes, motion, from sunrise to sunset.

Relieving factors: Complaints get better by  eating, sitting, in cloudy weather

Dosage

It can be used in both low and high potencies. Its frequent repetition can be considered in low potencies but in high potencies, frequent repetition of this medicine should be avoided. In case of heart problems, this medicine should only be taken after consulting a homeopathic physician and self – medication be strictly avoided.

Relationship with Other Remedies

Antidoted by: Aconite and Belladonna

It antidotes: Tabacum

Followed well by: Calcarea Carb, Lycopodium, Natrum Mur, Pulsatilla and Spigelia

It follows well Nux Vomica and Spigelia