Natrum Ars.

What it’s reached for

• a lingering low mood after a hurt, kept private, wanting to be left alone.
• a hammering midday headache, worse in the sun.
• watery hay fever and cold sores that recur.

Allergic Rhinitis / Hay Fever — Allium Cepa vs. Euphrasia vs. Sabadilla vs. Arsenicum vs. Natrum Muriaticum: sneezing fits on waking, discharge like raw egg-white, alternating runny and blocked, with loss of smell and taste; often follows time in the sun.

Asthma / Wheezing — Arsenicum vs. Ipecacuanha vs. Natrum Sulphuricum vs. Spongia: asthma that is worse in every damp spell and in the early morning (4–5 am), with a loose cough and greenish expectoration.

Hives / Urticaria — Apis vs. Urtica Urens vs. Rhus Toxicodendron vs. Natrum Muriaticum vs. Dulcamara: hives that come out after exertion or in the heat of the sun, itching, in a person who eats a lot of salt.

Anaemia / Debility — Ferrum Met vs. China vs. Natrum Mur vs. Calcarea Phos vs. Picric Acid: anaemia with wasting despite eating, from long grief or homesickness, a dry mouth and a craving for salt, worse from the sun and from sympathy.

Tired or Watering Eyes — Euphrasia vs. Ruta vs. Natrum Mur vs. Pulsatilla vs. Apis: letters run together and the eyes tire quickly, tears stream on coughing or laughing, the lid margins feel raw, the eye muscles feel stiff on looking down.

Mouth Ulcers & Sore Gums — Borax vs. Mercurius vs. Nitric Acid vs. Natrum Mur vs. Kali Mur: recurrent ulcers with fever blisters or cold sores on the lips, a pearly look, a mapped (geographic) tongue, and dryness.

Potency: 30C once daily for a week, then space out; 200C is often left to the practitioner.