Homeopathy
Homeopathy is a complete system of medicine. Homeopaths treat a wide variety of acute and chronic conditions, from ear infections to excema to auto-immune disorders to depression and anxiety.
Homeopaths study basic sciences (anatomy, physiology, pathology and some nutrition), but then go on to study at least 2000 hours of homeopathy. While a person’s diagnosis is important to understand the course of a disease or illness, because homeopathy looks more at each person’s unique experience of their health condition a homeopathic education does not generally focus on diagnosis.
Homeopaths work with you in conjunction with your family doctor.
If you want to change your diet or want to take supplements, or if you are very interested in confirming a diagnosis of your condition, you probably want to see a naturopathic doctor. A homeopath might help you to follow a basic healthy eating plan, but is less likely to prescribe diet for specific health conditions. This is because from a homeopathic point of view if your system is balanced you should be able to tolerate most foods. At times it may be necessary to restrict certain food items temporarily to allow your body the chance to heal. However, a homeopathic remedy is needed to correct the imbalance that led to your symptoms in the first place. One benchmark for improved health would be your digestive system being able to tolerate more foods as you heal.
Homeopathic remedies are safe for all ages and health conditions and are non-toxic. The remedies are made by diluting and shaking a substance many times (called potentization). Most homeopaths include the remedies in the cost of the consultation fee, or have a minimal charge.
The first appointment for homeopathy is 2 hours and involves a comprehensive history and case taking. Many patients remark that they have never felt so listened to by another health professional.
Most times you would go to see a homeopath because you would like to improve some aspect of your health. This can be a long-standing chronic complaint or an acute ailment, and can be on the mental, emotional or physical level.
Homeopaths are also interested in working with patients who want to improve their overall health and wellness and who do not have any current complaints. As an example, some families bring their children to a homeopath for ‘healthy & happy children’ check ups. In these appointments the homeopath is establishing a relationship with the children and getting to know their ‘constitutional’ remedy picture. This can be helpful for when acute complaints arise.
In my practice of homeopathy and the Bowen technique I offer free 15 minute consults (phone or in person). These are helpful if you don’t know whether homeopathy or Bowen are the right treatment methods for you, or if you would like to meet me before beginning treatment. If I don’t think what I do is appropriate for your complaints I will be happy to refer you to the appropriate professional.
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Here is a book for all of you avid gardeners who are interested in treating your gardens with non-toxic and non-harmful methods. Homeopathy for Farm and Garden The Homeopathic Treatment of Plants 2nd revised edition was written by Vaikunthanath Das Kaviraj and is attracting a lot of attention. I had the chance to browse through it at a recent conference in Toronto and it is clearly written and beautifully presented.
After Hurricane Juan a colleague of mine treated many of her shrubs and bushes with homeopathic remedies to counteract the shock they had sustained.
This book is available from Naryana Publishers
Homeopathic remedies can be very helpful during the grieving process, both in the initial stages and during the longer term consequences of a loss or bereavement. This article contains a list of homeopathic remedies commonly prescribed for grief reactions, along with some practical suggestions for remaining well after a grief. I have also included a personal story of my attempts to soften the grieving process for myself and my family.
Rescue remedy is a Bach Flower preparation that is diluted in a similar way to homeopathic remedies, but is not shaken or sucussed between dilutions. Rescue remedy can be used to comfort and to soothe, and I find it useful if I am in a setting where I am not able to take a case, but I want to be able to provide some measure of comfort to a person. I prefer the liquid form, as you can have the person place 2 or 3 drops into a bottle of water and sip. Like homeopathic remedies it is safe and non-toxic.
Grief remedies
The three most common remedies for grief are Ignatia, Nat mur and Phosphoric Acid.
Ignatia indications would be tearful, uncontrollable weeping, weeping when alone, body feels cramped and numb, can also have difficulty crying. It can be in initial stages after a loss. (I found this remedy to be particularly helpful for certain members of my family.)
Nat mur can be expressed as difficulty crying, feeling lonely and withdrawn, dwells on past hurts and disappointments, worse from consolation. There can be headaches or herpes outbreaks after grief A person needing Nat mur in a grief situation might push others away and have a wall around them. The feeling inside is that if they begin to express their sorrow it will be like floodgates opening, so they try to keep it all inside. I have seen Nat mur be indicated both in the initial stages and also from prolonged grieving.
Another strategy for healing from a grief is to find something you love to do, and dedicate some aspect of this to the person you are grieving for. For example, you could plant a garden or enter a race or do something creative in their memory.
A few years ago my best friend passed away. 
As part of my coping strategy, I hooked a rug called Coastal Girls and made each of the women someone who was special to me. I surrounded myself with the women who have supported me, including my best friend and my sister. This rug was designed by Deanne Fitzpatrick.
Last year our family suffered a devastating loss of my sister’s 18 year old son Brennan. Some of the younger members of our family got beautiful tattoos in his memory. To help with my own healing process I designed and hooked a rug in his memory.
When our children were growing up my sister and I frequently rented a cottage and took our 5 boys on a beach holiday. We spent many enjoyable hours beach-combing in the Green Bay area of Nova Scotia. This rug has many elements of our beach walks – starfish, sand dollars, nautilus shell, the wild roses and of course the sand and the waves. The writing inside is a verse from a poem called The Tide (author unknown), and talks about whenever a joy has passed something beautiful remains. Brennan was a joy to our family and to his many friends. Completing this rug has been a way for me to express my grief and also my love for my nephew.
Some important notes about potency and dosage
Homeopathic remedies come in various strengths (called potencies), from 6C to 50M and higher. Unless you are an experienced prescriber, I suggest you use a potency no higher than 30C.
The number of doses of a remedy given depend on the potency you have chosen and the degree of distress of the individual. Note – one dose is considered to be one pellet dissolved under the tongue. It is not necessary to take more than one pellet per dose. For babies and small children (or anyone who might inhale the pellet), you can dissolve the pellet in water and put 1 tsp. in the infant’s mouth.
Stop on improvement – repeat as needed
If the person’s condition begins to improve, do not give any further doses of the remedy. Start giving the remedy again only if the symptoms begin to relapse or there is no further improvement. If you have given several doses of the remedy (between 3 and 6 doses) and there is no improvement on any level, stop giving the remedy. It is probably not the correct remedy and you need to re-evaluate or seek help from your homeopath.
Recently a colleague asked me for suggestions for remedies that might help with her body’s responses to international travel. She experiences sleep disturbance, a weak feeling in her body and feelings of disorientation for several days upon arrival. She has tried one of the combination homeopathic remedies for jet lag, but found it did not help her symptoms and in fact made her feel worse.
Cocculus Indicus is one of the most common remedies indicated for the woozy, disoriented feeling when you travel to a destination many time zones away. I recommended to my friend that she take Cocculus indicus in a 30C potency, one pellet every 12 hours, starting up to 2 days before her flight. Depending on how she is feeling, she can continue this for up to 3 days after she arrives.
A common symptom long distance travellers experience is swelling of the feet and ankles. In addition to wearing socks and footwear that are not binding, getting up to move around the cabin frequently can be helpful. Urtica Urens tincture can also be helpful to combat postural oedema. I suggest patients take 5 drops every 6 hours starting 24 hours before and throughout the airline journey. It can be continued for the first day or so after arrival if necessary.
Note: Urtica urens tincture is not recommended if you suffer from hepatic disease or seizures or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. In that case you could take Urtica Urens 30C 3 doses per day starting 24 hours prior, during travel and for a day or so following. Because homeopathic remedies are diluted and succussed many times they are non-toxic and safe for use for everyone.
Some people suffer from a fear of heights and/or claustrophobia when travelling on an aircraft. Argentum nitricum 30C can help with the feelings of anxiety related to the fears of being in a confined space. Take one dose a few hours before departure and then every 2 to 4 hours depending on the degree of anxiety experienced.
For the fear of descending, or an extreme reaction to the sudden drops from air pockets or turbulence, consider Borax 30C. One or two doses an hour or two before landing, or every 2 hours if on a very turbulent flight should be helpful.
Hopefully the above will help you to have an enjoyable journey and leave you feeling refreshed and ready to enjoy your destination.
A Family Guide – Coping with Chemotherapy Using Homeopathy by Laura Fenton. This book is designed as a resource for patients and their families. It is clearly laid out according to the common side effects that might be experienced during chemotherapy and gives suggestions for homeopathic remedies which can help to alleviate the side effects. I have used this extensively in my practice and also with friends and family and have found it to be very helpful. My sister’s oncologist was very supportive and enthusiastic about her taking remedies to ease her suffering during the chemotherapy process.
I keep an extra copy on hand for my work with patients and their families. Available from Minimum Price Homeopathic Books. www.minimum.com
Insomnia can have many causes and specific symptoms, but here are three possible remedies you can try at home to resolve a bout of insomnia. Of course, if insomnia is severe or prolonged, or recurs frequently it is time to consult a professional homeopath. Many cases of insomnia respond positively to homeopathic treatment.
Kali Phos is a helpful remedy for simple insomnia that follows a period of excitement, intense work or mental strain, when the individual feels worn out but cannot sleep. The insomnia can be accompanied by an empty feeling in the pit of the stomach which is only temporarily relieved by eating.
Nux vomica can be useful for insomnia after coffee, over-work and mental strain. The individual feels angry, irritable and impatient. There can be waking too early or late or at 3 a.m. The person may feel sleepy on going to bed, but then can’t sleep or wakes too early with anxious thoughts which prevent falling back to sleep.
Natrum muriaticum is often indicated for sleeplessness after a significant loss such as a grief. The individual may not have mourned and has held in their tears. They may want to be alone, are more tearful than Nux vomica. The sleeplessness may be accompanied by anxious, vivid dreams.
For home prescribing, I suggest a 30C potency. For insomnia try taking one dose of the indicated remedy 3 to 4 hours before bed and then one more dose at bedtime. Up to 4 to 6 doses can be taken every 4 to 6 hours, but if the symptoms have not resolved, stop taking the remedy and try another. Homeopathic remedies should be taken on a clean mouth 5 to 10 minutes from eating or drinking, one pellet dissolved under the tongue.
Happy Mother’s Day – Homeopathic first aid that every mother should have in her diaper bag … or soccer bag … or gym bag
As our children grow from babies to toddlers to teens, our bags may change, but our function as the go-to person for scrapes and spills seems never to change.
If someone in your family has an accident or injury, your first responsibility is to apply the proper first-aid measures and to get medical help if necessary. However, homeopathic treatment can complement the standard first aid measures and help to reduce pain and speed healing. Even for injuries which require medical care, homeopathic remedies can be used once an injured person’s condition is stable.
The first remedy every mother should have on hand is Arnica. Arnica is used first in all injury, for shock, pain, swelling and bleeding. Symptoms include soreness and bruised feeling, shock (person may insist they are fine when obviously they are not), soreness from over-exertion. It is used in early sprains to prevent bruising and minimize swelling.
Hypericum is useful for any severe blows to the head or spine (after first giving Arnica). It is useful for injuries to nerve endings – crushed fingertips, tailbone injuries. In tincture (liquid) form it is used to clean animal or human bites, or open burns. Characteristic symptoms include shooting pains, worse from touch, cold, dampness, fog. Better from bending head back.
The third remedy to have on hand is Apis. It can be helpful for bee stings (sometimes Ledum is indicated for bee stings also), hives, jelly fish stings, stinging nettle rash. Symptoms include swelling, itching, redness, pains stinging and burning, puffy swelling and thirstlessness. The pains are better from cold application and open air, worse from heat, touch and pressure.
Arnica, Hypericum and Apis would be my top 3 first aid remedies to carry in my bag, but I also recommend Traumeel gel, which is a gel which contains homeopathic remedies such as Arnica, Hypericum and other first aid remedies. It is useful for blows, bruises and sprains, but not for broken skin.
Homeopathic remedies and Traumeel gel are sold in health food stores and in the health food section of most grocery stores. I do not sell individual remedies, but do carry Traumeel gel and Helios Basic 18 remedy kits, which come with a small book which covers the basics of acute and first aid prescribing.
Some important notes about potency and dosage
Homeopathic remedies come in various strengths (called potencies), from 6C to 50M. Unless you are an experienced prescriber, I suggest you use a potency no higher than 30C.
The number of doses of a remedy given depend on the potency you have chosen and the degree of seriousness of the injury. Note – one dose is considered to be one pellet dissolved under the tongue. It is not necessary to take more than one pellet per dose. For babies and small children (or anyone who might inhale the pellet), you can put the pellet in water and put 1 tsp in the person’s mouth.
For a very serious injury (such as a head injury, second or third-degree burns), you might give one dose every 5 to 30 minutes initially.
If the person’s condition begins to improve, do not give any further doses of the remedy. Start giving the remedy again only if the symptoms begin to relapse or there is no further improvement. If you have given several doses of a remedy and there is no improvement on any level, stop giving the remedy and re-evaluate the symptoms or seek help from your homeopath.
When should I consult a professional homeopath?
If you have tried a few different remedies and the injury is worsening, or if you have recurring injuries (such as repeated strains or sprains) you might want to consult a professional homeopath. With recurring injuries, there may be an underlying susceptibility which can best be treated professionally.
This book is an excellent resource for the adventure traveller. It begins with the basics of homeopathic prescribing (dosages, potencies, where to purchase remedies). There is a good discussion of immunization and prevention, helping the reader/traveler to weigh the risks of immunization against the prevalence and possible complications of various tropical diseases.
I like that the book contains a ‘Gazeteer’ of world health risks, helping the traveler to identify the degree of risk for various diseases where they are going to be visiting.
The rest of the book is divided into chapters on common travel ailments (ie. traveler’s diarrhea, parasites, malaria) with suggested remedies. This book can be used when traveling to remote areas where this is no conventional treatment available, or in conjunction with conventional treatment. There is a good description of how to determine when professional treatment is required.
If you are an adventure traveler or are planning your first trip to a tropical country, this book is for you. It contains lots of information and detail, enough to make sure you refer to it again and again.
Happy Birthday to Samuel Hahnemann
Today marks the 156th year since Samuel Hahnemann was born. To celebrate his birthday on April 10th, members of the Canadian Society of Homeopaths are spreading the word about 10 good reasons for using Homeopathy!
10 GOOD REASONS TO USE HOMEOPATHY. . .
1. NATURAL ACTION
Homeopathy works by stimulating the body’s own natural defence mechanism to promote health and to resist infection and susceptibility to disease. Although gentle, the results can be powerful and long lasting.
2. HEALTH & WELL-BEING
Homeopathy improves health generally, rather than merely alleviating localized symptoms. It treats the whole individual, acting on the mental and emotional levels as well as the physical level, providing a balance in overall health and an increased sense of well-being and quality of life.
3. EFFECTIVE MEDICINE
When used correctly, homeopathy can be an extremely effective system of medicine, providing long-lasting relief from many acute and chronic conditions and illnesses.
4. NO HARMFUL SIDE EFFECTS
Homeopathic treatment offers a gentle and non-invasive approach to health, producing no toxic side effects, no dependency or addiction, and no withdrawal.
5. COST EFFECTIVE
Homeopathic medicines are surprisingly inexpensive to purchase, especially when compared to over-the-counter and prescription drugs.
6. FAST-ACTING FIRST-AID RELIEF
Homeopathy can be safely used at home or on the road to provide rapid relief for minor problems such as bruises, simple burns, sprains, insect bites, gastric upsets, etc. However more serious or long-lasting complaints should be treated by a qualified homeopath.
7. NOT TESTED ON ANIMALS
Homeopathic medicines are tested only on healthy humans in order to determine the range of action of each remedy.
8. COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE
Homeopathic medicines can be used independently or along with conventional drugs and other therapies (with the full knowledge of your other healthcare providers). It can often alleviate unpleasant side effects of conventional treatments (e.g., chemotherapy).
9. ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY
Homeopathy has no adverse impact on the environment. There is not waste of energy or natural resources in the manufacturing process and no pollution of the water supply, oceans, or dump sites when used. In fact, homeopathy is the ultimate Green Medicine!
10. MEDICINE OF THE FUTURE
Homeopathy is the second most widely-used system of medicine in the world. It is available in most countries and is gaining in popularity as an alternative to conventional medicine.
During the month of April, Canadian Society of Homeopaths and our members sponsor Homeopathy Awareness Month across Canada. If you would like more information or handouts about CSoH activities, contact our office at homeopathy@csoh.ca or 604-803-9242. www.csoh.ca
First Aid Treatment with Homeopathic Remedies
If someone in your family has an accident or injury, your first responsibility is to apply the proper first-aid measures and to get medical help if necessary. However, homeopathic treatment can complement the standard first aid measures and help to reduce pain and speed healing. Even for injuries which require medical care, homeopathic remedies can be used once an injured person’s condition is stable.
Some important notes about potency and dosage
Homeopathic remedies come in various strengths (called potencies), from 6C to 50M and higher. Unless you are an experienced prescriber, I suggest you use a potency no higher than 30C.
The number of doses of a remedy given depend on the potency you have chosen and the degree of seriousness of the injury. Note – one dose is considered to be one pellet dissolved under the tongue. It is not necessary to take more than one pellet per dose. For babies and small children (or anyone who might inhale the pellet), you can dissolve the pellet in water and put 1 tsp. in the infant’s mouth.
For a very serious injury (such as a head injury, second or third-degree burns), you might give one dose every 5 to 30 minutes initially.
Stop on improvement – repeat as needed
If the person’s condition begins to improve, do not give any further doses of the remedy. Start giving the remedy again only if the symptoms begin to relapse or there is no further improvement. If you have given several doses of the remedy (between 3 and 6 doses) and there is no improvement on any level, stop giving the remedy. It is probably not the correct remedy and you need to re-evaluate or seek help from your homeopath.
Your homeopathic First Aid Kit
As injuries and accidents don’t always happen during store hours, it is advisable to keep a basic first aid kit of homeopathic remedies on hand. I would recommend having the following remedies to begin with (you can always add to this base as you become more experienced): Arnica, Hypericum (pellets and tincture), Ledum, Rhus tox, Ruta, Apis, Belladonna
Arnica - use first in all injury, for shock, pain, bleeding, etc. Symptoms include soreness and bruised feeling, shock (person may insist they are fine when they are obviously not), soreness from over-exertion, bruising. In early sprains, to promote healing.
Hypericum - used for injuries to nerve endings – crushed fingertips, tailbone injuries. Severe blows to head, spine or coccyx. To clean animal or human bites, or open burns (in tincture). Characteristic symptoms include shooting pains, worse from touch, cold, dampness, fog. Better from bending head back.
Ledum - use for puncture wounds, bruising (after Arnica), insect or animal bites, for fracture (after Arnica), black eye from a blow. The injured area can be cold and numb, relieved by cold. Worse at night, from warm applications and from the heat of bed.
Rhus tox - use for joint sprains (or Ruta), old sprains, poison ivy, poison oak. Characteristic symptoms include pain on first movement, better after continued motion, better from heat. Thirsty, restless, injured area is hot and swollen. Worse from cold, damp weather.
Ruta - use for injuries to tendons, wrist sprain, wrist ganglion, joint sprains (or Rhus tox), bruised bone, shin splints. Often is used if Rhus tox has not acted. Worse from cold, lying down, wet weather, rest.
Apis - use for bee stings, hives, jelly fish stings, stinging nettle rash. Symptoms include swelling, itching, redness, pains stinging and burning. Puffy swelling. Thirstlessness. Better from cold application, open air. Worse heat, touch, pressure.
Belladonna - use for heatstroke. The patient is hot, very red. Symptoms include throbbing, confusion. Better leaning the head back. (Versus Glonoine, which is better holding the head forward, better by cold application and cold air, can’t lie down because the pillow is beating.)
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When should I consult a professional homeopath? If you have tried a few different remedies and the injury is worsening or not responding, or if you have recurring injuries (such as repeated strains or sprains), you might want to consult a professional homeopath. With recurring injuries, there may be an underlying susceptibility which can best be treated professionally.