Belladonna

Essentials

During the first twenty-four hours when the pain has come on suddenly and is accompanied by
fever and flushed skin
Redness of the throat or tonsils, often with swelling, but no pus is present

Confirmatory symptoms

"Strawberry' appearance of the tongue as in scarlet fever

Throat pain worse from swallowing, especially liquids
Sensation of dryness in the throat

Phytolacca

Essentials
Sore throat with body aches and fever
Throat appears dark red or even purplish or bluish
Pain worse from warm drinks

Confirmatory symptoms

Pain shooting up to the ears during swallowing.

Incessant desire to swallow
Chilliness
Pain at the base of the tongue when protruded

Mercurius

Essentials

Pus or white/yellow material in the throat

Excessive salivation, drooling

Confirmatory symptoms

Sensitivity to both heat and cold

Throat pain worse at night
Thirsty
Swollen or puffy tongue, bad breath

Lycopodium

Essentials

Sore throat worse on the right side or beginning on the right and spreading to the left
Pain relieved by warm drinks and warm food

Confirmatory symptoms

Feels worse in general in the late afternoon, between 4 and 8 P.M.

Lachesis

Essentials
Pain worse on the left side or spreading from left to right
Pain worse from drinking liquids

Confirmatory symptoms
Sore throat worse in the morning, especially on waking
Throat sensitive to touch; clothing around the neck causes discomfort or choking sensation
Person feels worse in general from warmth

Hepar sulph.

Essentials

Pus has formed and the throat and tonsils are very swollen.
Irritable
Chilly

Confirmatory symptoms

Sensation of a splinter or something stuck in the throat

Throat pain worse from cold and better from warm drinks and external warmth

Arsenicum

Essentials
Chilliness, thirst, and restlessness combined with fatigue accompany the sore throat
Throat pain relieved by warm drinks

Confirmatory symptoms
Throat pain burning in character
Pain worse from swallowing in general, cold drinks, or exposure to the cold

Rhus tox.

Essentials
Throat pain better by warm drinks and warmth in general
Restlessness

Confirmatory symptoms
Symptoms begin after straining the voice or from cold, wet weather
Thirsty for sips of water
Dry mouth, dry sore throat
Aches and pains while lying still; worse when first starting to move but get better with continued
motion

Apis

Essentials
Stinging sore throat pain
Marked swelling of the throat or tonsils

Confirmatory symptoms
Throat pain better from cold drinks and worse from warm drinks and external heat
Swollen parts of the throat appear as though filled with water
Absence of thirst

Sulphur

Essentials

Lingering sore throats

One or more of the following general symptoms: discomfort from warmth; general lethargy; and
offensive breath, sweat, and discharges

Confirmatory symptoms

Burning throat pain with dryness of the mucous membranes better from drinking warm liquids
Sensation of a lump, splinter, or hair in the throat

When a person has a sore throat, Belladonna is the first medicine to think of. During the first
twenty-four hours, if the pain has come on suddenly, particularly if it is accompanied by
fever and flushed skin, Belladonna is the likely medicine. The throat is very red and may be
quite swollen, but little or no pus is evident. The tongue may have a strawberry
appearance as in scarlet fever. Swallowing, especially swallowing liquids, makes the throat
pain worse, and the patient may have an aversion to drinking. There may also be a great
sense of dryness in the throat.
Consider Aconite when sore throat accompanied by and high fever and thirst comes on
suddenly (the Belladonna patient is not so thirsty and may be actually averse to liquids).
The condition may have begun after exposure to cold or drafts. Aconites other
characteristic mental symptoms may be present (see the materia medica section).
Arsenicum should be considered when the general symptoms of the medicine are evident:
chilliness even during fever, thirst, and restlessness combined with fatigue. Most typically,
the throat pain is burning in character. Warm drinks relieve the pain, whereas swallowing,
cold drinks, or exposure to the cold make it worse.

The Rhus tox. person has a painfully sore throat that is made better by warm drinks and
warmth in general. The pain in the throat is usually worse in the morning. The pain often
begins after straining the throat while speaking or singing or after exposure to cold, wet
weather. Sometimes the pain is worst when first swallowing but gets better after repeated
swallowing. The Rhus tox. patient is very restless but is less tired and more achy than the
Arsenicum patient. He may be anxious, irritable, and weepy.
Lycopodium sore throats are typically worse on the right side or begin on the right side and
spread to the left. The pain may be relieved by either warm or cold drinks, whereas being in
cold air may make it worse. There may be pain extending up into the ears. In general, the
illness doesnt begin particularly suddenly, and usually the patient isnt terribly sick. She
typically wants fresh air. The symptoms in general, sometimes including the sore throat,
may be worse in the late afternoon, between 4 and 8 P.M. in classic cases.
When the sore throat is severe and is accompanied by fever and weakness, Mercurius may
be indicated. The throat is red and swollen, and pus or other white or yellow material may
be seen on the tonsils or walls of the throat. The Mercurius patient can be generally
sensitive to both heat and cold. Becoming cold aggravates the throat pain, but a warm bed
may also make it worse. Liquids of any temperature arent known to influence the
symptoms particularly. The sore throat tends to be more painful at night. A classic Mercurius
sore throat symptom is the tendency to salivate and drool. The pillow may be wet or more
frequent swallowing may be noticeable. The tongue often looks or feels swollen or puffy,
and at times the teeth make imprints on the tongue. The breath may smell bad. There may
be cold symptoms such as thick, greenish or yellow mucus draining from the nose. Hepar
sulph. is similar to Mercurius in severity of infection. Pus has formed and the throat and
tonsils are very swollen. Often the person says he feels something stuck in his throat like a
splinter (Lachesis and Apis may also have this symptom, though less characteristically).
The patient is irritable and easily angered. Chilliness is a predominant symptom, and both
the general condition and the sore throat are definitely aggravated by exposure to cold.
Warm drinks and warmth in general soothe the sore throat. The pain may extend to the
ears.
Lachesis is particularly useful when the throat pain is worse on the left side or begins there
and spreads to the right. Drinking, especially drinking warm liquids, makes the pain worse
(sometimes cold drinks bring some relief). Swallowing can be difficult, with solid foods being
harder to swallow than liquids. Typically the symptoms are made worse by warmth in
general, and the pain is often worse in the morning, especially upon waking, and during the
day. The throat is sensitive to touch, and clothing around the neck may cause pain or a
choking sensation. A sensation of swelling in the throat is a strong symptom of Lachesis (as
well as Hepar, Rhus tox., and Sulphur). When the pain of a sore throat is stinging in
character, Apis may be the medicine, particularly if the pain is made better by cold drinks or
a cool environment and worse by warm drinks or warmth. The throat, tonsils, and tongue
are swollen and characteristically appear as though they were filled with water. Absence of
thirst is typical.
Phytolacca should be given when there is much aching in the body along with the fever and
when the sore throat is worse with warm drinks. The appearance of the throat may be dark
red or even purplish or bluish, and the glands are swollen. The pain may shoot up to the
ears, particularly during swallowing. People who need Phytolacca tend to have an incessant
desire to swallow, despite the fact that it is painful to do so. They are cold and like to be
covered, but they still may feel chilly. Their body aches may cause them to be restless, but
these pains are worse during motion. One rare but distinctive feature of people who need
Phytolacca is an acute pain felt at the base of the tongue when protruded.
Sulphur should be considered when a sore throat lingers or when the indicated medicine is
not working, as long as some of the Sulphur general and particular symptoms match the
persons own. There is much burning pain in the throat, with dryness of the mucous
membranes, diminished appetite, and increased thirst. Despite the burning, the pain is
better when the patient drinks warm liquids. The pain in the throat can also be stitching,
pressing, or cutting. A sensation like a lump, splinter, or hair in the throat may be felt. The
general symptoms of Sulphurparticularly discomfort from warmth, general lethargy, and
offensive breath, sweat, and dischargesare important in determining when to use it.