Homeopathic Remedies for Pain
Pain is one of the most difficult aspects of living with fibromyalgia. It’s often widespread, unpredictable, and resistant to conventional treatment. In this article, we’ll begin with a few simple but powerful practices like grounding, sleep, and emotional journaling. Then we’ll explore the homeopathic approach to pain relief.
Grounding
Grounding, or earthing, refers to direct physical contact with the earth—walking barefoot on grass, lying on sand, or immersing in natural water. Studies suggest that grounding may reduce inflammation and pain by allowing the body to absorb free electrons from the earth, which act as natural antioxidants. For fibromyalgia sufferers, who often feel disconnected from their bodies, this simple practice can help reestablish a sense of calm and centeredness. Grounding also helps regulate circadian rhythms, making it easier to fall asleep—an essential part of pain recovery.
Restorative Sleep
Quality sleep is not a luxury—it’s a cornerstone of healing. Pain disrupts sleep, and poor sleep heightens pain sensitivity, creating a vicious cycle. Restorative sleep, especially deep non-REM sleep, allows the body to repair tissues, regulate inflammation, and calm overactive pain signals. For people with fibromyalgia, supporting sleep may include natural interventions like reducing screen time, keeping a regular sleep schedule, and using melatonin or calming herbs. Healing begins not with action, but with rest.
Sarno Journaling
Dr. John Sarno proposed that chronic pain often has emotional roots, especially repressed rage, fear, or grief. His approach involves journaling to uncover and express these emotions, helping the brain “unlearn” pain signals. Unlike traditional therapy, Sarno journaling isn’t about analyzing or solving problems—it’s about acknowledging and feeling them. For people with fibromyalgia, this can be a profound shift: instead of pushing through pain, they pause and listen. The act of writing becomes a bridge between the body’s symptoms and the unconscious mind’s distress.
Homeopathic Remedies
Here are eight homeopathic remedies commonly used for managing pain. Each one corresponds to a different sensation, cause, or emotional state. Homeopathy doesn’t treat pain as a single symptom—it matches the remedy to the unique way each person experiences it. Whether your pain feels bruised, stiff, stabbing, or cramping, there may be a remedy that resonates.
Arnica montana
Arnica is one of the most well-known homeopathic remedies, often used for shock, trauma, and injury. It’s the first remedy many reach for after accidents or surgery. In cases of fibromyalgia, Arnica can help when the body feels bruised, sore, and overworked—even without a clear cause. The person may say, “I’m fine,” despite obvious pain, and prefer to be left alone. Arnica is especially useful when muscles ache as if from a beating or after minor exertion.
Bryonia is for pain that is much worse for the slightest movement. Heat aggravates the pain while pressure on the relevant part alleviates.
Causticum helps for soreness, weakness and stiffness, worse with exertion and cold, better for warm applications and being warm in bed. With Causticum the symptoms are worse in dry weather and better when it rains.
Cimicifuga is for pain, soreness and stiffness mostly in the neck and upper back muscles. These may have been preceded by an injury and are generally worse for cold or drafts. There are headaches, especially on the top of the head or radiating up from the neck.
Kalmia latifolia is especially helpful for severe shooting pains in muscles, and there is often an accompanying numbness or cold sensation. Always make sure that there is no suggestion of nerve pressure or damage, if these symptoms are present.
Rhus tox is for pain and stiffness which is worse when having been still and gets better for getting moving, particularly bad after overdoing things or in cold damp weather, eased by warmth and moderate exercise.
Rhododendron is very similar to Rhus tox except that the pains are very much worse for changes in the weather, especially if there is an impending storm or thunderstorm
Ruta grav is similar to Rhus tox except that the stiffness is more marked and less susceptible to improvement with gentle movement. Pain in the tendons or the places where tendons meet bone (heels, elbows etc). There is often a bruised feeling. Pains are worse for cold damp weather.
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, shipping remedies directly from Japan.