Is it Flu or Ebola?

The current Ebola outbreak in West Africa has killed more than 3,300 people and the toll is still rising. The World Health Organization (WHO) says that it is the largest outbreak in the nearly 40 year history of the disease. Currently medical authorities have no answer to this disease. The fear is that the Ebola virus will mutate, become airborne and will be able to infect even more people and possibly, in other countries. With our ability to travel around the world, diseases can also travel fast so we need to be prepared.

“The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report Tuesday predicting as many as 550,000 to 1.4 million cases of the Ebola virus in Liberia and Sierra Leone alone, by the end of January. “ (Fox News, September 23, 2014).  According to ABC News, Texas resident Thomas Eric Duncan, first patient diagnosed with Ebola in United States, came into contact with more than 80 people and his family is now required to stay in isolation (quarantined) to avoid possible spread of the disease.

How can we prepare for a possible epidemic? Is there anything that can be done? Several of my clients expressed concern about Ebola virus and what will be the right course of action if the epidemics ever gets closer. I would like to share information that can potentially help you and your family to feel safe and possibly resolve virus exposure without serious consequences.

Homeopathy has a history of success in treating and preventing epidemic illnesses. Homeopathy has been used successfully in the following epidemics:  Scarlet Fever Outbreak [1800], Typhus outbreak in Germany [1813], Cholera Outbreak Russia [1831], 1918 Spanish Influenza, Japanese Encephalitis in India [1999], Meningitis in Brazil [1998], and Leptospirosis in Cuba [2007]. Ebola is a quite recent disease and as far as we know, homeopathy has not been tested against the Ebola virus. However, since homeopathy was successful in resolution of other acute, killer diseases it would be remiss of me not to share information on how homeopathy can help you and your loved ones if epidemic ever comes close to your neighborhood. Continue reading Is it Flu or Ebola? →

Calendula officinalis

Summer is the time to be outside, it is the time to dare and achieve. It is the time to cut that branch that had been annoying you, time to make that barbeque steak with thin sliced onions, or take a bike and show all your friends who is the fastest and the bravest. It is also the time to cut a finger, scratch a knee or get some extra sun while chasing your friends. It is not that bad, you tell yourself. It is just a cut, scratch, minor burn. But then you realize that the finger you just cut, was always your favorite, and everything you need to do requires that finger. What were you thinking using the saw? And that sun touched skin feels rather hot and bothersome. What can you do to speed up healing and get back to enjoying your summer again?

Homeopathic remedy Calendula is very useful for healing wounds and topically for cuts, minor burns and skin irritation.  Clean your cut with water and mild soap, put some Calendula cream or gel on it and the cut will heal in no time.

Calendula officinalis is an excellent astringent; topically it acts like antiseptic and will often control bleeding from wounds like cuts, lacerations, puncture wounds, incisions and dental extractions. Taken internally in potency as a homeopathic remedy it will often soothe the pain from wounds and promote healing of the wounds. Cream with Calendula in low homeopathic potency works as a soothing agent and promotes healing of cuts, scrapes, wounds, minor burns and relieves skin irritation.

For acute injury (just happened recently) a good potency to use internally is 30C or topically Calendula cream in low potency. For chronic problems or if you have tried 3-7 doses of
the remedy and did not get relief for your symptoms, call your homeopathic
practitioner for advice and suggestions for a remedy.

Enjoy your summer!

Source: New feed

Petroleum oleum

Summer is here and kids are out of school. That is a great time to take your family to the beach, amusement park or to visit grandparents. Car rides are usually fun but not for people who feel slightly nauseated when thinking about a trip. And do not mention boat rides to them unless you are prepared. Family trips are an enjoyable experience that you want to remember and cherish for long time. That might not be possible if all you remember is feeling dizzy and trying to hold back your breakfast until the next car stop. There are several things you can do to prevent motion sickness – sit in front of the car, sit facing the direction of travel, not read while the vehicle is moving, keep the windows open, stay closer to the center of the ship if you brave enough to get on one. If you have tried it all and still the thought of any movement makes you feel uneasy, no need to panic, there are many homeopathic remedies to help with motion sickness. Petroleum oleum is an excellent homeopathic remedy for motion sickness, car sickness, and sea sickness. Petroleum oleum is one of our oldest remedies; its action was proven by Dr. Hahnemann himself and published in “Chronic Diseases” (1829).

Petroleum oleum relieves symptoms due to car, train or sea sickness. Long lasting complains from motion sickness especially with vomiting, stomach pain and nausea with accumulated water in mouth. Empty feeling in the pit of the stomach. Nausea is better from eating. Dread of open air, shivering from open air. A person feels better from warm air and lying with head high. If fresh cold air makes motion sickness better, consider homeopathic remedy Tabacum instead.

Homeopathic remedies are natural substances, have no side effects and do
not interact with other medicines or supplements. For acute motion sickness (just happened recently) a good potency to use is 30C. If you want to address chronic motion sickness/vertigo or if you have tried 3-7 doses of the remedy and did not get relief for your symptoms, call your homeopathic practitioner for advice and suggestions for a remedy.

Have a wonderful trip!

Source: New feed

Ledum Pallustre

The best way to deal with tick bites is not to be bitten at the first place. Those little critters can be stopped by long sleeves, gloves, long pants tucked in boots and hats. But sometimes it happens. You were enjoying your golf game, walk in the woods or work in your garden and now you found a tick attached to you. As soon as you see the tick, remove it carefully. Take a drop of tea tree oil and put it on the spot of the bite immediately. Take homeopathic remedy Ledum pallustre to relieve pain from the bite and possibly, prevent long and short term consequences including swelling and bruising. Ledum pallustre is a homeopathic remedy that has been successfully used for insect bites or any other trauma that is associated with thin sharp object.

Ledum Pallustre is helpful for puncture wounds from insect bites, stings, cat bites, and nails. Bruise at the site of puncture wound.  Affected area feels cold to touch but is better from cold compresses, ice and worse from pressure. Swelling, spotty rash and twitching of muscles around the wound. Ledum pallustre can also be useful for arthritis, gout and black eye.

For acute injury (just happened recently) a good potency to use is 30C. For chronic problems or if you have tried 3-7 doses of the remedy and did not get relief for your symptoms, call your homeopathic practitioner for advice and suggestions for a remedy.

Have a tick free day!

Source: New feed

Montana

Our Sun is 4.5 billion years old but it is not going to exists forever. Some 5-6 billion years from now when all the hydrogen is fused into helium in its core, the Sun will turn into a red giant. Even before that happens, the Sun will become much hotter and will expand, engulfing the closest planets. Humans will have to relocate to Mars or some other planet.  I am not sure what other viewers of the series “The Universe” were thinking while watching the “Dark future of the Sun” episode, but as a practical homeopath, I could not stop thinking about a remedy I would take with me if I had to relocate to another planet. The space in the spaceship will probably be scarce, so I might be able to take only one remedy. After short deliberation I knew that Arnica Montana will be the one. Arnica Montana is a first aid homeopathic remedy par excellence, I always carry it with me, especially, while traveling.

Arnica Montana is one of the best known and most loved homeopathic remedies, its amazing properties have been experienced by many since it was introduced by Hahnemann in 1805.  Arnica Montana is made from a plant leopard’s bane and can be toxic if taken in high concentrations, but is safe if taken as a homeopathic remedy. It can be used externally, as a homeopathic cream or gel to relieve bruising, sore muscles and sprains. It can be taken internally to minimize pain from injuries, head trauma, dental work, surgery, childbirth, exercise, lifting and overexertion. If you are planning a vigorous workout, bike ride or backyard cleaning you can minimize next day stiffness and aches by taking Arnica Montana. If you hear the word trauma, Arnica Montana is the remedy to try first. Arnica Montana helps with aftershock, swelling and pain. There are some specific indications that will guide us to use Arnica Montana versus other shock remedies. A person that needs Arnica Montana says that he is fine and does not need help, even when it is obvious to everyone else that he does. The whole body feels sore and bruised. If the shock causes the person to worry, Arnica Montana is the remedy. If the shock causes intense fear, than Aconite will be the remedy to try.Montana can be also used to minimize bleeding, jet lag, and to stimulate hair growth.

For acute trauma (just happened recently) a good potency to use is 30C. For chronic pain or if you have tried 3-7 doses of the remedy and did not get relief for your symptoms, call your homeopathic practitioner for advice and suggestions for a remedy.

Have a pain free day!

Source: New feed

Sabadilla

Allergy season is upon us. Websites like pollen.com have already started sending allergy alerts so we can plan accordingly two days in advance. But what can we really do? Most of us have to go to work or school or shopping anyways. Staying inside is not always an option. On the other hand, having a hay fever is not something to look for, itchy eyes, running nose, and sneezing might not be a life threatening but still very limiting and frankly, no one looks good when the nose is beet red with peeling skin and the eyes are crying. According to Current Allergy and Asthma Reports journal, “homeopathic treatments are currently under investigation and represent a new frontier in modern medicine and in allergic rhinitis management”. That is good news, because we do have many homeopathic remedies that can help not only with hay fever but with other allergies as well (like bee stings, for example, but that is a story for another time).

No two people are alike, and we take that into account when we look for the homeopathic remedy. One of the homeopathic remedies for hay fever is sometimes used as an example of the main homeopathic principle “like cures like”. This homeopathic remedy is made from common onions and is called Allium Cepa in Latin. You have probably noticed that when you cut onions your eyes and nose start reacting, and opening a window brings some relief. Apparently, exposure to freshly cut onions produces symptoms similar to allergy symptoms in a healthy person. So if your hay fever is characterized by runny nose with watery, irritating discharge making the nose and lips red and dry, eyes that are burning and red and you want to rub them often, consider Allium Cepa.

My personal favorite remedy for hay fever is Sabadilla. Sabadilla is very helpful in hay fever with excessive sneezing, ten or more sneezes in a raw, or when sneezing is the main complaint. The nose is running like a faucet and there is itching and tingling inside the nose and mouth. Eyes are red, burning, and produce a lot of tears. It feels much better to be inside, in a warm room and feels worse after exposure to mown grass or perfume. Sabadilla can also be helpful in treatment of worms.

For acute hay fever reaction (just happened recently) a good potency to use is 30C. For chronic allergies or if you have tried 3-7 doses of the remedy and did not get relief for your symptoms, call your homeopathic practitioner for advice and suggestions for a remedy.

Enjoy the spring!

Source: New feed

Kali bichromicum

Who hasn’t had a cold once in a while? Rarely a year goes by when we do not have some form of runny nose that usually clears in 1-2 weeks or less. Winter is still in full swing, and cold wind can also make our nose to run. You can get a runny nose because of allergy or being exposed to unclean air. Our nose is our first line of defense, first sign of something that is not good for us, and the nose tries to get rid of it producing mucus and carrying the offender out, be it a foreign substance or a virus. Usually, runny nose is not a big deal, it is just a nuisance that goes away by itself. Sometimes, however, cold, wind or allergen causes inflammation in the sinuses and sinus infection is not something that goes away quickly. Even mild sinus infection can cause a headache, unpleasant pressure in the face and head, difficulty breezing and makes the voice sound like you speak through a vase. Sinusitis experience is usually unpleasant but as always, there is help in our homeopathic remedies box. A remedy that can provide great relief for sinus infections is lovingly called Kali bic. “If it’s thick, try Kali-bic!” most students are taught in homeopathy schools.

Kali bichromicum

can help with sinusinfections with characteristic nasal discharges. Nasal discharge is yellow, stringy
and thick. The voice has strong nasal quality and there is pain, pressure and fullness at the root of the nose. The remedy can also be used for hoarseness, laryngitis and pains that are felt in one small spot.

For acute sinusitis (happened recently) a good potency to use is 30C. For chronic sinusitis or if you have tried 3-7 doses of the remedy and did not get relief for your symptoms, call your homeopathic practitioner for advice and suggestions for another remedy.

Breeze well!

Source: New feed

Agaricus muscarius

The winter has already shown us some nice cold days and more are ahead. Some of us try to stay inside, closer to the TV set and refrigerator, but others, more adventurous folks still venture outside for snow shoveling, skiing or simply to take a walk. It is so much fun to play in the snow or take a ski trip, especially, if you stay warm and comfortable at all times. But what if the weather gave you an unexpected surprise and it was colder on the slopes than you expected? What if your car broke on your way home, and you had to wait for 4 hours for the tow truck to come? Our hands and feet are the most vulnerable to the cold; after all they are the farthest from the heart and circulation has to slow down to protect more important organs. Getting frostbite is no fun, you start feeling some itching or pain at the beginning, skin develops some interesting colors and your extremities can become numb. If that happens to you, no need to panic. When you are finally at home, put a blanket over your feet or hands, let them warm gradually and for a quick recovery take homeopathic remedy Agaricus muscarius.

Agaricus muscarius can be used for chilblains and frostbite. Itching, redness and burning of affected parts. A person may have a sensation that the skin is pierced by needles of ice. Symptoms can appear diagonally, right hand and left foot can be affected. A person can feel pain that is accompanied by sensation of cold, numbness and tingling. There might be some trebling and twitching present. Aversion to being touched. The remedy can also be used for hypothermia, nosebleeds and bunions.

Stay warm!

Source: New feed

Rescue remedy

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, the song suggests, but is it for everyone? The stress of shopping, attending numerous parties, choosing the right presents and multiple other errands can affect anyone. It is the time when everyone is expected to be happy but sometimes you still think about loved one that did not make it this year or about a dream that did not happen. Family gatherings can be stressful too, some relationships are complicated others might trigger unhappy memories. With all the obligations and following traditions one sometimes might feel out of control, overwhelmed or even depressed. Emotional and psychological stress can predispose a person to a physical disorder so it is important to manage the stress.One way to manage is to bring into awareness what makes you stressed out the most and try to change that. If you feel sad, it is OK to cry, just because it is a holiday season you do not have to be cheerful all the time. If buying the right presents for your numerous nieces and nephews is getting impossible to do, go for gift certificates instead, most of the stores are offering now a wide selection of gift cards from restaurants to department stores. If cooking and setting the house is too much, ask your cousin to host the party this year. If a thought about staying with your relatives is stressful, book the hotel and only attend the party for a short time. The usual relaxation techniques like mild exercise, quiet walk or meditation are always helpful. If you still feel stressed out or are anticipating a stressful event, than it is time to try a Rescue remedy.

Rescue remedy is a flower essence. It contains 5 flower essences, Rock Rose, Star of Bethlehem, Impatiens, Cherry Plum and Clematis. Rescue remedy is a great remedy for any situation that causes stress or anxiety. It is always good to have Rescue remedy on hand so you can take it before or after a stressful event. Rescue remedy has immediate calming effect and will help you to stay focused and in control so you can get through the stressful situation successfully. It is also helpful in acute situations like accidents and bereavement, hysteria and fright, anxiety of taking exams, shock of bad news, and mental weariness. In a cream form, used as external application, it can be helpful for tension headaches, reducing acute muscle tension, stiffness, insect bites and minor burns.

For immediate acute stressful situation, take 2-4 drops from the bottle under the tongue, holding a moment before swallowing, or place 2-4 drops into one quarter of the glass of water and sip when needed until
improvement is seen.

If you have tried Rescue remedy for a day or two and did
not get relief for your symptoms, call your homeopathic practitioner for advice
and suggestions for a homeopathic remedy or flower essence.