Ruminating on Remedies, My thoughts on homeopathy

4/29/2023

The Buzz on Apis

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A quick and positive response to homeopathy can often open the door for people to discover further benefits of this marvelous modality.

Last fall, we were at a gathering and somebody mentioned having been stung by a bee the day before. She had a hard, hot, red, painful lump on her leg, just above the knee.

Well, I always have homeopathic remedies with me, so I offered a dose of Apis mellifica. Not long after, the site was a little softer and a little less painful. We repeated the Apis. She was pleased.

I sent her away with the tube of Apis. A few days later I heard from her that she had been stung again. “Those little bee pellets of yours really work. I’m impressed! The bees have been vicious and I’m keeping this nearby.”

Is Apis the only remedy for a bee sting? Nope. For further information on what other homeopathic remedies may help if you’ve been stung or bitten: Summer Fun #3: Flying Things, Wasp Attack 1 & 2.

Apis mellifica is a homeopathic remedy made from a crushed honeybee and processed or, potentized into being a medicine which can help bee stings. Technically, in this instance, Apis would be considered Isopathy, not homeopathy. Homeopathy is “like cures like” and Isopathy is “same cures same.” Click HERE for more information.

Isopathy, from the Greek, “equal or same suffering.” Isopathic remedies are made from the actual substance which is causing the allergic reaction or illness.

We saw the example of Apis for the relief from the physical complaints of a bee sting, other possible isopathic uses would be potentized (for the sake of this discussion, potentize will refer to turning a substance into a homeopathic remedy) substances to help relieve allergies, (e.g. potentized cat hair to lessen the effects of cat hair on a person allergic to cat hair). The Journal of Asthma has a study evaluating isopathic treatment of allergic mice.

For further basic information on Isopathy, click here.

Where else does the potentized honeybee (the homeopathic remedy Apis mellifica) come in handy?

The quick way of remembering how Apis can help is to think about what happens when one is stung by a bee: swelling, fluid-filled, hot (sensation as well as feeling worse from hot), burning pain, stinging pain and redness.
Back to homeopathy (as opposed to isopathy)… when you have a condition resulting in one or more of those symptoms, Apis mellifica may be helpful. For example:

the stinging pain of a bladder infection or UTI (see also: When It Hurts to Go)
edema, swelling, general puffiness
allergic reactions, in general
arthritis
stings of insects, jellyfish, etc.
eyes: burning pain, inflammation, redness, stinging pain, swelling of the eyelids
hives
fever blisters
swelling feet or the sensation of the tips of toes swelling

One other very important thing that may possibly happen when one is stung by a bee is an anaphylactic reaction, resulting in swelling of the airway, tongue or throat, causing trouble breathing. If you find yourself in this position, get to the hospital immediately and administer Apis frequently while waiting for the ambulance or while on the way to the hospital.

The blossoms are blooming, the bees are busy gathering pollen and I will catch you next time with some more homeopathic nuggets.

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

Further Reading & Reference List:
Coyte, J., 2021a. Wasp Attack, pt 1. CLASSICALLYPRACTICAL.COM.

Coyte, J., 2021b. Wasp attack! part 2. CLASSICALLYPRACTICAL.COM.

Coyte, J., 2021c. My Little Bag of Wellness : the homeopathic remedies I carry with me [online]. CLASSICALLYPRACTICAL.COM.

Coyte, J., 2022. Summer Fun #3: Flying Things (mainly) [online]. CLASSICALLYPRACTICAL.COM.

Homeopathyplus.com, 2023. What Is Isopathy? | Homeopathy Plus [online]. Homeopathy Plus.

Mayo Clinic, 2021. Anaphylaxis - Symptoms and causes [online]. Mayo Clinic.

Mazloomi, E., Ilkhanizadeh, B., Zare, A. and Shahabi, S., 2020. Evaluation of the efficacy of isopathic immunotherapy in the treatment of allergic asthma in BALB/C mice. The Journal of Asthma: Official Journal of the Association for the Care of Asthma [online], 57 (6), 670–679.

7/16/2022

Summer Fun #3: Flying Things (mainly)

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As a rule, repeat the homeopathic remedy every 15 minutes for the first hour.

If no relief in that time, it is most likely not the correct remedy for now -- try another.
--------------------
Swelling, redness, heat, worse by heat: Apis.

Bites that itch and burn: Caladium.

If a watery blister develops: Cantharis.

Burning pains: Cantharis.

If a secondary infection develops: Gunpowder.
See: Things that go boom.

Intense, unbearable, possibly radiating pain with hypersensitivity to touch: Hypericum.

If the skin is hot and looks blue or purple: Lachesis.

Itching is better by cold and the site is sensitive to touch: Ledum.

Excessive itching or develop large welts: Staphysagria

Intense itching and burning with hive-like swelling: Urtica urens.

(Lessell 1999; Schmukler 2006; Ratera 2016).

My teenager came looking for me the other day at 8 am. It’s summer vacation so I knew something was not quite right. He awakened with a centipede in his bed. Not a good way to wake up in the morning! [Note to self: be careful of the blog articles I am planning… first the appendectomy and now the centipede in the bed!] Dr. Forgey (2020) says a cold pack is usually sufficient treatment but notes that some centipede bites can be severe and result in regional lymph node swelling. My son’s morning visitor got him on the shoulder and we used a little OHM Sting Relief & Insect Repellent and he was good to go. Beautiful stuff, but we’ll get to those ingredients in a minute.

It's a good thing that most bug bites are just annoying. But, for those unlucky few, that's not the case. I have a friend who just found out the hard way that she is allergic to bees. They got her twice at once - (one on the leg and the other the hand) and her hand swelled up, as did her throat! She, too, is a homeopath and knew just what to do. In this case, Apis mellifica.

Homeopathic Apis is made from the honeybee and is absolutely the #1 go-to remedy for anything that causes an anaphylactic reaction. Repeat Apis often while on the way to the hospital or awaiting medical attention.

“Anaphylaxis is a sudden onset, immediate reaction that implies a risk of death … reactions usually begin within 2 minutes to 2 hours after injection, infusion, ingestion, contact or inhalation. Fatalities can be from asphyxiation from laryngeal or oropharyngeal swelling, collapse from hypotensive shock, cardiac arrest, or acute severe bronchoconstriction that causes respiratory failure and arrest” (Watts and Ditto 2019). In other words, anaphylaxis is serious stuff which most often requires immediate medical attention though “fatalities are a rare occurrence” (Anagnostou 2018). Most people who know they have anaphylactic reactions would be equipped with an Epi-pen, but this was news for my friend!

Even without the anaphylactic reaction, Apis is the remedy to turn to for bee stings. As a side note, given that the remedy is made from the honeybee itself, this makes Apis not homeopathic, but isopathic. Isopathy is “same cures same” as opposed to homeopathy “like cures like.” See Hom, not Home.

Anyway, back to bee stings and Apis… if there is burning and stinging, swelling and redness, then Apis is what you’re after.

Ledum can also be useful for bee stings, especially if the stricken area feels cold.

Ticks can be hard to spot -- be sure to check your skin carefully!

Ticks are insidious little creatures. I remember finding wood ticks on me as a kid. I even have a little piece of my ear missing from when I panicked and pulled the big, fat thing off of me when it was still attached. To my knowledge, those ticks were just annoying. Now, we have to worry about Lyme disease (and 14 other known diseases (Alton and Alton 2021)) from the ticks.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection from ticks and is a multisystem disease which is on the rise (Ross Russell et al. 2018). Fortunately, as we have gained more knowledge of Lyme, we learn of more preventative steps which can be taken and the horrific nature of this disease can be thwarted if caught early.

How do you know if you’ve been bitten by a disease carrying tick? First off, if you find a tick on you, remove it, following the most recent medical recommendations for removing the tick. (See here or here for starters.) Once the tick has been removed, save it in a jar or a plastic bag to be submitted to your local health authorities to find out whether it is indeed an infected tick.

OK, the tick has been removed and saved for analysis. Now what? Wash and disinfect the area (and wash your hands afterward, as well as washing your clothing in hot water and drying in high heat) and keep an eye on the bite sight. If that “bullseye” rash develops, and you experience fever and chills, muscle aches, fatigue and joint pain -- seek professional treatment immediately. "In about 70% of patients, the rash occurs before the fever and starts as a bump with redness in the area of the bite. It often then develops into a red ring-like 'bulls-eye' that feels warm to the touch. Alternatively, some may present with a spreading, crusty, splotchy area of redness, a red oval plaque or a bluish rash" (Alton and Alton 2021).

Homeopathically, start with Ledum 200c, twice daily for a week. Ledum is known for its use in puncture wounds and for the ill effects of puncture wounds. Ledum can be helpful in warding off bad stuff which would result from said wound. If you had to remove a tick from your body, you have certainly been punctured by the little bugger! The Mayo Clinic (2018) says Lyme infection is unlikely if the tick is attached for less than 36-48 hours, so be sure to check yourself carefully if you’ve been out in the wilds (or, even the not-so-wilds, like just being in your backyard if you live in tick-land!)

Mosquitoes.
I have to say, I am not a fan. At all. OK, I actually don’t know anyone who does like the little bastards, but I feel compelled to complain about them.

These little suckers also carry some nasty diseases. The Survival Medicine Handbook (Alton and Alton 2021) notes that “in terms of the sheer number of human deaths, the lowly mosquito puts all the classic creatures from our nightmares to shame.” They do clarify, however, that it’s not the mosquito in and of itself that is the problem, they merely carry the microbe to the unsuspecting victim. I still don't like them, even if they haven't transmitted any diseases to me! Their bite alone is enough!

What kinds of diseases? Malaria, Dengue Fever, Zika, West Nile, to name a few. Addressing all those diseases homeopathically is far beyond the scope of this article. However, it's important to note that the first homeopathic "proving" done by Samuel Hahnemann, the father of homeopathy, was done on Cinchona or quinine -- which is the original treatment for malaria (Permin et al. 2016) and that homeopathy may help in these situations. For a quick read on this, try: The Cinchona Experiment (Homeopathy Plus 2020).

Homeopathically, again, the first place to stop for a mozzy bite is Ledum, as it’s another puncture wound, after all.

My go-to for mosquito bites is Staphysagria — it’s particularly well indicated if there is a level of anger involved with dealing with the bite.

For wasp stings, see my previous articles: here and here.

"Within the vertically oriented sheath of mouthparts below the eyes are scissor blades that slice and shred their way into the skin of tough cow or horse hide with ease. A sponge-like structure on the end of the proboscis then mops up the blood that pools on the skin".
(Sue 2014)

Blackfly or Horsefly

These guys are relentless! Equipped with the ability to cut through cow hides or horse hides, they can do a real number on humans!

I had a run-in with them a few weeks ago. I felt the first one and then I didn't feel it when they delivered the rest of their nastiness! These bites were sore and scabby and oozy and definitely good candidates for Graphites. (I still have residual marks, but the pain is gone.) But, again, Ledum could definitely have been helpful here, too.

BUG BITE PREVENTION:

In addition to bug spray and citronella candles, what else can be done?

Dr. Colin Lessell (1999) claims homeopathic Ledum begun 3 days before potential exposure to the biting insects and repeated every 12 hours “will assist in the reduction of reactivity.”

Dr. Ratera (2016) also adds Staphysagria (3-6 times a day) as well as Vitamin B12.

If you know you react poorly to bug bites, these certainly sound worth a try to me!

DON’T LET THESE GUYS FOOL YOU!

These 2 look cute and friendly and I thought they were harmless. Silly me!

Many years ago, my then-toddler got a terrible, painful rash on his cheeks and it turned out to be from a caterpillar. I know now that the best thing to do is to use sticky tape to remove the toxic hairs from the skin (Cleveland Clinic 2021). In hindsight, I would most likely have used Cantharis to help him out with the pain, but maybe Graphites as I think I remember it being a weepy rash.

Later, we were visiting out of state and while swinging on the swings we were attacked by ladybugs. Who knew?! They were painful little bites! In hindsight, I probably would have used Ledum or Staphysagria.

Back to OHM’s Sting Relief and Insect Repellent. OHM is a homeopathic pharmacy located in Texas; but, unfortunately, they do not sell to the general public. What’s in this marvelous little concoction? Equal amounts of Apis, Belladonna, Caladium, Calendula, Graphites, Ledum, Pulsatilla, Rhus tox and Staphysagria (as well as non-homeopathic bug repellent ingredients. It's a win/win -- if the repellent fails, you've got the homeopathic remedies to fix you up!)

As I have mentioned before (see: Calming the Cold, What Hurts?, Relief, Recovery from Surgery) learning the various remedies included in a combination remedy is a good place to start when figuring out what might help you, as well as just learning homeopathic remedies in general.

We talked about Apis, Ledum and Staphysagria already so let’s have a quick look at OHM’s other ingredients.

Belladonna is highly indicated in red, swollen, hot, intense conditions and there may be a “biting” quality to the pain.

Caladium may also have a “biting” pain. Bites that itch and burn intensely.

Calendula (See: I did a doozy) is a marvelously soothing remedy for things that hurt, particularly things that hurt worse than they “should.” Calendula can also be used topically.

Graphites is known to help skin conditions with honey-like oozing.

Pulsatilla skin eruptions which itch or sting, especially when scratching makes it worse.

Rhus tox for burning skin eruptions or pain after scratching.

If a stinger remains, Herbal Medic (Coffman 2021) recommends scraping “it away using a flat scraper such as the edge of a credit card. Then clean the bite or sting area well and apply the plaster or poultice.”

What kind of a poultice, you ask? Coffman recommends bentonite clay or charcoal.

Other topical options:
Calendula, Pot Marigold, is just a marvelously soothing substance. It is also known to help keep infections at bay.

Rural Sprout (Magyar 2020) has instructions for a fresh plantain poultice for bites and stings. Or, you can use a ready made Plantain tincture. I tried the tincture after my wasp sting and found it very soothing. Or, you could also use homeopathic Plantago major which is also indicated for puncture wounds.

For both Calendula and Plantago, if you have the homeopathic remedy, but not the tincture or the fresh ingredients at hand, put a pellet or 2 of the remedy in clean water and then apply the medicated water to the affected area.

It’s a jungle out there in the summer! All this talk of creepy crawlies is making me itchy! Keep some of these homeopathic remedies at hand in case of attack!

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

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

Reference list:

Alton, J. and Alton, A., 2021. The survival medicine handbook : the essential guide for when help is NOT on the way : a Doom and Bloom guide. United States? Doom And Bloom Llc.

Anagnostou, K., 2018. Anaphylaxis in Children: Epidemiology, Risk Factors and Management. Current Pediatric Reviews [online], 14 (3), 180–186.

Benzoni, T. and Cooper, J. S., 2021. Tick Removal [online]. PubMed.

Cleveland Clinic, 2021. Caterpillar Rash: How to Spot and Treat It [online]. Cleveland Clinic.

Coffman, S., 2021. Herbal medic : a green beret’s guide to emergency medical preparedness and natural first aid. North Adams, Ma: Storey Publishing.

Forgey, W. W., 2020. The prepper’s medical handbook : how to provide medical care when you can’t rely on anyone but yourself. Guilford, Connecticut: Lyons Press.

Homeopathy Plus, 2020. The Cinchona Experiment [online]. Homeopathy Plus.

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

Magyar, A. C., 2020. How To Make A Plantain Tincture + 8 Ways To Use This Healing Plant [online]. Rural Sprout.

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

Permin, H., Norn, S., Kruse, E. and Kruse, P. R., 2016. On the history of Cinchona bark in the treatment of Malaria. Dansk Medicinhistorisk Arbog [online], 44, 9–30.

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

Ross Russell, A. L., Dryden, M. S., Pinto, A. A. and Lovett, J. K., 2018. Lyme disease: diagnosis and management. Practical Neurology [online], 18 (6), 455–464.

Schmitt Pediatric Guidelines, 2022. How to Remove A Tick [online]. HealthyChildren.org.

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

Sue, 2014. Gigantic black horse fly [online]. Back Yard Biology.

Watts, M. M. and Ditto, A. M., 2019. Anaphylaxis. Allergy and Asthma Proceedings [online], 40 (6), 453–456.

9/30/2021

My Little Bag of Wellness

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Not my actual purse, but the same style from the same company. Maruca Design uses US fabric mills and are all crafted by hand in Colorado and are incredibly well made and long lasting.*

This is the actual little remedy bag that I keep in my purse. It is an EMF shielding bag and though I don't know that that is necessary, it is made for holding homeopathic remedies and therefore sized just right.*

My purse is not large. It is just big enough to hold my phone, my credit card, my keys and a small bag of homeopathic remedies, of course!

What do I keep with me on my person whenever I leave the house? Here’s the complete list and how and why I use these remedies when I am out and about.
Please note, the use of these remedies is not daily. They are with me just in case.

Aconitum/Bryonia. This Banerji Protocol combination remedy is my absolute go-to for anything that is not quite right. At the first sign of feeling unwell, this is what I grab when I am not at home.

This remedy also came in handy following a golf cart traffic accident. (These carts are dangerous and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!) The driver of the cart broke their wrist and I messed up my knee and hip and cracked the windshield with my noggin.

Aconite for short, (rhymes with “fright”) is, the pre-eminent remedy for being in or witnessing a shocking event. "Suddenness and violence are the soul of Aconite" (Pareek and Pareek 2012, p. 104).

Bryonia is an excellent remedy for both sprains and broken bones, particularly the wrist (Morrison, M.D. 1998, p. 375) and for when pain is experienced with the slightest movement. Bryonia is major clinical remedy for neck injuries (Pareek and Pareek 2012, p. 60) which was a distinct possibility for me in this situation.

Both of these remedies came in very handy immediately following this crash.

Natrum phosphoricum 30c. For a while there, indigestion was troubling me and Nat phos would calm that unpleasant burning feeling right down. As is the case with most well selected homeopathic remedies, the appropriate remedy will both address the immediate situation as well as help your body heal itself moving forward.
I didn’t even realize I still had this remedy in my bag because I haven’t needed it in a such a long time.

Helios AAA. AAA is a combination of Ambra grisea, Anacardium and Argentum nitricum. This remedy was taught to me as a good remedy for people experiencing anxiety while traveling.

I first put it in my bag a few years ago when my young son was experiencing an unusual fear of flying before a trip. He is a seasoned traveler and his discomfort threw me for a loop. I gave him one dose of AAA and within an hour he had completely forgotten he even had any apprehension at all let alone the fact he was certain that death was imminent.

I keep it with me because it is just a really excellent remedy for severe anxiety.

Hypericum perforatum 200c. Hypericum is known as the “Arnica of the nerves.” I don’t remember why I put it in my bag originally, but it did come in handy after a fall on the ice rink. Hypericum is well known for its ability to address pain in nerve-rich areas and the tailbone most certainly is a nerve-rich area! And, an excellent remedy for puncture wounds.

Ferrum phosphoricum 3x. This cell salt is a really good first aid remedy for both halting sicknesses and fever (Morrison, M.D. 1998, p. 541) before they can take root as well as reducing inflammation following an injury. It has been used for my sons’ bleeding noses (it stops them quickly!) as well as for a very young dining companion who was feeling poorly (she was back to her old self before dinner was even served).

Petroleum 200c originally went in my bag a few winters ago when I had some cracked and sore hands (Morrison, M.D. 1998, p. 411). This homeopathic remedy is far superior to the goopy stuff with the same name that one might apply to their skin — I don’t recommend that at all! Strangely, homeopathic Petroleum is also good for motion sickness (Morrison, M.D. 1998, p. 214).

For the dry, cracked skin, take it once or twice daily until the skin is improved.

For travel sickness, take a dose every 15 minutes or so. (If there is no improvement after 4 or 5 doses, it’s not the right remedy and it's time to find another better indicated remedy).

Arnica 200c. Between the Arnica, the Hypericum, the Ferr phos, and the Aconite/Bryonia combination, I definitely have emergencies covered! Arnica is the first remedy to consider in an accident or injury (Morrison, M.D. 1998, p. 371). It not only addresses shock (similar to Aconite above), but it is also excellent for bruising, muscle soreness and general aches and pains.

Arnica & Hypericum are well indicated following any dental work, and that is reason enough to keep them in your purse!

Apis mellifica. Apis is the first remedy to grab when anaphylactic shock sets in, or is threatening to set in. Allergic reactions, bug bites and bee stings, (especially those that appear full of fluid) and throats threatening to swell shut! (This happened to my brother after eating shell fish when we were kids — I didn’t know about homeopathy then but I think this memory is why I keep it in my bag now, though Urtica urens would probably be a better choice for allergic reactions to shellfish in particular.) If you have someone in this frightening condition, administer the Apis (or Urtica urens) immediately and frequently while you are on the way to the hospital or waiting for the ambulance to arrive.

**Apis is one of the few remedies for which caution is advised when pregnant. That is not to say this remedy can’t be used during pregnancy, it is to say that it should be used cautiously and judiciously when pregnant.

Natrum muriaticum 30c. I usually keep 6x in my purse, but I ran out and forgot to replace it. I was traveling a few weeks ago and there was smoke from forest fires all around and the local shop didn’t have my usual 6x. The 30c definitely made breathing easier and helped with the burning/stinging eyes. Nat mur can put a stop to a hammering headache (Morrison, M.D. 1998, p. 11) before it has the chance to take proper hold and it is very helpful for dry, chapped lips as it helps to balance the fluids in your body.

Nux vomica 200c. Historically, this remedy is probably the most frequently used remedy in my family. Nux is amazing for when that restaurant meal didn’t settle too well. It’s good for cold and allergy symptoms and it’s very good for sneezing fits. Nux has come in handy for irritability and anger as well as headaches that accompany the crankiness. Nux vomica is an excellent remedy for too much… too much fatty food, too much candy, too much alcohol.

Nux vomica came in extremely handy after our dog had a minor surgery for something embedded in his paw. I didn’t know he was going to have this little procedure or I would have planned accordingly. But, because I had Nux in my purse, I was able to slip it in his cheek and this 130 pound beastie quickly awakened from his anesthesia (Pareek and Pareek 2012, p. 310) and was able to get into the car on his own steam. About an hour later, the stupor returned but another dose of Nux got him moving again.

One last thing I keep in my bag is a tube of Boiron’s Calendula cream.* Just today when we were at the zoo I used some for a little cut on my leg and a bug bite on my wrist which was irritated by my watch strap. I have used it as a face cream. I use it for dry skin. (Did I mention I live in a desert?) I have shared it with friend’s children when they have fallen and scraped their knee. I have used it following a sunburn. It’s by far the largest thing in my bag but it has earned its spot on the front lines.

This list sounds like I’m not telling the truth about the size of my purse. Honestly, you would never imagine the amount of healing this little bag could hold just by looking at it.

Julia Coyte, CHom
classicallypractical.com

#wellnessawaits. #homeopathycanhelp

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

Coco and Camille

Maruca Design

Resources used in this article:
Morrison, M.D., R., 1998. Desktop companion to physical pathology. Nevada City, Calif.: Hahnemann Clinic Publ.
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Pareek, R. S. and Pareek, A., 2012. Homeopathy for Acutes and Emergencies. Kandern, Germany: Narayana Publishers.

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9/27/2021

Choosing the Right Homeopathic Potency

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Entire books have been written on homeopathic potency (see a partial list below). It truly is a nuanced topic.

There are many theories and “rules” and throughout homeopathic history, there is no end of discussion as to which potency should be used under which circumstances.

I will make choosing the right potency short and simple.

1. In an emergency, the right potency is the one you have.

2. If you have the right remedy, the potency is secondary.
If you take a remedy and it works for you, stick with that remedy and that potency.

3. When in doubt, use a low potency (6c).

Repetition of remedy:
1. In an acute illness or injury, use whatever potency you have as frequently as needed to keep the situation in hand. Follow the symptoms. (Example: If fever is the main symptom and Arnica* is helping to lower the fever, repeat the Arnica if/when the temperature begins to rise. As the temperature stabilizes, decrease the frequency until the remedy is no longer needed.

* People assume Arnica is a homeopathic remedy which is only used to treat muscular aches and pains from “over doing it.” Homeopathic Arnica has a keynote symptom of “Bruised sensation. May feel, ‘as if beaten'” (Morrison, M.D. 1998). Those needing Arnica sometimes describe their condition, “as if they had been hit by a truck.” Your body doesn’t care if the aches and pains come from an injury, strenuous activity or from a fever. Remedies, in this case Arnica, address symptoms, regardless of causation.

2. If after a few doses of a remedy and the acute situation is not improving, it is most likely that you do not have the correct remedy and a new remedy should be chosen.

3. When dealing with chronic problems, I strongly recommend working with an experienced homeopath to help guide you through these issues. Every individual and every circumstance is different. One person’s arthritis is therefore not like the next person’s arthritis. An experienced homeopath can help guide you accordingly.

4. When in doubt, use a low potency (6c).

5. The higher the potency, the less frequently it should be repeated.

6. If using a homeopathic combination remedy, follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

One of the beautiful aspects of homeopathic medicine is that it is truly an individualized method of healing. Everything I have mentioned in this article are basic "rules of thumb" and these suggestions may not fit all individuals. Working with an experienced homeopath, especially for chronic conditions, is highly recommended.

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical Homeopathy

#wellnessawaits

A few remedies are known to act better in specific potencies for specific conditions. Note: individuals may react differently and these are only general rules of thumb.

Lycopodium clavatum 30c for edema/swelling, such as the stuffy nose which accompanies a cold or allergies. Banerji Protocol, repeat twice daily until improvement. In an acute situation like a stuffy nose, expect Lycopodium to act more quickly. If it does not, it may not be the correct remedy for your symptoms. Consult a homeopath.

Nux vomica 30c for constipation. Banerji Protocol, repeat twice daily until improvement. Note: this is not the Banerji’s first line protocol for constipation, but it is their easiest protocol for constipation. In acute situations, expect this remedy to act within a day or so. If it does not, switch remedies or consult a homeopath.

Magnesium phosphoricum 6x for painful menstrual cramps.
Mag phos has been said to work better when administered in hot water. (This is not known to be the case for other remedies). To use this method, drop a few pellets into a cup of hot water and sip as though drinking a cup of tea.

ADMINISTERING HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES
Dry pellets can be administered by placing them under the tongue. For an unconscious person, infant or pet, the dry pellets can be placed between the gum and cheek.

Alternatively, dry pellets can be dissolved in liquid✦ and administered by mouth (take a sip) or by placing a few drops on a cloth and placing it on the thin skin of the inside of the wrist. It is important to note that when dissolving remedies in water, every sip or application is a dose.

Sensitive Individuals
Some people are simply very sensitive and do better on a lower potency. Others are still even more sensitive and do better by putting their remedies in water and taking a teaspoon of that water✦. And still others are even so sensitive that they do best by taking an olfactory dose — taking a little whiff of the remedy❊.

✦ for instructions on water dosing:
Hahnemanns LM and Water Potencies
Homeopathic Remedy Dosage
Instructions for turning pilules into liquid remedies

❊ Olfactory dosing

For those wanting to learn more about using homeopathy, here are a few links to get you started.

CHE’s Home Prescriber Course, FREE!

Gateway to Homeopathy, Joette Calabrese, $47.

Robin Murphy, ND, Emergencies and First Aid 1, $90 (available on either CD or download directly to your computer or phone)

I have no affiliation with any of these sites. I have listened to many CHE courses. I have devoured all of what Joette Calabrese has to offer. I am still working my way through all of Robin Murphy's excellent lectures.

Books and articles, if you would like more in-depth information on the topic of homeopathic potency:

Barker, R., 1992. LM potencies : a selection of articles giving a practical guide to their use. Norfolk: The Homeopathic Supply Company.

Bhatia, Dr. M., 2009. Homeopathic Potency Selection - Dr. Manish Bhatia [online]. Hpathy.

Homeopathy Plus, 2021. Q. Which Potency Should I Choose? [online]. Homeopathy Plus.
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National Center for Homeopathy, 2021. How to Choose a Remedy’s Potency [online]. National Center for Homeopathy.

Plouvier-Suijs, M., 2014. About potencies. Emryss Publishers.

Rawat, P. S., 2016. Select your dose & potency. New Delhi: B. Jain.
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Rozencwajg, J., 2010. The potency : advanced prescribing in homeopathy : the Fibonacci potencies : a unified theory and practice of modern homeopathic posology. Haarlem? Emryss.

Sources used in this article:
Banerji, P. and Banerji, P., 2013. The Banerji protocols : a new method of treatment with homeopathic medicines. India: Pratip Banerji.

Morrison, M.D., R., 1998. Desktop companion to physical pathology. Nevada City, Calif.: Hahnemann Clinic Publ.

7/12/2021

Poked by a Branch.

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While hiking this weekend, I stepped on a twig. Actually, it was bigger than a twig. Does that make it a small branch? Regardless, it snapped and poked 4 holes into my calf. It was less than pleasant.

I cleaned it out with soap and water and it no longer looked as bad as it did when I was in the woods. Nothing appeared to be stuck in there.

I then applied Boiron's Calendula cream and put a band-aid over it. The pain stopped pretty quickly.

If it had been worse, I would have considered either homeopathic Ledum palustre or Hypericum perforatum. Both of these homeopathic remedies are the "go-to" remedies for puncture wounds.

How to decide between them?
Hypericum is particular for nerve rich areas (finger tips, toes, tailbone).
Ledum is greatly relieved by cold.
Hypericum has shooting pains.
Ledum has bruising and swelling.

This is not to say a Hypericum wound can't have bruising, but that would be a secondary consideration after shooting pains and nerve-y pains.

I got off easy with my twig snap, but having a good homeopathic remedy kit with me meant I was prepared for most eventualities.

If you have experienced an injury and are looking for relief, contact classicallypractical.com to see if homeopathy can help you.