You don’t need 40 remedies to start learning homeopathy. And if you’ve ever picked up a little blue tube, seen 30C, and thought, “Okay, what am I supposed to do with that?” you’re in good company.
I’m Bridgett Skinner, a mom of three and the homeopath behind Rustic Roots Homeopathy in southern Indiana. This is the guide I’d give a friend who wanted to know where to shop, which names to learn first, and when it might make sense to book a visit.
What is homeopathy?
Homeopathy is a practice based on a traditional idea called “like cures like.” Homeopaths compare the details of what someone is experiencing with descriptions of individual remedies. A book of those descriptions is called a materia medica.
A simple example is Allium cepa, which starts with red onion. Think about what happens when you chop one. Your eyes water, your nose runs, and the skin around it might sting. That’s the kind of pattern you’ll see in the traditional description. It’s also why, when someone tells me they have a runny nose, I’m likely to ask what the discharge is like and whether it irritates the skin.
On a remedy label, 30C means the starting substance went through thirty steps of dilution on a 1-to-100 scale. 200C means it went through more of those steps. The number describes how the product was prepared. It doesn’t tell you how much to take.
Read next: [Homeopathic potency and dosing — Welcome to Rustic Roots Homeopathy]
Where can I buy homeopathic remedies?
Locally through Rustic Roots Homeopathy. If you’re near Jasper or elsewhere in Dubois County, email me (bridgett@rusticrootshomeopathy.com) to ask which Boiron singles I have on hand. If you’re looking for a specific tube, include the full remedy name and potency from your list so I can check.
Boiron USA. You can browse individual remedies or look through their homeopathy kits if you prefer to buy a set.
Hahnemann Laboratories. This California supplier offers single remedies and home kits. Compare the kit contents with your own list before you order.
Amazon. Search by the full remedy name, brand, and potency. Check “Sold by” and read the actual label in the listing photos. Similar-looking packages can contain different potencies, forms, or combinations of ingredients.
Before you check out, make sure the name, potency, and form match what you meant to buy. If you’re new, a few clearly labeled single remedies are easier to learn than a big kit.
TEn remedies to get to know for your first kit
When I was new to homeopathy, it helped to learn what made one remedy description different from another. Two entries might both mention soreness, but one describes someone who wants to stay completely still while the other describes someone who feels stiffer the longer they sit.
These are traditional remedy pictures, drawn from Boericke’s Homeopathic Materia Medica. Think of them as a way to learn what homeopaths pay attention to, from how something feels to what makes it better or worse. They’re educational descriptions rather than instructions for treating symptoms.
1. Arnica montana — “I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck.” The classic description is sore, tender, and bruised all over. Even the bed may feel too hard because everything is so tender. When I’m teaching Arnica, I start with the quality of the soreness. Does it feel bruised, or is the main complaint stiffness that eases once they get moving? That second description is closer to the traditional Rhus tox picture.
2. Allium cepa — The chopped-onion picture. Think watery eyes, sneezing, and a nose that runs like a faucet. The distinction is where the irritation shows up. The nasal discharge can sting and leave the skin under the nose raw, while the tears are typically described as less irritating. A warm room can make things feel worse, while open air can feel better.
3. Pulsatilla — Thick discharge and a wish for fresh air. This description often includes thicker, yellowish or greenish mucus that doesn’t usually sting the skin. A stuffy room may feel worse, and the person may want a window open even if they feel chilly. Another detail you’ll see is little thirst. Compare it with Allium cepa. Both may feel better outside, so the texture and irritation of the discharge help tell the descriptions apart.
4. Bryonia alba — “Please let me lie still.” Movement is the detail I’d underline. In the traditional picture, even a little motion can make discomfort worse, and resting still can feel better. Dryness and thirst for larger drinks are other details you’ll see in the description. The question I’d remember is, “What happens when you move?”
5. Rhus toxicodendron (Rhus tox) — Stiff at first, then a little looser. Picture someone getting up after sitting for a while. The first few steps are the hardest, but they loosen up as they keep moving. Warmth may feel good, while cold, damp conditions may feel worse. Put this one next to Bryonia when you study. With Bryonia, movement aggravates. In the Rhus tox picture, starting to move is uncomfortable, but continuing to move can ease the stiffness.
6. Chamomilla — “Pick me up. No, put me down.” The traditional picture emphasizes how hard the discomfort is to tolerate. A child may ask for something and then push it away when it’s offered. Being carried is one of the classic details associated with settling. What makes this description memorable is the combination of sensitivity to discomfort and being hard to soothe.
7. Aconitum napellus (Aconite) — It came on fast, and it felt frightening. The traditional picture centers on sudden onset with marked fear, alarm, or restlessness. Some descriptions mention a fright or exposure to cold, dry wind. When comparing it with Belladonna, notice that both pictures can start suddenly. Fear and restlessness are the details that stand out in Aconite.
8. Belladonna — Sudden heat, flushing, and throbbing. The classic description can include a flushed face, a pounding sensation, and sensitivity to light, noise, or jarring. Sudden onset is something it shares with Aconite. Heat and throbbing are the details I’d circle when studying Belladonna.
9. Apis mellifica — Puffy, stinging, and drawn to coolness. The traditional picture pairs swelling with a stinging or burning sensation. The area may feel sensitive to touch, and warmth may feel worse while coolness feels better. Puffiness alone tells you very little about the remedy picture. It’s the combination of what it feels like and what changes it that makes this one easier to remember.
10. Nux vomica — “Everything is getting on my nerves.” In the traditional description, noise, light, or odors may feel especially bothersome. Digestive discomfort sometimes appears in the picture, particularly after overindulgence. You may also see the description of feeling like you need to go to the bathroom but still feeling unfinished afterward. I’d remember this one for the combination of irritability, sensitivity, and digestive details.
Should I book an acute or a chronic consultation?
An acute consultation is a focused conversation about a recent, short-term concern. I’ll ask when it started, what it feels like now, and what makes it better or worse. My acute consultation link .
A chronic consultation is for a concern that has been around a while or keeps coming back. We take more time to talk through the history, what you’ve already tried, what you notice between flare-ups, and what daily life is like for you. The initial chronic consultation and follow-ups link, Services | Enhance Your Wellness Today — Welcome to Rustic Roots Homeopathy . I offer in-person appointments in southern Indiana and virtual appointments.
If symptoms are severe, getting worse quickly, or need a diagnosis, seek medical care promptly. An acute homeopathy consultation is a scheduled appointment.
Read next: [Understanding acute vs chronic case taking — Welcome to Rustic Roots Homeopathy] · [What Is Sitting Down With Me Really Like? — Welcome to Rustic Roots Homeopathy]
If you’re local and want to know which remedies I carry, or you’re curious what a consultation would look like for you or your family, send me an email. Tell me where you are in the process, even if it’s just, “I’m brand new and don’t know where to start.” If you’re deciding whether to work with me, you can ask for a free 15-minute discovery call. I’m happy to talk you through the options.
Four homeopathy books worth knowing about
If you only want to buy one book to start, I’d choose The Homeopath in Your Hand. If you’re here because you want a book written with parents in mind, start with Shelley Keneipp’s guide.
The Homeopath in Your Hand by Lisa Strbac is my pick if you like short, visual descriptions. It covers 77 single and combination remedy entries and explains how Strbac compares remedy pictures. Try looking up two names from your kit and reading them side by side.
The Parent’s Guide to Homeopathy by Shelley Keneipp is written for parents, with chapters organized around common concerns and tables for looking up remedy descriptions. It’s a good choice if you prefer to read about what a parent might observe rather than start with an alphabetical list.
The Complete Homeopathy Handbook by Miranda Castro is a reference I’d suggest if you want more background on the basics and a book you can return to as you learn. It’s a good next step once you’ve gotten familiar with a handful of remedies and want to compare them in more detail.
The Trailblazer’s Insight Into Homeopathy by Lisa Strbac is one I’d save for later. It covers 88 remedies and introduces topics such as nosodes, sarcodes, and miasms. It’s a deeper read for someone who already knows the basics and wants to explore more of the tradition.
Bridgett Skinner
Rustic Roots Homeopathy · Southern Indiana
