Well, it appears Whole Foods has failed us. Despite receiving a tremendous number of requests in a short amount of time, they have decided at a corporate level to stop carrying single homeopathic remedies.

I am terribly disappointed, but I’m not surprised. (Though I haven’t heard an official word, I have noticed Whole Foods had stopped carrying most of the Bach essences recently, too.)

Ever since Amazon purchased Whole Foods, nothing has been as good as it was. At all. By far. The selection of products, the quality of prepared foods and even the offerings at the butcher counter are not as nice as they once were. It’s a real bummer on many fronts.

So, where to buy your homeopathic remedies locally?

If you have a Sprouts in your town, that is your best bet. Sprouts carries a much larger selection of homeopathic remedies than Whole Foods ever did.

Natural Grocers is another store that carries individual homeopathic remedies.

If you have a local independent herb store, they often have a few individual remedies for sale. If they don’t, ask them to do so!

Other than that, it’s to the internet we turn. (For all examples, I looked at Bryonia alba in both 30c and 200c for pricing.)

If you want the familiar blue and purple tubes, go to Boiron*. Online, Boiron actually offers a much wider range of remedies and potencies. Their 30c is $8.49 and 200c is $11.99. (Note: Boiron tubes contain 80 pellets or 16 doses.) Additionally, they sell some Gemmos (see here for a little information on those.) Bonus! At the time of this writing, Boiron has 10% off Calendula and “On the Go” medicines. I also see “free shipping is automatically applied to all orders.” It’s not clear if this is all orders all the time or just the above mentioned promo.

Washington Homeopathics is an excellent US pharmacy. They can be found at homeopathyworks.com. Their prices are $9.49 for a 30c and $16.29 for 200c. (Note: Washington sells their individual remedies in a 4 dram vial, so 900 pellets, which is a lot of pellets!) They also sell some of their remedies in 1/2 dram kit refills (containing 350 pellets) in nice little glass vials for $4.19 and $5.29 respectively. Additionally, they sell Bach Flower Essences and offer a nice selection of books and even a home-school curriculum. Bonus! Washington Homeopathics always has a few remedies on 20% sale each month.

Hahnemann Labs is another superb US pharmacy. They offer a wide range of remedies and potencies and their glass tubes are $10.95 for 1/2 dram and $12.95 for a 2 dram 30c; 200c is $16.95 and $22.95 respectively. (The number of pellets is different and a little confusing: for up to 99c potencies, 80 pellets in the 1/2 dram and 240 pellets in the 2 dram.) For 100c potencies and up: 1/2 dram = 240 pellets and 2 dram = 730 pellets.) Note: Hahnemann 1/2 dram do not fit in standard kits; they are short, fat tubes. Bonus! I just got off the phone with a nice woman at Hahnemann Labs who confirmed that there is $2 discount on each remedy when ordering on-line.

Olloïs sells nice remedies. They don’t have a huge selection but what they have, I like. Their claim to fame is lactose-free remedies. Their 30c is $8.49 and 200c is $9.49. (Approximately 80 pellets per tube.) Additionally, they offer a free 7-day video course on homeopathy if you want to learn more. Bonus! Free shipping on orders over $29.

On to distributors in the US…

I have written about Tap Roots before in regard to their kits, which I really like. They sell some individual remedies from both Washington and Boiron (similar or identical prices to buying those directly). They also sell Narayani mixes (which appear to be $22.99 each) and some Banerji protocol combination remedies (ex. Aconite 200c + Bryonia 30c for $20.99. As a reminder, Acon/Bry is the Banerji go-to protocol to use at the first sign of feeling unwell.) Additionally, they have cell salts and a nice selection of homeopathic books. Bonus! Tap Roots offers free shipping on $75+ orders.

Vitamin shoppe sells a few Boiron single remedies, also for $8.49 each. 

Vitacost has a few Boiron and Olloïs remedies on offer. Prices seem to vary more than the other sites. 
​
Looking further afield (if you are in the US these are further afield anyway)…

Helios in the UK ships to the US, though don’t expect it to arrive immediately. They have an excellent selection of remedies but their site can be a little cumbersome. If you like the self-dispensing tubes (similar to Boiron), choose: “Pills (No 6) (sucrose) in a 4g dispenser)”. Generally speaking, it appears these tubes run £5.85. They offer a huge range of potencies and a really nice selection of books and other products. Additionally, when I was in the UK at Christmas I discovered A. Vogel’s Echinacea Bioforce tablets that you might want to consider. (Not homeopathic, but good stuff!)

Ainsworths is another UK homeopathic pharmacy. One feature I like about Ainsworths is you can build your own combo remedy. They, too, have a huge selection of remedies offered in a selection of pellets/tablets. 7g vial is the closest to the size we’re used to in the US. Though, their 1g vial (with the cute little cork stopper) is good for travel or, if you are in need of a “specialty” remedy. A 7g vial of a 30c or 200c is £7.50. I recently purchased “tablets” and that has been a nice change from the little pellets, though it doesn’t feel like the quantity will go very far.

Weleda in the UK sells a nice “counter range” of 30c remedies for £7.65. Note: these bottles are not pocket friendly tubes. I have purchased these in the UK but I have not tried ordering from the US.

If you feel so inclined, Amazon also sells some remedies. However, proceed with caution as they sell some brands which are unknown to me and I have heard some not great things from some of the “off-brand” remedies they have on offer.

This is a short list of the pharmacies and distributors I know to be of good quality. I have no affiliation with any of these companies. I’m sure there are more, but this should be a good start.

So, not quite as easy as picking up a remedy while you’re buying your groceries, but with a little planning, you won’t be disappointed with purchasing remedies on-line.


Julia Coyte, CHom


Classically Practical homeopath
#wellnessawaits

* As I was finishing up this article, I received an email from Boiron letting practitioners know where their clients can continue to purchase Boiron single remedies. Here is the image shown at the bottom of that email:
​

I noticed an interesting thing after I posted my last article … An increase in people finding my site by searching for the term “rage.”

Whether you are raging at governmental mask mandates or raging at fellow citizens who refuse to follow the governmental mask mandates, it is clear to me that anger and rage are alive and well in 2022.

Does anger follow chronic illness or does anger contribute to chronic illness? Is the grumpy old man with a bad back grumpy because he has a bad back or does he have a bad back because he’s grumpy?

Carson (et al. 2007) suggests patients who have more difficulty expressing emotions may experience higher pain and anger. Burns (et al. 2012) suggests suppression of anger may be linked to heightened pain.

Suppressed anger seems to be the biggest problem. Where does all that energy go if it doesn’t have an outlet? There is a word for this in Korean: Hwabyung: a culture-related anger syndrome known to occur due to continued repression of anger. Suh (et al. 2021) says this phenomenon affects patients’ physical, psychological and social functions. Mills (and Dimsdale 1993) found men who routinely suppressed their anger had increased beta-adrenergic receptor sensitivity. These receptors play an important role in regulation of heart function (Wallukat 2002).

Homeopathy takes anger very seriously. Frederik Schroyens Synthesis (2012) repertory lists hundreds of rubrics in regard to anger, for example: Mind, anger, morning; evening; causeless; easily angered; from noise; throwing things in anger; when touched; weeping from anger… the list goes on.

Let’s take a look at the top 5 anger remedies (general anger, not suppressed or differentiated in any way. Though, suppressed anger is really fascinating and is worth a look in the future!)

Bryonia: Homeopathic Bryonia is known as “the grumpy bear” remedy and this aspect is very clear when talking about how Bryonia relates to anger. Headaches from anger. Anger resulting from pains. Not wanting to talk when angry. Exceedingly irritable. There can be chilliness with the anger. A red face when angry.

Chamomilla: Homeopathic Chamomilla is often indicated in children with anger — or children who become angry and irritable due to their physical situation — think teething. Those who have difficulty breathing after their anger or suffer convulsions after anger. Anger associated with PMS/menses. Those easily angered. A red face when angry. Temper tantrums. Vomiting after anger. A person needing Chamomilla may get hot and sweaty with their anger.

Hepar sulph: Homeopathic Hepar sulph is highly indicated in violent anger. Sensitive to noise and odors. Irritable and angry. Easily angered and abusive. Anger “at the least trifle” — oversensitive mind. Peevish. 

Lachesis: Homeopathic Lachesis is highly indicated in anger associated with jealousy. Violent anger. Anger from disappointed love. The mingling of melancholy/sadness and anger. In children, they awaken angry or suffer anger from dentition or jealousy and during sleep.

Nux vomica: Homeopathic Nux vomica is one of the first remedies I think of for anger. Nux vomica is highly indicated in liver issues and where is anger processed? According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the liver (Suttie 2022; Traditional Chinese Medicine World Foundation 2021; Cutler 2011). Convulsions following anger. Angry dreams. Anger associated with anxiety. Anger from business failures or work related issues. Easily angered. Angry in the morning, upon waking. Anger at little things. Violent anger. A red face when angry. Vomiting after anger.

Anger vs Rage: what is the difference? According to Psychologydictionary.org, rage occurs when anger cannot be controlled.

Emotional Healing with Homeopathy (Chappell 2003, p. 126) differentiates homeopathic remedies for rage thusly:

Chamomilla: with contrary behavior, great irritability, impossible to meet demands, worse evening.

Nux vomica: with great irritability, impatience, frustration, and gastric upsets. Road rage.

Back to the original thought of why there may be an increase of people who may be angry at this point in history: anger at mandates and anger at those who won’t comply with said mandates. Homeopathic Causticum, though very highly indicated in anger, is not in the top 5 remedies for anger, but is definitely worth a mention here.

Causticum: inclined to fits of anger with scolding. Great anger over injustices toward himself or others. Stammering on account of anger. Angry against the system. Sensitive and inclined to anger, while the nerves are much affected.

Now, take some deep breaths and a dose of whichever remedy suits your symptoms best and go forth in peace.

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath


#wellnessawaits

The world of homeopathy suffered an enormous, irreplaceable loss this week. 

If you have read any of my articles before, then you have unwittingly met Dr. Robin Murphy. I cite him regularly. Dr. Murphy is the man who translated all of the old homeopathy books into every day words and meanings. He brought clarity to all of us homeopaths in explaining the nuances of this artful, intricate science.

I have listened to countless hours of his old lectures. My notes are copious as he so clearly said what needed to be understood. I never met Dr. Murphy nor spoken to him directly, but he did answer one of my questions in his forum (and that one short answer of his gave more clarity and depth to not just the remedy in question, but to homeopathy in general). The bookshelf where I work is lined with 10 sticky notes, 9 of them with Dr. Murphy's words to keep me on track with what is important in taking a homeopathic case.

This fall I enrolled in a year-long class with Dr. Murphy. The 3 live classes we had were fantastic and left me wanting much more. Alas. The classes were temporarily cancelled a couple of weeks ago when he became ill, to give him the time he needed to recover. Last I heard, on Sunday, he was recovering slowly but surely and by Wednesday night the homeopathic chats were filled with the sad news. 

Lots of things come to mind for me with the passing of Dr. Murphy. These same sorts of thoughts popped up last year (when another world-renowned homeopath) Dr. Pratip Banerji died. I'm sure I wasn't the only homeopath who thought, “why didn’t they…?” I’m sure they did. As Dr. Banerji’s father Prasanta Banerji is known to have said, (and, I paraphrase), “Homeopathy can cure all conditions, but homeopathy can’t cure all conditions in all people.”

When I pulled Dr. Murphy’s book off the shelf for guidance for this article on grief, it magically opened to Ignatia. The book knew exactly where I wanted to go. Unlike most of the rest of the book, Ignatia is not all highlighted and marked up. I hadn’t tackled Ignatia from Dr. Murphy’s point of view yet. I have written about Ignatia before (PTSD, Homeopathy can make a heavy world lighter, Accidents, and Dystopia). Ignatia is a very powerful homeopathic remedy for emotions and there aren’t many emotions bigger, or more common, than grief and sadness. 

Dr. Murphy’s Keynote Materia Medica (Murphy 2015, pp 328-329) are the transcribed seminar notes on homeopathic remedies — with lots of back and forth between “RM” and “Student.” He was incredibly generous with his knowledge. He wanted to make homeopathy accessible to people, and he did!

His commentary on Ignatia begins: “Most of you know Ignatia so we won’t spend much time on it. This is the most often prescribed remedy if someone has an acute sudden shock and grief. Hysteria from grief, hysteria in homeopathy means a loss of emotional control: laughing, crying, weeping, irritability, moody, etc. It's for shock from frights, shock from bad news and it's also a black type remedy for shock from disappointments.” There you have it. Now you know why Dr. Murphy is my go-to guy to learn the remedies. He read through all the many, many volumes of the old literature and summed it all up for us in a nice, tidy package. (Trust me, there are no other books that give this information so succinctly.)

He goes on to explain, "the disappointment was a shock to the system and the person has become sleepless, irritable, angry ever since then. A dose of Ignatia 200c will usually neutralize disappointments.”

“… they’re sobbing and sighing and have catching respiration. The sighing is a keynote of Ignatia… They have a lump in the throat, and a tight feeling, and all the acute symptoms of grief, or signs of suppressed grief. They can also have an all-gone feeling in the chest or the stomach since a grief, they have an empty feeling."

“Crying from grief with the inability to stop, uncontrolled crying spells with choking and spasmodic crying.… it’s like a ratching [sic] that’s tearing them apart inside, agony, really acute emotional agony and pain from emotional loss. That’s Ignatia.”

I dare say, that you, too, now have a good idea of the understanding of homeopathic Ignatia.

Like all homeopathic remedies, there is more to it than this. There are deeper levels and further physical manifestations but for today’s purpose, after the homeopathic community lost an absolute giant, that’s all that needs to be said for Ignatia.

Thank you Dr. Murphy for your generosity in sharing your vast knowledge. You will be sorely missed by many.



Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath


#wellnessawaits

Before I started learning homeopathy, I thought a cough was a cough. Well, I guess I knew croup* had a different sound (a bark)… but I never thought about all the many different kinds of cough: wet coughs, dry coughs, productive coughs, croaking cough, hacking cough (I guess I had heard of that one, too), rattling coughs. Coughs that wake you from sleep, coughs that keep you from falling to sleep. Coughs that are worse when your standing; coughs that are worse when you’re lying down. Coughs that are worse from eating and coughs that are better from eating. Coughs that are better from drinking and coughs that are worse from drinking. Explosive coughs. Exhausting coughs. The list goes on! Robin Murphy's Repertory, version 3 lists 2,672 entries under "cough."

As usual in homeopathy, the closer you can match the specifics of the cough to the remedy, the more likely the remedy is to work its magic.

Dr. Saptarshi Banerjea does a nice job mimicking the various coughs in his 4-1/2 minute video (Banerjea 2017) and is well worth a listen to learn the difference between these cough sounds.

If you have a non-specific cough and are not sure where to start, Boiron’s Chestal Cold & Cough** nicely addresses a variety of coughs. Below is an incomplete overview of these remedies and the primary coughs they address. 

Dulcamera: particularly good for a cough made worse by damp, cold air and coughs worse following exertion. Coughs that leave you hoarse. A forcible, violent, hard cough.

Ferrum phos: Dry coughs. Coughs during fever. Coughs with a runny nose. Coughs with irritation in the chest or trachea (windpipe). Tickling coughs. Coughs with blood streaked expectoration (the coughing up of phlegm). 

Hydrastis canadensis: A cough which is better when lying down. A rattling cough. An incessant cough, day and night. Coughs with a bursting headache pain.

Kali bich: (“Bich” rhymes with “thick” and that’s a handy thing to remember with this remedy.) Back pain or pain in the sternum (breastbone) when coughing. A croupy* cough. A cough from eating. A hoarse cough (as opposed to hoarseness caused by coughing mentioned above, Dulcamera). A cough when you wake up in the morning. Cough with mucus in the chest or larynx (voice box) or a cough with pain in the larynx. Coughs which are better for expectoration.

Nux vomica: Coughs with pain in the abdomen or stomach (either during or following the cough); or, a painful cough, in general. Cough with breathing difficulty. Coughs made worse by cold air or by being cold. Coughs with catarrh (excessive mucus). A distressing cough. A dry cough during a fever (more specific than Ferrum phos’ cough during fever). Coughs occuring after midnight. A cough from eating (like Kali-bich above). An irritable cough. Paroxysmal (sudden, periodical) coughs, especially while still in bed in the morning. Coughs during teething. 

*Croup 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).

Boiron's Chestal Cough and Cold is a good place to start. If you need further help kicking a cough, book an acute appointment and we'll see if we can get you some relief.


Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath


#wellnessawaits


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

REFERENCES

Allaert, F.-A., Villet, S., Vincent, S., and Sauve, L., 2018. Observational study on the dispensing of cough syrups to children with acute cough by community pharmacists in France. Minerva Pediatrics [online], 70 (2). 

Banerjea, Dr. S., 2017. Listen the Cough Sounds & Diagnose the Remedy (Part 1) [online]. www.youtube.com. 

Murphy, Robin, ​Repertory Version 3, accessed through RadarOpus 2.2.16. 

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

Voß, H., Michalsen, A., and Brünjes, R., 2018. Efficacy and tolerability of a complex homeopathic drug in children suffering from dry cough-A double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial. Drug Research [online], 68 (08), 444–449.

Zanasi, A., Cazzato, S., Mazzolini, M., Ierna, C. M. S., Mastroroberto, M., Nardi, E., and Morselli-Labate, A. M., 2015. Does additional antimicrobial treatment have a better effect on URTI cough resolution than homeopathic symptomatic therapy alone? A real-life preliminary observational study in a pediatric population. Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine [online], 10 (1), 25. 

Zanasi, A., Mazzolini, M., Tursi, F., Morselli-Labate, A. M., Paccapelo, A., and Lecchi, M., 2014. Homeopathic medicine for acute cough in upper respiratory tract infections and acute bronchitis: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Pulmonary Pharmacology & Therapeutics [online], 27 (1), 102–108.

Dystopian fiction used to be one of my favorite genres… until 2020 happened and we found ourselves living in an actual dystopia! A few weeks ago, I decided it was time to return to normal and re-visit this type of fiction. 

One Second After by William R. Forstchen came to me via an enthusiastic recommendation and it turned out to be a well-written, plausible scenario of the after effects of an EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) being dropped on the United States. The result? All electronics ceased functioning: no phones, no running water, no refrigeration, no cars. Supply lines stopped. Stores looted and emptied in the first days. Medical help was dependent on the knowledge of the local doctors, nurses and veterinarians and whatever supplies they happened to have on hand.

You know what was missing in this scenario? Somebody with some homeopathic knowledge! Homeopathy is an essential skill to have if you are living off the grid, whether by choice … or through a fictional EMP being dropped.

The main character got a life-threatening infection after cutting his hand.  A number of remedies come to mind for a really bad infection*: Calendula (Parente et al. 2012; Givol et al. 2019; Preethi and Kuttan 2009), Gunpowder (Casey 2011) or, the  Banerji protocol of Hypericum 200c mixed with Arsenicum album 200c (Banerji and Banerji 2013). 

*This article is based on a fictional situation. If you find yourself in any of these situations in real life, seek medical attention immediately!

His daughter had Type 1 diabetes (NOT a good thing to have when the supply lines are cut and there is no more insulin to be found) and though homeopathy may help control some of the symptoms, it isn’t going to do much to help that situation. There are certainly medical conditions for which pharmaceutical drugs are absolutely necessary to keep people alive. But, this dystopian novel made me think about all the people dependent on pharmaceutical meds for non-life-threatening conditions. You don’t want to be dependent on these things when this fictional EMP is dropped (or even if there is a breakdown of the supply chain)!

The coming to grips with their new reality? Ignatia could certainly help with that. It is so good at addressing emotional shocks and for those suffering ill effects from hearing bad news or from fright and "disorders of the mind, particularly if actuated by grief, sadness, hopelessness, hysterical variableness, fantastic illusions" (Murphy 2006, p. 973).

The diarrhea that spread through town? Arsenicum album (Rafferty and Kayne 1994), Veratrum album (Banerji and Banerji 2013) or Camphor ​(Banerji and Banerji 2013; Leary 1997; Perko 2005). [An interesting read on the use of homeopathy in cholera epidemics.]

The psychiatric patients in town who no longer had their meds… Homeopathy has a good track record for helping mental and emotional conditions of all sorts and certainly could have helped to keep some of these conditions at bay, but these are better suited to an individualized classical homeopathic remedy. (Check out Homeopathy and Mental Health Care by C. K. Johannes for a place to start.)

Another beautiful aspect of homeopathy is it doesn’t require much of a supply chain. It is completely possible to make your own homeopathic remedies as long as you have either the raw materials or the homeopathic remedy itself. If you have blank pellets, you can create more pellets as needed, or, you can make essentially limitless liquid remedies from a couple of pellets and treat the whole town at once!

What else could these people have used? A good First Aid Kit** and the knowledge of how to use it.  When your local hospitals and clinics are no longer of any use to you, a medium-sized accident can leave you in a world of hurt. Remember, in this fictional account, there was no electricity, no internet, no phones to help you figure out how to use your first aid kit. It does you no good to have something downloaded on your now defunct tablet; you need to have good, old-fashioned books to guide you, like US Army First Aid Manual or Herbal medic : a green beret’s guide to emergency medical preparedness and natural first aid.

I know some people find these catastrophic topics disturbing. I like the problem solving that comes along with reading these kinds of books; to think about the worst case scenario and figure out ways to tackle the problems — being prepared (in my mind, at least) brings me a sense of calm.

I’m happy to have this genre back in my life. I wonder what the next dystopian scenario coming my way will be? Regardless of what it is, I bet homeopathy would be a useful skill to have!


Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

** I have no affiliation with this company or any products listed here, I just like their products.

REFERENCES

Anon., 2020. Instructions For Turning Pills Into Liquid Remedies [online]. Homeopathy Plus. 

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.
‌
Casey, S., 2011. Gunpowder! Little-Known Remedy Packs a Wallop Against Wounds - Shirley Casey [online]. Hpathy. 

Coyte, J., 2021. Homeopathic potency briefly explained [online]. CLASSICALLYPRACTICAL.COM. 

Givol, O., Kornhaber, R., Visentin, D., Cleary, M., Haik, J., and Harats, M., 2019. A systematic review of Calendula officinalis extract for wound healing. Wound Repair and Regeneration [online], 27 (5), 548–561.

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.

Johannes, C. K., 2010. Homeopathy and Mental Health Care. The Netherlands: Homeolinks Publishers.

Leary, B., 1997. The homoepathic management of cholera in the nineteenty century with special reference to the epidemic in London, 1854. Medizin, Gesellschaft, Und Geschichte: Jahrbuch Des Instituts Fur Geschichte Der Medizin Der Robert Bosch Stiftung [online], 16, 125–144.
‌
Murphy, R., 2006. Nature’s materia medica : 1,400 homeopathic and herbal remedies. Blackburg, Va.: Lotus Health Institute, November.

Parente, L. M. L., Lino Júnior, R. de S., Tresvenzol, L. M. F., Vinaud, M. C., de Paula, J. R., and Paulo, N. M., 2012. Wound Healing and Anti-Inflammatory Effect in Animal Models of Calendula officinalis L. Growing in Brazil [online]. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 

Perko, S. J., 2005. The homeopathic treatment of influenza : surviving influenza epidemics and pandemics past, present and future with homeopathy. San Antonio, Tx: Benchmark Homeopathic Publications.

Preethi, K. C. and Kuttan, R., 2009. Wound healing activity of flower extract of Calendula offlcinalis. Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology[online], 20 (1).

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.
‌

FIRST AID BOOKS

Coffman, S., 2021. Herbal medic : a green beret’s guide to emergency medical preparedness and natural first aid. North Adams, Ma: Storey Publishing.
‌
Pareek, R. S. and Pareek, A., 2012. Homeopathy for Acutes and Emergencies. Kandern, Germany: Narayana Publishers.

Ratera, Dr. M. M., 2016. First Aid with Homeopathy.

Schmukler, A. V., 2006. Homeopathy : an A to Z home handbook. Woodbury, Minn.: Llewellyn Publications.
​
United States. Department Of The Army, 2009. U.S. Army first aid manual. New York: Skyhorse Pub.

Wiseman, J. and Britain., G., 2014. SAS survival handbook : the ultimate guide to surviving anywhere. New York: William Morrow, An Imprint Of Harpercollins Publishers.
‌

I probably should have had braces “back in the day” but after watching 2 of my kids suffer these things, I’m glad I didn’t. Their mouth issues are not cosmetic, though, or we wouldn’t have gone this route. Thing One suffered terrible headaches and ringing in the ear that we suspect was a result of the braces. We swapped orthodontists for Thing Three and this ortho has a different approach — so far, so good. 

Regardless of the reason someone has a mouth full of metal, the results can understandably be quite uncomfortable.

Sore, aching mouth: Like most dental work, homeopathic Arnica is a good bet for sore, aching muscles from having to hold your jaw open for the work to be done and for the actual moving of the teeth and also for any bruising that may occur. A dose of Arnica prior to the appointment and as soon as practicable following the appointment should help. If the pain persists, and the Arnica is helping, keep taking if and when the pain returns.

If Arnica doesn’t help, try Ruta.

Cuts: those painful little cuts from the wires are best met with Staphysagria or Calendula. Homeopathic Staphysagria has a good history for “cutting” pains as well as pains caused by actual cuts. Additionally, Staphysagria is a terrific remedy for humiliation and shame — perhaps as a result of name calling. I’m not sure kids today face the ridicule of old for having a mouth full of metal and that’s a good thing. But, if they do suffer some mental and emotional problems as a result of having braces, that may make Staphysagria an even better choice.

Calendula has the reputation of being “the great herbal anti-septic” (see studies below) and is very useful for cuts and lacerations, especially those that hurt more than they “should” and it is very helpful in removing the local pain and suffering.

Calendula in its herbal form can be very helpful for mouth sores, too. Here are couple of suggestions: Healthy Gums Anti-gingivitis Rinse is made with Calendula and other ingredients and is very soothing for a sore mouth**.  Celebration Herbals** makes a nice tea whose only ingredient is Calendula officinalis.

Toothache: Homeopathic Chamomilla is one of the best remedies for teething children. Think of the pain of toddlers cutting teeth and the accompanying grumpiness and irritability. Teenagers (and their family members!) suffering from the pain (and grumpiness!) of braces, especially right after an adjustment will appreciate this remedy. 

Anxiety before appointments: Homeopathic Gelsemium has a longstanding reputation to assist in anticipatory anxiety. A dose of Gelsemium 6c prior to the appointment should help. 

Nerve pain: homeopathic Hypericum for shooting/nerve pain following adjustments or during the use of palatal expanders.

Keep on smilin’ and if you need more tailored assistance for the pain of braces, contact me here.


Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath


#wellnessawaits

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

STUDIES related to this article:

Calendula:
Jahdi, F., Khabbaz, A. H., Kashian, M., Taghizadeh, M., and Haghani, H., 2018. The impact of calendula ointment on cesarean wound healing: A randomized controlled clinical trial. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care [online], 7 (5), 893–897. 

Khairnar, M., Pawar, B., Marawar, P., and Mani, A., 2013. Evaluation of Calendula officinalis as an anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis agent. Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology, 17 (6), 741.

Nicolaus, C., Junghanns, S., Hartmann, A., Murillo, R., Ganzera, M., and Merfort, I., 2017. In vitro studies to evaluate the wound healing properties of Calendula officinalis extracts. Journal of Ethnopharmacology [online], 196, 94–103. 

Parente, L. M. L., Lino Júnior, R. de S., Tresvenzol, L. M. F., Vinaud, M. C., de Paula, J. R., and Paulo, N. M., 2012. Wound Healing and Anti-Inflammatory Effect in Animal Models of Calendula officinalis L. Growing in Brazil [online]. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 

Preethi, K. C. and Kuttan, R., 2009. Wound healing activity of flower extract of Calendula officinalis. Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology, 20 (1).

Gelsemium:
Bellavite, P., Bonafini, C., and Marzotto, M., 2018. Experimental neuropharmacology of Gelsemium sempervirens: Recent advances and debated issues. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine [online], 9 (1), 69–74. 

Bellavite, P., Magnani, P., Zanolin, E., and Conforti, A., 2011. Homeopathic Doses of Gelsemium sempervirens Improve the Behavior of Mice in Response to Novel Environments. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine: eCAM [online], 2011, 362517. 

Magnani, P., Conforti, A., Zanolin, E., Marzotto, M., and Bellavite, P., 2010. Dose-effect study of Gelsemium sempervirens in high dilutions on anxiety-related responses in mice. Psychopharmacology [online], 210 (4), 533–545. 

Marzotto, M., Olioso, D., Brizzi, M., Tononi, P., Cristofoletti, M., and Bellavite, P., 2014. Extreme sensitivity of gene expression in human SH-SY5Y neurocytes to ultra-low doses of Gelsemium sempervirens. BMC complementary and alternative medicine [online], 14, 104.   

Olioso, D., Marzotto, M., Moratti, E., Brizzi, M., and Bellavite, P., 2014. Effects of Gelsemium sempervirens L. on pathway-focused gene expression profiling in neuronal cells. Journal of Ethnopharmacology [online], 153 (2), 535–539.

Venard, C., Boujedaini, N., Mensah-Nyagan, A. G., and Patte-Mensah, C., 2011. Comparative Analysis of Gelsemine and Gelsemium sempervirens Activity on Neurosteroid Allopregnanolone Formation in the Spinal Cord and Limbic System. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine: eCAM [online], 2011, 407617. 

I was sitting out on the patio this afternoon for what is most likely the last beautiful 80 degree day of the year, when a yellow thing with a stinger started nosing around my sandaled foot.

Long ago I learned to not hit a bee or a wasp with my negative waves, so I shooed it away gently and turned my chair the other direction and promptly forgot about it.

Until the little !?@*! swooped in the gap in my sandal and stung me under my second toe! Bam! Out of the blue! No provocation of any kind! I flew out of my seat. I dropped my computer to the ground and retreated inside, cursing and limping and wondering what the heck just happened!

Luckily for me, just inside that door is where I keep my stash of homeopathic remedies. I immediately grabbed Ledum palustre 30c and threw some pellets under my tongue. I took a dose, waited for the pain to subside (which it did quite quickly), and then I started writing this article. About 15-20 minutes later, my toe started to throb and ache again, so I repeated the remedy and will continue to do so if and when the pain returns.

Why 30c and not another potency? To be completely honest, the 30c is the first thing my hand touched and I didn’t want to take the time to think about it. I just wanted the pain gone. Had I given it any thought, I probably would have chosen 200c.

Homeopathic Ledum is the first remedy to think of for stings and bites and puncture wounds of any kind.

Other than sneaky wasp attacks, where else would we see the usefulness of a homeopathic remedy for puncture wounds? … … … (I’ll wait while you fill in the blank.) … … … Yes! You’ve got it. Not that I am trying to get noticed by the Internet censors, but Ledum is the first remedy to consider following a puncture wound that stems from the pointy end of a plastic vial filled with liquid. After all, an injection site is, in simple terms, a puncture wound. 

If one is suffering general ill effects following a puncture wound from the hands of a trained professional, Ledum should be the first thing you try. If other issues arise following that injectable fluid, a more specific homeopathic remedy should be given. For this, I suggest you work with a professional homeopath.

More pokey things that Ledum can help: bites from any kind of being (dogs, rodents, mosquitoes; ticks; bedbugs); goat’s head prickers (oh, these are nasty little things!); wounds from fixing a barbed wire fence or being poked by a branch. Ledum doesn’t care how the puncture wound got there, it just wants to help you feel better.

And, don’t forget your pets — they, too, can benefit from Ledum following a flea infestation.

Another time Ledum can come in handy is if a needle biopsy is in order. In this situation, take Ledum 200c just before the puncture and again as soon as possible afterward. 

Should you find you are suffering an allergic reaction from a bee sting and Ledum is not doing the job, try Apis mellifica for bites/stings that swell up, are hot and resemble hives.

If the Ledum fails to act after acting well, some remedies that might follow well and are worth a try: Hypericum, Apis ​and Staphysagria.

If itching is part of this experience, Arsenicum album may help.

Remember homeopathic Ledum for those sneaky wasp attacks and any other unexpected (or even expected) puncture wounds.


Julia Coyte, CHom
​classicallypractical.com
#wellnessawaits

Who in their right mind would be thankful for a yeast infection? The person who discovered the life changing possibilities of homeopathy, that’s who!

(Too much information, I know, but this is how the story goes.)

I used to suffer these ridiculous symptoms not infrequently and after many years of not suffering from anything of the sort, I had a yeast infection that would not go away. I had the cleanest diet of my life at that time (I was eating the Paleo Autoimmune diet). I had completely removed any source of sugar (including all fruit and even balsamic vinegar!) and was basically eating meat and low carb vegetables. Still, this yeast infection would not budge. I had a prescription of Diflucan from my gynecologist, but was hesitant to take it after reading the side effects despite having used it “successfully” many times before. I knew there had to be another way through this problem.

I began searching the internet for a natural answer. That’s when I found Joette Calabrese’s article and I learned at that moment that perimenopause was a likely culprit.

I looked around for a little more information. This sounded too good to be true. None of the other "natural" yeast infection cures helped at all.

I purchased a tube of Boiron’s Mercurius solubilis 200c. Actually, I purchased a couple of tubes of Merc sol, because her article did say it may take 3-5 months to fix this problem.

I was hesitant. I don’t know why I was hesitant. I had successfully used homeopathy to fix my migraines a few years prior. Maybe the hesitancy was because this was something I was doing on my own — and not under the guidance of my MD/homeopath. 

I eventually, hesitantly, took the Merc sol.

I think it was the next day that all the symptoms were gone. I kept waiting for the symptoms to return. They never did. I never needed that second tube of Merc sol. Heck, I never even needed a second dose of the Merc sol. It has now been years, and I still haven't required a second dose.

That was in the month of September of 2015. I followed Joette’s blogs for a few more months to see what she was all about. By January, I had learned all I could learn from her blogs and I then booked an appointment with her to address my other long-standing, frustrating conditions.

Within 2 weeks of following the Banerji protocols she suggested, I felt so much better that I enrolled in my first of Joette’s webinars. By April, just 4 months later, I was completely hooked on the idea of homeopathy and began investigating a formal education in this new discovery of mine. My life was now set to take a completely different track than I had ever possibly imagined. By the 1 year anniversary of this glorious yeast infection, I had devoured everything Joette had to offer and was officially enrolled in Homeopathy School International, which was at that time, the only fully accredited US on-line program available. 

I didn’t set out to become a homeopath. I only wanted to learn homeopathy — to know homeopathy as a “grand hobby” as Joette once termed it. But, because to get to the next level of classes I had to take the tests, I eventually earned my certification. Once that ended, I still wanted to learn more and that’s when I happened upon CHE/Middlesex University program and I have now earned my BSc in Homeopathy. (By this time, I knew I was absolutely on the right path. I now wanted to be the homeopath I had become.) Because I still want to learn more, I am once again enrolled in HSI, this time for the Advanced Clinical Studies.

I am so immensely grateful to Joette Calabrese (and that darned yeast infection!) and all she has taught me. My life now is nothing that I had ever dreamed it would be. Helping people to feel better is an honor and a privilege and one of the most rewarding things imaginable and I am thankful daily for the wonders of this amazing medicine known as homeopathy.

Last year, I dropped Rufus off for boarding when we went out of town. I was informed he needed a bunch of immunizations to be there, even if only to get groomed. 

Ruf does not love riding in the car and at his size, he’s not easy to get into the car when he’s not a willing participant. The groomer/boarder is close enough that I walk him there. I opted to use their mobile vet to do what they needed to do.

He was perfectly healthy when I dropped him off. He was sick as a dog when I picked him up. Kennel cough (also known as Bordatella, the vaccine he was required to get so he didn’t catch Kennel cough) was the diagnosis.

What to do? Homeopathy of course!

I turned to my handy dandy Homeopathy to the Rescue for Dogs from Pet Remedy Charts.*

“Kennel Cough: Drosera 30c if the cough is dry, spasmodic and there is retching. Dose: 3-4 times daily for 5-7 days or until improved.”

Drosera and lots of bone broth was the ticket and after a few days I was happy to hear him out in the yard with enough energy to bark at the world. 

Back when we used to have chickens, I used their Homeopathy to the Rescue for Chickens. Fortunately, the chicken only had diarrhea and it was easily addressed by giving her some Arsenicum album (dissolved in some bone broth soaked rice). A few doses and everything firmed right up again. My chicken chart addresses 31 different ailments including Abscesses, Aggression, Bumblefoot, Animal Bites, Respiratory Infections/Allergies and also includes Dosing Guidelines.

These charts are concise and easy to use and nicely laminated, too so I expect them to be around for quite a while.

Since I first found this company, they have added a bunch of new charts, including anatomy and for some of the creatures they have included herbs, flower remedies and acupressure. Charts available for dogs, cats, birds, horses, chickens, pet rats and humans.

Always helpful to have a handy-dandy chart ready to go for whatever comes up.


Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical Homeopathy 


#wellnessawaits. #homeopathycanhelp

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