Ruminating on Remedies, My thoughts on homeopathy

10/31/2025

Pre-Winter Bugs

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Here they are again, just like clockwork!

My phone is abuzz with colds and headaches and snot. I guess it’s that time of year again and following close on the heels of the colds, you know what’s next…

The bugs tried to hit my house in the last week or so, too and, so far we have beaten them back. Historically, the go-to in our house is either Cold Calm (my husband’s favorite) or, the Banerji Protocol of Aconite + Bryonia. (See also, Ho Ho Ho; When you Have to Get Up; Digging Deeper into the Flu remedies #1 & #2 and Ahh-Choo!)

I have recently added another remedy to my line-up of homeopathic considerations when things are going south… Narayani Flu Pack, mix 79.
Narayani Flu Pack pretty much leaves no stone unturned being a combination of 4 other Narayani combinations, plus a single remedy, too.

“That’s a lot of remedies,” you say?
“Yes, it is,” I answer.

“What are you thinking taking so many remedies?”
I think I am putting these nasty viruses back where they belong — outside my body!

You see, homeopathy is pretty intelligent stuff. If your body doesn’t need it — if your body doesn’t resonate with a remedy, it will just put it aside and not bother with it. To clarify, if one repeatedly keeps taking a remedy that one does not require, it can cause the symptoms it is otherwise supposed to quell, also known as a “proving”. (See also, The Original Drug Testing… Homeopathic Provings.)

“How would one know which remedy to try? You have listed an awful lot of choices!”
You are correct. There is hardly ever just one right answer when it comes to which homeopathic remedy to take. Many homeopathic remedies share overlapping symptoms with many other remedies. In an, ideal, classical homeopathic world, a professional homeopath could take your case and decide which single remedy would best serve. I don’t know about you, but when I’m feeling crummy, I want answers ASAP. In short, in this case, the remedy that is nearest is most appropriate because time is of the essence — We want to nip this in the bud so it can’t take hold.

Here is how I would consider these remedies.

If I felt pretty certain that my symptoms were just of the run of the mill cold variety, (other family members or close friends have cold symptoms and it didn’t progress from there) I would definitely begin with Cold Calm. It has rarely failed me.
If I’m out and about and feel a little something coming on, I would reach in my purse and take a dose of Aconite & Bryonia because that is what would be handy.
If I feel like maybe I didn’t get to addressing things fast enough, that is when I would consider Narayani Flu Pack.

“Alright then, I’ll bite — tell me more about this Flu Pack.”
Narayani remedies were created to address practical healthcare challenges in resource-limited settings, particularly in India and South Africa. As the story goes, they didn’t expect to be able to see their otherwise rural patients again too soon, so they loaded them up with remedies, particularly combination formulas for specific ailments. They’ve been in use for over 50 years, so there must be something worth looking into here. I know I have yet to be disappointed with any I have tried. (See also, The Narayani Kit.)

So, let’s break down the Flu Pack and see what is included…
Helios’ The Narayani Combination Remedies guide tells us the Flu Pack is “for fever, chest, lungs and muscles.”

Breakdown:
Chest, Cough & Asthma (mix 71) to “deal with the chest and lungs; whole body aching in bones and flesh.”

Eupatorium perfolatum: “chest sore, patient must support it; nausea; vomiting bile.” Eupatorium perfolatum is a personal favorite of mine. I love this stuff for when the aches and the fatigue are both really heavy.

Fever & Infection Balance (BR10) & General Fever (mix 18): “these deal with the fever by holding it (not lowering it), so that it may burn out the virus; it must be remembered that no virus can be killed by any drug; it can only be burnt out by the fever produced by the body.”

War (mix 35): “to hold the infection, preventing it from spreading through the body, and to deal with it.”

Take a dose as soon as one feels flu is coming on and see what you think.
I think you might just be pleasantly surprised.

Here’s to keeping the yucks at bay this year!

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

10/24/2025

Quickie: Narayani Books

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A Ruminating on Remedies reader (who had read The Narayani Kit) emailed the other day asking about the books mentioned in that article. That email prompted this brief breakdown of the available Narayani books.

Bear in mind, all of these books all have the same basic information. The Narayani Remedies are what they are and I don’t think they are going to change any time soon.

The first book I purchased was edited by Robert Davidson. It has ~100 pages and is the most basic option. Thinking back, there was something missing in this book for me to go off and find other options. I can’t elaborate, but it didn’t feel complete. Amazon shows this selling for $59.99.

A-Z listing of all the remedies.

Nimisha Parekh’s book followed Davidson in my collection. At ~130 pages, this has much more information. Amazon shows this selling for $48, but the price listed on the book is $60. Narayaniremedies.com sells it for $39.95. Taproots sells it for $49.99. Nimisha Parekh also runs webinars on the Narayani Remedies and I believe she works directly with narayaniremedies.com.

This one gives more basic information at the beginning, specifically, describing the 8 remedy groups. ex. “The 117 mixtures are mainly combinations of homeopathic remedies and Gem or Bach remedies. Their potency range is 3x to 50M.” She breaks down what each of the remedy groups are.
- Includes:
  - A-Z listing of all the same information found in Davidson’s book.
  - Chakra Healing information
  - Gem Colour Healing
  - Meridien Remedies
  - The New 44 Crystal Remedies
  - Omkar Remedies
  - Five Elements
  - Cranial Nerves
  - Single Organ Remedies
  - Therapeutic Index
  - Plus, a mini book tucked into the back cover with Addendum (useful combinations) + Thymus Gland Combination Remedies

Helios (~123 pages) was my third addition and I was sold when reading the description saying it was “updated and revised.” (“Cleaned up” might be a better description, though; it’s a neat, tidy and smaller edition.) Available at Helios for £9.95.

The preface says it is “a reworking of the original ‘Soham Series of Natural Healing Volume 3,’ by Swami Narayani… It also acknowledges Robert Davidson’s ‘Materia Medica’ [first book listed above]… a much needed opportunity to correct some errors in both numbering and potency that have crept in over time in the printed documentation.… modernized the more archaic language from the original… some of the remedy names have been updated so they are clearer to identify and differentiate. The indexes have also been re-worked in order to make it easier to search for remedies and each entry has now been cross-referenced so navigation through the text is simpler.”

Swami Narayani’s Soham Series of Natural Healing, Volume 3. I felt the need to see what I was missing in other people’s interpretation. Turns out it’s not much**; the others did a good job compiling the information. Plus, I find this version doesn’t flow as nicely visually and it is laid out numerically, not alphabetically. (The other 3 list “Acidity Mix 37” first and this one lists Mix 1 Amoebic Dysentery first.) It does, however, offer rates, so if that’s your thing, here they are.

What do all three books share? Almost everything:

A-Z directory of remedies with pretty much identical information. (Any differences I found are not relevant, except Parekh’s extended information which I find helpful.)
Using the first entry in all three books, The Acidity mix 37, the information is identical between 1 & 2 (with the exception of what has been singled out as bold type — Davidson bolds the conditions in the body and Parekh bolds which remedies can be used in conjunction with it). The Helios copy has removed the bold type and italicized the mix names and added their specific combo (e.g. Liver Mix 22 or Liver Balance BR12) with which the Acidity Mix can be combined.
- This inclusion of the specific remedies is actually helpful. There are 3 different “Liver” combos and there are 3 different “Digestion” combos. Not a huge deal, but it does make it easier and faster.
They are each spiral bound. (Narayani’s Soham Series of Natural Healing, volume 3 is not.)
“Therapeutic Guide” pages at the back of each. There are a couple of differences here, primarily in how they are laid out.
- Davidson has “A Small Therapeutic Guide” listing 11 “conditions” and then lists: “Parts/Organs; Sensory; Allergy; Psycho-Spiritual Combinations; General Diseases and Other Diseases.”
- Helios has “A Concise Therapeutic Guide” listing the same 11 “conditions” and then: “Parts/Organs; Sensory; Allergy; Psycho-Spiritual Combinations.” However, Helios has a few different combinations mentioned under some of these headings.
  - “Immunity,” Davidson lists 4, Helios lists 5.
  - “Trauma/Fear,” Davidson lists 4, Helios lists 6.
- Parekh’s “Therapeutic Index” is laid out differently.
  - For instance, “Immunity” is not listed and all the “Trauma/fear” remedies are under “Mind” but it also includes “Exam Nerves” separately. This is one very minor area where Parekh’s book falls short.
A few of the remedies have different names. e.g., Mix 117, according to Narayani, (and Davidson and Parekh), is “Anti-Smoking Remedy.” Helios calls it “Smoking (Cessation)”.

Which one to buy?
For the money, Helios wins that one hands down. Yes, it has to ship from the UK, but you know you need to purchase a few remedies from them anyway — making the whole thing worth it!

From the information standpoint, Nimisha Parekh provides the most and this is info that is not readily available elsewhere.

The Helios book is the most clearly written (and smallest). But, I like the Nimisha Parekh copy, too — more information.

I hope that helps. I’ll be back soon with some more Narayani info.

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellness awaits

*All prices are valid at the time of this writing.
*I have no affiliation with any authors or shops or websites listed.
**Full disclosure, I have only skimmed through Swami Narayani’s books and I have yet to comb through to see if there are any nuggets that speak to me which the other gatherers of this information didn’t choose to highlight. If I come up with any, I’ll let you know!

10/16/2025

A Happy Customer

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I want to share a recent recommendation from a happy client because this is a truly incredible outcome.

“You should call Julia.” I say this to my friends all the time. I was diagnosed ten+ years ago with a tumor that main stream MDs haven’t found a way to cure. Surgery and bone removal are standard procedure. I have had 2 removed with surgery and then homeopathy entered my life (and Julia). A 3rd one was discovered, I told her about my tumor and it came back again. She asked well thought out questions and researched the tumor and relevant remedies. Julia came back with a 2 month plan to address it. I did the protocol and I just had a checkup scan, they cannot find the tumor. This thing is nearly indestructible according to my doctors. “Fort Knox” was defeated! I’m still in shock and awe. Julia is a fantastic homeopath and her curiosity drives her to think through the patient and remedies. Not only is my tumor gone, but my whole family’s health has improved dramatically since we started working with her. I’m very thankful I found her!

I am so appreciative of my client and her kind words. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to work with her and her lovely family over the years.🙏

Homeopathy is amazing.

Just the other morning, my son was impressed with a remedy I gave him for an acute issue. He called it “magic”. Sometimes, there is simply no other way to describe how a remedy seems to work.

If you have a long-standing issue and have tried everything else to no avail, it’s time to consider trying some homeopathy.

For more information on this, see T.E.E.T.H. (Tried Everything Else Try Homeopathy)

You are here, reading this article — that’s a good first step! Now, flip back to This is the Year! for some suggestions on where to turn next to further integrate homeopathy into your life.

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

10/12/2025

Tools of the Trade: we use what we have

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We all have our own sets of tools. Some of us are excellent listeners or huggers or teachers or writers or explainers or advocates or runners or bakers… you get the picture. In the world of health, some of us are nutritionists or internists or homeopaths or surgeons or nurses or orthopedists or herbalists or dentists or oncologists or cardiologists or acupuncturists…

Recently, I had the opportunity to witness mainstream healthcare at Mayo Clinic. What a place that is! I saw some of the kindest, most heartfelt treatment and caring from every level of employee at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. It was truly remarkable. And, I have to say, should I require mainstream, modern medicine, Mayo Clinic is without question where I would want to be.

Mayo is known for having top quality, “out of the box” medical thinkers. Mayo is proud of the fact that their doctors work together. However, as far as I can see, they are working together while still remaining within their silos. I guess it’s akin to silos with bridges to the other silos. At least they are communicating.

I also saw that they are truly missing a trick.

The person I was accompanying mentioned to the highly trained and compassionate physician what we in the alternative medicine world would think would be related conditions. The response was, “there is no connection.” This doctor was absolutely certain there was no connection. So certain, in fact, it wasn’t even worth entertaining the idea. I believe he was certain there was no connection because he has been taught there is no connection. In other words, dogma.

I’m not trying to say that homeopaths are completely open minded. They’re not. Some are resistant to western medicine. Some balk at Traditional Chinese Medicine. Some are reticent to entertain herbs. Some homeopaths are resistant to combination remedies or repeating remedies or using high potencies or using cell salts alongside remedies… the list goes on.

We only know what we know.

We only have the tools we have.

I sure do wish that a big, beautiful place like Mayo Clinic could entertain the idea of some herbs or some nutrition changes or some homeopathy. Imagine! Under one tent where you could get the superb orthopedic surgery you required as well as some nutritional information to help you heal as well as some psychiatry to help deal with the big shock of finding out that your orthopedic injury is going to take you out of whatever game it was in your life that you were playing when the injury occurred, as well as some homeopathy to help pull all the pieces together. Wouldn’t that be marvelous?

Wouldn’t it be amazing to be given homeopathy for the pain to try first and to turn to the routine suggestion of post-surgical three hour alternation between Advil and Tylenol with the Oxicodone as a fall back — not the first line? (The person I was with was given that very strong suggestion. They were told to alternate these two over the counter meds and to plug in the opioid if the over the counters didn’t do it in order to “stay on top of the pain”. Guess what?! This person took one Advil the next morning because they were instructed to do so but I gave them a beautiful combination made by Helios called “C-Surg” (see Recovering from Surgery for more info on that combination) and they have not yet felt the need for any of the other painkillers. In this case, the person had an infection which had to drain, so I made the combination without Calendula.* (For more on Calendula, see here, or here.)

That graphic above sums up western medicine. If you have a “female” problem, you go to the gynecologist silo. If you have skin issues, you go to a dermatologist silo. If you have joint issues, you go to an orthopedist silo. Guess what? One person could have all of those issues at the same time. The gynecologist will give you one drug, the dermatologist will give you another, the orthopedist will give you another. I shudder to think of the ramifications of that! In homeopathy, all of these pieces of the puzzle are put together. Homeopaths understand that everything within a person is related. Bodies are not made up of individual pieces. Bodies are interconnected marvels!

That’s not to say there isn’t a place for western medicine — there absolutely is! I’m just dreaming of a day when western medicine understands and accepts homeopathy.

Heck, that may be too big of an ask at this point in time. Maybe if western medicine would simply be willing to entertain the idea that one thing in the body just maybe is actually related to another thing in the body. After all, the knee bone is connected to the thigh bone. The thigh bone’s connected to the hip bone**. It’s not such a stretch to include the ligaments and the tendons and the fascia and the nerves and the muscles that run throughout the body, not to mention the blood and the lymph and the hormones. Why do they have to make it so hard? Everything is connected in some way or another!! Treat it accordingly!

My (now retired 😩) MD was also a homeopath — the best of both worlds, in my opinion. See if you can find one near you.
I have a quote from Maya Angelou framed on the wall in the “playroom” from when my boys were younger. It says, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” I think it’s time that western medicine does better.

I have a quote from Maya Angelou framed on the wall in the “playroom” from when my boys were younger. It says, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” I think it’s time that western medicine does better.

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

*Calendula is excellent for healing cuts and abrasions and yes, surgical wounds, too. However, it can be so effective that you have to make certain the infection is gone before using it so you don’t seal up the skin, leaving the infection still festering under there.

**Lyrics to Dem Bones.

10/3/2025

Lightning-like pains

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When I was looking into homeopathic remedies for those affected by lightning (see Lightning Quick(ie)), there are (not surprisingly) not many of those. If, however, you search for lightning-like pains, that’s another story. Interestingly, there are a lot of specific remedies for lightning-like pain in specific areas of the body, but on the surface, there are not many remedies for general lightning-like pains; one needs to look a little deeper to find suitable remedies.

Where would be the best place to start, homeopathically speaking? Were I experiencing lightning-like pains, I think I would begin with Magnesium phosphoricum, either as a cell salt or in potency.

Mag-phos is very strongly indicated for pain, especially pains which cramp or spasm or shoot or are neuralgic in nature.

Looking at Murphy’s Mag-phos entry, we see bold, underlined clinicals, like:

Angina pectoris
Colic
Cramps
Dysmenorrhea
Facial neuralgia
Intercostal, neuralgia
Menses, painful
Neuralgias
Pains
Paralysis
Sciatica
Spasms
Toothaches
Whooping cough
Writer’s cramp

All of these conditions are known to be very painful. If we look beyond the bold, underlined clinicals, we find: catheterism (the operation of introducing a catheter), headaches, hiccups, prolapsed rectum, tic douloureux (a.k.a. trigeminal neuralgia) — more painful conditions!

Mag phos is one of Dr. Schussler’s twelve cell salts. (See also, On the 8th Day of Cell Salts.) From his Biochemic Remedies book (accessed through Synergy software), Schussler says:

“Magnesium phosphate is the mineral constituent of muscular and of nervous tissue; it is present also in the bones. A[s] a nerve remedy it has done distinguished service. The pains which it cures are usually lightning like, shooting, or boring, and are often accompanied by the feeling as if the part were tightly laced; they change their location readily, and are alleviated by warmth and by pressure.…Pains in the head, face, teeth, stomach, abdomen and limbs.”

“The abdominal pains, generally radiating from the umbilical region, and relieved by bending double or by pressure with the hands, were frequently accompanied by watery diarrhea.”

“Therefore Magnesium phosphate is the curative remedy for spasm, whether spasm of the glottis, cramps in the calf muscles, tetanus, tonic spasms, St. Vitus’s dance*, spasmodic retention of urine, etc.”

Remember, as noted in the cell salt article: Mag phos is a little different than all the other cells salts in that it “acts especially well, given in hot water” (Boericke 1916). “For speedy symptomatic relief of spasmodic ailments, dissolve 1-2 tablets under the tongue. Then dissolve 2-3 tablets in some hot water, taken in sips. Hold the liquid under the tongue for a minute each time. The 6x potency is usually sufficient” (Weintraub 1999).

When those pains strike hard and fast, grab the Mag-phos and see if they can be put to rest.

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

*St. Vitus’ Dance, also known as “Sydenham’s Chorea is a disorder affecting children and characterized by jerky, uncontrollable movements of the muscles of the face, the arms and legs and the trunk.”

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