Abstract :
Human Growth Hormone (HGH) and Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) are fundamental regulators of human growth, metabolism, cellular repair, and developmental physiology. While extensively studied in modern endocrinology, their homeopathic preparations remain rare, short, and largely underrepresented in clinical practice. As homeopathy increasingly engages with deeper physiological and endocrine understanding, these remedies emerge as valuable yet underexplored components of material medica.
This article presents an integrated overview of HGH and IGF-1, outlining their general physiological roles alongside their homeopathic remedy pictures derived entirely from drug provings. The provings reveal distinct mental, general, and physical symptom patterns that closely reflect the functional dynamics of the GH–IGF axis, demonstrating how endocrine disturbances may express themselves symptomatically at the holistic level. Key proving themes highlight associations with growth regulation, metabolic balance, stress response, and developmental and reproductive harmony.
By focusing on rare and short remedies, this study emphasizes their academic and practical significance in expanding clinical reasoning, refining differential diagnosis, and enhancing precision prescribing—particularly in cases where well-known polychrest remedies fail to encompass the complete symptom picture. The exploration of HGH and IGF-1 underscores the importance of integrating rare, physiology-based remedies into modern homeopathic understanding, thereby enriching both theoretical knowledge and future clinical applicability.
Keywords
Human growth hormone, Insulin like growth factor – 1, proving symptoms, endocrine remedy, Modern remedies, Homoeopathic material medica, Descriptive study.
Introduction
Materia medica is traditionally dominated by well-known polychrest remedies, yet homeopathy also possesses a remarkable collection of rare and short remedies. These remedies often arise from highly specific physiological sources, unusual substances, or modern biological materials.
Among the rare modern remedies, Human Growth Hormone (HGH) and Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) stand out because they originate directly from the endocrine growth axis a system responsible for childhood development, adult metabolism, tissue repair, psychological vitality and reproductive functioning.
These hormones have well-defined physiological actions and when potentized and proven, their symptom expressions provide a fascinating reflection of endocrine imbalance, metabolic stress, emotional reactivity, and growth-related disturbances. Because endocrine disorders are increasingly common in today’s society, understanding such remedies is becoming progressively relevant.
Since both remedies are relatively new their material medica is built almost entirely from proving data rather than clinical outcomes. Yet these provings are rich, structured, and meaningful. Studying them is an academic necessity not for immediate prescribing but for expanding the homeopathic perspective on modern pathophysiology.
This article therefore aims to:
- Explain the general physiological role of HGH and IGF-1,
- Correlate physiology with the proving themes
- Present the complete proving picture of both remedies
Rare and short remedies are important because they capture compact, sharply defined pathology. They often highlight functional disturbances before structural disease appears. This is especially true for endocrine-based remedies like HGH and IGF-1.Studying these remedies is not only academically valuable but also essential for developing a complete material medica that mirrors the complexities of present-day health.
Human Growth Hormone (1)
Important Proving Symptoms and Themes Noted by the Investigators
On the mental level there was improved mental concentration and mental clarity. Vivid dreams.
Increased appetite. Nasal congestion. Ulcerations in the mouth. Cramping pains in various parts
Of the body.
Mind : Vivid dreams. Improvement in concentration. Colorful, vivid dreams. Strange dreams. Discontented, impatient and irritable. Headaches.
Generalities
Energy increased (cured symptom) as well as some decrease in energy. Desires for a variety of Foods and flavors including salty, chocolate, sweets, and soups.
Head Pain : Headaches: worse in the temples and behind the ears, and also behind the eyes. Pain quality was like a band. Headaches worse on the left side.
Eye : Irritation with watering.
Nose : Congestion with sneezing. Congestion alternating with coryza.
Face : Tightness. Irritation. Dryness.
Mouth : Apthae.
Throat: Irritation with scratching and cough with phlegm.
Stomach : Increase or decrease in appetite. Increase in thirst.
Abdomen :Cramping in the lower abdomen, worse on the left side.
Rectum : Constipation without a feeling of urging. Pain in the rectum when urinating.
Stool : Sticky consistency.
Bladder : Pain in the rectum with urination.
Genitalia, Female : Uterine cramping. One case of return of normal menses (cured symptom).
Chest : Cramping in the area of the rib cage.
Back : Cramping.
Extremities/ Extremity Pain : Cramping with pain throughout the extremities, worse in the calves. Eruptions on the thighs.
Sleep: Restless or deep sleep.
Insulin-like Growth Factor-1(1)
Important Proving Symptoms and Themes Noted by the Investigators
Strange, disturbing quality to subjects’ dream life. Difficulty concentrating. Headache in the forehead. Nasal congestion. Cramping abdominal pain associated with diarrhoea or stool. Constipation with ineffectual urging. Strong uterine cramping with the menses. Premenstrual breast tenderness and swelling. Nausea. An aversion to chocolate and sweets. An increased appetite.
Mind : Nightmares. Difficulty concentrating. Remembered or unremembered dreams. Colorful, vivid dreams. Strange dreams. Discontented, impatient about small matters, reproachful of himself. Irritable and weepy premenstrually (cured symptom). Sensitive and desires to be by himself. fear of heart attack.
Generalities : Energy increased (cured symptom) and energy decreased. Sluggish, weak, muscle stiffness. Sensation of heat with nausea. Desires apples, coffee, meat, rich foods. Averse to chocolate and Sweets. Motion aggravates.
Head Pain: Localized most frequently to the forehead, and also behind the eyes, above the root of the nose, or In the vertex. Pain quality was pressing, as from a weight or like a band. Also throbbing with ear pressure. Dull pain behind the eye. Headache with heartburn. Headache extending to the neck. Stitching in the left temple on waking, lasting 2–3 days. With dizziness. Pressure ameliorates.
Eye : Watery. Photophobia.
Vision : Blurry.
Nose : Congestion to the nose (cured symptom). Sneezing. Postnasal drip. Rawness. Pimples in the nose.
Face : Heat internally and sensation of heat on the cheeks. Acne on the forehead.
Mouth : Apthae.
Teeth : Sensitive to cold. Sense of pressure on the molars.
Throat : Inflamed with mucus, mucusin the throat. Sore and dry, especially at night. Sensations of scraping and scratching.
Voice : Hoarseness.
Stomach : Nausea. An increase in appetite. Burning pain. Pain of a drawing nature. Pain ameliorated by
Bending. Pain with nausea. Easily satiated (cured symptom). Nausea with diarrhoea, with burping,
With heated feeling and thirst. Nausea ameliorated after eating. Heartburn. A full sensation.
Abdomen : Cramping associated with stool or diarrhoea. Distension from gas. Gurgling. Pressing pain before
Stool. Bending forward aggravates.
Rectum : Constipation with a feeling of urging, but without movement. Flatus with stool. Burning with stool.
Stool : Frequent and scanty. Comes out in hard pieces.
Bladder : Involuntary urination with sneezing.
Urine : Pungent odor.
Genitalia, Female : Uterine cramping during the menstrual cycle (cured symptom). Cramping before the menstrual cycle. Uterine cramping that is pulsating. Mid-cycle spotting while walking. Menses Early, late, short, or painful, or with profuse bleeding.
Chest : Premenstrual breast tenderness and swelling (cured symptom). Heart palpitations. Sensation
Of heaviness in the chest.
Back : Aching back pain associated with the menses. Stiffness. Tightness in the dorsal region.
Extremities : Premenstrual swelling of the feet. Ankle swelling. Leg stiffness. Profuse sweating of the feet.
Swelling of the feet, hands and knees during menses.
Extremity Pain : Stiffness. Aching hips and joints. Cramp-like pain in the feet while sitting still.
Sleep : Restless or deep. Sleeps uncovered.
Perspiration : At night. Absent. Clammy.
Understanding the physiological functions of Human Growth Hormone (GH) and Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) is essential for interpreting their proving symptoms. These hormones regulate growth, metabolism, energy, neurocognitive function, tissue repair, and reproductive activity. Accordingly, the provings show altered concentration, vivid dreams, fluctuating energy levels, muscle cramps and stiffness, appetite changes, digestive disturbances, headaches, mucosal ulcerations, skin eruptions, menstrual irregularities, breast tenderness, and fluid retention. These symptoms reflect functional disturbances of normal hormonal actions.
Human Growth Hormone (GH) – Conditions Indicated(2,4)
Based on the proving themes GH may be useful in:
Functional chronic fatigue states (with fluctuating energy)
Delayed recovery and poor convalescence after illness or exertion
Functional growth and developmental delay (without structural pathology)
Recurrent tension-type headaches
Functional dysmenorrhoea
Secondary amenorrhoea or irregular menses (functional; cured symptom noted)
Generalized muscle cramp disorder
Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) – Conditions Indicated(3,4)
From the proving picture, IGF-1 may be considered in:
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) (with breast tenderness, edema, mood changes cured symptoms noted)
Functional menstrual irregularities (early, late, scanty, profuse, or painful menses)
Functional ovarian–uterine hormonal imbalance
Functional gastrointestinal disorders (IBS-like pattern with constipation/diarrhoea)
Chronic tension or migraine-like headaches
Muscle stiffness and myofascial pain syndromes
Functional anxiety states with palpitations
CONCLUSION :
The inclusion of Human Growth Hormone (GH) and Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) in homeopathic practice underlines the expanding scope of rare and short remedies beyond classical polychrest prescribing. Unlike polychrest remedies which act broadly at constitutional and symptomatic levels, GH and IGF-1 represent a specific neuro-endocrine regulatory sphere. Their novelty lies in their direct alignment with modern endocrine concepts, particularly the GH–IGF-1 axis a domain not explicitly defined in traditional polychrest provings. These remedies demonstrate a functional and regulatory mode of action evident through alternating states cured symptoms and consistent effects on growth, metabolism, energy regulation, and hormonal cyclicity. Their clinical utility is most relevant in functional endocrine and neuro-metabolic disorders where structural pathology is minimal. Thus, GH and IGF-1 exemplify how rare and short remedies can offer focused scientifically grounded therapeutic options enriching the contemporary homeopathic material medica and supporting precise individualized prescribing.
REFERENCES:
- Riley DS. MateriaMedica of New and Old Homeopathic Medicines. Cham, Switzerland: Springer; 2017.
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- IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1) test. MedlinePlus. Updated Sep 24, 2024. Accessed Dec 14, 2025. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/igf-1-insulin-like-growth-factor-1-test/
- Normal physiology of GH and related peptides. Endotext. Updated Apr 18, 2025. Accessed Dec 14, 2025. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279056/
