Ruminating on Remedies, My thoughts on homeopathy

5/14/2023

Feel the Fear

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“Of all the liars in the world, sometimes the worst are our own fears.”
Rudyard Kipling

The other day, driving slowly over a speed bump not far from home, I noticed a woman I have met before but I don’t know. Given her house is right next to the speed bump, I’ve had occasion to notice her many times over the years. This time, she was standing next to her dog who was lying under an opened umbrella propped on the ground next to him, and her stance said she was concerned about the dog. What was really memorable about this woman in the beginning days of May of the year 2023, however, was that she was outside, by herself with not one, but wearing two (!) masks on her face. I have since seen her a couple more times, still donning both masks.

I have nothing but compassion for this woman who is clearly frightened beyond comprehension. What makes you think she is frightened? Maybe she is protecting herself from allergens? Remember, I’ve seen her over the years, standing in the same place in her yard, yet the masks are relatively new.

This is not an article about the pros and cons of masking. This is an article about that extremely powerful emotion which I am surmising lies behind the masking: fear.

According to Louise Delagran, writing for the University of Minnesota’s “Taking Charge of your Health & Wellbeing,” fear and anxiety impacts us in the following ways:

Fear weakens our immune system, can cause cardiovascular damage, GI problems and decreased fertility and lead to accelerated aging and even premature death.
Fear can impair memory and cause damage to certain parts of the brain which can, in turn, make it even more difficult to regulate fear and leave the person with chronic anxiety. “To someone in chronic fear, the world looks scary and their memories confirm that.”
Fear can disrupt the processes which allow us to regulate our emotions which, in turn, impacts thinking and decision making.
Long-term fear can lead to fatigue, clinical depression and PTSD.

This, she says, is the case despite the threats being real or simply perceived.

The mind is a powerful thing!

Fear & Homeopathy

Frederik Schroyens in his Synthesis Adonis repertory, lists 1,400+ rubrics listed under: Mind, Fear. Some examples: Fear of being alone. Fear of cancer. Fear of cats. Fear of crossing a bridge. Fear of disease. Fear of being neglected. Fear of liquids. Fear of open spaces. Fear of thunderstorms. And, fear of death is a big one, with nearly 100 sub-rubrics listing all sorts of ways people fear they might die.

Using homeopathic remedies to address your fear can help your body help itself to avoid the fear taking root and taking control of your physical and mental well-being.

With over 1,000 homeopathic remedies which may be indicated in various manifestations of fear, where does one start?

The beginning of the alphabet, of course!

Aconitum napellus or Aconite for short. This is a good and easy one to remember because “Aconite” rhymes with “fright.” If you have a scary experience, Aconite is an excellent place to start. Even if that scary experience was in the past, Aconite is indicated in ailments from frights and can help clear out the fear “residue,” if you will. Fear of death, fear of doctors… overpowering fear. Sudden fear and panic attacks also may be helped with Aconite. Physical ailments may begin suddenly.

Argentum nitricum can be particularly helpful with the nervous system — people who anticipate everything that could go wrong. Fear of accidents; being alone; losing control; claustrophobia. Argent-nit is part of a very helpful combination remedy known as "AAA." (See: "What Goes Up" for more info on AAA.) Argentum nitricum sufferers often have gastro-intestinal issues: nervous diarrhea as well as impressive belching.

Arsenicum album is particularly good for fears about one’s health. Fear of disease and germs; fears of being incurable; fear of being poisoned; fear of suffering. Physical ailments may have a burning quality to them as well as a general restlessness.

Calcarea carbonica is for the worrier. They are overwhelmed, over-worked, over-burdened and they worry about their health, too: cancer, germs, infection and contagious, epidemic diseases. Fear of insanity; fear of rats, insects and monsters. Physically, they get worn out easily and may have a sensation of inner trembling.

Lycopodium clavatum is particularly well indicated when low self-esteem and low confidence come into the fear picture. Lycopodium fears: failure and humiliation; public speaking, or, the undertaking of anything. Physically, Lycopodium is another good gastrointestinal remedy, this time with bloating and loud abdominal rumbling.

Phosphorus is more indicated for a sort of free-floating anxiety and for those who are over-sensitive to external impressions, especially when they are alone. Fear of the dark; ghosts; noise; thunderstorms. Physically, there may be a tremendous thirst or excessive bleeding, including nosebleeds.

It’s important to remember that all of these remedies are considered polycrests or, very large homeopathic remedies, which cover a great variety of symptoms, both physical and mental and these are just tiny snippets to help give a sense of the remedies and how they relate to fear.

Dr. Edward Bach, the homeopath who discovered the Bach Flower Essences a century ago, said it was “our fears, our cares, our anxieties and such like that open the path to the invasion of illness” (Mcintyre 1996).

There are a number of Dr. Bach’s flowers which could apply here, (especially if we were to compare them to the homeopathic remedies listed), but I am just going to briefly focus on a small handful.

Aspen to address a fear of the unknown or the supernatural — the faceless fears that go bump in the night… The generalized, nameless anxieties.

Cherry Plum is for the fear of losing control.

Crab Apple addresses a fear of contamination, by a disease, for example.

Mimulus is for the fear of “known” things. If you can put a name to what you are afraid of, Mimulus is your flower.

Red Chestnut for the fear or worry for the well-being of others, especially loved ones.

Rock Rose for terror, as such following an accident or nightmares.

Don’t be afraid to address your fears. After all, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Whether you choose to try homeopathy or flower essences or cognitive behavioral therapy, (or, even better, a combination of all 3!), feel the fear and do it anyway**!

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

** Full disclosure, I’ve never read this book, but I’ve always loved the title!

Reference list & further reading:

Delagran, L., 2012. Impact of Fear and Anxiety | Taking Charge of Your Health & Wellbeing [online]. Taking Charge of Your Health & Wellbeing.

Jeffers, S., 2023. Feel the Fear... and Do It Anyway. Harvest.

LeDoux, J., 1998. Fear and the brain: where have we been, and where are we going? Biological Psychiatry [online], 44 (12), 1229–1238.

Mcintyre, A., 1996. Flower power : flower remedies for healing body and soul through herbalism, homeopathy, aromatherapy, and flower essences. Holt.

Schroyens, F., n.d. Synthesis Adonis. (accessed through Radar Opus software).

Steimer, T., 2002. The biology of fear- and anxiety-related behaviors. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience [online], 4 (3), 231–49.

1/14/2023

Barks in the night

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Waking up in the middle of the night to your little one “barking” and struggling to breathe is a frightening thing.

Croup, according to Taber’s Medical Dictionary “is an acute viral disease, usually occurring in children from 6 months to 5 years and marked by a resonant barking cough, (sounding like a seal), and varying degrees of respiratory distress" (Venes and Clarence Wilbur Taber 2013).

Croup isn’t a separate disease unto itself — it’s something that can develop from a common cold or flu. “If there’s enough swelling, irritation and coughing, a child can develop:

Loud barking cough that’s made worse by crying and coughing, as well as anxiety and distress, setting up a cycle of worsening symptoms.
Fever
Hoarse voice
Noisy or labored breathing

Symptoms of croup are often worse at night and usually last for 3 to 5 days" (Mayo Clinic 2019).

Mayo says to seek medical attention if your child:

makes noisy, high-pitched breathing sounds when breathing both in and out
makes high-pitched breathing sounds when not crying or upset
begins drooling or has problems swallowing
seems anxious, upset and restless or extra tired and has no energy
breathes at a faster rate than usual
struggles to breathe
develops a blue or gray tint around the nose, in or around the mouth or on the fingernails.

(Those pulse oximeters we all purchased in the last couple of years can be put to good use here.)

Despite how scary it sounds, croup isn’t usually serious and it mostly can be treated at home.

Why the barking? The cough forces air through the swollen and irritated passageway and results in a seal-like bark.

My oldest was prone to this and it is indeed an unnerving experience. I didn’t know about homeopathy then, but we were able to treat him at home each time by sitting in the steamy bathroom until it all calmed down.

Conversely, taking the child outside into the cold night air or having them stand in front of an open freezer can also do the trick (Cleveland Clinic 2021).

How can homeopathy help?

The first remedy to consider for croup is Aconitum napellus, or Aconite, for short. (Remember! Aconite rhymes with fright!) It’s a pretty sure bet that both the child and the parent* will be frightened! Use Aconite at the first sign. Repeat, if needed. Aconite is the “go-to” remedy for any illness with rapid onset. * Don’t forget Ignatia for the worried parent!

Other homeopathic options for croup:

Spongia tosta is the next remedy to consider if the Aconite did not take care of it quickly. Spongia is known to have a cough which sounds like a saw going through wood — a very dry cough and warm drinks are probably helpful.

Hepar sulph might be useful in the morning or in the following days when the cough can sound basically the same, but it changes to a wetter cough — loose and possibly rattling. There may be some choking fits that accompany the cough.

Repeat the chosen remedy every 15-20 minutes, if needed. If the child falls asleep, that’s good! If they wake again, repeat the remedy.

(Click for an instructive video of cough sounds and their corresponding homeopathic remedies.)

If your child is prone to croup, consider working with a professional homeopath to help prevent recurrences.

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

References:

Allen College of Homoeopathy, n.d. Listen the Cough Sounds & Diagnose the Remedy (Part 1)

Cleveland Clinic, 2021. How to Care for Your Child’s Croupy Cough [online]. Cleveland Clinic.

Kessels, L., n.d. Home Remedies for Colds and Croup: Do They Work? [online]. www.stlouischildrens.org.

Mayo Clinic, 2019. Croup - Symptoms and causes [online]. Mayo Clinic.

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

12/11/2022

Tis the Season for… Sore Throats

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Sore throat complaints are keeping me busy this month! Some people have the dreaded Covid, some have the flu, some may have strep throat and some people just have a sore throat.

What to do about this pharyngitis? (Pharynx is the part of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity and “itis” for inflammation.)

Well, at the first sign of feeling unwell, I like the Banerji protocol of Aconite 200c mixed with Bryonia 30c. Taking this right away can often nip things in the bud and send the yucks away before they can settle in.

Another option for those who are quick on the draw is Ferrum phos 6x. This, too, can often turn things around in short order.

Once the yucks have made themselves at home and one is definitively feeling unwell, let’s look at a few homeopathic remedies which may help. (Note: There are many remedies which can be helpful for sore throats, these are just a few of my favorites.) See also: Calming the Cold; Some Flu Remedies to Consider and Tis the season for the crud.

Baptisia
Extremely painful, dark red throat, where swallowing liquids is the only option and even that is very difficult, despite being thirsty; tiny bites of food gags them. They may have swollen glands and/or bad breath.

Belladonna
The sore throat appears suddenly and generally hurts more on the right side with burning or throbbing pain. The throat and the tip of the tongue may be red. Pain is worse from turning the head, touching the throat and swallowing, especially liquids. Face will often be red and hot but the hands and feet tend to be cold.

Gelsemium
Burning and rough sore throat with pain that extends from the throat to the ear. May feel like there’s a painful lump in the throat that cannot be swallowed. Pain in the sternocleidomastoid — the long muscles on either side of your neck. Paralysis of the vocal cords. Swallowing solid foods is difficult.

Hepar sulph
Homeopathic Hepar is known for a sticking sensation in the throat, like a splinter or a bone. Pain extends to the ear on yawning and swallowing. May hawk up thick, yellow, sticky mucus. Wrapping up the external throat feels good. Cold drinks or becoming cold makes them feel worse but warmth in general and warm drinks can help. There may be a pulsation felt in the throat and they may feel worse in the evening and at night. Very sensitive to the pain and sensitive to everything else, too, actually and they may be irritable and impatient.

Lachesis
A purple throat, often on the left side (or starts on the left and moves to the right) and feels worse when swallowing liquids — even saliva is difficult — empty swallowing makes the throat hurt even worse (though they may have a constant desire to swallow). Swallowing solids may be easier. May have a disturbing constricting sensation, causing them to loosen clothes around the throat. Ear pain with sore throat. There may be a sensation of breadcrumbs or a painful sensation of a lump or plug which is not relieved by swallowing. They may choke easily, especially on falling to sleep and may have a suffocative feeling. Often feel worse on waking.

Lycopodium
Often on the right side with a dryness in the throat and they may not be very thirsty. A stitching pain on swallowing which is better with warm drinks and worse with cold drinks. Choking on swallowing. They may feel like there is a lump or a plug in the throat. They are chilly but they also want fresh air but are worse becoming cold or eating/drinking cold things. May have digestive issues at the same time as the sore throat.

Mercurius sol
Lots of saliva and a raw, rough and burning feeling in the throat. Lots of slime gets stuck in the throat and there may be drooling while sleeping. Swollen glands. A bad or metallic taste in the mouth and may have bad breath. The throat may be copper colored. Throat pain on coughing. The throat may be worse at night and they may also experience night sweats. Finding the right temperature is often difficult.

Rhus tox
Body aches and restlessness may accompany the sore throat. The tip of the tongue may be red. The throat becomes irritated and the voice becomes hoarse and is often worse from talking. The pain is worse from swallowing at first, but improves with more swallowing. Warmth is helpful and moving around may help, too — feeling worse when they are resting. Like the swallowing, they may feel worse when first moving around but better as they keep moving.

When to see a doctor?
According to the Mayo Clinic, see a doctor if:

sore throat is accompanied by tender, swollen lymph glands
sore throat lasts longer than 48 hours
a fever
sore throat is accompanied by a rash
there are problems breathing or swallowing
if strep has been diagnosed, a lack of improvement after taking antibiotics for 48 hours

TONSILLITIS
A few quick notes relating to tonsillitis. (Note on type: Most highly indicated, highly indicated and indicated.) Again, there are many homeopathic remedies for tonsillitis and I am just focusing on the throat remedies already mentioned for sore throats.

Tonsillitis, in general — in order of importance: Belladonna, Ferrum phos and Mercurius. Hepar & Lachesis. Baptisia and Lycopodium.
Tonsillitis with pus: Hepar, Mercurius. Belladonna, Lycopodium, Lachesis
Hardness of hearing with tonsillitis: Hepar, Lycopodium and Mercurius
Chronic or recurring tonsillitis: Hepar, Lachesis and Lycopodium
Painless tonsillitis: Baptisia
Burning pain in tonsils: Belladonna and Mercurius
Purple tonsils: Hepar and Lachesis
Bright red tonsils: Belladonna and Ferrum phos
Dark red tonsils: Baptisia and Lachesis
Tonsillitis in children: Ferr-phos, Lachesis, Lycopodium and Mercury
Sharp pain in tonsils: Belladonna, Lachesis, Lycopodium and Mercury
Tearing pain in tonsils: Belladonna
Throbbing pain in tonsils: Belladonna

STREP THROAT
Strep throat is another possibility and can lead to long term problems in rare cases. Unlike most sore throats, strep is caused by bacteria. Strep A is big in the news this year, especially in the UK, but there are other strains of strep which can cause throat problems, too (A, C & G are the primary throat culprits).

I never messed around with strep throats when my kids were young because I know two people who suffered terribly as a result of untreated strep. “Untreated strep throat can cause an autoimmune reaction in which the body attacks its own tissues and may lead to rheumatic fever, chorea and kidney damage” (Berkow et al. 1995).

How can you tell the difference between a sore throat and Strep throat?
Ultimately, for a full diagnosis of strep throat, you need to see a doctor and get a throat culture.

According the the Merck Manual and the Mayo Clinic, strep throat symptoms typically appear suddenly and include:

sore throat
- throat is “beefy” red
- tiny red spots on the area at the back of the roof of the mouth (soft or hard palate) (see photo above)
lymph nodes in the neck may be enlarged and tender
tonsils are swollen
- sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
general feeling of being unwell
- chills
- fever
- headache
nausea
vomiting
rapid heart beat
rash

A cough, laryngitis and stuffy nose are not common in strep infections.

In very young children (under 4), the only symptom may be a runny nose. (When my kids were little, I learned that strep infections in littles may present with only stomach problems, so keep that in mind.)

“People with strep throat generally get better in 2 weeks, even without treatment. … antibiotics can shorten the duration of symptoms in young children and prevent serious complications such as rheumatic fever” (Berkow et al. 1995). (Note: There are homeopathic remedies which can be helpful in strep throat, but that is beyond the scope of this article.)

If you are suffering from a sore throat, try one of these homeopathic remedies so you can get back to some painless Fa La La-ing before the festive season is behind us.

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

Reference list:
Berkow, R., Beers, M. and Fletcher, A., 1995. The Merck Manual Home Edition. Merck Research Laboratories.

Mayo Clinic, 2018. Strep throat - symptoms and causes [online]. Mayo Clinic.

12/3/2022

Cold & Damp

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I live in a desert. I live in a desert for a reason. I like that nice, dry weather, usually with a big, blue sky filled with a sun that has meaning!

Soon, I’m headed to other climes and I must admit, even though I am really looking forward to the trip, I am not looking forward to the cold and damp. The last time I was in this weather in the winter, I would get so cold it took a long time soaking in a deep, hot bath to warm up. Literally. Chilled to the bone is a real thing.

Back in the day, I didn’t even know about homeopathy, let alone use it. So, this time, I’m doing a little prep work of what remedies to have along with me.

Previously, I wrote about frost bite and the remedies that can help with that. I’ll bring that remedy with me, but that’s very different to the deep-seated cold of damp weather.

Three remedies stand out in my search: Dulcamara, Nux moschata, and Rhus tox. These are not the only remedies, just the 3 that keep popping up most clearly and therefore, a good place to start (and the 3 remedies I am going to be sure to bring with me!) Calc carb showed up quite often, but it didn’t really have any distinguishing features, but I’ll leave it in anyway, just cuz.

Homeopathic Dulcamara has a strong keynote aggravation from damp weather. “Any condition which has this feature may find its remedy in Dulcamara” (Robin Murphy). Most Dulcamara complaints are related to the mucous membranes (mouth, nose, eyelids, lungs, stomach, intestines).

Symptoms unique to Dulcamara in the cold and damp:

Hoarseness
A sensation of having an enlarged head
Paralysis of the tongue
A cold sensation in the occiput

A few symptoms where Dulcamara is your best bet (though, Calc carb, Nux moschata and Rhus tox are still indicated, but not as clearly):

Diarrhea as a result of the cold and damp
Coughing from the damp cold
Ailments as a result of being or living in the cold and damp
Chills from the cold, damp weather

Homeopathic Nux moschata is what would be called a dry remedy. (It’s made from nutmeg, so that kind of makes sense to me.) A very dry remed actually; so, it’s no surprise that the person who could benefit from it would not fare well in the cold and damp.

Three symptoms that appear in the cold and damp and are unique to Nux moschata:

A headache felt in the temples
Pain and tension in the neck
Pain in the middle of the back, the thoracic area — essentially from the base of the neck to the bottom of the ribs

If you experience any of these symptoms as a result of being in the cold and damp, Nux moschata is most likely the remedy for you.

Homeopathic Rhus tox is a remedy that is known for feeling better from heat — generally, the hotter the better! So, it would make sense that a person needing Rhus tox would feel worse in the cold and damp.

Specific to Rhus tox as a result of the cold & damp:

A numb sensation in the joints
Sciatica
Headache that can be described as a “tearing” pain (well, Calc carb is more highly indicated, actually, but my other 2 main remedies aren’t included - just these two)
As if the blood were cold (also consider Aconite or Arsenicum)

A few other rubrics to consider that don’t fit nicely into my (mostly) neatly segregated remedies:

Rheumatism after cold weather: Rhus tox & Dulcamara
Back pain from cold weather: Rhus tox, Calc carb & Dulcamara
Asthma symptoms from the cold & wet: Dulcamara, Nat sulph & Arsenicum album
Female pains from the cold & damp: Calc phos
Sore thighs in the cold, damp weather: Calc phos

Here’s to sitting by a blazing fire, sipping something hot and lovely!

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

7/23/2022

Summer Fun #4: Sprains, Strains & Bicycle Falls

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I didn't get to all of these injuries, but I address quite a few of them in this article.

Summer athletes, take heed! ER visits shoot up in the warmer months as the weekend warriors take on the bats, balls and trails.

SPRAINS
This one hits home right now as my husband is in week 3 of his nasty sprain. Click here for an 18-second visual of what’s involved in an ankle sprain. (For the record, he wasn’t being a weekend warrior, it was just unfortunate happenstance.)

We were hours from medical care, his ankle was huge and looked very wrong. I gave him Arnica 1m immediately, to great effect. Ice. Rest. Elevation. More Arnica as needed. The ER took X-rays and sent him on his way with 2 Ace bandages and told him to take ibuprofen* for the pain. That was helpful. Not. The next day we were able to see a proper orthopedist who took more X-rays and this time sent him on his way with a walking/air boot and the same instructions for pain. He never resorted to the over-the-counter painkillers, I am happy to say.

What to do after that? Well, some people say the X-rays can be a problem. If you’re worried about that, Nat Mur 6x, (twice daily the day of the X-ray and a few days following) is said to help.

Back to sprained ankles…

The number one remedy to turn to for any accident or injury is Arnica. Give it early and repeat as needed. As a general rule of thumb, the worse the injury, the higher the potency and then back off the repetition and lower the potency as the pain dictates.

The next remedy to consider is Aconite to help reduce the shock which often follows a bad injury. Remember! Aconite rhymes with fright. Any situation that has been a shock to your system can benefit from Aconite. And, in this case, it can benefit not only the person who had the accident, but the person who witnessed the accident.

The traditional, much accepted treatment for injuries is RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. Some injuries respond to cold, some respond to heat. Ice restricts blood flow and blood flow is what you need to heal your parts. But, that blood flow is also what can cause all the swelling. I am not a physician but I have certainly had more than my fair share of injuries in my lifetime. Some of my injuries felt better with rest and elevation and ice and some felt better getting moving right away. To my mind, your pain (in addition to the input from your physician) needs to be your guide as to what is right for you.

What else can help? Here are a few homeopathic suggestions and their symptoms which may help you choose the best homeopathic remedy for your injury.

Arnica: Start here. “It is safe to say that 98% of patients who have suffered traumatic injury, however caused, need a dose of Arnica to begin their recovery” (Thomas 2000). See below for some research on Arnica.

A typical Arnica patient does not want anyone to touch their injured area. Sore, they may feel “beaten up” with swelling, bruising and inflammation. Topical Arnica is an option if the skin is intact. Do NOT apply Arnica to open wounds.

Rhus tox: for an injury that feels better for heat and continued motion. Worse on first moving. Better suited to simple sprains.

Ruta: for an injury that is worse for motion and worse for cold application. Bruised, crushed, weak feeling. A remedy for tendons and ligaments, similar to Rhus in its pain. May feel hot to touch. Follows Arnica well to help aid in recovery.

Bellis perennis: Think of this remedy if Arnica is not helping as much as you think it should be helping. Bruised pain. Like Rhus tox, a Bellis pain hurts when starting to move but gets better as you keep moving the injured area and is better from heat. A Bellis pain, though, may have the sensation of a band squeezing the injured joint. “Complicated sprains involving tendons, ligaments and soft tissue with swelling, edema and pain” (Ratera 2016).

Bryonia: worse for the slightest movement of any kind. Better for rest and immobility. This person might be a little grumpy as a result of their injury.

Ledum: when the injured area feels better from cold applications. Ankle feels dislocated and is worse by walking, to the point of being intolerable. The skin may be cold to the touch.

Symphytum for tears at the point of tendon insertion into the bone (Ratera 2016). This remedy has been known to speed along recovery. CAUTION: do NOT use Symphytum until you are certain there is no break or fracture.

Cell Salts which may be of help for sprains (Weintraub 1999):

Ferr phos: first aid remedy
Mag phos: pain which accompanies sprains
Nat sulph: after effects of shock
Ferr phos, Kali mur: swelling

for tendons and ligaments: Make a compress from these cell salts dissolved in tepid water and applied to the area: Calc fluor, Ferr phos, Mag phos, Kali mur.

Again, let your pain be your guide as to how long and how often you taking the remedies

STRAINS
According to American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, a sprain is a stretch and/or tear of a ligament and a strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon. Sprains generally occur in ankles, knees and wrists and strains generally occur in the back or leg, particularly the hamstring. Both injuries can range in severity and neither is necessarily worse than the other — it depends on the person and the injury.

Conventional medicine again recommends RICE for strains (see above).

Homeopathically, Arnica is the best place to start and may be all that you need. “Forcing, twisting, wrenching strains and tears are most likely to respond to Arnica if it is prescribed within 24 hours of the trauma” (Thomas 2000).

The above list of sprain remedies can also be applied to muscle strains with these notations:

Rhus tox may be especially helpful in injuries due to lifting or over-exertion.

Bryonia is especially well suited to intercostal and rib injuries.

Ruta is also useful for injuries due to over-exertion. Follows Arnica well to help aid in recovery.

Traumeel or T-Relief as it is now known is a nice combination remedy to help with strains. (See below for some Traumeel research.)

Cell Salts which may be of help for strains (Weintraub 1999):
In addition to the above listed cell salts:

Calc sulph, Mag phos: for muscles strained from overwork and a sensation of heat
Mag phos: for muscle spasms

BICYCLE FALLS
Number one: wear a helmet. Høye (2018) found helmet use reduced serious head injury by 60%.

We just watched an interesting documentary called Bikes of Wrath where 5 young guys re-created the journey from Steinbeck’s novel of a similar name, but this time on bikes. None of them had any head injuries, but they did indeed have some strains and perhaps a sprain — in his case, it was his elbow. They certainly could have benefitted from carrying a little remedy kit with them, that's for sure!

Sprains and strains are covered above, let's move on to cuts, scrapes and contusions.

Once again, Arnica is the first stop for any injury. If the fall was big enough, take a dose of Aconite for any shock.

ROAD RASH, see this link for more information

Ooof! It’s been a long time since I’ve had to pick gravel out of my knee, but I can still remember how unpleasant that is!

In this case, an oral dose of Arnica may be helpful because there is probably some element of bruising that will accompany the road rash, but remember DO NOT to apply Arnica to broken skin.

I have no idea who this group is, but they have some clear images indicating whether hospital treatment should be sought following a skinned knee.

Assuming the wound is not too bad and does not need professional medical care, clean the area and remove any debris. The Wound Care Society has some nice instructions.

Calendula is where you want to start homeopathically for this injury — after the wound has been sufficiently cleaned out, that is. Calendula can be taken orally, or a Calendula tincture or cream can be applied. If you have the homeopathic pellet, but not a tincture, dissolve the Calendula pellet in some clean water and apply that to the wound. Hypericum can be used in this way, as well.

Ledum is useful if the wound is deeper. It may be cool to the touch and very painful.

Hypericum: like Calendula, Hypericum is very good and soothing to use topically. In fact, they can work very well together. Helios offers a lovely combination cream**. A Hypericum wound is very sensitive and is definitely indicated if any nerves are involved, like fingertips or toes.

Hamamelis is very good if the wound continues to bleed. Arnica, too, can help with bleeding, but Hamamelis would be the next stop. Also very good for hematomas which may form as a result of the injury.

Cell Salts which may be of help for cuts and abrasions (Weintraub 1999):

Ferr phos for abrasions and wounds; topical application of powdered tables applied directly to the injured parts
Calc sulph: for cuts that are slow to heal

Kali mur, Ferr phos: for swelling

Bruising

Guess what the first remedy is for bruising? You’re so clever! Yes, it’s Arnica! The bruise is painful and they don’t want anybody to touch it!

Bellis perennis if the bruising is deeper, and especially if the bruising is in the abdominal area.

Ledum shows up again here, too -- if the area feels better with cold application.

Ruta or Symphytum if the bone is bruised or the periosteum is affected (the tissues between the bones and the skin — think of the shins or cheekbones).

Cell Salts which may be of help for bruising (Weintraub 1999):

Ferr phos for any bleeding into tissues -- may also apply powder directly to the area
Calc fluor for bruises affecting the bones
Kali phos for all-over feelign of being bruised
Kali mur for hard, blue-black bruises

To make a compress: dissolve 5 of each cell salt tablet and apply locally; take internally also: Ferr phos, Kali mur.

HEAD INJURIES
First off — consult a physician if you have hit your head, whether you were wearing a helmet, or not.

Once again, Arnica is the place to start. Not only because it’s the go-to first remedy for any accident or injury, but in this case because Arnica is the first choice homeopathic remedy for head injury, period.

Bonus! One of my favorite homeopathic books for injuries, First Aid with Homeopathy by Dr. Manuel Mateu Ratera, has a PDF of his Head Injury pages available online.

The next-in-line remedy for head injuries is Nat sulph (see cell salts below). Like Arnica, Nat sulph can be used for residual effects from old head injuries.

Why choose one over the other? Arnica has the general trauma/injury element to it.

When to choose Nat sulph? Nat sulph has a slight edge in terms of residual effects from head injuries: concussions afterward, migraines afterward. However, Nat sulph is more clearly indicated when there is vertigo following a head injury or depression or mental dullness sets in after a head injury.

For some research on mild traumatic brain injuries and homeopathy, see Chapman et al. (1999).

Cell Salts which may be of help for head injuries (Weintraub 1999):
Calc fluor for bruises on the cranial bones, with hard, rough, uneven lumps
Ferr phos for bruising to the head, with pain
≈ Nat sulph as a cell salt may be used, as well.

These homeopathic remedies, Arnica in particular, should accompany you when you set out for any physical activities this summer. Or, better yet, purchase a little kit to throw in your bag. Taproots has nice one*.

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits
* Just because NSAIDs are available over the counter does not mean they are without risks. There are plenty of studies out there talking about the downside of taking NSAIDs. Below are just a few of these studies.

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

Reference list

American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, n.d. Sprains, Strains and Other Soft-Tissue Injuries - OrthoInfo - AAOS [online]. www.orthoinfo.org.

Helios Homoeopathy, n.d. Hypericum/Calendula cream: helios-frontend [online]. www.helios.co.uk.

Høye, A., 2018. Bicycle helmets – To wear or not to wear? A meta-analyses of the effects of bicycle helmets on injuries. Accident Analysis & Prevention [online], 117, 85–97.

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

Ratera, Dr. M. M., 2016. First Aid with Homeopathy. Kander, Germany: Narayana Verlag.

Sonnenschmidt, R., Sankaran, R., Vithoulkas, G., Borland, D., Scholten, J., Kusse, F., Mangialavori, M., Birch, K., Das Kaviraj, V., Perko, S., Welte, U., Le Roux, P., Hahnemann, S., Jus, S. and Chauhan, D., n.d. Manuel Mateu i Ratera First Aid with Homeopathy Reading excerpt First Aid with Homeopathy of Manuel Mateu i Ratera Publisher: Hahnemann Institut [online].

Summers, S., 2022. How can I take care of a scraped knee? [online]. www.truthaboutnursing.org.

TapRoots, 2022. SUMMER On-the-Go Portable Homeopathic Kit Including Hard-covered Case, Holds 8 Kit-sized Remedies [online]. TapRoots.

Temple ReadyCare, 2021. 6 Reasons for Summer ER Visits and How to Avoid Common Injuries and Illness [online]. Temple Health.

Thomas, E., 2000. Homoeopathy for sports, exercise, and dance. Beaconsfield, Bucks, Uk: Beaconsfield Publishers.

Weintraub, S., 1999. Natural healing with cell salts. Pleasant Grove, Ut: Woodland Pub.

woundcaresociety, 2016. How to heal skinned knee quickly? [online]. Wound Care Society.

woundcaresociety, 2019. How Long Does Road Rash Take To Heal [online]. Wound Care Society.

Research links - Arnica:
Marzotto, M., Arruda-Silva, F. and Bellavite, P., 2020. Fibronectin Gene Up-regulation by Arnica montana in Human Macrophages: Validation by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay. Homeopathy [online], 109 (03), 140–145.

Research links Homeopathy & Head Injury:
Chapman, E. H., Weintraub, R. J., Milburn, M. A., Pirozzi, T. O. and Woo, E., 1999. Homeopathic Treatment of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation [online], 14 (6), 521–542.

Research links: Traumeel:
Birnesser, H., Oberbaum, M., Klein, P. and Weiser, M., 2004. THE HOMEOPATHIC PREPARATION TRAUMEEL® S COMPARED WITH NSAIDS FOR SYMPTOMATIC TREATMENT OF EPICONDYLITIS. Journal of Musculoskeletal Research [online], 08 (02n03), 119–128.

Conforti, A., Bertani, S., Metelmann, H., Chirumbolo, S., Lussignoli, S. and Bellavite, P., 1997. Experimental studies of the anti-inflammatory activity of a homeopathic preparation. [online].

Lussignoli, S., Bertani, S., Metelmann, H., Bellavite, P. and Conforti, A., 1999. Effect of Traumeel S, a homeopathic formulation, on blood-induced inflammation in rats. Complementary Therapies in Medicine [online], 7 (4), 225–230.

Porozov, S., Cahalon, L., Weiser, M., Branski, D., Lider, O. and Oberbaum, M., 2004. Inhibition of IL-1β and TNF-α Secretion from Resting and Activated Human Immunocytes by the Homeopathic Medication Traumeel® S. Clinical and Developmental Immunology [online], 11 (2), 143–149.

Schneider, C., Klein, P., Stolt, P. and Oberbaum, M., 2005. A Homeopathic Ointment Preparation Compared With 1% Diclofenac Gel for Acute Symptomatic Treatment of Tendinopathy. EXPLORE [online], 1 (6), 446–452.

Research links: NSAIDs:
Allison, M. C., Howatson, A. G., Torrance, C. J., Lee, F. D. and Russell, R. I., 1992. Gastrointestinal Damage Associated with the Use of Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs. New England Journal of Medicine [online], 327 (11), 749–754.

Bindu, S., Mazumder, S. and Bandyopadhyay, U., 2020. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and organ damage: A current perspective. Biochemical Pharmacology [online], 180, 114147.

Graham, D. Y., Opekun, A. R., Willingham, F. F. and Qureshi, W. A., 2005. Visible small-intestinal mucosal injury in chronic NSAID users. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology [online], 3 (1), 55–59.

Risser, A., Donovan, D., Heintzman, J. and Page, T., 2009. NSAID Prescribing Precautions. American Family Physician [online], 80 (12), 1371–1378.

7/9/2022

Summer Fun #2: Water

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Swimmer's Eye or Chlorine Conjunctivitis

Swimmer's itch
Swimmer's itch is an allergic reaction to microscopic parasites that burrow into your skin while you're swimming or wading outdoors. (Mayo Clinic n.d.)

Outer Ear Infection
(Mayo clinic n.d.)

Jellyfish… so beautiful and so dangerous!

Signs a swimmer is in trouble: (Redcross. CA 2013)

Struggling to keep their face above the water in an effort to breathe – head is low in the water, tilted back, and mouth is at water level
Has arms extended to the side pressing down for support
Has a vertical or approaching vertical body position with no supportive kick
Might continue to struggle underwater, often facing the nearest point of safety, for example land, a person, shallow water, a buoyant support toy or a boat.
Inability to respond to the question: “Are you okay?”
Silence

Whether a river, an ocean or a pool -- nothing is as inviting as a body of water on a hot, summer’s day. It’s cool and refreshing, but, after a shallow dive into the subject … I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it can be dangerous!

Let’s start with a dip in the pool, which is most likely chlorinated. Some people are particularly sensitive to the chlorine and can develop what is known as SWIMMER'S EYE or, chlorine conjunctivitis. It is essentially eye irritation but it stings and it can be pretty miserable. Goggles can help, but that's not a sure thing to keep it at bay.

Homeopathic Euphrasia or “Eyebright” for burning eyes and watery eyes. Pain as if something were in the eye. Puffy eyes. Red eyes. When “eye” is in the name of the remedy, you know it’s a good place to start.

Arsenicum album for profuse, watery, burning discharge. There is often a level of restlessness.

Or, Similisan’s Redness & Itchy Eye Relief* would be a good thing to keep in the cupboard if you or your child is prone to this.

---------------------------------------------

Moving from the pool to a natural body of water can bring it’s own set of problems, namely, SWIMMER'S ITCH or Cercarial Dermatitis.

Caused by a parasite that gets under the skin (Kolářová et al. 2012) and triggers an allergic reaction, swimmer’s itch is as the name suggests, an itchy rash.

If the rash is blistery and oozy, look to Graphites.

If the rash burns, stings and itches, try Sulphur.

If the rash stings and is raised and fluid filled, try Apis.

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SWIMMER’S EAR
Regardless of what kind of water you’re swimming in, swimmer’s ear is basically an outer ear infection caused by trapped water in your ear that can lead to the growth of bacteria (Mayo Clinic).

For sharp ear pain with a sudden onset, Belladonna. There may be redness and throbbing pain.

An aching ear pain that feels like the ear is stopped up, Chamomilla.

If there is discharge and itching, try Hepar sulph.

Or, Similason has a new formula: Swimmer's Ear Relief*.

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If you are lucky enough to be near the ocean, beware of JELLYFISH!

Potentially harmful jellyfish are found in most oceans and can cause both dermatological problems as well as systemic issues (Mebs 2014). The venom of the 51 species of box jellyfish can kill a human in less than 2 minutes (Baldwin 2022).

The Wilderness Medical Society has published “Jellyfish Stings: A Practical Approach” (Lakkis et al. 2015). If you left your stinger suit hanging in the closet and manage to get stung, conventional medicine doesn’t have a lot to offer. “The literature published on the treatment of jellyfish stings is limited, conflicting, and lacks consensus.” In short, help the person out of the water, keep them from rubbing the stung area and reassure them. Some say to apply cold, others heat. If it’s a life-threatening species, call an ambulance immediately. (Be careful when helping someone with a jellyfish sting as stinging cells may be spread on contact.)

Once again, this is a situation where homeopathy can come in very handy. Homeopathy doesn’t care if the sting is a result of a jellyfish or a bee. If the symptoms match the remedy, there is a good chance relief will follow.

First Aid with Homeopathy (Mateu 2020) says applying vinegar can decrease the effect of the toxins.

For all these homeopathic jellyfish remedy recommendations, repeat every five minutes until significantly better and then begin to lengthen the time between doses.

For most “run of the mill” jellyfish stings, try Apis mellifica. For intense burning and stinging followed by redness and swelling. The person needing Apis will generally be worse from warm applications.

If the affected area feels cold and also feels better from cold, try Ledum.

Urtica urens can be applied topically as well as ingesting the homeopathic remedy. The person needing Urtica will be experiencing great itchiness and burning, similar to experiencing stinging nettles (from which the remedy is made).

If the pains are more neuralgic in nature and radiating out, try Hypericum.

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HYPOTHERMIA
It’s a warm, beautiful day with a little breeze and you think, “what could possibly go wrong?” Well, Hypothermia is one thing that can ruin your day.

“That only happens in the cold, right?” Um. Nope. The only requirement for hypothermia to set in is anything that causes a severe drop in body temperature. It can happen in perfect conditions (Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission 2022) and, actually, swimming doesn’t even need to be involved.

It can happen from being in the water or from being caught in a rainstorm. When I was a kid, my brother went sailing on a too cold day and he returned way too cold. I remember being instructed to lie down on the kitchen floor next to him under a blanket to try and warm him up. I now know that is termed “external passive rewarming” and is the method of choice for mild hypothermia. A slow and gentle warming is what you’re after.

For hypothermia to set in, the water doesn’t have to be cold, just cooler than your body temperature. Children, the elderly, injured or intoxicated people are more susceptible (Paal et al. 2022). Shivering, confusion, breathing issues, and muscle dysfunction are some of the symptoms which may be experienced with a significantly lowered body temperature.

The Natural First Aid Handbook (Mars 2017) recommends hot water bottles to the groin and sides of the torso and warns against rubbing or massaging an individual with hypothermia. First Aid with Homeopathy (Ratera 2016) recommends hot liquids and moderate warmth to the abdomen via a hot water bottle and also talks about breath as a treatment for hypothermia. “The helper places his mouth against the spine, between the shoulder blades, and breathes out in long breaths, blowing directly against the clothing. Almost immediately, local heat is felt, and gradually this heat spreads through the body if the exercise is continued. This technique helps to warm, and also to calm the patient. It can therefore also be used in crises of asthma or panic, to calm the patient and restore natural breathing.” Fascinating!

Other than warming the person, what can be done? Homeopathy, of course!

If the person is conscious, give a dose of Aconite to help with the shock.

Bellis perennis is useful in thermal shock (Ratera 2016). Thermal shock can happen from any sudden exposure to cold when the body is hot — even drinking cold drinks when the body is hot.

Carbo vegetabilis can be useful for persons who are chilly, with cold perspiration and cold breath. Other symptoms may include coldness, numbness and weakness.

Veratrum album is for internal coldness, as if ice-water is in the veins. Weakness and collapse with coldness.

If the person is icy cold but wants to be uncovered, consider some homeopathic Camphor. Cramps, convulsions or shock may be present.

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DROWNING
Regardless of the size of the body of water, drowning is always something to watch out for and contrary to what we have seen in the movies, drowning is often completely silent (Redcross. CA 2013). See sidebar for "signs a swimmer is in trouble."

According to Stop Drowning Now (2018), in the US, 10 people die every day from drowning. “Drowning is fast and silent and can happen in as little as 20-60 seconds.”

When my son was little, I turned my back to get his floaties and the other mother with me (who I thought was watching all the kids!) said, “I didn’t know he could swim.” I turned around and I saw him standing on the bottom of the pool, completely underwater, eyes open, looking up at me. He couldn’t swim! He definitely did not belong there! That could have been a disaster. It was absolutely instantaneous — shockingly fast! Thankfully, he was completely fine. I will never be able to get that vision out of my mind. It was terrible.

CPR or the Heimlich maneuver, followed by mouth-to-mouth is the standard recommendation. Venema (et al. 2010) claim that 30% of rescued drowning victims require CPR. Get medical help immediately.

If the person is unconscious, administer homeopathic Carbo vegetabilis while waiting for help to arrive. Carbo veg is known as “the corpse reviver” and should be administered frequently. To avoid inhaling the remedy, place the pellet between the lips and the teeth and let it dissolve there.

If the person is better when sitting up but is experiencing a rattling in the chest, try Antimonium tart.

Lachesis is indicated when the person is suffering asphyxia and the pulse is very weak.

If there is a “near miss” like I described with my son, it may not be over and done with when you have them out of the water and breathing on their own again. Jama Pediatrics (Stern and Thompson 2022) notes that “symptoms of drowning such as gasping or difficulty breathing most commonly occur immediately. In rare cases, symptoms may develop after a nonfatal drowning. If a child develops worsening cough, fast breathing rate, vomiting or change in mental status after nonfatal drowning, take them to the nearest emergency department for evaluation.”

It may seem like it’s better (and safer!) to just dip your toes in the water to cool off, but no! Life is too short to sit out the swim!

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

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

References and further reading:

Baird, J. K. and Wear, D. J., 1987. 12 Cercarial dermatitis: The swimmer’s itch. Clinics in Dermatology, 5 (3), 88–91.

Baldwin, E., 2022. Box Jellyfish: The Dangerous Jellyfish | Ocean Info [online]. oceaninfo.com.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, 2022. Hypothermia [online]. Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Gordy, M. A., Cobb, T. P. and Hanington, P. C., 2018. Swimmer’s itch in Canada: a look at the past and a survey of the present to plan for the future. Environmental Health, 17 (1).

Hoeffler, D. F., 1977. ‘Swimmers’ itch’ (cercarial dermatitis). Cutis [online], 19 (4), 461–465, 467.

Kolářová, L., Horák, P., Skírnisson, K., Marečková, H. and Doenhoff, M., 2012. Cercarial Dermatitis, a Neglected Allergic Disease. Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology [online], 45 (1), 63–74.

Lakkis, N. A., Maalouf, G. J. and Mahmassani, D. M., 2015. Jellyfish Stings: A Practical Approach. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine [online], 26 (3), 422–429.

Lessell, C. B., 1999. The world travellers’ manual of homoeopathy. Saffron Walden: C.W. Daniel.

Mateu, M., 2020. First aid with homeopathy. Kandern, Germany Narayana Verlag.

Mayo Clinic, n.d. Swimmer’s ear - Symptoms and causes [online]. Mayo Clinic.

Mayo Clinic, n.d. Swimmer’s itch - Symptoms and causes [online]. Mayo Clinic.

Mebs, D., 2014. Durch Quallen verursachte Verletzungen. Jelly Fish Sting Injuries Der Hautarzt [online], 65 (10), 873–878.

Paal, P., Pasquier, M., Darocha, T., Lechner, R., Kosinski, S., Wallner, B., Zafren, K. and Brugger, H., 2022. Accidental Hypothermia: 2021 Update. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health [online], 19 (1), 501.

Ratera, Dr. M. M., 2016. First Aid with Homeopathy. Kander, Germany: Narayana Verlag.

Redcross. CA, 2013. Drowning: A silent killer - Canadian Red Cross [online]. Red Cross Canada.

Schmukler, A. V., 2006. Homeopathy : an A to Z home handbook. Woodbury, Minn.: Llewellyn Publications.

Smith, S., 2007. Medical homoeopathy. West Wickham England: Winter Press.
Stern, A. M. and Thompson, L. A., 2022. What Parents Should Know About Drowning and Dry Drowning. JAMA Pediatrics [online].

Stop Drowning Now, 2018. Facts & Stats About Drowning - Stop Drowning Now [online]. www.stopdrowningnow.org.

Szpilman, D., Bierens, J. J. L. M., Handley, A. J. and Orlowski, J. P., 2012. Drowning. New England Journal of Medicine [online], 366 (22), 2102–2110.

Venema, A. M., Groothoff, J. W. and Bierens, J. J. L. M., 2010. The role of bystanders during rescue and resuscitation of drowning victims. Resuscitation [online], 81 (4), 434–439.

7/3/2022

Things that go boom

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I got hooked on watching videos about how things were made way back when … watching Sesame Street (Anon. 2022). (This video is on crayon making, but it’s a good one!) Then, for a while I enjoyed the Canadian show, “How it’s Made” — here’s a link to their firework segment.

As you can imagine, I enjoyed learning about the firework making process for this article.

What did I learn? Well, not surprisingly, the main ingredient in fireworks is … wait for it … Gunpowder.

Gunpowder originated in China in the 9th century and is made up of three ingredients: saltpeter (potassium nitrate), sulfur and charcoal.

All three of these ingredients are used in both conventional medicine and homeopathy. Saltpeter, known homeopathically as Kalium nitricum; Sulfur, aka Sulphur and charcoal, known as Carbo vegetabilis.

Historically, saltpeter in its crude form (Kali nit) was used in the treatment of asthma (Brown and University of California Libraries 1917) and, today, this ingredient can be found in toothpastes formulated for sensitive teeth. Anecdotally, some people claim this kind of toothpaste has helped their asthma (Graedon and Graedon 2010).

Sulfur, the third most abundant mineral in the human body (Science et al. 2020), is used conventionally in many areas, including: allergic rhinitis, shingles and interstitial cystitis (Mount Sinai 2022).

Charcoal, primarily in the form of “activated charcoal” is used as “a safe, effective, and inexpensive alternative to more invasive treatments for poisoning” (Park 1986). (Note: Before finding homeopathy, I never traveled without activated charcoal and it has proven very useful on many occasions. I still keep it handy, but have not needed it since learning the homeopathic remedies.)

John C. Clarke’s Gunpowder As a War Remedy: A Work of Homeopathy (2016) notes that saltpeter and sulfur both have antiseptic capabilities and that standard black powder (the original gunpowder) can be used on infections, boils, blood poisoning and "other maladies". Additionally, Gunpowder is listed in the homeopathic repertories primarily for: gunshot wounds, wounds that are slow to heal, and anal fistulae.

Knowing the ingredients that make up gunpowder, I’m not surprised people decided to use Gunpowder as a medicine, both crudely and homeopathically.

Gunpowder as a healing agent dates back in literature at least to 1865 with Culpeper’s Last Legacy, in which he wrote, “A little Gun-powder tyed up in a rag, and held in the mouth, that it may touch the aking tooth, instantly easeth the pains of the Teeth” [sic].

John C. Clarke (2016a) talks about soldiers using gunpowder: “taken crude in teaspoonful doses mixed in hot water” and shepherds sprinkling it “on bread and cheese, to cure and prevent wound-poisoning acquired in shearing and handling sheep” as well as using it on the sheep themselves for their ailments.

After experimenting on himself, Clarke used homeopathic Gunpowder in a 3x trituration. The 3x potency* means some of the original substance remains in this version of the remedy but without the taste or smell “and to be in no sort of way explosive” and calls it a “most powerful and efficacious remedy.”

Dr. T. Chatterjee claims Gunpowder in high potencies can cure “obstinate psoriasis” and, in low potency is “an excellent blood purifier” and can be helpful after the extraction of an abscessed tooth.

Gunpowder remains a useful homeopathic remedy today for abscesses, boils and carbuncles and in bold-type, Robin Murphy mentions blood poisoning, also known as sepsis. (Sepsis is a life-threatening condition and needs to be treated immediately by a medical professional.)

Interestingly, historically speaking, the advent of gunpowder on the battlefields was cause for amputations as a result of gunshot wounds and the ensuing sepsis (Stansbury et al. 2007). It appears that gunpowder caused the wounds which, in turn, caused sepsis which, in turn, caused the need for amputation, which, ironically could have been avoided by treating the wound with Gunpowder in the first place and thus avoiding the amputation. A crazy version of not quite “like cures like,” but as "same cures same," which in homeopathy is termed Isopathy.

If you have a pet who has a hard time with the fireworks, try Aconite (rhymes with “fright”) or, put a few drops of Bach Rescue Remedy in their water bowl.

Happy 4th of July and be careful of all those things that go BOOM!

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

* Potency article

Reference list
Anon., 2022. Sesame Street - How Crayons Are Made [online]. www.youtube.com.

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopedia, 2003. Gunpowder summary [online].

Brown, O. H. and University of California Libraries, 1917. Asthma, presenting an exposition of the nonpassive expiration theory [online]. Internet Archive. St. Louis: C. V. Mosby company.

Chatterjee, T., n.d. My Random Notes on some Homeopathic Remedies Reprint. accessed through Radar Opus software.

Clarke, J. C., 2016a. Gunpowder As a War Remedy: A Work of Homeopathy. USA.

Compound Interest, 2015. The Chemistry of Fireworks | Compound Interest [online]. Compound Interest.

Culpeper, N., 1685. Culpeper’s Last Legacy [online]. openlibrary.org.

Graedon, J. and Graedon, T., 2010. ‘Sensitive’ toothpaste may help asthma. Chicago Tribune [online], 15 May 2010.

Mount Sinai, 2022. Sulfur Information | Mount Sinai - New York [online]. Mount Sinai Health System.

Murphy, R., n.d. Repertory, version 3. Accessed through Radar Opus software.

Park, G. D., 1986. Expanded Role of Charcoal Therapy in the Poisoned and Overdosed Patient. Archives of Internal Medicine [online], 146 (5), 969.

Pray, T. J. W., 1849. The Medicinal Properties of Sulphur. The Boston Medical and Surgical Journal [online], 40 (26), 521–523.

Schroyens, F., n.d. Synthesis Adonis. accessed through Radar Opus software.

Science, U. of H. at M. F., Program, H. N. and Program, H. N., 2020. Sulfur. pressbooks.oer.hawaii.edu [online].

Science Channel, 2020. How It’s Made: Fireworks. YouTube [online]. YouTube Video.

Stansbury, L. G., Branstetter, J. G. and Lalliss, S. J., 2007. Amputation in Military Trauma Surgery. The Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care [online], 63 (4), 940–944.

Further references — Homeopathy & Medicine
Casey, S., 2011. Gunpowder! Little-Known Remedy Packs a Wallop Against Wounds - Shirley Casey [online]. Hpathy.

Clarke, J. H., 2016b. Gunpowder. from Materia Medica by John Henry Clarke. Homeopathy. [online]. www.materiamedica.info.

Rxlist.com, 2021. Sulfur: Health Benefits, Uses, Side Effects, Dosage & Interactions [online]. RxList.

The Center for Homeopathy, n.d. The Discovery of the Therapeutic Uses of Gunpowder [online]. Center for Homeopathy.

Further reference list — Fireworks & Gunpowder
Foxhall, K., 2017. gunpowder – The Recipes Project [online]. Hypotheses.com.

Jennifer, 2017. Jennifer Evans [online]. Early Modern Medicine.

** This is a fun subscription service of science experiments for kids.
Mel Science, n.d. Magnesium fireworks [online]. MEL Science.

Science Made Fun, n.d. Fireworks and their Colors [online]. Sciencemadefun.net.

United States Geological Survey, 2020. What minerals produce the colors in fireworks? [online]. www.usgs.gov.

5/21/2022

Her ears were 'yuck'

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Our overseas visitors just left us after a very enjoyable time.

One (dare I say) benefit of staying at the home of an enthusiastic homeopath is that some issues can be addressed in a relaxed fashion. Among other ailments, we addressed a long-standing case of plantar fasciitis; pre-wedding emotions for the mother-of-the-bride were handled nicely with Ignatia; bug bites were avoided and (if we didn’t get the OHM* bug spray on in time) helped; sunburned shoulders were quickly cooled with Similasan’s Burn Recovery*™; jangled nerves following an off-road adventure were met with Aconite (remember! Aconite rhymes with Fright!); Nux vomica came in handy the morning after the late night festivities and a custom Bach Flower Remedy blend for the bride herself proved useful for the ubiquitous pre-nuptial butterflies. Did I mention it was a nice, long visit with plenty of time to get the chance to show off what homeopathy can do!?

The day before the return flight, painful ears as a result of flying was brought up. So, I sent along a tube of Kali mur. When she landed, she texted to say that she did not take the remedy for the first flight and her “ears were yuck. Took them for the second flight and for the first time no need to keep moving jaw to pop ears, also when landing.”

Kali muriaticum is one of Schussler’s 12 original cell salts and is known to help the body clear congestions. (In this case, I gave her the 30c potency, but I’m sure the 6x "cell salt" would have worked just fine, but may have needed to be repeated more frequently.) This remedy is known to be helpful for blocked eustachian tubes, middle ear conditions, swollen glands and when crackling noises are heard when blowing the nose or swallowing. Robin Murphy talks about "snapping, itching, as of a plug in ears". That pretty much sums up the discomfort one can feel in one's ears when flying and Kali mur did the trick for her.

Her husband jokingly asked if I had “anything for the annoying fellow passengers.” Yup. Nux vomica would be worth a try for that because, after all, it’s not necessarily that the fellow passengers are annoying, it’s the fact that one is being annoyed by one's fellow passengers.

Whoo hoo! I love it. Homeopathy works so quickly and so effectively for so very many conditions. I truly wish everybody knew about this amazing medicine!

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

* OHM products are only available to professional homeopaths and their clients.

** I have no affiliation with this company, I just like their products.
I have never used it, but I bet Similasan’s Itch Relief would work well, too!

11/21/2021

Relief

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T-Relief, that is. I was annoyed when the company changed the name of Traumeel to T-Relief. No reason, I guess I just liked the name Traumeel. But today, I think the name T-Relief is far superior.

I am riddled with osteoarthritis. It seems every time I have an x-ray done, I get confirmation as to why this or that place was stiff, sore or uncomfortable. My hands, wrists, knees, hips, ankles, feet — I’m sure there are more, but I haven’t had those black and white internal pictures yet. For the most part, my osteoarthritis is a non-issue. I credit bone broth and homeopathy (of course!) and exercise. If I don’t move regularly, my knees (right knee in particular) and hips get ornery. So, I make sure to walk frequently and for fairly long distances. Conversely, my hands and wrists can get sore if I use them too much. Go figure. (Actually, as I am thinking about it, perhaps that has to do with broken bones, as I broke a bunch of fingers and my wrist. Hmmm. I’ll have to noodle this further. I’ve never really given it any thought before.)

I take absolutely no medicines or painkillers of any kind, aside from homeopathy. It is important to note that I have arthritis in many places, but I need to acknowledge that my arthritis is considered mild to moderate. (If you are suffering with severe osteoarthritis, homeopathy can probably still help, but I would recommend a more targeted homeopathic approach in addition to T-Relief.)

Occasionally, I wake up with sore hands. Today was one of those days. I grabbed T-Relief and put a small amount of the cream on my hands. Within less than 2 minutes, I had relief. True relief. No remnants of stiffness or soreness. None. That’s the moment I decided I prefer the new name of this homeopathic combination. (A few years ago I watched an older woman with pretty advanced arthritis use Traumeel and she said, “it’s like I put on gloves and I have new hands.” Yes! I can now relate to that!

What’s in T-Relief and why does it help? Let’s take a look. Interestingly, this combination uses extremely low potencies: 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 6X and 10X. (For a refresher on homeopathic potencies, click here and here.) With these low potencies, the instructions of using it “2 to 3 times daily, or more often if necessary” make good sense*.

Aconitum napellus or Aconite for short. Numbness and tingling can result when the inflamed joints press on nerves. Raynaud’s disease occurs more frequently in arthritis patients and it, too, can be helped by Aconite. “Red, shining swelling, very sensitive joints” (Murphy 2020) are helped by Aconite as are weak and lax ligaments of joints and sharp joint pains. Hip joints and thighs that feel lame. Trembling can also be associated with osteoarthritis and Aconite can help with this, too.

Arnica montana. T-Relief takes, in my opinion, a scattershot approach (in a good way!) with their Arnica by including it in 1X, 3X and 10X potencies. One of these potencies is most likely going to provide some relief. Arnica is the go-to remedy for over-doing it, as well as experiencing a lame feeling. Limbs which ache as if they had been beaten. Aching as a result of exposure to cold and damp or muscular strain. Cramps, like writer’s cramp. Weakness in the hands, especially when grasping. Arnica is shown here and here and here to have anti-inflammatory effects.

Baptisia tinctoria is also excellent for aching, sore and bruised pains with great weakness. Wandering pains as well as stiffness and pain.

Belladonna is well known for any ailment which is red and hot. Swollen joints, cramping pains. Spasms and shifting pains and the cold limbs which can sometimes result from arthritis.

Bellis perennis, the common daisy, is amazing for aching pains, new or old. (If you are suffering from old injury pains, Bellis perennis may be your new best friend.) Sore joints as well as muscular soreness. A bruised, aching, sore pain. Tight wrists. Hip pains that are worse for exertion.

Calendula officinalis. Calendula has been shown to be anti-inflammatory (and here, too) as well as being useful in repairing damaged tissues and when we get right down to it, what is osteoarthritis? “Osteoarthritis is a joint disease in which the tissues in the joint break down over time” (NIAMS 2019) so it makes sense that Calendula would be helpful in repairing not just superficial wounds, but also the deeper tissues. Like Belladonna, Calendula can also help with cold hands and feet.

Chamomilla The Materia Medica does have some guidance regarding Chamomilla assisting when ankles give way, when there are pains in the hips and loins and numbness and stiffness of hands, particularly when grasping objects. However, I think Chamomilla’s biggest contribution to this combination remedy is its ability to soothe irritability and anger. Not being able to easily do, or do at all, what you want to do, inevitably leads to irritability. If Chamomilla can help soothe a teething toddler, it can help a grumpy old arthritic person!

Echinacea also addresses cold hands and feet as well as aching, weakness and pain in general.

Hamamelis virginiana is another good pain remedy. It is indicated in very sore muscles and joints and it is one of the most highly indicated remedies for varicose veins which have been found to be associated with osteoarthritis (Sisto et al. 1995).

Hypericum perforatum is another excellent nerve remedy as well as a good remedy for when the joints feel bruised. It is also a highly indicated remedy for pain in general, especially radiating or shooting pains.

Millefolium is a pain remedy, not terribly specific to arthritis with the exception of sprains and strains of joints. (Remember, T-Relief is not specifically formulated for arthritis, it is for pain, in general.)

Ruta graveleons is a big remedy for bruised pain, particularly in the bones and shows an affinity for joints, ankles and wrists. Cracking in joints. Knees which give way. Pains in the bones of feet and ankles. Pain and stiffness in wrists and hands.

Symphytum officinale is for bone pain and more importantly, complaints and pains of cartilage. Aching hip pain as well as joint pain, generally. See here and here for research on Comfrey, AKA Symphytum.)

As you can see, T-Relief is a beautiful combination of low potency homeopathic remedies to assist in the relieving of mild to moderate arthritis pain.

P.S. Don’t be surprised if you rub some T-Relief into your hands and find relief in your knee. Once the remedies are in your system (in this case via the skin), you will likely find relief all over, not just where it was applied.

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

* It’s always important to read the directions and use according to manufacturer’s recommendations.

REFERENCE LIST

Arthritis National Research Foundation, 2021. Does arthritis cause numbness or tingling? [online]. Arthritis Research | Arthritis National Research Foundation.

Carmona-Terés, V., Moix-Queraltó, J., Pujol-Ribera, E., Lumillo-Gutiérrez, I., Mas, X., Batlle-Gualda, E., Gobbo-Montoya, M., Jodar-Fernández, L., and Berenguera, A., 2017. Understanding knee osteoarthritis from the patients’ perspective: a qualitative study. BMC musculoskeletal disorders [online], 18 (1), 225.

Grube, B., Grünwald, J., Krug, L., and Staiger, C., 2007. Efficacy of a comfrey root (Symphyti offic. radix) extract ointment in the treatment of patients with painful osteoarthritis of the knee: Results of a double-blind, randomised, bicenter, placebo-controlled trial. Phytomedicine [online], 14 (1), 2–10.

Jurca, T., Józsa, L., Suciu, R., Pallag, A., Marian, E., Bácskay, I., Mureșan, M., Stan, R. L., Cevei, M., Cioară, F., Vicaș, L., and Fehér, P., 2020. Formulation of Topical Dosage Forms Containing Synthetic and Natural Anti-Inflammatory Agents for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Molecules [online], 26 (1).

Marzotto, M., Arruda-Silva, F., and Bellavite, P., 2020. Fibronectin Gene Up-regulation by Arnica montana in Human Macrophages: Validation by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay. Homeopathy [online], 109 (03), 140–145.

Murphy, R., 2006. Nature’s materia medica : 1,400 homeopathic and herbal remedies. 3rd ed. Blackburg, Va.: Lotus Health Institute, November.

Murphy, R., 2020. Nature’s materia medica : 1,400 homeopathic and herbal remedies. 4th edition. Blackburg, Va.: Lotus Health Institute, November.

NIAMS, 2019. NIAMS Health Information on Osteoarthritis [online]. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.

Sisto, T., Reunanen, A., Laurikka, J., Impivaara, O., Heliövaara, M., Knekt, P., and Aromaa, A., 1995. Prevalence and risk factors of varicose veins in lower extremities: mini-Finland health survey. The European Journal of Surgery = Acta Chirurgica [online], 161 (6), 405–414.

Staiger, C., 2012. Comfrey: A Clinical Overview. Phytotherapy Research [online], 26 (10), n/a-n/a.
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10/9/2021

Just going for a Pepcid…

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On a recent road trip, we encountered a man at a stop who got out of his truck and went into his camper and came out saying, “just getting a Pepcid. I ate too much for lunch."

A Pepcid may help him in the moment, but homeopathic Natrum phosphoricum will help him both in the moment as well as in the future.

One of the most beautiful aspects of homeopathy is its ability to help clear a condition. I was suffering from some indigestion issues a couple of years ago and I began using the Banerji Protocol of Nat phos 30c, twice daily (and occasionally more often if I was experiencing discomfort). Soon, I only needed it about once a week and in no time even less frequently than that. I realized the other day that I was still carrying it around in my purse though I have not required it in about a year (maybe longer, actually).

Nat phos can assist with:
• heartburn
• regurgitation of food
• pain when swallowing
• sour belching as well as a sour taste in the mouth
• toots (flatulence), especially when accompanied by sour risings
• sourness in general: sour vomiting, sour stomach, sour stools, sour burps… for big people and little people. I think back to when my kids were little and I wish I had known about Nat phos for those sour spit ups!

I didn't know the man who was going for a Pepcid, but I wish the circumstances had allowed for me to share this marvelous remedy with him.

Julia Coyte, CHom
classicallypractical.com

#wellnessawaits

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