Leptospirosis, Weil's Disease in Cuba

Each year, during hurricane season, many people throughout the world face flooding, homelessness and often disease; and Cuba is no exception. When the hurricanes hit each Autumn, flooding can often contaminate drinking supplies and the bacteria found in the water can frequently lead to Weil’s disease. 

Weil’s disease is also known as Leptospirosis which regularly results in a variety of symptoms including fever, muscle aches, jaundice, headaches, abdominal pains, diarrhoea and sometimes even death.

As Cuba is still subject to heavy embargoes from the United States, they have been economically restricted to sustain themselves on miniscule budgets throughout all areas including health. With an annual problem of Weil’s disease and limited finance to provide all those potentially affected with allopathic vaccinations, the Ministry of Public Health, embarked on distributing homeopathic remedies to 2.4 million Cubans in the most affected regions of the country. This campaign comprised of administering two doses of a preventative treatment to these inhabitants.

From this mass research, it became apparent there were several key advantages to this method over conventional treatment. 

Firstly, the cost of the campaign was US $200,000 - significantly lower than the customary vaccination of US $3,000,000. 

Simultaneously, producing the homeopathic treatment was far quicker than that of a vaccine (the 5 million doses required for the project was manufactured within a week), whilst managing the distribution of the doses did not require medical assistance and hence it was more efficient when accessing affected areas.

Most importantly, however, was the success of the study in terms of recorded illnesses and deaths attributed to Weil’s disease. According to reports, there was an 80% reduction in the prevalence of Weil’s disease in the affected regions where the homeopathic remedies were distributed, with only 10 cases of the infection recorded, in comparison to the usual several thousand whilst no deaths were documented.

(Information taken from an article in 'Homeopathy In Practice', Autumn 2009, the ARH's professional magazine)

Exams? Nerves?

It’s that time of the year again!

It is May, so it can only mean one thing - the exam season is just around the corner! And with the dreaded assessments looming, many a student will be pre-occupied over the coming weeks with revision and practising old past papers. 

As a result, stress and anxiety levels are bound to be on a high and so while you or your loved ones are getting ready to hit the books, we asked some homeopaths what remedies they suggest to calm the nerves and make sure the exam season goes as smoothly as possible. 

Please note the following homeopathic remedies are only a guideline that you may find helpful. As you will see, each remedy is known by their Latin name and for ease, we have detailed key symptoms that you may be experiencing and for which the remedy may help to alleviate.

Aconite. Fear (rabbit in headlights!), panic, restlessness, very thirsty

Anacardum Orientale. Brain fag and exhaustion from studying

Arg Nit. Craves sweets, diarrhoea, thinks he/she will fail

Cocculus. Dizzy from too much studying in to the small hours, Nausea

Gelsenium. Shakes like a jelly, butterflies in the stomach, feeling of a

band around the head, feels better for urinating

Kali Phos. Worn out from too much studying, nervous, feels better

having eaten

Lycopodium. Lacking in self esteem, feels dyslexic, irritable, domineer-

ing, indecisive

Phos Ac. Mental exhaustion through studying, homesick, indifferent

In addition, you may also find Rescue Remedy to be a useful source when trying to achieve a sense of calm and focus in any stressful situations from exams to interview nerves. Rescue Remedy is available in most health shops and some high street pharmacies.

Other helpful tips to combat exam anxiety include:

1. Staying focused on the task in-hand; prepare clear revision plans and stick to them 
2. Remain positive throughout the exam season; an optimistic attitude will go a long way 
3. Keep things in perspective and don’t bottle your feelings up 
4. Refrain from drinking too much caffeine, carbonated soft drinks or processed food with a high sugar content or preservatives. Instead indulge in fresh fruit and vegetables that is said to help reduce stress 
5. Continue to exercise during the revision period, preferably in the fresh air. Also make sure you maintain a regular and suitable sleeping pattern

This article was originally published in 'Homeopathy Healthy Medicine' in April 2010. This is a free newsletter published by ARH, and available at http://www.a-r-h.org/publications.htm.

Can't get a doctor's appointment?

If so, you are not alone!

The health insurers, National Friendly, recently conducted a survey to investigate the public’s attitude towards the NHS and the service they receive from their GPs. From the findings 21% of those surveyed felt they were unable to access Doctor’s appointments within a suitable timeframe. This frequently meant that a vast proportion of those surveyed (83% in fact) admitted to researching their symptoms on the internet before even arriving at the Doctor’s surgery.

Since it is commonly believed that the10-minute allotted appointment time is not long enough and GPs are often deemed too dismissive when discussing their patient’s health concerns, it comes as no surprise to find that 28% of the survey participants felt more comfortable listening to a diagnosis from a colleague or friend than actually visiting their GP. 

With British lifestyles becoming far more hectic over recent years, the emerging theme from the research suggests that the public are looking for faster and more informative ways of answering their health queries with 35% of those questioned feeling that the internet fulfills this requirement. 

But with the public placing so much emphasis on generic internet websites or untrained friends, surely this is the time for the NHS to actively inform the public about other therapies, including homeopathy, that are readily available to them.

(National Friendly website; Stylist magazine)

This article was originally published in April 2010 in 'Homeopathy, Healthy Medicine', the free newsletter published by ARH, and available at http://www.a-r-h.org/publications.htm

The price the public pays for pharmaceutical drugs

With GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) currently battling a governmental lawsuit in the US over the production and marketing of Avandia, a drug for diabetes, it is little wonder that some members of the public have become disillusioned with the pharmaceutical industry. 

A report by the Senate Finance Committee has stated that GSK knew Avandia was linked to thousands of heart attacks but despite this, hid the information from the public and attempted to intimidate doctors and researchers that questioned the drugs safety. 

According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2007, patients who took Avandia were 43% more likely to have cardiovascular problems. In addition, the current report by the Senate Finance Committee has stated that by taking an alternative “safer” drug, 500 heart attacks and 300 cases of heart failure every month in the US would have been prevented.

Naturally, this case highlights the duty that pharmaceutical and healthcare companies have to warn patients about potential side-effects and adverse reactions. At the same time, this appears to suggest that some organisations are prepared to go to considerable lengths in order to boost their profits.

(The Wall Street Journal; Natural News)

This article was original published in Homeopathy Health Medicine in April 2010. This is a free newsletter published by the ARH, and available at http://www.a-r-h.org/publications.htm

For more up-to-date information on Avandia click here.
and also here.

Burns and Scalds. Homeopathy to the rescue

If you spent much of December in  the kitchen, preparing all the food for friends and family over the festive period, then you may have been unfortunate enough to burn yourself as you wrestled the weighty turkey out of the oven or checked the mince pies. 

Homeopathy can be very effective in treating minor burns or scalds by applying a variety of creams to the affected area. 

If the burn stings and is painful but has not blistered externally try rubbing Urtica, Calendula or Hypercal carefully on to the burnt skin immediately  after the burn occurs.

NB. Skin must be absolutely clean when using Calendula or Hypercal. If you only have the tincture of the above remedies: dilute one part tincture to ten parts water and apply frequently until the pain subsides. 

For more serious burns that have started to blister, take Cantharis 30c (in tablet form) hourly, remembering to drink plenty of liquid as the loss of body fluids through burnt skin causes dehydration.

Please note, however, that if the burn covers an extensive area of the body (5% or more), SEEK MEDICAL  ASSISTANCE AT ONCE, but whilst waiting for extra help, take Cantharis as 30c or Causticum 30c (tablet form) every 15 minutes.

The obvious physical ailment being treated is the burn but do not forget emotional shock can often play a large part in the event and, as a result, this may need to be addressed in addition to the burn.

There are two very effective homeopathic remedies for shock - Arnica and Aconite - which, if you are not sure which remedy is best indicated, can be taken in alternation with each other. Take one tablet of Arnica 30c in alternation with one tablet of Aconite 30c, every fifteen minutes for up to six doses. 

The Bach Rescue Remedy can also prove useful and this may be more readily accessible to you. Please note, if shock symptoms persist seek professional help without delay.

(Homeopathy for Common Ailments by Robin Hayfield)

This article first appeared the Homeopathy Healthy Medicine newsletter in January 2010. The ARH offers this to all Homeopaths as a free newsletter.

Homeopathy for Frost-Damaged Plants

Frost and snow are prolific at this time of year, as are the sudden changes in temperature which can occur in the shortest of time frames. 

The snow,while acting as a warming blanket and protecting plants from the extremes of frost, also makes any garden have a fairy-tale quality. 

Frost, on the other hand, hinders plant growth and kills tender plants, which are unable to take up water and therefore die from lack of moisture. Frost also causes water in plant cells to freeze resulting in damage to the cell walls. These problems are often made worse when tender plants face the early morning sun and the heat which causes them to defrost too quickly, rupturing their cell walls still further.

Distinguishing which plants have been frost-damaged is relatively easy as their growth becomes limp, blackened and distorted. Evergreen plants often turn brown and the leaves of tender plants appear translucent. 

Since prevention is always better than cure it is advisable to cover up susceptible plants with straw mats or cardboard on frosty nights. If, however, this is not possible, try watering your damaged plants with a homeopathic preparation of agricultural Magnesia Carbonica – Mag Carb 6X (available from www.homeopathyplus.com.au). 

Mix ten drops in one litre of water, shake vigorously for about a minute and then add a further twenty litres of water to the mix before spraying on your plants but please ensure this procedure is applied only once the frost has completely thawed. 

Information taken from the book "Homeopathy for Farm and Garden". Valunthanath das Kavaraj.

This article first appeared the Homeopathy Healthy Medicine newsletter in January 2010. The ARH offers this to all Homeopaths as a free newsletter.

Aconitum napellus – Homeopathic remedy to take at the beginning of an illness

Aconite, commonly known as ‘monk’s hood’, is a tall, very poisonous plant which has attractive, hood shaped, blue flowers. It belongs to the family Ranunculacee, and grows in shady, mountainous areas across most of northern and central Europe. 

The homeopathic remedy is made at the start of flowering from the whole plant, including its highly toxic root. It is believed that local people used to dip the tips of their arrows in a preparation of Aconite when hunting wolves, hence the plant’s other name, wolf’s bane.

Consider Aconite as a remedy to take for the early stages of any illness, especially if the symptoms come on suddenly, or the patient has recently become chilled as a result of being exposed to cold, dry winds. 

The symptoms can include aches, pains, colds, coughs, sore throats, flu, chills and fever. 

An example of the rapid onset of symptoms could be that your child is playing quite happily one moment, and then suddenly becomes fractious and feverish just a few moments later. 

Great anxiety and restlessness often accompany a typical Aconite fever. The patient may feel very hot internally, but chilly externally, with dry skin except for covered areas, which become sweaty. They can also be extremely thirsty and drink large quantities of water, often observing that everything tastes bitter, except for water, which just tastes odd. 

The typical Aconite cold comes on suddenly, and is characterised by sneezing, a hoarse croupy cough, and a throat which is painful, red and swollen.

Aconite is especially helpful for people suffering from symptoms associated with sudden shock, fear, or fright. 

So if, for example you suddenly experience a painful, burning, bursting headache following a shock or trauma, Aconite may well be the indicated remedy for your condition. 

The Aconite ‘fear’ expression is characterised by a staring, startled, glassy eyed look (‘rabbit in the headlights’ syndrome), and the patient is in obvious distress. The 30C potency can be taken every half hour for up to four doses, then reduce as symptoms improve.

Our thanks to Pauline Start for helping to compile this article. See Pauline’s web site for more information: www.healthandhomeopathy.com