Combination remedies #1 Hayfever

Combination remedies #1 Hayfever

The great thing about combination remedies for the home prescriber is that you don't need to agonise about which remedy suits your symptoms best. The most common and effective remedies are put together for everyday complaints, enabling you to prescribe for yourself or your family quickly and simply.

The hay fever combination remedy from Helios homeopathic pharmacy ( https://www.helios.co.uk/) contains remedies prepared from the humble onion and the plants Eyebright and Sabadilla. They address the typical hay fever symptoms of - amongst others - itching and watery eyes, sneezing and a runny nose, and being straight from nature, don't have the downsides of anti-histamines.

Taking well-chosen homeopathic remedies through the winter through a qualified practitioner will address the susceptibility to hayfever, but as the pollen season is already underway, use the combination remedy to help with the symptoms as they appear.

If you need any further advice, please get in touch.

Using homeopathy to speed your recovery after surgery 2

This week we’ll look at the brilliant remedy Staphysagria. This remedy comes in very handy after surgery when there is a feeling as if there has been some kind of unwelcome intrusion made to the body – even when the surgery has been fully agreed to.

Staphysagria is useful, for example if a procedure has been performed on your piles. In this case, take Staphysagria alongside Aesculus (which comes from a conker, as pictured here), which is a great remedy for piles, and the tendency to get piles themselves.

Think about Staphysagria after circumcision. In this situation, Arnica will also be very relevant.

Think also about this great little remedy if you went into hospital to deliver your baby naturally but ended up having to have a C-Section, and understandably feel angry about that eventuality, as necessary as it may have been. This is also the case after an episiotomy.

Finally, Staphysagria is often very well-indicated after a hysterectomy too. For more information on all matters homeopathic, please get in touch.

Using homeopathy to speed your recovery after surgery 1

If you are faced with the prospect of surgery, you will be eager to get yourself back to form in as short as time as possible. While there is no substitute for the rest which you will certainly require, homeopathic remedies will speed the healing process very effectively as well as helping with the emotional responses too. 

Emotions before the event

Homeopathic remedies can really help with the emotions that can be experienced prior to surgery. If you’re feeling apprehensive, trembly and weak, consider taking Gelsemium to steady yourself. If it’s panic you’re feeling and you’re scared you might die, no matter how risky or how routine the surgery is, reach instead for Aconite. Try taking one dose of the more appropriate remedy the night before your procedure, another on waking and a third nearer to the time of the appointment.

 Good old Arnica

Arnica is the number one remedy to take pre-surgery. It helps to minimise both trauma to the body and also bleeding. It should be given at least twice afterwards, with something like an hour interval between the doses. It can be given for longer periods but that depends completely on the nature of the surgery and the toll it has taken on the body.

Next week we’ll take a look at remedies for recovery from specific procedures.

Home prescribing for colic

If the person suffering colic is a baby, the first remedy to consider is Colocynthis except if they’re teething, in which case, reach for the Chamomilla. If the baby is arching back with the pain, however, Dioscorea is your remedy.

If you’re prescribing for yourself or an other adult, has the pain come on after eating and drinking too much? If so, Nux Vomica is your remedy. If the person has a lot of bloating and wind, reach for Carbo Veg, but it they’re drawing their legs up into the foetal position, reach for Colocynthis. If, on the other hand, they’re arching back to stretch out the stomach, use Dioscorea.

All the wonderful homeopathic remedies mentioned above come from the plant kingdom and are safe for babies and adults alike.

Homeopathic remedies for Teething

Give the top teething remedy, Chamomilla. Very often this will work. If your child doesn’t respond, ask yourself:

Is my child constipated? Yes – give Nux Vomica.

Does my child have hot, red cheeks? Yes – give Belladonna.

Does my child have ulcers where the tooth is coming through? Yes – give Borax

Is my child’s tongue red and swollen? Yes – give Apis.

I hope this helps. Please get in touch for further information.

Staying well this Winter #5

A well-chosen homeopathic remedy is often very effective in helping alleviate the acute symptoms of a sore throat, though if the sore throats recur chronically, do consult a professional. Consulting a professional is important also if the symptoms are severe.

The following remedies are some of the most commonly prescribed for sore throats.

Aconite

Reach for Aconite if a sore throat comes on suddenly, especially if you’ve been caught out in the cold. The throat will be swollen, red and dry and may feel burning. A child with an Aconite sore throat may well wake up during the night feeling anxious and restless.

Apis

Made from the honey bee, this remedy suits those symptoms you’d associate with a bee sting: red and swollen with stinging pains. This is how the throat looks and feels. You’ll want cold drinks to keep the pain down and the inner and outer throat and the uvula will all be inflamed.

Belladonna

Like Aconite above, Belladonna suits the sudden onset of a sore throat, though Belladonna is also one of the most common remedies for acute tonsilitis. The tonsils will be scarlet red and be burning. The child suffering these symptoms may well also have a high fever. There may be a difficulty even swallowing water. There may be a craving for lemons or lemonade.

Mercurius

Think of this remedy if a cold settles in the throat and it’s very painful to swallow. Again, there will be swelling and redness, but with this remedy there will be a lot of salivation, a dirty yellow tongue and very bad breath. The tonsils and the lymph glands may also be swollen.

There are many other remedies for sore throats, so if you need further information, please get in touch.

 

Staying well this winter with homeopathy #4 Cell Salts

Cell Salts are an easy and effective way to keep classic winter ills at bay.

Cell or Tissue Salts are a biochemical cellular therapy prepared from 12 of the body’s essential minerals such as magnesium and potassium. The Salts are micro doses of the 12 minerals and are taken in combinations to address different kinds of ailments.

The Cell Salt Combination J is known as the winter seasonal remedy as it helps prevent (if taken promptly enough) or alleviate colds, coughs and congestion. It includes the minerals Ferrum Phosphate, Potassium Chloride and Sodium Chloride. These are all in microdoses and are therefore are a form of homeopathy which is very easily self-prescribed.

Cell Salts are easily obtained from health food stores and some pharmacies.

Staying well this winter with homeopathy #3 Money worries

Today is officially Blue Monday, which is supposed to be the most depressing day of the year. I sincerely hope that’s not your experience. However, a big drop in temperature in the midst of an energy and cost of living crisis is not the happiest synergy.

There are many homeopathic remedies that can address anxiety and depression in a very real and lasting way. And there are some remedies that are particularly indicated where money worries threaten to overwhelm you.

Bryonia is a remedy for people who are hard working, efficient and driven people whose financial concerns lead them to become very worried about the future. They also become very irritable, humourless and insist on being alone and very still.

Arsenicum also fears financial loss but for Arsenicum, the fear makes them restless and fastidious. They’ll need company and reassurance that things will be ok. They may also become worried about their health.

If these remedy pictures seem familiar or if you’d like to find out more, please get in touch.

Staying well this winter with homeopathy #2 getting caught out in the cold

Here in the UK right now, the weather is very unpredictable. If, like me, you’re frequently out and about on school runs, walking the dog or going back out to the shop to buy what you forgot to get earlier, you’re likely to be caught in whatever elements are making themselves felt.

If you’re caught in cold weather for longer than you planned and then next thing you know you find yourself sneezing and your nose running, reach as quickly as you can for Aconite. A few doses of this wonder remedy before bed can be enough to nip things in the bud. Aconite grows in high mountains where it’s stormy and windy, and it’s a great remedy for experiencing these conditions and remaining intact.

Aconite suits a sudden onset of symptoms and for a child this is them waking in a fright at midnight running a fever. But adults too might feel anxious and restless. Either way, try to stop the illness in its tracks with Aconite. Please feel free to get in touch for further information.

Staying well this winter with Homeopathy #1

Overdoing it at the Christmas Party! 

 Here are some essential remedies for the day after festive overindulgence. 

Hangovers: Nux-Vomica

This fabulous remedy sounds like it feels! It’s the number one hangover remedy, especially for those who are both hungover and a bear with a sore head. 

Food-poisoning: Arsenicum

This remedy will help calm a system put into overdrive by a dose of food poisoning. Whether you’re vomiting, have diarrhoea or have the best of both, Arsenicum is the first remedy to reach for. 

Rich food: Pulsatilla and Carbo Vegetabilis 

Some people can’t tolerate the rich food that surrounds us at Christmas. Pulsatilla is for an upset stomach that feels as heavy as a stone, with a need to vomit and get cool, fresh air. Carbo Veg is another great remedy after rich food when there’s a lot of burping and farting with pains that force the person to bend double. Having a good fart eases things a great deal. 

I hope this helps - please feel free to get in touch for further information. Have fun at the party! 

Homeopathy for Hand, Foot and Mouth

Hand, Foot and Mouth will usually clear up on its own within 7-10 days. However, if you want to make your child’s life easier during this period and to speed their recovery, look at the remedies below and give your child 4 doses of the remedy in a 30c per day. If the remedy you chose hasn’t helped after that fourth dose, rethink your choice.

Rhus Tox (pictured here) is one go to for this illness. The key indication is extreme restlessness, especially at night caused by the itching of the skin.

Borax is the remedy to consider when your child becomes clingy and won’t be put down. The sores will be in the mouth and will be red or bleeding.

Mercury is the best remedy when sores and blisters affect the whole mouth, perhaps with a sore throat. There may be increased saliva and a puffy tongue with bad breath.

Belladonna is very useful at the onset of the illness when the child is feverish with reddened skin and dilated pupils. The throat may be sore, red and inflamed.

I hope this is useful. There are other very helpful remedies for Hand, Foot and Mouth, so get in touch if your child’s symptoms don’t match with any mentioned above.

Homeopathy for morning sickness #3

When prescribing homeopathy, it’s essential to find the remedy that most closely matches the symptoms you’re experiencing. It’s not a one-size-fits all form of medicine. 

I’ve described 2 other remedies in previous posts, so take a look at them and the two remedies enclosed to see if they fit with your situation. There are many other remedies that might be of use, so please get in touch if none included here match your situation. 

Nux Vomica 

In good health, these people are very dynamic and fast-paced. When ill, the slower pace of  life demanded by the illness makes them irritable and impatient. 

Their morning sickness might feel like a hangover, which may not be a feeling they are unfamiliar with! The sickness might be there on waking and is worse for eating and smells such as tabacco. If they’re actually sick, that will help them feel better. They might also become constipated and chilly. 

Pulsatilla 

The person needing this remedy (pictured here) will go to great lengths to avoid eating fatty or rich food. They’ll also avoid being in warm, stuffy environments, preferring instead to be in the fresh air. They won’t be very thirsty. 

Pulsatilla people are often tearful and quite needy, wanting cuddles, sympathy and reassurance to raise their mood. 

Please get in touch if your morning sickness feels very different to the pictures painted here. 

Homeopathy for morning sickness #2

The pregnant mother with morning sickness who would benefit from the homeopathic remedy Arsenicum will really suffer. They’ll feel weak and really can’t soldier on. They cannot eat or drink as it all comes back up again and leaves a sour taste in their mouth. They’re very thirsty for small sips of water. They might feel as if they’ve been poisoned.

Emotionally, the sickness will bring out their insecurities and their desire for company and reassurance. It might also bring out their need for control, making them tidy their environment and want to create order. This remedy suits the person who, when the going gets tough, won’t get going but will alphabetize their vinyl or colour code their larder – hence the picture!

If this remedy picture resembles your own situation, take Arsenicum in a 30c every 4 hours till you see improvement then 1 dose daily thereafter. If your symptoms do not improve after 6 doses, rethink your remedy choice from the other blog entries. Please get in touch for further information.

Homeopathy for morning sickness #1

Hi all. If the joy of becoming a mother is being sapped by morning sickness, consider using homeopathy as it is safe for use in pregnancy. This week we look at the remedy Sepia.

Follow the general tips and then select the remedy from those described which matches your individual symptoms most closely. Take it in a 30c every 4 hours till you see improvement then 1 dose daily thereafter. If your symptoms do not improve after 6 doses, rethink your remedy choice.

General tips:

  • Try to eat little and often

  • Try ginger or ginger in food

  • Remember that the mornings will be worse because your blood sugar is low

Sepia

This fantastic female remedy suits morning sickness that is temporarily better for eating, despite the fact that there's nausea just from the smell of food. Sometimes even the smell of their partner can make the Sepia woman feel sick! The Sepia woman is often resentful of and irritated by her partner who she may well expect to read her mind as she doesn’t want to ask for help! She feels better for being alone or exercising. It may suit a woman who is already a mother and who is already tired from parenting.

Sepia is an indispensable remedy in my homeopathic practice. It is of great therapeutic benefit for a wide range of physical and emotional symptoms from migraines to post-natal depression. There is often a hormonal connection and it is often prescribed at puberty, around pregnancy and at menopause. However, it is indicated at any time of life when a person - most frequently a woman for this remedy - is stretched in multiple directions and the result is exhaustion, depression and irritation.

Feel free to get in touch for more information.

World Menopause Day 2022

The menopause and the peri-menopause create a very significant transition in a woman’s life, and like any transition it can present some challenges, challenges which can be felt not only physically but also mentally and emotionally.

 

The word “menopause” is no longer taboo, thank goodness, and there is no reason why it needs to be handled alone. There are numerous homeopathic and natural ways of helping the body and the mind through this change. There is a place for HRT and I know that it suits a lot of women, but if you want to avoid HRT’s side effects and the animal cruelty involved in its production, you have nothing to lose by first exploring the natural approach.

 

A great place to begin is to improve your liver health. The liver is responsible for getting rid of the excess oestrogen that the body is trying to remove in mid-life. If the liver is under functioning and cannot detox the body fully, the result can be weight-gain, bloating and headaches as well as insomnia and flushes. Therefore, just by cleaning up your diet, drinking plenty of water and trying to reduce stress, all of which are a huge blessing to your liver, you’ll feel better.

 

In addition to this, the homeopathic remedies Sepia, Lachesis and Aristolochia Clematis, to name but a few are extremely helpful in addressing the wide array of menopausal symptoms you might be facing, from flushes to depression, from hair loss to anxiety, from burning tongue to simple exhaustion. With homeopathy, your individual and unique set of symptoms will indicate what remedies will suit you best.

 

Putting it all together, the menopause is a natural process that can be experienced naturally. Feel free to get in touch for more information.

Homeopathy: An Individualised Approach

I wanted to share a testimonial with you.

Nicky is an extremely warm and intuitive homeopath who is patient and kind in her approach and has a wealth of knowledge to pinpoint what treatments will be best and when. You can assure that after a session you will be feeling listened to and more positive and know you are in safe hands on your healing journey. Thanks for the great work Nicky.

The homeopathic process is totally individualised; each prescription I give is bespoke. The client’s story needs to be told, really heard and truly understood for the best-suited remedies to be prescribed. Whether your issue is migraines or eczema, anxiety or depression, your homeopath will hear your story, join the dots, put together the jigsaw pieces and prescribe. The healing process begins with this conversation and continues with the remedies chosen specifically for you. Please get in touch for more information.

Homeopathy: natural medicine, recognising natural differences

As I was sitting on Southsea beach yesterday, the uniqueness of each pebble on that long beach reminded me again of the individualised approach of homeopathy. There is no one remedy for headaches, neither is there only one remedy for anxiety.

And that is why the homeopathic consultation is so crucial. In that space, your story can be told, heard and not judged. Your personal, individual set of symptoms or feelings can be explained fully. This in itself is the beginning of the healing process, but in addition it gives the homeopath the information required to prescribe the remedies best suited to person in front of them. These remedies harness the power of nature to return you to health.

Please get in touch for more information.

Prepare for next year’s pollen now

Homeopathy is a form of medicine that addresses the root causes of ill-health. The Hay Fever programme is a combination of remedies taken over the Autumn and Winter when the body isn’t having to deal with so many allergens and therefore the underlying susceptibility can be addressed. The length of time this takes will depend on how long you’ve had your allergy and how intense your symptoms are, but year on year you can reduce your need for medication and switch to natural alternatives. The photos show the kind of remedies we use.

Please get in touch for more information.

Homeopathy for school fears

While long-standing feelings of anxiety regarding school are better dealt with by a professional homeopath, less severe apprehension about school is something that can be tackled by the home prescriber. Have a look at the main homeopathic remedies below.

Pulsatilla

This is the number one remedy for separation anxiety. This is the remedy for the child who won’t let go and will cry and cling for what’ll seem like forever. They’re the child who, when finally extricated from their carer, will cling instead to the teacher. They’ll feel very sorry for themselves and want attention and affection.

 Gelsemium

This remedy is your classic stage fright remedy and is more suitable for a general feeling of apprehension regarding school. The child might be jittery, confused or complain of stomach aches.

Take the best suited remedy above in a 30c 4 times daily for 2 days either side of starting school. Please get in touch if these remedy profiles don’t sound like your child as these are just two of many possible remedies and homeopathy is a totally individualised form of medicine.

Rescue remedy

This is a wonderful combination to have to hand for parent and child alike to use as and when anxiety might be building and getting the better of you.

I hope this is helpful and best of luck with the return to school.