Lemna Minor

Today’s materia medica tip is about a remedy named Lemna minor. When asked about practising physician’s views for a remedy that has “putrid smell, has loss of smell, has putrid taste and has postnasal drip especially in the rainy season”, I got various responses ranging from Dulcamara, Rhus tox, Kali bichromicum, Lemna minor etc. So, in today’s materia medica tip we will be concentrating on the clinical pointers of the remedies in comparison to the Lemna minor. Lemna minor as a remedy is a catarrhal remedy. Frequently used in cases of nasal polypi, swollen turbinate etc. At this point the remedy of comparison should be Sanguinaria nitricum which is also used frequently in cases of nasal polypi. In Lemna minor we have associated symptoms such as postnasal drip whereas in Sanguinaria nitricum the prominent symptom remains blockage of nose along with profuse watery discharge from nose. The postnasal drip of Sanguinaria nitricum is more towards dry side as compared to Lemna minor.

In cases where postnasal drip is the only presenting complaint we have three common remedies of concern – Corallium rubrum, Lemna minor and Sanguinaria nit. While the Lemna and Sanguinaria nit have symptoms of obstruction of nose, Corallium has profuse secretion of mucus dripping through the posterior nares as main presenting symptom.

Lemna can also be used in nasal symptoms especially the putrid smell and the loss of smell in post viral cases (post covid cases). We have (and still) encountered many patients of covid having loss (or alteration) of taste and smell. Lemna can be an apt remedy in such cases where patients are complaining of loss of smell, altered smell, and altered or no taste.

Coming to another symptom of Lemna minor – pain from nostril to ear, it should be compared to Phytolacca which also has pain from throat to ear. This symptom needs to be clarified at patients end properly so as to advise the right indicated remedy to him.

In cases where we deal with modalities primarily (rather than exact symptoms) ie where symptoms are common, and modalities are uncommon, we should differentiate remedies on a broader level.

When the symptoms are worsened in damp rainy weather especially heavy rains, we can compare the remedies as follows. In Dulcamara the respiratory symptoms predominate such as dry coryza, complete stoppage of nose and thick yellow discharge, whereas in Lemna minor there’s a prominent postnasal drip and mucopurulent discharges, on the other hand in Ammonium carb there is complete stopping of the nose with coryza symptoms especially at night with minimal discharges, whereas in Kali bichromicum the greenish discharges predominate.

For stoppage of nose, we have plenty of remedies but again it depends upon our discretion that we want to use the broad acting remedies based on the complete individualized picture or as a single discrete specific remedy for acute conditions. In majority of the cases, we use broad acting remedies as acute on chronic remedies. In such cases their usage should be logical and limited.

I would request you to drop your valuable comments and experiences in the comment section below.

Disclaimer: This post is not a medical consultation/endorsement. At no point in time, the information is given at this website to be adopted or modified for medical/legal consultation. For a consultation contact your healthcare provider or visit us at our website/clinic. (c) Dr Saurav Arora.

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Dr Saurav Arora, MD

Dr. Saurav Arora is an internationally acclaimed medical homeopath, consultant, and independent researcher having 17+ years of experience as a clinician, researcher, and a teacher.