Disease Index

Homeopathy for Chorea

Chorea
Written by Dr. Manish Bhatia

Chorea is an irregular, rapid, uncontrolled, excessive movement of the body parts. The word “chorea” comes from the Greek word for dance. When chorea is severe, the movements may cause motion of the arms or legs that results in throwing whatever is in the hand or falling to the ground.

Are you looking for a homeopathic cure for chorea? This article discusses the homeopathy treatment of chorea along with the best homeopathic medicine for chorea treatment.

Chorea is an irregular, rapid, uncontrolled, involuntary, excessive movement of the body parts that seems to move randomly from one part of the body to another.

The word “chorea” comes from the Greek word for dance. The jerky movements of the feet or hands are often similar to dancing or piano playing. When chorea is severe, the movements may cause motion of the arms or legs that results in throwing whatever is in the hand or falling to the ground. Walking may become bizarre, with inserted excessive postures and leg movements.

These movements may involve limited groups of muscles, one limb, one half of the body, or they may be generalized.

Three other forms of hyperkinetic disorders, namely tics, dystonia, and myoclonus have to be differentiated from chorea. Dystonia is an involuntary movement with slow, sustained movements with a twisting or controlling quality of them. These movements may involve limited groups of muscles, one limb, one half of the body, or they may be generalized. They may be precipitated by specific movements. Tics are brief, abrupt, stereotyped movements occur at irregular intervals. They consist of movements such as shoulder shrugging, eye blinking, and so on. Myoclonus is a movement disorder with sudden, brisk, lightning-like contraction of a muscle or a group of muscles. The movement may be repetitive, and at times forceful.  Chorea can occur with other movement disorders in certain neurological syndromes.

Causes of chorea are multifold and include genetic and acquired forms, such as immune-mediated, infectious, toxic, metabolic and vascular causes. In view of the wide range of differential diagnosis, clinical clues are useful to facilitate diagnosis. Diagnosis can be made by the help of information about disease onset including the onset, age, type of onset (sudden or gradual), progression, ad family history as well as examination findings.

Homeopathic treatment of chorea

Homeopathy is one of the most popular holistic systems of medicine. The selection of homeopathic medicine of chorea is based upon the theory of individualization and symptoms similarity by using holistic approach. This is the only way through which a state of complete health can be regained by removing all the sign and symptoms from which the patient is suffering. The aim of homeopathy is not only to treat chorea but to address its underlying cause and individual susceptibility. As far as therapeutic medication is concerned, several remedies are available to cure chorea that can be selected on the basis of cause, sensations and modalities of the complaints.  For individualized remedy selection and treatment, the patient should consult a qualified homeopathic doctor in person. There are following remedies which are helpful in the treatment of chorea:

Veratrum Vir

  • Chorea with extremely severe convulsive action.
  • Most violent distortions of the body; universal, unaffected by sleep.
  • Lips covered with foam; inability to swallow.
  • Waked up by continual champing and prattling of unintelligible words, followed by sleep.
  • Intense sexual excitement; convulsions like electric shocks, opisthotonos

Stramonium

  • Homeopathic medicine of chorea indicated when  movements characterized by great violence and affecting the parts of body corrosive.stramonium homeopathic medicine for chorea
  • More the upper extremities, or isolated groups of muscles, or affecting the whole body, producing the most grotesque leaps, motions and gestures, rotates arms, clasps hands over head.
  • Full of fear, strange and inconsistent fancies; motion all rapid, runs as fast as possible.
  • Attacks preceded by formication of limbs and melancholy.
  • Diplopia; aggravation at night, in dark place or dark room, during equinoxes, after fright or care. It may finally lead to idiocy.

Sepia

  • Convulsive motions of head and limbs
  • When talking jerking of facial muscles.
  • General muscular agitation; desire to change constantly place and position.
  • Ringworm like eruptions on skin every spring; uterine chorea with menstrual irregularities;
  • Amelioration after menses and after a thunderstorm

Silicea

  • Verminous irritation; especially from ascarides.
  • Distorted eyes, pale face, canine hunger, irritation, irritation of nostrils.
  • oedema of face and extremities
  • great thirst; sleep disturbed by frightful dreams; foot-sweat of disagreeable odor.

Sticta pul

  • Chorea complicated with hysteria, movements confined to lower extremities.
  • Aggravation evening
  • Sensation as if the legs were floating in the air when lying down.

Opium

  • Emotional chorea; trembling the head, arms and hands.opium homeopathic medicine for chorea
  • Arms are thrown out at right angles with the body and spasmodic jerking of the flexors; convulsive movements of one or other arm to and fro.
  • Twitching continue during sleep.

Agaricus

  • Clonic spasms when awake, quiet when asleep.
  • Though jerking when going to sleep; spasmodic motions, from simple involuntary motions and jerks of single muscles to a dancing of the whole body.
  • Attack crosswise ,an upper right and a lower left extremity, or vice versa.
  • Convulsive condition of the muscles of head and neck, constantly.
  • Extreme mobility of lower limbs and the body generally.
  • Frequent nictitation of eyelids; twitchings and spasms of eyeballs; redness of inner canthi of eyes; lachrymation.
  • Body convulsed, as if a galvanic battery were applied to the spine. Ravenous appetite, but difficulty of swallowing;
  • Cervical glands swollen; inarticulate speech.
  • Itching of eyelids and of different spots on skin, resembling chilblains; weakness and coldness of limbs; unsteady walk.

Tarentula

  • Homeopathic medicine of chorea indicated when the choreic movements affect the right arm and right leg, and when the movements continue even at night, and are brought on by fright, grief, etc., the Tarentula Hispana becomes the remedy.
  • The patient is restless and compelled to keep constantly in motion, the spine is sensitive, and there is trembling.
  • The patient can run better than he can walk.
  • It is the remedy when diversion of the mind, especially music, relieves.

Zincum met 

  • Constant motion of the feet, which may continue during sleep.
  • It is especially the remedy when the chorea is brought on by suppressed eruption or by fright.
  • The general health is involved, right side most affected.
  • Much depression of spirits and irritability.

Cimicifuga  

  • Homeopathic medicine of chorea indicated when the movements affect the left side and are associated with muscle pain or rheumatic joint ailments, or when reflex from uterine derangements, then Cimicifuga is the remedy.
  • There is sensitiveness of the spine and entire muscular system.
  • If mental depression be present it is an additional indication.
  • Cimicifuga is especially indicated in chorea in young girls, about the age of puberty, with menstrual disorders, especially suppression of menses.
  • Fright chorea and chorea with loss of power of swallowing indicate the remedy.
  • Sleeplessness is an important symptom.
  • Difficult speech, patient bites tongue when talking are good indications.

Cuprum met

  • Homeopathic medicine of chorea indicated where the choreic movements start in the muscles of the fingers and toes and extend to the limbs.
  • The patient is better or more quite during sleep, but when awake the terrible contortions and awkward movements are excessive.

Mygale

  • It is quite characteristic of the spider poisons to produce spasmodic diseases. Mygale, according to Farrington, is one of our best remedies in uncomplicated cases of chorea.
  • The patient is low spirited and depressed, the muscles of the face twitch constantly.
  • The mouth and eye open and close in rapid succession, the head is jerked to one side, usually the right control over the muscle seems to be lost.
  • If the patient attempts to put his hand to his head it is jerked backwards violently, and words are jerked out in talking.
  • The legs are in motion while sitting, and dragged while attempting to walk.

Causticum 

  • The symptoms calling for its use are these: The right side is more affected than the left.
  • The muscles of the face, tongue, arm, and leg are all involved.
  • Words are jerked out when talking.
  • Patient continually changes his position, throws himself about until he falls asleep exhausted.
  • During sleep legs and arms “on the go;” the child is unable to articulate because of excessive nervousness.
  • Indisposition to talk because of weakness of the throat and tongue muscles.

What causes Chorea?

Chorea itself is not a disease it is the symptom of various underlying disorders.

Chorea can be caused by a variety of abnormal processes in the body, including

  • Metabolic derangements.
  • Exposure to certain drugs or toxins.
  • Genetic diseases.
  • Degenerative diseases of the brain.
  • Infection
  • Tumors
  • Disorders of the immune systems of the body.
  • Disorders of the inflammatory systems of the body.

Common disorders associated with Chorea

Huntington’s disease

It is an inherited disorder causes death or degeneration of neuron of brain. This leads to mental confusion and mood disorders followed by lack or muscle co-ordinations and involuntary body movements (chorea).

Sydenham chorea 

It is a rare childhood neurological disorder occurs after the infection of beta-hemolytic streptococcus infection, Bacteria responsible for rheumatic fever. Sydenham chorea characterized by uncoordinated movements, muscular weakness, stumbling and falling, slurred speech, difficulty concentrating and writing, and emotional instability.

Differential diagnosis of Chorea

Hereditary chorea

  • Huntington’s disease
  • Neuroacanthocytosis
  • Wilson’s disease
  • Binign familial chorea
  • Inborn errors of metabolism
  • Porphyria
  • Ataxia-telangiectasia
  • Tuberous sclerosis

Structural chorea

  • Post traumatic
  • Subdural and epidural hematoma
  • Tumor

Metabolic chorea

  • Hyper-and hypothyroidism
  • Hyper- and hypo hypothyroidism
  • Hypocalcaemia
  • Hyper and hypo natremia
  • Hypomagnesaemia
  • Hepatic encephalopathy
  • Renal encephalopathy

Infectious or immunological chorea

  • Sydenham’s chorea
  • Chorea gravidarum
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Polycythemia vera
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Viral encephalitis
  • Tuberous meningitis

Cerebrovascular chorea

  • Basal ganglia infraction
  • Arteriovenous malformation
  • Venous angiomata
  • Poly cythemia

Toxins

  • Mercury, carbon monoxide

Drugs/medication

  • Phenytoin, phenothiazines, lithium
  • Amaphetamines, oral contraceptives, levodopa

Infectious

  • Neurosyphilis
  • Lyme disease
  • Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis

Diagnosis of Chorea

  • It includes inquiry of family history, history of medicinal abuse, past medical history.
  • onset, duration, frequency of the involuntary motions and associated symptoms are important to make a diagnosis.
  • Physical examination is also an important tool for diagnosis.
  • Genetic testing or DNA testing may be important in cases of positive family history of huntington’s chorea.
  • Blood test is important to reveal past infections.
  • Some imaging techniques as CT scan, MRI can show atrophic changes in brain, but these are not visible in early stages of the disease.

Conventional treatment for Chorea

There is no effective treatment is available for chorea in conventional medicine. There are some medicines which can delay the progression of the disease includes antiepileptic, sedatives etc.

Reference

  • Blueprints clinical cases neurology; Kevin Sheth, Odette A. Harris, Tracey A. Cho, Aaron B Caughey; 2006; 42
  • Neuroacanthocytosis Syndromes II, Volume 2; Ruth H. Walker, Shinji Saiki, Adrian Danek; 2008; 22
  • Principles and Practice of Emergency Neurology: Handbook for Emergency …; Sid M. Shah, Kevin M. Kelly; 2003; 152
  • Principles and Practice of Emergency Neurology: Handbook for Emergency …; Sid M. Shah, Kevin M. Kelly; 2005; 151
  • In a page: Signs & symptoms; Scott Kahan; 2004; 33
  • Homoeopathic Therapeutics; Samuel Lilienthal; 1998; 195-198.
  • Select your remedy; Rai Bahadur Bhishambar Das; 2007; 64, 65
  • Illustrated guide to the homeopathic treatment; Dr. H.S Khaneja; 2010; 147

 The above information about homeopathy treatment of chorea is only for information purpose. Please consult a professional homeopath before taking any homeopathic medicine for chorea. 

Chorea Cases Cured with Homeopathic Medicine

A Case of Chorea Major – by William Wesselhoeft

About the author

Dr. Manish Bhatia

- BCA, M.Sc Homeopathy (UK), CICH (Greece), MD (Hom)
- Associate Professor, Organon & Homeopathic Philosophy, SKH Medical College, Jaipur
- Founder Director of Hpathy.com
- Editor, Homeopathy for Everyone
- Co-author - Homeopathy and Mental Health Care: Integrative Practice, Principles and Research
- Author - Lectures on Organon of Medicine vol 1, 2, 3. CCH Approved. (English, German, Bulgarian)
- Awardee - Raja Pajwan Dev Award for Excellence in the Field of Medicine; APJ Abdul Kalam Award for Excellence in Homeopathy Education
- Visit Dr. Bhatia's website

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