Insomnia

Not being able to get to sleep has got to be the one of the most frustrating things.   Equally, getting to sleep relatively quickly but only to wake up during the night for hours on end can also be exasperating.  Sleep problems abound and for many reasons.  Consuming alcohol can disrupt the sleep cycle, as can caffeine and certain medications.  Depression, anxiety and stress are major contributors to sleep problems.  Not having or failing to be consistent with a sleep routine can further undermine one's sleep pattern.  But anyone who has suffered from insomnia already knows all this because they've already researched ad nauseam online all about it. Where homeopathy is significant in helping one to overcome sleep issues is that it addresses a person's individual symptoms as well as addresses the specific cause of someone's insomnia.

It is best to seek out professional help to effectively prescribe for chronic sleep problems .  However, there are a few homeopathic remedies that are effective for occasional sleep issues.  Remember that you need to find the remedy that fits the picture best.

I once prescribed homeopathic coffee "Coffea"  for an amateur actor who had trouble falling asleep the nights of performances because of all the excitement.  He said he had too many thoughts going through his head that he couldn't switch off and he was too excited to sleep.  This type of insomnia can feel like one is buzzing as if having consumed too much caffeine.

Another remedy I've used to successfully treat insomnia is Lycopodium.  It is for when one feels sleepy all day but is wakeful at night, often until the early morning hours.  This happens after long periods of stress.  It is useful for an overactive mind that is worrying about what happened that day.

Nux vomica is a useful homeopathic remedy for when there is great irritability and stress.  This type often wakes up between 3:00 and 4:00 and in unable to get back to sleep because of an active mind.  This person often is the type to overindulge in food,  drugs, caffeine, alcohol or other stimulants in order to maintain a busy, work-filled lifestyle.  This person is particularly sensitive to noises and light.

If the reason for not being able to sleep stems from an incident where someone felt humiliated or there is suppressed anger or grief then Staphysagria is the homeopathic remedy for you.  This is the case where you lie awake all night ruminating on what transpired, what was said, what should have been said etc.

If it is a child who is having trouble sleeping due to the pain of an earache or teeth coming in then Chamomilla is the remedy to try.  This child might cry out in the night and have anxious or frightening dreams.  Remember this remedy for children who can't sleep because of pain, excitement or irritability.

Cocculus is an important remedy for when one has lost sleep and that loss is creating not only a great sense of exhaustion but also light-headedness, weakness and giddiness.  This feeling can come about after having been up all night and for several nights looking after a sick child or caring for an ailing family member for an extended period of time.

These are only a handful of hundreds of possible homeopathic remedies.  If you don't find one here that sounds appropriate or if you try one or two and nothing changes then seek out professional homeopathic help.

Effective, natural remedy for a cough

I had a patient come to see me last week with a persistent dry cough.  She coughed all day long and all through the night.  She could hardly sleep for all the coughing.  In fact, it seemed worse on lying down.  My patient told me that she felt a tickle in her throat and that the coughing was worse when she was talking.  I took her case and prescribed homeopathic Drosera.  She did spectacularly well and finally found relief in a relatively short time after having had this cough for quite some time.  This is by no means the only remedy for a cough.  It is important to know that there are a number of different possibilities depending on the symptoms that are present.    Here is a table that you can consult and along with an introductory book on homeopathic remedies with a basic materia medica you should be able to successfully self-prescribe for your cough or that of your loved ones.  Consult your doctor if the cough continues for several weeks, or if you have thick green or yellow phlegm, you have a fever higher than 101F or you are coughing up blood.

DRY COUGH  Aconite           Bryonia Nux vomica    Phosphorous Rhus tox       Spongia	DAMP CHESTY COUGH (mucousy)  Antimonium tartaricum Hepar sulph Ipecac         Kali-bi	DAMP or DRY depending on time of day Pulsatilla
COUGH WORSE in EVENING Antimonium tartaricum Belladonna	COUGH WORSE at NIGHT Drosera Rhus tox Rumex Spongia	COUGH WORSE around MIDNIGHT  Arsenicum Drosera
COUGH WORSE in COLD, DAMP CONDITIONS Rhus tox	COUGH WORSE for COLD, DRY WIND Aconite Bryonia Hepar sulph Rumex Spongia	COUGH WORSE for CHANGE in TEMPERATURE Phosphorous
COUGH WORSE LYING DOWN Antimonium tartaricum Belladonna  Phosphorus (lying on right side)	COUGH WORSE for SLIGHTEST MOVEMENT Bryonia	COUGH WORSE for LAUGHING or TALKING Phosphorus Rumex Spongia
COUGH WORSE in WARM ROOM  Aconite Bryonia Ipecac (warmth in general) Pulsatilla	COUGH with TICKLING IN THROAT Drosera Phosphorus (<talking) Spongia	COUGH with HEADACHE Belladonna      Bryonia Nux vomica
COUGH with VOMITING or RETCHING  Drosera Ipecac Pulsatilla	COUGH with THIRST Belladonna       Bryonia Hepar sulph      Phosphorus	COUGH with no THIRST Pulsatilla

Hay fever and homeopathy

There are 250 homeopathic remedies specifically listed in the homeopathic literature for seasonal allergies / hay fever.  Although there are in fact thousands of remedies that could be used to treat someone who has allergy symptoms.  A homeopathic remedy is chosen according to the symptoms that the sufferer is presenting.   Each person who has hay fever has their own individual, unique set of symptoms.  For example, a hypothetical "Fred" is allergic to ragweed,  he suffers terribly with itchy eyes that tear up and burn, his nose runs (but the nasal discharge doesn't burn.) Even his breathing is affected and he can start wheezing and coughing. Fred feels better out in cold air and worse in a warm room. Fred should try homeopathic Ambrosia.  Meanwhile, hypothetical "Harry" has itchy, red eyes and even the roof of his mouth and inside his nostrils are itchy.  He has a runny nose and has lost his sense of smell and is sneezing a lot.  Harry feels worse in the evenings. He might do well to try homeopathic Arundo.  Choosing an effective homeopathic remedy requires observing closely what are the exact symptoms as well as what makes the person feel better or worse. You can get a homeopathic book and self-prescribe.  Here are two that I like very much:

Miranda Castro's The Complete Homeopathy Handbook

http://www.mirandacastro.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=6

Laura Josephson's  A Homeopathic Handbook of Natural Remedies

https://www.amazon.ca/Homeopathic-Handbook-Natural-Remedies-Effective/dp/0812991885?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

If you have no success self-prescribing then you can always consult with a professional homeopath to get a constitutional remedy.  Constitutional remedies are chosen not just for your acute hay fever symptoms but are based on your entire self - physical, mental and emotional.  A constitutional remedy helps to boost your immune system and to help you rebalance holistically.

Homeopathy and fertility

Homeopathy is based on the premise the body has the ability to heal itself - it just sometimes needs a nudge in the right direction to rebalance itself.  A well-prescribed homeopathic remedy is that catalyst.  I have seen a homeopathic remedy help a couple conceive when they had previously had
issues doing so.  Homeopathy works gently and naturally to help reinstate a healthy foundation so that chances of conceiving are increased.  More and more, people are becoming aware of the risks of IVF.  Therefore, if you are looking for a safer and more healing route to take in your quest to conceive perhaps you should look into homeopathic treatment.   Here are a few links to some articles, if you are looking for more information.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-133564/Complementary-therapies-help-boost-fertility.html

http://gaia-health.com/natural-health/homeopathy/price-fertility-avoid-ivf-homeopathy/

http://www.britishhomeopathic.org/bha-charity/how-we-can-help/articles/fertility-problems/

Fifth Disease (aka Slapped Cheek Disease)

Fifth disease seems go be going around these days in Ottawa.  The official medical name is erythema infectiosum.  It is a viral infection caused by parvovirus B19 and is called fifth disease because it was the fifth on the list of common childhood rashes - the others being rubella, measles, scarlet fever,

chicken pox and roseola infantum (sixth disease).  It is also known as Slapped-cheek disease because of the characteristic initial symptom of a red cheek (or two).

Fifth disease is usually mild and is spread by coughs or sneezes through respiratory droplets.  It poses little risk to healthy children and adults.  Those who are more at risk of complications are pregnant women and people with certain types of chronic anemia.  (See your doctor if this is your situation.)

Symptoms include:  low-grade fever; chills; headache; body ache;  sore throat; cold-like symptoms; runny nose. There can also be an upset stomach and diarrhea. These aforementioned symptoms usually appear first.  Then the rash appears.  The rash can appear first on the cheeks and then it spreads to the torso, arms and legs. The rash can be itchy.  The rash can last for up to six weeks but generally only lasts for about two weeks.  Adults are less likely to have the rash and more likely to have swollen painful joints.  By the time the rash appears the child is no longer contagious.  The incubation period is usually anywhere between 4-14 days and can on occasion be as long as 21 days in length.

Here is a table of useful homeopathic remedies for fifth disease.

Natural treatment for ear infections

I got an email late last Saturday afternoon from a distraught parent.  He had just been at a walk-in clinic with his daughter who had been found to have not just one, but two ear infections.  The doctor wanted this baby to take a ten-day course of antibiotics to which the father inquired as to the necessity of antibiotics in this case.  The doctor was adamant that the baby needed antibiotics.  Given the father's reluctance to put his daughter on the antibiotics, unless absolutely necessary, he contacted me - hence the email late on a Saturday afternoon.  I had already treated this child in the past so I already had some knowledge of this patient which made treating this child quickly on an acute basis easier.  I took down the details of this baby's particular symptoms and as I have a well-stocked homeopathic pharmacy in-house I could provide the father with the remedy that best fit the unique and specific symptoms this baby had in relation to the ear infections.  I gave the man two other remedies to hold, just in case the first one didn't do the trick.  With homeopathy it can at times take a few tries to get the right remedy so it is good in an acute situation like this to provide a second and perhaps third option to have on hand.  I asked the father to let me know on the Sunday morning how the baby was doing.  I didn't hear back so in the afternoon I emailed to inquire about the baby.  The father said they had been out all day and that the baby seemed fine.  No other remedies were needed. This was a great case of being able to help a patient to heal naturally from an ear infection without having to resort to the use of antibiotics.  I am certainly not against the use of antibiotics when necessary.  However,  I would prefer to try to help a patient using homeopathic remedies as the first form of treatment and to reserve antibiotics as a last resort.   There is, in fact, evidence that the effectiveness of antibiotics for ear infections is very limited - despite this fact, they are far too often prescribed when they are not necessary.  Furthermore, the side-effects of such medications can lead to undesirable issues such as diarrhoea and skin rashes.  Why not avoid these possible side-effects unless absolutely necessary?  I told the father, on I agreeing to take his daughter's acute case, that he would have to observe the child closely and be responsible to administer the antibiotic if the homeopathic remedies weren't helping and if he observed a worsening of the situation.  Fortunately this baby rebounded quickly with the aid of a well-prescribed homeopathic remedy and she could avoid taking an unnecessary course of antibiotics.

A Natural Alternative for ADD and ADHD

I have just finished creating my first "PowToon" to raise awareness that there are natural and effective treatments for ADD and ADHD.

A Swiss pediatrician, Dr. Heiner Frei, conducted a double-blind study to determine the effectiveness of homeopathic treatment for ADHD.

 In the Swiss ADD / ADHD double-blind study, our research team proved under rigorous scientific conditions that homeopathy is effective in hyperactive children [Eur J Pediatr: 164 (2005): 758-767]. Furthermore, the long-term follow-up of the study participants over five years shows that 75% of all patients can be treated adequately with homeopathy alone, and that prolonged homeopathic treatment reduces the symptom intensity by about 50 percent, even after treatment is stopped.  [ http://www.heinerfrei.ch/add-adhd/ ]

I use Dr. Heiner Frei's Polarity Analysis treatment method and have seen great results.

Understanding Homeopathic Treatment

I created this Prezi for my website.  It is useful for anyone who wants to understand more about homeopathic treatment and how to get the most out of it.  I hope you enjoy this.  (You will have to copy and paste the link below to access the Prezi.)

http://prezi.com/thr2jyv980fw/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share

Homeopathy and the flu

There really are a huge number of homeopathic remedies that can be helpful for the flu.  And it is important to remember with homeopathy that to treat successfully you must treat the patient and not the disease.  This means you need to closely observe the symptoms and what makes the patient feel better and worse before choosing what to prescribe.  Oscillococcinum and Influenzinum are often used at the very first signs of coming down with a flu, before there are clear symptoms.  Here is a little table of some useful homeopathic remedies for the flu but keep in mind these are just a small handful of many possible remedies.   If what you choose doesn't work please don't assume homeopathy doesn't work.  A successful healing depends on good prescribing - and sometimes this isn't as easy as we wish it could be! This table helps best if you already know a little about these homeopathic remedies and just need help differentiating between a few of them.

Brain injury and homeopathy

There are a number of homeopathic remedies for concussion and other ailments related to brain injuries.  Here is a link to a study that examined the clinical effectiveness of homeopathic treatment for persistent mild traumatic brain injuries.  The results of the study "indicate significant improvement from homeopathic treatment versus the control and translate into clinically significant outcomes".  Even people who had suffered brain injuries years before the study experienced significant improvement.  Furthermore, some who had been unable to work for years were able to return to work.



http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10671699

Workshop on Homeopathy for Cold and Flu Season

I am going to be teaching a workshop this coming Sunday in conjunction with Sourcefull.  Please find below their information about the workshop!

No one likes to get sick, so why not find out what you can do to ease the symptoms in a natural and holistic manner.

Homeopathic Workshop for Cold & Flu Season – Sun Oct 25 at 1:30pm – Beyond Yoga (66 Hearst Way, Kanata)

 

Join Maria Reid, Registered Homeopath, as she provides information on how to treat colds, flu symptoms, fevers & sore throats using homeopathic remedies. No previous knowledge of homeopathy is necessary.  

Maria Reid is a registered homeopath with the College of Homeopaths of Ontario; she is also an instructor at the Canadian Homeopathic Institute. 

Cost is $25/person; includes a coupon for $10 off your initial consultation with Maria (should you choose to make an individual appointment); please email me at sourcefull@rogers.com to register or for more information

Not just placebo. Homeopathic products have nanoparticles that affect cells.

There was recently a major victory for homeopathic supporters in North America.  A class action lawsuit had been brought against two U.S. homeopathic pharmaceutical manufacturers for allegedly making false and misleading representations about the effectiveness of the ingredients.  However it took the jury less than a day to find that the defendants did not breach any express warranty or violate the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act.

The expert who spoke in defence of the Homeopathic manufacturers spoke about how nanoparticles have an effect in biological cells....

"Dr. Iris Bell, a former Harvard psychiatry instructor and holder of a doctorate degree from Stanford University in neuro- and  biobehavioral sciences who has consulted with Highlands, Inc. to design clinical trials.  Bell testified about her scientific studies in multiple chemical sensitivity and homeopathy, including how "nanoparticles" and "nanobubbles” can have an effect in biological cells. Dr. Bell opined, “It is very clear that nanoparticles in low doses are capable of capable of creating hermetic effects…similar to vaccine.” Dr. Bell explained how “hormesis” is a medical principle that describes how small doses of a substance can trigger the opposite effect of high doses of the same substance."

http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=7d9b009a-e041-422c-b9cc-bb0437958523

Performance anxiety and homeopathy

Homeopathy has many great remedies for performance anxiety.  In fact it has many great remedies for all sorts of anxiety: anticipatory anxiety; stage fright; performance related in terms of fear of failure; general anxiety due to relationship issues or grieving; fear of flying; panic attacks; etc...  Nonetheless, for the case of this blog we will look just at performance anxiety.  The key to resolving performance anxiety is to get to the root of the issue and understand exactly where that fear comes from, what delusions may exist that are limiting the performer's confidence, and how that anxiety is manifesting in the body.  People in many different walks of life encounter performance anxiety.  There are the traditional performers such as actors, singers, dancers and the like.  But there are also athletes, business owners, professors and teachers who are also required to "perform" in front of spectators, potential investors or students.  And I haven't even mentioned yet sexual performance.  Performance anxiety affects myriads of people in almost as many ways.  There are a couple traditional homeopathic remedies that are used routinely for stage fright and performance anxiety such as Gelsemium and Argentum Nitricum. A self-prescriber might try those remedies to see whether they are helpful.  However, homeopathy works best if it is prescribed for the individual and his/her unique symptoms.  What works for one person will not necessarily work for another because a successful homeopathic remedy must be chosen to match the particular picture that is present.  Seeing as there are over 4,000 homeopathic remedies the odds are such that a professional homeopath can better help bring about the desired changes with a well-prescribed homeopathic remedy. So consider consulting a professional classical homeopath if performance anxiety causes you issues.

Homeopathy is now regulated in Ontario.

April 1, 2015 Homeopathy became a regulated profession in Ontario.  As of that date, only those who have been issued a certificate of registration by the College of Homeopaths of Ontario can use the title “homeopath” and/or hold themselves out as homeopaths.  The establishing of this college is to protect public interest and to ensure that patients using alternative therapies are receiving them from competent and qualified homeopaths.  For this reason I have been absent for some time and not posting new blogs as I had to wait to become a registered member.  I am now a verified member of the College of Homeopaths of Ontario and will be able to resume to call myself a homeopath and to post blog articles to inform and educate people about the effectiveness of homeopathy.  So now you can rest assured that I am a competent and qualified homeopath!

http://www.collegeofhomeopaths.on.ca/ 

Bedwetting and natural remedies

As frustrating as it might feel to a parent to have to wake up enough to change the sheets after a child has wet his bed, it is much more difficult for the child.  He can feel embarrassment, guilt or shame that he has caused this incident, despite that fact that he can have little control over the situation.  Granted there are precautions one can take such as limiting fluids after dinner, being sure the child has used the bathroom before bed etc.  However the involuntary emptying of the bladder has predominantly psychosocial causes.  It could be that a sibling was recently born or that there are new stressors at day-care, kindergarten or elementary school.  Between the ages of 4 and 7 a child is learning to develop complete bladder control.  If a child older than four wets his bed more than once a week, or if it occurs in a child older than seven then you might want to consider homeopathic treatment.  There are several important homeopathic remedies for children experiencing bedwetting.  These are prescribed according to the temperament of the child, what might be causing the child distress, and the symptoms that accompany his individual case.  There is help so that your child can successfully sleep through the night without incident!

Why consider homeopathy?

Homeopathy is recognized by the World Health Organization as the second most prevalently used therapeutic system in the world.  It is currently used by over 300 million users in more than 80 countries.  It is a 200-year old system of medicine that addresses acute and chronic issues as well as being  extremely effective during times of epidemics. Homeopathic remedies are created using substances from the natural world: plants, minerals and animals.

Homeopathy is based on the belief that the body has the ability to heal itself. The body is built for health and well-being and it will always try to get back to its natural, healthy state.  However, sometimes the body needs to be given the right stimulus to provoke the healing process.  Homeopathic remedies stimulate the body’s own natural defence system (a.k.a. immune system) to rev up and overcome that which is challenging it.  A homeopathic remedy is like pressing the reset button or like rebooting a computer.  In this way a person’s own body is stimulated to restore itself back into balanced health. 

Homeopathic remedies don’t chemically affect the body. For this reason homeopathic remedies can safely be used in conjunction with pharmaceutical drugs, supplements or herbal tinctures.  These all work on a chemical level, while homeopathic remedies at an energetic level.

Homeopathic remedies are gentle, non-toxic and deep-acting.  They help facilitate long-lasting, curative effects.  They are safe and can be used by newborns, nursing babies, pregnant women, the elderly and everyone in between.  Homeopathic remedies work to improve overall health by addressing the cause and not just suppressing symptoms.  This is why with a good homeopathic prescription once you are feeling better there is no need to continue taking the remedy as your immune system has reassumed its responsibility to oversee your movement back to a state of balanced health.

Alternative treatment for Shingles

I have been asked a lot about Zostavax the zoster vaccine for shingles.  I have spoken to a number of older people who are concerned about shingles and they have heard a lot about this new vaccine.  I will always tell my patients it is necessary to speak to your doctor and do the appropriate research before making any decisions about getting a vaccine or deciding to not to do so.  It has to be your own decision and one about which you are confident and happy.  I will not advise you as to what to do.  However, what I can do is tell you that there are homeopathic remedies to help you should you get shingles.

If you need more information about what shingles is, you can read up about it at the Mayo Clinic website:http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shingles/basics/definition/con-20019574

There are more than a hundred number of homeopathic remedies for shingles and so you need to observe closely to match your particular symptoms to the right remedy.  I list below only a handful of the most common remedies for shingles.  Try a remedy from below of it seems to fit your picture and consider consulting a professional homeopath if you see no results on self-prescribing.  Remember that with homeopathy the success of the prescription depends on matching the picture well.  Only take a remedy up to 3 times and if it offers no improvement move onto your next choice.  I would recommend you use 30C.

If you are already seeing a homeopath you should contact him or her first but if you cannot reach anyone and you have your constitutional remedy - it would be the first place to start.  Take that remedy and see if it helps you.

Rhus Toxicodendron (Rhus tox) is a classic remedy for chicken pox.  It also happens to be rather useful for shingles.  Rhus tox is in fact the poison ivy plant and it is significant to note that the rash one would have after brushing against such a plant produces a very similar looking rash as that produced by the shingles (zoster) virus.  There is inflammation, intensely painful blisters and unrelenting itching.  In order for this remedy to work it must fit the picture: you get temporary relief on applying a warm compress or having a warm bath; you are very restless and moving about a lot in an attempt to feel better; you are more likely to have left sided symptoms with this remedy picture.

Ranunculus Bulbosus is an effective shingle remedy when there is severe nerve pains that can feel like stabbing pains around the ribcage; these are worse for the slightest touch; and moving makes the pain worse.  This remedy picture can include a rash on the left side of the chest that are slightly bluish in hue.

Iris Versicolor is indicated when the rash is worse on the right; often on the right side of the abdomen and under the right arm.    There could also be headaches, burning in the stomach and vomiting which are ameliorated with a walk outside in fresh air.

Arsenicum Album is another useful remedy for someone who is very chilly, extremely restless and anxious, tremendously fatigued and worse after midnight.  The interesting thing with this remedy type is that they have burning pains that paradoxically feel better for warmth.  This patient is usually very thirsty for cold drinks and will sip their drink frequently.

Mezereum is worth trying if the rash is intensely painful and itchy where the blisters are oozing, bright red and the blisters may burst to form brown scabs.  The rash is made worse for hot applications or getting warm in bed and may be better for cold compresses.  This remedy's rash is found most often on the scalp and face. This patient feels "cold to the bone" or "frozen".

Other remedies for shingles include:  Apis; Cantharis; Lachesis; Mercurious; Natrum Muriaticum; Petroleum; Pulsatilla; Sepia; Sulphur; Thuja; and Variolinum (to name but a few of the many options.)

Wondering what can help you get through a stressful holiday season?

It has been a busy fall and I can't believe it is already December.  I have been growing much busier with my home-based practice and I also joined the wonderful team at Ottawa Holistic Wellness and have been going there 2 days a week to see patients.   Since its inception in the spring I have also been teaching at the Canadian Homeopathic Institute in Ottawa every second weekend.  All this to say, I have been extremely busy and remiss in writing here on my blog.  That said I want to provide some useful information as the holiday season is quickly approaching and it can be a stressful time of year.  

Homeopathy works best if it is individually prescribed.  This means that one person's stress can look very different from another person's stress and it is the individuality and uniqueness of each person's symptoms that need to be examined and prescribed for in order to find a successful homeopathic remedy.   For example, one person might suddenly become very restless, experience shallow breathing, agitation and palpitations.  They could begin to see a tendency of quickly getting into a state of panic.  If this person's symptoms fit a particular picture they might benefit from the homeopathic remedy Aconite.  But there are many different remedies used in homeopathy that are useful during times of stress.  If you find yourself often feeling the effects of stress you might consider visiting a professional homeopath who can help you regain balance so that the stress doesn't begin to create more serious physical, mental or emotional symptoms.

In the meantime for the holiday season you might find it helpful to keep a bottle of Bach Flower Rescue Remedy on hand.  This is a combination of wild flower remedies that is very useful at times of anxiety, tension and crisis.  You can put a few drops straight on your tongue or put a few drops in a glass or bottle of water that you can sip on from time to time as you need a dose.  It will help to take the edge off and will make you feel more relaxed, focused and calm.  Use this remedy for stressful work holiday parties, visits with family and in-laws,  for stressful road trips and air travel (especially if you are nervous flying.) By the way, Rescue remedy is also useful for your pets if they don't travel well and you are travelling over the holidays with your furry family members!

Here is a link to the official website if you would like more information about this product.

http://www.bachflower.com/rescue-remedy-information/


I wish you all happiness, health and joy going into this holiday season.

Homeopathy for hangovers and students

One might ask how homeopathy would be helpful for students.  To begin with homeopathic  remedies are not very expensive, are easier to find these days (in health food stores and alternative pharmacies) and they keep practically forever as long as they are stored properly.  But why else might they be of interest to a student…?  Well, the first remedy students might want to know about is Nux Vomica (AKA Columbrina)  This is actually a stomach and liver remedy and so – you guessed it – this makes it a fantastic hang-over remedy.  It is for after you have had too much food and alcohol and you feel nauseated; headache-y; sensitive to light, odours, or noise; and/or as if you want to vomit but even if you do - this doesn’t bring you relief; and also for when you feel worse on first waking in the morning.  This occasion then calls for Nux Vomica.  It is important to note that homeopathic remedies should be prescribed for the individual and that they will only work if the remedy and patient closely match one another.  In other words, the  person needing Nux Vomica is ambitious, hard-working, and has a type “A” personality.  They are competitive, impulsive, impatient, fastidious sorts who often crave stimulants such as coffee, chocolate, alcohol, tobacco and drugs in order to maintain their intense, frenetic craziness.  The Nux Vomica person likes to work hard and play hard.  But eventually this can lead to an inability to concentrate, and ultimately burn out and collapse.  As well as being a popular hangover remedy it is also a well known remedy for collapse from overwork.  A person who would benefit from Nux Vomica is often chilly; is sensitive to drafts; prone to migraines, hayfever, gastro-intestinal issues like heartburn, indigestion, gas and constipation from rich food; insomnia,  and headaches accompanying constipation.  Oh…and this person can be extremely irritable, critical and easily angered,

Take Nux Vomica 30c once and then wait to see how you are feeling. Repeat the dose after a half an hour.  Take up to three times then stop.  If you aren’t feeling any better after a third dose then this isn’t the remedy for you and you aren’t as irritable as you might have thought you were.  It is important to note that you MUST STOP TAKING THE REMEDY as soon as you have any improvement.  Your body will continue to heal itself and so must be given the chance to do so.  If you repeat the remedy too often that can stop it from working and you’ll have no chance of recovering from that blasted hangover. (Just kidding!)

School can be stressful with deadlines, exams, extreme mental effort, parties, stimulants and not enough sleep. This is why if this picture above of the hardworking, hard playing, ambitious, over-extended picture of a Type A personality is YOU – then consider Nux Vomica.  It will even be good to have in your bag when you return home for Thanksgiving or Christmas holidays because not just unhealthy things can cause someone to need Nux Vomica.   Too much of anything (even good home cooking) can cause you to feel this way and can be helped with a dose or two of this remedy.  

Homeopathy is effective for earaches and ear infections

I gave my sons homeopathic remedies when they had ear infections.  The remedies worked wonders.  I always used homeopathy as our first line of defence - and it certainly served us all well.  There are several remedies that could be used for ear infections so it is important to look carefully at your child's symptoms and try to match carefully the right remedy to your child's particular symptom picture.  If you have difficulty identifying the best one or you have tried one or two with no success, please consider contacting a professional homeopath.  Here is a post found at  Homeopathy Plus website about useful remedies to consider in the case of an earache or ear infection.

http://homeopathyplus.com.au/ear-infections-and-earaches-homeopathic-treatment-better-than-antibiotics/