Homeopathy and Horses

It is interesting to note, with the Derby having just passed and Ascot about to begin, how homeopathy has been used in the treatment of injuries and the general well-being of racehorses for several decades. I

n fact the idea of using homeopathy, as a treatment for animals - termed veterinary homeopathy, dates back to the inception of homeopathy when Hahnemann, the founder of Homeopathy, wrote and spoke of the use of homeopathy in animals other than humans.

The owners and trainers of horses have found this natural system of medicine hugely benefits the racehorse as it treats the totality of the animal, stimulating the body’s healing process whilst having no side effects or withdrawal symptoms.

It is believed that homeopathic remedies can help horses with physical, mental, and emotional

conditions and because the Horses, and their relationship with homeopathy remedies come in tiny pills or drops, they are extremely easy to administer.

There are a number of homeopathic remedies for horses but some of the most common ones available include:

Arnica helps with wound, tendon, and sprain injuries.

Aconite can help with laminitis and gastric ulcers

Arsenicum can help with colic and indigestion

Thuja helps with skin conditions such as warts, rain rot, and swelling from vaccinations

For more information on treating animals through homeopathy, please visit the Faculty of Homeopaths or the British Association of Homeopathic Veterinary Surgeons website.

This article was first published in an ARH Newsletter, "Homeopathy Healthy Medicine".

Homeopathy and Cancer - can it help our quality of life?

Over a period of 30 months, 639 patients took place in a study researching whether classical homeopathy can be of benefit to cancer patients in addition to conventional medication.

There were 259 participants from the homeopathic clinics and 380 from conventional clinics.

The majority of patients indicated, over the course of the study, that their Quality of Life (QoL) had improved due to the homeopathic treatment they were given. 

They, additionally, believed that their physical and mental fatigue symptoms had reduced. This suggests that classical homeopathic care could complement conventional cancer care to the benefit of patients.

The effects of homeopathy on the quality of life in cancer patients has been studied very rarely and, therefore, it would take considerably larger samples and further investigation in order to establish a definite correlation between these positive effects and homeopathic treatment.

Since homeopathy is, however, one of the most popular complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) modalities for cancer patients in seven out of fourteen European countries, further research would be eminently suitable.

For more information on this research paper, please visit

http://www.biomedcentral.com/14

71-2407/11/19.

This article first appeared in ARH Newsletter,"Homeopathy Healthy Medicine"

How Homeopathy can help protect you against adder bites

The unseasonably warm spring and the current inclement weather has resulted in dog walkers and ramblers being warned to be on their guard against adders after the number of attacks has increased this year. 

The snake is not aggressive and usually only bites when alarmed or disturbed but there are still around 100 cases of adder bites reported in the UK each year. Their presence has been far more prolific this year, as they go out in the open to bask in the sun and subsequently come into contact with people and dogs.

About 70% of adder bites result in significant poisoning to cause damage, yet less than 20% of these cases die in the absence of treatment.

The symptoms include rapid swelling and pain at the point of entry, with gangrene and bruising around the bitten area with abnormal bleeding and collapse due to the physical shock being symptomatic. 

The average death time is forty-eight hours so it is essential you immediately seek medical assistance by visiting your local hospital or vet. 

Simultaneously, take Aconite and/or Rescue Remedy as soon as possible to alleviate the initial shock whilst either Vipera berus or Lachesis should help in the aftermath of an attack for the actual wound.

(The World Travellers’ Manual of Homeopathy by Dr Colin Lessell and Poisonous Snakes by Tony Phelps)

This article first appeared in the ARH Newsletter, "Homeopathy Healthy Medicine"

Surgery? How can Homeopathy help?

Having surgery, whether dental or otherwise, can be a stressful, painful and restless time for all those involved. Surgical treatment is often accompanied by anxiety and anticipation as well as shock and injury, which can feel as painful as the operation itself. 

This list below illustrates several homeopathic remedies which can help to alleviate the discomfort experienced, whether physical or emotional.

Please ensure, however, you take the homeopathic remedies in accordance with any conventional medicine which you have been prescribed. 

Arnica - this is the first choice of remedy for shock and bruising. Take Arnica 30C immediately after surgery, and then whenever you feel necessary. If you are particularly scared of the treatment, then take the remedy before the surgery as well.

Calendula - this is specific for open cuts and wounds and is used externally by applying as a cream or diluted tincture to the area around the incision. Please note, Calendula heals rapidly and can seal dirt into the wound so ensure the wound is clean before applying 

Hypericum - this remedy is predominantly used if you have injuries to the nerves, when the pain shoots along the nerve tracks. Hypericum is often used instead of Arnica, or if Arnica does not work, after operations to areas such as the nose, fingers, toes, eyes, ears or gums

Phosphorous - this remedy will stop excessive bleeding after an operation, such as a tooth extraction. In addition, it can help alleviate the post-anaesthetic“spaced-out” feeling

Staphysagria - consider using this when you feel that the operation has invaded your private space, such as rough dentistry or childbirth involving an episiotomy or forceps delivery. In addition, Staphysagria is also useful when the pain or scars are slow to heal

(Homeopathy for Common Ailments by Robin Hayfield)

This article first appeared in the ARH Newsletter, "Homeopathy Healthy Medicine"

Summer holiday, diarrhoea and Homeopathy

Booking your summer holiday? Don’t forget the diarrhoea remedies!

Many of us are perusing the holiday brochures, penciling dates in the diary for our Summer holiday and it is easy to forget that many destinations should come with prior warning – an almost inevitable few days, often at the beginning of the holiday, when we seem to disagree with local cuisine, climate and suffer from diarrhoea.

Since this often happens when you are miles away from home and unable to speak the local language proficiently, it is best not to forget to include some remedies which may help deal with the dreaded diarrhoea, in your holiday suitcase.

As diarrhoea is the body’s way of quickly removing impurities and toxins from the digestive system, it is advisable to allow natural processes to take their course, within reason. Avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of fluids, but if symptoms persist, you could try one of the following remedies.

Arsenicum  – first remedy to try for food poisoning, when diarrhoea is often accompanied by vomiting and nausea, you feel chilly, weak and restless.

Colocynthis  – diarrhoea is accompanied by dreadful stomach cramps, the pain comes in waves and your intestines feel as if they are being squeezed, doubling up eases the pain as does hard pressure, you are very angry.

Phosphorous  – the diarrhoea is very watery and often painless, feels like a tap has been left on, you crave cold water but this is vomited up as soon as the stomach has warmed it through.

Podophyllum  – you can’t tolerate food, there are gurgling sounds and after painless diarrhoea.

Veratrum alb  – only use as an emergency remedy where you have diarrhoea and violent vomiting, you sweat, feel cold and suffer from painful cramps that may lead you to collapse, you crave ice-cold water

(Homeopathy for Common Ailments by Robin Hayfield)

This article was first published in the ARH Newsletter, "Homeopathy, Healthy Medicine".

Homeopathy. Provings make this medical therapy effective and safe

In another recent article, we learned how people discovered the healing potential of

naturally occurring substances by a combination of 'trial and error'. By observing and recording the effect these substances had upon individuals, (including poisonings!), we were able to establish a database of knowledge that is still relevant today. 

In homeopathy, we go one step further. We learn about the finer details of our remedies by running what is called a 'proving'. A proving is where a group of healthy volunteers take a homeopathically prepared substance over a period of time. Not everyone will react but if a prover is sensitive to the substance, they will eventually exhibit symptoms. 

All the symptoms experienced, physical, emotional and mental, are gathered and recorded in detail. The 'provers' are not told anything about the substance they are taking, so they cannot be influenced by any pre knowledge. Also, the person supervising the proving does not know what substance is being tested. 

Finally, all the symptoms experienced by the 'reactive' provers are collated and organised systematically. This information forms the basis of our 'Materia Medica', a vast and rapidly expanding database which describes the curative properties of our remedies. Once a newly proved remedy starts to be used in clinical practice we can fine tune some of the prescribing details as we learn more about the substance's healing potential.

So, unlike conventional medicine, which is first tested on laboratory animals such as mice, rats and monkeys, homeopathic remedies are only trialled on healthy human volunteers. Because of the special way homeopathic remedies are prepared they are safe and non toxic, so, even if a prover experiences unpleasant symptoms whilst participating in a proving, they know the symptoms will pass once they stop taking

the substance. 

The first proving was undertaken by the founder of homeopathy, a medical doctor called Samuel Hahnemann. He had been reading about the toxicological effects of Peruvian bark (Cinchona, known by homeopaths as China) and noted the poisoning symptoms sounded remarkably similar to the symptoms of malaria. 

So, by way of an experiment, he took some doses of crude China, and recorded his

reactions. He describes his experience in great detail: 

'My feet and finger ends at first became quite cold. I grew languid and drowsy, then my heart began to palpitate….intolerable anxiety, trembling, prostration throughout all my limbs, then pulsation in the head, redness of my cheeks, thirst, and in short, all these symptoms which are characteristic of intermittent fever.' 

All the symptoms ceased when he stopped taking the China but returned as soon as he took it again. Hahnemann had discovered that, when China was taken by a healthy person, it could produce a symptom picture very similar to that of malaria. He went on to use China to successfully treat thousands of cases of malaria.

Hahnemann also undertook similar experiments with many other substances, thereby establishing the 'proving' as a basis upon which we can learn about the healing properties of different substances with great accuracy. 

Karin Mont

Chair, ARH

This article first appeared in the ARH Newsletter, "Homeopathy Healthy Medicine"

New Research on Statin drugs

A new report, published in the British Medical Journal, researched the effects of statins for over two million users of the drug, including 225,000 patients who had

recently started taking the medicine. 

Statins are prescribed to lower cholesterol levels and therefore prevent cardiac diseases in those who are most susceptible to heart attacks, strokes or peripheral artery disease. This is achieved by interfering with the liver’s job of producing cholesterol, whilst helping the liver absorb more bad cholesterol from your blood. It

is generally regarded that statins are a long-term solution to high-cholesterol issues and therefore most users of the drug are expected to be on it for life.

The study concluded that statins did reduce the chances of heart disease by 2.7% but unfortunately the side-effects caused by the medication affected 4.4% of the participants. 

These ranged from liver damage to cataracts, acute kidney failure and extreme muscle weakness. 

To detail this further, they found for every 10,000 women on statins there were 271 fewer cases of heart disease but 74 cases of liver damage and 307 cases of cataracts.

Given the potentially serious side-effects which have been described in the report and the long-term use that is often attributed with statins, it may be worth  considering talking through other options with your homeopath and addressing the underlying causes of your cholesterol problems before embarking on the statins route.

(http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/340/may19_4/c2197m)

This article was first published in the ARH Newsletter, "Homeopathy Healthy Medicine".

How Homeopathy cured my ear infection

As a child I suffered from repeated middle ear infections that were very painful. I eventually had a burst ear drum from an infection at about the age of 11. 

Unfortunately I continued to suffer from painful ear infections at intervals throughout my young adult life, until I discovered homeopathy in my early thirties. By this time, any approaching ear infection frightened me so much, because of the pain I knew was coming, that I would always rush to the GP for antibiotics.

Fortunately my homeopath was kind enough to understand this and treated me with homeopathy alongside antibiotics to begin with. I was treated constitutionally (an individualised therapy for my specific symptoms) in this dual fashion through 3 ear infections and I noticed straightaway that each subsequent infection was milder,

shorter in duration and not as painful as the last.

Finally I decided to manage future ear infections with only homeopathic treatment and paracetamol. This was the breakthrough and shows the wonder and  effectiveness of homeopathy.

After finally managing to deal with an ear infection using only homeopathic remedies, I have not suffered a single ear infection since.

Because of the excruciating pain I used to endure this was a huge relief. Naturally enough I became fascinated with homeopathy, took a short first aid course and then bought books and began to study the subject myself for use at home. 

My sister is now an experienced homeopath and after 20 years I am a pretty good amateur. With my sister’s help, homeopathy is the first port of call for any condition

in my family and we find it to be extremely effective. I have treated innumerable situations successfully with homeopathy - panic attacks in my autistic son, wasp

stings, emotional stresses from bereavement, croup when my son was a baby, teething problems, sore throats, headaches, colic, eczema, asthma, to name just a few. 

I also used homeopathy throughout my pregnancy and for the birth of my son at

home. I cannot praise homeopathy enough and I do not know what my family would do without it.

The ARH would like to thank Kim Quance from Sutton Coldfield for her enlightening and informative story.

This article first appeared in the ARH Nerwsletter, "Homeopathy Healthy Medicine".

How to protect yourself from the sun through homeopathy

With the strawberries and cream season now upon us and the school holidays in full swing, chances are you may be exposing yourself to the sun over the coming months. 

Naturally, in order to prevent any ill-effects which the sun and heat may cause, we suggest that you drink regularly to keep yourself hydrated, only expose yourself to the sun for short periods at a time and protect yourself with sun cream, re-applying frequently, especially after swimming.

Despite these preventative measures, if you do happen to find yourself unwell due to the heat and sun that you have experienced, below are a few remedies which may be able to help. 

Please note, however, that these are only a guideline and so consult with a homeopath for a more specific course of action. 

Alternatively, if you do not have any remedies to hand and are suffering from sunburn, try applying cold tea, cool whole milk or plain yoghurt to the affected areas.

To relieve a throbbing headache from excess sun exposure and sunstroke try:

§Belladonna 30c

§Glonoinium 30c

To ease sun burn, gently rub the following creams into the areas which have been exposed and are irritating:

§Aloe Vera

§Calendula

§Hypercal

§Urtica

The ARH would like to wish everyone a very happy holiday. 

This article first appeared in the ARH Newsletter, "Homeopathy Healthy Medicine".

Fragrance Allergy and Homeopathy

“You could wear a plastic bubble on your head and an oxygen tank on your back!” The general practitioner laughed as he spoke these words to me. I had suffered, for at least five years, with a chronic struggle to breathe. 

At the acute stage I would gasp for breath; my eyelids would redden, burn, swell and

itch and I scratched until the skin bled. I had consulted several general practitioners who agreed the symptoms were an allergic reaction.

A patch test was performed: the application of various substances to the skin under adhesive tape then left in place for forty-eight hours and examined for response - inflammation indicating an allergic reaction. 

The diagnosis: allergy to fragrances.

I was advised: “stop wearing perfume and keep away from fragrances.”

I ceased wearing perfume but avoiding fragrances was impossible since many items in daily use have a fragrance: soap, shampoo, deodorant, washing powder, bleach - the list is endless. 

Our home was almost fragrance free but I became desensitised and fragrances in the

outside world were more noticeable.

One day at work I collapsed. A hint of polish spray, in another room, had been sufficient to take my breath and affect my eyes. 

A colleague had recently read a newspaper article on homeopathy. I made an appointment with a homoeopath and within days of beginning homoeopathic treatment my breathing was easier. My symptoms disappeared without return.

A cure – yes! 

I had been told: “nothing can be done” and “allergies are difficult to treat. Learn

to accept and live with the symptoms.”

Well, I didn’t have to live with the symptoms or wear a plastic bubble on my head and an oxygen tank on my back - thanks to homeopathy!

This article first appeared in the ARH Newsletter "Homeopathy Healthy Medicine".

The ARH would like to thank Anne Bagust for sharing her interesting story.

Homeopathy and Travel Sickness. Give yourself an easier time!

With school holidays now underway, it is inevitable that many families will be taking to their vehicles for their annual ‘car journey’ to the seaside, grandparents or campsite over the

coming months. Memories of previous trips may have you reconsidering the length of your journey and, unfortunately, even homeopathy can’t help with pacifying backseat drivers, occupying squealing impatient children with car games or dealing with that infamous line “are we nearly there yet?”

However, we appreciate that travel sickness is a prominent problem among many families on long-haul trips and hence hope that the remedies described here may alleviate at least one extra worry that your family will have to endure during the holiday season. It is suspected that motion sickness, known as kinetosis, affects around one third of the population in mild circumstances, such as a boat in calm water, but about two thirds in more severe conditions. 

It is also generally more prevalent amongst children. The condition arises when there is a conflict between the visually perceived movement and the balance systems of the inner ear and symptoms include nausea, sweating, dizziness, headaches and vomiting. Any of these symptoms can be brought on by air, boat or car travel, as well as the smell of petrol and even watching 3D films!

§ Cocculus – use when you want to lie down and when food or the thought of food brings on a feeling of nausea

§ Petroleum – use if headache is overriding symptom but there’s a feeling of hunger

§ Tabacum – use when the slightest motion causes extreme nausea and you are pale,

sweat a lot and feel better in cool, fresh air

§ Zingiber – use when there’s a sense of vertigo and limbs being heavy

In addition to the above, there are a number of over-the-counter therapies such as wrist bands, Kwells and other travel-sickness relief pills which may help ease the symptoms, although, we recommend that for a more individualised remedy, please consult a homeopathic.

This article was first published in the ARH Newsletter, "Homeopathy Healthy Medicine".

Sporting Glory or just sprains and strains?

If the recent football frenzy, or Murray mania didn’t totally take you over, maybe the extensive press coverage of the World Cup and Wimbledon will have inspired some of you to try your hand at a sporting activity. 

For those of you who are already heading to the nearest playing field or local tennis courts in anticipation of becoming the next Maradona or Federer, we have put together a basic list to help you to cope with any sprains and strains which you may encounter on your way to winning glory! 

§ Arnica – eases bruising and soreness

§ Bryonia – useful for torn/damaged ligaments or tendons, especially if

the least movement is excruciating

§ Ledum – if injury is purple and feels cold to touch

§ Rhus tox – helpful for muscle strain, worse on first movement, better for

continued movement, better for warmth

§ Ruta – particularly good for tennis elbow, use when bones feel bruised

In addition to the above remedies, the pain of sprains may either be eased by hot baths and applying warmth to the vulnerable area, or the opposite, by the application of an ice pack to reduce swelling. Resting the muscles and tendons may also prove helpful whilst firm bandaging can alleviate the pain of dislocation.

There is nothing more frustrating than wanting to play your sport, and not being able to do so. Let homeopathy get you back in action quicker!

Is your garden plagued by snails?

Is your garden plagued by snails?

With the weather hotting up, it’s time for you to enjoy your garden, though you may not be so keen to share it with the snails and slugs intent on consuming your plants!

If this is a problem you’re encountering, try watering your plants with a homeopathic preparation of agricultural Helix Tosta 6X (available from www.moodiebiz.com). Mix 10 drops in one litre of water, shake vigourously for about a minute, then add a further 20 litres of water to the mix before applying to your plants.

Repeat the procedure when necessary.

This article first appeared in an ARH Newsletter in May 2010

Homeopathy for Hay Fever

Looking forward to dry, sunny days? Maybe not - if you suffer from hay fever.

It is estimated that a fifth of the population dread this time of year because they suffer from hay fever or similar allergies . They can expect to experience a range of respiratory disorders, together with sneezing, itchiness and watery eyes.

Hay fever is an allergy where the immune system of sufferers overreacts to pollen and spores. It usually occurs throughout spring and summer, when pollen and spore counts from trees, plants, grasses, fungi and moulds are at their highest. When the body comes into contact with pollen, the lining of the nose, mouth and eyes release a chemical called histamine which causes an allergic
reaction.

We asked our members to recommend some of the homeopathic remedies their patients most frequently found useful for the treatment of hay fever. Here is a brief list of remedies, which includes some of the key prescribing symptoms.

Please note this is only intended as a guideline. It is recommended that you consult with a registered homeopath in order to receive an appropriately individualised prescription.

Allium Cepa 30C
Dripping nose with burning discharge, violent sneezing, stinging, watery eyes.

Arsenicum Album 30C
Ssneezes because of tickling feeling in nose, burning sensation in eyes, nose and throat,
discharges may be acrid.

Euphrasia 30C
Eyes the biggest problem, with itchy and dry eyes, and burning discharge. Tickling cough, intense
sneezing, runny nose with bland discharge.

Pulsatilla 30C
Bland watery nose and eyes, worse in the heat, eyes itch and feel gritty, and may produce yellowy
discharge. Lots of sneezing.

Sabadilla 30C
Constant , maddening tingling in nose, burning and redness of eyes, sneezing provokes tears.
Eyes watery and burn.

This article was first published in an ARH Newsletter, May 2010.

Ashes to Ashes. Homeopathy for stress.

Whilst the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull volcano has expanded our knowledge on such geological matters, for Icelandic residents, there are potential health effects. These include eye and skin irritation, as well as increased respiratory problems for conditions like asthma or other lung conditions.

Volcanoes emit water (H2O), and a variety of gases including carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), hydrogen chloride (HCl), ammonia (NH3), hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and hafnium (HF). These gases interact rapidly with the ash particles of a volcanic plume and especially atmospheric water to form acidic aerosols.

Volcanic ash may contain potentially harmful substances in the form of water-soluble materials, mostly acids and salts, which cling to the particles of glass and crystals. The most common are sulphate, chloride, sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium and fluoride.

Since the UK is located over 900 miles from the volcano, it is unlikely that these health issues will affect us. However the stress, frustration and anxiety of being stranded abroad because your flight has been cancelled, can give rise to a whole range of emotions. If you find yourself in this or a similar situation, you may find the following remedies helpful:

Rescue Remedy

Restores balance and calm during a stressful situation

Ignatia 30C

Really worried, feels like bursting into tears, sighing a lot, mood swings, over-sensitive and on-edge, may become hysterical

Staphysagria 30C

Irritable and very sensitive, takes offence easily, feels extremely frustrated, may try to suppress feelings but then explodes and can become very angry

Nux Vomica 30C

Gets angry very easily, rather impatient, over reacts to situations, needs a stiff drink or a strong coffee to calm down

Please note the above remedies and their symptoms are a guideline only. For an individualised therapy, consult your homeopath or find a practitioner at: 

http://www.a-r-h.org/FindMembers/find.php

This article was first published in an ARH Newsletter, dated May 2010. The ARH would like to thank Myriam Shivadikar for her contribution towards this article.

What is Homeopathy?

In last month's newsletter, virologist Dr. Gillian Bullock had asked us to briefly define 'homeopathy', and had quoted the following from the New Collins English Dictionary, which says that Homeopathy is:

 'A method of treating disease by the use of small amounts of a drug that, in
healthy persons, produces symptoms similar to those of the disease being treated'. 

We learned that homeopathic medicines are called 'remedies', and are made from naturally occurring substances such as plants and minerals. Remedies are prepared in a special way to make them safe, non-addictive and free from toxic affects.

Now we will explore the reference Collins Dictionary makes to 'similar' symptoms. In conventional medicine, you are usually given something that has an opposite effect on your symptom. So, for example, if you find it difficult to sleep, you will be given a drug which will make you sleep.

The trouble is that the sleeping pill only helps with the symptom(sleeplessness). It does not sort out the reason behind the sleeplessness. This means that after a while, you may find you have to use a more powerful sleeping tablet in order to sleep, which could start to have an adverse affect on the way you feel during the day.

With homeopathy, you will be given a remedy which is known to produce similar symptoms in a healthy person, to those you are currently experiencing. We know that drinking coffee can stimulate the nervous system, and that if you have a cup of coffee shortly before going to bed, you may find it difficult to fall asleep.

Coffea (the Latin name for coffee), when given as a correctly prepared homeopathic remedy, may actually help some sufferers of insomnia to naturally overcome their sleeplessness.

This is known as the 'Law of Similars'. Basically it means that a naturally occurring substance which can cause a particular set of symptoms in a healthy person, can be used to treat a similar set of symptoms experienced by a sick person. The closer the match between the patient's symptoms and the remedy's ‘symptoms', the more effective the treatment.

This article was first published in the ARH Newsletter, May 2010.

A Pill for every Ill?

‘A pill for every ill’ was a paper published in the March edition of the Journal of Social Science and Medicine. Written by Professor Joan Busfield from the University of Essex, it states that the NHS prescription bill has exploded in the past 20 years from £4 billion in the early 1990’s to around £18 billion at the present time. This means that the number of prescribed medicines per head has risen from 8 per person to more than 16 per year in the past two decades.

Prof Busfield cites the pharmaceutical industry as the main reason for why this escalation has come about. According to the author, the pharmaceutical industry has recognised that in order to maintain steady growth and profitability in the future, it needs to expand its markets.

Therefore in addition to treating recognised illnesses, the industry is creating ‘new disease’ categories by prescribing normal, healthy individuals with drugs for naturally occurring problems such as sexual dysfunctions.

The report also suggests that the general public have lost their sense of stoicism, and have become more demanding in recent years. Michael Sumners, the vice-chairman of the Patients Association, believes people are generally reluctant to tolerate any discomfort, seeking a drug solution for even the slightest of ailments.

Furthermore, it seems many people no longer accept what they are told by medical professionals, and use the internet to find solutions for their health problems.

(Journal of Social Science and Medicine, March 2010; Daily Telegraph, March 2010; The Observer, 28 March 2010)

This article was first published as an ARH Newsletter in May 2010.

Homeopathy Helps Piglets!

Are they telling porkies?

E-Coli diarrhoea amongst newborn piglets is a major problem within the agricultural industry. The antibiotic cure is often labour-intensive to administer to large numbers of sows, and subsequently costly. Therefore when research was undertaken to investigate the effect of homeopathic remedies on pigs in the last month of gestation, many farmers were eager to find out the results.

The study was conducted on a commercial farm in the Netherlands by The Biological Farming Systems Group at the Wageningen University. It included assigning fifty-two sows (none of which had been vaccinated against E.Coli) to either a placebo group, or homeopathic treatment group, for the investigation. The 525 piglets that were born from these sows were monitored for frequency and duration of diarrhoea.

The results published in the journal Homeopathy in January 2010, showed that the placebo group suffered over 6 times more diarrhoea than the homeopathic group. Moreover, within the homeopathic treatment group, the diarrhoea was less severe, there was less transmission and the duration appeared shorter.

Since a high use of antibiotics can cause problems within animal health, and, in the organic sector the amount of antibiotics given to livestock is restricted, this investigation provides farmers with a safer and less expensive alternative to conventional treatment.

This article was first published in an ARH Newsletter in May 2010

Tree Pollen and Hay Fever strikes again?

The season of Spring is barely upon us, with only a peppering of crocuses, snowdrops and daffodils around, but it seems that tree pollen is in full force as the hay fever season kicks in.

Hay fever is an allergy caused by a weakened immune system, which results in an irritation to the nose and eyes. It is seen as an extremely obstinate ailment to treat, a permanent cure depends on raising the quality of the immune system.

Homeopathy may help to treat the allergy by strengthening the immune system through individualised constitutional treatment, although it may take several seasons to eradicate the
problem fully. In the short-term, however, the discomfort may be reduced by using a number of different remedies including:

§ Allium Cepa 30C – dripping nose with burning discharge; violent sneezing; stinging, watery eyes

§ Arsenicum Album 30C – sneezing because of tickling feeling in nose; burning sensation in eyes, nose and throat; discharges may be acrid

§ Euphrasia 30c – eyes the biggest problem: itchy and dry eyes, burning discharge. Tickling cough; intense sneezing; runny nose with bland discharge

§ Pulsatilla 30C – bland watery nose and eyes; eyes itch and feel gritty, and may produce yellowy discharge; lots of sneezing; worse in the heat

§ Sabadilla 30c – constant , maddening tingling in nose; burning and redness of eyes; sneezing provokes tears; eyes water and burn

The main cause of hay fever in early spring is tree pollen and therefore a homeopathic
‘Tree Pollen Mix’, available from most homeopathic pharmacies, can be helpful. It is always best to discuss your specific requirements with a registered homeopath since a susceptibility to hay
fever suggests a deeper underlying cause requiring individualised treatment.

This article was first published in Homeopathy Healthy Medicine, March 2011

Homeopathy saves Show Jumper from Tendon Surgery

Animal injuries are commonplace although, when they appear among working animals, the repercussions involved are heavily increased and the resultant situation more severe.

So when Todd, a part bred Hanoverian show jumper, had an accident which led him to have a thorn embedded in his lower leg, his owner and trainer naturally became very concerned. The horse's leg began to swell and scanning confirmed the thorn was interfering with Todd’s tendon.

Following regular scans every two to three days, the swelling showed no signs of abating, and the only option available, was surgery. Liz Morrison, Todd’s owner, was fiercely against this idea and decided to contact her local homeopathic vet. The thorn had become engulfed in a cavity, as the
body reacted to the foreign body, trying to isolate it by healing around the thorn, so the vet, Nick, prepared a homeopathic remedy which included high potency Sulphur and low potency Silica.

The swelling subsided almost immediately and by the next scan, three days later, the thorn had completely vanished and the cavity had considerably reduced in size and was healing. In discussing the situation, Liz Morrison said, 

“I think it is amazing that the homeopathic remedy eradicated the thorn so quickly; I am so grateful Todd didn’t need surgery and made a full recovery.” 

As a result of this experience, Liz has used homeopathic treatment on several of her horses

with considerable success. Because homeopathy can help to promote gentle yet deep healing, Liz

encourages other animal owners to try it out themselves.

(http://www.horsemart.co.uk/news/homeopathy_saves_show_jumper_from_tendon_surgery/2258)

This article first appeared in Homeopathy Healthy Medicine, March 2011

Still suffering from a common cold? How Homeopathy can help

We could be forgiven for thinking, with each day becoming longer and signs of life slowly appearing in the garden, that the days of winter are behind us and the worries of a cold emerging are long gone. However, the sudden changes in temperatures which often occur in March and April, following the long, bleak winter months, can result in us falling ill with a cold at the last hurdle!

There is little point in treating an ordinary cold; it is best to let it take its course and to view it as a useful way to “clean out” the system. If, however, the frequency of annual colds is more than a couple, it is advisable to contact a homeopath to help build up your immune system for the future.

If, additionally, you see no signs of improvement after a few days of catching a cold and are still feeling run down, then the following remedies may help. Please note that for more individualised treatment, it is recommended that you consult with a registered homeopath.

Aconite – use at beginning of illness; when illness strikes suddenly particularly at night; chill caused by exposure to cold, dry winds; you have fever and are thirsty and sweaty, especially on covered parts; dry painful cough

Allium cepa – runny nose with burning discharge; runny eyes

Arsenicum –cold begins in nose which produces thin, watery, burning discharge, you sneeze a lot and cold often moves to chest; you feel chilly and restless but enjoy sips of water

Belladonna – high fever, red face and burning, skin is dry but you are not usually thirsty, head almost always hurts with a throbbing pain

Bryonia – symptoms are slow to develop, you feel irritable and wish to be left alone and still, feel better for large amounts of cold water, remedy works best once the cold has moved to the chest
producing a painful, dry cough

Eupatorium – remedy of choice if the flu has gone to your bones which ache, you are very thirsty and feel better for sweating, although this does not help with your headache

Gelsemium – you shake and shiver, symptoms develop slowly, you feel tired and weak and your body and muscles feel heavy. You may have a headache at the back of your head. You feel ‘fluey’.
(Homeopathy for Common Ailments by Robin Hayfield)

This article first appeared in Homeopathy Healthy Medicine March 2011

Pulsatilla Nigricans

Pulsatilla is also known as pasque flower, meadow anemone, wind flower. It favours sandy soils and sunny conditions, and grows in meadows throughout central and northern Europe. The remedy is made from the whole plant whilst in flower.

Pulsatilla is an incredibly versatile remedy, which can be used in many ways, but can be especially helpful in treating children experiencing the symptoms of common childhood ailments.

The child who might benefit from Pulsatilla is generally, mild, sweet natured, a bit timid, and very eager to please. They really need to feel supported an loved, so if they’re off colour, they will probably be very clingy, and not want Mum to leave them on their own. In fact what they really want is for Mum to give them a good cuddle!

However, the Pulsatilla child can also become cross, irritable and even manipulative, if they don’t get their own way. Their moods can be very changeable, laughter and sunshine one moment, then
tears and tantrums the next (rather like the ‘wind flower’ changing direction with the breeze).

Physical symptoms can also be very changeable, so for example, pains can shift rapidly from one spot to another, or a cold may be accompanied by a free flowing runny nose, which suddenly changes to become blocked and ‘bunged’ up.

Generally, someone who might benefit from Pulsatilla is warm blooded (so will often shed layers of clothing, and hates being in the hot sun!), thirstless, and craves fresh air, which relieves their symptoms. Catarrh and discharges (from nose, ears, eyes, cough etc) are yellow or yellow/green, and although they may be profuse, they are generally bland, but might be smelly.

Pulsatilla ‘types’ tend not to like rich foods, which can also disagree with them, so they’ll often either love or loathe butter. However, the Pulsatilla child may both love and crave peanut butter!
In conclusion, Pulsatilla can help with a whole range of symptoms which have the characteristics described above.

If the picture fits, you can try giving one Pulsatilla 30C every half hour for up to four doses, then reduce as symptoms improve.

This article was first published in Homeopathy Healthy Medicine, March 2011

Musculoskeletal complaints improve with Homeopathy

There are millions of people throughout the world enduring musculoskeletal complaints which can
include rheumatic diseases. Many sufferers find that consulting with a complimentary and alternative medicine (CAM) practitioner helps in relieving their pain, and may also prevent further occurrences of their problem.

It is interesting to note, since one of the most frequently used CAM therapies is homeopathy, that 23 research studies have been carried out to determine the effect of homeopathy for patients suffering from rheumatic and musculoskeletal complaints, namely rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. These trials, which have included over 2,300 patients in total,
have shown positive results for homeopathy, over and above conventional treatment and placebos.

The studies mostly used patients who suffered from long-term complaints and were treated with homeopathic remedies for an average of four to five months. There was, within these studies, a 77% improvement in 400 rheumatic patients over the first month of treatment and reduced severity of pain in 87% after six months. In addition, after just three months of treatment,
85% of osteoarthritis sufferers found that they had reduced pain, stiffness and swelling of joints.

The multiple investigations also concluded that the safety of homeopathic treatment was greater than conventional treatment, where side-effects to the drugs prescribed are typical. It has been advised, with all these positive conclusions, that homeopathy should be considered a viable
therapeutic option for patients suffering from rheumatic and musculoskeletal complaints.

If you would therefore like to know more about this research, please visit www.homeopathy-ecch.eu.

If you suffer from similar problems to those mentioned in this article, please go to http://www.a-rh.org/FindMembers/find.php to find a homeopath in your area, and to obtain advice specific for your needs.

This article first appeared in Homeopathy Healthy Medicine, March 2011

Yeo Valley uses Alternative Treatment

The company, Yeo Valley Organic, takes pride in having a proactive approach to animal welfare and minimising the stress to livestock which may result in illness. The routine use of antibiotics as a preventative measure to treat the ailments of its cows is not permitted at Yeo Valley Organic. The Herd Manager has invested time and money in studying a course on homeopathic treatments, which he believes has been enormously beneficial to the company.

On conventionally run farms, the administration of antibiotics always results in withdrawal periods for milk and meat during treatment, but homeopathy has no such effect. The cows do not build up immunity to homeopathic remedies - a major consideration; in fact, homeopathy appears to encourage the cows’ immune systems to fight ‘bugs’ for themselves, so the cows stay healthy naturally.

Homeopathic treatment is used in a number of different ways; including to ward off flies, to ease the cows’ stress levels when they have their feet clipped, and to help them during a difficult calving. Yeo Valley Organic are keen to increase the homeopathic care they offer to their animals in the future, and aim to continue to treat their herd homeopathically, whenever appropriate.

This article was first published in Homeopathy Health Medicine, March 2011

Switch off your technology to have a fuller life?

The advancements in technology, over the past decade, have been immeasurable but at what price to our self-esteem and life experiences?

Recent research has demonstrated that the introduction of Twitter and social networking sites such as Facebook have resulted in shorter concentration spans among users and has made us more impatient and dissatisfied with the pace of normal life. While 60% of the population crave to be constantly stimulated, it is not surprising to learn that many of us live life on autopilot, walking down the street plugged into an iPod and reading texts on a phone, completely oblivious of anything that is actually going on around us.

The University of Michigan’s Brain Cognition and Action Laboratory has also identified that the idea of multi-tasking is a myth and that the brain has inherent limitations for processing information. This means, despite consuming more information than ever before, our ability to retain it is worse than ever and we are, therefore, feeling less fulfilled than in the past.

In addition, the vast volume of information confronting us, dulls our sense of excitement
and de-activates our emotions with regard to that information. The human brain, according
to the University of California, needs 6-8 seconds to respond to a story which requires us to react with a feeling of emotional pain and, although that may seem fast, it is enough time to sift through 20-30 Twitter messages, without registering any of them!

It is obvious that huge positives have come out of technology, for example, keeping in touch with friends and family all over the globe and having a constant flow of information available with just a single touch of a keypad. It is, however, important to step back once in a while and “de-tech” in order to live a more enriched and engaged life. Studies have shown those who step away from the gadgets show an increased blood flow to the frontal cortex, which is the part of the brain responsible for memory, problem solving, decision-
making and planning.

And as Sharmash Alidina, a Mindfulness Trainer says, “You only get one moment in life to truly enjoy something and so many of us are missing out on those moments due to distraction”.

(Stylist, 23 February 2011)
First published in Homeopathy Healthy Medicine, March 2011