Nux Vomica

Eating is one of the world’s pleasures. Some people like burgers and some are fond of raw broccoli – there is no accounting for taste. We often disagree what is tasty or healthy for us but we can all agree on one thing – we like to celebrate with food. In every culture holidays are celebrated with foods, and in our multicultural society potato latkes, potato salad, eggnog, vodka, turkey, ox tail soup, sticky rice cake and tiramisu cake often end up on the same table. Holidays are upon us, and when we get together you have to try your aunt’s roasted turkey, your Mom’s famous pie and special treats from your friend’s travels. In our busy lives we do not see friends and family often, so on holidays we like to talk, eat, drink and celebrate. When conversations are many and food is plentiful, it is so easy to overeat. The good news is that we have a great helper, homeopathic remedy Nux vomica. If, when you describe your symptoms, you hear the word “over” coming up again and again – overindulge, overeat, over drink, over did and so on, consider Nux vomica. Nux vomica can give quick relief from consuming too much food and stimulants, like alcohol or coffee.

Nux vomica problems usually start or get worse from overeating or overindulging on foods or stimulants. Stomach pains, heartburn, indigestion, cramping, gas, constipation with passing stool but feeling that one is not done. Constipation alternates with diarrhea. Irritability with headaches and upset stomach. Feels very chilly and impatient. Excellent remedy for hangover.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Gelsemium

Gelsemium is one of my favorite homeopathic remedies. It is made from Gelsemium sempervirens plant, (also known as Caroline yellow jasmine or false jasmine) that grows as an evergreen twining vine and produces beautiful yellow fragrant flowers in early spring. Gelsemium should not be consumed as a plant because it contains toxic strychnine related alkaloids, but as a homeopathic remedy it is safe and is used to help in many conditions, especially, for flu.

When flu season comes, many people can be affected. Homeopaths give homeopathic remedies to help with flu based on symptoms. After a while, they sometimes see a symptoms pattern emerge for most people affected by the flu. Usually, each person that has flu, cold or any other problem will get a different homeopathic
remedy to get better. When many people are affected by flu, a group of people might produce the same symptoms in response to the flu. In that case, the same remedy is used for the group to help with the flu. Homeopaths call such a remedy genus epidemicus. It sounds mysterious in Latin, but basically, it is just a remedy that is the most helpful in the particular epidemic. For example, in the flu pandemic called Spanish flu, that happened in 1918 and took many lives, the genus epidemicus was Gelsemium.

As a homeopathic remedy Gelsemium presents a picture that is more typical of influenza than any other remedy. Homeopaths call Gelsemium a “four D” remedy: Drowsy, Dull, Droopy and Dizzy. If that’s how you feel when you get flu, or know someone that does, the remedy may be of interest to you.

Gelsemium flu has a slow onset with dizziness, weakness, and chills running up and down the spine, and great lethargy. Extreme muscle weakness, trembling and body ache all over. Vision is blurry and eyelids are heavy. Complete apathy and indifference about the illness. Dull pain on the back of the head, the face feels dump; chills and heat flushes but no thirst. Do not wish to speak with anyone; do not want anyone near, desire solitude and to be quiet. The remedy can also be used to counteract cowardice at the battlefield, for stage fright and anxiety before tests and interviews.

For acute conditions (short leaved, just happened) a good potency to use is 30C. 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.

Be well!

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Oscillococcinum

The summer is almost over and the fall is upon us. I love fall, the heat of the summer is gone and the air feels fresh and crispy in the mornings. The trees are still covered with leaves but not for long. I cannot wait for all those red, orange, dark green and brown shades, the palette of colors that the leaves are going to turn into before starting to fly off into the cold nights.

With the cold weather comes flu season. What do you do when you feel the first symptoms of flu coming? You might feel a little bit of a headache, a little of a scratchy throat, a little bit of a body ache and maybe some malaise or chills coming over you. Should you just ignore it, and hope the symptoms will go away or do something about it?

Many years ago I have read about homeopathic remedy Oscillococcinum that have been used for long time by many people for the first symptoms of flu. It will “Nip the flu in the bud”, I was told by my friend who always had a good success with the remedy. But it never worked for me. I have already tried many homeopathic remedies with great results. I took remedies for cold and flu, for bites, muscle strain and food poisoning, and the remedies helped me. But no such luck with Oscillococcinum, every time I took it, I would still get a full blown flu!

Some years went by and I became a better homeopath and a better homeopathic client. Homeopathic remedies work gently, quietly, they do not overwhelm a person’s own body wisdom. Homeopathic remedies teach you to
listen better to your own body and to its reaction to the remedies, and notice when your body is out of balance. One day I was driving from a shopping trip and suddenly, I realized that I was not feeling the same as in the morning. My throat was dry, and I felt chills running over my body! It was a very mild discomfort, just a beginning of something unpleasant. Couple years before I would not even notice it, but now I was sure that I was experiencing something flu-like. When I came home, I took one dose of Oscillococcinum as I always did without much expectation, just from persistence, I think – I took it so many times before and it never did anything for me. Some time had passed, maybe 20 minutes, and I did not feel any chills anymore, was the remedy working this time? I could not believe it, and when in couple hours my symptoms returned I took the second dose just to humor myself. Next morning my flu was gone! The throat felt fine and no more chills; flu was nipped in the bud!

When homeopaths search for remedies, they are guided by symptoms. If the remedy must be used “at the first symptoms of flu”, that is when it should be taken to work. It took me sometime to recognize how the first
symptoms of flu feel in my body, so when I took the remedy right away, it worked for me just like for everyone else.

What if you miss your first symptoms of flu? Do not worry, there are many good homeopathic remedies for flu and colds. Ask your homeopath about a flu remedy that is right for you!

Stay well!

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What Age Has To Do With It

How often do we hear people say, “It is just old age. Nothing you can do about it.” But is it really? Do we really have to get sicker and sicker and die completely incapacitated? Can we age gracefully and pass away in our sleep or after a mild illness, after saying farewell to our relatives and friends?

History shows us that people can live in good health for long time, keep learning, creating and enjoying life. Socrates, Isaac Newton, Victor Hugo, and George Burns all had been active and productive way into old age. Michelangelo continued to create art well into his late 80s, Goethe finished “Faust” at 82, Leo Tolstoy was writing and physically fit until 82, George Bernard Show wrote “Buoyant Billions” at 91, John D. Rockefeller was using his fortune for philanthropy and writing memoirs until 98, Samuel Hahnemann,
the founder of homeopathy, fell in love and married for the second time, and continued to practice homeopathy until he was almost 90.

You can be at an advanced age and feel great, enjoy books and travel, watch sunset and walks on the beach, get your favorite dish from your favorite restaurant, and be able to digest it. You can be healthy,
productive and active at any age. Health is important, age is relative. You can be fit, happy and content at an advanced age and miserable and sick when young. What should we do to keep our memory sharp, emotions
balanced and body functioning? We can improve our health at any age, and here are my suggestions:

Eat well – avoid fast foods, junk foods, soda, sugar and white flour. Consider local, organic, and no GMO foods.

Just keep moving – be physically active. You do not have to lift weights or run marathons, a nice daily walk outside will do. Play golf once in a while, walk you dog (or borrow one from a neighbor!), play with your children and grandchildren, dance, do yoga or other activities that will take you away from that couch and pillow.

Think, think, think – read, write, research, discuss, learn something new, and memorize poems and birthdays.

Stay connected – stay in touch with your friends, children and relatives, enjoy their company, and join a new club.

Live your life to the fullest – find an enjoyable activity, collect something, travel, go to movies and theaters, museums and baseball games, or just sit outside and watch those birds!

Use Homeopathy – use natural, safe and effective methods of healing, avoid artificial chemicals and toxins.

Have a great long life!

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Urtica Urens

The weather is still in the 80s, and the sun is still very high. Many people stay indoors most of the summer for one reason or another. If you have spent the summer sitting and clicking on keyboard all day long in a nice dark cubicle, you might be unpleasantly surprised when you finally, go on vacation. If your skin is light and has that bluish shade from lack of sunlight for 355 days, you might consider investing in a long sleeve shirt and a big brimmed hat. You have considered sun block as a plan B, of course, but keep in mind that some creams have ingredients you do not want to put on your skin. Everything we put on our skin goes right inside so the ingredients matter. Check your sun block against ewg.org for ingredients before you leave your home. Maybe it is still time to buy a safer sun block than the one you used last year! If you do get a sunburn Urtica Urens is a remedy to consider.

Urtica Urens – Stinging Nettle, can be used for first degree burns. Sunburn with intense burning and itching. Minor burns caused by scalding hot boiling water. Pain is stinging and burning with tiny red bumps. Urticaria (hives), burning heat with sensation of small insects crawling under the skin and violent itching. The remedy can also be used for bee stings, jelly fish and medusa stings, and to antidote ill effects of eating shellfish.

For acute conditions (short leaved, just happened) a good potency to use is 30C. 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.

Enjoy your summer!

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