Right-Sided Headaches? Sanguinaria or Natrum Muriaticum?

Choosing the right remedy for headaches can be tricky; especially when two remedies share similar patterns. In our latest blog, we break down the key differences between Sanguinaria canadensis and Natrum muriaticum, showing you how to tell them apart and choose the most effective remedy for your patient.

Sanguinaria vs Natrum Muriaticum: Choosing the Right Headache Remedy

Kate Howard RSHom

Homeopath and CHE Community Manager

Headaches are one of the most common complaints home prescribers see. Sometimes it can be tricky to choose between remedies that seem similar. Sanguinaria canadensis and Natrum muriaticum are two remedies that can both help right-sided headaches, but they have important differences.

Sanguinaria canadensis

Sanguinaria, also called Bloodroot, is often used for migraine-type headaches, especially on the right side of the head.

Key features:

Location: Right side, from the back of the head (occiput) to the right eye.
Type of pain: Throbbing, congested, sometimes hot.
What makes it worse: Sunlight, warmth, movement.
What helps: Cold compress, rest in a quiet, dark room.
Mood during headache: Irritable, impatient, easily annoyed.
Other symptoms: Sensitivity to light or noise, nausea.

Think of Sanguinaria for headaches that feel like they radiate from the back of the head to the right eye, especially if the person is fiery or irritable.

Natrum muriaticum

Natrum muriaticum is more often used for headaches linked to emotional stress, grief, or worry.

Key features:

Location: Right side or front of the head.
Type of pain: Pressing, bursting, steady.
What makes it worse: Sunlight, emotional stress, grief.
What helps: Rest, lying quietly in a dark room.
Mood during headache: Reserved, sensitive, withdrawn.
Other symptoms: Craving salt, sometimes digestive upset.

Think of Natrum muriaticum for headaches that come with sadness, worry, or suppressed emotions, and a more steady, pressing pain.

Why They Can Be Confused

Both remedies can have right-sided headaches and worsen in sunlight, so it’s easy to mix them up. The main differences are:

Temperament:
- Sanguinaria = fiery, irritable
- Natrum muriaticum = reserved, sensitive, melancholic
Pain pattern:
- Sanguinaria = radiates from occiput to eye
- Natrum muriaticum = frontal or vertex, steady pressing
Triggers:
- Sanguinaria = heat, motion, sunlight
- Natrum muriaticum = emotional stress, grief, sunlight

Quick Comparison Table

Feature	Sanguinaria	Natrum muriaticum
Headache side	Right, occiput → eye	Right or front
Pain type	Throbbing, congestive	Pressing, steady
Worse from	Sun, warmth, motion	Sun, grief, emotional stress
Better from	Cold, rest, dark room	Rest, dark room
Mood	Irritable, impatient	Reserved, sensitive
Other symptoms	Nausea, light/noise sensitive	Craving salt, digestive upset

Takeaway for Home Prescribers

Use Sanguinaria for migraine-like, right-sided headaches with ocular involvement and fiery mood.
Use Natrum muriaticum for steady, pressing headaches linked to emotional stress or grief, in sensitive, withdrawn people.

By looking at pain pattern, triggers, and temperament, you can choose the remedy that will give the best relief.

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Disclaimer

The content shared here is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered a replacement for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified and licensed healthcare provider. The views and opinions expressed in this presentation are those of the presenter and do not necessarily represent those of CHE or any affiliated organizations.

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