If your foreskin is feeling tight and is difficult to retract, it could be phimosis.
A concerned mom called me about her 5-year-old uncircumcised son who has been diagnosed with phimosis. She said his foreskin is not retracting and when he urinates, sometimes he gets urine on himself and his clothes. She said,” I don’t understand why he’s having a problem now, the foreskin has been retracting normally for his age, until recently.” The boy had been complaining that his penis is burning and itching especially beneath the foreskin, and head of the penis (also known as the glans) has become a little swollen. The mom went on to tell me that her son sometimes complains that he feels a poking (needle-like pain) in the penis. I selected the Homeopathic Remedy Nitric Acid 30c, for the boy to take in a Remedy Solution Bottle (RSB) with 10 succussions every night at bedtime.
The mom called me 3 days later, stating that since her son has been taking the Nitric Acid, he has less itching and less of a burning sensation, along with less swelling. The foreskin is starting to retract again. She also said that her son isn’t complaining as much about having the needle-like pain. I told the mom to continue giving the Nitric Acid every night at bedtime until her son no longer has any phimosis symptoms.
Five days later, the mom reported that her son’s phimosis symptoms (burning, itching and swelling) are completely gone. The foreskin is back to normal, retracting as is should be.
What are the 2 Types of Phimosis?
- Physiologic phimosis occurs when boys are born with a tight foreskin (prepuce) at birth and separates naturally over time. This condition is present in almost all newborn babies. The foreskin usually does not require any special care in an uncircumcised infant. The foreskin can be gently (not forcibly) retracted while cleaning during diaper changes or bathing during the first few years of life. As boys age (starting around 5-7 years of age), their foreskin will start to retract more fully as he learns to retract it to clean and dry underneath the foreskin during routine hygiene. The foreskin is to be pulled back over the head of the penis (known as the glans) to the normal position after retraction.
- Pathological phimosis is when a tight ring or “rubber band” of foreskin is around the tip of the penis, and not allowing the foreskin to fully retract over the penis. It develops from scarring of the foreskin due to an injury, infection, inflammation or skin conditions like lichen sclerosus (balanitis xerotica obliterans). Forceful foreskin retraction can be painful and can cause bleeding and scarring, which can be a psychological trauma for the child as well as the parent.
Symptoms of Phimosis
One of the most common symptoms of phimosis is a bulging or ballooning of the foreskin during urination or infection. This occurs when urine builds up inside the foreskin as it makes its way out. It can sometimes happen even when the foreskin is normal, and especially in younger boys whose foreskin has not fully retracted yet. Adult men can also have phimosis symptoms, too.
Other Symptoms of Phimosis
- Infection of skin from difficultly cleaning under the foreskin
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), pain when urinating, urinary retention
- Penile irritation
- Bleeding of the foreskin
- Sexual dysfunction such as a painful erection
- Recurrent infections of the foreskin (balanoposthitis)
- Paraphimosis (foreskin is stuck in the retracted position)
What is Paraphimosis?
Paraphimosis is when the foreskin is tightly pulled back behind the head of the penis and becomes stuck and cannot retract forward again to cover the tip of the penis. This causes swelling, pain of the foreskin and head of the penis, and loss of blood flow to the tip of the penis. If the foreskin cannot be pushed back into its natural position, serious harm can occur.
Homeopathic Remedies for Phimosis, Including Paraphimosis
A 30c Homeopathic Remedy is selected according to the phimosis symptoms experienced.
- Arnica Montana – Phimosis from friction of the glans.
- Calendula – Irritation of the glans and foreskin from friction.
- Cannabis Sativa – There is itching and inflammatory swelling of the prepuce, glans and penis with deep redness. The penis feels sore and burns when walking, walking with legs apart.
- Hepar Sulphuris – Swelling of the glans. The foreskin is hyper sensitive to touch and when touching underwear. Can have suppuration (discharging of pus).
- Kali Iodatum – Penis is swollen, especially the glans. Often selected for inflamed paraphimosis.
- Mercuris Vivus or Solubilis – Glans and prepuce are inflamed and swollen. The foreskin is irritated and itches. May have suppuration (discharging of pus). Can be selected for paraphimosis.
- Nitric Acid – Has an itching and burning sensation in the foreskin. There is a needle-like pain when touching genitals. The foreskin is swollen. There is a soreness and burning of the glans and beneath the prepuce. Can have suppuration (discharging of pus). Can be used for paraphimosis.
- Thuja – Itching in the glans and prepuce with inflammation and swelling of the prepuce. Can also have pain in the penis.
How to Prevent Phimosis and Paraphimosis
Phimosis may be prevented by having good hygiene and teaching the child as he is becoming older to fully pull back the foreskin and clean under it during bathing. When one has paraphimosis, it can be prevented by carefully moving the foreskin back over the penis every time it is pulled back (retracted). Phimosis in a young child can improve on its own. In adults, phimosis usually will not go away unless surgery is performed or an infection is treated. However, taking a Homeopathic Remedy will help address your phimosis and paraphimosis symptoms within a couple of days.
