Homeopathy for sunburn and sunstroke

Give the most suitable of the following remedies up to hourly if the situation demands it. If the symptoms have not improved after 4 doses, switch remedy.

Sol
This remedy is potentised sunlight and is invaluable for all manner of ill effects of the sun from sunburn to sunstroke and from prickly heat to sun headaches.

Belladonna
Give Belladonna for sunstroke or sunburn when there’s fever too. The skin will of course be very hot and red. It’s likely that the person will also have a pounding headache.

Apis
This remedy is made from the honey bee and not surprisingly when you think of a bee sting, it will suit skin that has become swollen and puffy and stings or burns like crazy.

Prevention is better than cure
If you’re off somewhere even sunnier than the UK and you or your family member is very fair skinned, consider taking Sol three daily for the first few days of the holiday to help your skin adjust.

Feel free to get in touch with any queries and thanks for reading.

Homeopathy Awareness Week 2022

Hello all. This week, it’s Homeopathy Awareness Week, and 4Homeopathy have created a short film to give you an idea of what homeopathy can do for you. If you’d like to find out more, my Discovery Calls are a free, open, obligation-free way to see how homeopathy can benefit you and your family.

Homeopathy and emotional wellbeing # 1 Grief and Disappointment in love

In homeopathy and other forms of medicine, the letters NBWS are often written next to certain symptoms. NBWS stands for Never Been Well Since, and you might very well have Never Been Well Since a car accident that gave you whiplash, but equally you may have Never Been Well Since a bereavement or the end of a relationship. These losses may result in emotional symptoms like grief, depression or anxiety, but they also may manifest in physical symptoms such as the cough that hasn't shifted since a beloved parent passed away.

Homeopathic remedies such as Ignatia and Natrum Muriaticum (pictured here) help to shift emotions that might become stuck and therefore lead to mental or physical health issues. And it doesn't matter how long ago the grief occurred as with homeopathy, we always seek to find the root causes of suffering and address those root causes with the best suited remedies. Feel free to get in touch with any queries and thanks for reading.

It’s the time for Colds and Flu #3 Eupertorium Perfoliatum

Have you ever had the flu and experienced the deep ache that goes right into your bones? If so, Eupertorium is the homeopathic remedy for that exact feeling.

The common name of the homeopathic remedy Eupertorium Perfoliatum is Boneset, and this gives an idea as to this remedy’s use; it’s for the ache deep in the bones that is sometimes the most uncomfortable aspect of the flu. It’s a great remedy to have to hand this time of year.

Please feel free to get in touch for more information.

It’s the time for Colds and Flu #2 Bryonia

This homeopathic remedy made from Wild Hops appears in all the homeopathic first aid and home kits and it’s a brilliant one to have to hand – especially at this time of year.

Bryonia is wonderful for dry coughs which are hacking and painful, making you hold your chest to minimise the discomfort – just like the woman in the photo. You’ll want to sit up to reduce the stitching pains in your chest and breath shallowly as breathing deeply might make you cough. Walking from cold into warm will bring on the cough. The whole system feels dry and consequently, if you need Bryonia, you’ll be very thirsty. Any phlegm you can feel will be very tough to bring up. Everything is worse for the least movement, so you’ll want to stay as still as you can.

Bryonia patients are not easy to be around as they are likely to be very irritable, but fortunately they tend to want to be on their own.

While Bryonia is a hugely useful remedy for problems with the respiratory tract, it is also a big first aid remedy for Musculo-skeletal problems. You might have strained your back or one of your joints, which might be hot, red and swollen, and the resulting feeling is that you don’t want to move a muscle, for the moment you do, there comes the pain. Bryonia, where the symptoms fit, can really ease the pain and bring down the inflammation. It really is a must for your home pharmacy. Please feel free to get in touch for more information.

It’s the time for Colds and Flu #1 Aconite

This is a big remedy for symptoms that develop suddenly, especially after being caught out in the cold air for too long. You might suddenly get sneezy or develop a dry – or in kids a croupy – cough. Kids are likely to wake up around midnight feverish and anxious. You might also get clear snot all of a sudden. Aconite, given when these symptoms appear, can really help nip things in the bud, but it is only useful at the onset of symptoms; other remedies will be needed if the symptoms change or persist. Please get in touch for more information.

Staying strong

My kids keep asking me if I’m excited about Christmas yet. I keep answering: “No,” apologetically. It’s hard to feel the Christmas spirit when a lockdown feels like it’s looming large. I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas, however you get to spend it, and pass on some simple but really effective tips for boosting your immunity at this very tricky time:

Vitamin C  - this wonder vitamin cannot be overrated – find yourself a good supplement and remember to take it every day!

Diet  - eat the mince pies in addition to and not instead of really good, really colourful veg – the wider the range the better.

Elderberry Tincture or Syrup – this berry does wonders for the respiratory tract and therefore is definitely one to think of for the cold and flu season. Amazingly for something that’s good for you, it actually tastes fine – even for kids!

Please get in touch for more information and the very best to you all for 2022. X

Little flowers with a lot of homeopathic power #4 Gelsemium

The flower Gelsemium, Yellow Jasmine, is a fantastic remedy to have to in the house for flu and flu-like symptoms. The symptoms of flu that Gelsemium will help alleviate are the aching, fatigue and muscular weakness so much so that there’s trembling of the limbs. There are chills which go up and down the spine, the eyelids are heavy and drooping and the head aches.

Gelsemium also has a therapeutic effect on the emotions too: it is a major remedy to take for powerful feelings of apprehension before exams or some kind of performance. It’s a must for your homeopathic home pharmacy. Please get in touch for more information.

Little flowers with a lot of homeopathic power #3 Eupatorium Perfoliatum

This plant’s common name is Boneset and this name gives you an idea as to its homeopathic use. It is a specific remedy for the bone aches of flu. That deep, soreness and aching sensation in the bones that can be the worst part of flu or flu-like illnesses will be relieved by this wonderful flower in its homeopathic form. Please get in touch for more information.

Little flowers with a lot of homeopathic power #2 Bryonia

Reach for Bryonia, or Wild Hops, when you have a dry, hacking cough which gets worse when you move around, and especially when you enter a warm room. Because of this, you’ll want to stay still, even hold on to your chest when you cough to minimise the stitching pain.

This kind of complaint is not peculiar to the winter, but Bryonia is also very useful to have to hand if you have hurt your back and any kind of movement brings on pain, and so again you want to stay utterly still to avoid the discomfort. Get in touch for more information.

Little flowers with a lot of homeopathic power #1 Aconite

This purple flower named Aconite is a must-have for your homeopathic home pharmacy as we head into Autumn and Winter. It is the remedy to reach for if you or a member of your family suddenly feels they’re coming down with something and the symptoms are hitting hard. You might feel feverish or as if you’re getting the flu. Aconite can be fabulous for preventing such illnesses taking hold. It is also a primary homeopathic remedy for sudden attacks of fear or anxiety, taking the panic out of the response. In both cases, it is the suddenness and severity of the response which indicates that Aconite may be a very helpful remedy to self-prescribe. Please feel free to get in touch for more information.

Managing peri-menopause naturally #5: Gut Health

The link between good gut health and immunity has been well documented, but the peri-menopause brings a specific challenge to the gut. Women’s level of bifido bacterium in the gut decreases sharply from their mid-30s. Bifidos assist the absorption of B Vitamins, which are essential to protect against memory loss, and they also help protect against wellbeing issues such as low mood and anxiety.

An easy start to boosting your gut health is a good quality probiotic, and I’ve detailed some suppliers below. However, a more lasting way of improving your gut flora is to include fermented foods in your diet. Fermented foods come in many forms and getting as rich a diversity of these foods is the thing to strive for.

Try the following and see what suits you:

• Drink Kefir, Kombucha, Apple Cider Vinegar

• Eat Kefir, Tempeh, Miso, Sauerkraut, Sourdough (wonderfully bubbly sourdough starter is pictured here) and Kimchi

As ever, Herbies on Albert Road, Southsea and Wild Thyme of Palmerston Road, Southsea are great local suppliers of many things I recommend in these blog entries. The homeopathic pharmacy helios.co.uk is a reliable source of quality probiotics.

I hope this was helpful, and if you need any further advice, please get in touch.

Managing Peri-menopause naturally #4: Magnesium

Magnesium is known in Traditional Chinese Medicine as "the mineral of beauty" and it is one of the key minerals for sustaining life. During (peri)menopause, magnesium is essential to ensure maintained bone density, for balancing blood sugar and for avoiding sleep issues. Caffeine, sugar and stress deplete magnesium levels in the body, so they may require boosting, especially during (peri)menopause when the body is already working hard to stay in balance.

When it comes to boosting your magnesium levels, its first important to understand that we absorb magnesium better through the skin than through supplements. Epsom Bath Salts are a pleasurable and therapeutic way to absorb magnesium: take a 20 minute soak in a bath with 1kg of Epsom Salts weekly. You could also rub magnesium oil into your lower legs after a shower every morning. Green foods - especially raw leaves are rich in megnesium, as is raw chocolate. It's very hard to overdose on magnesium, and it takes about 6 months to restore levels in the body.

These kind of nutritional changes form a vital adjunct to (peri)menopausal homeopathic treatment. Please feel free to get in touch for more information.

Managing Peri-menopause Naturally #3

Last week we looked at how important the liver is to ensuring that the changes of the (peri)menopause are experienced as smoothly as possible. This week, we’ll look at Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs), which fortify the liver, and which can be included in your diet quite easily.

As well as giving help to your liver, EFAs are good for the heart, circulatory system, your skin, hair, nails and eyes. In addition to this, EFAs help the transportation of prostaglandins around the body - prostaglandins are our hormone messengers. I hope I’ve sold EFAs to you!

So, the next question is: how do I get EFAs? Well, fresh food is the best way – eating raw, fresh veg as the cooking and processing of the foods removes the EFAs. Avocado, grass fed butter and cold pressed seed oils are also good sources. A tablespoon of hemp seed oil or evening primrose oil per day are very good for menopausal issues.

As ever, Herbies on Albert Road, Southsea and Wild Thyme of Palmerston Road, Southsea are great local suppliers.

Please get in touch for more information.

Managing Peri-menopause Naturally #2

Optimal liver health makes a fundamental difference to your experience of the (peri)menopause. Our poor livers are responsible for hundreds of bodily functions, yet they receive a daily battering from various toxins from the coffee we drink to the air we breathe.

Already under pressure, the additional strain of the (peri)menopause can lead to symptoms such as fatigue, changes in mood, nausea, bowel problems, sleep issues and much more.

Giving your liver a little love can therefore be of enormous advantage, especially at menopause, and your homeopathic prescription may well begin with a liver detox using the plant Greater Celandine pictured here. However, there’s plenty you can do to help your liver yourself:

• Drink plenty of water to keep your system clean.

• Eat liver-friendly food such as veg and calming grains such as brown rice rather than white, processed carbs.

• Avoid liver-unfriendly foods such as ready meals and highly processed food.

• Cut down on alcohol.

If you have groaned inwardly on reading this list, I feel your pain, but your liver will thank you and repay you with a smoother menopausal transition.

Feel free to get in touch for more information.

Managing Peri-menopause Naturally #1

The NHS website describes the common symptoms of peri-menopause and menopause as the following:

• hot flushes – short, sudden feelings of heat, usually in the face, neck and chest, which can make your skin red and sweaty

• night sweats – hot flushes that occur at night

• difficulty sleeping – this may make you feel tired and irritable during the day

• a reduced sex drive (libido)

• problems with memory and concentration

• vaginal dryness and pain, itching or discomfort during sex

• headaches

• mood changes, such as low mood or anxiety

• palpitations – heartbeats that suddenly become more noticeable

• joint stiffness, aches and pains

• reduced muscle mass

• recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs)

This is already quite a list to contend with but there are many other symptoms such as burning tongue, bloating, hair loss, itchy skin and plenty more besides.

This dizzying array of potential health issues tell us in no uncertain times that maintaining optimal health during these transitional years is imperative for all women.

There is much that homeopathy, natural therapies and good nutrition can do to help you manage the menopause as smoothly as possible.

One essential consideration is liver health. The liver has to work very hard during menopause and peri menopause to process natural and synthetic hormones. A sluggish liver can be felt in hot flushes, headaches, dry eyes and memory impairment. Therefore, one part of the homeopathic approach to managing your menopausal transition will be to detox and support your liver.

Next week we’ll look at how that is done and what you can do to help your liver function at it’s best. Please get in touch for more information.

Homeopathy for Hay Fever #5

This entry is to bring your attention to the humble weed named Wyethia, which has not so humble results when used homeopathically to ease hay fever symptoms. The symptom which will be helped by Wyethia is an itchiness in the back of the throat which might make you want to cough and to “scratch” the affected area with your tongue. Wyethia can be used in combination with other plants in their homeopathic form to ease other symptoms of hay fever. Please get in touch for more information.

Homeopathy for Hay Fever #4

This week I would like to give a big shout out to a humble little seed that can come to your rescue if your own personal version of hay fever includes paroxysms of sneezing. 

Sabadilla is a good homeopathic remedy if the Spring and Summer months leave you with a runny nose and spasmodic sneezing. You may also have an extreme oversensitivity to odours and an itchy or tickly sensation in your nose. Even the thought of the smell of flowers might make things worse for you.

If this sounds like you, the homeopathic remedy Sabadilla made from the Cevadilla seed that grows in Mexico could really help. Don’t hesitate to get in touch for more information.

Homeopathy for Hay Fever #3

The word homeopathy means “similar suffering” as its approach is based on the principle of “like treats like”. An example of this is the common usage of Allium Cepa, or onion in its homeopathic form to manage the watering and stinging eyes of hay fever. I’m sure we have all experienced those symptoms when cutting raw onion. Allium Cepa is one ingredient in the combination remedy I described in my post 2 weeks ago.

In a similar way, many clients of mine who come with hay fever symptoms are given pollen in its homeopathic form to take throughout the hay fever season to reduce their sensitivity to pollen in the air, and we get to work on combatting their actual allergy during the less troublesome winter months.

Please get in touch for more information about managing your hay fever homeopathically.

Homeopathy for Hay Fever #2

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

The flower Eyebright is so-called because of its resemblance to bright eyes, and it is used in homeopathy and naturopathy for complaints of the eye. It can be taken as a homeopathic remedy internally to help with those symptoms of hay fever which affect the eyes, and is beneficial too when used as a herbal tincture in the form drops. A.Vogel’s Moisturising Eye Drops contain Eyebright (known by its Latin name of Euphrasia) and relieves dry, irritated eyes. Visit your local health food store such as Herbie’s in Southsea or get in touch for further information.