Sticta Pulmonaria: Homeopathic Medicine – Its Use, Indications And Dosage

Homeopathic medicine Sticta Pulmonaria is a highly recommended medicine for various nasal problems, respiratory issues and joint complaints. It is of great clinical significance in treating cases of dry cold with scab formation in nose and nasal stuffiness. It gives excellent results in cases of dry cough, inflammation of trachea or bronchial tubes. Sticta works wonders in cases of joint inflammation and housemaid’s knee (inflamed bursa, a fluid-filled sac in front of knee).

The ‘Sticta Pulmonaria’ Constitution

This medicine is well suited to people suffering from cold, cough or joint problems. It is also suitable for those having disposition to get nerve pain (neuralgia) often.

Drug Action

The principal action of this remedy is seen on the nose, respiratory organs and joints. Other than these, it also acts well on head, throat and trachea.

Clinical Indications

Cold, nasal allergies, post nasal drip, cough, lung disorders, bronchitis, tracheitis, laryngitis, asthma, ozaena, joint problems, house maid’s knee, headaches, clergyman’s sore throat

Scope As A Homeopathic Remedy

1. Nasal Complaints (Dry Cold, Allergy, Ozaena)

Sticta Pulmonaria manifests its chief action on nose and has a great affinity to treat various nasal problems. It is a brilliant medicine to manage cases of cold especially dry cold. In cases needing it, the secretions in nose dry up and form scabs causing nasal stuffiness. These scabs are difficult to dislodge. The entire nasal membrane dries up. There is marked obstruction in the nose mainly at night that hampers sleep. The person has a constant desire to blow nose but no discharge clears out. A very characteristic symptom to use Sticta Pulmonaria is fullness sensation at the root of the nose. Its use is recommended for cases of nasal allergy when there is continuous sneezing. Along with this, there may occur tingling sensation in the right nostril. Fullness in the right side forehead extending to root of nose is well marked. Sticta works well in cases of ozaena, also known as atrophic rhinitis. In this condition, there occurs atrophy (shrinkage) of the nasal mucus lining and the underneath bone. Here, it is indicated when there occur dry scabs in the nose that get dislodged with difficulty.

Key Indicating Features

Dry cold when secretions in nose dry up and form scabs that are difficult to dislodge

Obstruction in nose mainly at night preventing sleep

Fullness sensation at the root of nose

Ozaena with dry scabs in nose that dislodge with difficulty

2. Respiratory Issues (Cough, Bronchitis, Tracheitis)

Sticta has a remarkable action on the respiratory system. It is a magnificent medicine to manage cases of cough that is dry hacking type. Cough arises from tickling in larynx. Along with cough, there occurs splitting type of headache in frontal region.  In cases needing it, there may be either no expectoration or there occurs expectoration of white frothy, scanty matter. Cough is worse at night hindering a good sleep. Cough tends to get worse on inhalation. In cases of cough that occur after cold or measles, it gives good results. Besides, it is beneficial in treating cough that occurs in cold damp weather. In such cases, there may occur bloody expectoration with cough. This medicine is well indicated for bronchitis and tracheitis cases. Bronchitis is the inflammation of lining of the bronchial tubes that carry air to and from the lungs. Tracheitis is the inflammation of trachea (windpipe). In tracheitis cases, it helps to aid expectoration.

Key Indicating Features

Dry hacking cough that arises from tickling in larynx

Cough worse at night preventing sleep and worse on inspiration

Cough after cold or measles

3. Joint Problems (Joint Inflammation, Housemaid’s Knee)

This medicine is successfully used to treat joint inflammation. It is very effective in managing joint inflammation with redness, swelling and heat in the joint. There is excessive pain in the knee joint. The pain is sharp, darting, and lancinating in nature. The knee joint is swollen and stiff. Next, its use is recommended for shoulder joint pain on the right side. The pain may extend to the forearm and worsens at night. The pain is also felt in the deltoid and triceps muscle. It can also be administered to those who experience wrist joint pain with swelling. Pain increases during movement. Next, it can be used for pain and swelling in the right ankle joint. This medicine is also recommended if the pain starts from knee joint followed by elbow, shoulder, finger joints and rest of the joints throughout the body. The joint pain causes sleeplessness too. Apart from these Sticta is one of the best and almost specific medicine for treating cases of housemaid’s knee (also known as prepatellar bursitis which is inflammation of fluid filled sac in front of the knee). In these cases, it helps when there is intense swelling, pain, stiffness and sensitivity to the knee joint.

Key Indicating Features

Joint inflammation with redness, swelling and heat of joint

Sharp pain in the knee joint as well as darting, and lancinating in nature with swelling and stiffness

Shoulder joint pain on right side that worsens at night

Housemaid’s Knee – inflammation of prepatellar bursa i.e. fluid – filled sac in front of the knee

Bursitis of knee with intense swelling, pain, stiffness and sensitivity to the knee joint

4. Throat  Complaints (Tracheitis, Clergyman’s Sore Throat, PND)

It acts well on the throat and offers help in cases of tracheitis (inflammation of trachea – wind pipe). Next, it is a prominently indicated medicine for clergyman’s sore throat cases. Clergyman’s sore throat refers to inflammation of pharynx occurring in people who overstrain voice habitually like the public speakers, singers. In such cases, it works best when there is excessive dryness of mucous membrane of the throat. Its last indication is for use in post-nasal discharge (PND) means dripping of mucus from the backend of nostrils into the throat. It is attended with rawness in the throat.

Key Indicating Features

Tracheitis (inflammation of trachea – wind pipe)

Clergyman’s sore throat (inflammation of pharynx in those who overstrain voice habitually like the public speakers, singers) with excessive dryness of mucous membrane of throat

Post nasal discharge (PND means dripping of mucus from backend of nostrils into the throat) accompanied with rawness in throat.

5. Head (Headache)

It can effectively help in relieving headache. This medicine is suitable for managing dull headache attended with pressure in the forehead and root of nose. It can also be used if the pain is in the head in case of cold before nasal discharges begin. Besides these it is useful for headache that worsens from light and noise and is attended with nausea and vomiting.

Key Indicating Features

Dull headache with pressure in forehead and root of the nose

Pain in the head in case of cold before start of nasal discharges

Headache worsens from light and noise along with nausea and vomiting

Modalities

Worsening factors: Complaints get worse from lying down, at night, on movement, upon being touched and from sudden change of temperature

Relieving factors: Better in open air, and by applying pressure

Dosage

It can be used from 6C to the subsequent higher potencies. In low potency, its repetition can be frequent. But in higher potencies frequent repetition is not recommended.

Relationship with Other Remedies

This medicine can be compared with Drosera, Rumex, Nux Vomica and Sambucus in complaint of cough and cold

In case of joint complaints, it can be compared with medicines including Actaea Racemosa and Stellaria media.