Homoeopathy — Page 475
Ledum 475 affected nerve fibres will receive the message of reverting to their normal state. Arnica, Ledum, Hypericum and Symphytum, etc. can be useful in the treatment of phantom pain , provided that the original disease i. e. before amputation, is the focus of treatment. The Ledum patient is cold and feels very cold both inside and out, yet his joint pains feel better with cold applications. They become worse on the application of heat. It is strange, yet real in the case of Ledum. The face of a Ledum patient, like that of Lachesis, appears swollen. Similar symptoms are also found in heart patients. The face of a Ledum patient is somewhat bluish. The legs and feet also, are swollen (oedematous) and bluish in colour. The Ledum patient is generally stout and well built. Ledum may also be useful in the treatment of chronic pain of the knee joints , in addition to the ankles, provided the pain seems to be relieved with cold applications. As in Gelsemium, the patient passes plenty of colourless urine freely. In female patients of Ledum, periods are frequent, excessive and of deep red colour. These symptoms being present, Ledum will cure the uterine dysfunction also. Remember however, that symptoms of Ledum subside with cold applications. One symptom is common to Pulsatilla and Ledum yet it is not difficult to differentiate between the two. In Ledum the limbs that become the seat of chronic pain, gradually become weak, contracted and shrivelled, in comparison to the non-affected side. The clear distinction is that a Pulsatilla patient feels hot and gets relief with cold, while the patient of Ledum feels cold yet gets relief with cold. Moreover, his ailments still get better in cold weather. Ledum is also useful in the treatment of eye conditions. Injury to the eye, blood shots, and simultaneous onset of gout and cataract respond beautifully to treatment with Ledum. In Ledum, tiny red pimples form on the forehead and cheeks, which are painful to touch. Acne appears on the nose and at the mouth. The nose burns. There is a suffocating type of cough and the phlegm is mixed with blood. The trachea feels sore and constricted, causing difficulty in breathing. The innate body temperature of a Ledum patient is low (sub-normal), yet