Ruminating on Remedies, My thoughts on homeopathy

12/23/2021

A Remedy to the Rescue

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It’s December 23rd and if you are still scrambling for some last minute gift ideas, I have the perfect answer for both everybody on your list -- man, woman and child as well as 4-legged creatures -- AND for you.

Bach Rescue Remedy* fits perfectly in everybody’s stocking (and, once the gift has been received, it fits perfectly in a purse or a pocket). I literally do not know one person who would not benefit from receiving this gift. (I do know people who would claim they wouldn’t benefit, but they are kidding themselves.)

Rescue Remedy® was developed nearly 100 years ago by Dr. Edward Bach. Dr. Bach was a successful bacteriologist, as well as a homeopath, and was one of the prime founders of the homeopathic bowel nosodes. While working in the bacteriology department of University College Hospital London in 1912, he came to realize that a number of the bacteria he was studying actually had a close connection with chronic disease in general. The bowel nosodes are a really interesting arm of homeopathy that I will write about one day, but now… back to flowers!

Following his own severe illness where he was given just 3 months to live, Dr. Bach returned to work and credits his sense of purpose to saving him (he lived 19 years longer). He moved to the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital where he continued his work in bacteriology. Through his own experience he became convinced of the importance of the mind in the processes of disease (Saxton 2020).

He devoted the last six years of his life "to the search for a simpler, more natural method of treatment that did not ‘require anything to be destroyed or altered’” (Scheffer 1988).

The Bach Flower Remedies system is based on 38 remedies which balance emotions and treat negative mental states (Ball 2005). “At the switch-points of our personalities where vital energies are channelled the wrong way or blocked, the remedies re-establish contact and harmony with our wholeness, the true source of our energy” (Scheffer 1988).

Dr. Robin Murphy spoke highly of the benefits of Rescue Remedy, a mixture of 5 of Dr. Bach's flower remedies, and said it should be the first medicine administered on arrival at an accident.

What is in it and what do they address?
Here is the answer, according to Dr. Murphy:

Star of Bethlehem (see! It even has a Christmas connection mixed right in it!) reduces shock, trauma and sadness and prevents the trauma’s possible long-lasting effects on the mind, emotions and body from imprinting.

Rock Rose counteracts terror and panic.

Impatiens counteracts inner turmoil, tension and impatience.

Cherry Plum is for desperation and balances intense tension and the fear that events and one’s own life, including one’s mental power is out of control.

Clematis addresses the out-of-the-body state which precedes fainting or loss of consciousness. (Murphy n.d.)

Each of these remedies could be taken individually, but the combination is amazing and powerful -- not only for emergencies as Dr. Murphy suggests but also for every day stresses as well as bigger emotional upsets like panic attacks.

A bit of research has been done into Bach Flower Remedies (BFR):

Resende (et al. 2014) found it may reduce risk factors for cardiovascular disease in rats.

Dixit and Jasani (2020) found “significantly better behavior” in children given the flower remedy treatment to contend with their dental anxiety.

Rivas-Suárez (et al. 2017) found the BFR cream to be an effective intervention for mild and moderate carpal tunnel syndrome.

Siegler (et al. 2017) found BFR helpful for menopausal symptoms.

Fusco (et al. 2021) found anxiety symptoms, binge eating and resting heart rates decreased and sleep improved when compared with placebo in a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial of anxiety in overweight/obese adults.

Are Bach Flower Remedies the same thing as Homeopathy?

Yes and no.

• Both Homeopathy and Bach Remedies focus on treating the person, not the disease.

• The flower remedies and homeopathic remedies are both diluted, but the flower remedies are less diluted and they are not “potentized” or shaken between dilutions.

• Homeopathic remedies can be made from any substance and BFR are made only from flowers and spring water.

• There are 6,000+ homeopathic remedies and Dr. Bach closed his system at 38 remedies.

• Both focus on mental and emotional symptoms, but homeopathy also includes physical symptoms.

Rescue Remedy comes as: a liquid dropper, a spray, tasty pastilles, “Pearls” (similar to homeopathic pellets) and a topical cream.

One does not need to be in a terrible accident to benefit from Rescue Remedy. One needs only be scrambling and stressing about filling stockings, wrapping gifts, baking cookies and decorating and cleaning the house prior to the grand festivities. I told you it was a remedy for both your loved ones on your gift list AND for you.

Wishing you a peaceful, relaxing, restorative and fun Christmas!

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

* I have no affiliation with this company, I just like their products.

References and Resources

Reference list
Bach Centre, n.d. The history of Dr. Bach [online]. The Bach Centre.

Ball, S., 2005. The Bach remedies workbook. London: Vermilion.

Dixit, U. B. and Jasani, R. R., 2020. Comparison of the effectiveness of Bach flower therapy and music therapy on dental anxiety in pediatric patients: A randomized controlled study. Journal of the Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry [online], 38 (1), 71–78.

Fusco, S. de F. B., Pancieri, A. P., Amancio, S. C. P., Fusco, D. R., Padovani, C. R., Minicucci, M. F., Spiri, W. C., and Braga, E. M., 2021. Efficacy of Flower Therapy for Anxiety in Overweight or Obese Adults: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (New York, N.Y.)[online], 27 (5), 416–422.

Homeopathy Plus, 2021. Are Bach Flowers Homeopathic? [online]. Homeopathy Plus.

Insight Homeopathy, 2021. Homeopathy vs. Bach Flower Therapy [online]. Insight Homeopathy & Wellness.

Murphy, R., n.d. Homeopathic Remedy Guide. accessed through Radar Opus software.

RescueRemedy.com, 2021. Homepage [online]. Rescue.

Resende, M. M. de C., Costa, F. E. de C., Gardona, R. G. B., Araújo, R. G., Mundim, F. G. L., and Costa, M. J. de C., 2014. Preventive use of Bach flower Rescue Remedy in the control of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in rats. Complementary Therapies in Medicine [online], 22 (4), 719–723.

Rivas-Suárez, S. R., Águila-Vázquez, J., Suárez-Rodríguez, B., Vázquez-León, L., Casanova-Giral, M., Morales-Morales, R., and Rodríguez-Martín, B. C., 2017. Exploring the Effectiveness of External Use of Bach Flower Remedies on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Pilot Study. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine [online], 22 (1), 18–24.

Saxton, J., 2020. Bowel Nosodes In Homeopathic Practice. S.L.: Saltire Books.

Scheffer, M., 1988. Bach flower therapy : theory and practice. Rochester, Vt.: Healing Arts Press.

Siegler, M., Frange, C., Andersen, M. L., Tufik, S., and Hachul, H., 2017. Effects of Bach Flower Remedies on Menopausal Symptoms and Sleep Pattern: A Case Report. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine [online], 23 (2), 44–48.

Vermeersch, T., 2021. What is the difference with homeopathy? [online]. bachbloesemadvies.
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12/21/2021

The Original Bauble

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Pomegranates, in my opinion, have got to be the inspiration for the original Christmas ornament!

When we moved into our house more than 20 years ago, there was a less than impressive tree/bush/shrub thing. Though far from beautiful, it really wasn’t worth the effort of digging it up and getting rid of it.

A couple of years later, this scraggly shrub had what appeared to be a Christmas ornament on it. One big, beautiful, dark red bauble was hanging on it. It was a pomegranate! The previous owners must have done an enormous pruning and it took a while for it to come back to life. Every year since, we have a beautifully decorated, unconventional Christmas tree in our yard for a few weeks, and we end up with a lovely crop of this terrific fruit.

There is a homeopathic remedy called Granatum pomegranate, made from the bark of the root. A small remedy with bold-type symptoms of: itching in the palms, persistent vertigo with salivation and stomach pain worse near the belly button, constant hunger and heart weakness. However, homeopathy is not the focus of this article today.

Historically, “according to the Ebers Papyrus, one of the oldest medical writings from around 1500 BC, Egyptians used the pomegranate for treatment of tapeworm” (Murphy 2013) and pomegranates also appear in Ancient Greek mythology (Chevallier 2000). Nutritionally speaking, pomegranates are known to be full of good stuff. If you would like to read further on some of the health benefits of pomegranates: Effects on Endothelial Dysfunction, Effects on Blood Pressure and Composition and Potential Health Benefits of Pomegranate.

But, once again, nor is nutrition the point of today's article.

What to do with these tasty (and, messy) little seeds? I like them on salads and my husband puts them in pancakes and they are truly delicious! This then brings us to the point of today's article: Pomegranates make the most amazing Christmas dessert!

I’m not certain where I first encountered this recipe, though a quick search of the Internet shows a very similar recipe here. Since first learning about this concoction, I have adapted it to the easiest-peasiest, (well, easy once the seeds have been retrieved, that is), quickest, most delicious Christmas treat there is -- loved by children and adults equally.

Chocolate Pomegranate Treats

Step 1. Melt chocolate chips in the microwave.

Step 2. Pour (or spoon) the melted chocolate either into tiny muffin tins or small cupcake papers… or, if you prefer to make a “bark” — pour it directly onto a cookie sheet. If you choose the bark root, just know the chocolate hardens quickly so you have to act fast. (Though, I suppose you could do it in reverse and put the pomegranate seeds down first and then pour the chocolate over them.)

Step 3. Sprinkle liberally with pomegranate seeds.

Step 4. Allow them to cool and harden.
That’s it!

As for the chocolate chips, that’s a personal preference, but I can tell you the biggest crowd pleaser I have seen is from Enjoy Life* chocolate chips. If you avoid sugar, Pascha* chocolate chips are the way to go.

I’ll be back to talking about homeopathic remedies in-depth in a couple of days time. Until then, find yourself a pomegranate and enjoy!

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath (and lover of pomegranates and chocolate!)

#wellnessawaits

* I have no affiliation with any of these companies. I just like their products.

Reference list
Chevallier, A., 2000. Natural health encyclopedia of herbal medicine. New York: Dk Pub. Inc.

Croft, A., 2011. Chocolate Pomegranate Clusters [online]. Williams-Sonoma Taste.

Delgado, N. T. B., Rouver, W. N., and Dos Santos, R. L., 2020. Protective Effects of Pomegranate in Endothelial Dysfunction. Current Pharmaceutical Design [online], 26 (30), 3684–3699.
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Enjoy Life, 2021. Semi-Sweet Chocolate | Mini Chips [online]. Enjoy Life.

Murphy, R., 2013. Superfood Wellness Guide : Medicinal foods from around the world. Stuart, Va.: Lotus Wellness Cottage, October.

Pascha, 2021. 100% Cacao Organic Vegan Unsweetened Dark Chocolate Chips (8.8 oz) - Sugar Free, Keto Friendly & One Ingredient! [online]. Pascha Chocolate Co.

Sahebkar, A., Ferri, C., Giorgini, P., Bo, S., Nachtigal, P., and Grassi, D., 2017. Effects of pomegranate juice on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Pharmacological Research [online], 115, 149–161. .
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Vučić, V., Grabež, M., Trchounian, A., and Arsić, A., 2019. Composition and Potential Health Benefits of Pomegranate: A Review. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 25 (16), 1817–1827.
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12/17/2021

Making a water dose

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Why would one need to make a water dose?
What’s wrong with the tasty, little, sweet pillules?

Most all commonly available homeopathic remedies are made of sucrose (cane sugar) or lactose (milk sugar) pillules or pellets, of varying sizes and coated on the outside with the homeopathic medicine. These sweet little things are intended to be dissolved beneath your tongue where the medicine is quickly absorbed by the mucosal membranes. This is an excellent and highly transportable method of dosing homeopathic remedies.

Why would someone mess with that method?
A couple of reasons come to mind. The emphasis of this article is based on the idea that you are running short of the remedy and need to stretch it out and make it last. Making a water dose can keep a small amount of a homeopathic remedy going for a long time.

This water method also affords the ability to spread the remedy far and wide among many people. If you have a family all suffering similar symptoms and only one lone, half-empty tube of a remedy, you can put a pellet in some water and dispense it to everybody from there, making your supply last significantly longer.

Water doses can also be very useful when giving a remedy to an infant. Just a tiny sip of this water tipped into their mouths from a teaspoon will do.

Another reason for a water dose would be for sensitive individuals. By dissolving the remedy in water, it softens (for lack of a better word) its impact on the recipient. If you find that you have a strong aggravation with every remedy you take, this would be a good thing to try. (Look for an article devoted to this sometime in the near future.)

So, how do we keep a remedy going?
It’s pretty simple, actually.

1. Fill a clean glass with plain water and drop 1 or 2 pillules directly into the water and gently stir. The idea here is to simply agitate the medicated water. It is now ready to go. It does not matter that the pellet has not dissolved. (Remember, the medicine is on the outside of each pellet, not inside.)

2. Take a teaspoon of the water as directed/needed. This is 1 dose.

If this is for individual use, a teaspoon-sized sip will suffice — you don’t need the teaspoon itself. If sharing the liquid remedy with family members, make sure everybody has their own spoon to pour the remedy into to keep the remedy "clean." Don't just swallow the sip, hold it in your mouth for a few moments to allow the remedy to be absorbed -- similar to letting the pellets dissolve. For children, have them count to 3 before swallowing.

(Note: Holding the remedy in the mouth is the ideal method of delivery, but it is not essential. My dog and my chickens have never managed to do it and the remedies have still acted!)

3. After you have had your sip/dose, put a napkin or paper towel over the glass. If you plan on using this specific water remedy for a few days, it should be kept in the fridge. (If extending the use of the remedy, it is best to use the spoon delivery method as opposed to direct sips.) If you are just using it for a few hours or over night, it can stay at room temperature.

The cover over the glass will help remind you that this water is not for drinking. Remember! Every sip is a dose. Technically, it doesn’t matter if you have a teaspoon, a tablespoon or the whole thing. Each time you have it/drink it — that is one dose, regardless of the size of the drink/sip/dose.

4. If you need to leave home for the day, this method can also be done using a clean water bottle. Again, it is important to remember that every sip is a dose, so if you’re headed for a workout, don’t confuse this bottle with your regular water bottle. (Hint: remove the label and perhaps attach a plastic spoon to the bottle with a rubber band so everybody knows it is your bottle.)

5. If you need to make another water dose, the glass can be used again for the same remedy. “Same” in this regard also refers to the potency. Or, this is easier, just get a clean glass or bottle and a fresh spoon and start anew.

Some homeopaths believe the water needs to be stirred before each dose/sip. I haven’t found this to be necessary in most cases, but it certainly can’t hurt.

If you are helping an infant or somebody too sick to drink a sip, this same water remedy can be used by placing a few drops on the thin skin of the inside of the wrist or even dabbed on a cloth and applied to lips.

Go forth and replicate your homeopathic remedies … if need be.

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

12/14/2021

Jack Frost is nipping

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I have no affiliation with this Etsy shop, but here's the link in case you would like to purchase one.

Example of Frostnip (Mayo Clinic 2021)

Example of chilblains (Mayo Clinic)

Stages of Frostbite (Mayo Clinic 2018)

It’s a cute song, The Christmas Song. But, when Jack Frost actually comes nipping, it’s no longer cute. It hurts. Sometimes it hurts even years later.

I grew up in frosty Minnesota. Now that I live in the desert southwest, I take it as a personal affront when it’s cold outside. (I left the cold. How did it find me?) My nose is my tenderest spot. The mercury doesn’t have to dip too far for my nose to feel it. Yesterday, it was about 45 degrees when we took the dog for a little walk. Within 5 minutes my nose was talking to me. Within 10 minutes my nose actively hurt. The answer to this problem is a true conundrum. Scarves and neck gators get in the way of breathing, plus they get wet from the breath and then the whole thing is worse. I did resort to a little nose warmer (like the one in the photo) for a short time, but that, too, gets wet and is quickly untenable.

I throw around the term "frostbite" quite willy-nilly when I'm talking about my nose, fingers and toes; but, actually, frostbite is a severe condition which requires medical attention.

Frostnip is the first rung on the cold skin ladder and can cause redness and possibly numbness but does not cause permanent damage to the skin.

Chillblains are the painful inflammation of small blood vessels as a response to repeated exposure to cold, not freezing air. Though they tend to clear up in warmer weather, seasonal recurrences may happen for years (AlMahameed and Pinto 2008; Mayo Clinic).

Frostbite is caused by the freezing of the skin and the underlying tissues. When skin temperature is 25 degrees Fahrenheit, ice crystals form in the blood (Knapic et al. 2020). (Yikes!) Exposed skin is (not surprisingly) most vulnerable, but frostbite can occur under gloves and clothing, too. And, of course, the colder it is, the faster frostbite can occur (Cleveland Clinic).

** Important! ** When re-warming your skin, do so gradually, but rapidly. (Confusing, I know.) The rewarming should occur quickly, but a gentle method should be employed. Don't submerse the cold limb in hot water or expose it to a hot heat source (Cleveland Clinic). Use tepid* water to begin (Golant et al. 2008). Strohecker and Parulski (1997) recommend 100-108 degrees Fahrenheit. Don't rewarm the skin unless the patient can remain in a warm environment. Repeated freeze/thaw cycles cause further injury (Knapic et al. 2020).

Conventional medicine uses calcium channel blockers (Tlougan et al. 2011) which relax the muscles of the heart and blood vessels (Drugs.com 2021) as well as rewarming therapies. (Yes, side effects are a definite possibility with these drugs.)

In addition to a gentle rewarming of the skin, homeopathically speaking, the answer to this problem is Hamamelis virginiana 200c mixed with Arnica montana 3c, twice daily for mild cases and every few hours for severe cases. This Banerji protocol works for any coldness to the extremities, including Raynaud's.

Why have the Banerjis chosen these remedies? They are both beautiful remedies for circulation and circulatory disorders.

Homeopathic Hamamelis' affinity is for the veins (Vermeulen 2004) and is primarily known as a hemorrhagic remedy including: blood vessels and veins, and phlebitis (inflammation of the walls of a vein). In the skin, it is known for prickling sensations and stinging pains (Murphy).

Homeopathic Arnica's affinity is for the blood, blood vessels and nerves (Vermeulen 2004) and is highly indicated in chilliness, coldness and shivering (even rigors) in the body. Arnica is also a remedy for bleeding, blood vessels and veins. It is one of only 10 remedies noted for chilblains (Murphy). Arnica is also indicated in complaints which should be painful but are not. (This brings to mind the numbness which may accompany the advanced stages of injuries resulting from the cold and in severe cases, the cold is no longer felt.)

Arnica is also noted for shock. A quick look on PubMed shows us that one form of shock is microcirculatory in nature (Kanoore Edul et al. 2015) resulting from decreased blood flow through an organ. The organ in the case of frostbite being the skin (Zook et al. 2021).

Discoloration of hands, blueness in particular (think Raynaud's).

If you have to go out into the cold (I know, I know -- some people LOVE going out to play in the cold, I'm just not one of them anymore!), bundle up and keep a tube of Hamamelis + Arnica in your pocket to help keep that blood flowing. Or, there's certainly nothing wrong with enjoying a good book and a nice cup of bone broth by the fire.

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

* finding the actual temperature range of tepid, warm, Luke-warm, hot proved to be difficult. Here are the best sources I found: Peshin 2018, Leverette 2019 and Wash.com 2018.

Reference list
AlMahameed, A. and Pinto, D. S., 2008. Pernio (Chilblains). Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine [online], 10 (2), 128–135.

Cleveland Clinic Frostbite: Causes, Symptoms, Stages, Treatment & Prevention [online]. Cleveland Clinic.

Drugs.com, 2021. Nifedipine Uses, Dosage & Side Effects [online]. Drugs.com.

Fudge, J., 2016. Exercise in the Cold. Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach [online], 8 (2), 133–139. ‌

Golant, A., Nord, R. M., Paksima, N., and Posner, M. A., 2008. Cold Exposure Injuries to the Extremities. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons [online], 16 (12), 704–715.

Kanoore Edul, V. S., Ince, C., and Dubin, A., 2015. What is microcirculatory shock? Current Opinion in Critical Care [online], 21 (3), 245–252.

Knapic, J., Reynolds, K., and Castellani, J., 2020. Frostbite: Pathophysiology, Epidemiology, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention. Journal of special operations medicine : a peer reviewed journal for SOF medical professionals [online], 20 (4).

Leverette, M. M., 2019. Hot, Warm, or Cold Water for Laundry? [online]. The Spruce. .

Mayo Clinic, 2018. Frostbite - Symptoms and causes [online]. Mayo Clinic.

Mayo Clinic, Chilblains - Symptoms and causes [online]. Mayo Clinic.

Mayo Clinic, 2021. Frostnip [online]. Mayo Clinic.

Murphy, R., 2015. Keynote Materia Medica. Blacksburg, Virginia: Lotus Health Institute.

Murphy, R., n.d. Homeopathic Remedy Guide. accessed through Radar Opus software.

Peshin, A., 2018. What Is Lukewarm Water? How Hot Is It? [online]. Science ABC.

Raducan, A. and Tiplica, G., n.d. Cold Injuries -Chilblains and Frostbite Е В Р О П Е Й С К А Д Е Р М А Т О Л О Г И Я [online].

Strohecker, B. and Parulski, C. J., 1997. Frostbite Injuries of the Hand. Plastic Surgical Nursing [online], 17 (4), 212–216.

Tlougan, B. E., Mancini, A. J., Mandell, J. A., Cohen, D. E., and Sanchez, M. R., 2011. Skin Conditions in Figure Skaters, Ice-Hockey Players and Speed Skaters. Sports Medicine [online], 41 (11), 967–984.
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Vermeulen, F., 2004. Prisma : the arcana of materia medica illuminated : similars and parallels between substance and remedy. Haarlem, Netherlands: Emryss.

Wash.com, 2018. Washer Water Temperature Guide | WASH [online]. Wash.com.

Zook, N., Hussmann, J., Brown, R., Russell, R., Kucan, J., Roth, A., and Suchy, H., 2021. Medscape: Medscape Access [online]. Medscape.com.
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12/11/2021

… Rhymes with box

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I haven’t started my decorating yet, but I did dig out the boxes filled with the promise of Christmas cheer. While I was there, I decided the storage unit needed some serious tending. I have a lot of books. I mean, a lot of books. Books are awfully heavy. All that bending and lifting and moving and sorting and stacking has left me pretty sore.

What’s the homeopathic answer to this pain? I have addressed this from a few different angles previously: What hurts?, Lions and tigers and bears and Relief and all of those suggestions are appropriate for too much heavy lifting, but here’s a simple one to consider: Rhus toxicodendron. Rhus tox, for short.

If heat feels good on your sore muscles … Rhus tox.
Stiffness that is worse when you first begin moving and improves with continued motion … Rhus tox.
Painful stiffness, in general … Rhus tox.
An aching back which is worse sitting or lying down … Rhus tox.
Chills that accompany your pain … Rhus tox.
Eyes hurt when moving them … Rhus tox.
Feet hurt from exertion (but they can actually feel better from walking) … Rhus tox.
Pain during the flu … Rhus tox.
A bruised pain, as if beaten … Rhus tox.
If you are able to decipher that what your feeling is ligament or tendon pain … Rhus tox.
Sciatic pain … Rhus tox.
Joint pains … Rhus tox.
Aching knee pain, aching legs … actually, let’s just cut to the chase — aching limbs, any or all of them! … Rhus tox.
Burning muscle pain … Rhus tox.
Neck and shoulder pain … Rhus tox.
Rectum pain after a stool (that can sometimes be effortful, I guess!) … Rhus tox.
Wrist pain … Rhus tox.
Sore pain after great exertion … Rhus tox.
Tearing pain … Rhus tox.
And, the mother of all exertions — uterus pain following child birth … Rhus tox.

It’s not just the muscles that get affected from all this tree trimming or shifting of heavy boxes. The skin on your hands can take a real beating, as well. Guess what?!? Rhus tox is the answer here, too!

Blisters & chapped skin can be greatly helped by Rhus tox.

Whether you are sore from hanging lights, wrestling with trees and ladders or sorting through all your old treasures, Rhus tox may help.

To help you remember this homeopathic remedy that can be so helpful with pain from heavy lifting … Rhus tox, rhymes with box!

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

12/8/2021

Book Review: Asteraceae

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“Those radiant flowers of the sun, plant of our central star: daisies, marigolds and chamomile have become vital remedies in homeoapthy. … The Asteraceae are remedies for ruptures of the mind and body, when boundaries have been broken by accident, violence, abuse or invasion. Invasion can take many forms, such as blood poisoning, parasitical worms, insect-borne diseases, viruses, bacterial infections or hay fever. But it can also mean injuries, surgery, physical and emotional abuse, or malevolent psychic invasion. … They are remedies for restoring a sense of wholeness and integrity to lives fragmented by trauma, and include some of the oldest plant medicines known to humanity.”

Asteracea: remedies of the sunflower family by Jo Evans.

Asteracea by Jo Evans is a beautiful book full of stunning full-page color photos and illustrations of the various plants that make up this very large plant family including more than 23,000 species found everywhere except Antarctica (Funk et al. 2004).

This nicely sized tome is divided into two parts. Part 1 is Plant Portraits: 35 photographic portraits opposite full-page descriptions of plants as homeopathic remedies, along with a small box at the top of each page with some key notes as well as botanical details and its traditional uses.

The quick overview of Echinacea angustifolia describes this pink coneflower as a good homeopathic remedy for “Post-viral fatigue syndrome. Coughs, cold, flu. Blood poisoning. Bites, stings, boils. Acute illness that becomes chronic.” [gosh. This sounds like it could be a useful remedy these days!] Echinacea was “originally known as a medicine for blood poisoning and septic states” and primarily acts "on the blood, lymph and lungs" and "has become known as the herbal antibiotic.” Noting various other plants containing cichoric acid “which has been found to have strong anti-viral properties” (Evans 2020, p. 29).

Every page is simply stunning and the descriptions are short enough to keep the interest level high and full of enough information so that the reader gets an excellent understanding of each plant’s homeopathic benefits.

Part 2 provides us with a comparison of remedies, beginning with The Anthemideae, the aromatic herbs which are “some of the oldest medicines known” (Evans 2020, p. 75). Remedy themes and history are interwoven with differentiations and case studies.

A deeper dive into Millefolium comes next, followed by “Bitter Foods: Thistles and Lettuces,” a chapter which follows much the same structure as the Anthemideae section.

“Earthing the Sun: the alchemy of sunflowers.” Similar to the earlier sections, Evans gives us a comparison of remedies within themes. For instance: spleen and wound healing and fevers.

Calendula, Bellis perennis and Arnica each get their own well-deserved separate chapters. The final chapter is The Sundial, based on the remedy Espeletia grandiflora and is followed by a one-page overview of the Asteraceae themes.

This gorgeous book is well researched and heavily cited and worthy of many repeat readings. Though it is presented in a highly readable format, there is so much information contained in these pages it is impossible to absorb it all and thus deserves a prime spot on your shelf for the many return visits you will want to make to it.

Did I mention how beautiful this book is?

For more information, visit: Asteraceae.

Evans, J., 2020. Asteraceae: remedies of the sunflower family. Harlem, NL: Emryss.

Reference list
Funk, V. A., Chan, R., and Keeley, S. C., 2004. Insights into the evolution of the tribe Arctoteae (Compositae: subfamily Cichorioideae s.s.) using trnL-F , ndhF , and ITS. TAXON [online], 53 (3), 637–655.

Plant Portraits, 2021. Plant Portraits [online]. Plant Portraits.

12/5/2021

Hom, not Home

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Homeopathy has been continuously in use since its founding by Samuel Hahnmann in the late 1700s. Just think about that. This safe, gentle, inexpensive and very powerful medicine has been used all around the world for 225 years and in many circles, this amazing modality is virtually unknown.

Perhaps some of its obscurity lies in the fact that the term “homeopathy” contains the word “home.” In my opinion, this linguistic trickery plays a significant role in the confusion surrounding homeopathy. People assume “homeopathy” is the same thing as a home remedy. Nope. Not the same. Not even close.

“Hom” from Greek homoeos, meaning “one and the same.” As in…Homophone: same pronunciation, different meaning. Homonym: same spelling, different meaning. Homogenous: of the same kind, alike. Homeomorphism: an instance of topological equivalence. Homocentric: having the same center. Not home*, as in home-based or home-made.

Perhaps we should switch to the British spelling, homoeopathy. That may help clear up this little problem.

Homoeopathy broken down is Homoeo: “the same” and pathy: “suffering." Various pathys… Hydropathy: the treatment of illness through the use of water. Naturopathy: a system of medicine that avoids drugs and surgery and relies on natural remedies. Osteopathy: a system of medicine traditionally based on manual therapeutic techniques aimed at restoring physical function through the body’s ability to heal itself.

Homoeopathy is based on the premise of “like cures like.” If nausea is your ailment, a remedy based on a substance which causes nausea in its crude form is the cure. Tobacco when consumed raw causes nausea, vomiting and malaise (Hulzebos et al. 1998 and Trapé-Cardoso et al. 2003). Homoeopathic tobacco known as Tabacum, is one homoeopathic answer to nausea, vomiting and malaise.

Another easy example of like cures like is Allium cepa, red onion. When you chop an onion, what happens? Your eyes burn and water and your nose runs. Thus, Allium cepa is one homoeopathic answer to colds and allergies when you experience these symptoms.

The counterpart to homoeopathy is allopathy. Greek allos, “other” and pathy, “suffering.” Allopathy: treatment of disease by remedies that produce effects opposite to the symptoms. If fever is your ailment, an antipyretic (anti, “against” and pyretic, “feverish”) is the allopathic answer. Antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, beta blockers, proton pump inhibitors.

The point of this article is not to knock home remedies. There is a lot to be said for gargling with salt water for a sore throat; eating probiotic yogurt for tummy issues; sipping homemade chicken soup for a cold. These are all amazingly helpful ways to address symptoms. However, they are NOT homoeopathic medicines.

Homoeopathy works with your body, not against it. Homoeopathy treats the person, not the disease. Homoeopathy uses the symptoms your body provides as a guide to find the correct homoeopathic remedy to gently stimulate your body. Homoeopathy does not force the symptoms away by using something to stop or block a symptom (anti-medications as listed above); homoeopathy uses similar medicines or remedies to nudge your symptoms a little further in the same direction that it is already headed in order to stimulate your immune system to kick in and correct itself.

As Dr. Robin Murphy said recently in one of his last lectures, (and, I paraphrase), “The body knows how to repair itself. Homoeopathy is the vital force repair man.”

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

*If you’re interested, here’s a link to in an in-depth discussion of the etymology of the word “home” by the author of Word Origins and How We Know Them.

Reference list
Etymonline.com, 2021. homophone | Etymology, origin and meaning of homophone by etymonline [online]. www.etymonline.com.

European Committee for Homeopathy, n.d. Benefits of Homeopathy [online]. The European Committee for Homeopathy.

Hulzebos, C. V., Walhof, C., and de Vries, T. W., 1998. Accidental ingestion of cigarettes by children. Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde [online], 142 (47), 2569–2571.

Liberman, A., 2015. Our habitat: the etymology of “home” [online]. OUPblog.

Trapé-Cardoso, M., Bracker, A., Grey, M., Kaliszewski, M., Oncken, C., Ohannessian, C., Barrera, L. V., and Gould, B., 2003. Shade Tobacco and Green Tobacco Sickness in Connecticut. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine [online], 45 (6), 656–661.

Venes, D., 2017. Taber’s cyclopedic medical dictionary. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Company.

12/1/2021

Traveler's Diarrhea

Read Now

A graphic image, I know! But when you’re talking about:

Montezuma’s Revenge
Delhi Belly
The Runs
The Trots
The Squirts
The Aztec two-step …

It all makes sense.

“Travelers’ diarrhea (TD) is the most predictable travel-related illness. Attack rates range from 30% to 70% of travelers, depending on the destination and season of travel” (CDC 2013). TD is usually defined as 3 or more loose stools in 24 hours (Ashkenazi et al. 2016), sometimes with nausea/vomiting, cramps or fever. Bacterial and viral pathogens usually set in between 6 and 72 hours and protozoal pathogens rarely show up in the first few days, with a typical incubation period of 1-2 weeks (though there are exceptions to this) (CDC 2013).

Untreated, the bacterial diarrhea can last 3-7 days. Viral diarrhea 2-3 days. Protozoal diarrhea can stick around for weeks or months (Connor 2016).

Merson (et al. 1976) studied 73 physicians and 48 family members attending a medical conference in Mexico City in 1974, collecting fecal and blood samples before, during and after their trip. They found 49% developed traveler’s diarrhea, setting in about 6 days after arrival and lasting about 5 days.
(There are a few things that jump out from this study that may skew the results. Did they all stay and eat in the same locations? Those who did not get sick, did they alter their behavior in any way from their traveling companions who did get sick? Of the 49% who got sick, how many were related to one another? These and other questions were not addressed in this study.)

Mainstream advice on avoiding traveler's diarrhea

“Boil it, cook it, peel it or forget it” is one option. I once knew a man who traveled internationally frequently and he swore that if you added gin to your water, that would protect you from the dreaded traveler’s diarrhea. If these suggestions don’t work and something nasty manages to slip in to your system despite your best efforts, it’s very important to replenish the electrolytes (Ashkenazi et al. 2016). Ali (2019) found that in children with acute diarrhea, adding probiotics to the Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) considerably reduced stool frequency.

In addition to ORS, the standard care for traveler’s diarrhea is antibiotics, sometimes prophylactically and sometimes after the fact, as well as anti-diarrheal medication. Antibiotics can certainly have side effects but, more importantly, “antibiotics used by travelers might result in significant changes in the host microbiome as well as the acquisition of multidrug-resistant bacteria” (Riddle and Connor 2019). For example, post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome may occur in 3-17% of patients following traveler’s diarrhea (Steffen et al. 2015).

A popular anti-diarrheal is Loperamide, AKA Imodium. Drugs.com tells us it is a nonprescription opioid that primarily affects opiate receptors in the intestines to treat diarrhea, which commonly results in constipation, nausea, flatulence, dry mouth, abdominal cramp and vomiting. Loperamide is also known to result in cardiac arrest (Wu and Juurlink 2017) though it is considered “relatively safe at therapeutic doses.”

How do we avoid this awful predicament?

The worldwide lockdown of the last almost two years certainly is one answer, but staying home 24/7 is not a good option, in my opinion. There’s a whole big world out there with people and places to see!

If you have read any of my articles before, you already know my answer to this problem… Homeopathy!

Fortuoso (et al. 2019) used a homeopathic product (referred to only as Dia 100 in the study, a trademarked remedy with no further information provided), on newborn lambs. The E.coli counts were significantly lower in the stools of the lambs treated with homeopathy and those lambs were able to make “better use of their nutrients, contributing to their immune responses.” (Fortuoso (et al. 2018) completed a similar study with calves. Camerlink (et al. 2010) found similar results in piglets using Coli 30K.)

Jacobs (et al. 1994) found a statistically significant shortening of duration and number of stools per day of diarrhea in children using individualized homeopathy as compared to placebo.

Whether gut issues now exist because one suffered from TD or if gut issues exist following antibiotic use, Uchiyama-Tanaka (2018) found the use of homeopathic bowel nosodes to be effective in 69.6% of patients in a small study of dysbiotic* Japanese patients.

Homeopathic Arsenicum album 200c, taken at the beginning of any diarrhea is very effective (Banerji and Banerji 2013, p. 66).

The Banerjis also recommend a couple of cell salts to help with the dehydration that will most likely accompany TD or food poisoning or other causations of prolonged diarrhea: Natrum muriaticum 6x and Kali phos 6x, taken together, every three hours.

Why Arsenicum album?

In addition to the studies referenced above, homeopathic Arsenicum album is noted for its anxiety, restlessness, exhaustion and burning pains. Sudden weakness, sudden intense effects, and “even stupor is interrupted by fits of restlessness with anxious moaning” (Murphy n.d.).

As for Arsenicum album’s connection to food poisoning, it is known to help ill effects from bad food and “injurious effects of fruits, especially more watery ones” (Murphy).

On the mental and emotional plane, Arsenicum album is noted when there is a fear of death and disease and “fixed ideas, hallucinations of smell and sight” — when you can’t stand the sight or smell of food. Have you ever suffered food poisoning and you can’t get the image or the smell of what you ate out of your mind?

Arsenicum album has been studied, homeopathically speaking, since the days of Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy. “He despairs and weeps, and imagines no one can help him, that he must die; he is cold and chilly, and afterwards generally weak” (Hughes et al. 2011, referencing Hahnemann’s findings). When you are in a hotel room, a hotel bathroom in particular, and experiencing these dreaded symptoms, homeopathic Arsenicum album might just be your new best friend.

Arsenicum album, don’t leave home without it.**

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

* Dysbiosis is an unhealthy change in the normal bacterial ecology of a part of body, e.g., of the intestines or oral cavity (Venes and Clarence Wilbur Taber 2013).

** There’s a well-known credit card company that begins with A and has the same number of syllables in their name. Their ad campaign back in the 1970s was “… don’t leave home without it.”

Reference list
Ali, R., 2019. The Use of Probiotic with ORS and ORS Only in Children with Acute Diarrhea. Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan [online], 29 (12), 1179–1182.

Anon., 2012. Loperamide [online]. PubMed.

Ashkenazi, S., Schwartz, E., and O’Ryan, M., 2016. Travelers’ Diarrhea in Children: What Have We Learnt? The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal [online], 35 (6), 698–700.

Banerji, P. and Banerji, P., 2013. The Banerji protocols : a new method of treatment with homeopathic medicines. India: Pratip Banerji.

Camerlink, I., Ellinger, L., Bakker, E. J., and Lantinga, E. A., 2010. Homeopathy as replacement to antibiotics in the case of Escherichia coli diarrhoea in neonatal piglets. Homeopathy [online], 99 (1), 57–62.

CDC, ed., 2013. Travelers’ Diarrhea | Travelers’ Health | CDC [online]. Cdc.gov.

Connor, B. A., 2016. Travelers’ Diarrhea - Chapter 2 - 2020 Yellow Book | Travelers’ Health | CDC [online]. Cdc.gov.

Drugs.com, ed., 2021. Imodium Side Effects: Common, Severe, Long Term [online]. Drugs.com.

Fortuoso, B. F., Gebert, R. R., Griss, L. G., Glombovisky, P., Cazarotto, C. J., Rampazzo, L., Stefani, L. M., Ferreira, E. B., and da Silva, A. S., 2019. Reduction of stool bacterial counts and prevention of diarrhea using an oral homeopathic product in newborn lambs. Microbial Pathogenesis [online], 127, 347–351.

Fortuoso, B. F., Volpato, A., Rampazzo, L., Glombowsky, P., Griss, L. G., Galli, G. M., Stefani, L. M., Baldissera, M. D., Ferreira, E. B., Machado, G., and da Silva, A. S., 2018. Homeopathic treatment as an alternative prophylactic to minimize bacterial infection and prevent neonatal diarrhea in calves. Microbial Pathogenesis [online], 114, 95–98.

Hahnemann, S., 2015. Chronic diseases, their particular nature & their homoeopathic cure. Referenced through Radar Opus 2.2.16. New Delhi: B. Jain.

Hughes, R., Timothy Field Allen, and Al, E., 2011. The encyclopedia of pure materia medica : a record of the positive effects of drugs upon the healthy human organism. Accessed via Radar Opus 2.2.16. New Delhi: B. Jain.

Jacobs, J., Jiménez, L. M., Gloyd, S. S., Gale, J. L., and Crothers, D., 1994. Treatment of acute childhood diarrhea with homeopathic medicine: a randomized clinical trial in Nicaragua. Pediatrics [online], 93 (5), 719–725.

Merson, M. H., Morris, G. K., Sack, D. A., Wells, J. G., Feeley, J. C., Sack, R. B., Creech, W. B., Kapikian, A. Z., and Gangarosa, E. J., 1976. Travelers’ Diarrhea in Mexico. New England Journal of Medicine [online], 294 (24), 1299–1305.

Murphy, R., n.d. Homeopathic Remedy Guide. accessed through Radar Opus 2.2.16.

Rafferty, A. and Kayne, S., 1994. The use of Arsenicum album 30c to complement conventional treatment of neonatal diarrhoea (“scours”) in calves. British Homeopathic Journal [online], 83 (04), 202–204.

Riddle, M. S. and Connor, B. A., 2019. Perspectives: Antibiotics in Travelers’ Diarrhea - Balancing the Risks & Benefits - Chapter 2 - 2020 Yellow Book | Travelers’ Health | CDC [online]. wwwnc.cdc.gov.

Riddle, M. S., Connor, B. A., Beeching, N. J., DuPont, H. L., Hamer, D. H., Kozarsky, P., Libman, M., Steffen, R., Taylor, D., Tribble, D. R., Vila, J., Zanger, P., and Ericsson, C. D., 2017. Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of travelers’ diarrhea: a graded expert panel report. Journal of Travel Medicine [online], 24 (suppl_1), S63–S80.

Steffen, R., Hill, D. R., and DuPont, H. L., 2015. Traveler’s Diarrhea. JAMA [online], 313 (1), 71.

Uchiyama-Tanaka, Y., 2018. Case Study of Homeopathic Bowel Nosode Remedies for Dysbiotic Japanese Patients. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (New York, N.Y.) [online], 24 (2), 187–192.

Venes, D. and Clarence Wilbur Taber, 2013. Taber’s cyclopedic medical dictionary. [22nd ed., ISBN: 9780803629776]. Philadelphia, Pa.: F.A. Davis.

Wu, P. E. and Juurlink, D. N., 2017. Clinical Review: Loperamide Toxicity. Annals of Emergency Medicine [online], 70 (2), 245–252.
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