Spotlight on Bryonia

Bryonia is the number 1 remedy for symptoms that are worse for the slightest movement. This marked aggravation from motion is a great 'keynote' to indicate that Bryonia could be the remedy that you are looking for. The pain of - for example, a headache, an injury or a chesty cough - is almost always intensified by even small attempts to move. So the patient will remain still and will likely feel better for applying pressure to the affected part - even lying on the painful side.

It is an important remedy for injury and trauma, with intensely painful sprains or fractures which are worse from any movement. Pains can be described as 'stitching'.

The person needing Bryonia will probably be irritable and could even be described as like 'a bear with a sore head', preferring to be left alone, undisturbed and refusing to answer any questions.

Intense dryness is something else to look out for if you are considering using Bryonia. A cough will be dry and painful, and often violent. The patient will have an extreme thirst for cold drinks, drinking large amounts at infrequent intervals.

One more interesting symptom to look out for is 'food feels like a stone in the stomach'. So constipation with marked dryness could be an ailment that would benefit from Bryonia.

When Bryonia is called for, the onset of many symptoms will be slow, sometimes taking days to develop - except for in the case of an accident or injury of course.

Bryonia is less useful if the person needs company, or the complaint is better for movement.

Think aggravation from motion, dryness, irritability, thirst, complaints come on slowly.

But remember, every symptom doesn't have to be present for the remedy to be chosen.