I have been treating depression with homeopathic medicines for about a year and a half. I started out with Nurturmur and Hecla Lava and some Ignatia. When the depression worsened after a few months, I was put on Aurum (200CK) and Aconitum (200CK) for the accompanying anxiety. However, I found the Aurum, though it lifted the depression stirred me up a great deal and I ended up in a panic. Then, when I took the Aconitum I felt calm but depressed. I am totally confused now as to what is the best remedy for depression. When I took only one of the 200CK Aurum, the panic was not as bad and the depression did lift. I took both the Aurum and Aconitum about four times a day; but lately, after I take them, I get even more depressed. I find the 30C of those medicines not as effective but the next higher dosage (the 200CK) seems too much. I often feel in a stupor after taking them and barely functional.
Has anyone found any remedy for depression and anxiety that is more consistent than those I mentioned?
Thank you for any help you can offer. I am under the care of a homeopathic doctor and though there is an improvement since I first started the medicine, the improvement seems to be that I get relief at times but the depression when it comes is as deep as ever which I don't think should be after one and a half years of treatment. I'm afraid the medicine is not the right one for me but do not know what else to try.

Hi snowyhome.

IS it by your homeopaths' advice that you are repeating your remedy that often? 4 times a day?

Its kind of a rule of thumb that when a remedy is acting well we dont change it. It seems like aurum is doing something good but the potency as youve indicated seems too strong. Perhaps the real problem is potency. The nice thing about homeopathy is one can and should fine tune the dose to match the patients needs. There are a number of ways of doing this-LM potencies for example. No one on the board could really recommend a better remedy because we dont know you as an individual. So assuming Aur is the best remedy which it may not be(homeopathy is somwhat forgiving in this respect as a remedy may appear to be working well but doesnt stand the test of time<as it were> as you have alluded to), theres not much advice to offer. It does seem odd to me that the homeopath is using more than one remedy at time ( are these alternating states - the depression and anxiety?). I find it kind of sad that you feel like you have to work this out on your own. And in Philly of all places!

Dear Matt, Thank you so much for your response. It gave me something new to consider; for instance, the potency. I was taking 2 Arum 200CK when the depression was at its worse; but then switched to 1 Arum 200CK because two stirred me up too much. I'm wondering now if 2 at 30C might be better for me.
Could you explain what "LM" means - you wrote that it relates to limiting potencies.
I agree that it seems odd to take Arum for depression and then when it makes me anxious, I have to take Aconitum (which actually at times makes me depressed while it calms me.) I take one 200CK of Aconitum and two when I go to bed so that I sleep well.
You mentioned about my having to figure this out when I live in Philly... actually near Phillie; but the thing is that my Health Insurance only covers Medical Doctors and it is difficult to find a Medical Dr. who practices Homeopathy. I did find one and he is wonderful but I just feel after a year and half of treatment, the depression should not come back this severly. I wish the Naturmur and Ignatia which I took in the beginning would work again since I had no side effects (like sadness or anxiety) when I took those. I have heard that Aurum is very strong and maybe it is just too strong for my nervous system.
Do you, or anyone, have any other remedies for depression which have been helpful.
Thanks again Matt. It was great that you took the time to help!
SnowyHome

Hi, I am wondering if weight has anything to do with the potency recommendation? I weigh 95 pounds which is the weight of an average 12 or 13 year old. Matt helpfully suggested that since I was having these side effects in my treatment for depression perhaps I should limit the potency. When I realize my weight is so low, I am thinking perhaps this is why the Arum at 200CK stirs me up so much and the Aconitum at 200CK calms but leave me sad.
Is weight a factor in terms of determining potency.
SnowyHome

Hi Snowyhome


Firstly weight generally is not a consideration in making a prescription. but rather the individuals vital energy. For example we could safely give an infant a much higher potency than a 200 . What bothers me is that you are repeating these remedies very often. We must get away from the allopathic(orthodox) way of taking meds. It is not uncommon for a homeopath to give a 200 potency one time- or a 30 for that matter and than wait for a month or more before following up with the patient. Hahnemann makes it quite clear NOT to keep repeating a remedy in the same potency. The nice thing about LMs ( Lms are merely another scale of dilution) is they ARE taken usually every day and the potency is raised each day so you are not taking the same potency but rather the rx becomes stronger each day. It was Hahnemanns final method of application,. Again however it would be folly and unethical for anyone to recommend a different remedy without taking your case. Yes the remedies youve mentioned are commonly related to grief , sadness and anxiety but there are so many more. It is the homeopaths work to find ONE remedy that suits YOU as an individual. "Homoeopathy does not fail - the doctor fails."

MHill HD R(Hom.)