Stressed out by the weather?

Tags

heat, herbs, homeopathy, meteropathy, stress, weather

Photo by Claudia Barbosa on Pexels.com

Have you recently felt stressed and unwell without apparent cause? Have you felt tired and unable to undertake even the simplest of routine tasks without extra effort? It may be that the weather is to blame.

Spring frequently comes along with a rather unpleasant weather phenomenon. It is a stimulating climate that may bring humidity, changeable winds, atmospheric air pressure fluctuations and swift rises and drops in temperature. Such inconsistency can impact our health and well-being.

Many people are feeling ‘under the weather’ and the number of people complaining of the symptoms associated with this phenomenon is on the rise.

Women and the elderly are affected to a higher extent, yet the symptoms may occur throughout all age groups and both sexes, from the young to the aged. This phenomenon is known as meteoropathy, and symptoms include headache, migraine, dizziness, cardiovascular symptoms, exhaustion, depressive moodiness, heavy limbs, irritability, and difficulty concentrating and sleeping.

For alleviation, sufferers should avoid strenuous activities or exercise outdoors. Light activities may, on the other hand, help the body assimilate. Heavy or convenience foods should be replaced by lighter fresh foods, such as vegetables and fruit, and the intake of sufficient, non-alcoholic fluids to keep hydrated is of paramount importance.

Hydrotherapy, such as kneippism, alternating cold/warm water baths and showers, or cold-water wading are considered as potentially helpful.

Herbal teas may assist the alleviation of meteoropathic symptoms. Two to three cups per day, hot or cold, of the following herbs can aid recuperation. One teaspoon of tea leaves should be left to steep for 5 minutes in 250ml of hot water.

■ In order to reduce nervous headaches and irritability, Lavender tea can be useful. It also relieves exhaustion and insomnia, and has the potential to reduce high blood pressure.
■ Hawthorn in the form of tea can reduce nervous palpitation, soothe the nervous system, and improve the circulation of the blood through the heart. It alleviates the sensation of pressure or tension in the chest.
■ Lemon balm tea may be used to soothe, calm and reduce stress. It is known to alleviate dizziness, migraine and nervous irritability.
■ Chamomile tea reduces nervousness, irritability and tension.

Schüssler salts may help invigorate the body, during and ahead of the season, and may make it more resistant to climatic variation.

It is recommended that you take one tablet daily of each of the following Schüssler salts, preferably in the morning:
■ Calcium phosphoricum: builds resistance and strength to atmospheric tension and the associated ups and downs.
■ Ferrum phosphoricum: is indicated where fatigue, exhaustion and lack of concentration are prevalent.
■ Kalium phosphoricum: is the Schüssler salt for cardiovascular symptoms, moodiness and irritability.
■ Magnesium phosphoricum: This is the neuro and muscular salt. It acts on heavy limbs and the common restlessness, and insomnia.

Similarly, the Bach flower ‘Rescue Remedy’ can help reduce symptoms. Rescue Remedy has been found to calm the organism. This can be taken as and when needed, in one or several repeated doses. In the acute state, two drops of this remedy can be added to a glass of water, from which a sip of water can be taken until symptoms subside.

Notice of caution: A qualified practitioner should be able to provide a more specific treatment for the individual patient. A medical doctor should be consulted if symptoms are severe, worsen or do not subside.

Homeopathy to alleviate the symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

Tags

Apnea, Clever Homeopathy, CPAP, homeopathy, Respiration, Sleep Apnea

 

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep Apnea is a relatively common sleep disorder that is characterized by prolonged breathing pauses. While asleep, the individual suffering of Sleep Apnea repeatedly stops breathing for the duration of at least 10 seconds, or longer. This is problematic as the reduced respiration leads to interrupted sleep, and deprives the body of oxygen, impacting its saturation in the blood and consequentially posing a great risk to the sufferers health.

The greatest health risks are the development of high blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmia, heart attack, or stroke. However, in particular the daytime micro-sleep that sufferers can experience, can pose a threat to the life of the sufferer and potentially others, if occurring at work while operating machinery, or if in traffic while driving a car.

Persons who snore loudly during their sleep, who experience interrupted sleep patterns, wake after a full nights sleep feeling tired and exhausted, and who suffer of day sleepiness, are irritable, have memory problems, difficulty concentrating, and feel depressed, should become aware of this disorder.

 

There are three types of Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea: This is the most common form of the sleep disorder and occurs when, during the process of inspiration, the muscles relax in the back of the throat, and fail to open the airway, obstructing airflow to the lungs. The brain, in turn, receives the signal that breathing is impaired and consequentially stirs the individual to awaken and begin breathing again. These breathing pauses are either an ‘Apnea’, where the airway is blocked completely, or an ‘hypopnea’ where the occlusion is only partial, of 50% or more.

Central Sleep Apnea: This is the more severe form of Apnea, as this is a failure of the brain to properly command muscle contraction during respiration. There is hence, no effort made to actually breath.

Complex Sleep Apnea: This is a combination of the obstructive and the central form of Sleep Apnea.

 

What factors contribute to the development of Sleep Apnea?

The prevalence of Sleep Apnea is on the rise. Factors promoting the development of Sleep Apnea are excess weight, menopause (in women), the use of medicines such as sedatives, tranquilizers or narcotics, the consumption of alcohol, and smoking. However there is also a hereditary factor, with the prevalence being increased in families where there is a history of Sleep Apnea, and there are factors such as being male, of advanced age, having a strong neck, or an anatomically conditioned nasal congestion that can contribute to the development of Sleep Apnea.

 

How is Sleep Apnea treated?

Whilst preventative measures are recommended in the treatment of Sleep Apnea, such as limiting alcohol intake, quitting smoking and losing weight, these will not suffice to overcome the syndrome. Sleep Apnea cannot be treated to its full resolution as of yet.

 

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the main treatment option for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. It is also the most successful therapeutic intervention. With the night time use of a CPAP equipment, a constant flow of air pressure is brought, through a face mask worn by the patient, into the respiratory tract. This pressurized air is adjusted to overcome the muscular obstruction, and thus to maintain the airway open. The patient can continue breathing, most episodes of Sleep Apnea are removed, and most symptoms associated with the disorder are alleviated. The sufferer of Sleep Apnea will have to continue this treatment for life whenever he or she goes to sleep.

 

Is homeopathy effective in treating the symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

There is little to no research investigating the use of Homeopathy for the treatment of Sleep apnea. However, Homeopathy has in its Materia Medica diverse remedies that can provide relief of the symptoms, and can be supportive in the treatment of the concomitant complaints associated with the disorder. Such treatment though requires an in-depth case-taking and thorough evaluation of the case history presented. Some of the remedies that may be helpful for sufferers of Sleep Apnea are:

 

Arsenicum Album: There is a shortage of breath with every exertion and upon lying down during the night. There is a violent sensation of constriction about the throat with anxiety felt near the heart that prevents deep breathing. He or she fears to suffocate. The individual needing this remedy is clearly vitally weakened, restless and exhausted. Sleep is disturbed, restless and the individual is anxious. Sleep is disturbed by with suffocative fits.

 

Grindelia Robusta: This remedy in affections associated with a paralysis of the vagus nerve. This nerve runs from the brain through the body and diverse systems, including the throat. It is in charge of giving off impulses to the pharyngeal and laryngeal area. As such this remedy is indicated for individuals that stop breathing upon falling asleep, and consequentially wake with a start, gasping for breath, as may be the case in Sleep Apnea. The individual needing this remedy is afraid to fall asleep again, because he or she fears the feeling of suffocation.

 

Lachesis: This remedy has a great impact on the nervous system. Here there is a dominant feeling of strangulation and suffocation upon going to sleep, and the individual cannot bear any tight clothing around his or her neck. There is a distressed feeling about the chest. He or she is impelled to breath deeply. While falling asleep breathing almost stops entirely. There is a sudden starting from sleep.

 

Opium: In this remedy there is a strong general sluggishness and reduced vital reactivity. The cerebrospinal functions are weakened. This individual snores deeply and his or her breathing is rattling and stertorous. The respiration is unequal and intermittent. He or she stops breathing upon falling asleep, and must be shook to begin breathing again.

 

Spongia tosta: There is cramping and constriction about the throat. The individual is breathless. Respiration is short, panting and hindered. The airway feels dry. There is strong palpitation, anxiety and a fear of dying on account of the impaired respiration. He or she wakes in a start feeling close to suffocation.

 

Sulfur: Shortage of breath occurs in the middle of the night and must sit up. He or she cannot lie on the back and cannot breath deeply. There is the sensation of much oppression and burning about the chest. He or she jerks and twitches during sleep, and wakes up frequently during the night and then is wide awake. There is an inclination to take day time naps.

 

 

 

 

References:

Boericke, W. (2004) Pocket manual of homeopathic Materia Medica and repertory New Delhi: B.Jain publishers Ltd.

Davis, K. (2018) What you need to know about sleep apnea, Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/178633.php(Accessed: May 2019).

Franklin, K.A. and Lindberg, E. (2015) ‘Obstructive sleep apnea is a common disorder in the population—a review on the epidemiology of sleep apnea’, Journal of Thoracic Disease, 7(8), pp. 1311–1322..

Mayo Clinic (2019) Sleep Apnea, Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sleep-apnea/symptoms-causes/syc-20377631 (Accessed: May 2019).

National Sleep Foundation (2019) Sleep Apnea, Available at: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-apnea (Accessed: May 2019).

UCI Health (2019) Sleep Apnea, Available at: http://www.ucihealth.org/medical-services/sleep-services/sleep-apnea (Accessed: May 2019).

Voisin, H. (2018) Materia Medica für den homöopatischen Praktiker, 1 edn., Kandern: Naranaya Verlag.

Trauma following the Forest fire infernos

Tags

CAM, Forest fires, homeopathy, PTSD, trauma

 

In the wake of the recent forest fires, the devastating losses and destruction, the after-math leaves more than burnt soil to clear away. While many have lost loved ones, their existence or homes in the recent infernos, many of the survivors, helpers and fire fighters may now, as a consequence to their experiences of the traumatic events, exhibit symptoms related to PTSD.

 

PTSD, post-traumatic-stress-disorder, is the label that has been given to the symptom complex that may evolve from the exposure to, and experiences of a terrorist attack, active warfare, natural catastrophe, accident, or other events that may leave an individual severely traumatized.

 

 

Sufferers of such a trauma syndrome will exhibit characteristic symptoms of anxiety, overwhelming states of worry, fear, panic, phobia, compulsion, or depression. These may be expressed in the form of sleeplessness, nightmares, distressing recollection of experiences, irritation, increased anger, difficulty concentrating, emotional numbing, and retreating from social circles and family. Sufferers may become pessimistic about life, their future, may be disinterested in their environment, and may become aggressive and self-destructive. These symptoms may be as dilapidating that they may leave an individual unable to lead a normal life. Many people cannot return to, or take up a normal job, cannot live harmoniously with their loved ones, and find the day to day proceedings unbearable and unmanageable. Not infrequently is it that sufferers resort to addictive behavior and detach from their families.

 

Initially recognized in Vietnam -War – veterans, PTSD was only acknowledged and classified by the American Psychiatric Association as a mental disorder in 1980. However, the symptom complex of post-traumatic stress syndrome existed much earlier.

 

When the era of trains began and passenger transportation was taken to the rails, this innovative form of travel brought forth a new type of anxiety disorder. Travel by train was louder and faster than all prior forms of transportation, and passengers reaction to the noise, motion and accidents gave rise to a symptom complex soon denoted as the ‘Railway spine’. The sufferers however, where not the physically injured, but were eyewitnesses or unharmed victims of carriage collisions, complaining of physical symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, disturbed sleep, memory impairment, lack of the ability to concentrate, weakness, numbness and even physical pain along their limbs and spine, stiffness, headaches and neuralgia.

 

Likewise, soldiers of war complained of a very similar symptom complex that doctors described as ‘Soldier’s heart’. Civilians, having experienced and survived the World Wars were referred to as suffering of ‘Shell shock’. In today’s day and time the prevalence of this characteristic symptom complex has nowhere diminished. The symptomatology can be seen in victims of car accidents that are suffering of what is denoted as ‘whiplash’. Victims and witnesses of terror attacks and combat personnel of the wars of more recent times, and individuals that have survived and experienced natural catastrophes such as earthquakes or forest fires have shown forms of this specific cluster of similar symptoms that are part of the complex known today as ‘Post-traumatic-stress-disorder’.

 

The treatment for PTSD, as postulated by the conventional medical sphere, sees the use of medicinal and psychoanalytical approaches assisting individuals at alleviating their suffering and managing the syndrome. The use of CAM, complementary and alternative medicine, sees increasing numbers of patients successfully treated for their symptoms by meditation, relaxation, exercise therapy, TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), herbal medicine, homeopathy medicine and others.

 

The CAM therapies are holistic therapeutic approaches that take into consideration the totality of an individual. Physical, mental and emotional aspects find inclusion in the analysis of a patient and his or her suffering. CAM approaches aim to achieve amelioration and recovery of the patients’ state on all levels, the mental, the physical and the emotional. Hence treating the patient in his or her entirety, as a whole.

 

The recent wild fires have caused havoc to the lives of many, and have done irreparable damage. Those suffering of symptoms related to PTSD in the aftermath of these tragic and traumatic events should get help. Sufferers can be relieved of their dilapidating symptoms that impact not only the individual, but his or her family and closest environment. A recovery, to a lifestyle that is manageable can be attained. Sufferers should not suffer alone. There is help, and it should be sought!

 

 

 

First published at: Gentle Help for PTSD

Coryza – homeopathy for the runny nose

Tags

Clever Homeopathy, cold, coryza, homeopathy, rhinitis, runny nose

 

 

Coryza is commonly referred to as a runny nose and is characterized by an acute inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose. It frequently occurs concomitant to the ‘common cold’ and may be caused by a bacterial or viral infection, or may develop as an allergic reaction to diverse allergens such as dust, pollen and others.

 

The inflammation in the nasal cavity increases the secretion of mucous causing the typical symptom of the runny and congested nose. There may be nasal irritation, itching, burning, and sneezing. Oftentimes there is also some involvement of the eyes with redness, watering, swelling or itching. The inflammation may extend to the larynx, bronchi and throat, producing distinctive symptomatology there. Hence the patient may generally feel run down, may develop a cough, catarrh, frontal headache, lassitude and fatigue.

 

Some homeopathic remedies for coryza are:

Allium cepa: This coryza is characterized by a profuse watery, acrid discharge. Distinctive for this remedy is the worsening of the coryza in a warm room. This patient is better outside. There is an accompanying eye symptomatology in Allium cepa. The eyes are watery, smarting, and burning. There may be coughing and hoarseness.

 

Arsenicum album: The nasal cavity feels hot and burning. There is a watery discharge. The patient is thirsty and feels weak.

 

Belladonna: The nose feels obstructed and there is only light discharge. Everything feels dry and sore into the throat. There may be throbbing in the head and sensitivity to light. There may be a tickly cough. Thirst is increased.

 

Chamomilla: This remedy is indicated where there is heat of the head. One cheek is typically red, the other pale. The coryza is usually worse at night. The little patient is fretful, and calms down only if carried about.

 

Dulcamara: Constant sneezing with running nose and nasal congestion. Eyes are watering and swollen. May come on from becoming chilled after exertion. Symptoms are worse outside.

 

Gelsemium: There is a general sluggishness and chilliness. A dull headache and drowsiness are characteristic. The eyes are heavy; the eyeballs feel lame and sore.  There is watering of the eyes, sneezing and discharge from the nose. There is non-stop sneezing.

 

Euphrasia: The eyes are strongly affected with this remedy. There is a profuse, acrid watering from the eyes. The lids and face may become inflamed, excoriated, agglutinated. Lamplight causes photophobia. The discharge from the nose is profuse, bland, and fluent. There is sneezing, and worsening during the night and when lying down.

 

Eupatorium: With sneezing and headache there is aching in the bones, backache, chilliness and nausea.

 

Mercurious sol.: This remedy has some similarity with Arsenicum album. However symptoms are less severe and worse at night. The throat is sore there is much mucous salivation. There is aching and lameness in muscles and bones. There may be much sweating.

 

Rhus tox.: This is the remedy where getting wet brings on the coryza/ cold. The entire body may feel lame and may ache, especially the back and the eyelids.

 

 

 

 

References:

Adams, M. (1913) A practical guide to homeopathic treatment Philadelphia: Boericke & Tafel.

Lockie, A. (1991) The family guide to homeopathy Aylesbury: BPCC Hazell Books

Tinnitus … in a nutshell

Tags

buzzing, Clever Homeopathy, ear, homeopathy, noise, ringing, Tinnitus, whistling

 

 

A persistent wheezing, buzzing, whistling or ringing noise perceived in the head, or experienced in one or both ears is referred to as Tinnitus. This noise is permanent. It cannot be heard by others, and does not originate from an external source. It is not a psychiatric, but a physical condition. It is frequently traced to some malfunction of the hearing system. This can be as simple as earwax logged near the eardrum, can originate from an underlying condition such as Meniere’s disease, can be caused by more serious conditions such as tumor growth, or can be triggered by prolonged exposure to noise. Research has to date not been able to source the precise underlying mechanism.

 

There are other potential causes that may favor the emergence of tinnitus. Injuries or trauma to the head, a malposition of the jaw at the joint to the skull, large doses of aspirin, and even stress have been linked to the appearance of tinnitus.

 

The exposure to loud noise is the most common cause of tinnitus. The use of noisy machinery without hearing protection, concert noise without ear plugs, or even the extended listening to music at high volume can promote the ‘outbreak’ of tinnitus.

 

Sufferers may experience concomitant adverse effects as a consequence to tinnitus. Stress, depression, fatigue, exhaustion, and emotional impairment are common.

Most sufferers develop some sort of coping strategy to be able to manage their life with the complaint. Conventional medicine offers diverse therapeutic approaches such as ‘cognitive behavior therapy’, or ‘tinnitus retraining therapy’ aimed at reducing the perception of tinnitus. There is to date no medication that can treat tinnitus. Avoiding is key with this condition.

 

The following homeopathic remedies may be useful in the treatment of tinnitus: Antipyrine, Cannabis indica, Carbonicum sulphuricum, Chininum sulphuricum, Kalium iodatum, Lachesis, Natrium Salicylicum, Phosphorus, Salicylicum Acidum, Theridion, Thiosinaminum.

 

 

 

 

References:

Australian Tinnitus Association (2014) Tinnitus – what is it?, Available at: http://www.tinnitus.asn.au/tinnitus.htm (Accessed: December 2017).

Boericke, W. (2004) Pocket manual of homeopathic materia medica and repertory New Delhi: B.Jain publishers Ltd.

Clarke, J. (1994) A Dictionary of practical materia medica New Delhi: B.Jain publishers Ltd.

DHU (2011) Homöopathisches Repetitorium  Karlsruhe: Deutsche Homöopathie Union

hear-it.org (n.d.) Tinnitus, Available at: https://www.hear-it.org/Tinnitus-1 (Accessed: December 2017 ).

 

 

Ankylosing Spondylitis

Tags

Ankylosing Spondylitis, arthritis, Bechterew, homeopathy, inflammation, spine, vertebra

 

 

[Also known as: Morbus Bechterew or Bechterew’s diseases, Marie Strumpell disease, or rheumatoid spondylitis.]

 

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a disease that belongs to the family of arthritic affections.

Spondylosis alone refers to degenerative changes at the affected site, such as osteoarthritis, of the vertebral joints and the intervertebral discs [1]. Ankylosis indicates that new bone formations are developing at the affected sites on the spine, fusing the vertebrae and eventually restricting mobility of the spine in that area [2].

AS is characterized by chronic inflammation that primarily affects the vertebrae of the spine. In its progression it may lead to gradual stiffening of the spine. A major location of the disease is the sacroiliac joint, however the upper areas of the spine and other joints, such as the shoulders, hips, ribs and smaller joints of the extremities, may also be affected [2, 3].

 

The inflammation and stiffness of AS may be experienced as severely painful and very restricting to the mobility of the sufferer. The symptomatology is variant, as is the time of first appearance of symptoms. It is commonly in early adulthood that symptoms begin to show. There is a diffuse dullness and discomfort that may initially be felt, with pain and stiffness, gradually aggravating during the night and in the morning. Sufferers may also have symptoms of light fever, fatigue and lack appetite initially. Pain, tenderness and stiffness will become more persistent over months and years, spreading along the spine into the neck. It is not uncommon that sufferers may also have symptoms of bowel and eye inflammation, and concomitant involvement of the heart and lungs [2, 3].

 

Ankylosing spondylitis is believed to be a genetic / hereditary disorder. It is assumed that a hereditary marker (HLA-B27) is a strong indicator for this disorder. However the HLA-B27 marker is not a precise diagnostic test, and researchers have identified over 60 other genes that stand in connection to the disorder. A distinct cause of Ankylosing Spondylitis has to date not been identified. It has though been observed that AS could stand in connection to an immune response. AS frequently broke out in patients following an infection of the bowel or urinary tract [2, 3].

 

The symptoms of Ankylosing spondylitis are often mistaken for other more common back problems, which makes it difficult to identify AS from the patients presenting complaints and symptoms alone. Usually x-rays, MRIs or the detection of the HLA-B27 marker are needed to make a more precise diagnosis. However, particularly in the early stages of AS, x-rays cannot provide evidence of the presence of this disorder as the deformity of the vertebrae is not yet visual in the imaging [2, 3].

 

Strong symptomatic indicators for the presence of this disorder are restricted flexibility in the lumbar spine, un-symmetric inflammation of a single joint (knee-, or hip-joint), iritis / uveitis, and the stiffening of the vertebrae. Characteristic of AS is also, that patients complain about back pain during the night, which is improved by movement. Most other, more common back problems find relief by rest and aggravation by motion. The appearance or aggravation of symptoms is usually in episodes or flare-ups, that are interrupted by phases of symptom remission and amelioration [2, 3].

 

The prognosis of disease progression is variable, as in each individual patient the expression of the disorder is different. Some patients may largely only suffer of intermittent discomfort and pain, while others may have more of the stiffness for lasting periods of time, and yet others may experience mostly deformity and even disability. With certain patients symptoms are so mild they rarely even are diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis [2, 3].

 

The treatment of AS is focused on the amelioration of the presenting symptomatology. Until today, there is no ‘cure’ for AS. The aim of treatment is to reduce pain, to retain mobility and to restrict deformity. As such exercise and physical therapy is suggested, as are inflammation and pain reducing medications. Surgery is a treatment option where a destroyed joint needs to be replaced or posture requires to be corrected [2, 3].

 

In terms of the CAM therapies, it has been found that sufferers of arthritis and related disorders seek complementary and alternative treatment in order to find “relief for pain and suffering that traditional medications have not provided”; in order “to avoid potentially serious side effects associated with [conventional] medications”; and to avoid costs of “certain conventional medical and surgical treatments” [4, n.p.]. Sufferers of AS have reported finding relief from CAM treatment [4].

The treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis with homeopathy has to be individualized. Accordingly, the remedies below may be helpful in the treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis [5, 6]:

Aesculus, Agaricus, Asa foetida, Aurum, Bryonia, Calc. Carb., Calc. Fluor., Calc. Phos., Causticum, Cimicifuga, Colchicum, Conium, Ferr. Phos., Formica rufa, Harpagophytum, Hecla lava, Kalium carbonicum, Kalmia, Natrium muriaticum, Phytolacca, Rhus tox., Solidago virgaurea, Silicea.

 

 

 

 

 

References:

[1] emedicinehealth (2017) Spondylosis, Available at: https://www.emedicinehealth.com/spondylosis/article_em.htm (Accessed: 15th November 2017).

 

[2] Spondylitis Association of America (2017) Overview of Ankylosing Spondylitis, Available at: http://www.spondylitis.org/Ankylosing-Spondylitis (Accessed: 15th November 2017).

 

[3] WebMD (2017) Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis, Available at: https://www.webmd.com/back-pain/guide/ankylosing-spondylitis#1 (Accessed: 15th November 2017). [4] Spondylitis Association of America (2017).

 

[4]Complementary Treatments, Available at: http://www.spondylitis.org/Complementary-Treatments (Accessed: 15th November 2017).

 

[5] Asa Hershoff (1996) Homeopathy for Musculoskeletal Healing , Berkeley, California: North Atlantic Books.

 

[6] DHU (2011) Homöopathisches Repetitorium  Karlsruhe: Deutsche Homöopathie Union.

 

[7] Clarke, J. (1994) A Dictionary of practical materia medica New Delhi: B.Jain publishers Ltd.

 

 

Some homeopathic remedies for Anxiety, Trauma and Fear

Tags

anxiety, Clever Homeopathy, Fear, fright, grief, homeopathy, trauma, worry

 

Anxiety, aside of the occasional state of anxiousness that everyone can experience ever now and then, can be a serious state of health. Termed ‘Anxiety disorder’, a number of mental conditions define the distress that prevents people from living a normal life. Characteristic for this anxiety syndrome are persistent, overwhelming states of worry and fear. These phases can be disabling, and may appear unmanageable. Panic, phobias, compulsion, and depression may combine, leaving the individual unable to lead a normal life.

 

Homeopathy with its holistic approach to healthcare can provide means to alleviate of the symptoms, and can assist the recovery from an anxiety disorder.

 

Some homeopathic remedies and their anxiety profile:

 

Aconitum:

This is a remedy that treats great fear and anxiety that comes suddenly. The individual has premonitions and fears the future. There is a tendency to start accompanied by physical and mental restlessness and anguish.

 

Gelsemium:

This is a remedy for the bad effects of fright, fear or emotional excitement. Physical ailments develop as a consequence of such triggers. There may be drowsiness, dizziness, dullness and trembling.

 

Ignatia:

This is a highly emotional remedy. The need for it is triggered by worry and grief, shock and disappointment. The individual is easily excited, is nervous, erratic. There is silent brooding, sadness and melancholy, sighing and sobbing.

 

Opium:

In need of this remedy is someone who demonstrates a lack of vitality, is sluggish, delirious. There may be scary imaginativeness.

 

Verratrum album:

This remedy is characterized by weakness, collapse. There may be shrieking, cursing and frenzy. There is melancholy, mania and stupor. The individual is indifferent.

 

 

 

Reference:

Boericke, W. (2004) Pocket manual of homeopathic materia medica and repertory New Delhi: B.Jain publishers Ltd.

Clarke, J. (1994) A Dictionary of practical materia medica New Delhi: B.Jain publishers Ltd.

 

 

 

 

 

It’s summer…let’s hit the road and travel!

Tags

Clever Homeopathy, Flying, holidays, homeopathy, Sea, sickness, Travel

 

 

Its summer, schools out and you are ready to hit the road, board the plane, train, or boat and head towards your holiday destination. You are looking forward to the relaxing and reinvigorating time, yet just out of town or up in the air, you or your little ones are feeling unwell. It’s the road, the float or carriage on the wind, it makes sick. Now what?

 

Travel-sickness can instantly destroy all of the glee, joy and happiness associated with the anticipated vacation. I would know, because a mere 3 km out of my hometown the main road falls into a set of ‘murderous’ serpentine curves, leaving me in a state of nauseous delirium. “Stop making such a fuzz. It can’t be that bad”, is what I often get to hear. But, it is that bad! Luckily, since becoming a homeopath, I know that there’s a remedy for that!

 

Travel sickness? There´s a homeopathic remedy for that!

 

Since I have that appropriate remedy at hand, travel sickness is a thing of the past for me. So, for fellow sufferers, below is a collation of remedies I have used to alleviate the presenting symptoms.

 

Cocculus: The #1 remedy for travel sickness and sea sickness. There is dizziness with every movement, and this is accompanied by great nausea and frequently also vomiting. A keynote is disgust and nausea at the thought of, and particularly at the smell of food. The taste in the mouth is metallic, and the stomach feels hollow, as if without food for an extended amount of time. There is loss of appetite and the individual feels faint. Lying down in a warm room ameliorates. This sickness also occurs when the individual watches objects move. (Personal hint: Do not eat right before travelling – This sickness is worse if drink or food have been ingested just ahead of traveling).

 

Tabacum: In the event of this sickness there is the sensation of an incessant deathly nausea. Opening the eyes creates a ‘sick’ headache accompanied by said deathly nausea. The stomach feels empty, with a sinking feeling.  There may be sour, violent vomiting. The individual feels terribly faint. In a warm room and in open air the individual feels worse. The least motion or drinking can cause vomiting. Tobacco smoke is unbearable. The individual looks deathly pale, sunken, as if collapsed, and has cold sweat covering the face. He or she wants to uncover the abdomen.

 

Petroleum: This remedy is particularly indicated for sea and travel sickness that is improved by eating. There is a feeling of great emptiness in the stomach. Appetite may be increased. There may be vomiting, but not necessarily. Vertigo and dizziness are felt in the head, at the occiput. It feels like the heavy head after intoxication with alcohol, and is accompanied by nausea. Salivation is increased. The abdomen is bloated. There is a strong aversion to meat and fatty foods. There may be increased burping and belching. The individual is better for warmth and lying with an elevated head.

 

Nux vomica: Nux is indicated for seasickness and travel sickness where there is persistence of nausea; bitter or sour vomiting, with vertigo and an intoxicated feeling. There may be occipital headache that worsens by conducting certain movements, or the head pain may stretch across the front of the head, above the eyes, with the desire to press the head against a hard surface. The vertigo feels like the brain is rotating. It feels like there is a swimming movement inside the head. There is a general sensitivity to noise, odour and light. Lying down ameliorates. (Personal hint: Sitting in the front seat of the car with a clear view of the road ahead helps alleviate travel sickness).

 

Borax: In Borax there is a true dread of downward movement, as in the motion of a plane landing, or a boat lowering on the waves of the sea. Like in the characteristic fear of falling, the downward motion produces anxiety and nervousness that shows in the facial expression of the individual. The downward motion, that also can occur when walking down a staircase, may cause vertigo and nausea. This sickness may produce vomiting.  (Borax is also the remedy indicated for babies that start and want to be lifted when put to bed. They also do not like being rocked or carried down the stairs.)

 

 

 

 

References:

Clarke, J. (1994) A Dictionary of practical materia medica New Delhi: B.Jain publishers Ltd.

 

DHU (1994) Homöopathisches Repetitorium  Karlsruhe: Deutsche Homöopathie Union.

 

Influenca Ltd (2017) ABC Homeopathy, Available at: http://www.abchomeopathy.com(Accessed: July 2017).

Croup – relief by homeopathy

Tags

Children, cough, croup, homeopathy, laryngitis, remedies

 

 

When children are ill, parents naturally worry. They give all their attention to their little one, tend to all its needs and aim to exhaust all methods and means that may offer relief to the child’s suffering. If then a cough sounds oddly ‘barking’, and breathing is audible by a wheezing, squeaky sound, alarm bells start to ring for a mother or father.

 

Croup is characterized by such a ‘barking’ cough that often makes parents take their children to see the doctor. However, this is only necessary in severe cases, where the body temperature is very high, or respiration is greatly impaired. For the milder cases there are homeopathic remedies that may help to alleviate.

 

Croup is a viral infection that affects the upper airways, the larynx, trachea and the bronchi. It is a childhood disease that can affect children between 3 months and 5 years. Croup is contagious; it may therefore be contracted more than once during childhood.

 

Initially it may appear the child has contracted a cold, as symptoms mimic those of a common cold. However, when the associated cough develops into the characteristic dry, ‘barking’, it is likely that the child has croup. The little patient may have fever, breathing may be difficult and inspiration may produce that distinctive wheezing sound. The voice may sound harsh and raspy, and the presenting symptoms are usually worse at night.

 

Symptoms are usually mild, and alleviation can be brought on by few ‘home’ measures. Hydration is a most important factor and the sick child should be encouraged to sip clear liquids such as water, juice or herbal tea. Milk products should be avoided as these produce more mucus and this is commonly already an associated symptom of croup, and may be a cause of discomfort to the child.

 

A common ‘home-remedy’ is the inhalation of warm moist air. This can be achieved by sitting the child next to the running shower. This can alleviate symptoms and may calm the cough.

 

The following homeopathic remedies are known to be helpful in cases of croup.

 

Aconite: This remedy alone may suffice to alleviate of the presenting symptoms. The dry barking cough is prominent, the child has difficulty breathing, is restless, nervous, and anxious. There is fever and the skin feels hot and dry. The patient has a thirst for cold drinks.

 

Belladonna: This remedy is indicated where a flushing of the face accompanies the characteristic symptoms. The child starts from sleep and there is drowsiness. The skin feels dry and hot.

 

Hepar sulph.: This follows well on Aconite, where there is a rattling sound of the phlegm in the respiratory tract. There is labored breathing and profuse sweating while coughing.

 

Spongia: This is another valuable remedy for croup. It has less fever than Aconite, but is also accompanied by restlessness and anxiety. The coughing is almost incessant, and there is no rattling of phlegm.

 

Drosera: A specific of this remedy are the attacks after midnight, and the need to sit up. Lying down brings on the coughing. The child may hold its chest while coughing. There is the feeling of a lump in the larynx.

 

 

 

 

 

References:

Adams, M. (1913) A practical guide to homeopathic treatment Philadelphia: Boericke & Tafel.

 

Chernin D. (2006) The Complete Homeopathic Resource for Common Illnesses. Google books [Online]. Available at: https://books.google.pt/books?id=4g8saZsOsGoC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false (Accessed: 10 May 2010).

 

Clarke, J. (1994) A Dictionary of practical materia medica New Delhi: B.Jain publishers Ltd.

 

EMedicineHealth (2017) Croup, Available at: http://www.emedicinehealth.com (Accessed: 10 May 2017).

 

Lilienthal, S. (1998) Homeopathic Therapeutics. Google books [Online]. Available at: https://books.google.pt/books?id=CMMXEyH_rIkC&pg=PA268&lpg=PA268&dq=drosera+for+croup&source=bl&ots=OHCC1l2tCZ&sig=-Hp_ABQsTJQGxy3iavpFIt2FbEk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiEj83vh-bTAhXBK8AKHW1BC_cQ6AEIQDAD#v=onepage&q=drosera%20for%20croup&f=false (Accessed: 10 May 2017).

MedicineNet.com (2017) Croup, Available at: http://www.medicinenet.com/croup/article.htm (Accessed: 10 May 2017).

 

NHS (n.d.) Croup, Available at: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/croup/Pages/Introduction.aspx (Accessed: 10 May 2017).

A false positive of heart diseases – the Roemheld syndrome

Tags

Angina Pectoris, bloating, Clever Homeopathy, gas, gastro-intestinal tract, homeopathy, IBS, Roemheld syndrome

 

It has become evident in our modern times, that many of our lifestyle habits, in particular keeping up with our increasingly hectic society, are taking their toll on our health. Our work-life balance is skewed heavily towards stress and our nutritional preferences are dictated by the time available to cook and the income to spare. It is therefore not surprising that our health is impacted negatively by how we conduct our life and manage our care. Such factors lead to the creation of ever new ‘life-style’ ailments that we succumb to, and are very frequently misdiagnosed for what they are not and are as a consequence not seldom inappropriately treated. One such ‘modern’ disease, that likely has some of its causative factors in our life-style and nutritional habits, is undoubtedly the ‘Roemheld syndrome’.

 

This symptom complex of ‘gastric cardia’ was first identified and described as a stand-alone syndrome in the early 1930’s, when Dr. Ludwig Roemheld identified the reflex heart symptomatology specifically caused by gastro-intestinal discomforts. Characterized by symptoms mimicking those of angina pectoris, the Roemheld syndrome is often mistaken for the former. As such the following afflictions are common to ‘RS’: Palpitation, arrhythmia (tachycardia), circulatory disorders, dizziness, dyspnea, and related states of fear and anxiety, panic attacks. Further symptoms associated with ‘RS’ are: Gastro-intestinal discomforts, trapped gas, nausea, hot flashes, sleep-disorders, syncope and tinnitus.

 

Ultimately the cause of the ‘syndrome’ is the development of gas in the digestive tract. This may be of varied origin and besides mal-nutrition, food-intolerance, indigestion, speaking while chewing and as such ‘swallowing’ air, may be caused by life-style factors such as stress, anger, or depression. Our sedentary work practice may play a role. We are accustomed to conduct most of our work sitting down, we engage in little physical exercise, eat rapidly and unhealthily, sooner or later such habits must make us ill. However there are also disease factors that promote Roemheld syndrome. IBS, irritable bowel syndrome, has been named as a potential adjunctive cause of ‘RS’, as has the existence of a hiatus hernia. Neural involvement of the vagus nerve has also been linked to the development of the ‘RS’ symptomatology. In this case sensory communication from the digestive tract to the brain is believed to impact the development of symptoms.

 

During an ‘attack’, the bloated gastro-intestinal tract displaces the organs in the thoracic cavity. To the patient there appears to be insufficient space in the chest. The bloated stomach and bowels push the lungs aside, generating pressure on the heart, causing anxiety, difficulty breathing, oppression, weakness, dizziness and faintness in the patient. The pulse rate increases, palpitation may appear and arrhythmia are triggered, in the form of tachycardia or extra systoles. It is not infrequent that these symptoms take a patient to see a cardiologist. However the causative factors of the presenting symptoms are often misinterpreted as originating from the heart itself.

 

In many cases the management of ‘RS’ can be achieved by altering dietary and lifestyle habits. As such, avoiding certain foods can alleviate symptoms and prevent ‘attacks’. Reducing alcohol and restricting the consumption of fizzy drinks, which promote fermentation in the bowels and thereby produce gas, can be helpful. Fast food, fatty meals, vegetables such as of the onion family, cabbage, pulses, pastry, and particularly white flour products should be avoided; such changes sooth the digestive activity of the stomach and bowels. However surgical intervention may be necessary where a hiatus hernia is identified as causative factor.

 

Conventional medicine suggests the administration of medication that reduces bloating, and inhibits the development of gas in the digestive tract. Yet this medical intervention is one that only palliates and does not remove the underlying cause. The issue remains and drug side-effects can produce consequential troubles in the long run. Acute alleviation can be achieved by herbal tea infusions with fennel, melissa, mint, juniper or black cumin. From a homeopathic perspective, remedies that aim at the removal of the digestive pathology and take into consideration the patient idiosyncratic cardiac symptomatology should be considered (gastro-cardia symptom complex).

 

 

References:

Brisson, J. (2016) Can Stomach Issues Cause Heart Disease? Part 2: Roemheld Syndrome, Available at: http://fixyourgut.com/can-stomach-issues-cause-heart-disease/ (Accessed: 27 February 2017).

 

N.A. (n.d.) Roemheld Syndrome Information and Resources, Available at: http://roemheld-syndrome.com/ (Accessed: 27 February 2017).

 

Stange, D. (2017) Roemheld-Syndrom – Ursachen, Symptome, Therapie, Available at: https://www.gesundheits-fakten.de/roemheld-syndrom-ursachen-symptome-therapie/ (Accessed: 27 February 2017).