Surviving Chilblains during the big winter chill.

The inevitable cold winter weather often causes dryness of the skin and chilblains. It is generally regarded that about 1 in 10 people in the United Kingdom will get chilblains at some stage in their life. The condition occurs during colder weather since blood vessels under the skin narrow when the skin becomes cold and therefore the blood supply to those areas becomes very slow. There is some leakage of fluid from the blood vessels into the tissue, when the skin reheats, which in turn causes areas of inflammation and swelling resulting in chilblains. 

These problems are difficult to completely prevent but there are certain measures which can be taken to limit their effects. These include:

* Make sure your hands, feet and ears are always warm when out in the cold weather by wearing gloves, socks and hats. There are a variety of specially heated gloves and socks on the market if you are particularly prone to chilblains.

* Always keep as warm and dry as possible when in the cold. By wearing several loose layers of clothing, your body heat is trapped.

*Regularly moisturise your face and hands with cream and lotions.

*Having been in the cold, slowly warm yourself up and avoid extreme changes in temperature. Do not heat up the skin too quickly by putting icy feet in hot water or using hot water bottles.

* People with poor circulation or on drugs that narrow blood vessels are often more likely to getting chilblains and therefore make sure you tell a medical professional if you become prone to chilblains following the introduction of any new conventional medication that may do this.

(http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Chilblains.htm)

And, of course, if you have problems with Chilblains, find a Homeopathy near you (www.a-r-h.org).

This article was first published by the ARH in the December 2010 issue of the free newsletter, Homeopathy Healthy Medicine.

The ARH regularly publish these newsletters to provide information about homeopathy to the public. This information is not usually available through our mainstream media which refuses to publish anything about Homeopathy. ARH makes the newsletters available to everyone as free downloads (go to www.a-r-h.org), and they can be used for information, marketing and publicity purposes.

Arnica. A homeopathic remedy no home should be without

Arnica montana is a perennial herb which belongs to the family compostitae. It can be found in many parts of the world, and favours mountain slopes, growing just below the snow level. Its flowers look a little bit like a yellow daisy, and they can grow to height of up to 30 centimetres (12 ins). The healing properties of this plant have been known for hundreds of years, earning it various nicknames such as ‘fall herb’, ‘bruise wort and ‘leapoard’s bane’. 

In Northern Europe, people living and working in mountainous areas recognized Arnica’s ability to soothe aching muscles, and used it in several different ways, such as chewing on the leaves, or making a compress to use externally, in order to relieve sprains and bruising. The homeopathic remedy is made from the whole plant when flowering, and includes the roots.

Arnica acts principally on soft tissue and surrounding blood vessels, helping to reduce bleeding and promote healing. It is the first remedy to think of using when someone has been involved in a fall or accident. It can help to minimize bruising, swelling and pain. 

Arnica can also be used after dental treatment, especially following a tooth extraction, when it will help to prevent excess bleeding, cut down on the risk of infection and speed up healing. 

It is also a very valuable remedy to use after childbirth, especially if tearing or bleeding has occurred during labour.

In farming, Arnica is routinely used by many farmers following a difficult calving / lambing in order to help with the pain, and also to reduce the risk of infection setting in, which might otherwise have to be treated with antibiotics.

Arnica is also a very good remedy to consider using following concussion, either recent or from the past, especially if the patient has ‘never been well’ since receiving a blow to the head. 

You can safely give Arnica for all accidents and injuries which involve falls, breaks, bruising, bleeding, shock and bruise-like pain. The 30C potency can be taken every half an hour for up to four doses, then reduce as symptoms improve. 

Arnica cream can be very soothing for aching muscles when applied topically, but should never be used on broken skin. 

Arnica is a wonderfully versatile remedy which no household should be without. It can safely be used by everyone.

All Homeopathic remedies are sold in homeopathic pharmacies, most health food shops and in some chemists. They are readily available in the 6C or 30C potency.

This article was first published by the ARH in the December 2010 issue of the free newsletter, Homeopathy Healthy Medicine.

The ARH regularly publish these newsletters to provide information about homeopathy to the public. This information is not usually available through our mainstream media which refuses to publish anything about Homeopathy. ARH makes the newsletters available to everyone as free downloads (go to www.a-r-h.org), and they can be used for information, marketing and publicity purposes.

Homeopathy and Depression

Don’t be depressed – homeopathy is here to help

In a recent blog, the topic of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) was tackled, where sufferers experience episodes of depression during the winter months. This blog concentrates on classical depression which apparently affects 4.5% of all European citizens.

It is the most common reason why employees take time of work and is believed to cost the European economy, annually, over 100 billion Euros. The World Health Organisation, (WHO), expects it to become the second most common form of ill-health by 2020. 

No wonder, then, that depression is one of the conditions most commonly treated by Homeopaths.

There are several clear differences between SAD and classical depression. SAD is usually experienced during autumn or early winter and often lifts in spring and, as you might expect, the sufferer’s mood is directly influenced by daylight hours. SAD sufferers also have a tendency to sleep and eat more resulting in an increase in weight.

There is, in contrast, no obvious seasonal pattern with classical depression, with sufferers experiencing their symptoms throughout the year, irrespective of daylight. The  victims of classical depression often have difficulty sleeping, and loss of appetite and, as a consequence, weight remains the same or decreases. By contrast, other sufferers can experience an increase in appetite which may result in severe weight gain.

A survey, conducted at a university hospital outpatient clinic, questioned 1,783 patients regarding their reasons for using homeopathy. Depression was the most frequently treated condition. A significant improvement in health was experienced, through homeopathic treatment, by 63.6% of the depressed patients, while between 40-60% of depressed patients, using conventional treatment, re- lapsed.

So if you suffer from depression, why not book a consultation with a Homeopath. Go to www.a-r-h.org, and 'Find a Homeopath'.

This article was first published by the ARH in the December 2010 issue of the free newsletter, Homeopathy Healthy Medicine.

The ARH regularly publish these newsletters to provide information about homeopathy to the public. This information is not usually available through our mainstream media which refuses to publish anything about Homeopathy. ARH makes the newsletters available to everyone as free downloads (go to www.a-r-h.org), and they can be used for information, marketing and publicity purposes.

Teething? Homeopathy can help.

How homeopathy can help with teething

There is nothing more exasperating and distressing, as any parent will know, than watching your young baby in pain because their teeth are beginning to grow through their gums. Parents feel helpless, the baby is helpless too, and because the baby is loved, everyone feels the pain.

Unfortunately, however, teething is a rite of passage and something we must all go through. Consequently find a solution to help ease this difficult time is a benefit for child and parent alike.

Homeopathy has a number of remedies which can relieve the symptoms of teething. Here are the two most common remedies used:

Chamomilla 30c – this is the best option if your baby is crying hard, and is cross, stroppy and irritable, when nothing you do seems to help. Often, one cheek will be red whilst the other is pale in colour.

Pulsatilla 30c – choose this remedy if your baby is crying but instead of being bad-tempered, they are pitiful, miserable and clingy and wants to be held and comforted all the time. In this situation, cool, fresh air often helps them.

These remedies are only a guideline and there are other options too, so please consult your own homeopath for a more individualised therapy for your child. 

To find your local practitioner, please visit our website;

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

This article was first published by the ARH in the December 2010 issue of the free newsletter, Homeopathy Healthy Medicine.

The ARH regularly publish these newsletters to provide information about homeopathy to the public. This information is not usually available through our mainstream media which refuses to publish anything about Homeopathy. ARH makes the newsletters available to everyone as free downloads (go to www.a-r-h.org), and they can be used for information, marketing and publicity purposes.

Homeopathy and Allergy Sufferers

Study shows that homeopathy can help to cure allergy sufferers

It is suggested, following research carried out by the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital, that homeopathy is ten times more likely to cure allergy sufferers than placebo – a statement which
seems obvious but yet is under constant scrutiny! 

The study which concluded this recruited fifty patients from general practitioners presenting with nasal allergies and the participants were given either a homeopathic remedy or a placebo. The sufferers measured their nasal air flow for thirty days and documented their symptoms, including anything from blocked, runny or itchy nose to sneezing and eye irritation. 

The results showed that patients receiving homeopathy produced a 28% improvement in nasal air flow compared with 3% among those in the placebo group. 

The investigation was, apparently, the fourth trial carried out by the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital and, according to Dr David Reilly who led the study, all the tests reported similar results. 

There were also positive findings in 70% of a further 180 clinical trials which had been undertaken. 

The findings, published in the Daily Mail newspaper under the headline ‘Homeopathy Works!’ demonstrate that homeopathy is so much more than placebo. To read the full article go to www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4040/Homeopathy-works.html

This article was first published by the ARH in the December 2010 issue of the free newsletter, Homeopathy Healthy Medicine.

The ARH regularly publish these newsletters to provide information about homeopathy to the public. This information is not usually available through our mainstream media which refuses to publish anything about Homeopathy. ARH makes the newsletters available to everyone as free downloads (go to www.a-r-h.org), and they can be used for information, marketing and publicity purposes.

Christmas? Are you ready to party?

It is inevitable, with the festive season now upon us, that parties and social gatherings will occupy many evenings over the next few weeks. It is an opportunity for most of us to catch up with old friends and long-lost family, to meet new people or generally let our hair down with colleagues.

However, nervousness when faced with social situations can be accompanied by extreme fear and anxiety, resulting in sweating, blushing, tremors, diarrhoea or stomach upset. These feelings are, fortunately, extreme but the reality is that many people suffer from low self-esteem and often lack confidence when meeting strangers or worry how colleagues perceive them out of the work environment.

For such situations, homeopathy can help to relieve some of the anxiety and enable sufferers to relax. So, to deal with the anticipation of the party season, we have de- tailed some homeopathic remedies which may help to combat the stress. These include:

Aconite - you feel terror and fright, you ‘know’ the party is going to be a disaster, use this remedy before and after the event if you cannot shake off the nightmare feeling.

Arg Nit – feel anxious not terrified, you can’t face the situation and feel almost paralysed into inactivity 

Gelsemium – you experience anticipatory fears, muscles feel weak and tired and you get the shakes and trembles

Phosphorus – best if you are nervous and sensitive, you feel better in company, loud noises and shadows cause deep anxiety 

Rescue Remedy – use to calm and relax

Please note, these remedies are only suggestions so it is advisable to consult your own homeopath for a more individualised treatment, or to find a practitioner in your area, please visit our website

www.a-r-h.org/FindMembers

This article was first published by the ARH in the December 2010 issue of the free newsletter, Homeopathy Healthy Medicine.

The ARH regularly publish these newsletters to provide information about homeopathy to the public. This information is not usually available through our mainstream media which refuses to publish anything about Homeopathy. ARH makes the newsletters available to everyone as free downloads (go to www.a-r-h.org), and they can be used for information, marketing and publicity purposes.

Feeling the winter blues? Homeopathy and SAD

It is not uncommon to feel rather sombre and despondent once most of the leaves have fallen, and the daylight hours have shortened, heralding the inevitable shift to winter. People often complain of the 'winter blues' when they feel less energised to carry out their daily tasks and have difficulty in getting up in the mornings!

The seasonal changes bring about more extreme symptoms for some individuals, preventing sufferers from functioning normally without some sort of medical treatment. In these cases episodes of depression are experienced during the winter months only lifting in spring – a condition which is known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (or SAD).

SAD affects half a million people in the UK each year and varies by latitude. Those living further from the equator are more susceptible to the disorder. This means that 10% of the population within Canada suffer from SAD while only 2% of those living in the state of Florida experience this condition. 

The length of seasonal depression is also dependent on latitude where there is a positive correlation between the length of the winter and the length of an episode of depression. In London, for example, the average length of an episode is 5.7 months. 

SAD symptoms vary greatly between individuals but they are generally centred on extreme lethargy, often with a constant desire to sleep, during both day and night. Sufferers tend to be less productive during the winter months with an increased appetite and consequent weight gain.

So what causes SAD? The research into the root of the condition has centred on the hormone melatonin which is produced in the pineal gland in the brain. It is thought melatonin induces sleep - its production and secretion into the bloodstream is closely related to light, with the hormone normally released at night as bright light suppresses it. 

It is, therefore, understandable that its release is increased in those who live further from the equator with shorter daylight hours and less natural light.

Homeopathy has been proven to be very successful at helping sufferers of Seasonal Affective Disorder and some of the more prominent remedies are listed below. Please note these remedies are only a guideline and for a more individualised therapy please consult your nearest homeopath (www..a-r-h.org then click on ‘Find a homeopath’).

Aurum metallicum – feeling of hopeless- ness, future looks dark, low spirits and lifelessness, lack of hope, feels no pleasure from social or emotional contact, weakness of memory, feeling that something has been neglected, everything seems to take ages to do, doesn’t feel like talking but if they do they grumble.

Chocolate – overcome with sleepiness, their sleep is very deep and there is difficulty in waking, feels open and vulnerable, increase in appetite, strong desire to eat something sweet, feels like they want to hibernate, feels anxious about health matters, concentration becomes difficult, sense of panic concerning their ability to cope, easily feels rejected, averse to company and feels like they don’t belong, depressed and humourless.

Diamond – feeling of despair, disconnection and negative state, reluctant to talk to others, feels they have nothing to offer the world, sense of detachment, isolation and darkness, confused when thinking, has a sense of failure, craves the sun, has a desire for sunlight, ex- ceptional tiredness, strong desire for chocolate.

Frankincense – feelings of dread of the darkness, a sense of being lost, they feel that they are at the end of their tether, low, irritable, sad and grumpy, everything’s a drag.

Platina – morose, sad, feels weary of everything, likes to be alone, low-spirited, feels they have been forgotten by friends and family which manifests in being snappy and sharp-tongued, has contempt for the world, feels ravenously hungry but has an aversion to food due to the depression, constantly tired and often yawns, finds it difficult to wake in the morning, muscles ache and they feel physically and emotionally numb especially at night, Feels better when the sun shines.

If you suffer from SAD, or the winter blues, and would like further advice please contact the Seasonal Affective Disorder Association at www.sada.org.uk.

This article was first published by the ARH in the November 2011 issue of the free newsletter, Homeopathy Healthy Medicine.

The ARH regularly publish these newsletters to provide information about homeopathy to the public. This information is not usually available through our mainstream media. ARH makes the newsletters available to everyone as free downloads (go to www.a-r-h.org), and they can be used for information, marketing and publicity purposes.