Dulcamara – The Homeopathic Remedy for Cold, Damp Weather Complaints

• Common Name: Bittersweet
• Family: Solanaceae
• Kingdom: Plant
• Source: Fresh green stems and leaves
• Miasm: Psoric–Sycotic
• Thermal: Chilly patient

Sphere of Action

Acts prominently on the mucous membranes, skin, muscles, and glands. It is especially indicated in conditions brought on by exposure to cold, damp weather, or sudden changes in temperature.

Key Clinical Indications

Effects of Damp Cold Weather

• Ill effects from cold damp exposure, or getting wet while perspiring
• Aggravation from wet clothes, foggy weather, or change of seasons

Rheumatism

• Rheumatic pains in limbs, neck, and back, worse in cold, damp weather
• Stiff neck and shoulders after getting chilled
• Muscular soreness with swelling of joints

Coryza / Cold

• Thick, yellow nasal discharge with obstruction
• Cold starts with sudden weather change, especially warm to cold

Skin Disorders

• Warts, especially on hands and face
• Urticaria and eczema from cold damp exposure
• Crusta lactea (scalp eruptions in infants)

Urinary Troubles

• Frequent urination with mucous sediment
• Worse from cold damp conditions

Characteristic Symptoms

• Complaints after exposure to cold damp weather
• Aggravation from cold, dampness, or suppressed eruptions
• Alternation of skin and respiratory symptoms
• Worse at night, or in basements and damp places

Mental Symptoms

• Dull, sluggish, irritable mood
• Child is cross and cries before urinating (like Borax)

Modalities

Worse From	Better From
Cold, damp weather, suppression	Warmth, dry air, motion
Sudden change of weather	Wrapping up warmly

Potency & Dosage

• Common potencies: 6C, 30C, 200C
• Used frequently in acute damp weather-related conditions

Relationships

Complementary	Compare With	Antidotes
Rhus toxicodendron	Rhus tox (but Rhus has better motion), Nat-s, Nux-v	Camphora, Pulsatilla

Mnemonic for Dulcamara

“DU-L-COLD”

• Damp weather complaints
• Urticaria and eruptions suppressed
• Limb stiffness and rheumatism
• COLD brings on all troubles

One-Line Summary

Dulcamara is the prime remedy for complaints caused by cold, damp weather, especially skin eruptions, rheumatism, and colds.