Why I Choose Homeopathy

It's Homeopathy Awareness Week.

Kind of like a birthday, it comes up as a time for reflection for me. Homeopathy is woven into the matrix of my life, enmeshed with significant events in my life and like a photo album, I can review those snapshots in time and remember.

I remember the first conversation I had about homeopathy. My husband- who was not my husband, or even my boyfriend, but my housemate who I had an un-acknowledged crush on- and I were driving in his dad's old truck. He was giving me a lift home from the University. He was telling me a bit about his family, how his dad was a veterinarian and incorporated some holistic approaches. I was a vegetarian and as into natural medicine as one can be at 20, being healthy and therefore never really faced with any big medical decisions anyway.

He said his dad was taking a homeopathy course, or had taken one. I made the classic assertion that it was like herbalism.  Kevin challenged me strongly that no, it was not. He explained that it was an energetic modality and maybe a bit more than that, but mostly I was like, huh? And went back to trying not to focus on the crush.

But like a tiny pebble dropped in a still pool, that ripple resonated.

I didn't think about homeopathy again until years later, our crush not only firmly acknowledged but consummated in marriage and a baby, I sought out a homeopath to treat our daughter. We had moved across the country, starting to set up our life in midcoast Maine. I asked around for a homeopath and my stepfather told me to see Dr. Dirk Vandersloot- the best guy in town.

I remembered the conversation years back with Kevin in the truck, but mostly I wanted to choose something natural and holistic for my baby. Dirk was a doctor, no longer practicing conventional medicine, but as a new mother still figuring this whole thing out, it bolstered my confidence. We used a few remedies with my daughter for teething and fussiness (pulsatilla, of course), and I saw him myself for a transient vertigo I sometimes experienced. I felt well, the vertigo went away. My daughter seemed to respond to the pulsatilla.

But still... I didn't really get it. I knew I wanted to learn more. I was intrigued. Dirk suggested a book, Miranda Castro's Complete Family Guide to Homeopathy. I bought it. I read the introduction. Many times. I acquired some remedies.

Homeopathy at that point remained like a picture on my wall. One I saw everyday, but didn't truly engage with. It was there, I acknowledged it, even stopped to ponder it a bit. But it remained separate, a part.

When my daughter was a month from turning 3, I gave birth to my son. It was fast. Two hours. The midwife barely made it time. The cord was around his neck, he was blue. He needed oxygen. When he came around, he screamed bloody murder, and wouldn't stop. The midwife asked if I had Aconite (for shock, fear, trauma). In fact, I did. The instant the remedy was on his tongue, he stopped screaming, and looked into my eyes.

This is the moment when picture came off the wall, the moment it stopped being something I looked at, and became what I lived.

If that seems strange, because I had already had a healing experience with homeopathy and so why did it take this moment to become three dimensional for me, I can only say that having talked to many people about homeopathy and their experience with it, my situation is not unique.

I have said before that homeopathy is fast, slow medicine. Unless one witnesses an experience like I did with my son, an instantaneous acute response (that's the fast part), the medicine is slow enough and gentle enough that sometimes we almost dismiss it. Maybe it was that I ate better those two weeks. Maybe it was that I slept better. Maybe the symptoms moved off on their own.

We never think - the remedy supported me to eat better.
                         - the remedy supported my sleep
                         - the remedy gently helped my symptoms move away

Many a homeopath, and patient, I have spoken with have concurred that despite having several positive experiences with homeopathy, it took time and some significant event to make them sit up and pay attention.

The instantaneous response of my son to the remedy was undeniable. When he went on to develop consistent croupy coughs, I discovered Aconite, Spongia, and Antimonium- tartaricum moved him through the symptoms within days. Rather than hanging on to colds and coughs for a week or weeks, we were through and moving on.

I needed to know more, and I knew this medicine was to be what I did in this world.

And so it has become that.

I call this post 'Why I CHOOSE Homeopathy' and not why I CHOSE homeopathy, because it is a choice to make, every day, at every opportunity that arises.

While there are a few go-to remedies, say Arnica for an injury, or the Aconite my son received for a physical shock, homeopathy is not, by its nature, 'match the best answer.' It requires us to stop and pay attention. Our symptoms are not a static picture to be looked at, but the story and action of our lives that we live, everyday.

When we view our symptoms as the static picture on the wall, many of the medical options presented to us are the equivalent of moving it to a different wall. Changing the frame. Moving it again. Touching it up.

When we take the picture off the wall, when we step into it, answer all those questions the homeopath asks, consider the present snapshot in the movie of our life, there's a flow, a continuation of one thing to the next, an opportunity to make sense of the whole- and not just the piece.

When you see the whole, you can make decisions for the whole. What does this ear infection need right now? Does it need antibiotics? Again? Does the ear need antibiotics right now, but because it keeps coming back, the child needs to be considered and treated in the bigger picture so the ear infection doesn't come back.

Does this back pain need anti-inflammatories day after day and maybe the opinion of a surgeon, or could this person benefit from a remedy to help manage stress, increase energy to enable exercise, a shift in perspective and confidence that may lead to changing an unsatisfying career, relieving the back pain?

Is more medication the only option for the side effects of cancer treatment, or can the patient consider homeopathic support to help tolerate the symptoms, and then a constitutional remedy for the whole being to help repair the vital force, build strength, and hopefully ensure the cancer does not return- as opposed to living in quiet anxiety from check up to check up?

This past fall, when I discovered that my left ovary had thoughtfully grown a very large cyst, I took that picture off the wall and stepped into it. I chose the advice of my very caring and experienced ob-gyn surgeon *and* I chose homeopathy and other modalities that helped me consider that moment, in the context of my whole life.

Homeopathy helps me to walk through life with my eyes and ears open. When patients come to me, having chosen homeopathy for their own reasons, I show up ready to help, having made that choice too.

Take that! Fear of of Fireworks

We are days away from the Fourth of July. Fun and festivity abound on Independence Day, but so does a lot of fear and anxiety. Dogs cower and shake, cats skidaddle. Some children may cling and wail. Even some adults head for the hills. Let's face it- screaming sirens at the parades, booming fireworks into the night. Not exactly a relaxing soundtrack.

A quick Google search will turn up all kinds of suggestions for calming your pooch during the fireworks. The nice thing about homeopathy is that remedies can be used for anyone- dogs, cats, children, adults, the elderly. Heck, I even use them with our chickens. As long as the symptoms fit, you can give the remedy.

One of the key points about homeopathy is that is responds to symptoms. That is, the body is experiencing something *in the moment.* Like cures like... Not, like cures potential.
That being said, homeopaths have found that in certain situations, remedies can be administered in prophylactically. That is, in prevention or protection. And chances are, the animal or person who is scared of fireworks and sirens also has a degree of nervousness and anxiety as a general underlying state. In which case, the remedy is completely appropriate and may be acting both constitutionally, as well as acutely.

Here are four possible remedies to consider:

                                                                         Aconite
A primo remedy for fright, shock, and fear. Especially for sudden fear and fright. If you have young children, put a vial right into your bag and bring it to the parade or fireworks. Maybe your young one has never shown fear before at these things, but kids change and this may be the day. If the sirens start wailing or the explosions start and your little (or bigger) one starts feeling scared, give a dose of Aconite. Start with two pellets of 30c, and then give another dose in 10 or 15 minutes. If he or she doesn't settle down, you can give another dose in 15 minutes or so.
Same for dogs, though if you know your animal has a fear of loud noises, go ahead and put some in the water dish that afternoon. It may be easier than trying to give a remedy in the middle of the whole ordeal.

Borax
For the individual who already has a sensitivity to noises. Jumps or startles every time a big truck goes by, or another sudden noise. These individuals may also have a fear of downward motion- slides, jumping, being laid down in a crib, climbing down a structure or hillside, sledding, etc... Babies who throw their arms out to the side when they startle.
This is less of an acute remedy, and if there is someone like this in your life, then you know exactly the behavior I am talking about. It's fairly marked.
Give two doses of 30c within an hour (two pellets, each dose) and then see how things go. You should notice a significant difference in the startle and response to the sudden noises. Repeat only if the behavior returns.  You can also give aconite in the moment if necesssary.

Arsenicum album
Arsenicum can be helpful for an individual who tends to have anxiety and fear, accompanied by restlessness. In this case, the person who knows that things are going to be loud and scary, and so is preoccupied, nervous, and fearful ahead of time. There might be pacing, a desire for company and consolation. Think of the dog that sticks to you like velcro, panting, can't be still, anxious. Dose as directed above for Borax: two doses within an hour and then observe and re-dose as needed if you see a shift.

Constrast this to aconite, which is more a reaction to the suddenness, with shock and fear. There needs to be no previous display or fear to justify giving aconite. It is a true acute.
Borax will have a history of startling or fear of noises, but not necessarily a state of anxiety and restless in anticipation or in response.

Another lovely little support to consider is Bach's Rescue Remedy.

Rescue Remedy is a flower essence- made from a variety of different flower blossoms which have been shown to be efficacious for soothing fear and anxiety. Flower essences are an energetic blend, though prepared differently than homeopathic remedies. I find the support to be subtle in its action, yet effective and at times profound. You also don't need to worry about specific indications- it's for garden variety anxiety and fear. Some are more sensitive to it than others. The beautiful thing about Rescue Remedy is that you can take it directly from the bottle, or better yet add to anything you're drinking (though ideally water, you can put a few drops in kids' juice). Add to pet water bowls, water bottles, etc... as a gentle support for the sensory onslaught that is our lovely Independence Day :) 

One hive, two hive, three hive, four...

Hives seemed to be in the air this spring. Not that there is a 'season' for hives, but it seemed like every other day hives were coming up in conversation. The main theme?

We have no idea where they came from!

This kind of thing always makes my ears perk up because as a homeopath, I have this little detective streak. One interview I listened to with an experienced homeopathic practitioner and teacher said he recommended that all his students read Sherlock Holmes and watch Columbo. I haven't quite taken the plunge yet, but I understand his point. We must look where others have not thought to look, to inquire about the mundane as well as the peculiar, and look for ripples in the Matrix.

But, I digress. I was talking about hives.

So, hives and summer. Well, I don't know that hives are a *particular* summer issue (as I said, they seemed to be rampant this spring) but you know hot weather, exposed skin, vacations, visitors, switching up schedules- all ripe for some kind of inflammatory response!! Not to mention the poison ivy or oak, which takes very little detecting at all.

But back to the 'we have no idea where they came from!' bit.

The skin is a detoxifier, it's a shield, it's a sieve, it's a release valve. As our container, it is one of the main portals in as well as out. And though many of us like to live our lives in neat vectors of A+B=C, or point A always leads to point B to point C and back to A? Not so much your vital force. Past illnesses, emotions, stress, exposure- these assaults to the system must be dealt with. To maintain homeostasis- that is biochemical balance- in the body for optimal health, things must be dealt with. They are not always dealt with immediately. Bad reaction to x does not result in immediate symptom y. Sometimes it takes a few weeks. A physical influence can result in an emotional detox. An emotional assault can result in a physical expression. Hence- "We have no idea where these hives came from!"

For example, say Bobby breaks out in hives one day. Dad thinks about what he ate: nothing new. Mom thinks about any new lotions, shampoo, detergents, etc... : none. No outings in the woods. No projects or encounters with weird chemicals. But two weeks ago, Bobby's dog died. He hasn't cried yet. Result of suppressed grief? Hives.

Have I actually treated a case like this? Yes, I have. Did a remedy for grief clear up hives? Yes, it did.

Not all cases are so cut and dried. If there have been past rashes or outbreaks that have been suppressed with topical steroids or similar measures, then that is definitely a factor. Skin outbreaks are anything but simple, and for the most part, home prescribers may get frustrated. By all means, I recommend using homeopathy for skin outbreaks because it assists the body in doing the best thing- releasing to the surface and OUT. When topical steroids and other suppressive measures are used, it's like stopping up a volcano. You risk an earthquake. So if you encounter some hives that don't fit the criteria I list below, then call up a homeopath (or go to emergency if it's extreme, of course) and get more specific treatment.

To that end, I am going to offer a few remedies to consider for acute hives to try IF:

1) the medical history is unremarkable and there have been no previous suppressed skin eruptions
2) the cause of the hives is actually known, for example, poison ivy, food reaction (mild), exposure to something new, over heating, etc...

Here's a handy-dandy chart of remedies to consider and contrast:

Remedy	The hives look like....	The hives feel....	The potential cause is.....	They feel better with....	They feel worse with....	Condition may include...
Apis mellifica	swollen (like a balloon) and possibly shiny, red	hot, itchy, or burning	stings, allergy, infection, inflammation	cold applications, movement/exercise, 3pm aggravation	heat	irritability, swelling of eyes and lips, throat
Rhus toxidendron	large, red patches w. or w/o swelling	prickling itching	poison ivy, chicken pox, other contact allergies	HEAT- hot water over the area	cold, cold weather, damp	restlessness, or irritability
Urtica urens	wheals- round patchs that are lighter with red centers. May be on fingers, scalp, and hands	burning, itching	insect bites/stings, over-heating, exertion, allergy to shellfish	rubbing, though the itching is severe. Lying down, being still	heat, hot bathing, exertion
Antimonium crudum	white, or light with red centers	hot, burning of the skin and may have a thick, honey-like discharge	associated with stomach complaints, chicken pox	eating	heat, sun, touch, being looked at	inflamed eyelids, cracks at the nostrils or corners of the mouth
Arsenicum album	whitish or pinkish wheals	burning	anxiety, worry, fear, 'poison'- that is, a foreign substance	warmth, company, movement	cold, seaside, scratching	nausea, diarrhea, a mental state of anxiety, fear, and restlessness
Belladonna	SUDDEN outbreak, red, swollen	hot, pulsating	contact with offending substance, hormonal imbalances	pressure	motion	a 3pm aggravation, hives worse inner thighs, arms, face
Ignatia	nettle like rash	severe itching	grief, strong emotions	lying, or pressure on affected area	least touch- oversensitivity to pain. Open air, cold.	sighing, defensiveness or touchy mood

Considerations when choosing a remedy: 

Look for any notable mental symptoms- especially the anxiety that might indicate arsenicum or the restlessness that might suggest rhus tox. If there *is* a prominent emotional state, then that is a stronger consideration than what the hives look like, or what you think the cause might be. Likewise, just because there is an absence of restlessness, does not mean that rhus tox is out of the picture, if the the other symptoms agree. You won't cause any harm by trying a remedy that isn't 'right on.' The symptoms may shift a bit, or nothing will happen. If there's a shift in the symptoms- for example, the eruptions change color, or itching becomes recurrent at a certain time of day or night, then use the new symptoms to guide you to your next remedy choice. 

Remember that progress does not mean that all symptoms clear immediately. Maybe the itching diminishes, but the swelling remains and recedes slowly. Maybe the reverse happens- the swelling reduces, but the itching remains. Shift remedies as you need to. 

As always, once you start seeing progress, reduce the frequency of dosing. Start with two doses within an hour, and then hourly or every two hours (depending on the severity) and discontinue the remedy if there is no difference after 3-4 doses. Also, if symptoms aggravate a bit, stop, observe, and consider a different remedy or consult a practitioner. 

Itch Away! Mosquitoes, Black flies, Bees and the like...

In my last post (a moon or two ago) I had been knee deep in planning a summer homeopathy immersion course. Due to low enrollment, I cancelled the course but- lucky you! I decided to put the information out there anyway and so make sure you sign up over there to the right and get your weekly dose of homeopathic education delivered right to your inbox. For free!

So this week- bites and stings, oh my.

Depending on where you live, what activities you engage in, and what your personal response to insect bites is, you might be thinking 'meh' or 'yeah! tell me about what I can do for those!' I mean, do we need to be hauling out the remedy kit for a constellation of mosquito bites on our kids' arms and legs? Maybe not. In the range of responses, there are minimal- some folks are just blessed, I guess- to large welts and ceaseless itching leading to scabs, bleeding and scars. I had scars from mosquito bites on my legs for *years.* I couldn't leave those suckers alone.

And I'm not a sensationalist by any means, but let's not forget that insects are vectors. From the current spotlight on ticks and Lyme disease (and a host of other co-infections that can develop alongside or as a sequelae), malaria, yellow fever (from the days of old), and West Nile virus. To name a few. (And homeopathic doctors had pretty stellar records for treating yellow fever in the US and it is used effectively for malaria symptoms today in places where it is a problem.)

So, it's good to know a few remedies for insect bites. Giving a remedy to help the body respond to a BITE- breaking across the barrier of the skin- is good support for the vital force and assists it in keeping the boundaries clear between THIS IS ME and THAT- whatever bacteria/virus/proteins/chooseyourmicrobiology- IS NOT. Self-identification is one of the primary roles of the immune system.

I'll cover the usual suspects here that are typically recommended, and their differentials. I will say that consistent constitutional treatment will influence the body's reaction to bug bites over time. That is, the reaction will be more mild, less swelling, itching. We have all noticed this in my family, and at least two of us are those 'mosquito magnet' types.

Ledum is always the go-to. Even if you end up following up with another, it isn't so much that it is specific for itching but it is specific for puncture wounds (think the hypodermic stinger) and bites, as well as swelling. A few doses of ledum will often do the trick and you'll just forget about the bites. The specific indications for ledum are: swelling and better cold. The bite sight itself can even feel cold, or else is temperature neutral. If you have ever felt a bite that is inflamed and hot to the touch, then you'll know the difference. Ledum is also the primo remedy for tick bites.

Apis mellifica: a homeopathic preparation of the venom of the honeybee, Apis is one that many might think of for a bee sting. But Apis has some very specific indications and if those symptoms aren't present, then go with ledum first, or consider a different remedy. Indications are: inflammation, profuse swelling, red, hot, WORSE HEAT, skin can look shiny and smooth.

Cantharis: from the Spanish fly. Also a remedy to consider for burns, the sensation of burning and stinging pain is prominent for the person who needs cantharis for their bites. I would think cantharis to be good for those bites that come in groups- gnats, no-see-ums, ants, and the like. The bites will be swollen and red and again, a painful burning.

Sulphur: it's kind of a catch-all, but particularly for kids, if the bites are keeping them up at night, they're red and scratching away, a few doses of sulphur can bring some relief. Particularly if they are the kind of headstrong kids who fight the evening bath, the itching starts up as soon as they get in bed and they prefer cold to hot.

Urtica urens: from the stinging nettle- so you can imagine. Burning, itching. There may be red blotches- like the bite has spread. The swelling may not be marked, more the sensation and the itching is WORSE from exercise and warmth. BETTER lying down and rubbing, vs. itching.

Also consider throwing a tube of Sting Stop by Boericke and Tafel, which is a topical homeopathic combination cream, into your bag, car, etc... I am not a big proponent of the combination remedies, but for some quick, no-thinking relief, it's a good bet.

You can pick up all of the above remedies at health/natural food stores that carry homeopathic remedies. Get a 30c potency, and start with two doses within an hour (one dose= 2 pellets) and then re-dose as needed every hour or two. As your symptoms get better- wait and only re-dose when they return. If you don't sense any shift in your symptoms after at least three doses, then try a different remedy.

For ledum and tick bites if the tick was not engorged, take the two doses within an hour and then wait. If the tick *was* engorged, take two doses per day, for three days. Watch for any symptoms and contact your care provider if you come down with a fever, chills, and body aches.

Staying in the vein of skin conditions, next post will be on hives. All out in the open, with nary a cause in sight!