Homeopathic Constitutional Remedies
Everyone is born with a certain personality or character. But did you know that homeopathic remedies can have personalities too? The character or personality of a remedy comes from the substance it is made of. So a remedy made from an oyster shell will be well suited for a shy, homely person who values security, while a remedy made from a flammable substance such as phosphorus will suit a more spontaneous and excitable person.
There are over 4000 homeopathic remedies to call on. Each with their own profile of physical and emotional characteristics. They vary in their realm and depth of action. Remedies can be taken for acute conditions or for deeper constitutional support.
Your constitutional remedy will be the one that fits the whole picture for you at a given point in time. It is a genuinely holistic approach. Chosen to take into account the many different aspects of your health. This will usually act more deeply than a remedy for an acute condition.
Genotypes and Phenotypes
The Canadian homeopath Dr. Rudi Verspoor noticed that in healthy children six remedies constantly came up. He termed these the genotypes. This is what one is born with when they come into this world and is essentially what makes up a huge part of their personality. It signifies what a person is like in health.
Verspoor found that in times of stress people sometimes added a protective layer to their personalities to help protect them against being hurt again. A sensitive, romantic person may, for example become cold and withdrawn after being rejected in love. Their cold exterior now guarding their sensitive core. Verspoor called this the phenotype.
Silica
You pause before answering: not from shyness, but from wanting to choose the exact right words. Life is measured: the right foods, the right friends, the right path. You notice the smallest changes - a shift in tone, a cool draft in the air - and hold yourself to quiet, exacting standards. Beneath that precision lies a delicate stamina. Fatigue, chill, or self-doubt can creep in, and you may find yourself pushing through on sheer will while others assume you’re fine.
Imagine keeping your clarity and care, but warmed from within. Cold no longer settles deep in your bones, fatigue no longer flickers at the edges of your day. Confidence feels steady, not forced. You move at your own thoughtful pace without feeling brittle, and the small details you notice become strengths instead of weights.
Silicea, made from pure silica, suits those who are gentle yet unyielding - soft-spoken but able to endure. This state often arises when the nervous system is overtaxed, the immune system sluggish, or the spirit burdened by perfectionism and unspoken duty. The remedy supports resilience without rigidity, helping you trust your natural pace and quiet strength. When it resonates, the need to prove yourself fades, and the power in subtlety becomes your true anchor.
Lycopodium
You like to be prepared: every detail thought through, every risk managed. Outwardly, you seem capable and in control, but just beneath is a quiet fear of not being enough. Important meetings, public speaking, or new responsibilities stir an inner tension you work hard to hide. You’ve learned to appear confident, even while bracing for criticism or failure. Digestive discomfort may creep in during stress, and you might notice energy dip sharply mid-afternoon.
Imagine keeping your skill and competence, but without the constant self-check. You speak without rehearsing, lead without second-guessing, and approach challenges without the knot in your stomach. Digestive ease returns, your energy is more consistent, and you can admit uncertainty without feeling exposed. The respect you wanted arrives—not through perfection, but through relaxed presence.
Lycopodium, prepared from the spores of club moss, reflects this pattern of cautious authority covering quiet doubt. The fine, dry spores once lit lamps—a fitting symbol for the hidden fire inside this type. Lycopodium states often arise in those who carried early responsibility, learned to manage others, but never fully trusted their own place. In potency, the remedy steadies confidence, softens the need to control, and restores the ability to laugh at mistakes. True strength becomes gentle, not guarded.
Calcarea Carbonica
You are the steady presence others rely on: practical, loyal, and quietly protective. You prefer life at a measured pace, with familiar routines and secure surroundings. Sudden change feels unsettling, and when life moves too fast, you may retreat into your shell. Physical exertion can leave you drained, and chill or damp weather seeps quickly into your bones. There’s a softness in your nature, but also a stubborn strength: once you commit, you stay the course.
Imagine keeping that dependable calm, but with more energy and less worry. You wake rested, tackle the day without feeling weighed down, and meet change without anxiety. The warmth you offer others still feels solid, but it no longer costs you your reserves. Fatigue eases, digestion steadies, and your natural rhythm feels like wisdom rather than limitation.
Calcarea carbonica, made from the inner layer of oyster shell, suits those with a protective outer layer guarding a gentle core. This state often appears in people who shoulder responsibility quietly, preferring the familiar and resisting haste. In balance, Calcarea supports steady endurance, restores confidence, and softens fears about security, health, or stability. It helps you stand firm without withdrawing—rooted, warm, and ready to meet life on your own terms.
Phosphorus
Your presence lights up a room—quick to laugh, quick to comfort, quick to share a vivid idea. You thrive on connection, and your energy draws people in. Yet giving so freely can leave you suddenly drained, pale, or dizzy. Heat rises quickly to your face, then chills follow; strong emotions ripple through your body like an electric current. Silence or solitude may feel more like emptiness than rest, and you find yourself seeking company to steady your mood.
Imagine keeping that warmth and creativity, but with steadier reserves. You still inspire and connect, but without burning through your own fuel. Circulation feels even, overstimulation settles, and you can enjoy quiet without discomfort. Inspiration still comes easily—only now it has the space to develop fully, rather than vanishing in a rush.
Phosphorus, prepared from the pure element, bursts into flame in air—a perfect symbol for this type’s bright yet delicate vitality. In imbalance, boundaries become porous, and the nervous and circulatory systems overstretch. The remedy strengthens those boundaries, helping light radiate without leaking. When it resonates, generosity gains endurance, creativity gains follow-through, and the inner flame glows steadily—illuminating without exhausting.
Pulsatilla
Your moods shift with the weather: a sunny morning brings ease, a grey sky draws quiet tears you can’t fully explain. You lean toward gentleness, preferring harmony over conflict, yet indecision can keep you swaying between choices. Warm, stuffy rooms feel oppressive; an open window or a walk in the cool evening air is instant relief. Symptoms tend to wander : pain changes location, congestion shifts sides—and rich foods often leave you bloated or uneasy.
Imagine staying tender without feeling tossed by every change. Emotions still flow, but with a steady undercurrent that keeps you balanced. You can choose without overthinking, enjoy company without clinging, and let both laughter and tears pass naturally. Digestion steadies, breathing feels freer, and fresh air is a pleasure rather than a need.
Pulsatilla, prepared from the windflower, bends easily with every breeze yet springs upright when the air grows still. This remedy suits those whose sweetness masks uncertainty: children who cling to a parent’s hand, adults who seek reassurance yet shy from pressure. In potency, it encourages emotional adaptability without loss of center. When it resonates, the ability to be moved by life remains - but without losing your footing in its shifting winds.
Sulphur
Your mind is a constant workshop: brimming with ideas, theories, and inventions. Inspiration strikes at odd hours, often pulling you deep into thought while the world sleeps. Practical matters like tidying up or eating on time feel secondary to the pursuit of insight. Heat rises to your head and feet; your face may flush easily, and your toes burn so much you kick off the covers at night. The body itches for movement, yet long hours at a desk can leave your skin irritated or inflamed.
Imagine keeping your brilliance but with more focus and comfort in your own skin. Projects reach completion, your mind stays sharp without overheating, and the body feels cooler and steadier. Creative bursts still come, but they’re grounded enough to bring lasting results. Surroundings begin to feel ordered enough to support your thinking rather than distract from it.
Sulphur, prepared from elemental brimstone, feeds both flame and fertile soil: a symbol of transformation. In imbalance, the mental fire burns too hot, outpacing physical care and scattering focus. The remedy channels that energy, balancing mind and body so insight becomes illumination rather than agitation. When it resonates, creativity deepens, the skin clears, and the world feels like a stable base for your next big idea.
Sepia Officinalis
You move through the day with a quiet heaviness, as if a part of you has turned inward. Affection, once easy, can now feel like an intrusion. Irritation may flare suddenly, only to sink into indifference. Physical signs echo the mood—pelvic congestion, menstrual irregularities, hot flushes rising up the trunk, cold hands and feet. Exercise or dance can briefly lift the weight, but once you stop, the flatness returns.
Imagine that energy flowing outward again. You finish tasks without dragging, greet loved ones without bracing, and enjoy touch or closeness without feeling crowded. Movement leaves you refreshed, not just distracted, and emotions feel like they’re circulating instead of pooling. Hormonal rhythms smooth out, sleep deepens, and mornings arrive without the sense of being already tired.
Sepia, prepared from cuttlefish ink, speaks to a pattern where energy turns inward until it stagnates. Often seen in those stretched between roles—parent, partner, worker—this state can emerge when the self’s needs have been set aside too long. In potency, the remedy reawakens centrifugal flow, helping vitality, affection, and creativity reach the surface again. When it resonates, resignation shifts to calm strength, and connection regains its ease.
Nux Vomica
You run on momentum: early starts, late nights, and a schedule so tight there’s no room for pause. Coffee fuels the morning, something stronger might take the edge off at night. You thrive on challenge, but even small delays can spark sharp irritation. By evening your stomach burns, shoulders knot, and sleep is broken by restless thoughts at 3 a.m. Noise, light, or even a faint smell can feel like an assault when you’re running on fumes.
Imagine keeping your drive but with a smoother rhythm. You still meet deadlines, but without the clenched jaw or chemical crutches. Focus feels clear from the start of the day, digestion moves easily, and when you lie down at night, your mind powers down with the lights. Mornings bring energy without the need to force it, and minor disruptions no longer throw you off course.
Nux vomica, prepared from the seeds of the “poison nut” tree, is the archetype of over-stimulation. In crude form it excites the nervous system; in potency, it helps release that very overstimulation. This remedy suits the high-achiever whose pace turns against them—traders, entrepreneurs, parents juggling too much—until body and temper rebel. When it resonates, discipline no longer demands self-punishment, and efficiency becomes sustainable.
Natrum Muriaticum
You move quietly through the world, reading the room more than speaking in it. Feelings run deep, but you keep them contained: especially grief or disappointment. Solitude is a refuge, yet sometimes it shades into loneliness. Attempts at consolation can feel intrusive, tightening the chest or bringing tears you’d rather hide. Physical signs may echo the theme: tension headaches, dry lips, or a craving for salt that soothes yet sometimes aggravates.
Imagine keeping your privacy without carrying the weight alone. You can let emotion flow without fearing it will overwhelm you, and time alone refreshes instead of isolating. Conversations leave you steady, tears pass naturally, and the body softens: headaches ease, sleep deepens, and the nervous system relaxes its constant watch.
Natrum muriaticum, prepared from sea salt, preserves and protects—just as this type guards their inner life. In imbalance, that guarding can harden into self-containment that blocks both hurt and warmth. The remedy supports the release of stored emotion, moisturising dry tissues and loosening the reflex to withdraw at the first sign of sympathy. When it resonates, the heart’s tide moves freely again - arriving and receding like the sea, leaving connection in its wake instead of distance.
Staphysagria
You meet the world with courtesy, smoothing over rough edges and swallowing small slights. You thank the waiter who spills your drink, accept extra work without protest, and apologise when someone bumps into you. Yet each unspoken grievance drops into an invisible jar inside your chest. In time, the jar rattles: jaw tight, eyelid twitching, skin erupting in irritation. One small remark can open the floodgates to an outburst that surprises even you, followed by tears or regret.
Imagine courtesy that comes from choice, not compulsion. You speak a firm “No” without the tremor of guilt, and your body eases in response—skin clears, headaches lift, bladder calms. Harmony still matters, but you no longer trade away self-respect to keep it. Boundaries hold, and silence feels peaceful instead of tense.
Staphysagria, prepared from the stavesacre seed, is beautiful in form yet powerfully protective - a mirror of this temperament. In imbalance, refined manners hide chronic, suppressed anger or the residue of deep humiliation. It’s common in those who endure control, criticism, or violation while telling themselves to “stay nice.” In potency, the remedy helps release stored indignation, transforming repression into measured self-respect. When it resonates, the sword of defense can rest - ready if needed, but no longer cutting inward.
I’m Dr. Rodger Douglas, DMH, a South African-born homeopath now based in Osaka, Japan. With a psychology degree from Nelson Mandela University and a diploma from the Hahnemann College of Heilkunst, I specialize in holistic care for fibromyalgia. I serve clients by phone or video across the US, Canada, the UK, and beyond.