What are warts?
Warts are small, usually painless, raised growths on the skin caused by strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). They commonly appear on hands, feet (plantar warts or verrucas), face, and fingers. Most are benign and many resolve on their own over months to a couple of years, though some are stubborn and recurring.
How does homoeopathy approach warts?
Homoeopathy does not treat the HPV virus in the way a conventional antiviral would. Instead, it matches a remedy to the person's overall picture — including the location and character of the warts, their modalities, and the person's constitution.
In practice, remedies commonly considered in the traditional literature for warts include Thuja occidentalis, Causticum, Ruta graveolens, and Antimonium crudum. A practitioner chooses between them based on matching detail, not a single symptom.
Remedy pictures commonly discussed
- Thuja occidentalis — often considered for common warts and plantar warts in sensitive constitutions.
- Causticum — classically for warts on the face, eyelids, and fingertips, especially long-standing ones.
- Ruta graveolens — traditional for warts with soreness, including on the palms or soles.
- Antimonium crudum — historically discussed for hard, horny warts.