See also Arthritis.

Ferrum Phos

If this remedy be taken steadily from the onset, it is often the only one required in rheumatic fever. Acute articular rheumatism, which is very painful, is an inflammatory febrile disease in its first stage. Acute rheumatism when any movement sets up the pain or tends to increase it. Articular rheumatism, especially of the shoulder; pains extend to upper part of chest, attacks one joint after another. The first remedy in all acute rheumatic troubles, muscular, acute or subacute. Worse on motion; better by warmth. Soreness in every part of the body, especially the joints, worse on motion. Lumbago, stiff back, etc. Stiff neck from cold. "Pains especially severe at night, preventing sleep. Marked stiffness on first moving after rest." (Arndt.) Aggravation by motion or idea of motion. Hands swollen and painful.

Kali Mur

Second stage of rheumatic fever, when exudation takes place around the joints. This remedy removes swelling by restoring the non-functional cells of the excretory and absorbing structures to normal action. Rheumatic, gouty pains if movement makes them worse and if there be a white or gray-furred tongue. Swelling of the parts. Pains which are only felt during motion or increased by it, if Ferrum phos. does not remove them altogether. Chronic rheumatism with swelling, or when all movements cause pain. Gray or white-coated tongue, or white discharges.

Kali Phos

Acute and chronic rheumatism with pains disappearing on moving about, severe in the morning after rest, and on first getting up from a sitting position. Very painful rheumatism, the parts feel stiff on first attempting to rise up; improves slowly, but is increased by all exertion or fatigue. Stiffness, paralytic tendency. Laming pains, better on gentle exercise.

Natrum Phos

In a recent note to Dr. Goullon, Schussler calls attention to Natrum phos. as a remedy for inflammatory rheumatism, having successfully used it in several cases with rapid curative results. While Ferrum phos. corresponds to simple, uncomplicated cases, there can be no doubt Natrum phos. corresponds more nearly to such cases as are characterized by yellow-coated tongue, acid symptoms, or where there is a scrofulous basis. Rheumatic pains in the joints, with profuse sour-smelling sweat. Acute gout, chronic gout, chronic articular rheumatism. Naintm phos. acts upon the uric acid of the cells and renders it harmless. "Great stiffness and cracking of joints. Aggravated towards evening." (J. W. Ward, M. D).

Kali Sulph

Rheumatic fever when the articular pains are shifting, wandering or flitting. Rheumatic headaches. Pains in the joints, chronic or acute, that change about. Acute articular rheumatism of a shifting nature, settling in one part and then in another. Chronic rheumatism of the joints, pains worse In the evening and in warm air, better in cool air. Pains in the back, nape or limbs. "Kali sulph. I have repeatedly tested in wandering rheumatism, and have had very favorable results." (Dr. Schlegelman.) Rheumatic or neuralgic cases, patients complain of soreness from three A. M. until they get up.

Magnesia Phos

Acute rheumatism of the joints, for the violent pains, as an intercurrent remedy. Excruciating, spasmodic pains during rheumatic fever. "The pains are aggravated by the slightest touch and are improved by warmth and hard pressure." (Puhlmann).

Natrum Mur

After the second remedy (Kali mur.), if the symptoms correspond. Symptoms of tongue, etc. Chronic rheumatism of the joints; joints crack.

Natrum Sulph

Rheumatic pains, pains and stiffness in nape and back, pain in joints, especially of toes and fingers and wrists, pain in hip joints aggravated when rising from a seat or moving in bed. (Perkins).

Calcarea Phos

Rheumatism, which is worse at night, aggravated by heat or cold, worse in bad weather (also Ferrum phos.), worse from change of weather. Rheumatism of the joints with cold or numb feeling, creeping feeling in parts affected. Sensation of ants crawling on the affected parts. Numbness, lameness. Every cold brings on rheumatic pains in the joints. Pains in sutures. Stiffness of neck from exposure to dampness; aching and soreness in limbs. Pains in sacroiliac synchondroses, worse with every change of weather.

Clinical Cases

Mrs. R., aged 22 years, had suffered for years with debility and indigestion. She was very much subject to colds and rheumatic pains which wandered and shifted around over the body. She was generally worse in the evening, in a warm room, but better in the open cool air. She suffered much with neuralgia of the face, which was intermittent and shifting, but better in cool air.

Tongue generally coated a little yellow. She had had a great many skin boils which usually came after a rheumatic spell. Kali sulph. was so very satisfactory that she keeps it in the house all the time for use if any of the old symptoms return. (0. A. Palmer, M. D).

Kali Mur

This is a great remedy, and all its indications should be mastered. The following case well illustrates its ability:

Mr. M., aged 78 years, had been sick for four or five years, and the most of his suffering was in his digestive organs. He had a poor appetite and a white coat on his tongue, most of the time. Eyes were large and protruding. Could not eat fatty or greasy food without increasing his trouble. He had flatulence and stomach-ache, with constipation and diarrhoea, alternating every three or four weeks.

He has suffered with chronic rheumatism for years, and many of his joints were more or less swollen, all the time, and worse when moved. He was badly troubled with indigestion, and vomited every few days, which gave him relief for awhile. In his prime he was a strong man, and now he is nothing but a grumbling wreck. After giving him general directions in regard to his foods, baths, etc., I gave him Kali mur. 3x, three tablets every two hours, which not only relieved his general catarrhal condition, but relieved him every way. so that within six weeks he could walk around and feel comfortable. He gave me to understand that it was the first medicine that had done him any good. (O. A. Palmer, M. D).