Are you weather sensitive?

Do you occasionally feet stressed and unwell without apparent reason? Are you tired and feel unable to undertake even the simplest of routine tasks without making an extra effort? It could be that the weather is to blame.

Spring frequently comes along with a rather unpleasant weather phenomenon. It is a stimulating climate that may bring humidity, changeable winds, atmospheric air pressure fluctuations and swift rises and drops in temperature. Such inconsistency of the weather can impact our health and well-being.

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Many people are feeling ‘under the weather’ and the number of people complaining of the symptoms associated with this phenomenon is on the rise. Women and the elderly are affected to a higher extent, yet the symptoms may occur throughout all age groups and both sexes, from the young to the aged. This phenomenon is known as ‘meteoropathy’, and symptoms include headache, migraine, dizziness, cardio-vascular symptoms, exhaustion, depressive moodiness, heavy limbs, irritability, and difficulty concentrating and sleeping.

For alleviation, sufferers should avoid strenuous activities and outdoor exercise. Light activities, on the other hand, may help the body assimilate. Heavy or convenient meals should be replaced by lighter fresh foods, vegetable and fruit, and the intake of sufficient, non-alcoholic fluids to keep hydrated is of paramount importance.

Hydro-therapy, such as Kneippism, alternating cold/warm water baths, showers, or cold water wading are considered as potentially helpful.

Herbal teas can help alleviate the symptoms of meteoropathy. Two to three cups of tea per day, hot or cold, of the following herbs can aid recuperation. One teaspoon of tea should be left to steep for 5 minutes in 250ml of hot water.

* In order to reduce nervous headaches and irritability, Lavender tea can be useful. It also relieves of exhaustion and insomnia, and has the potential to reduce high blood pressure.

* Hawthorn in the form of tea can reduce nervous palpitation, soothe the nervous system, and improve the circulation of the blood through the heart. It alleviates the sensation of pressure or tension in the chest.

* Lemon balm tea may be used to sooth, calm and reduce stress. It is known to alleviate of dizziness, migraine, and nervous irritability.

* Chamomile tea reduces nervousness, irritability and tension.

Schüssler salts may help invigorate the body, during and ahead of the season, and may make you more resistant to climatic variations.

Recommended is one 1 tablet daily of each of the following Schüssler salts, preferably in the morning:

* Calcium phosphoricum: Builds resistance and strength to atmospheric tension and the associated ups and downs.

* Ferrum phosphoricum: Is indicated where fatigue, exhaustion and lack of the ability to concentrate are prevalent.

* Kalium phosphoricum: Is the Schüssler salt for cardio-vascular symptoms, moodiness and irritability.

* Magnesium phosphoricum: This is the neuro and muscular salt. It acts on the heavy limbs and the common restlessness, and insomnia.

Similarly, the Bach flower ‘Rescue- remedy’ can help reduce symptoms. Rescue remedy has been found to calm the organism. This can be taken as and when needed, in one or several repeated doses. In the acute state 2 drops of this remedy can be added to a glass of water, from which a sip of water can be taken until symptoms subside.

NOTICE OF CAUTION: A qualified practitioner should be able to provide a more specific treatment for the individual patient. A medical doctor should be consulted if symptoms are severe, worsen or do not subside.

Homeopathy for Anorexia nervosa

What is Anorexia nervosa?

It is an eating disorder which compels sufferers to restrict their intake of nutrition extremely. It is rated a psychological disorder. Sufferers frequently have a distorted body image and aim to keep their body weight as low as possible. They seek to reduce their caloric intake by minimizing their food consumption, they may exercise compulsively and excessively, or do both in order to reduce their weight. They may even resort to the induction of vomiting and the use of laxatives to purge their body of food they ingested.

Sufferers fear to gain weight. Their ‘self-perceived’ weight lets them belief that they are overweight albeit in fact being under-weight. This disorder is not about calories or food, it is usually an expression of an underlying complex emotional incongruity whereby the individual equates being slim with feelings of self-worth. For some individuals this form of ‘self-starvation’ may also serves the purpose of controlling an aspect of life that to the sufferer appears out of control.

While the disorder commonly affects, in particular, children during their adolescence, it may also affect older men and women.

Anorexia is not easily noticed, as individuals are not necessarily emaciated. They do however loose a lot of weight in a rather short period of time. Hence, a corpulent individual losing weight rapidly, but not the point of having a dangerously low body weight in comparison to his or her height, may too be a sufferer of Anorexia nervosa, as is the underweight and emaciated person.

What are the causes of Anorexia nervosa?

There are various potential factors that possibly predispose an individual to fall prone to this eating disorder. Some persons appear to be genetically preprogrammed, others develop the distinct personality traits that lead to this disorder, but increasingly environmental factors make certain persons become victims of Anorexia nervosa.

It is presently the culture in the media that propagandises an abnormally distorted body image. The idealised and idolized stereotype being continually promoted in the fashion and media industry praises the body image of the thin, thinner, and thinnest as highly desirable. The credo of ‘thin equals sexy’ instigates peer-pressure that subjects individuals to ever higher weight-loss extremes, sadly exposing them to ever greater harmful effects to their health. Another cause of Anorexia nervosa is the exposure to traumatic events or abuse, whereby victims aim to find control of shame, guilt and other emotional feelings by committing to the ‘self-starvation’ of Anorexia nervosa.

What are signs and symptoms of Anorexia nervosa?

Aside of noticeably losing weight, someone who suffers of Anorexia nervosa changes their habits and behaviours. Sufferers commonly focus extremely on aspects surrounding, food, eating, diet and calories to the point of obsession, and develop rituals surrounding their food intake. Not only does portion size become smaller, they also may create excuses to not participate at meals at all, may cut their food into tiny little pieces, may begin eating extremely slowly, may express their preference to eating alone, or may even hide food that is given to them such that no one notices that they did not eat it. They may lie about having eaten, when they haven’t. Their food preferences may change drastically and suddenly, and they may develop rigid ideas, anxiety and perfectionism surrounding food and eating.

A sufferers health may, as a consequence, to this eating disorder deteriorate. Thinner hair as well as an increased loss of hair, feeling cold even in warm weather, lacking energy, constantly being tired, and insomnia are common. Not only on account of feeling cold, the sufferers may resort to wearing multiple layers of clothing in order to hide their reducing weights. Dizzy spells, faintness and depression are frequently associated complaints, and in men, a reduced libido is not an unusual symptom of Anorexia nervosa, while in girls and women, amenorrhoea, the absence of menstruation, is a common sign. Withdrawing from their social circles, friends and family, and retreating into their own realm, becoming increasingly isolated and secretive are behaviours that may begin to show.

The body, maltreated by the ‘self-starvation’ of the sufferer may show signs of serious health disorders that require medical treatment. As the body is denied nutrients that are essential for it to function properly, more serious health issues can develop. The individual may damage the main body systems. The hormonal equilibrium may fall out of balance, the neural system may become disordered, the gastrointestinal system may fail to function correctly and even the cardiovascular system may become cease to work normally. If the Anorexia is long standing, the physical damages can be very serious and possibly are not reversible.

Homeopathy for Anorexia nervosa?

The homeopathic Materia Medica have numerous remedies at the disposal for the experienced homeopath, to offer help to the sufferer of this eating disorder. The prime aim though is the removal of the underlying issues, whether emotional, environmental or other.

Some remedies matching the symptom complex of Anorexia nervosa are:

Alfalfa – Appetite is reduced, but also increased to peak in bulimia. Eats often, cannot wait for regular meal; just nibbles on food, craves sweets.

Antimonium crudum – Disgust for food, thinking of food or smelling it. Eats ravenously, too much. Feels full with nausea that makes him want to vomit, but the nausea is not relieved by vomiting. Grumpy individual.

Arsenicum Album – Nausea from seeing or smelling food. Burning in stomach even from little food. Violent vomiting that does not relieve the nausea. Great thirst in little sips. Anxious and restless individuals.

Bryonia – Great hunger with loss of taste. Vomiting directly after eating of mostly fluid and bile. Warm drinks induce the vomiting. There is faintness and nausea when getting up.

Ignatia – Great aversion to a normal diet, but a craving for things that are indigestible or acidic. Nausea and vomiting of fluids. There is a feeling of emptiness about the stomach. Depressed individuals, on account of grief or worry. There is much sighing, heavy breathing and yawning.

Ipecacuanha – Violent nausea, not relived by vomiting. Exhaustion, with the sensation of weakness. Thick coating on the tongue. Pallor. Irritability. Grumpy and dissatisfied individuals.

Lycopodium – There is excessive hunger with weakness of digestion, and bulimia with bloating. Eating little makes full. Sinking sensation in stomach. Leanness, particularly of upper body. Irritability, cannot stand contradiction.

Mica – Disgust of life, eating is useless, ‘only keeps the self alive, but there are no interests or friends in life, so why extend life’. Desperate melancholy. Lack of life energy. Sensitive to cold. Irritability.

Pulsatilla – There is nausea and an intolerance to greasy foods. Digestion is slow. The individuals mood is characterized by resignation, but also, moodiness, sadness, and taciturnity.

Sepia – Nausea at the sight and smell of food. There is a disposition to vomit after eating and a burning sensation at the pit of the stomach. Disgust of fat. Skinniness with weakness. Sadness paired with indifference towards everything. Despondence and irritability. Seeks solitude.

References:

Boericke, W. (2004) Pocket manual of homeopathic Materia Medica and repertory New Delhi: B.Jain publishers Ltd.

EATING DISORDER HOPE (2019) Anorexia Nervosa: Causes, Symptoms, Signs & Treatment Help, Available at: https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/information/anorexia(Accessed: May 2019).


Mayo Clinic (2019) Anorexia Nervosa, Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anorexia-nervosa/symptoms-causes/syc-20353591(Accessed: May 2019).


NEDA (2018) HEALTH CONSEQUENCES, Available at: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/health-consequences(Accessed: May 2019).


NHS (2018) Overview – Anorexia nervosa, Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/anorexia/(Accessed: May 2019).


The National Eating Disorders Collaboration (n.d.) Anorexia nervosa, Available at: https://www.nedc.com.au/eating-disorders/eating-disorders-explained/types/anorexia-nervosa/(Accessed: May 2019).

Voisin, H. (2018) Materia Medica für den homöopatischen Praktiker, 1 edn., Kandern: Naranaya Verlag.

Beating the stammer with a little help from Homeopathy

Stuttering is a disorder of speech fluency. Also known as stammering it is a disruption of the natural flow of speech characterized by a struggle to vocalize a word, pronounce a syllable or start a sentence.

This disorder may be more pronounced where an individual is required to speak in public, where anxiety or stage-fright befall the speaker. Interestingly, some individuals only stutter in such situations and not so for example when they are singing, or when they are in a less public environment, amongst friends only.

Pressure, excitement, being hurried or trauma may lead to stuttering and may in fact worsens the stammer. Stuttering is not commonly a sign of little confidence, but confidence may decline due to stammering.

The conventional medical sphere treats stammering with speech therapy, but to date there is no real cure for stammering. A homeopathic treatment, individualized and holistic in approach, not only focuses on the art of speech or the vocal muscles, but also investigates the root cause. Questions like, when does a person start to stutter, what ameliorates the stammering and how does the individual feel and react to his or her stammering, play a role in identifying why a person stutters in certain situations.

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While the individualized appraisal is necessary to identify the best matching remedy for a patient, below is a list of the most common remedies for the treatment of stuttering:

– One of the first remedies to think of for stammering is Mercurius solubilis. The individual wants to utter too many words at once, and gets somewhat stuck. The rapid speech flow causes increased salivation. There is agitation because a hurriedness is anticipated. Words cannot be brought out fast enough for the patient. The supposed hesitancy causes stammering. The individual easily feels embarrassed, is easily offended, shy and as a consequence loses confidence.

– Causticum is a stutter remedy where the individual does so when he is excited, anxious, nervous, emotionally agitated. The stammering improves as he calms down. This stuttering is frequently accompanied by hoarseness, even dry cough. The patient has the urge to keep ‘clearing his or her throat’. There may be paralysis of the vocal chords.

– A remedy for stammering where speech is rapid and interrupted, which likely is caused by a form of intoxication is Belladonna. Speech is indistinct, there may be impaired clarity of thought, confusion, weakened memory. The individual speaks unintelligibly and switches uncoordinated between topics within a dialogue.

– A very important remedy for stuttering is Stramonium. Fright can be considered a cause of this form of stammering. It is difficult for this patient to start a word or sentence. When a word then gets articulated it appears to be ‘spat out’. This is a harsh and violent uttering of words, and is accompanied by extensive straining to bring out the phrase or word. There are repeated efforts and attempts and this exertion shows in facial grimaces or tics. The eyes appear to protrude from their sockets. The stammering is choppy. He or she becomes angry because the words cannot come out.

– Nux vomica mixes up words as they want to come out all at once. This individual is irritable, frustrated or cranky. He is overworked, overtired or has overindulged and as a consequence begins to stutter. In his irritability this patients speaks too fast.

– Where fright or shock can be identified as the cause of stammering, the first remedy that comes to mind is Aconite. This stuttering is of sudden onset. The individual is speechless from fright.

– Cuprum metallicum may be indicated where onset of stuttering is concomitant with muscular cramping, spasms, colic or hiccough. It is cumbersome for the patient to utter words.

– Mistakes in speech, using wrong syllables,as potentially seen in Alzheimers disease, respond well to Selenium.

– Where stuttering is caused by emotional suppression, words are ‘swallowed’. This is indicative of Staphisagria.

 

***As previously pointed out there are other remedies effective in treating stuttering. Individualized homeopathic case-taking can identify these.***

 

 

References:

AltMD (2015) Homeopathy for stuttering AltMD Available at: http://www.altmd.com/Articles/Homeopathy-for-Stuttering . [15 June 2015].

Yurukova (2011-2012) Homeopathy for children – how to help a stuttering child Homeopathy- the future of medicine. Available at: http://www.homeopathytoday.net/spip.php?article75. [15 June 2015].

Reichenberg-Ullman, J. (n.d.) Homeopathy: Homeopathic treatment of stuttering healthy.net. Availabe at: http://www.healthy.net/Health/Article/Homeopathic_Treatment_of_Stuttering/656/3 . [15 June 2015].

Lilha, P. (n.d.) Sta-a-a-a-a-a-a-ammering or Stuttering… HomeoEXPRESSION. Available at: http://homeocare.blogspot.pt/2006/06/sta-a-a-ammering-or-stuttering.html . [15 June 2015].

Mittelstädt, U. (2004) Stottern Monchique: Personal notes.

Examples of some remedies for PTSD with excerpts of their symptom pictures

The symptom complex of PTSD, post-traumatic-stress disorder, exhibits a specific and individualized symptomatology. Homeopathy has a number of remedies at its disposal, with which this particular symptom complex and its individual expression can be treated. Some of the remedies that may be useful in treating PTSD are listed below.

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Absinthium: The patient needing this remedy may experience nervousness and sleeplessness, has visions and hallucinations that are frightening and terrifying. The patient may have the urge to walk, distressed by the visions of all sorts of demons. He or she does not care whether he or she lives or dies. He or she does not want to engage with others. There may be a tendency to brutality and violence. This may alternate with stupor.

Aconitum:  There is great and uncontrollable anguish, fear and anxiety; irritability, sadness and gloom. Much worry, uneasiness and fear accompanies even ordinary sickness. He or she fears there will be no recovery from illness. He or she may predict the day of his death. There is nervousness and weakness. The individual may have fear to leave the house, of being in a crowd. Complaints may come from situations of fright or fear. In states of deliria the patient needing Aconitum is unhappy, worries, raves and despairs over the fearful anticipation of his or her death. There is sadness, maliciousness, a high disposition to anger, fear and conflict. There is a sensitivity to noise, a dislike of communication, a vexation over trifles. Great irritation, nervousness, restlessness and excitement are characteristic. A fear of spectres, the dark, forebodings and a tendency to start are also prevalent, as is the disposition to run away from the locality. Aconite is a short-acting remedy for the acute states.

Agaricus: This remedy is characterized by great changeability, irritability, and depression. There is a state of delirium with confusion of the mind. The individual wishes not to engage in communication with others.An indisposition to mental or other labour. There may be timid or violent mania with persistent delirium in which he or she recognizes no one and throws objects around. The individual is morose and stubborn.

Anacardium: This remedy has fixed ideas and hallucinations. He or she is easily offended; contradiction makes him or her furious. The individual expresses anxiety over somebody following him or her when moving about. There is deep melancholy and hypochondriasis. There is depression, sadness and despair over health. The patient is suspicious and distrusting. He or she can be malicious with an absence of moral restraint. Absent mindedness, dullness and sluggishness of mind may be prevalent. He or she may be hearing voices and may have hallucinations. There is anxiety, despair over the future, even fear of nearing death.

Anhalonium: In this remedy there is distrust and resentment. The individual is confused, and delusional.  There may be a depersonalisation taking place within the patient. He or she may be dissociated from his or her nearest environment. Likewise there may be over-identification with that environment. The feeling for time and reality is lost.

Ambra grisea: Ambra dreads the company of people and wants to be alone. He or she is shy in the presence of others. The individual can despair over life to the extent that he or she loathes life. He or she is restless, excitable and loquacious.  Concentration is difficult for this individual. There may be confusion of thoughts. He or she is ‘forced’ to dwell on disagreeable things. These things can be fantastic hallucinations images, grimaces, fancies, visions, or imaginations. They are annoying to him or her and keep the patient from sleeping. The company of others is experienced as disturbing. There is the feeling of embarrassment, with nervous excitement, flushing, and trembling. The individual imagines that he or she is losing his or her mind which causes melancholy, great sadness and despair to the extent that the patient desires to die. He or she considers life unworthy of living. Ambra is the distinctive picture of an individual who used to be a vital, vigorous and strong person, and since the causative experiences is a broken, nervous, quivering, trembling wreckage.

Arsenicum album: A remedy that is indicated for great anguish accompanied by restlessness. There is fear is of death, of being left alone. The fear is also accompanied by cold sweat. The individual takes no medicines as he or she thinks these are useless. He or she may have olfactory and auditory hallucinations, may be delusional with a tendency to mania and delirium. He or she is sensitive to confusion and disorder. These make him or her anxious, prostrated, fearful and restless. The restlessness keeps the person in movement. He or she does not stay still. As the individual may be of selfish character, lacking courage, being miserly may incline him or her to be malicious or suicidal. This individual may be extremely sad, melancholic, and such a state may make him or her weary of life, loathing it, wanting to die, and this character may actually commit suicide.

Aurum metallicum: The patient needing Aurum exhibits feelings of self-condemnation, utter worthlessness, deep despondency, and a deep disgust for life. These make him develop a tendency to want to commit suicide. He or she truly loathes life, is weary of it even desires to die. This is a deep depression, a profound melancholy that robs the individual of all that is joyous in his or her environment. He or she fears death. He is grumpy, broody, and extremely sensitive to noise and commotion around him or her. He or she cannot handle contradiction, is quarrelsome. He is a very dutiful character and sees criticism as consequence of a sin, a neglect he or she has committed. Therefore he or she thinks him or herself as unworthy of salvation. He or she is a pessimist, expects things to go wrong, and sees only the negative, never the positive. The future is negative; there is only trouble, turmoil ahead. This makes him or her irritable, worried, and easily angered.

Gelsemium: This is a remedy for the ill effects coming from the exposure to fear, fright, disruptive news or other emotional excitement. There is languor, dullness, apathy, lethargy, deliria. He or she wants to be alone, quiet; is irritable, sensitive, depressed. The individual cannot concentrate; the mind feels empty, dull. There is a strong tendency to suicide. This individual has the urge to throw him or herself out of a window or from a height.

Kalium bromatum: In this remedy there is a deep delusion of being morally deficient and of conspiracies building against him or her, feels singled out. Fears of getting poisoned, has frightful nightmares, horrible illusions, is depressed and melancholic.

Natrium muriaticum: In this remedy ailments are produced by mental disposition; anger, grief, fear and fright. The individual is irritable, tearful, sad, and even hysterical. He or she can get into a rage about trifles, and can be tragically moved about little unimportant things; can be inappropriately joyful. There is anxiety and anguish concerning the future. The individual prefers solitude to company, is unable to conduct regular intellectual work, is indifferent to his or her surroundings. Depression and melancholy induce recollection of unpleasant incidences. There are gloomy forebodings to him or her. Patients become tearful, yet attempts of consolation worsen the state. They fly into a rage easily and hold a grudge against people that have previously wronged them. There is weakness of memory, forgetfulness, and patients are tired of life.

Opium: Opium has frightful visions with fear, anxiety and uneasiness. The individual starts easily and is easily excitable. There is inquietude, irritability, and anxiety. There may be alternating phases with pleasant reveries. The individual may express symptoms of stupidity and imbecility. In delirium these individuals do not recognize their surroundings, cannot judge what goes on around them. Morphium (derivative of Opium): This remedy is one for states of shock that have been caused by experiences of terror. He or she is as in a dream-like state. Yet they may be irritable. There is a deep depression and the individual may be hysterical.

Nitricum acidum: This is a headstrong person, who can be hateful and vindictive. He or she may be indifferent to all. There is a sense of hopelessness and despair over his or her health. He or she fears death, yet is tired of life, and takes no joy in anything. He or she is obstinate, wishes not to be consoled; is depressed, sad. Great melancholy and fits of anguish are prominent. Can become enraged about trifles, curses, is obstinate and resentful. He or she is easily startled and frightened, sensitive to noise, touch and pain; weeps easily. This individual becomes angry over his or her own mistakes. He or she does not want to engage in communication with his or her surroundings. This person may have a great weakness of memory and intellectual capability and may be unfit to conduct work.

Stramonium: This individual can be deluded about who he is. He or she cannot be alone or in the dark. He or she needs company in an illuminated environment. There is rage, frenzy, fury, uproar, violence, and tumultuousness. He or she curses, is lewd and abusive in his or her language. There is fear and anxiety. Joy and sadness can alternate quickly. There are hallucination and delusion that the patient considers true and cannot release him or herself from. The sadness and melancholy of this remedy can be tearful and with great anguish. He or she is inconsolable, and trifles irritate much. The individual is obstinate, choleric, self-willed. He or she, in phases of fury, may be inclined to hit, bite and even kill. This is a mania caused by shock. The individual may be indifferent to matters at one time; feeling incapacitated at another, and may have the desire to run from it all.

*** This record serves as an illustration of what remedies are in use in the treatment of PTSD. The list is NOT exhaustive. None of the remedies should be used for self-prescribing. Please see a homeopath to identify the best matching prescription for you! Homeopaths have been trained to identify subtle differences in symptoms and remedy pictures and these subtle differences are important to identify the best possible remedy for a patient.***

References:

Abc Homeopathy (2017) Homeopathic Remedies, Available at: https://abchomeopathy.com (Accessed: 24th September 2017).

Boericke, W. (1999) Homeopathic Materia Medica. Homeoint [Online]. Available at: http://www.homeoint.org (Accessed: 24th September 2017).

Clarke, J.H. (2000) A dictionary of practical Materia Medica. Homeoint [Online]. Available at: http://www.homeoint.org (Accessed: 24th September 2017).

Cowperthwaite, A.C. (2003) A textbook of Materia Medica. Homeoint [Online]. Available at: http://www.homeoint.org (Accessed: 24th September 2017).

Guernsey, H.N. (2000) Keynotes to the Materia Medica. Homeoint [Online]. Available at: http://www.homeoint.org (Accessed: 24th September 2017).

Hpathy (2017) Materia Medica, Available at: https://hpathy.com (Accessed: 24th September 2017).

Kent, J.T. (2000) Lectures on homeopathic Materia Medica. Homeoint [Online]. Available at: http://www.homeoint.org (Accessed: 24th September 2017).

National Center for Homeopathy (2017) Materia Medica & Repertory Database, Available at: http://www.homeopathycenter.org (Accessed: 24th September 2017).