Raynaud's Disease and Homeopathy

February is Raynaud’s disease awareness month so I thought we’d explore a little about this condition. 

Raynaud’s disease, or Raynaud’s syndrome, is a condition where constriction of the arteries cause reduced blood flow to the extremities, most commonly the hands but sometime the feet also.  This can result in the affected parts turning white, then blue.  This may feel numb or it may be painful.  Once the blood flow returns, the area turns red and the person may feel a burning sensation. 

This may be the only health concern a person has, known as primary Raynaud’s, or it may be a secondary concern for people who also have Scleroderma or Lupus. 

Conventional medical treatment usually includes Calcium channel blockers, (These drugs relax and open small blood vessels in your hands and feet, decreasing the frequency and severity of attacks in most people with Raynaud's, and Vasodilators. These drugs, which relax blood vessels, include nitro-glycerine cream applied to the base of your fingers to help heal skin ulcers[1]. 

There are some self help measures that people can take which can help to prevent to lessen the intensity of an attack.  Things such as:

• Wearing gloves and warm socks in cold weather to keep the extremities warm. 
• Avoiding caffeine.
• Stopping smoking (if applicable).
• Controlling stress.
• Regular exercise.

Because of the nature of Raynaud’s disease, it is best treated constitutionally if opting to use homeopathy to help with your symptoms.  I’ve touched on this approach in a separate blog post (https://www.solashomeopathy.com/solas-blog/what-to-expect-when-using-homeopathy) which you can read at your leisure. 

There are a few remedies that have a marked action on this condition, though don’t despair if you are prescribed something different.  We are all individual and so the remedy will be selected for you based on what you and the homeopath have discussed and how your symptoms present. 
​
Agaricus
This remedy proves most useful in cases where the symptoms of Raynaud’s become worse on exposure to the cold.  The fingers will become numb and turn blueish.  This can sometimes be accompanied by a pins and needles type sensation.

Carbo Veg
Carbo V is most likely to be used where there is a marbling of the skin with a bluish tinge. 

Secale
Secale is called on when the fingers become icy cold and numb during an attack of Raynaud’s.  This may be followed by tingling in the fingers. 
Whichever remedy is chosen for you, it’s the beginning of your journey back to wellness. 
 
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[1] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/raynauds-disease/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20363572