Our world and our lifestyles have become very busy today. As a result, more and more people are encountering symptoms of severe stress and anxiety. Most people are constantly strained by the pressures of their jobs as well as their daily lives. While it is true that stress is a part of our lives, having too much stress can have many negative effects on our health. It could even lead to complications such as anxiety and depression.
Being overstressed can lead to an unhealthy life. Some of the effects of stress include high blood pressure, lowered immune system response, and many other symptoms. People experiencing too much strain would also show stress symptoms spasms and cramps which can greatly affect the nervous system and other important parts of your body.
What most people don't know is that there are actually many different types of stress, and each type can affect a person differently. There is what some people refer to as positive stress, which can actually help people reach their goals. However, most stress disorders are associated with negative stress, which has a great impact on the whole body. The negative stresses could lead to other conditions such as a panic disorder or an anxiety attack, post-traumatic stress disorder, and even trigger a specific phobia.
There are many different causes of stress. Each individual has different factors that trigger their stress. Over time, these factors will change. Some of the common causes of stress include finances, work, family, personal problems, health and safety, relationships, and deaths.
One of the effects of too much stress is anxiety and depression. Anxiety is a normal part of human life, but if you find yourself constantly worrying, then you might have an anxiety disorder. Some people even get to experience severe anxiety attacks. This can really be frightening and upsetting for most people, and if it is triggered by going out in public, most people would just be afraid of going out.
There are also many different types of anxiety, so if you want to find the right remedy for anxiety, you should first look for the anxiety symptoms. Most anxiety symptoms include chest pain and shortness of breath. People with anxiety also have emotional symptoms such as increased fear of what people may think about you. They may also experience irrational fears about certain objects, circumstances, and situations.
After an onset of anxiety, people my get to experience depression. They may also find it hard to concentrate, get constant headaches, be more irritable, and even have sleep disturbances.
There are conventional treatments that aim to heal the individual from the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression, but they usually just address the symptoms. These medicines do not target the cause of the affliction. The best way that people could seek treatment from these ailments is to use homeopathy. One of the best short term solutions for panic attacks from stress is Bach Flower's Rescue Remedy. If you find that you are constantly feeling anxiety then you need to find a professional homeopath who can support you to reduce the anxiety with your homeopathic remedy.
With homeopathy, your individual symptoms are matched to a homeopathic remedy, so that you would get to experience healing right away. A homeopath usually investigates not just the symptoms of the disease, but also the condition of the one suffering from it in general. A homeopath may also choose a remedy based on the intensity of the conditions of the individual, so it is perfectly safe for people taking it.
]]>Anyone who has witnessed someone in the throes of a severe asthma attack, with the victim's attendant feelings of helplessness and panic, knows that this disease can be cruel and dangerous.
Asthma, a chronic disease of the lungs, afflicts roughly 20 million Americans. The condition, which costs many billions of dollars a year, is responsible for roughly half a million hospital stays annually, one quarter of all emergency room visits, and 4,000 deaths. To its sufferers it can represent anything from a minor inconvenience to a life-threatening malady. For some people asthma is intermittent and controlled, while for others it's persistent. Statistically, asthma correlates with poverty, and is less common in adults than in children - among whom it is the most common chronic ailment.
The basic mechanism is that asthma causes airways to become constricted - which is called a bronchospasm - and hence breathing becomes difficult.
In infants and children, a diagnosis of wheezy bronchitis, asthmatic bronchitis, or reactive airway disease (RAD) is not identical with asthma, though these conditions can lead to the disorder. Fortunately, many asthmatic children essentially "grow out" of the condition and by adulthood no longer have attacks.
Most people with asthma lead happy and active lives, sometimes with restrictions (such as limiting the amount and vigorousness of exercise or exposure to cold air), but the fact that asthma is on the rise - with its incidence nearly doubling since the 1980s across all age, sex, and ethnic groups - is a cause of considerable concern and bafflement to public health experts as well as doctors. Some medical scientists think that the population's increasing exposure to certain chemicals is responsible for the rise. While conventional medicine has no cure for the disease, it has made strides in the management of the condition.
Some of the common symptoms of asthma are coughing (especially at night), wheezing (asthma's hallmark), rapid breathing, and "retractions" (a pulling-in of the skin between the ribs and on the neck). If someone has a chronic cough - which generally means one lasting more than eight weeks - asthma should be considered a prime suspect. One highly useful device for gauging whether someone is in imminent danger of an asthma attack is called a peak flow meter, which measures a person's respiratory output and compares breath strength against a baseline.
Common "triggers" for asthmatic attacks include exercise, colds, pollution including smoke, various allergens including pets (most asthmatics have allergies, which run in the family), mold, cold air, coughing, stress, and acid reflux.
Before the 1980's, the only widely used medications for asthma were epinephrine and ephedrine. But pharmaceuticals have advanced since then to better address symptoms, and now a confusing array of medications for asthma exist. They fall into multiple categories: quick relief ("rescue meds"), long term controls, and oral steroids which can serve as either quick relief or control medications. Groups of asthma medications include inhaled corticosteroids (ICS's), short-acting beta-agonists (SABAs), long acting beta-agonists (LABAs), and leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRAs). Some well-known and widely prescribed specific medicines are albuterol, ipatropium, cromolyn, nedocromil, budesonide (Pulmicort), omalizumab, ipatropium, formoterol (Foradil), salmeterol (Serevent), montelukast (Singulair), zafirlukast (accodate), zileuton (Zyflo), and prednisone.
Delivery methods for these medications run the gamut as well, including metered-dose inhalers (MDIs), breath-actuated inhalers, holding chambers, masks, dry powder inhalers, and compression driven nebulizers (mist machines).
Some over-the-counter remedies are used by asthmatics, such as antihistamines and decongestants (allergy medications), loratadine (Claritin) & cetirizine (Zyrtec) for sinus problems, and acid reflux meds such as antacids or histamine blockers.
There are many downsides to the traditional approach, including the side effects of and permanent dependency on the medications. For example, the side effects of ICS's include growth retardation, and mouth yeast; for LABAs they include headaches, tremors, palpitations, and cramps; and for LTRAs, headache, nausea, dizziness, rashes, fatigue, and stomach aches. These are not mild, benign medications at work. Plus, the treatment itself can be a major drain on the body. For example, often a child who is able to get an asthma attack under control with the use of a nebulizer will be left too weak from the medication itself to go to school.
Conventional doctors devise action and treatment plans based on a stepwise approach to an attack's onset and severity, but homeopathy seeks to address the disease at its source. A homeopath will investigate not just the disease mechanism but the patient's overall well-being in every regard, all the physical and even emotional attributes. This is done so a correct remedy or series of remedies can be chosen that treats the whole being, not just the afflicted region (in this case, the lungs). Some of the remedies given for asthma include ipecac, pulsatilla, spongia, sulphur, antim-tart, hepar-sulph, and tuberculinum. An experienced homeopath chooses an individualized homeopathic remedy that will help reduce the symptoms' intensity and frequency.
]]>Description - This radio show talks about infertility and how homeopathy help get the positive results you are looking for. We will talk about modern trends and lifestyles, and how engaging in the workforce has many women delaying starting a family. Many women have also been using contraceptives, which disrupt the hormonal balance of the body.
Through discussions we will show how homeopathy helps to restore balance in women's lives which in turn naturally allows women to conceive and carry healthy babies to term. We will also learn why people choose to go for conventional treatments instead of trying the safer and more effective homeopathic treatments. As well, we will talk about homeopathy in general and how it has benefited many people.
Today, we will be exploring infertility, which is really becoming a growing concern as many more women are putting off starting a family until their late thirties or earlier forties, and this is definitely a newer trend in modern history. And infertility can really affect women quite deeply. It's really at the core of what it means to be a woman. And I would say that many women have spent most of their young lives trying not to get pregnant at an inopportune time, and when that decision comes around to get pregnant when finances are in order, relationships are in place and careers are stable, and when that inevitable time clock is ticking, and it doesn't happen easily. This can be really devastating for many women.
Getting pregnant is really something that women just assume that they could just automatically do. And when it becomes a struggle, when it really becomes a medical condition, this can be very deeply disappointing. So in part one of our show, we will discuss the causes of infertility. Conventional options, potential risks, and the alternative approach of homeopathy. In part two, we'll talk about how homeopathy works differently from conventional approaches and look at some case examples. On the third part of our show, we are blessed to have a very joyful mom with us who conceived her baby with the help of homeopathy. We are going to talk about her experiences. And in the final segment of the show, we will discuss some general advice about promoting fertility and your chances of conceiving a child naturally and safely.
My first guest today is Mary Aspinwall, she is a world-renowned homeopath and educator, and the author of our basic guide to homeopathy. We hear so much more about infertility in recent years, I mean, what's going on?
Mary Aspinwall: Well, I think the reason that we hear so much about it is because it has become a very extreme situation, with one-third of couples where the woman is over thirty-five experience infertility problems. And I think it has only recently come into the collective consciousness, so there's a huge drop in the natural fertility levels particularly after the age of thirty-five. It drops almost 10 percent and that drop continues. So if you are like thirty-seven or forty years old, your chances of having a baby is about 21 percent. If you are between forty-one and forty-two, your chances of having a baby is about 11 percent.
So we can see that the lifestyle choices that people have made because of women entering the workforce and being more successful in the workforce, and being reluctant to give up their career, and reluctant to give up that second income. This results in many people delaying having babies. This has brought about a massive problem for people. I think that problem is coming more and more into the consciousness of women and giving them more and more cause for concern.
Aside from what's happening from women's infertility, there is also a significant decrease in the motility and the number of sperm. Male sperm counts are also dropping. So you have a double whammy effect there.
Besides these things, many women have used birth control pills. Some aspects of our body are quite solid in the material realm like our skeletons, but when you are talking about the hormonal system, they are super fine and delicate. And I think what we've done is that we tinkered with that system and it's brought all sorts of effects that we wanted. But of course, as with any medical treatment, there are effects that you want and there are effects that you do not want. Synthetic hormones can have a very bad effect for women's health.
We could also see in relation to the contraceptive pills what is happening there is that you are taking hormones to convince your body that you are pregnant all the time. There is no need for you to conceive since in effect you are already have conceived. This is effectively lying to your body. You don't have any kind of natural cycle or any kind of natural bleeding. You do have bleeding once a month but this is in relation to withdrawal of the oral contraceptives. Essentially, what you are doing is that you are putting your body on hold and telling it a lie, and often that lie can go on for a year. Some cases it could even last up to ten years.
Unfortunately, there is a huge price when to be paid you start tinkering that way with your system. Because when you try to say to it "Now I'm ready, now I want to get pregnant", it isn't always as straightforward as that. You actually created a situation where it is actually much more difficult to conceive, and on top of that you do have increased your risk of having breast cancer and cervical cancer to boot.
One of the things that I always address to my female clients is that to just give them this kind of information so that they could make a more meaningful choice of what kind of contraceptive that they are going to use. I also say to my clients all contraceptives are awful. What you have to do is you have to make a reasoned choice on the risks and benefits of each one. And then decide which one's for you.
There are other aspects in relation to people's nutrition. I think the quality of our food has gone down and people tend to go more for convenience processed food and less fresh fruit and vegetables. Many more find that good nutrition particularly fresh fruits and vegetables are key to wellbeing.
We have made great advances in conventional medicine, but people will just assume that they have ideas that they will become more successful with that kind of reproductive assistance. Although it has come a long way, it is by no means a total solution.
Here in our second part, we have a highly respected homeopathic practitioner and lecturer, Gabrielle Traub. Most of the patients coming in on her clinic prefer to have traditional treatments for their infertility. Often, homeopathy is the end of the line. As people are becoming more and more aware of homeopathy, it really is a form of treatment that they could use for infertility. They are starting to use homeopathy much faster.
The types of patients who are coming to see me often have underlying conditions. All the hormonal imbalances can make infertility a lot more tricky. What I have seen now especially with younger women seeking a pregnancy is that they are turning to homeopathy to put their bodies in balance. This way, when they want to get pregnant, they would not be having all of the problems that they have down the line. There is also a partner's involvement, things like sperm count and motility of the sperm, and it is equally important to treat both partners.
When women finally decide that they want to have a baby, often the clock's ticking and it creates a real feeling of desperation in them. They learn how to feel like they have a lot of time to spend. If women and men did not feel the immense pressure that they feel to get pregnant, they would never willingly go to the fertility treatments because they are absolutely horrendous. When a woman becomes pregnant, it's the time when they are trying to get their body as healthy as possible to give the baby the best possible start it can have. I always recommend my patients before they get to conceive to come in for constitutional homeopathic treatments. Get your body as healthy as it possibly can be so that you could create babies that are as healthy as possible.
Homeopathy is perfect for creating hormonal balance of your body and creating health on their own. When most women go to their and OBGYN, they don't even recommend homeopathy as an option. Most women and couples don't think of homeopathy as a potential option for something that's safe and natural and gentle. Many women and couples that I have treated told me "I wish I have known before".
Creating a baby and getting pregnant is instinctive in one way or another. It is very difficult to dissuade a woman wanting to have a baby because it's instinctive, it's in our genes. It really makes women question their femininity and ability to create and it's a very sad situation. My heart goes out to so many women and couples struggling. I'm not surprised that they are going to try any treatment that is going to help no matter what damage it does to their bodies. It is because they don't know about homeopathy.
The traditional approach to infertility is about supercharging those ovaries and making eggs get produced and putting the whole endocrine system into an acute, overcharged state to promote egg production. What I am hearing about homeopathy is that it is about bringing the body to a balance so that the whole system can naturally create a pregnancy versus forcing the body to create a pregnancy.
There are so many risks with the conventional treatments. The homeopathic treatments, on the other hand, is a lot easier because there's no side effects. It's completely safe, it's completely natural, and every step of the way, the woman goes through no pain, no side effects, it's just a much more gentle approach.
The way to prescribe homeopathy is to give very small doses, minor doses of substances that are capable of enlisting an immune response. So it triggers the immune system. The first thing it does is that it regulates the hormonal balance of the system. We very much emphasize diet and lifestyle and things like that as well. Women often tell me that they feel that it's so unfair how a drug addict, somebody who takes amphetamines can have an unwanted child when they are damaging their bodies. There's a lot more to it than healthy diet and lifestyle. What homeopathy does is that it puts the whole body in balance. Fertility is the number one sign of health.
]]>Migraines are one of the most common types of headaches that people suffer from in their lives. They are usually moderate to severe in nature, and they can sometimes really affect the lives of the individuals who suffer from them. People can no longer effectively do their jobs if they constantly in extreme pain from headaches. Even their personal lives and relationships can be affected by these awful and sometimes constant headaches.
A study has shown that about 90 percent of the world population gets a headache at least twice a week. And that is not really surprising. Our lives today are very hectic. People are always on the rush, and these often results in less than optimal nutrition and even sleep deprivation. Of the 90 percent that get headaches, about 17 percent of people get a specific type of headache which is a migraine or vascular headache. This usually affects women more, but it is not unheard of that men also get this kind of severe headache.
Migraines are simply a vascular headache. This is quite different from the tension headaches, where you feel you have a constrictive band around your head. The migraine may occur due to an outside factor which causes some nerve spasms to occur in the brain. Sometimes, the spasms constrict the blood vessels in the brain, creating the aura or lights that people see. The blood vessels could also over-relax, which puts too much blood flow to the brain. Migraines may last for just a few hours, or they could continue for several days.
There are many different causes of migraines. These include smoking, erratic meals, dehydration, lack of sleep, stress, and certain illnesses. Most of the migraine symptoms include warning signs, nausea, sensitivity to lights and noise, and fatigue and irritability--and of course extreme pain.
There are actually many different kinds of migraine treatments. Most pharmaceutical companies offer all in one solutions for treatments. Although some of these drugs might be effective, they are really expensive and wear off so you have to keep taking it. Some of the drugs have unwelcomed side effects. The best way to get rid of migraines is to use an alternative treatment like homeopathy.
Homeopathic remedies are a natural cure to the human body's different kinds of illnesses. There are definitely so many advantages in taking the homeopathic treatments. For one thing, they are a natural treatment. They do not contain harsh chemicals that can really affect the body. There are some over the counter homeopathic remedies that are available such as Glonoine, Belladona, Iris versicolor and Nux vomica. However, for best results, you should consult with a professional homeopath who will prescribe a homeopathic remedy specific to you that will heal your migraines.
Most homeopaths schedule an initial interview with their clients with several follow-ups. This way, they could get to know the symptoms of the disease that is affecting their clients and help alleviate them. If they have a migraine, the homeopath takes into account their current symptoms as well as their lifestyle and habit. This way, the clients would be getting the right homeopathic remedy for their sickness that reduces the intensity and frequency of the migraines.
Homeopathy is definitely the best way for people to get relief from their migraines. The remedies are carefully selected to match the individual taking it, and not just the symptoms of the disease. When taken properly, the homeopathic treatments can even get rid of the root cause of migraines and stop them from interrupting life and ongoing suffering.
]]>Hives (or Urticaria in Latin) is a sudden-onset allergic skin reaction - red raised areas of skin in various shapes and sizes. The hives themselves (small flat-topped bumps called wheals and larger welts) can cause severe itching and be very unsightly. They can appear on any area of the body. In many cases, the individual wheals and welts appear and disappear quickly, with new ones taking their places within minutes or hours. This fluctuation and rapid succession is a hallmark of hives. Estimates vary, but roughly 5% to 20% of the population will experience hives some time during their lifetimes; the condition is the most common rash for which people seek medical treatment.
Hives can occur at any age, and more than half the time a precise cause cannot be identified (in medical terminology, they are "idiopathic"). Some common known causes are allergic reactions to foods, medications, cleaning products, and cosmetics, insect bites or stings, viral infections, and excessive heat or sunlight. Even emotional stress can induce an outbreak.
The hives are caused by a release of histamines and other compounds into the skin from a type of cell called mast cells. This causes blood vessels to leak fluid and thus produce swelling in the skin.
Very often, hives are a passing phenomenon that resolves on its own. Conventional treatment for hives includes identifying the precipitating factor if possible; allergy testing, for example, might be administered. In addition, for mild cases doctors will frequently recommend a short-acting type H1 antihistamine such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl); the chief side effect of this drug is significant drowsiness. Or a longer-acting antihistamine might be prescribed, such as fexofenadine (Allegra) or cetirizine (Zyrtec). Hives sufferers sometimes respond to the long-acting and non-sedating H1 antihistamine loratadine (Claritin), which is available without a prescription. Some physicians will prescribe type H2 antihistamines for hives such as ranitidine (Zantac), famotidine (Pepcid), and cimetidine (Tagamet).
For severe cases of hives, the main tools in doctors' arsenals are corticosteroids. These drugs, which may be administered orally or by injection, suppress the immune system's allergic response, which can alleviate symptoms and reduce the likelihood that the rash will return. Some corticosteroids are prednisone (Deltasone), dexamethasone (Decadron), and methylprednisolone (Medrol). But corticosteroids are powerful drugs with serious and undesirable side effects. By suppressing immune response, they can impair the body's ability to ward off infection, for example; in children and teenagers, they can stunt growth. Used in conventional medicine for a host of ailments and applications, corticosteroids should not be taken lightly, especially not on an ongoing basis.
There are many alternative natural remedies for hives, but not one single definitive treatment. Some recommendations include the use of papaya juice, amaranth tea, ginger bath, chamomile oil, freeze-dried stinging nettle leaf extract (taken orally), and jewelweed.
From a homeopathic vantage, hives can be indicative of an underlying imbalance, as well as the body's aversion to a specific offending agent. This is why homeopaths will conduct inclusive interviews covering all aspects of a patient's physical and emotional state before prescribing.
The homeopathic remedy will be chosen based on a multitude of factors, including which part of the body is affected, whether the wheals burn or itch, whether they are periodic, whether the patient is restless, skin pallor, weather conditions that induce the hives, etc. Homeopathic remedies for hives include Arsenicum album, Bovista, Dulcamara, Formica rufa, Nat.mur, Nux vomica, Pulsatilla, Rhus toxicodendron, and Urtica urens.
A skilled homeopath will select a remedial course designed to both lessen the magnitude and frequency of the symptoms and also address the deeper disruption that is causing the problem. It is crucial, from the homeopathic perspective, not to merely suppress the skin symptoms, as this might merely drive the disease process deeper into the body and eventually affect vital organs.
]]>Does your child suffer from coughs, ear infections, sore throat, bed wetting, or digestive problems? What about emotional issues like sibling rivalry, anger, or obstinacy? Or mental difficulties like inability to concentrate, memory problems, or a learning disability? These symptoms (and others) indicate a deeper state of imbalance. But symptoms are only the tip of the iceberg; they need to be understood fully to recognize what lies underneath. It does not matter if the situation is an acute problem or more chronic. Homeopathy is ideal for the care of children because it safe, gentle, and addresses the whole child - not just his or her symptoms. With homeopathic treatment, the child experiences gentle, dynamic growth. The homeopath can restore harmony for the child and his/her family.
During an IH Approach consultation, the homeopath may ask about the mother's pregnancy, the child's birth, the child's dreams if she/he is old enough to remember and speak about them, and the child's interests. The consultation also includes observations of the child. The homeopath will ask about the characteristics of the child's symptoms. For example: the sore throat has a burning pain that moves from right to left. Sometimes the homeopath will recognize the connection between the problem and the emotions. For example: bed wetting began after the child was humiliated. An even deeper observation would look at the child's fantasy life or delusions. For example: the child feels surrounded by enemies. The next level of understanding is at the level of sensation. What does this child feel at the connection of mind and body? For example: they feel shattered when they fail their exam and their migraine feels like shattered glass behind their eyes. Understanding these sensations often has a profound healing impact on the child - it can resolve the chief complaint and open new avenues of awareness. At this point, the child may be able to identify a substance which could help them. For example: a child feels like they are constantly moving like a spider, and they are able to explore the qualities of the spider that they need in an energetic form or homeopathic remedy.
The homeopath gives a remedy based on a deep understanding of the child's (and sometimes his/her parents') state. The homeopathic remedy creates a healing from within that produces harmony and well being on all levels - physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. The chief complaint will reduce, and in most cases, go away. Leaps of consciousness and awareness are more pronounced, and opportunities for growth present themselves in the child's life. The healing process is usually a challenge, but the child has the inner resources to do his/her best.
Homeopathy is an alternative medicine that originated with Dr. Samuel Hahnemann in Germany (1755- 1843). The American Institute of Homeopathy, founded in 1844, was the first national medical society in the U.S. Hahnemann named this form of medicine "homeopathy" because "homoios" in Greek means similar, and "pathos" means suffering. These terms refer to the "the law of similars." This law, originally described by ancient Greeks, says that "like cures like" - or that a substance that produces a reaction in a healthy person will resolve those symptoms in a sick person. Hahnemann systematized the law of similars into a medical science. He also discovered the law of the "minimum dose," which is diluting a remedy to increase its potency. Remedies are made from plants, minerals and animal substances. Homeopathy is energy medicine, like Reiki or acupuncture. Homeopathy is unique because it addresses both the mind and the body - in addition to supporting the evolutionary process of the person. The homeopathic treatment begins with reducing suffering so that the person can become aware of choices and live their life more fully. In this way, the person experiences an opening of awareness and deep spiritual growth.
Melissa Burch has adapted traditional and modern homeopathic methods to create the IH Approach. The IH Approach is a proven homeopathic method for resolving symptoms and opening up possibilities in one's life. During an IH Approach consultation, the homeopath seeks to understand what is unique in the child by talking with the child (if the child is old enough) or with his/her parents. When the homeopath has enough information about the child's situation, a remedy is given. Homeopathic remedies are gentle and noninvasive, and are specifically tailored for each child in order to produce deep healing.
A ten year old girl suddenly started doing poorly in school. The youngest of four children, she was almost put up for adoption by her parents when she was born. Until this year, her mother said she was a good student, did her homework well, and had friends in school. Recently however, she had started failing her classes and crying after school. She was easily upset by anything her siblings did or said to her. Her parents were supportive. They had meetings with the teacher and principal. They discussed moving her to anther class, but decided it would be too disruptive so close to the end of the school year. While the homeopath talked with her, the child described her teacher as scary and bad, and said that he screamed at her. She said she was afraid the teacher would hit her and break her bones. She also felt her friends hated her. She described a dream in which she was in the kitchen, and the teacher came to her house and told her parents something so terrible about her that they left with the teacher. She was left all alone.
This case represents a situation where a child has to face a difficult situation in life, which triggers a deep fear of abandonment by her parents. (This situation almost happened in real life when she was almost put up for adoption.) She has supportive parents, but still she is unable to cope with the teacher. She received one dose of Magnesium Carbonicum, a mineral remedy, which has a characteristic emotional symptom of feeling like an orphan or abandoned child.
A week after taking the remedy, she was no longer coming home from school crying, could focus on her homework, and had found the courage to answer questions in the classroom. She was laughing more. She was not so easily disturbed by her siblings. She said to her parents that she wondered how the other children were handling the teacher, because he was so rude to them. A month after taking the remedy, she said she was fine with the teacher. Her grades improved significantly. Her parents said she was much more affectionate and open with them and with her friends.
What happened? It is possible that the child became more aware of her situation and realized that it was not her, but the teacher, that was the problem. However, if we think about our own lives or the lives of friends, we understand that awareness of a situation doesn't always lead to its resolution. We continue recreating similar situations at work or with relationships - which means that we are the problem, not the other person or situation. The homeopathic remedy, in a gentle and deep way, created the clarity this child needed to see that the teacher was harsh to others in the class as well. This realization, which came from the homeopathic treatment, transformed the situation so that she could again feel good about herself, succeed in her studies, and enjoy her friends and family. She no longer believes she is a bad person who will be left by her parents. Her reality changed so that she is now able to cope with the teacher, and to recognize that the other children are also suffering because of this teacher.
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Welcome to the Inner Health site's homeopathic disease remedies section. Here we analyze a multitude of ailments and symptoms, and provide homeopathic perspective and recommendations. Our approach is to offer some information about a disease's general nature, symptoms, conventional medicinal treatment (and its effects), alternative remedies, homeopathic considerations, and a brief listing of some potentially suitable homeopathic remedies. We believe that informed readers and site users are most likely to seek out competent natural, homeopathic practitioners for an alternative yet very powerful healing modality.
The emphasis with this site is on the integrative, holistic aspects of natural homeopathic treatment and the complex, intensive process of selecting an effective homeopathic remedy for each patient. As every person is a singularity, with a vast array of interconnected attributes - physical, mental, and spiritual - no two patients are likely to receive the same remedy even if some of their most obvious symptoms seem nearly identical.
Some of our articles cover entire fields of health practice, such as children's health, in which we enumerate some of the many communicable diseases and other ailments that youngsters are susceptible to. We also present men's health, with an emphasis on Some of the other areas we explore include skin diseases (such as eczema and psoriasis), hives (urticaria), boils and blisters, corns and calluses,
warts; digestive symptoms such as diarrhea and constipation, as well as acid reflux and heartburn. We also look at back pain problems, such as sciatica ; viral infections such as cold sores and shingles; chronic conditions such as allergies, arthritis, and ear, nose & throat maladies; infestations such as worms and other parasites, pulmonary issues such as cough/croup, bronchitis, and pneumonia; general conditions such as edema; renal system problems such as urinary tract infections; and nervous conditions such as vertigo.
We will be expanding this section continuously and adding articles to our roster regularly, so be sure to check back frequently to find our homeopathic articles about health problems, symptoms and diseases.
Diarrhea is a symptom - loose or watery stools, often accompanied by abdominal cramps - that can indicate minor or major disturbances in the digestive system or other bodily functions. It is usually not serious. Virtually everyone experiences this symptom at some point, with some people more prone than others. People with irritable bowel syndrome have diarrhea more frequently than those without the disorder, often alternating with bouts of constipation.
The effects of diarrhea can be especially devastating to infants; for many years the leading cause of infant mortality in the world was dehydration associated with diarrhea. In recent times, however, increasing awareness about and availability of Oral Rehydration Solution has lowered the incidence of death from this cause - with pneumonia becoming the leading cause of mortality.
There are many possible causes of diarrhea, with some of the leading ones being viral infection (an intestinal or stomach flu), bacterial infection (most cases of food poisoning and traveler's diarrhea), other organisms, foods that upset digestion, food allergies, various medications (including antibiotics), intestinal diseases such as Crohn's and ulcerative colitis, alcohol abuse, diabetes, cancer, radiation therapy, overuse of laxatives, long-distance running, alimentary canal surgeries, hyperthyroidism, and malabsorption of nutrients - such as lactose intolerance. (The full list for possible diarrheal bases or diagnoses would be very lengthy.)
Conventional treatment starts with the watch and wait approach, as most cases of diarrhea pass within several days. It's strongly recommended that someone with diarrhea drink plenty of (noncaffeinated) fluids - in small servings - to prevent dehydration. Among the medications sometimes given for the symptom are Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate, and Imodium A-D, all in tablet or liquid form - but it is often best to allow the body full range to purge whatever it needs to, rather than trying to curtail the process with medications.
Among alternative treatment and holistic approaches for diarrhea are the following: Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria), Apples (Malus domestica), Blackberry and Raspberry (Rubus spp.), Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), Carob (Ceratonia siliqua), Carrots (Daucus carota), Tea (Camellia sinensis), Oregon Graperoot (Mahonia aquifolium), Garlic (Allium sativum), Peppermint (Mentha x piperita), Catnip (Nepeta cataria), and Grapefruit Seed Extract.
A skillful homeopath will select a remedy that will alleviate the severity and frequency of the symptoms while addressing any underlying imbalance in the vital force that is bringing forth the problem. When treating diarrhea homeopathically, some of the considerations involved in choosing an effective remedy include the consistency, odor and color of the stool, the response to eating various types of foods, the presence of flatulence, the degree and location of pain, the tendency to crave water or not, degree of physical weakness, and many other factors.
Among the more than 100 homeopathic remedies for diarrhea, two especially prominent ones are Arsenicum and Veratrum album, with Arsenicum indicated for smaller amounts of stool that is usually dark colored and malodorous and Veratrum for more copious and watery stools accompanied by abdominal pain. Other homeopathic treatments include Ferrum, Sulphur, Cinchona officinalis, Bryonia, Rumex crispus, Podophyllum, Petroleum, Kali bichromicum, Aloes, Croton tiglium, Podophyllum, Phosphorous, Rheum, Calcarea, Argentum nitricum, and Mercurius.
]]>Sciatica can be a debilitatingly painful condition, characterized by pain that shoots down from the buttocks and throughout the leg(s) - typically, on one side of the body. The pain can be mild, moderate, or severe, and may be experienced as shooting (very commonly), tingling, burning, or aching. Sciatica per se is actually a symptom rather than a disease or disorder in itself, but the term is used most precisely to mean the pain associated with an impinged sciatic nerve, which originates in the spine (lower back pain) and runs down the back of the legs; it is the longest nerve in the human body. Sometimes the muscles in the affected leg areas also feel weak. Many sciatica sufferers find that the pain is worst during prolonged periods of sitting or standing, or while straining in any way such as from laughing, coughing, moving one's bowels, etc.
In addition to a pinched or stretched sciatic nerve, some other possible reasons for the pain include a herniated (ruptured or slipped) disc, spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal cord's encasing canal), spondylolisthesis (where one vertebra has slipped over another one), or even osteoarthritis or osteoporosis.
Conventional treatment for sciatica includes applying ice or heat, modifying one's sleeping position, and taking over-the-counter pain relievers (aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen). When the pain is extremely severe, narcotic drugs are prescribed (such as morphine or vicodin). Epidural steroid injections are helpful for some sciatica sufferers. Surgery exists as a last resort, if the imaging results (MRIs and CT scans) indicate it might help the situation.
Effective alternative or integrative therapies include homeopathy, acupuncture, physical therapy, osteopathy, chiropractics, and relaxation techniques. There are plentiful natural-food and herbal remedies that promote circulation, muscle relaxation, or pain relief - essentially, the equivalent of the drugs that modern medicine prescribes, though gentler. White willow bark, for example, can relieve pain, and evening primrose or wintergreen oil may reduce inflammation.
A skilled homeopath will evaluate a multitude of factors in determining which remedy will be most effective in alleviating the severity and frequency of the symptoms while addressing the underlying disorder in the patient's vital force. Some of the variables contributing to this decision process include the exact nature of the pain - where it originates, where it is centered, how severe it is, how different types of motion affect it, and at what times of day and night it is most acute. Colocynth is a key homeopathic remedy for sciatica, but other common remedies include Arsenicum, Gnaphalium, Kali iodatum, Pulsatilla, Nux vomica, Rhus toxicodendron, Ammonium mur, Chamomilla, Colocynthis, and Phytolacca.
]]>Allergies are a familiar part of our social world, afflicting many of the people in our lives. But what are they, exactly? Allergies are a disorder of the immune system in which the body reacts in an antagonistic manner to normally harmless substances. Allergic reactions can take many forms, and their severity ranges from a minor nuisance to life-threatening (as in the case of an anaphylactic shock response). There are rampant food allergies (such as lactose, gluten, or peanut intolerance), plant/pollen allergies (a category known loosely as "hay fever," especially as it relates to ragweed), dust mite allergies, mold allergies, bee-sting allergies, pet (dander) allergies, drug allergies (such as penicillin), skin allergies...the list is long. Some allergies are seasonal (especially springtime for sufferers from pollen exposure), others perennial.
Allergies, which have a genetic component, afflict at least 50-60 million Americans (roughly 2 in 10), and approximately 55% of the population test positive for one or more allergens. The incidence of allergies is increasing in many countries. One explanatory theory is the increasing prevalence of synthetic substances in our world, while a very different explanation that has achieved some acceptance is that our immune systems have been "spoiled" by modern hygiene and the relative lack of invaders has caused our bodies to find enemies in benign substances.
Mild allergy symptoms include sneezing, itchy, watery eyes, rash, congestion; moderate symptoms include general itchiness and difficulty breathing; severe (anaphylactic) symptoms include swelling that can make breathing and swallowing difficult, cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and mental confusion.
Skin tests are the most common means of determining what someone is allergic to. Treatments for allergies - which can develop at any point on life, though the most common time is the late teens - vary widely. The single, simplest "remedy" for an allergic disease is to avoid the allergen/s that prompt/s the response. Those allergic to dust mites might choose to rid their homes of carpeting, for example. But other methods include antihistamines, bronchodilators (for asthma and other respiratory allergies), immunotherapy (allergy shots), steroid nasal sprays, and decongestants. Well-known over-the-counter antihistamines include Benadryl and Claritin; prescription choices include Allegra and Clarinex. Corticosteroids severely impair the body's immune response, and these powerful drugs are best avoided if at all possible.
There are of course also alternative, integrative treatments for allergies, some of which have shown great promise even in clinical studies. One naturopathic remedy that has induced a lot of excitement the European herb butterbur, which has performed as well as some powerful antihistamines in controlling allergy symptoms without the drowsiness side effects associated with allopathic medications. Nettles and goldenseal have also shown strong results.
The most common allergy no doubt is hay fever, from which over 35 million Americans suffer as plant, tree, grass, and flower pollen fill the air. In treating hay fever, a trained homeopath will evaluate all aspects of a patient's allergic responses and overall constitutional health. Based on this analysis, s/he will select a homeopathic remedy that will alleviate the symptoms and reduce their frequency while addressing the underlying reason for the sensitivity to substances. This way, the result of homeopathic treatment is not to merely drive the disease further inside the body where it might manifest in another manner. An illustration of this progression is the well-known phenomenon where many children who have severe skin rashes later on develop asthma; this sequence even has a name - the "atopic march."
Some of the many homeopathic remedies proven effective for hay fever include Arsenicum, Sinapis nigra, Ambrosia artemisiaefolia, Sabadilla, Aralia racemosa, Ipecac, Naphthalin, Sanguinaria nitrate, Natrum muriaticum, Ranunculus bulbosus, Silicea, Rosa Damascena, Allium cepa, Arum triphyllum, Mercurius protoiodide, and Psorinum.
Other homeopathic cures that are given to patients with allergies include Euphrasia (eyebright), Histaminum, Sanquinaria Canadesis (Blood Root), and Thuja occidentatis (Arbor Vitae).
]]>Cold sores are occasional outbreaks of a viral disease around the mouth, lips, nose, chin or face (and sometimes other parts of the body). The infection comes from either herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) - the more common culprit for facial cold sores - or herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), which reside deep in the nerve cells between the recurrent bouts during which they "express." Both viruses can cause genital herpes as well, though HSV-2 is more commonly the source.
Reliable statistics for cold sores are hard to come by, and estimates vary very widely, with some sources claiming that 50-80% of Americans are infected with HSV-1. Infection during childhood via saliva is indeed very common, but it is difficult to determine whether in fact a full half of all USA residents experience cold sore outbreaks.
Symptoms include clumps of small blisters, ulcers, lesions, or mouth sores, which can be itchy or painful. During the first infectious episode, there is often an accompanying fever and other indications of illness such as enlarged lymph nodes and achiness.
Susceptibility to outbreaks is higher when someone is physically or emotionally run-down or their immune system is compromised in some fashion.
Visual diagnosis can be sufficient in some cases, but several diagnostic tests are available: blood testing for HSV antibodies; viral cultures of the lesion; and direct fluorescent antibody testing of lesion cells.
Most people do not undergo any treatment for cold sores. Those who have especially severe, frequent, or prolonged attacks may take an antiviral medication such as acyclovir (Zovirax), valacyclovir (Valtrex), or famciclovir (Famvir), and some people (with either oral cold sores or genital herpes) take these medications continuously to reduce the frequency and severity of outbreaks. Because the first episode is frequently more severe than recurrences, more patients are inclined to take these medications at that time.
Home remedies for cold sores include applying ice during the beginning and warm compresses during the healing period; adding lysine to one's diet; taking a daily multi-vitamin; applying garlic oil or oregano oil; and cleaning the sore frequently with peroxide or alcohol.
According to conventional medicine, outbreaks of cold sores (and genital herpes) are a lifelong problem with no known cure. But the homeopathic approach has been successful in curing cold sores for many people. Homeopathy treats the whole person constitutionally, rather than just the symptoms of a particular malady. This holistic approach is very effective with a problem such as cold sores. According to homeopathic theory and practice, suppressing the symptoms of cold sores can force the malady deeper within the organism, so that it eventually manifests as a lung ailment, for example. This is why homeopathic remedies are designed to address the problem at every level it exists.
Homeopathic remedies for cold sores include Arsenicum album, Graphites, Hepar sulphuricum, Mercurius solubilis, Nat-mur, Rhus tox., and Sulphur. The selection of an effective remedy or series of remedies depends on numerous factors such as where the sores appear, their frequency and shape, prevailing mood patterns, whether there is attendant burning, whether this is any discharge from the sores such as pus (suppuration), etc.
]]>A general condition, edema (also called dropsy, and also sometimes spelled oedema) is observable swelling in various parts of the body due to fluid trapped in the body's tissues. Frequent areas for such swelling include ankles, knees, legs, wrists, feet, hands, below the eyes, and on the torso. When it occurs in the feet and legs it is called peripheral edema. When fluid builds up in the lungs' interstitial tissues, the condition is called pulmonary edema. "Pitting edema" indicates that an impression remains after an edemic area is pressed.
Edema is the retention of excessive fluids under the skin in the spaces within tissues - the interstitial spaces around cells and blood vessels or the body cavities called ascites (in the case of liver disease, for example). In general terms, it indicates that the fluids of the body are out of balance. Common causes include injury or infection (when the edema is limited to a particular area); blockage of blood supply; problems with the kidney, liver, or heart (including congestive heart failure); pregnancy; premenstruation; allergic reactions; and side effects to medications. Merely sitting in one place too long can cause swelling, as can eating too much salty food.
The biological mechanism underlying edema is that capillaries (minute blood vessels) leak fluid due to a lowered level of a certain blood protein or to increased pressure, and this leakage signals the kidneys to retain higher levels of water and sodium to make up for the lost liquid. With more fluid thereby circulating, the capillaries leak even more and cause surrounding tissues to swell.
Indications of edema might include rings, bracelets, or shoes fitting more snugly; stretched or shiny skin; bloated belly; increased abdominal size; or problems bending a joint. If not treated, edema can cause stiffness or difficulty walking, pain, risk of infection, scarring, fibrous deposits, impaired circulation, and risk of ulceration.
Treatment for edema varies widely, based on the reasons for the swelling. With serious edema diuretic therapy is often initiated, and this alleviates the swelling in many cases. The heavy, potent guns - loop diuretics (because they work in a looplike part of the kidney) are generally called for: furosemide (Lasix), torsemide (Demadex), or butethamine (Bumex). These may be administered orally or intravenously, depending on the severity of the health situation. Doctors often counsel edema sufferers to limit their intake of salt.
Because edema - particular pulmonary edema - can indicate potentially serious or even life-threatening conditions such as heart failure, we urge anyone to consult with their physician when they notice significant retention of fluids, whether or not they think they know the root cause. Indications of pulmonary edema include shortness of breath, chest pain, and difficulty breathing. Some other serious maladies that edema can indicate include congestive heart failure, cirrhosis, kidney disease or damage, chronic venous insufficiency, and inadequate lymphatic system.
However, allopathic medicine is not aimed principally at restoring overall systemic balance but rather to treat symptoms and acute conditions. Homeopathy is especially useful for addressing the underlying problems and imbalances that can be the source of the afflictions that lead to edema.
Common homeopathic remedies for edema include Apis mellifica, Acetic acid, Apocynum Cannabinum, Arsenicum, Calcarea carbonica, Bovista, Digitalis, Ferrum metallicum, Graphites, Helleborus, Kali carbonicum, Lachesis, Ledum palustre, Lycopodium, Natrum muriaticum, and Pulsatilla. The choice of a remedy will depend on numerous factors, including the underlying disorder, where the puffiness appears, the patient's physical build, the presence of digestive bloating, degree of thirst, urine, stools, and much more. A skilled homeopathic practitioner will select a remedy that will alleviate the swelling as well as address the underlying condition causing the edema.
]]>Bronchitis, an inflammation of the lungs' air passages (the trachea/windpipe and the bronchi/airways), can be either acute or chronic. Swollen, irritated mucous linings induce severe coughing to rid the lungs of the excess fluids produced by the infection. Acute bronchitis - which is usually caused by a virus, though bacteria can also be the source - often develops during the head cold and flu season as an offshoot of upper respiratory infections such as a sinus infection. Irritating fumes and other lung irritants are another culprit, so that cigarette smokers for example are more prone to catching bronchitis. Both children and adults can contract bronchitis, but the elderly are especially vulnerable.
Bronchitis is among the five most common reasons for people seeking health care. Over 11 million people are diagnosed with chronic bronchitis each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the number of bronchitis deaths annually is approximately 740, but other data indicate the figure is above 1,000.
Symptoms of bronchitis include coughing (either dry or productive) and wheezing; vigorous, persistent coughing sometimes induces muscle soreness in the chest and abdomen. The infection also might be accompanied by fever or chills, sore throat, and nasal congestion.
Bronchitis is termed chronic when it persists for more than three months (though such a threshold is of course somewhat arbitrary). Chronic bronchitis often occurs in conjunction with emphysema, and together the two diseases are called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Chronic bronchitis usually features a sputum-producing cough and tightness in the chest because of the obstruction of the air passages. For smokers, one highly effective way to help heal chronic bronchitis is by quitting.
Treatment for bronchitis often consists of letting nature take its course; most cases of bronchitis will clear up on their own if patients treat themselves sensibly - i.e., by resting, hydrating, and avoiding alcohol. Cough suppressants can offer relief but prevent the body from recovering quickly because coughing is a way for the body to naturally heal. Many cough suppressants have been recalled for young children because of their inherent danger. A vaporizer or humidifier offer more natural relief with no side effects.
Doctors sometimes prescribe cough medications, or inhalers with albuterol for wheezing. If a patient runs a persistent fever for more than several days, an office visit to rule out pneumonia is advised; at that point physicians usually will take a chest x-ray. A doctor's visit is indicated if any of the malady's symptoms become very severe or the patient develops difficulty breathing. The prescription of antibiotics is rare for this primarily virus-generated condition, although sometimes doctors feel pressured into doing so by patients' expectations.
Bronchitis should be treated wisely, particularly as long-lasting infections can turn into lifelong lung problems. It can be a very uncomfortable disorder, and good lung health is a prerequisite for overall well-being. Homeopathy offers an especially effective approach to this affliction. A skilled homeopathic practitioner will select an individualized remedy based on numerous factors pertaining to the client's overall health and habits, and the exact nature of the bronchitic attack. When the right homeopathic remedy is administered, it will reduce the symptoms' intensity and frequency.
Common homeopathic remedies for bronchitis include: Aconite [Acon], Belladonna [Bell], Bryonia [Bry], Phosphorus [Phos], Mercurius [Merc], Antimonium tartaricum Ant-t], Sulphur [Sulph], and Carbo vegetabilis [Carb.v]. Selection is determined by a multitude of factors, such as how advanced the infection is, the nature of the cough, whether a head cold was present, and more.
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