It’s summer and we love to be outside, but bites and stings from mosquitos, wasps, bees or spiders can be irritating and painful.  If you get bitten or stung by an insect, see which remedy best suits your situation and symptoms:

Always seek medical help if you suspect a severe reaction to a bite or sting. 

Ledum

Ledum is the most commonly used homeopathic remedy for bites and stings from bees, mosquitoes, wasps, or spiders. If you need Ledum the wound will be swollen, cold, and discoloured. There may be bruising and swelling that feels cold or numb and possible mottled discoloration; the affected area is cold to the touch but cold applications or immersion in cold water improves symptoms.

Aconite

If Aconite is needed, there will be rapid, intense symptoms following the bite or sting. The patient will be restless, fearful and anxious. They may feel very thirsty.

Apis

For Apis the site of the sting will be puffy. The swelling will be warm and either white or rosy pink in colour. There will be prickling, stinging pains that are improved by cold applications.

Lachesis

The skin around bite or sting will be hot and look dark red or blue–purple.

Hypericum

This remedy is known for its soothing effect on injuries to nerve-rich body areas such as fingertips. It is also useful after puncture wounds, including bites and stings. Shooting pains or pains with numbness and tingling often are experienced when Hypericum is needed.

Cantharis

If you have intense burning pain following insect bites such as from wasps, Cantharis is the remedy to try. It relieves pain and promotes healing in burns. The pain of a Cantharis burn is intense, and the skin may blacken or blister.  It is also helpful for itchy sunburn.

Urtica

Another remedy which is good for stinging, burning pains, for itching with raised red blotches and for prickly heat

You can also get homeopathic creams

and gels for bite and stings:

Urtica cream

Ledum mother tincture

Hypericum & calendula cream or mother tincture

Miranda Castro healing gel

 Have a very happy summer

Summer heat

First things first: stay safe: Obvious yet easy to forget - always drink plenty of water during hot weather to cool down your body and to remain hydrated.

The summer sun gives us all that lovely natural Vitamin D, but over-exposure can cause a variety of issues such as:

Sunburn

If your skin gets sunburnt, take Cantharis up to three times an hour. It can also help to prevent blistering.

Prickly heat

Prickly heat is caused by inflammation of sweat gland ducts blocked by sebum. The top three homeopathic remedies for prickly heat are:

Apis: Skin feels hot with raised, red shiny eruptions that feel worse for the heat and better for cool bathing. The person may be “touchy”.

Rhus Tox: Burning or itching rash with restlessness and small blisters. Unlike Apis, the skin will feel worse for cold air and better for heat.

Urtica urens: The rash is red with raised blotches that sting, burn and itch – it will feel like a stinging nettle rash. Skin feels worse for cold bathing and better for rubbing

If prickly heat is a reoccurring and particularly bothersome problem you may need to seek constitutional treatment to from a qualified homeopath to treat it more permanently.

Sunstroke

Belladonna is an excellent remedy for sun stroke, dehydration, and headache cause by over-exposure to the sun; take every couple of hours.

Insect bites and stings

NB: Seek urgent medical attention if there are any symptoms of difficult breathing, wheezing, palpitations, if there is confusion or faintness or the sting is in the mouth or throat.

Ledum is one of the best homeopathic remedies when it comes to treating insect bites during summers. The indication for Ledum is a sharp, stabbing pain. As well as stings it’s the remedy to choose for thorns and any puncture wound.

Apis mellifica also works well for insect bites, particularly if there is redness or swelling; the affected area will be sore and sensitive. A cold application feels better.

Urtica Urens: Skin is itchy and blotchy and looks like nettle rash.

Cantharis: Rapid onset with intense and violent burning pains. Watery blisters may develop. Worse for touch and better for warmth

Travel Sickness

Also known as motion sickness this is an acute ailment with symptoms of dizziness, sweating, salivation, nausea and vomiting. Take the remedy before travelling and repeat hourly if needed.

Cocculus Indicus: Excessive fatigue yet you feel too tired to sleep. You may also feel weak, nauseous and dizzy and faint. Unusually you feel worse in the fresh air and worse for eating and drinking. You may need to lie down to prevent vomiting.

Petroleum: Nausea, dizziness, heavy headache, vomiting, with a cold sweat yet hungry – the hunger is eased by eating small amounts of food. You feel worse in the fresh air and better for lying with your head high.

Tabacum: This is for an intermittent violent nausea with vomiting where your face is pale and drawn with a sensation of a tight band around the head. You will feel worse for heat and the smell of tobacco and better in the fresh air.

If you start to feel nauseous before your journey starts, take Argentum Nitricum.

Fear of flying

So many of us have a fear of flying which can make us dread (or even avoid) trips abroad. Here are some remedies that can help:

Argentum-nitricum: Someone who suits this remedy will feel very anxious and restless, possibly with diarrhoea and will worry that the plane may crash. They will generally feel worse for heat and crowds and better for being in the open air.

Aconite: An Aconite person will feel complete terror and panic and will have a fear of death. Again, they feel better in the fresh air but worse for touch.

Arsenicum: You may benefit from Arsenicum if you feel restless and need constant reassurance that you will survive the flight. You don’t want to be alone and feel better for the company of others.

Gelsemium: If you tend to tremble with anxiety and panic and your muscles feel weak and heavy, Gelsemium is the remedy to try. You will also feel worse for exertion.

Nux Vomica: Excessive impatience and anger while being kept waiting. Worse for stimulants such as coffee and alcohol.

Jet Lag

Jet lag occurs when our biological clock finds it difficult to adapt to the new time zone. This can result in sleep disturbance, insomnia, excessive fatigue and difficulty in concentration as well as changes in the appetite and bowel movement patterns. It can take days to recover but homeopathic remedies can help to alleviate the symptoms and speed up recovery. Take the remedy just before boarding the plane and repeat hourly if required.

Arnica: Jet lag can be considered like a trauma to the body disturbing its natural rhythms and cycles. You feel weak, sore and bruised with the tiredness.

Cocculus Indicus: You will have excessive fatigue yet feel too tired to sleep. You may also feel weak, nauseous and dizzy and faint. Fresh air makes you feel worse, as does eating and drinking.

Gelsemium: Jet lag with a sense of paralysis.

Other holiday needs

If that pesky hay fever is still an issue see my separate blog on homeopathy for hay fever.

Euphrasia is a commonly used for eye-related problems that may come about due to sun exposure or excessive sweating.

Calendula is an all-purpose medicine for many kinds of skin damage; it can be used for wounds, infection and prolonged sun exposure. It is antiseptic and has rapid healing properties

Always keep a tube of Arnica cream at hand for any bruising or sore muscles.

For upset tummies related to unfamiliar foods or too much alcohol Nux vomica is the first remedy to reach for. For more serious cases of food poisoning with vomiting and diarrhoea, try Arsenicum album.

If you are suffering from longer term tiredness, headaches, or any other conditions which may be aggravated in the warmer months, consult a qualified homeopath who will look at your diet, mood, sleep and lifestyle as well as your physical symptoms and will prescribe a suitable homeopathic remedy for you. Or if you wish to discuss any other specific problems, book in for a free 15 minute call to see how homeopathy can help.

Homeopathy doesn’t just treat people – it’s really effective for animals and plants too.

Here are 6 remedies you can use in your garden to help your plants thrive and recover from damage.

Homeopathy does not work by killing pests – it strengthens the plants’ ability to withstand attacks – from pests, diseases and adverse weather conditions.

Aconite: 200c

For people

Aconite is a highly effective remedy when someone has had a shock from a frightening event such as a car accident or an earthquake. In such cases they will be anxious and may express a fear of death. On the physical level they may suddenly come down with a cold or fever after having been exposed to a cold wind.

For plants

Observe these similarities. Aconite will help with plants that suffer from:

· Shock by icy cold wind or icy rain

· Shock by dry cold wind

· Quick-drying, quick wilting

· Cold which comes on suddenly

· Pale signs; glassy signs

Arnica 200c

Arnica is probably the most well-known homeopathic remedy, primarily due to its effectiveness for bruising from physical trauma. Many families have a tube of Arnica cream in their medicine cupboard for those childhood bumps and bruises. It’s also another good remedy for shock, but the difference from Aconite as that the person needing Arnica will dismiss offers of help, insisting that they are fine even when it’s obvious they are not.

For plants Arnica is good for:

· Supporting growth of roots

· Injuries from pruning, repotting, relocation

· Bleeding after pruning

· Breakage after storm or hail

· Improves circulation in the capillary system

· A strengthening tonic for all plants

Belladonna 200c

Another great remedy for childhood illnesses, Belladonna treats fevers and regulates body temperature; symptoms tend to come on suddenly and the face will be red and hot.

For plants Belladonna helps with:

· Consequences of cold, heat, sunburn, wetness

· After frost and subsequent winter sun

· Cold and long-lasting rain: leaves stay wet for too long

· Heat damage, sunburn

· Reddish or reddish-brown signs

Calendula 30c

Where Arnica treats bruises, Calendula promotes healing on injuries with skin abrasions, wounds and incisions, working as a natural antiseptic.

For plant treatment Calendula helps to:

· Support growth of roots (similar to Arnica)

· After repotting or relocation

· Antibacterial and revitalising effect

· Consequences of frost, cracks caused by frost

· In general: tears, abrasions and cracks

Tip: bathe seeds in calendula water for 3 hours before planting for higher germination rate and earlier and stronger growing.

Nat Sulph 30c

Guiding symptoms: Nat Sulph helps people with asthma which has been caused by humidity; digestive issues such as diarrhoea and it is also a tonic for the kidneys, liver and spleen.

For plant treatment use Nat Sulph for:

· Warm, humid, muggy weather (greenhouse climate)

· Rain that lasts longer than 9 hours

· Various fungal diseases cause by this weather: downy mildew, brown rot, leaf curl

· Purple-brown signs

Sulphur 200c

Sulphur has a vast scope of healing but is mainly know to aid all kinds of skin conditions, especially where there is burning, itching, red orifices, hot feet, oily hair and skin

For plant treatment use Sulphur for:

· Cell cleaning

· Consequences of heat

· Lack of water

· Thirsty plants that cannot absorb enough water

· Fungal diseases

· Pests of different kinds

How to use homeopathy for your plants

Use No 6 pillules in 30c or 200c potency as indicted in each remedy detail

4 pills 1 litre of water

6 pills 10 litres

8 pills 30 litres

If you would like to know where to purchase the remedies please contact me via my website.

Put the pills in a jam jar full of water and give it a good shake then add the water to the appropriate volume in your watering can.

The above is just a small sample of homeopathic remedies you can use in your garden to good effect. If you would like to know more I would highly recommend Homeopathy for Plants by Christiane Maute available at https://www.homeopathicbooks.com/product/homeopathy-for-plants-christiane-maute/ or on Kindle from Amazon.

I will be doing more experimenting on using remedies for plant care in my garden and allotment, so watch this space for further updates!

If you would like to know more about how homeopathy can treat you and your family, do book in with me for a free discovery call.

Streaming runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, itchy throat, tiredness … if you’re a hay fever sufferer I don’t need to tell you how frustrating, debilitating and miserable summers can be. And it’s quite common – around 20% of the UK population are prone to some form of hay fever.

How does homeopathy help?

Homeopathy offers a gentle form of treatment for hay fever with no side effects. The remedies below are just a few of those which can help with hay fever symptoms.

In this blog I will also describe how a long-term approach with homeopathy can eradicate your hay fever symptoms by gently healing the body’s sensitivity to allergens, leaving you hay-fever free.

Here are the top 5 most commonly-prescribed hay fever remedies; choose the one which most closely resembles your symptoms:

Allium Cepa

· Frequent sneezing

· Burning discharge from the nose

· Watery eyes with bland discharge

· Eyes may also sting and burn, like when cutting an onion

· Symptoms are worse from the smell of flowers

· Dryness and tickling in the throat

· Symptoms are better for being in the open air

Euphrasia

· Eyes get red, watery, itchy and burning, possibly with yellow discharge

· Sticky eyes

· Bland nasal discharge

· Breathing may feel asthmatic

· Symptoms are worse in sunlight

· Headache

Sabadilla

· Recurrent sneezing

· Runny nose and eyes which will be red and feel hot

· Itchy roof of mouth & throat

· Dry mouth and muffled cough

· Sensitive to smells

· You feel better in the open air

Gelsemium

· Watery nasal discharge

· Worse in damp weather

· You feel lethargic

· Feels like a flu-type illness, dizzy and shaky

Nux Vomica

· Eyes are sensitive, especially to light

· Sneezing worse first thing in the morning

· Stuffy nose with obstructed breathing

· Itchiness

· You may feel irritable

How to take your remedy

· Use the 30c potency.

· Take 1 dose (2 pills) and observe your symptoms. You can take the remedy up to 4 times per day. Stop taking the remedy as your symptoms begin to improve.

· If symptoms don’t start to improve in 3-4 hours, reassess the symptoms and look for a new remedy.

· If you are unsure between 2 remedies you could alternate these remedies and assess as above.

If you do not find any of the above remedies fit your particular symptoms, call me for an appointment so I can help you find the right remedy for your symptomatology and profile.

Homeopathy is a system of natural, alternative medicine which treats the person as a whole. This means it helps with the whole body, the individual’s overly-sensitive immune system as well as the physical symptoms the person experiences. Every patient is different, and every prescription is unique to each person. A homeopathic consultation, therefore, includes a detailed medical history of the patient as well as causation and personality profile.

An Example

One client of mine had suffered from hay fever for 40 years. Every summer he struggled with a streaming, runny nose, itchy eyes, nose and back of mouth and tiredness.

His symptoms were so debilitating that he did not go out in June or July and had to stagger his holidays, for example going to Scotland in early June, then elsewhere in August. When he had to go out he would use a facemask: most of the meds made him sleepy but he would take histamine at night and use nasal sprays, sometimes steroidal, and Vaseline up his nose and around his eyes.

However, after a two-year programme of alternative homeopathic treatment there was a huge change – he no longer suffers from hay fever! He explains: “There has been a dramatic difference since taking the homeopathic remedies – after 40 years I’m not a hay fever sufferer any more! No more having to stay in during June and July, no more streaming runny nose, itchy eyes and tiredness. What a relief!”.

What is Hay Fever?

Also known as allergic rhinitis, hay fever is a seasonal allergy, which commonly occurs in the spring and early summer but can also show itself throughout the year. Particles of pollen from blooming flowers, grasses, trees or mould spores become trapped inside the nose and agitate.

Some people find their hay fever is worse in the city than the countryside and this is because city planners tend to plant more male trees which create more pollen.

Those who find their rhinitis symptoms occurring throughout the year may have a sensitivity to house dust and mites, moulds and/or animal dander.

When someone is sensitive to these allergens, the body’s immune system reacts to them as a threat and launches an acute ‘at

tack’. The nasal passages become inflamed as extra mucus is produced to flush away the particles.

From a deeper perspective, hay fever sufferers have a highly sensitized immune system which is aways on high alert. Just because symptoms are seasonal and there are times when you feel free from them doesn’t mean this immune sensitivity has gone away – it is aways there and will be triggered when the particular allergen appears. This is the same sensitivity that can also cause eczema, asthma and food sensitivities which may sometimes accompany a person’s hay fever.

If you are at the end of your tether with this debilitating condition, then maybe it’s time for a new approach.

You can book in for a free 15 minute discovery call with me at www.tanablum.com to find out more about how this form of treatment can work with your unique, individual symptoms, or contact me at homeopathy@tanablum.com or 07920 518678.

I was delighted to give a lecture recently on Phosphorus at the North West College of Homeopathy. It’s wonderful to share the amazing benefits of this remedy I prescribe regularly. I thought you would like to find out more about it too so you can see how far reaching its action is.

Phosphorus is what we call a ‘polycrest’, meaning that it has a wide range of healing properties. These properties act physically, an area that we often relate to as ‘needing healing’, but also to mental and emotional attributes that guide the prescriber to choose it for their patient. Maybe you know people who are like the ‘phosphorus personality’?

Physical symptoms

It’s a wide range, but here are some key areas phosphorus can help:

• Problems with the nervous system which could lead to hypersensitivity

• Circulation problems

• Dizziness

• Coughs and colds

• Weakness of the lungs

• Headaches

• Anaemia

• Problems tend to occur on the left side of the body

Mental/emotional characteristics

Here’s the personality - it doesn’t mean it needs to be cured at all! But if the person with a cold is like this it’s a good pointer that this could be a remedy to help them.

• A person who needs phosphorus is often vivacious and good fun to be around

• They like to be the centre of attention and like being cared for when upset or unwell

• They are expressive, affectionate and not afraid to show emotion: “people people”

• Looks and image are important to them

• They may have a short attention span

• They are sensitive to others’ emotions

When students learn about this remedy, everyone wants to be a ‘Phosphorus type’! However, there is a downside:

Mental/emotional characteristics - the downside

• They may need a lot of love and attention

• They can become demanding

• Or excitable and easily angered

• They may have many anxieties:

… when alone

· … about the future

· … during a thunderstorm

Appearance

Homeopathy recognises so much about us as individuals. Even the appearance counts. In physical appearance a Phosphorus person tends to be tall and slim. They like to be stylish and possibly artistic in their appearance. They may blush easily.

Likes and dislikes

A person’s likes and dislikes often give valuable clues as the remedy they need. Here are some Phosphorus tendencies:

They like:

• Sour, savoury and spicy foods

• Carbonated drinks

• Alcohol

• Mild cheese

• Sweet foods, especially ice cream

• Dislike strongly flavoured fish and fruit

• They love the sun, but not the wind; they feel the cold

• They have a fear of thunderstorms

Top 10 Phosphorus characteristics

Here are some more characteristics that point towards phosphorus.

• Vivacious and sociable

• The influence of electric charges

• Anaemic conditions

• Chest complaints

• Burning pains.

• Amelioration from heat everywhere except in the stomach and head.

• The need for love and attention

• Thirst for cold drinks which are vomited as soon as they become warm.

• The inability to lie on the left side.

• Fear of the dark and thunderstorms

So here we see how incredibly wide the remit of homeopathy is. This is why a homeopathy appointment will take longer than one with your GP - because the homeopath wants to understand so much about you. With over 3000 remedies to choose from, getting a clear ‘picture’ of your health, appearance, preferences and symptoms takes time - but being accurate makes a remedy so much more effective.

If this remedy doesn’t sound like you there will be one that is! I loved sharing it with the students. Each time they hear about a new remedy there’s so much excitement in the room.

Tana x

PS - If you’d like to find out the remedy that matches your unique personality and symptoms why not give me a free call. There’ll be one for you and this is the best way I know to support your health on all levels.

Did you know that Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) affects as many as 1 in 10 women in the UK? And only half of these will have symptoms. It is most prevalent in women aged 15 to 30.

What is PCOS, and what are its symptoms?

It is a hormonal disorder which affects the reproductive system as well as the general health of the patient. It can cause a lot of anxiety. Its major features are:

• Irregular periods as the ovaries are not regularly releasing eggs

• Excess androgen, a ‘male’ hormone, which can cause excess body or facial hair

• Polycystic ovaries - a large number of harmless fluid-filled follicles; although harmless in themselves, they can cause ovulation to fail.

Symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) usually become apparent in a woman’s late teens or early 20s. They can include:

• irregular or absent periods

• difficulty getting pregnant due to ovulation issues

• excess hair growth (known as hirsutism) – usually on the face, chest, back or buttocks

• weight gain

• thinning hair and/or hair loss from the head

• oily skin or acne

PCOS is also associated with an increased risk of developing health problems in later life, such as type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol.

In addition, a diagnosis of PCOS can be distressing and may lead to anxiety, depression and low self-esteem.

What causes polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)?

The exact cause of PCOS is unknown, but it often runs in families. There is an increased risk of almost 50% if a family member such as mother, sister or aunt has PCOS.

It is related to abnormal hormone levels in the body.

Many women with PCOS are resistant to the action of insulin (the hormone that controls sugar levels in the body) and produce higher levels of insulin to overcome this. This contributes to the increased production and activity of hormones like testosterone.

Stress can also contribute to hormonal imbalance, so it is important to keep stress levels low: mindfulness, meditation, yoga, walking in nature and generally just chilling and doing things we enjoy can be really beneficial in maintaining our stress balance.

How can polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) be treated?

There is no conventional cure for PCOS. Your doctor will treat each symptom separately to ease discomfort. Separate medicines are offered to treat symptoms such as excessive hair growth, irregular periods and fertility problems.

If these fertility medicines are not effective, a simple surgical procedure called laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) may be recommended.

Although many women do use conventional medicine to treat their PCOS, in some cases the side effects may be too harsh or they may wish to look deeper into the cause of their illness and so they seek alternative options such as Homeopathy.

So what is a natural approach?

One approach that allows us to look at of all the symptoms, with no side effects, is homeopathy. It’s safe and non-addictive and can also be taken alongside conventional

medicines if needed.

Homeopathic medicine treats the patient, not the disease. Every case is different because no two people are the same.

If you visit a homeopath, in the consultation you will discuss all your symptoms, including your mental and emotional state, lifestyle factors, family history and personal characteristics. Homeopaths need to know as much as possible about each patient in order to pinpoint the right remedy - different for every patient as your symptoms are unique. We get to understand the underlying cause of the PCOS, the ‘root cause’ as we look at all the factors that led to these symptoms developing. Then a carefully selected remedy will be prescribed to address the cause of your PCOS as well as support your overall health.

Regular exercise and a healthy diet are, of course, also important and will be discussed during the consultation.

Would you like to find out more?

If you are suffering with PCOS and you would like to discover more about how homeopathy can help you with your physical symptoms, or even emotional, energetic or mental imbalance, book a free discovery call at my website www.tanablum.com, or contact me at homeopathy@tanablum.com or 07920 518678.

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by Sam Adkins | Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

Head pounding, nausea, bad taste in the mouth and feeling as if you are dragging your body around…..these are some of the many hangover symptoms we are all familiar with. Even the most well intentioned amongst us can get caught out during the holiday season by over indulging – but fear not because homeopathic help is at hand!

There are many homeopathic medicines that may be appropriate for the symptoms caused by these holiday excesses, but one remedy in particular is king when it comes to hangovers……Nux Vomica. This homeopathic medicine can single handedly alleviate the symptoms of both a hangover and over eating. If this sounds like your Christmas experience then read on…..

Nux Vomica is the first remedy to think of with a hangover headaches, but it is also excellent for headaches from overwork, indigestion headaches and headaches accompanying constipation. Use it when your headache is worse when you cough or bend down, and headaches that aggravate when you move your eyes. If you have overeaten and drunk too much alcohol, you may also feel nauseous and want to vomit to make yourself feel better but find you cannot. If this describes your symptoms then Nux Vomica is the remedy for you. When you are hungover you are likely to feel irritable and grouchy (who wouldn’t?!). You may also be hypersensitive to noise, light and odors.

If this picture is familiar, take Nux Vomica 30c half hourly until the symptoms start to subside. If you have pillules drop them into a glass of water, stir it and take a generous sip each dose until you are feeling better. If you have your Nux Vomica in a liquid form, put a few drops into a glass of water and stir and take it as above.

As with all homeopathic dosing, it is important to stop taking the remedy as soon as an improvement is noted.

So what else can you do to help your hangover?

Hydration is very important as dehydration causes some of your symptoms. Alcohol effectively turns off a hormone that helps the body retain water. Drink 2 or 3 large glasses of water before getting into bed or better still stop drinking alcohol an hour before the end of your evening and move onto water to get your hydration levels up. Alternatively drink a glass of water between each alcoholic drink during your evening as the liver can only cope effectively with one drink an hour.

Overeating can make for a very disturbed night which won’t help your hangover in the morning. If you have eaten a large amount of food and are familiar with the experience of waking in the middle of the night feeling bilious and vaguely nauseous, then take a single drop or pillule of Nux Vomica before lying down for sleep. If you have eaten a lot of rich, fatty food and your stomach feels weighed down, then take Pulsatilla 30 instead before sleep.

Indigestion can really add to your woes. Ginger tea made from fresh ginger slices steeped in hot water can help; as can tea made from spearmint leaves available dried from your health food store.

Nutrients are used up when the body processes alcohol. Vitamin B3 is particularly important as it helps to transport alcohol out of the body. Take a multi Vitamin B supplement before going out as well as a zinc and vitamin C supplement. These will all help you to fight the effects of alcohol consumption. If you would like to support your liver function, the herb milk thistle, makes liver cells less permeable to alcohol, and helps to prevent damage and so can be taken during the party season.

All these things will help your hangover suffering but the most effective one of all is Nux Vomica. As it is always best to be prepared, buy some in and enjoy the holiday season and all its indulgences with the smug satisfaction that comes from knowing something that other people have yet to find out……. that the homeopathic medicine Nux Vomica can alleviate the symptoms of over eating and hangovers! Happy Christmas eating and drinking to you all! © Sam Adkins 2008 This article was brought to you by Sam Adkins The Homeopathic Coachwho teaches families about healthy living and natural remedies using homeopathic medicine. An internationally renowned expert, her helpful articles are regularly syndicated online. She publishes the ezine Homeopathy@Home to provide free Homeopathic tips, tools and resources to educate and inspire you to use Homeopathy at home.www.thehomeopathiccoach.com

I’ve had headaches ever since I can remember. They started in my early teens when the angst of teenage school life, accompanied by my parents’ separation and subsequent home-life struggle, took its toll.

This was in the 1970s when aspirin was the pain-relief of choice. So that was what I took for my headaches, and it worked okay for a while. In my twenties the aspirin started giving me tummy-aches so I switched to Paracetamol which also did the job for my hangovers!

During my thirties, despite stopping the alcohol, my headaches continued and their severity worsened. Their duration also increased (sometimes for 3-4 days) and I started to feel nauseous. Paracetamol simply stopped being effective, or it would bring some relief initially, only for the pain and nausea to reappear after a few hours or the following day. Once again I looked for another solution so I switched to Ibuprofen, which I found eased the pain more effectively and also seemed to lift my mood as I always tended to feel miserable with my headaches.

It’s hard to pinpoint when these headaches became migraines but at their worst I had head pain so severe that I was convinced I was having a stroke, especially when the pain travelled down my arm. I also regularly had concurrent vomiting and diarrhoea, the episodes lasting a good 3-4 days. It was miserable. I had young children and I still remember the feeling of powerlessness and isolation as I could do nothing to prevent or lessen these completely debilitating occurrences.

Looking back I’m surprised I didn’t start looking for alternative healing methods sooner. It seems obvious to me now that the barrage of over the counter medicines, the analgesics I inflicted on my body, were increasing the toxicity in my liver, which was making the headaches worse. I guess it’s easy to see with hindsight.

Then one day, I heard about homeopathy through one of the mums at my sons’ school. She recommended Helen, a homeopath, to me and, with a fair degree of skepticism, I made an appointment. To say that I’ve never looked back would be an understatement.

During the homeopathy consultation I was amazed at the amount of detail Helen went into whilst taking my case; family history, personality traits, spiritual beliefs, eating habits – there seemed to be nothing she wasn’t interested in. I felt understood and cared for in a way not previously experienced.

Did my migraines disappear straightaway? No, it took time and trust, but with each monthly consultation, gradually the episodes became milder and less frequent, the vomiting stopped and my mood lifted.

Through homeopathy I haven’t taken any pain-relieving medication for 7 years. Occasionally I still get a minor headache which I recognise is a sign that I’m overdoing things. I take a remedy, go to bed early and in the morning it has vanished. What a difference!

It’s not wrong to take conventional pain relief to ease symptoms. I totally understand the desire and need to do so and many people find them invaluable – used sparingly they can be effective. But in my experience they are not curative; on the contrary the symptomatic relief often comes at the cost of a toxic liver which actually exacerbates the underlying problem. It can be a cycle that gradually makes things worse.

Homeopathy, however, is gentle and safe. It has no side effects so it doesn’t toxify the liver. It doesn’t just treat the symptom, it treats the whole person, leading to better energy levels, improved mood as well as symptomatic relief.

My whole life changed for the better when I discovered homeopathy.

If you are suffering and you would like to find out more about whether homeopathy can help you with your physical symptoms, or even emotional, energetic or mental imbalance, book a free discovery call here.

Streaming runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, itchy throat, tiredness … if you’re a hay fever sufferer I don’t need to tell you how frustrating, debilitating and miserable it can be. And it’s quite common – around 20% of the UK population are prone to some form of hay fever.

Recent mild winters, warmer springs and dry summers have led to a longer growing season; hay fever sufferers can therefore experience symptoms from early spring until late autumn. Sometimes, it is very mild and easily manageable and many people deal with it successfully with anti-histamines, Vaseline and nasal sprays.

For others, however, the summer months are a time to be dreaded as they can’t do many of their usual activities – The NHS website has a list of don’ts:

· do not cut grass or walk on grass

· do not spend too much time outside

· do not keep fresh flowers in the house

· do not smoke or be around smoke – it makes your symptoms worse

· do not dry clothes outside – they can catch pollen

· do not let pets into the house if possible – they can carry pollen indoors

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hay-fever

That’s pretty restrictive, when what most of us want to do is enjoy the summer weather outdoors. And my dog would certainly not be impressed if I tried to tell him he’s to live outside 24/7 during the summer!

So what’s the solution?

This article is for those with severe or longstanding symptoms, looking to free themselves from the cycle of temporary, symptomatic relief using conventional medicines which don’t cure the underlying problem.

An Example

One client of mine had suffered from hay fever for 40 years. Every summer he struggled with a streaming, runny nose, itchy eyes, nose and back of mouth and tiredness.

His symptoms were so debilitating that he did not go out in June or July and had to stagger his holidays, for example going to Scotland in early June, then elsewhere in August. When he had to go out he would use a facemask: most of the meds made him sleepy but he would take histamine at night and use nasal sprays, sometimes steroidal, and Vaseline up his nose and around his eyes.

Hay fever is a deep imbalance in the system, and treating it is not a quick fix. However, after a two-year programme of alternative homeopathic treatment there was a huge change – he no longer suffers from hay fever! He explains: “There has been a dramatic difference since taking the homeopathic remedies, prescribed by Tana– after 40 years I’m not a hay fever sufferer any more! No more having to stay in during June and July, no more streaming runny nose, itchy eyes and tiredness. What a relief!”

What is Hay Fever?

Also known as allergic rhinitis, hay fever is a seasonal allergy, which commonly occurs in the spring and early summer but can also show itself throughout the year. Particles of pollen from blooming flowers, grasses, trees or mould spores become trapped inside the nose and agitate.

Some people find their hay fever is worse in the city than the countryside and this is because city planners tend to plant more male trees which create more tree pollen.

Those who find their rhinitis symptoms occurring throughout the year may have a sensitivity to house dust and mites, moulds and/or animal dander.

When someone is sensitive to these allergens, the body’s immune system reacts to them as a threat and launches an acute ‘attack’. The nasal passages become inflamed as extra mucus is produced to flush away the particles.

From a deeper perspective, hay fever sufferers have a highly sensitized immune system which is aways on high alert. Just because symptoms are seasonal and there are times when you feel free from them doesn’t mean this immune sensitivity has gone away – it is aways there and will be triggered when the particular allergen appears. This is the same sensitivity that can also cause eczema, asthma and food sensitivities which may sometimes accompany a person’s hay fever.

How do homeopaths approach hay fever?

Homeopathy is a system of natural, alternative medicine which treats the person as a whole. This means it helps with the whole body, the individual’s overly-sensitive immune system as well as the physical symptoms the person experiences. Every patient is different, and every prescription is unique to each person.

A homeopathic consultation, therefore, includes a detailed medical history of the patient as well as causation and personality profile.

With regard to hay fever there are two ways to treat it homeopathically:

1. Remedies which can ease the symptoms of hay fever during the high-allergen season i.e. in the summer. (Look out for my blog next summer on this)

2. Long-term, the underlying reason for the sensitive immune response is addressed. This is done by the patient receiving constitutional treatment when the hay fever is dormant i.e. during autumn and winter.

If you are at the end of your tether with this debilitating condition, then it’s time for a new approach.

Right now is the time of year to treat hay fever naturally, to get underneath it and allow your body to respond differently next time around.

You can book in for a free 15 minute discovery call with me at www.tanablum.com so you can find out more about how this form of treatment can work with your unique, individual symptoms, or contact me at homeopathy@tanablum.com or 07920 518678. I am based in Manchester but also see people on line.

Photo by Allef Vinicius on Unsplash