British Homeopathic Association

a"ain until 4prin" 998. Eenny and her husband are deli"hted with Cerys; continued "ood health and all three of them are loo#in" forward to the birth of a new baby soon. )r /eni 0orden *1 Ch1 *'CG" *&om was an N! G" in a group practice in Christchurch+ 1ournemouth for ten years before leaving to e#pand her medical homeopathic practice in &ebruary 2334, !he also practises at the Centre for the !tudy of Complementary *edicine in !outhampton and still does G" locums to %eep her s%ills as a conventional doctor up to date,

5oo much or too little6 Keith Souter  e#plains the enigma of the thyroid gland and its problems he thyroid "land is one of the most important "lands in the body with a far-reachin" influence. $t is one of the endocrine! hormone-producin"! or"ans and it basically controls the rate at which the body;s various or"ans and systems function. $t has an effect on immunity! ener"y levels! circulation! su"ar re"ulation and is the overall controller of "rowth and development! and of metabolism throu"hout the body. /ore than that! however! it has an important part to pla y in mood. A shield he name thyroid comes from the *ree# thyreo-eides! the name from the Ancient *ree# 1door-shaped2 battle shield! which had a notch for the chin! from thyra! meanin" door. he thyroid cartila"e is such a shape and forms the Adam;s apple prominence on the front of the nec#. he thyroid "land is a butterfly-shaped "land! the two lobes of which lie a"ainst the lower half of the thyroid cartila"e. he two lobes are united by an isthmus of tissue. :ssentially! the thyroid "land ma#es the th yroid hormones! thyro%ine and triiodothyronine &respectively referred to as  and 8' and another called calcitonin! which has an effect on calcium metabolism.
sensitivity! s#in dryness! fluid retention! constipation! loss of libido! an%iety and depression. $n addition! it may cause brittle nails! lustreless hair  and diminished immunity. he conventional treatment consists of ta#in" 5evothyro%ine! a replacement hormone! for life. &Here thin# bac# to my lar"e! lan"uid tadpole deprived of thyro%ine.' here are actually several causes of both h yperthyroidism and hypothyroidism! but they are beyond the scope of this article. What is important is understandin" this concept of too much or too little. Goitre  A "oitre is an enlar"ement of the thyroid "land. his can be the result of several factors! includin" insufficient iodine in the diet! hi"h consumption of certain foods that have a neutralisin" effect on iodine! such as cabba"e! broccoli and cauliflower! and various dru"s! such as 5ithium. A "oitre can occur in both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. 5hyroglossal cysts and thyroid nodules $n embryonic life the thyroid "land mi"rates downwards from the pharyn% to its position below the Adam;s apple. 4ometimes a cyst will develop alon" the th yro"lossal tract. Usually this presents as a swellin" above the th yroid in the midline of the nec#. hey should always be medically investi"ated. hyroid nodules are lumps that develop within the thyroid itself. Althou"h ? per cent are ,uite beni"n! as with thyro"lossal cysts! it is important that they be investi"ated medically. 5he thyroid enigma and homeopathy he thyroid "land is a bit of an eni"ma. Althou"h the te%tboo# descriptions are ,uite clear! it is not unusual to see someone who loo#s to have an over-active thyroid yet who! on testin"! is found to be hypothyroid and vice versa. $n addition! one often sees someone who has been dia"nosed as bein" under-active and who has been prescribed ever-increasin" doses of 5evothyro%ine! yet derives no symptomatic benefit. hey may have been told that the thyroid is functionin" in the normal ran"e! yet they still have symptoms of fati"ue! hi"h cholesterol and are still clearly out of balance. he aim of homeopathic treatment is to stimulate the body;s homeostatic or inner self-balancin" mechanisms. $n order to do this the individual ideally needs to be "iven the simillimum! the ri"ht remedy for them at that moment in time. heoretically! that means that the ri"ht remedy could be one out of several thousand. $n practice! however! we find that there is a mana"eable number of remedies that have a propensity to help the thyroid and the ones mentioned have all been found of value in my practice. $nterestin"ly! the same remedies can sometimes be indicated in situations of both over-activity and under-activity. $t is the individual that is bein" treated! rather than the condition. 5et me describe Eac,ueline;s case! because $ thin# it illustrates the eni"ma of the thyroid! especially upon treatment. his woman is  years old. 4he consulted me after a two-year history of ill health! which had started with rapid wei"ht loss and irritability. 4he had been dia"nosed with thyroto%icosis and had treatment with the anti- thyroid dru" CarbimaFole. his and other dru"s had failed and she then had thyroid sur"ery! with initial improvement! which was then f ollowed by wei"ht "ain! loss of ener"y and the subse,uent dia"nosis of hypothyroidism. hen followed a period of slowly escalatin" dosa"e of thyro%ine! but without any mar#ed improvement. By the time she came to see me she was two stones overwei"ht! irritable! sub0ect to numerous aller"ies and with a mar#ed suspiciousness borderin" on the paranoid. 4he felt that she would never "et well a"ain. his emotional state! especially the irritability! "loom and the suspiciousness hi"hly su""ested that she needed the remedy hyroidinum. his she was "iven at monthly intervals! with immediate improvement in her emotional state. 4he became motivated to lose her e%cess wei"ht and was able to do so. /ost importantly! she was "radually able to reduce her 5evothyro%ine dosa"e to a minimal level! upon which she is still maintained. .#ophthalmos he prominent! bul"in" eyes that $ mentioned above ma#es me thin# of two e%cellent remedies. he first is Conium maculatum which is very useful when the individual feels flat and depressed! and when they develop a very hard! smooth "oitre. Bein" very superstitious is characteristic. he other one i s 5ycopus vir"inicus. he characteristic here relates to the heart! with fre,uent palpitations and shortness of breath. General over-activity 7errum iodatum is a remedy that is useful in the parado%ical situation where an overwei"ht person is afflicted with hyperthyroidism. hey can be peevish! sensitive to noise! and sub0ect to $rritable Bowel 4yndrome &$B4' or colitis. $odum is perhaps indicated in the classic hyperthyroid case. Here the individual is ravenously hun"ry! yet finds that wei"ht 0ust drops off them. hey are incredibly hurried and restless. Gery often they will admit to developin" little compulsions! or even have developed full blown obsessive compulsive disorder &)C3'. Goitre  As mentioned earlier! "oitres can occur in both over- and under-activity. 4pon"ia tosta is a useful remedy for someone with a "oitre! "enerally with an overactive thyroid and a bac#"round picture of tic#lin" cou"hs! a tendency to suffocative cou"h at ni"ht &as if havin" to suc# air throu"h a spon"e' or asthma. hey may feel that their cou"h or difficulty breathin" stems from their "oitre. Calcarea carbonica is very useful in cuddly! dou"hy people with "oitres. hey feel easily overwhelmed by life! have multiple fears and crave all sorts of indi"estible food. hey can be very constipated! yet be unconcerned about i t. heir "oitre tends to be associated with under-activity. Bromum is useful in people with respiratory problems! who present with roc# hard "oitres and who lon" to be by the seaside! their favourite place. Bein" overheated ma#es them feel awful. heir thyroid can be either over-active or under-active.

General under-activity 7ucus vesiculosus &sea #elp' is a classic remedy for "eneralised under-activity in overwei"ht individuals. hey tend to be very constipated and sub0ect to headaches 1as if an iron rin" is ti"ht about the head2. hey may have both a "oitre and e%hibit e%ophthalmos. *raphites is useful for overwei"ht people with crac#ed! scaly s#in troubles. hey tend to have under-active thyroids and be weepy! sensitive and ,uite an%ious.
!tress Conventional medicine has little to offer+ often relying on sedatives or tran9uillisers but homeopathy+ writesJohn Hughes!ames+ can be very effective /edically! the mental or emotional aspects of stress are e%ceedin"ly important. Unhappiness! shoc#! illness! fear and much else can cause stress! which in turn can ma#e people vulnerable to so many different illnesses both mental and physical. 4tress and an%iety "o hand in handI every illness has a de"ree of an%iety. :ven a predominantly physical illness li#e a sore throat can cause some stress. Certain illnesses have a very lar"e stress componentI particularly illnesses li#e depression! an%iety states and panic attac#s.  A person;s tolerance of stress varies enormously = some people thrive on itI hi"h-powered businessmen! for instance! who constantly have to ma#e important decisions. )thers buc#le under ,uite small stresses and this may lead to illness. 5ypes of stress 4tress can be divided into four types. 7irstly! there is everyday beni"n stress! the mild stress that stimulates us to "et on with thin"s and which stops us from becomin" 1cabba"es2. 7or instance! on a cold winter;s mornin" it mi"ht be very temptin" to stay in bed but the stress of #nowin" that thin"s have "ot to be done = 0obs! housewor#! paperwor# = ma#es us "et up.
dan"erous. ow can homeopathy help6 o start with! the homeopathic en,uiry is a very profound one and very often durin" a consultation various factors come to li"ht! which may be creatin" some de"ree of an%iety or stress in the patient;s life. A discussion as to how they may be overcome! removed or miti"ated! can often be very helpful. 3iscussion itself can be e%tremely therapeutic. $n many cases the patient is an%ious or worried because nobody has ta#en time to tal# to them. he homeopathic physician spends a lot of time with patients. $t is ho wever very important that the practitioner should have a sound #nowled"e of conventional medical dia"nosis because durin" the discussion si"ns and symptoms of disease which need conventional &sometimes ur"ent' treatment may emer"e and a ,ualified doctor with a #nowled"e of di a"nosis #nows when to refer a patient ur"ently to the appropriate specialist and is able to do so. Havin" carefully assessed the patient! ta#in" into account not only his illness and how he is reactin" to it! but his whole ma#e-up! the homeopathic physician then tries to wor# out the patient;s constitutional remedy. $f he succeeds in selectin" the ri"ht remedy! the patient;s wellbein"! resistance! resilience! "eneral health and ability to cope are enhanced and many stress symptoms can be helped. here are a number of polychrests &medicines of many uses' often prescribed constitutionally! which are particularly appropriate for different sorts of worry and stress. he followin" $ have used to "ood effect on many occasions6 5ycopodium for the patient who "reatly underestimates their abilities and anticipates every ordeal however small with pessimismI 4ilica patients are terrified of failure and Calc carbs are 0ust too wea# and e%hausted to attempt anythin"L hese medicines are only effective! of course! if they 1fit2 the patient so far as his whole constitution and ma#e up is concerned. here are! however! some homeopathic preparations! which are particularly appropriate for acute situations. Here are a few with their indications6 Aconite his is the most useful medicine in homeopathy for shoc# whatever the cause! whether physical or mental. $t can be a "reat help for the unfortunate patient who suffers from panic attac#s = a tablet or pill in a potency of 89c to be ta#en at the first si"n and if necessary repeated every ten minutes. 7gnatia his is e%cellent for bereavement! whether throu"h death or desertion. $ once had a family in "eneral practice who had the horrifyin" e%perience of havin" two cot deaths = two sisters whose babies died within forty-ei"ht hours of each other. he whole family was much helped by ta#in" $"natia 89c every two to three hours. Argentum nit  A most useful medicine for people who feel e%tremely nervous before an ordeal particularly when the nervousness is felt in the "ut and they have diarrhoea or the 1collywobbles2. $ recommend the 89c potency to be ta#en before any ordeal. Gelsemium  Another medicine that can be ta#en before ordeals! it is appropriate for the patient who freeFes either mentally or physically = whose brain seems to seiFe up under the stress of an e%amination for instance. 89c is a useful potency. Arnica )ne of the "reat stand-bys in homeopathic medicine! it is useful for bruises or falls or any sort of trauma as it promotes healin"! but it is also very useful in hi"h potency f or physical or even emotional e%haustion. 7or instance for the mother with the very fractious baby who #eeps wa#in" up in the ni"ht! perhaps due to teethin"! or the person who is e%hausted by havin" to loo# after some chronically ill relative. $f used in this way Arnica should be "iven in a potency of 9/ once a wee# onl y.

!tress "o# $e%ridge describes some of the ma:or characteristics of and commonly indicated medicines for dealing with stress How often do you hear those around you usin" the sword6 stressD 1$;m so stressedL2 1$;m stressed out.2 1$ can;t "o to wor#. $;m stressed.2 1$;ve "ot a stress headache.2 1$t;s 0ust stress.2 hese are statements you hear all the time aren;t theyD Jou;ve probably even said one or two of them yourself. But what do people actually mean when they use this word! stressD 3oes everyone mean the same thin"D

$n homeopathy! we are always interested to understand what another person is actually e%periencin". )f course! we can only understand by interpretin" what we observe from their behaviour! in addition to listenin" to them e%plain what their inner e%perience is usin" their own words. However we often use words in ,uite loose and "eneral ways! so to "rasp what someone else is really feelin" we need to as# them for e%amples! and to "et them to describe their e%perience in as much detail as possible. When we do that! we find that individuals have ,uite different interpretations of the word stress. 7or some it;s a feelin" of an%iety! a #ind of nervousness. 7or other;s! it;s primarily a #ind of a"itation. 7or yet others it;s a feelin" of not bein" able to cope. $n fact! there is a wide ran"e of  emotions and inner feelin"s associated with this word 1stress2. Biolo"ically! a stressor is anythin" which impacts on an or"anism re,uirin" it to adapt or to defend its inte"rity. $n human bein"s that impact may come from within! or from without. +hysical disease processes can alter the inner environment of the body and these alterations re,uire ad0ustments to be made. /ore commonly! probably! we attribute stress to circumstance or to some e%ternal force. &We can call this e%ternal force the 1stressor2 = the whatever it is that;s doin" the stressin".' When we come to consider these 1stressors2! a"ain we find a wide ran"e of possibilities. $t can be a #ind of harassment! a bein" hurried and pressured to meet deadlines! or to perform tas#s in particular ways which we find demandin" or challen"in". $t can be about feelin" we have too many issues andor tas#s demandin" our attention all at once. )r it can be about e%periencin" some si"nificant trauma! li#e a bereavement! a divorce! or losin" a 0ob. $n most circumstances we feel stressed when dealin" with chan"e. However! clearly everyone will e%perience similar situations differently! some feelin" unruffled. :ven those who are e%periencin" a situation as stressful will have different thou"hts and different sensations from each other.  As always! the homeopathic approach reco"nises this and therefore there is no sin"le remedy for stress! or even small handful of remedies for stress. he most appropriate remedy will be the one which best matches the individual;s e%perience and characteristics. $;d li#e to describe for you some of the leadin" characteristics of some commonly indicated remedies for those who are e%periencin" stress! partly so you can see the diversity of patterns! and partly because you mi"ht identify with one or two which could be useful for you! yourself. Anticipatory an#iety here are a number of ways to consider the specifics of stress. 7or e%ample! we can consider the pattern of the person;s symptoms in a common stressinducin" situation! such as anticipatory an%iety. A common situation in which to feel stressed is in the runup to a challen"in" tas# or event! such as an e%amination or a performance. wo of the most commonly indicated medicines here are Ar"entum nitricum and *elsemium. Both of these medicines can be useful in reducin" the effects of stress in situations where some #ind of performance is e%pected. As a *+ $ fre,uently prescribed these remedies for patients who had previously failed a drivin" test because of 1nerves2. $t was very satisfyin" to see them come bac# with their new drivin" licence in their hands after the remedy settled their nerves and let them perform at their best.  A very particular "roup of patients who came to me as#in" for one of these remedies were those who performed for a livin". /usicians who played a strin" instrument li#e a violin or viola mi"ht find that sha#y hands caused by the stress of the event could ruin their performance and!  0ust li#e those who were about to ta#e a drivin" test! ta#in" a sedative dru" li#e valium was totally out of the ,uestion. $n modern homeopathic thin#in"! remedies which are prepared from the metals we find in the row of the periodic table which contains silver seem commonly indicated for people who are involved in creative wor# such as musicians and other performers. &(i"ht in the middle of that row of the table is the metal palladium! and you;ll be well aware of the lon"standin" reputation of a theatre li#e he 5ondon +alladium where you could e%pect to see the best performers.' What about the fact that many performers say they need stress in order to perform wellD $t;s true that most "reat performers not only feel very stressed as they are about to step on the sta"e! the trac# or the pitch! but they claim it benefits themI it "ets the adrenaline flowin" and without that their performance doesn;t "o so well. his is a "ood e%ample of how stress is a comple% phenomenon. We often f eel that disturbin" or uncomfortable symptoms are 0ust bad thin"s and if we could have a life free of stress! then that would be a better life. $f we listen to what the top performers say! then we;ll realise that such a view is simplistic. 4tress has the essential value in preparin" us to meet challen"es and in optimisin" our abilities to cope with them. /edication which removed stress mi"ht seem li#e a desirable thin"! but if it impaired our ability to cope and to perform! it wouldn;t be doin" us any favours. 4edative dru"s li#e valium have this dra wbac#.
ma"ic. hey won;t enable anyone to do what they are not naturally able to do. $n that sense! they cannot enhance performance. hey are not a #ind of cheatin". he problem with stress is when it becomes overwhelmin". An amount of stress mi"ht be "ood for us. $t mi"ht stimulate us and tone us up to perform at our best! but when it becomes too much then it ma#es it hard for us to function at all.  Another common situation which calls for one of these anticipatory an%iety remedies is where the stress is so inhibitin" that it limits personal choices and freedom such as when people have a severe fear of flyin" which prevents them from actually bein" able to "et onto an aircraft and bein" able to en0oy a forei"n holiday.  Ar"entum nitricum or *elsemium or some other anticipatory an%iety remedy can enable some people to ta#e their holidays with the rest of their families! spreadin" the benefits beyond 0ust the patient who ta#es the medicine! to their family and friends who wanted to travel with them. his is especially the case where someone is literally paralysed by their fear and 0ust cannot physically climb onto the plane. his same principle applies in many phobias. hin# of someone who is unable to "et on a bus! or who is so afraid of crowds that they can;t "o into town to shops or restaurants. Whilst phobias are a more e%treme form of stress! they do show how a situation which one person finds overwhelmin"ly stressful can be problem free for another. We are all so different. Argentum nitricum he pattern of Ar"entum nitricum is predominantly focused on the bo wels and the limbs. his is a common state. he bo wel becomes noisy with loud "ur"lin" and this overactivity can reach the outside world as diarrhoea. he an%ious! stressed e%am candidate who has to #eep dashin" to the loo is a typical e%ample. But it;s not 0ust the bowels which become overactive. his poor soul becomes tremulous developin" both a fine tremor of the hands and sha#y le"s. Jou can ima"ine how difficult this is if you are a musician about to perform in a ma0or concertL hey feel flushed and overheated! crave somethin" sweet or su"ary! which can easily ma#e them feel sic#. Gelsemium his is the classic sta"e fri"ht remedy. here;s a theme of paralysis runnin" throu"h all its main features. $t;s the pattern where the main focus is not so much the bowel but more the head and the limbs. he le"s f eel heavy and sha#y! and there;s a fo""y! dull feelin" in the head. $t can feel ,uite li#e certain #inds of flu. When about to "et up on sta"e they find their le"s 0ust won;t ta#e them! or they "et onto sta"e and find that their voice has disappeared and they;re unable to tal# or sin". /ost professional performers who have these symptoms find that once they actually "et "oin"! once the y be"in to act or sin"! then the symptoms disappear and they actually perform very well. $n fact! that;s also the case with Ar"entum nitricum! where if they can "et beyond the stressful symptoms! many of these people can deliver e%cellent performances. "inpointing stressful circumstances We can also consider the focus of the person;s stress! their main issue. $n other words! e%actly what are the circumstances or issues which this person finds so stressfulD As we saw above in considerin" the anticipatory an%iety remedies! findin" the cause of a stress can also "ive clues about which remedy mi"ht help. Arsenicum album he patient who responds well to Arsenicum album! for e%ample! is usually ,uite an an%ious! nervous type of person! someone who is very fastidious and punctilious. $n fact! these are people who always arrive in plenty of time for an appointment because they absolutely cannot stand to be late. ime pressure can be a ma0or source of stress. $ remember a number of years a"o sittin" on a commuter train which #ept stoppin" between stations. $t was clearly "oin" to arrive late. $ found that $ was constantly chec#in" my watch! updatin" myself literally every few minutes about 0ust how late $ was "oin" to be. $ was becomin" increasin"ly stressed. hen $ had an insi"ht.
event. !taphysagria )ther patterns are revealed by the #ind of issues to which a person is sensitive. Unfairness! or in0ustice! is one such common issue. he 4taphysa"ria patient! for e%ample! will probably have e%perienced somethin" which they feel has been un0ust or unfair. 1$t;s 0ust not fairL2 is a common remar# they;ll ma#e. his is common in either school or at wor# where someone is bein" bullied. A remedy! of course! will not chan"e a bully;s behaviour! but if it enables the bullied person to feel stron"er and less vulnerable! then they often find that they cease to be the tar"et of the bully. A useful tool here are many! many situations which individuals can find stressful! and a myriad of ways in which people e%perience stress. he situations! the sensitivities and the particulars of the symptom patterns are always the #eys to findin" the best remedy for someone. Homeopathy is a "reat treatment for stress! because we can;t! and shouldn;t! remove stress from our lives! but when our whole bein" is wor#in" optimally then we cope well! we are resilient and confident and stress can then be a useful tool rather than a limitin"! distressin" phenomenon. A wellchosen remedy can help to achieve this "oal. 1ob ;ec%ridge *1 Ch1 &&om is an e#G" who currently wor%s as a locum Consultant in omeopathy at Glasgow omeopathic ospital, "resident of the &aculty of omeopathy from 4<<< to 233=+ he teaches homeopathy e#tensively and internationally and is the author of Homeopathy in 'rimary (are published by Churchill ;ivingstone,

!tress 1usting Dr Jeni Worden loo%s at how to stay in good mental health during these tough economic times, We live in stressful times. Hi"h unemployment! pay freeFes and short-term wor#in" are causin" serious f inancial hardship for many people. Concerns over how to pay the household bills and mort"a"e on a reduced family income often lead to an%iety! stress and sleepless ni"hts which! if untreated! can lead to serious physical and mental health problems. he economic downturn has also produced risin" stress levels amon" U;s shrin#in" wor#force as many wor#ers have found that they;ve had to ta#e on a much heavier wor#load. A recent study from 99? shows that !999 people reported wor# related stress problems that they felt were ma#in" them unwell. Already one in five visits to the *+ are for symptoms related to stress! an%iety or depressionI and with the economic future still uncertain it is feared that these fi"ures will increase. 0hat is stress6 4tress is defined by the Health and 4afety :%ecutive as 1an adverse reaction to e%cessive pressures or other demands2 and produces symptoms such as a poundin" heart or palpitations! dry mouth! headaches! "eneralised muscle and 0oint pains! l oss of appetite for food or se%! tiredness and poor concentration. he hormones responsible for ma#in" us feel so bad are released by the adrenal "lands! of which we have two! situated 0ust above the #idneys &hence their alternative name of suprarenal "lands'. Cortisol is responsible for causin" raised blood pressure! reduced effectiveness of our body;s immune system and the release of fat and su"ar into the blood stream. Adrenaline and noradrenaline are the 1fli"ht or fi"ht2 hormones! causin" our heart rate and blood pressure to rise and ma#in" us sweat more. Already it can be seen why risin" stress levels ma#es us feel the way we do. $f stress is left unchec#ed! it can cause physical problems such as a stro#e or a heart attac# due to hypertension &raised blood pressure' or mental health issues such as an%iety or depression! fre,uently with accompanyin" insomnia. &irst line of defence 4o what can be done to eliminate harmful levels of stress from our livesD he "ood news is that there are a number of ways of combatin" stress and ma#in" yourself feel better. al#in" therapies are advised by <$C: &
7urthermore! there is a whole ran"e of homeopathic medications that can be used for a wide variety of symptoms in con0unction with all the therapies mentioned above and without affectin" the effectiveness of conventional medicines. 7or stress related symptoms such as chest pain! indi"estion and heartburnacid reflu%! diFFiness! diarrhoea! sweatin"! tension! breathlessness and an%iety! feelin"s of restlessness and worries about health! $ find myself advisin" patients to try one of the most common remedies!  Arsenicum album &white arsenic'. $f ta#en in a to%ic dose! arsenic causes the symptoms mentioned above! which is why it is such a "ood homeopathic remedy for this situation. $t is especially useful if the underlyin" personality is that of a tidy person who worries about their own health and that of their family or loved ones. hey feel worse when alone and want people around them. here may be perfectionistic traits or even an element of obsessive compulsive disorder. +atients admit to wantin" to feel in control and becomin" very depressed if they feel that is no lon"er possible! for whatever reason. *enerally! Arsenicum album suits someone who feels the cold and is chilly in nature! hardly ever feelin" too warm. Heat ma#es them feel better and they often feel worse at midni"ht or in the early hours of the mornin". )ne of my female patients came to see me some years a"o as she wanted to stop ta#in" her conventional antidepressant medication but was worried about her depression returnin". 4he was a very tidy and precise sort of lady and $ felt she would do well with Arsenicum album! so $ prescribed a 89C tablet to be ta#en daily while she reduced her +roFac. 4he remained well after stoppin" the antidepressant and has done so to this day! usin" Arsenicum album very occasionally for a short while to control any recurrent symptoms. Another patient had an outbrea# of severe ecFema which had coincided with him losin" his 0ob. He was a worrier by nature and Arsenicum album wor#ed amaFin"ly to restore his s#in and mental state to full health. $f you are more of a 1hot and bothered2 type of person! bein" impulsive rather than "uarded &as described in the Arsenicum album picture' but sharin" the concern about health and havin" anticipatory an%iety &worry about forthcomin" events'! then Ar"entum nitricum &silver nitrate' may well be the answer to your stress levels. +eople who do well with Ar"entum nitricum tend to be su""estible and sympathetic! preferrin" company and becomin" an%ious when alone. hey are warm-blooded and are worse for heat! the opposite of the Arsenicum album picture. hey can suffer from palpitations and are pla"ued by di"estive problems! such as belchin" and wind. And they have a li#in" for sweets and salty foods! in contrast to people possessin" the Arsenicum album characteristics who prefer sour and fatty foods.  A personal anecdote may help to illustrate to effectiveness of the Ar"entum nitricum remedy. $ used to have a lar"e blac# tom cat who spent his life avoidin" "ettin" too hot! disli#in" the sun intensely. He was a terrible traveller! "ettin" panic#y even when placed in the car! and "oin" on a 0ourney was horrendous as he would fre,uently pass a motion. Ar"entum nitricum stopped his an%iety and meant a calm 0ourney home from a trip to Wales without any unscheduled stops or mishapsL *elancholy moods 4ometimes! $ have to prescribe medication such as antidepressants or sedatives to relieve the severity of my patients; problems and occasionally a consultant psychiatrist is needed for advice. But homeopathy can al so be used to treat this only too common form of mental illness. When it comes to depression! one of the medications $ find myself prescribin" most often is
can be ta#en in a homeopathic dose as Galeriana. As with the *elsnium $ would a"ain advise a low dose of @ or C stren"th at ni"ht. $f you are wa#in" up at 8 or  am and cannot sleep due to thou"hts of wor# or ho w to mana"e the ne%t day! then
!ports in:uries At whatever level you e#ercise+ problems can arise and homeopathy has some answers+ writes)iona Dry  +rior to studyin" homeopathy! my free time was spent as an ice hoc#ey team doctor. $ndeed! it was my ,uest for treatments of the cou"hs and colds! which could decimate our team in the winter! that led me to l oo# at homeopathy seriously as a useful tool to add to my treatment choices. oday some top athletes have used homeopathy successfully and interest amon" both athletes and the support teams that care for them! appears to be increasin". However for most people sport is recreational and the need is for simple remedies to treat the most common in0uries. $ usually recommend #eepin" four remedies in the sports ba" so that they can be easily accessed at any time = whether in the "ym! on court or on the ru"by field. &irst aid remedies (ecommended for any physical trauma! Arnica is probably the best-#nown homeopathic remedy = and for this reason it is often used inappropriately. When usin" most other remedies we loo# for a pattern of symptoms to match the illness = this shouldn;t be for"otten when usin" remedies in a 1first aid2 situation. Arnica can be used when the in0ury is in the initial sta"es and is li#ely to be superficial = sprains! #noc#s! falls or when bruisin" is easily visible! but will be more useful when some of the other features are present such as wantin" to be left alone or not able to bear someone touchin" the area. By all means use Arnica 89c every  minutes for up to two hours if it seems to be helpin"! then reassess to chec# whether another remedy i s needed. 7or bruisin" that is li#ely to be deep as in a direct blow to the ,uads in ru"by or any other contact sport then my choice would be Bellis perennis 89c rather than Arnica. With an in0ury needin" Bellis perennis there is often a feelin" of 1ti"htness2 and bruisin" may not be particularly apparent initially. $t can also be helpful for tears to the ,uads where there is a lot of bleedin" into the muscle itself. A"ain use it every  minutes for the f irst two hours then reduce the fre,uency to a dose three to four times daily! "radually tailin" off the remedy as symptoms improve. /y third choice is 5edum 89c as it is so useful in treatin" sprained an#les. 4witch to usin" 5edum! from Arnica if the an#le loo#s blac# with bruisin" and has the sensation of bein" cold! yet puttin" heat on it worsens the pain which is actually relieved by applyin" ice. 5edum is often needed for a couple of days so start ta#in" a dose every 89 minutes for up to si% doses and then reduce to three or four times daily as you improve. $t is also particularly useful for blac# eyes so if you play contact sport this is "ood to have in your ba". he last remedy is (hus to% a"ain as a 89c potency. Use it when! havin" sat down in the bar after a "ame! you start to move and f eel 1seiFed up2 which is helped by "ettin" the area movin" a"ain. :ven if you haven;t been in0ured but have simply had a hard session and feel stiff two or  three doses of (hus to% over one to two hours! alternatin" with Arnica can sometimes help. Althou"h clinical research doesn;t necessarily bac# this! from a purely practical point of view! it is worth tryin". $f you are due to play further matches that day or the ne%t use 0ust the (hus to%. *uscle cramps hese are a common problem in athletes. When it happens after a match it is painful and inconvenient! but durin" a match it can mean the difference between winnin" and losin". $f cramps are a common problem try dissolvin" a tablet of Cuprum metallicum 89c in a small bottle of water and sip it two or three times an hour durin" the match. $f you develop a cramp then this can be increased to one sip every two or three minutes until it subsides. (emember to mar# the bottle well as you should use a different bottle to drin# from if you are tryin" to #eep up your level of hydrationL 5ennis elbow Besides helpin" in first aid cases homeopathic remedies can be used in in0uries that ta#e a lon"er time to develop such as tennis elbow. his is not easily related to a specific incident but develops over wee#s or months and causes pain in the elbow! which is worse when tryin" to pic# up an ob0ect at arm;s len"th. (uta is a remedy which tends to help with such pains! however in some of my patients it has caused headaches! which limits its usefulness. $t is for this reason $ recommend a @c potency which can be ta#en daily for up to three wee#s rather than 89c. )ften this condition is accompanied by restlessness and the pain is described as a bruised feelin"! a"ain some patients have used Arnica

thin#in" that it is indicated for the bruised feelin" but (uta has a special affinity for the areas where bones and tendons meet! ma#in" it my first choice for tennis elbow. $f the pain is more li#e a tearin" feelin" and is relieved by heat then Causticum mi"ht be a better choice! usin" 89c daily for up to two wee#s. Achilles tendonitis his is another problem that tends to develop slowly. he tendon becomes painful and sometimes appears swollen or feels soft to the touch. reatment should include an assessment of both footwear and the way the lower limbs move to help eliminate causative factors. (est! "ood footwear and physiotherapy are the mainstay of treatment. Homeopathic remedies can be used alon"side conventional treatments rather than replacin" them as healin" tends to be slow and difficult to sustain. Use ali bich especially when symptoms are in one part of the tendon only rather than affectin" the whole len"th of it. $f the area affected is the lower part of the tendon where it attaches to the heel then (uta a"ain would be a reasonable choice! whereas if it is more towards the end of the tendon that attaches to the calf muscles then choose Anacardium instead. When stiffness is the main symptom rather than pain! the calves and even the an#les feelin" ti"ht especially when wal#in" then Cimicifu"ia mi"ht be needed. he remedies may need to be ta#en for three to four wee#s so a @c potency needs to be used and can be ta#en daily! provided you re-assess whether the remedy is helpin" or not in the first five days and re"ularly durin" the treatment. Also remember to stop when there is a chan"e in your symptoms. "ainful heels  A condition called plantar fasciitis causes pain! which is typically worse first thin" in the mornin" when you put your foot to the floor and eases off durin" the da y. his is due to inflammation of a thic# layer of connective tissue! which attaches to the underside of the heel. his inflammation occurs at the 0unction of the connective tissue and the heel bone and therefore (uta is helpful in doses as outlined for Achilles tendinitis. $f the pain feels more bony in ori"in! and is worse in damp weather then Aranea diadema @c ta#en daily over three to four wee#s would be my choice! particularly if the worsenin" of the symptoms in damp weather was a prominent feature = because $ find this an unusual symptom in this disease.  After some time the heel can produce a small spur of bone which in itself e%acerbates the pain. Calc phos in @c potency ta#en daily over a si%wee# period can help to settle the discomfort and in most cases a small heel raise worn in every shoe or slipper will speed recovery. Jour *+ or a physiotherapist can advise you about this. 'ecurrent in:uries $n recurrent in0uries! or those not respondin" to simple remedies! then the approach must be more constitutional rather than local. A doctor or therapist can build up a relationship with an athlete and fre,uently uses #nowled"e about the character of that athlete in choosin" a remedy. he hi"hly competitive! e%actin"! winner at all costs who also is popular in the club! en0oys a drin# and a 0o#e after the "ame &especially when he has wonL' would encoura"e me to prescribe
enou"h for those with little or no #nowled"e of homeopathy to use and is very readable. &iona )ry *11! *'CG" )ip!port*ed *&om+ who trained with both medical and non-medical homeopaths+ is a homeopathic G" in ;eighton 1u>>ard and runs the 1A-funded clinic in untingdon in partnership with )r /enny 1oyle,

!leep "roblems 1y David (urtin *11! *&om omoeopathic physician+ ;ondon and (#ford $nsomnia or sleeplessness is a common problem in the modern world6 so many people live such busy lives! rushin" from one place to the ne%t! and from one tas# to the ne%t. And we are surrounded by noise = noise from traffic! washin" machines! air conditionin"! televisions! the children;s stereo. $n cities! it is ,uite common for such noise to continue all ni"ht. 7ortunately! human bein"s are desi"ned to be adaptive! and most of us learn to f ilter out unwanted noise. However! when we are under stress these natural adaptive mechanisms don;t function so well. !ome common causes of insomnia in adults include? 3epression  An%iety or fear  :%citement +ain 4hift wor# or overwor#
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Wind down "radually in the evenin"s. 3o not watch stimulatin" television pro"rammes late in the evenin" or read stimulatin" boo#s 3o not have a television in your bedroom and do not read in bed unless you are ,uite sure that readin" actually helps you to "et to sleep

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 Avoid eatin" late in the evenin"

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 Avoid stimulatin" drin#s in the evenin" = tea and coffee

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 Avoid alcohol late in the evenin" unless you #now that it helps you to sleep

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 Alcohol often causes disturbed sleep! even thou"h it may help you to "et to sleep

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a#e 9- minutes to wind down when you "et in from wor# if at all possible $deally find a ,uiet place! lie on your bac# and then rela% each muscle in your body in turn! be"innin" with your feet! and wor#in" up to your head. hen lie ,uietly and let your mind drift. 3o this everyday

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ry to find a bedtime routine that suits you.

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+ut youn" children to bed as soon as practicable

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(outines are helpful for most children and most adults

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 Avoid sleepin" in late in the mornin"s if you are over-tired. his can disrupt sleep patterns and result in ma#in" you more tired. *o to bed earlier instead ry self-hypnosis. 5ie down in a ,uiet room and close your eyes. $ma"ine yourself in a lu%uriously comfortable place. 5et your ima"ination flood itself with all the sensations that you would li#e to e%perience6 touch! sound! colours! smells! even tastes. Choose those that are calmin" and rela%in". +ractise this and you will find that when you are in bed ready to "o to sleep you will remember those sensations 4elf-hypnosis sleep tapes can be helpful *et a "ood bed. *ood beds are e%pensive but they really ma#e a difference. /any people believe that poc#et-sprun" mattresses are the best. Jour bed should be neither too soft or too hard. A double bed should be at least 9 cm wide &ft' and preferably @ cm for two people. /ost double beds are smaller than this. (emember! you spend a third of your life in bed.

omoeopathy  As always with homoeopathy! the remedy must be chosen accordin" to the symptoms of the individual. 4ome of the remedies used may already be familiar to you. Here are some of the more commonly used remedies. $ have put them in the order in which $ most often prescribe them! startin" with the most common. Nu# vomica he patient "oes to sleep late because of a feelin" of thou"hts crowdin" in on him. He or she wa#es at 8 am and lies awa#e until daybrea#! when he falls into a dull sleep full of dreams! from which it is hard to rouse. He wa#es late! feelin" tired. He or she feels dro wsy after meals and in the earl y evenin". His dreams are full of bustle and hurry. He feels better after a short sleep! unless aroused. He has a "reat flow of ideas in bed in the evenin"! which often drive away sleep until mornin". :%periences sleeplessness and e%citement after overwor# or over-stimulation. 3reams of ,uarrels. Coffea he patient e%periences complete sleeplessness and is constantly movin" and e%cited. 4leeps until 8 am! after which he or she is only able to doFe. Wa#es with a start and feels e%cited. His sleep is disturbed by dreams. :%periences sleeplessness because of mental activityI has a flow of ideas! accompanied by nervous e%citability. his remedy is "ood for h yperactive or hypersensitive children. 1elladonna he patient has fever! dryness of the mouth! cold e%tremities and hun"er. here is pulsation of the blood-vessels! and the patient may hear this so loudly when tryin" to sleep as to be #ept awa#e by it.

He or she e%periences comatose sleep at ni"ht! with fre,uent wa#in" and convulsive movements. he patient;s sleep may be accompanied by moanin" and tossin" about. here may be nocturnal sleeplessness! sometimes with the desire to sleep and useless efforts to "o to sleep! mostly because of feelin"s of "reat an"uish or a"itation. 3reams may be described as an%ious! terrible! fri"htful and vivid. hey may be about fires! robbers and assassins! or may be meditative dreams. )n closin" the eyes in order to "o to sleep! the patient sees fri"htful visions and e%periences 0er#in" in the limbs. his remedy is often used durin" childhood fevers. Colocynthis he patient e%periences sleeplessness followin" a fit of indi"estion or colic. his remedy can be very useful in children. he patient is very wa#eful and sleepless. When asleep the patient lies on his or her bac#! with one hand under the occiput. Chamomilla +atient has nocturnal sleeplessness! with attac#s of an"uish! visions and i llusions involvin" si"ht and hearin". )n sleepin"! the patient starts with fri"ht! cries! tosses about! is tearful! tal#s! raves! "roans! snores and constantly separates the thi"hs. he patient has fantastic! lively! ,uarrelsome and ve%atious dreams! with a morose and sullen aspect. his remedy is commonly indicated in teethin" children. hey have difficulty fallin" asleep! and demand thin"s only to refuse them. hey want to be pic#ed up and carried! but this only helps for a short time. Aconite he patient has ni"htmares and an%ious dreams. He or she e%periences sleeplessness! and is restless and tosses about &use 89th potency'. he patient starts up in sleep! has lon" dreams! with feelin"s of an%iety centred on the chest. $nsomnia of the a"ed. he patient e%periences drowsiness! with an%ious thou"hts and rapid respiration. his is especially associated with fear of dyin". he patient is sleepless because of an%iety! constantly a"itated and tosses about Arsenicum he patient is disturbed! an%ious! restless! a"itated and tosses and turns. He must have his head raised by pillows. he patient has suffocatin" fits durin" sleep. He or she sleeps with the hands over the head. His dreams are full of care and fear. He is usually worse at or after midni"ht. Children are very demandin" and will cry for their parents to come and help. he patient is thirsty for sips of water. "hosphorus Used for sleeplessness in old people. he patient "oes to sleep late and awa#ens feelin" wea#. Has short naps with fre,uent wa#in". Has vivid dreams of fire or of haemorrha"e. Has lascivious dreams. Has an%ious! distressin" dreams that are fri"htful and horribleI or vivid and uneasy dreamsI for e%ample! of animals that bite! of robbers! of unfinished business of the day! bloodshed! death! ,uarrels! creepin" thin"s etc. he patient wal#s in his or her sleep. He or she is afraid of the dar# and wants company. "ulsatilla he patient feels wide awa#e in the evenin" and his or her first sleep is restless. He wa#es feelin" lan"uid and unrefreshed. He or she feels irresistible sleepiness in afternoon. He sleeps with the hands over the head. He disli#es bein" covered. /ay be chilly but li#es to have the window open. his remedy is used in the +ulsatilla child who is timid and lac#s confidence and is clin"y and weepy if upset. hese children are very impressionable and may have difficult fallin" asleep if anythin" disturbin" has happened durin" the day. hey may have ni"htmares about bein" left by parents and they li#e to be roc#ed to sleep.

!tramonium hese patients e%perience ni"ht terrors. hey suffer from a"itated sleep with vivid dreams. hey can be very fri"htened. A child clin"s to the parents. hey have fri"htful visions durin" sleep. hey lie on the bac# with open! starin" eyes. hey have a tremendous fear of the dar# or fear of violence. $f you are new to homoeopathy! it is best to stic# to the si%th potency! and to ta#e one dose every evenin" before bed. $f you are more familiar with usin" homoeopathy remedies! then you mi"ht use the 89th potency! thou"h this is best used for more acute situations. $f you need to ta#e the remedy ni"htly for some time! then the si%th potency is better. @aleriana 4leeplessness. 3isturbed sleep &patient only able to fall asleep towards mornin"' with tossin"! and an%ious and confused dreams. Can be ta#en in herbal form in capsules. Homoeopathic remedies for disturbed sleep are widely sold in health food shops and pharmacies. hey are usually combinations of two or three remedies! commonly
"erchance to dream Ri%hard Ro#inson discusses the homeopathic treatment of sleeping problems  A couple of months a"o $ saw a ? year-old woman who had been havin" sleepin" problems for  months as a result of a lot of stresses in her life! includin" business and financial worries which had eventually involved a court case with the $nland (evenue. 4he had become depressed and wanted to sleep for hours on endI she was not sleepin" at ni"ht and then felt very tired in the daytime and could happily "o

bac# to bed for several hours. 4he went to her *+ who prescribed her the sleepin" tablet! Zimovane! and when $ saw her she had been on them for si% months. hey had helped her but when she tried to come off them her sleepin" was terrible a"ainI she would "o to bed at pm and would "et to sleep ,uite easily but would wa#e up at 8.89am and lie awa#e for two hours before she could "et bac# to sleep. 4he didn;t feel too bad when she wo#e up but by one o;cloc# in the afternoon! she said that she has absolutely had it and could ,uite happily "o to sleep. 4he felt li#e this for the rest of the day and when she "ot home from wor# in the evenin"! if she sat down on the sofa she could ,uite easily "o to sleep. 4he even felt li#e this at wee#ends. Her confident! e%trovert! hi"h ener"y but impulsive nature! with li#in" a lot of stimulation and a lot "oin" on around her was very su""estive of /edorrhinum and $ prescribed three doses of this in hi"h potency. When $ saw her a"ain three wee#s later! she announced that she had 1been "reat on those tablets2. Apparently her sleepin" had returned to normal! and has been normal ever since. Havin" problems sleepin"! whether it is difficulty in "ettin" off to sleep! wa#in" up throu"h the ni"ht! or early in the mornin"! is an e%tremely common complaint these days. $f we "o to our *+ we will almost certainly be prescribed some type of minor tran,uilliser! which often can be helpful! but if used for anythin" more than a very short period of time can! as in this woman;s case! create dependence! with a resultin" rebound effect when the patient tries to stop the tablets! with their sleepin" "ettin" a lot worseI they have to be weaned off the tablets over a prolon"ed period of time. ;ifestyle changes 4imple measures to help insomnia that patients often find helpful include not drin#in" tea or coffee in the evenin"s or stoppin" tea and coffee completely and chan"in" over to one of the coffee substitutes made from cereals available from health food shops. Certain herbal teas such as lemon balm have a rela%in" effect and can be helpful. *oin" to bed on a full stomach is not conducive to a "ood ni"ht;s rest and it is always best to have the evenin" meal at least three hours before "oin" to bed. :atin" chocolate after the evenin" meal can slow di"estion by as much as twelve hours! but "oin" for a wal# after the meal instead helps di"estion! and ma#es "ettin" off to sleep easily more li#ely. 4ome people find that readin" in bed for a while before tryin" to "et to sleep helps ta#e the mind off the stresses of the day and helps them unwind and feel more rela%ed! and if a lot of mental stress throu"h the day has led to tension in the nec# and shoulders! massa"in" the achin" area can help. Constitutional remedies $f these simple measures do not help! then! as always! the constitutional remedy tends to be the most effective approach. $ saw a three yearold "irl a while bac# who had had sleepin" problems since birth! and her parents were at their wits; end = she would "o to bed at M.99pm and "o to sleep pretty ,uic#ly! but then would wa#e up at 8.99am and be hysterical! cryin" for her mother and shoutin" herself hoarse = she would be wide awa#e and would "et up and play! tal#! and "o into her parents; bed where she would moan and cry! fid"et and #ic#. his would "o on for about three hours! until she eventually went bac# off to sleep. 4he would then wa#e up and be ready to "et up at K.89am.
hourly if necessary if she was havin" trouble "ettin" off to be sleep. Her insomnia cleared up completely. While one doesn;t have to come from BraFil to benefit from +assiflora incarta! most patients appear to do very well on the less e%otic! but 0ust as effective Galeriana 89c in the same dosa"e re"ime. Ri%hard Ro#inson *11Ch 1a( )'C(G *&om has been practising homeopathy for 42 years, e wor%s at the Nature Cure Clinic in Central ;ondon+ at 1oots in *ilton eynes and in private practice in Amersham,

!leepless 1ritain A good night’s sleep is essential to staying healthy+ but it appears more and more people are having problems with sleeplessness, Health and Homeopathy + in con:unction with the natural healthcare specialists *elsons+ ta%es a loo% at different aspects of this common problem and how homeopathy may be able to provide a solution,  A new online survey has revealed that the number one cause for sleeplessness in Britain is worry. he Jou*ov survey! commissioned by natural healthcare specialists
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8 per cent find noises! such as a snorin" partner or traffic! the bi""est ni"ht-time distraction and obstacle to "ettin" to sleep.  per cent found medical problems li#e asthma and painful 0oints and muscles the main reason for sleepless ni"hts &4leeplessness is also a common side-effect of many conventional dru"s'.N  per cent thou"ht drin#in" too much caffeine was responsible for #eepin" them awa#e at ni"ht.

he survey found that a sta""erin" KK per cent of the !9M people surveyed said they e%perienced insomnia to some de"ree. When this fi"ure is applied to the British population! it reveals that up to 8@ million people in Britain could be sufferin" from a lac# of sleep. 8  A report by the /ental Health 7oundation hi"hli"hted the importance of sleep for the mental and physical health of the nation . 5ac# of sleep can lead to poor concentration and memory! lethar"y! irritability! a decrease in co-ordination s#ills and low mood! which can affect people;s wor# and social life.

 As the Jou*ov survey su""ests! insomnia and disturbed sleep patterns can occur in many forms! and each individual will have their own e%periences and their way of dealin" with it. Althou"h conventional medicine offers a number of dru"s to aid sleep! they can often leave the patient feelin" "ro""y in the mornin" and many doctors are reluctant to #eep on prescribin" sleepin"-pills over a lon" period of time. Conse,uently many people are turnin" to complementary therapies includin" homeopathy in search of a "ood ni"ht;s sleep. 3r 4ara :ames from the (oyal 5ondon Hospital of $nte"rated /edicine says6 1An increasin" number of people mention sleep problems durin" their consultations. Causes can vary from an%iety! stress and "rief to emotional and family problems. 1$n my e%perience the problem can be helped usin" homeopathy and patients appreciate the non-addictive nature of homeopathic medicines. he most fre,uently prescribed medicines for sleeplessness include $"natia! which is often used when the problem is due to "rief and family problems. Whereas
pressures and demands that come with motherhood. Chamomilla is often prescribed when people are feelin" tired but cannot sleepI whereas Cocculus is useful if you are mentally and physically e%hausted of if your sleep has been fre,uently interrupted. Coffea may be benefi cial for those sufferin" from restless sleep due to wa#in" up re"ularly durin" the ni"ht! especially when too many thou"hts are runnin" throu"h the mind. /et lag /ore people than ever are ta#in" lon"-haul brea#s to destinations such as hailand! U4A or Australia. But for many the first days of their holiday are ruined b y the effects of 0et la". Eet la" is the common name for the condition #nown medically as desynchronosis. $t is a temporary disorder that can cause a wide ran"e of symptoms includin" an%iety! headache! dehydration! fati"ue and insomnia as a result of air travel across time Fones. Eet la" occurs when your body;s usual  hour re"ime is disrupted. Jou may have trouble "ettin" to sleep! wa#e up durin" the ni"ht or early in the mornin"! find it difficult to concentrate and be irritable because of tiredness. o avoid 0et la" why not try the followin" tips6 When on lon" haul fli"hts! set your watch to the destination time to allow yourself a few e%tra hours to ad0ust.  Air conditionin" on aeroplanes can cause dehydration! especially a lon" haul fli"hts! so ma#e sure you drin# plenty of water. ry not to eat a heavy meal on the fli"ht as arrivin" at your destination hun"ry will ma#e it easier for you to "et into the new eatin" pattern. $f you feel that you need to sleep once you are at your destination! only nap for an hour or less. Any lon"er will cause your body to revert bac# to its ori"inal body cloc#. While on the fli"ht try to ta#e a wal# around the plane every few hours and perform basic stretchin" e%ercises to #eep blood circulatin" around your body. $f you have tried these tips and still find that 0et la" ta#es its toll on your holida y! Cocculus is often recommended as it;s indicated when someone is fati"ued from travellin" and feels tired due to loss of sleep. +ulsatilla can also help particularly if you can;t sleep due to racin" thou"hts. hese are 0ust a few of the homeopathic medicines that are indicated by sleeplessness. 7or those sufferin" from chronic insomnia! addressin" the underlyin" causes of their condition is crucial to findin" an appropriate cure and visitin" a homeopath could be the first step to achievin" this. N$f you are ta#in" an y medicines! includin" those obtained without a prescription! consult your doctor before ta#in" other medicines.

'eferences . Jou*ov +lc. otal sample siFe was 9M adults. 7ieldwor# was underta#en between Kth = ?th 3ecember 99. he survey was carried out online. he fi"ures have been wei"hted and are representative of all *B adults &a"ed MP'. . 7i"ure based on population of *reat Britain &adults MP' estimate at K!8?!899 in mid-99?  = http6www.statistics."ov.u#statbase+roduct.aspDvln#Q9@  R survey by Jou*ov +lc = calculation made by
!potlight on !%in he s#in is the bod y;s lar"est or"anI an avera"e person;s s#in wei"hs #"s &?lbs' and covers an area of  s,uare metres & s, feet'. hese fi"ures are not so surprisin" when we enumerate the s#in;s many functions. 4ome are fairly obvious6 protection a"ainst chemicals! radiation! microbes etcI preservin" a balanced internal environment by #eepin" us warm! preventin" us from dryin" outI and the sensation of touch in all its variety. But the s#in has less obvious functions6 subcutaneous fat is a ma0or reserve of ener"y! vitamin 3 is synthesised in the s#in when e%posed to ultra-violet li"ht. he s#in also has important social and se%ual functions6 it secretes pheromones which play an important role in se%ual attraction! while the hair and lips play a more conscious social and se%ual role. he s#in has two main parts6 the superficial epidermis whose thic#ness ran"es from 9.mm on the eyelids to mm on the soles of the feet. he epidermis contains no blood vessels! its most superficial layer is the dead! dry horny layer which is constantly shed! contributin" to the dust in our homes. he dermis lies beneath the epidermis supportin" and nourishin" it and providin" immunity and other functions. What;s more! s#in problems are common6 surveys su""est that 9-89 per cent of us have a s#in problem which deserves medical attention! but that most of us do not see doctors about them! preferrin" to treat them ourselves. 4#in problems are amon" the commonest reasons for which people! especially children! see# homeopathic treatment. )f course! as always with homeopathy! it is important to be sure that homeopathic treatment is appropriate = it is for many forms of s#in disease! but there are important e%ceptions. he most conspicuous is mali"nant melanoma. his is an a""ressive form of s#in cancer whose incidence is increasin" &althou"h fortunately it remains rare' because of "reater sun e%posure and thinnin" of the oFone layer. he warnin" si"ns are a 1mole2! which "rows! bleeds or i s irre"ular in shape or colour. $t is better to be safe than sorry! and have any such s#in lesion removed sur"ically.

.c>ema  Also #nown as dermatitis! ecFema is amon" the commonest forms of s#in disease! and it often responds well to homeopathic treatment. $t affects up to 9 per cent of schoolchildren and seven to ei"ht percent of adults. Children tend to "row out of it and the ma0ority improve "reatly by their mid-teens. $t is an inflammatory condition in which patches of s#in become red! inflamed and itchy. he affected areas may also be covered in small! fluid-filled blisters. here are a number of different forms of ecFema. he commonest form is atopic ecFema! an inborn condition which usually starts before the a"e of two! and may continue to f lare up throu"hout adolescence and adulthood. 1Atopy2 means an inherited tendency to aller"ies! includin" ecFema! asthma and hay fever. $t runs in families and is "ettin" commoner for reasons that are not entirely clear. A currently popular theory! #nown as the 1h y"iene hypothesis2 su""ests the reason is basically that #ids today are too clean &try tellin" that to the mother of an avera"e ei"ht year-old boyL'. $t is based on the observation that children who "row up on farms and the youn"er children of lar"e families are less li#ely to be atopic. he theory is that such children are more li#ely to be e%posed to certain #inds of bacteria and that this stimulates their immune systems to mature. But not all the scientific evidence a"rees on this and the 0ury is still out. Contact dermatitis is caused by contact with a substance to which an individual is sensitive! such as nic#el! rubber or various plants. $t can occur at any a"e.
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+la,ue psoriasis6 the patches appear typically on the #nees! elbows! lower bac# and scalp. Unli#e ecFema! the patches often appear on the e%tensor &outer' sides of #nees and elbows. he nails may develop small pits! or more serious deformity. *uttate psoriasis! where the patches are scattered! small and roundish! may follow a streptococcal infection! typically a severe sore throat. +ustular psoriasis! a severe but rare type affectin" mostly the palms and soles.

omeopathic treatment 7rom the point of view of prescribin" homeopathic treatment! ecFema and psoriasis can be considered to"ether. hey nicely illustrate some of the principles of homeopathy6 one of three homeopathic medicines will help in many cases! but the treatment must be individualised if it is to succeed. he three medicines are6 Arsenicum album! *raphites and 4ulphur. Homeopathy is holistic6 to treat a s#in problem! one has to loo# at the whole person! not 0ust at their s#in. raditionally we homeopaths classify the 1whole2 in three parts6 the 1locals2 &in the case of a s#in problem this means the characteristics of the s#in problem'! 1mentals2 &includin" the personality and psycholo"ical features of the person' and the 1"enerals2 &physical features of the person as a whole'. $n terms of s#in symptoms Arsenicum album and 4ulphur are ,uite similar6 intensely itchy rashes which burn after scratchin". (ashes li#ely to respond to Arsenicum tend to be in small! roundish patches and fla#ey! while those which respond to 4ulphur typically occur in lar"e! red areas! but these distinctions are often not clear-cut and it is often difficult to be sure which medicine is indicated on the basis of the 1locals2 alone. However! there are mar#ed differences in the types of people who respond to these medicines6 the typical Arsenicum patient is tidy! fastidious! rather an%ious &mentals' and feels the cold e%cessively &"enerals'. 4ulphur patients are the very opposite6 often untid y! they tend to be e%troverts who relish a "ood ar"ument &mentals'. hey are often warm-blooded &feel the heat' and particularly have hot feet &"enerals'. But havin" said that! one has to be fle%ible. *raphites cases can often be reco"nised by the character of the rash alone6 it tends to crac#! and ooFe clear or yellowish! stic#y li,uid when scratched. he rash often affects particular areas such as behind the ears or nipples! in women the ecFema may "et worse around the monthly periodI while the mentals and "enerals may not be particularly mar#ed. here are a number of other important medicines for psoriasis and ecFema6 the deep actin" 1constitutional2 &whole person' medicines include  = apart from Arsenicum album! *raphites and 4ulphur = Arsenicum iodatum! 5ycopodium and 4epia. he two Arsenicums are typically used

for "uttate psoriasis6 the pla,ues tend to be small! rounded and fla#ey. Arsenicum album may also be very helpful in pustular psoriasis.  Arsenicum iodatum has less of the constitutional features of Arsenicum album and even may be positively hot-blooded! but these patients fre,uently also have severe hayfever and other aller"ies! affectin" the eyes particularly. $n contrast to *raphites! local characteristics of s#in problems which respond to 5ycopodium and 4epia are not very specific and these medicines are prescribed mostly on the basis of the mental and "eneral features. he type of person who t ypically responds to 5ycopodium clavatum is reserved or shy! and there may be underlyin" an%iety or depression. hey fre,uently have stomach problems. )dd but characteristic features include a sweet tooth and a bad period in late afternoon! feelin" better later. $t can be useful for a ran"e of s#in problems includin" psoriasis and acne. 4epia officinalis is most often indicated for women. ypically the patient is emotionally flat! fed-up and snappy with her family and partner. 4he resents others pryin" &as she sees it' into her problems and may hide her feelin"s. )ften! as with *raphites! the problem seems to have come on followin" some event of a woman;s reproductive cycle! such as the start of a "irl;s periods! childbirth and menopause. here is usually loss of se%-drive. An odd feature is the temporary improvement from e%ercise &dancin"! wor#in" out'. A"ain it may be useful for many s#in problems includin" psoriasis and ecFema. However constitutional homeopathy is not the only #ind of homeopathy and unless one of the 1pictures2 described above really seems to fit! is perhaps best left to a practitioner. here are a number of 1small2 homeopathic medicines which wor# well prescribed on characteristic symptoms! sometimes called 1#eynotes2. hese include +etroleum &made from crude oil'. he #eynote for this medicine is the mar#ed deterioration in winter. $t is very useful for children who "et thic# crac#ed s#in of the #nuc#les in winter. /any patients helped by this medicine have told me that! althou"h they have been prescribed steroid creams! they find Gaseline 0ust as effective and use it rather than steroids. Gaseline is! of course! made from +etroleumL A favourite medicine of mine for "ardeners; contact dermatitis is (hus venenata. ypically these are #een "ardeners who "et a very itchy! blistery rash! presumably from contact with a plant! althou"h it is usually difficult to wor# out which one. he #eynote here is that the only thin" that relieves the itchin" is bathin" the hands in very hot water. Acne /ost teena"ers have some acne and it can cause "reat emotional distress at an a"e when many are very self-consciousI it is much less common in other a"e "roups. 5in#ed to andro"ens! male se% hormones! that are present in both boys and "irls! acne vul"aris! as this type is #nown! affects particularly the face but may also appear on other areas! especially the upper bac#! chest! shoulders and nec#. $t is caused by the overproduction of a natural "rease called sebum! which is secreted by "lands in the s#in. 4ebum normally drains into the hair follicles and flows out throu"h the follicle openin"s on the s#in surface! lubricatin" the s#in and #eepin" it supple. But in acne! e%cess sebum bloc#s the follicles by hardenin" into pl u"s. Bacteria multiply in the bloc#ed folli cles! causin" the surroundin" tissue to become inflamed. 5ess common forms of acne include occupational acne! which may result from e%posure to certain industrial oilsI and dru"-induced acne! often caused by steroids. (osacea is a related condition occurrin" most often in middle a"ed women. he main problem is dilatation and instability of the blood vessels. $t does not usually cause blac#- or white-heads. omeopathic treatment wo of the most commonly indicated homeopathic medicines are 4ulphur and 4ilica. And a"ain it i s illuminatin" to compare and contrast the local! mental and "eneral features. We loo#ed at the 4ulphur type before. he main local feature of acne which responds to 4ilica is that the pustules never seem to dischar"e6 they sit under the s#in for wee#s without burstin"! often formin" cysts. he 4ilica constitutional type is very different from the 4ulphur! li#e the Arsenicum type they are usually chilly and feel cold even in a warm room. hey tend to be pale and thin! with fine hair and wea#! rid"ed nails. hey will often mention that their hair has chan"ed! becomin" finer and fallin" out since they have been ill. heir hands and feet are cold yet clammy. /entally they complain of feelin" tired and washed out and yet are stubborn and 1ni""ly2 even sometimes obsessional. +ulsatilla is another medicine which may be very helpful in acne! particularly &but by no means e%clusively' in "irls when crops of spots develop in the premenstrual period. $t is prescribed mostly on constitutional "rounds = the characteristics of the person rather than the name of the disease. ypically +ulsatilla types are mild tempered or sweet-natured! and indecisive. hey are often weepy! cryin" when they tal# about their problems! but ,uic#ly cheered up by a few reassurin" words &unli#e 4epia patients who may also be weepy when tal#in" about their problems! but they resent probin" and discussion = the best thin" is to move on to another topic'. 4tran"ely! althou"h the +ulsatilla type easily feels cold! she li#es fresh air &provided she is well wrapped up' and hates stuffy atmospheres. )ther medicines which may help in acne include alium bromatumI with this medicine the sufferer complains of poor sleep! often disturbed by bad dreams. hey may be mentally slow! have difficulties with memory and thin#in" and be fid"ety. Calcarea sulphurica has lar"e yellow pustules which are slow to heal! as with 4ulphur they may be itchy. Acne spots which respond to Hepar sulph are very sensitive to touch or painful as they erupt. 5achesis is the most commonly indicated homeopathic medicine for rosacea. ypically the rash is dus#y red and worse in hot atmospheres. he onset may be associated with the menopause! but if before the menopause! it usually "ets worse before the period and eases ,uite abruptly when the bleedin" actually starts. he typical 5achesis patient is tal#ative and may be suspicious or 0ealous. An odd symptom is that they hate ti"ht clothes! especially round their nec#s = polo nec#s! scarves etc.  As usual with homeopathy! individualisation of treatment needs a s#illed practitioner. However! $ am a"ainst bein" too precious about this6 the use of a homeopathic comple% consistin" of several of the homeopathic medicines most li#ely to be i ndicated is often helpful and very unli#ely to do any harm. he most commonly used 1comple%2 for acne! well worth a try if a "ood homeopath is not available! is 4ulphur! 4ilica and

Carbo ve"etabilis! combined in a sin"le pill often #nown as 44C. )ose  As a "eneral rule! all these medicines should be started in a dose of two pills of the @c dilution! twice daily. 1A""ravations2 = a temporary flareup of the problem at the be"innin" of treatment = are ,uite common with homeopathic treatment of s#in problems. hey are "enerally considered a "ood si"n! indicatin" the treatment is provo#in" a reaction. $f you "et an a""ravation you should stop treatment until it has completely settled down! don;t be in a rush to restart. Jou may "et another a""ravation on restartin"! but normally it will be less severe and will die out alto"ether after three or four stop-start cycles. $n terms of creams and other topical applications! Calendula &mari"old' cream is often used by homeopaths for ecFema! it has a "entle soothin" action. $t is often helpful in 1weanin" off2 steroid creams! "radually substitutin" Calendula for them. "eter &isher *A *1 1Chir &'C" &&om is the Clinical )irector+ 'oyal ;ondon omoeopathic ospital+ editor of omeopathy and is omeopathic "hysician to er *a:esty 5he Bueen,

!hingles and post-herpetic neuralgia omeopathy has something to offer at every stage+ says Tom Whitmarsh !hingles 4hin"les usually presents as a painful blisterin" eruption on the s#in. $t is caused by the same herpes virus as chic#enpo%! varicella Foster.  Anyone who has had chic#enpo% can "et a bout of shin"les at some point in their lives. his! of course! means most peopleL After the initial infection! the virus lies dormant i n nerve roots near the spinal cord! #ept in chec# by a normally functionin" immune system. $f there comes a time when the immune system becomes temporarily or permanently less effective and its "uard is down! the virus can 1seiFe its chance2. $t multiplies and mi"rates out alon" the nerve and shows how much dama"e it can cause in the nerve and in the area supplied by that nerve. he s#in is the most fre,uently dama"ed tissue and sensory nerves are those most commonly involved. /otor nerves &those which are responsible for movement' can be affected too! especially in the face &causin" one-sided droopin"' and other or"ans! particularly the eye. he commonest reason for the decline in function of the immune system is the a"ein" process. /ost bouts of shin"les occur in those over @ and one estimate rec#ons that half of those over M9 years will suffer at least one attac#. )ther states of compromised immunity that can lead to shin"les include some patients with cancer &especially those on chemotherapy'! people who have had transplants! people on lon"-term immunosuppressive dru"s li#e steroids or people with H$G infection or A$34. 4hin"les is not conta"ious! but people who have not had chic#enpo% or who are in one of these ris# "roups can catch chic#enpo% from it and should avoid e%posure to open shin"les! as should pre"nant women. he most fre,uent factor that seems to be associated with reactivation of the virus i n some studies appears to be physical trauma to the affected area! but this is b y no means always the case. :motional trauma or psycholo"ical stress on top of a relatively wea#ened immune system can be enou"h to brin" on a shin"les attac#. 7or e%ample! it is common for bereavement to be soon follo wed by shin"les.  An attac# of shin"les is very often preceded by tin"lin" and numbness over the affected s#in. $n addition! two thirds of people e%perience shootin" pains as well! up to three wee#s before any si"n on the s#in. 4ome people only "et pain after the rash has appeared. he rash starts as a band or patch of raised dots on one side of the trun#! face! arms! abdomen or le"s. he rash occurs nearly always on one side of the body! hence the names 1shin"les2 &from the 5atin word for a belt or "irdle' and 1Foster2 &a belt in *ree#'. he spots enlar"e and become fluidfilled blisters! only to dry out and crust over within about two wee#s. )nce they are dry! they no lon"er contain the virus and are not i nfectious. he attac# "enerally lasts about one month. +ain is an almost invariable accompaniment of the shin"les rash! emphasisin" that althou"h the obvious si"ns are in the s#in! the actual disease process is within the nerves. he pain can be e%tremely severe as the rash reaches its hei"ht. $n
omeopathic treatment Homeopathy has somethin" to offer in shin"les at every sta"e. Before the rash has appeared! when there is 0ust some tin"lin"! if you are familiar with an attac# &and some people do "et recurrent bouts' or if it is suspected! it is well worth ta#in" some Aconite. $ favour a hi"h potency &99c! / or 9/'! but 89c fre,uently is 0ust fine. Aconite is helpful at the first sta"es of many acute illnesses to cut down their duration. )ne way of practicin" homeopathy ta#es the view that a sin"le remedy should be helpful for an individual whatever the particular illness. 7or e%ample! if you #now that &say'
!easonal affective disorder  Marysia Kratimenos discusses the reasons why some of us feel so down during the winter months 4easonal affective disorder &4A3' was first described in the ?M9s! althou"h many doctors and sufferers were aware of the condition lon" before then. $ndeed Hippocrates wrote in the fifth century BC! 14uch diseases that increase in the winter ou"ht to cease in the summer he physician must treat disease with the conviction that each of them is powerful in the body accordin" to the season which is most comfortable to it.2 $n countries where the winter months are characterised by fewer dayli"ht hours! many people develop deep depression as a conse,uence of the decreased li"ht intensity. $n 4weden! where there is si% months of total dar#ness in the more northerly parts of the country! the suicide rate

is the hi"hest in the world. 4easonal affective disorder is a form of depression that appears in autumn and may continue until /arch or April. $n the sprin" there is often a mild state of euphoria! or hypomania. $t is more common in women! and typically be"ins between the a"es of M and 89. 4ome studies su""est it is very common! with one in 9 people havin" mood disturbances in the winter months. he severity is variable. $n mild forms of the condition! there may 0ust be a desire to 1hibernate2! stay at home in the warm and avoid socialisin". $n severe forms! there may be profound depression! with its concomitants. 4ufferers may notice their sleep is disturbed! either over-sleepin" or findin" sleep difficult. here is often lethar"y and fati"ue! a lac# of motivation and enthusiasm. as#s seem onerous and there is often a lac# of concentration. An%iety may follow! especially associated with social events. )ver-eatin" is commonI the preferred foods are usually carbohydrate-rich. A "ain in wei"ht is common and this compounds the feelin"s of ne"ativity and poor self-ima"e. he libido suffers! as does the immune system. here is a "reater susceptibility to viral and bacterial infections. he depression may be so severe as to precipitate suicidal feelin"s and deliberate self-harm may result. Causes here are several theories as to the cause of 4A3! all of which relate to the effect of li"ht on the brain6 lac# of sunli"ht leads to a hi"her level of a chemical! melatonin! which slows the body down. Hibernatin" animals secrete hi"h levels of melatonin in order to sleep throu"h the winter  months. Another theory su""ests the condition is caused by a disturbance of the dopamine and serotonin l evels in a particular part of the brain! #nown as the h ypothalamus. his area controls mood and appetite = for life! for food and for se%. 4ome researchers believe that sufferers of 4A3 have lower eye sensitivity to li"ht. All three theories may be true. he eye sensitivity to li"ht will affect the hormone levels! as the eye is essentially hi"hly evolved nervous tissue.  Althou"h these theories may serve to e%plain the mechanisms at play! there is still the unanswered ,uestion as to why some individuals are more susceptible to depression than others. 4ince homeopathy loo#s at the whole person! rather than a list of their symptoms! it is uni,uel y placed to help with depressions of all types! includin" those that e%hibit periodicity. 4uch treatment must be underta#en by professional homeopaths! with e%perience in the field of emotional health issues! often in con0unction with other appropriate forms of treatment. 5i#e truth! depression is rarely pure and never simple. /any factors are involved! both hereditary and environmental. /ental and emotional problems are more common in certain families. Althou"h twins may be separated at birth and therefore brou"ht up in different circumstances! they are more li#ely to suffer from the same type of emotional health problem! thus implyin" a hereditary basis. A dysfunctional upbrin"in" further compounds the situation. 3epression does not 0ust suddenly appear out of the blue! althou"h it may seem that way. +eople often describe it as descendin" li#e a dar# cloud over them. $n reality depression has its roots in the past. $t is a reaction to unresolved emotional issues that are often partly! if not totally! for"otten or buried b y the sub-conscious mind. he events that may cause depression in later life often occurred in childhood. $n many cases these issues have to be e%plored and the past truly laid to rest before there is total healin". "oetry and myth $n #o $utumn Eohn eats describes 1seasons of mist and mellow f ruitfulness2! but to many people the approachin" winter is better paralleled by his poem )de on /elancholy. he openin" verse depicts the stron" suicidal desire that many sufferers of the condition e%perience and interestin"ly names many favourite homeopathic remedies for the treatment of depression. %o, no, go not to ðe, neither twist 'olf’s(bane &Aconite', tight(rooted, for its poisonous wine) %or suffer thy pale forehead to be kiss’d  *y nightshade &Belladonna'! ruby grape of +roserpine  he myth of +roserpine! or +ersephone! is particularly appropriate in the understandin" of seasonal affective disorder. $n *ree# mytholo"y! +ersephone was the beautiful youn" dau"hter of 3emeter! the corn "oddess and Zeus! the #in" of the "ods. 4he was devoted to her mother and spent her time tendin" to the "ardens of :arth. Her beauty and innocence enthralled the "od of the underworld! Hades! and he decided to ma#e her his wife. He abducted her. +ersephone was petrified and stood rooted to the spot as the nymphs fled for safety. 4he dropped her "irdle as Hades swept her up in his chariot. Her mother! 3emeter! was beside herself with "rief at the loss of her dau"hter. 4he scoured the world loo#in" for her! ne"lectin" her duties. As a conse,uence the crops withered. 3eprived of her attention! the eternal summer ceased. 5eaves fell off the trees and coldness and dar#ness fell. :ventually 3emeter found the "irdle and discovered Hades had abducted her dau"hter.
compounded by the myth propa"ated by commercialism that Christmas is the time for happy families. Actually Christmas is well reco"nised as a ma0or stress factor by psycholo"ists. 5reatment he use of li"ht bo%es! which recreate the summer li"ht intensity! is a wellreco"nised treatment and is hi"hly effective in mild cases. $t can cause problems thou"h as the li"ht is rather harsh and sore eyes may result. $t can also disturb sleep patterns further. Anti-depressants are commonly prescribed! but these often cause side effects. Counsellin" is recommended to ascertain the root causes of the depression and this is hi"hly effective providin" the patient is prepared to e%plore their psyche. $t is painful and challen"in" to confront one;s past! to return to the underworld! yet this hero;s 0ourney is often the only way to find total freedom from the mental torture. $t is imperative to find someone prepared to act as mentor or "uide to the labyrinths of one;s mind! someone that one can trust fully. )ften that person is oneself. $ often recommend this path to patients that are motivated to help themselves and provide them with the structure necessary to ma#e this 0ourney of transformation. 3espite the pervadin" ,uic# fi% culture! it is imperative to understand that true healin" ta#es time and persistence. he use of appropriate homeopathic remedies can brin" about dramatic chan"es in mood and behaviour and this is my favoured startin" point in the treatment of 4A3. But $ firmly believe that followin" a stabilisation in the mood it is imperative to deal with any residual ne"ative thou"ht processes. As the 3alai 5ama so elo,uently puts it! 1an undisciplined mind is li#e an elephant. $f left to blunder out of control! it will create havoc.2
!potlight on 'espiratory system by 'ussell *alcolm +roblems with the respiratory tract are the most common reason for patients visitin" their *+s. his is because our system of airways is a very vulnerable interface with our environment. Conse,uently it is a way in for viruses! bacteria! potential aller"ens! pollutants and irritants and it is the primary location for the many illnesses associated with these tri""ers. /ammals have evolved many defence mechanisms to address these airborne challen"es. )ur surface immunity is a very comple% entity which involves6 a"ents that we secrete into the surface mucusI a"ents carried in the l ymphatic ducts! and a"ents borne by the blood supply. he various specialised cells! antibodies and enFymes involved in these processes also re,uire a number of balancin" mechanisms includin" our ability to6 T invo#e a fever on demandI T "enerate a protective catarrhI T preserve the physical movement of air and secretionsI T dynamically alter the balance between the re"ional perfusion of blood and the air flow into the alveolar sacs.

7ortunately! most respiratory problems throu"hout life resolve themselves. /ost viral colds and cou"hs are best left untreated in the healthy person! because there is simply very little that can be done to improve the 1systems intelli"ence2 that we have evolved. @iral infections 4ometimes a viral respiratory illness can lin"er on uncomfortably. he symptoms are often a reflection of the virus itself! since different respiratory viruses preferentially involve different tissues in the respiratory tract. 7or e%ample! the rhinovirus causes symptoms mainly in the nose and sinuses! while the respiratory syncytial virus causes symptoms in the nasopharyn% and smallest branches of the airways! penultimate to the alveoli in the lun"s. +atients who are overFealous with their symptomatic dru"s! who suppress their fever! or who are otherwise compromised by a slow immune response! can develop problems with their defence mechanisms. he more delayed or protracted the response is! the more the y are li#ely to "et swollen lymph "lands and persistent catarrh.  A 1distracted2 immune system will also fail to deal with chan"es in the bacterial flora. his can result in secondary "rowths of streptococcus! pneumococcus! haemophillus influenFae and other or"anisms. hese "erms colonise the tonsils! middle ear and bronchi where they can cause considerable local inflammation. hose infections which provo#e a tender swellin" of the cervical nec# "lands! often re,uire acute remedies li#e +hytolacca decandra. After a well-chosen remedy! the lymph "lands become much more efficient and the patient can usually then eradicate the primary infection without further treatment. Gery few upper respiratory infections re,uire antibiotics! even those that are bacterial in ori"in! if they are ,uic#ly and e%pertly prescribed for homeopathically. he first tas# is to provide the remedy which most closely reflects the current physiolo"ical state and for this you will need to consult a ,ualified practitioner. 3ependin" on the response! the primary treatment will be followed by a secondary simillimum! or a potency of the infectin" or"anism itself &nosode' = but only once the primary acute symptoms are subsidin". he timin" of prescriptions is very important and depends on the 1acuteness2 of the presentation! the 1reactiveness2 of the symptoms! the a"e of the patient and the type of remedy used. /ost acute illnesses re,uire treatment with plant remedies. he timin" of the remedy se,uence depends on the illness sta"e. /ost viral il lnesses pro"ress throu"h inflammatory! secretory! virus sheddin" and resolution sta"es. :ach sta"e may indicate a chan"e of prescription! particularly if there is a hitch in the patient;s natural process of adaptation. Jour homeopathic doctor will select remedies on the basis of the prevailin" symptoms! which tend to reflect inefficiencies in the body;s efforts to compensate. he followin" is a simple e%ample of se,uenced acute prescribin" in viral croup. Giral croup is a common condition in infancy. he renowned nineteenth century homeopath! Clemens von Boennin"hausen realised the phasic nature of the condition and the prescribin" implications of each sta"e in the natural disease process. Boennin"hausen;s croup powders comprisin" Aconitum napellus! Hepar sulph calc and 4pon"ia tosta were "iven se,uentially to effect the fastest recovery for each sta"e. $nfluenFa here are several "ood studies available on the homeopathic treatment of influenFa. 4ome of these are rather overdue for updatin" and really should be distributed to the homeopathic community at lar"e &in time for the ne%t "lobal pandemic'. +atients should be wary of ta#in" paracetamol-based dru"s for the symptoms of flu as suppressin" a f ever can sometimes lead to further complications. $n :urope and the United 4tates )scillococcinum is a popular homeopathic medicine which can be bou"ht over the counter for the prevention and treatment of colds and flu. his product is not licensed in the U! but mi"ht be obtained with a doctor;s prescription. )scillococcinum is derived from the hearts and livers of wild duc#s and was employed in the treatment of influenFa! lon" before it was #nown that wild fowl are the main reservoir and carriers for influenFa pandemics. here are "ood ,uality studies demonstratin" the effectiveness of )scillococcinum in the treatment of flu. he identification of the acute homeopathic simillimum is! nevertheless! of paramount importance. Avoiding formulaic treatments here is a tendency for some people to prescribe Belladonna for every fever! when in fact the patient really needs 3atura stramonium or 3uboisinum! or 4olanum dulcamara! or Baptisia tinctora! or China officinalis! or 7errum phosphoricum. $nade,uate differentiation by the prescriber! or the unfocused use of homeopathy simultaneously with symptomatic dru"s and antibiotics! are common causes of failure in homeopathy. )ne of the most obvious abuses i s the overuse of Bryonia alba for cou"hs. Bryonia is a hi"hl y comple% remedy with very clear "uidin" respiratory symptoms. )nly a very small number of patients with persistent cou"h actually respond properly to this remedy &ie those who reflect the Bryonia 1state2'. 4ome manufacturers provide Bryonia in a cou"h linctus. he syrups and linctuses to which it is added can themselves offer some comfort! but $ find Bryonia tends actively to bloc# the response to well prescribed remedies! so $ would never use it at the same time as e%pertly chosen remedies. 5he issue of over-prescribing

$t could be ar"ued that over-prescribin" is a modern-day problem for children! who are unable to ma#e informed choices about their own treatment. /any children have never wor#ed throu"h a viral respiratory infection without concurrent e%posure to paracetamol! ephedrine or antibiotics. We do not yet #now whether dru"-mediated alterations of acute physiolo"y or immunolo"y in our child population mi"ht be implicated in the mar#edly increased incidence of childhood asthma and "lue ear in recent years. (e"ardless of whether there are lon"-term health conse,uences to pharmacolo"ical meddlin" durin" acute childhood illnesses! it is possible that millions of pounds are wasted on symptomatic dru"s which are needlessly administered for self-limitin" conditions. 'espiratory microflora )ne of the most important determinants of health in the respiratory tract is the state of our microflora. )ur bodies are host to many millions of microor"anisms which are in symbiotic relationships with each other and with us. here has been a tendency in the past to re"ard our microflora as an irrelevant or incidental "roup of passen"ers. $ncreasin"ly we are aware that the constituent nature of this microflora is important to our health. $f our passen"er or"anisms belon" to "roups that don;t release to%ins or evo#e inflammation! their presence can si"nificantly inhibit the "rowth of those that can. he microflora of the respiratory tract chan"es durin" an infection! mainly because their physical and immune environment chan"es as the sufferer;s body tries to inhibit the a"ent causin" the disease. When left to itself the flora will usually revert bac# to a stable healthy state after the infection has been resolved. However! when an infection has been prolon"ed because the patient is debilitated or sub0ected to the overprescribin" of symptomatic dru"s! the microflora can evolve to a less healthy state. *roups of less welcome or"anisms can over"row and provo#e persistent inflammation and catarrh. 4ometimes persistence of the primary patho"en is responsible! and homeopathically this mi"ht warrant potencies of whatever nosode is relevant. However! the residual disturbances in the respiratory microflora are usually made up of various aerobic bacteria. /any of these are "enerally re"arded as harmless by bacteriolo"ists! since they are often isolated from healthy people. When certain subspecies over-colonise! however! they cause problems which can persist lon" after the primary infection and antibiotic treatments are over. Jour practitioner may feel they re,uire a more comple% nosode. 4ycotic co is one of the most useful homeopathic nosodes for persistin" post-infective catarrh in the ears! nose! sinuses or lower airways. 4ometimes potencies of /orbillinum &measles' is indicated in children who develop "lue ear after measles or measles vaccination. Chronic bronchitis Bronchitis is an inflammation of the airways! which is often characterised by havin" a relapsin" or 1acute on chronic2 pattern. Althou"h each acute flare-up seemin"ly responds to antibiotics! there is often a pro"ressive chan"e in the microflora. his is often attended by e%cessive secretions and persistin" inflammatory chan"e. 4mo#in" and e%posure to environmental irritants often compounds or perpetuates the problem. When the perpetuatin" causes are left untreated! patients tend to develop increasin"ly fre,uent infections! attended with low-"rade relapsin" fevers. 5on"standin" inflammation can ultimately "ive rise to more serious cardio-respiratory complications. he cycles of infection can often be bro#en by usin" Chininum sulph! /or"an pure! Bacillinum and those remedies which alter the secretory environment. Homeopathic remedies can also be nebulised under medical "uidance and this can be a particularly effective mode of remedy administration durin" acute attac#s. $n the medium term! patients should be treated between the acute episodes. his can involve a wide ran"e of remedies dependin" on the individual circumstances. $n chronic cases! there is nothin" in homeopathy that can fully redress the effects of smo#in". +atients with chronic relapsin" respiratory problems must stop smo#in" completely. he psycholo"ical aspects of the tobacco addiction may be amenable to homeopathic treatment early in the withdrawal process. Asthma here is a tendency to thin# of asthma as a definitive dia"nosis! when in fact it is a spectrum of conditions! in which the principle symptom is transient constriction of the small airways. he reason for this physiolo"ical phenomenon can be aller"ic! infective! physiolo"ical andor psycho-neuroendocrine. his essentially means that the systems which mediate these unstable reactions in the lun"s have a networ# of causes. *enetic factors underlie the asthmatic tendency in many cases. An increased incidence of asthma has also been identified in children of mothers who have used paracetamol fre,uently &most days or every day' in the last trimester of pre"nancy. Children brou"ht up in very clean environments are also at increased ris#. $n particular! the early e%posure of children to mycobacteria has been shown to lower the incidence of  asthma. *ood monitorin" is vital in the treatment of asthma. A homeopathic doctor will establish whether the presentation is predominantly aller"ymediated! infective or systemic. Garious blood tests and s#in-pric# aller"y testin" can be helpful in establishin" this. (esponses to heat! cold! humidity! e%ercise! stress! menstrual cycles! dru"s! inhalants! sleepwa#in" cycles and seasons all have si"nificance! both in determinin" the cate"ory of asthma and in terms of the treatment pro"ramme. Homeopathic treatment can be hi"hly successful for asthmatic patients.
established orthodo% "uidelines for "ood practice. hose asthmatics who are affected in 4eptember! as the weather "ets colder! often have a demonstrable aller"y to house dust mite. As heatin" devices are turned up in the autumn! much morehouse dust is borne by the resultin" convection! to be inhaled by the sufferer. his aller"ic challen"e can be compounded by viral challen"es that prevail at this time of the year. (e"ular doses of homeopathic house dust mite in Au"ust! in combination with household measures to reduce e%posure! can help to prevent autumn a""ravations. "neumonia )ne of the most common misapprehensions concernin" homeopathy relates to its potential in serious illness. /any people mista#enly assume that this "entle therapy is only effective in mild conditions. Before the advent of antibiotics! the (oyal 5ondon Homoeopathic Hospital received patients sufferin" from severe infections! on transfer from other hospitals i n the city where there was no possibility for active treatment. Case records from the be"innin" of the 9th century ma#e interestin" readin". hey contain details of patients who recovered! under homeopathic treatment! from pneumonias and other severe infections. $t is important to remember! however! that! amon" the successes! there are also a number of patients treated at the be"innin" of the 9th century! who died and who would probably have survived with modern intensive care. he converse irony is that toda y! after years of over-prescribin"! increasin" numbers of our antibiotics are becomin" ineffective! with the emer"ence of resistant bacterial strains. We can onlyhope that pre0udice will not prevent the medical community from tappin" into a lon" ne"lected homeopathic #nowled"e base! for the sa#e of these patients. $n severe acute cases a doctor;s primary responsibility is to the safety of the patient. /iss 4 presented acutely with a severe chest infection and bronchospasm on a 7riday afternoon. 4he was severely breathless at rest and virtually unable to spea#. his patient did not want hospital admission. We insisted! however! that she demonstrate an une,uivocal remedy response within 89 minutes! or emer"ency hospital admission would be arran"ed for her. Her air entry be"an to improve rapidly foll owin" homeopathic 4,uilla maritima and she returned home with a remedy se,uence and strict instructions to call for help if the improvement was not maintained. By the time of her review! on the followin" /onday! she was mar#edly improved. 4he was completely free of respiratory si"ns and symptoms by the end of that wee#. An integrated approach to respiratory medicine oday;s medical homeopaths have access to many investi"ative technolo"ies that were un#nown to their predecessors and these can profoundly influence the homeopathic approach. hese investi"ations allow the homeopathic physician to select the correct nosode! for e%ample! or a remedy with the best #nown affinities for the tissue or or"an involved. /r 4 had asper"illus! a fun"al mass in his ri"ht lun" which caused chronic suppuration. $n this condition there is both an infective component and an aller"ic component! since the fun"us produces spores which "enerate an aller"ic response resultin" in 1asthmatic spasm2 of the airways and the trappin" of infected secretions. $n /r 4 the homeopathic treatment was completely dependant on the accuracy of his dia"nosis. hree doses of homeopathic +neumonia air Asper"illus 89c! caused a very rapid dilatation of his bronchioles and the release of enormous ,uantities of infected material! pus and dead tissue. he respiratory physicians! who shared his care! were astounded by the chan"es in his -ray appearance and lun"-function tests. here is a "reat potential for the increasin" inte"ration of homeopathy in the mana"ement of respiratory illness. /uch of this potential is "radually becomin" realised in our educational pro"rammes! where a pra"matic approach to the teachin" of therapeutics will increasin"ly enable doctors to treat acute cases responsibly and homeopathically and thus prevent a "reat deal of chronic illness. 'ussell *alcolm *1 Ch1 &&om has been practising homeopathy for 23 years, e was )irector of .ducation at the '; for si# years+ leaving in 2333 to concentrate on teaching and writing and his bus y private practice in !cotland, e continues to contribute to homeopathic education+ both in the $ and internationally,

"soriasis An overview of this inflammatory s%in condition and its homeopathic treatment by  Andrea Wiessner +soriasis is an inflammatory s#in condition that affects two to three per cent of the population. $t can appear at any a"e! but mostly between the a"es of  and @9. +soriasis is an autoimmune disease! belon"in" to a "roup of conditions where the immune system is overactive and attac#s its own cells and tissues.
psoriasis! appears in bi" patches of thic#ened s#in usually with whitesilvery scales on the elbows and #nees! but also other parts of the body. When one finds lots of small scaly spots and patches the condition is called psoriasis "uttate. his form often affects children and is fre,uently tri""ered by streptococcal throat infections and often disappears by itself within a few wee#s or months. +soriasis pustulosa! usually presents with little yellow pustules and affects the palms of the hands and soles of feet. $n up to 9 per cent of psoriasis patients! nails can also be affected. )ne can see small indentures in the nails or circular discolorations under the nails. $n more severe cases the nails can thic#en and separate from the underlyin" nail bed. he causes of psoriasis are still not entirely clear! althou"h in 89 per cent of patients there is a family history of the condition. Certain factors can tri""er the onset of the s#in eruptions includin" streptococcal throat infections! particular medicines and in0ury to the s#in! and emotional factors! such as stress or situations of trauma! shoc# and bereavement. hose tri""er factors can be important for the homeopathic practitioner as it mi"ht indicate which remedy mi"ht be appropriate for that particular person. 3ue to its appearance! psoriasis can profoundly affect an individual! as people unfamiliar with the condition mi"ht thin# it is conta"ious. he sufferer may also have to endure adverse comments from others about their appearance! which can affect his or her ,uality of life immensely. Conventional treatment here is a selection of conventional treatments on offer! startin" with topical treatments! then phototherapy &li"ht treatment' and then stron"er! oral treatments. opical treatments vary from simple emollients to moisturise the s#in and alleviate itchin"! to salicylic acidbased creams! topical steroid creams of varyin" stren"th and tar preparations. reatment with various forms of ultraviolet li"ht is also used! sometimes in combination with a medicine called +soralen. /any patients themselves notice the beneficial effect on their s#in of ultraviolet li"ht when their psoriasis improves with e%posure to sunli"ht in the summer months. 7or severe psoriasis! oral medication can be used! often in addition to topical treatment. However! they can have sideeffects. Also! most oral treatments are contraindicated durin" pre"nancy. omeopathic treatment /any patients $ see have already tried one or more forms of conventional treatment. hose have mostly been helpful and often cleared the s#in eruptions. However! the effect has usually been only temporary and at some sta"e the psoriasis has come bac#. 4ome patients are! therefore! loo#in" for a more permanent 1cure2 for their condition! while others would simply li#e to reduce their use of steroid creams or other conventional treatments. 7rom the homeopathic point of view we can approach treatment in different ways. We can treat the person as a whole and try to find a constitutional remedy with the aim of stren"thenin" the or"anism "enerally. his means loo#in" at not only the patient;s psoriasis symptoms! but also his or her "eneral health and way of reactin" to the environment! as well as what drives him or her on an emotional level. But homeopaths can also treat symptomatically! meanin" treatin" the psoriasis symptoms specifically. $ usually aim for constitutional treatment but sometimes combine the two approaches! "ivin" a more symptomatic s#in remedy for flareups! while treatin" the person as a whole with a constitutional remedy. )verall we often have "ood results with the treatment of psoriasis. However! $ have seen in some of my patients that their "eneral health as well as emotional wellbein" has improved but not the appearance of their psoriasis. )ccasionally! $ also see that the itch or soreness improves considerably but not so much the appearance. )r that the appearance is only sli"htly better but that the psoriasis does not affect them as much anymore! ma#in" it possible to "et on with life. Althou"h not the desired outcome! this obviously can have ,uite a positive impact on one;s life. Choice of homeopathic medicine $n choosin" which homeopathic remedy to use! we consider various factors. $t can be e%tremely helpful to #now if somethin" mi"ht have tri""ered the onset of symptoms. $f the psoriasis has been tri""ered by bereavement! for instance! this mi"ht "uide us to particular "rief remedies! althou"h a variety of other factors or symptoms need to be present too to "ive such a remedy. $t is also important for a homeopathic practitioner to understand what was the e%act reaction to such an event! as everyone has their own particular way of e%periencin" and dealin" with such traumas. $f the patient still seems to be in deep "rief and their reaction is to try to deal with their pain by themselves! withdrawin" from others! we mi"ht thin# of
psoriasis had never cleared up completely since. his recent outbrea# started in 3ecember 99K after an ar"ument with her @ yearold dau"hter who had been dia"nosed with a psychotic episode and an eatin" disorder. 4he had been treated at a rehab clinic and had 0ust been dischar"ed. 3ebbi wanted to find out what her dau"hter;s plans were! when her dau"hter became very an"ry. As 3ebbi felt she wanted to connect with her she tried to stand her "round. Her  dau"hter started to throw furniture and ob0ects at her and 3ebbi bac#ed down and left the room. 4he was terrified and shoc#ed. 4he felt astonished that her dau"hter was so violent. $t left her feelin" numb! confused and disempowered. he followin" day her psoriasis bro#e out! mainly on her bac# and le"s. 4he had some Chinese medicine which improved thin"s temporarily. But then it returned and when $ saw her she had spots all over which were very itchy and! therefore! interruptin" her sleep. Her inner thi"hs felt very sore. 4he was usin" a,ueous cream as an emollient and a herb! mahonia a,uifolium. $n "eneral 3ebbi;s health is "ood. 4he had an episode of depression after the death of her parents who died within a year of each other. )therwise she has been well and there was no family history of psoriasis. )ne of the main issues that came out durin" the consultation was that she felt she had been cheated constantly in her life. 4he said that she allows people to cheat her then "ets an"ry but turns it in on herself and sits on it. 4he also couldn;t understand that her dau"hter would run off! drin# and ta#e dru"s when 3ebbi;s parents died when they could have "rieved to"ether. 1Why would she do this after $ had loo#ed after her and supported herD2  As there was a history of shoc# and deepseated "rief in her story! $ did consider homeopathic remedies for shoc# and "rief. 3ebbi;s sense of in0ustice about how her dau"hter behaved! her sense of indi"nation and her way of lettin" others cheat her and suppressin" her an"er made me consider the remedy 4taphysa"ria. $nterestin"ly her dau"hter threw ob0ects and furniture in her an"er which is a typical 4taphysa"ria symptom. 4taphysa"ria is also a "ood remedy when emotional suppression! or "rief! result in a persistent psoriasis. However! as the state of shoc# she was in after the death of her son preceded everythin" and there were still elements of shoc# tan"ible in the way she e%perienced events! $ started with Aconite. his is one of our bi" shoc# remedies and 3ebbi noticed that her psoriasis improved after that. We soon started with 4taphysa"ria in an 5/ potency on a daily base and when $ saw her after three months her psoriasis was much better. here had been a slow but "radual improvement! her s#in was the best it had been since the first outbrea# of her psoriasis. he itchin" pretty much stopped althou"h she noticed that it came bac# when she missed her daily dose of 4taphysa"ria. 4he told me that when she started the treatment a lot of emotions came up. 4he realised that she had often been a victim in the past. 4he slept reasonably well but occasionally wo#e up at @am in a ra"e. he theme of bein" a victim and havin" to ma#e choices not to "ive away power came up in her dreams! too. As thin"s had been "oin" well we continued with 4taphysa"ria 5/ @. When $ saw her a"ain three months later thin"s were still "oin" well. Althou"h she had been under a lot of stress = not only with her dau"hter but also havin" lost her 0ob = her psoriasis was M9 per cent better than the year before! even thou"h it was winter time. 4he also told me at that sta"e that she had been dreamin" about people who had treated her badly in the past. hey were lovely to her! offerin" her cups of tea. 4he felt herself that this indicated a process of lettin" "o and felt this mi"ht be healin". When she came bac# three months later! she was havin" lots of problems with her dau"hter a"ain. Her dau"hter had stopped her therapy! was ta#in" dru"s a"ain and had ta#en an overdose of paracetamol and was bac# in rehab. 3ebbi felt numb and in a state of shoc# a"ain and had developed panic attac#s. Her s#in had been variable but overall ,uite stable. As the shoc# was in the fore"round a"ain and because of the panic attac#s! $ "ave another dose of Aconite 99c followed! after three wee#s! by 4taphisa"ria 5/  daily. 4he has been doin" e%tremely well since. Her s#in has improved and the panic attac#s have become less fre,uent. :ven thou"h there i s still a lot of stress with her dau"hter! she is able to deal with it and feels pleased with her overall pro"ress. 4pea#in" to her durin" the heat wave at the be"innin" of Eune 99?! she was happy to be wearin" dresses for the first time in yearsL $nterestin"ly! both Aconite and 4taphisa"ria belon" to the same botanic family! ranunculaceae. Common issues of this family are "reat sensitivity! ailments from "rief or shoc#! irritability as well as stitchin" and stabbin" sensations. Aconite mi"ht be more appropriate where there are acute reactions and symptoms and a state of shoc# or panic! and 4taphisa"ria where suppression and control are the main copin" mechanisms. Case study 2 *eor"ia! a"ed four! was referred to my children;s clinic in )ctober 99. 4he had developed small spots of psoriasis on her chest when she was three years old. 5ater she developed crusty eruptions on her scalp and more spots on her arms! in particular the elbows! as well as her #nees and bac#. $f she fell and bro#e the s#in! new spots would develop. 4he had had a bad throat and ear infection a few months before the onset and had also started nursery one month prior to the outbrea#. However! she had settled in well at nursery. 4he also had a history of "lue ear and one nose bleed. When $ saw her *eor"ia had thic#! yellow crusty patches of psoriasis on her scalp and disseminated small psoriasis spots on her chest! abdomen! arms and the e%tensors of her #nees. 4he was a bri"ht and deli"htful little "irl! easy to "et in contact with. $n view of her "eneral symptoms! such as her thirst for cold water! her love for fish and salty food! the history of a nose bleed and her ima"inative! enthusiastic and sociable nature as well as her fears! $ prescribed +hosphorus 99c in a sin"le dose. 4he developed a few more spots on her l ower bac# initially but then her psoriasis "radually cleared up. 4he had one episode of tonsillitis and chest infection which re,uired antibiotic treatment but was overall doin" fine until 4eptember 99 when

she had an outbrea# with itchy eruptions on her body and also started "rindin" her teeth. 4he had had two episodes of head lice and an episode of va"inal thrush and was a bit more stroppy. +hosphorus had no effect at that sta"e. )ver the ne%t si% months she had t wo doses of /edorrhinum which #ept her psoriasis at ba y. $n April 99@ she had a tonsillectomy and had "rommets inserted as she had bad tonsillitis in /arch and her hearin" was impaired. Her psoriasis flared up after the operation. )ne dose of uberculinum 99c in /ay 99@ cleared everythin". uberculinum is a remedy that is related to +hosphorus. Both remedies often complement each other in their action. When $ saw *eor"ia in Eanuary 99K she was still absolutely fine and her psoriasis had "one. 4he was in "ood health in "eneral and her lovely ima"inative and enthusiastic self a"ain. $ dischar"ed her from my clinic. *eor"ia was rereferred to me in Euly 99M at the a"e of ei"ht! after her psoriasis came bac# on her scalp in /ay that year. 4he had had sore! itchy and scaly patches since then. 4he also had molluscum conta"iosum on her arms and le"s and a few nose bleeds. 7ollowin" another dose of uberculinum her scalp cleared but the molluscum persisted until Eune 99? when $ saw her last. 4he had also had a few more nose bleeds! so $ prescribed +hosphorus a"ain which $ thin# is her constitutional remedy. $ would e%pect that this will clear the molluscum and would #eep her well. $n my view homeopathy definitely has somethin" to offer in the treatment of psoriasis. We can often help with the appearance as well as the e%perience of psoriasis. And in some instances we can see healin" and transformation on a deep level which comprises improvement of the psoriasis as well as healin" on an emotional and more "eneral level. $f this happens $ never fail to marvel at nature;s ability to brin" about healin" as well as our patients; coura"e to embrace it. Andrea 0iessner *) *&om 'C!5 trained as a G" but has been practising homeopathy fulltime for 44 years, !he has been wor%ing at the 'oyal ;ondon omeopathic ospital and in private practice, !he also practises Cranio !acral 5herapy,

"ost viral fatigue syndrome  Julie Geraghty explains how a constitutional remedy is most effective he incidence of +ost Giral 7ati"ue 4yndrome &+G74' has been increasin" over recent years. $t often affects youn" people! who fail to ma#e a full recovery after an illness li#e "landular fever or influenFa. +atients with this condition often turn to homeopathy! as "eneral medicine has little to offer. +ain#illers and antidepressants are often prescribed! as well as symptomatic treatment for associated irritable bowel syndrome etc! but recovery is often slow and frustratin". )ver the last si% years $ have become particularly interested in treatin" youn" people with +G74! and have seen many cases cured with a "ood constitutional homeopathic remedy. here are no specific remedies for the condition = as always in homeopathy! the prescription needs to be individualised accordin" to the patient;s story and symptoms. he situation that the person was in at the time they developed the viral infection! as well as their specific symptoms are both ta#en into account. his allows the homeopath to build up an understandin" of the whole picture! and often helps the patient to realise the factors that contributed to their becomin" ill. he viral infection itself is often the 1final straw2 which tips the balance of health! when the patient is already under stress! and therefore more susceptible to pic#in" up a virus. 5inda! a slender woman with lon" blond hair! bi" blue eyes! and wearin" a soft pin# 0umper! was  when $ first saw her in /ay ???. At that time! she was a midwifery student! with chronic fati"ue since she had "landular fever. 4he came with her mother! who seemed very carin" and supportive. he first si"n of her health problems started in summer ??! when she noticed that her hair was thinnin"! and she lost #" in wei"ht. his surprised her! as she had actually been eatin" more than usual. hen she bro#e up with her boyfriend! and was really upset. 1By the followin" summer! $ was "ettin" tired really ,uic#ly! much more than my friends. $ had to sleep durin" the day before "oin" out. $ had blood tests for anaemia! my blood count was ! and $ too# some iron. $ "ot bac# to"ether with my e%-boyfriend! but it onl y lasted five months! and we split up finally in 7ebruary ??K. He didn;t treat me well! he said $ was too thin! always criticised me! and was too domineerin". /y hair  still wasn;t bac# to normal! and $ too# sea #elp and multi vitamins. $ met another "uy and we "ot en"a"ed at the be"innin" of ??M! $;m really happy with him.2 $n Euly ??M! 5inda had bad tonsillitis. 1$ felt so tired! and my hair was really fallin" out. $ was tested for "landular fever and was shoc#ed when it wasn;t positive. $n 4eptember! $ had another bad bout. /y tonsils were hu"eI $ had an ulcer on my soft palate! my uvula was really swollen! it was almost touchin" my ton"ue! my eyelids were puffy and my nec# was thic# with "lands. he pain from the "lands went up to my earsI it was terribly sore to swallow. $ was absolutely e%hausted. Antibiotics did nothin"! and then the test for "landular fever came up positive. 1$ dreaded drin#in" because of the pain! but my throat was very dry. $ dran# cold drin#s with a straw. /y nose was bloc#ed so $ slept with my mouth open! so my tonsils "ot dry. $ was afraid to "o to sleep as my throat was so dry! $ only slept for 9 minutes at a time. he pain made me cry! $;d 0ust curl up and bury my head in the pillow. 1$ was doin" my final year as a student midwife when $ "ot the "landular fever! and $ had to "ive up. $ feel very frustrated! there;s a lot of uncertainty. $;ve been ma#in" very slow pro"ress this year! and $ reall y want to start my final year a"ain in 4eptember. $ need  to  hours of 

sleep a day! and since /arch $;ve been mana"in" to wor# three hours per day in a newsa"ent. 4i% wee#s a"o my doctor started me on an antidepressant! $;m ta#in" half a tablet per day. /y appetite is now a bit better.2 When $ as#ed her why she chose midwifery! 5inda e%plained that she;d always loved babies. 1hey;re so vulnerable! $ l ove holdin" them. $ had lots of dolls as a child. $ had to decide between nursin" and midwifery! but $ chose midwifery! as it;s a happy 0ob! not dealin" with death! li#e in nursin". $;m very happy with the course.2 $ as#ed 5inda a few more ,uestions about herself to which she replied! 1$ love chocolate and chic#en. $ love dairy products! cereal with mil#! cheese! butter! and e""s. $ love fruit! e%cept "rapefruit. $ li#e yo"hurt! custard and hot chocolate. $ can;t miss a meal! $ feel sic#! windy $ have to eat somethin" at pm. $ have low blood pressure! and feel li"ht headed if $ stand up too ,uic#ly. $ love fresh air. /y le"s and arms "et really tired at 8.89 to .89pm! $ have to rest.2 4he was on the +ill! as her periods were irre"ular! every three to five wee#s. 4he has breast tenderness before her periods! she said she has very 1"landular breasts2. $ "ave her Acidum lacticum &5actic acid'! 99c! three doses. Within a wee# of ta#in" the remedy she felt more ener"etic. 1$ don;t have to sleep durin" the afternoon now. $;m "ettin" better all the time. $n  Au"ust! we went on holidayI we did a lot of drivin" and $ too# another dose of the remedy then! but $ feel $ coped very well. $ couldn;t have considered "oin" away four months a"o. $ have been able to "o out with my friends a"ain! $ even went to a summer ball! and stayed up till 8amL $ feel $ will be able to mana"e to finish my course now.2 5inda did restart her course! and was able to #eep up with the others. However in Euly the followin" year her mother phoned me as she has been admitted to hospital with very bad diarrhoea and dehydration! which was later confirmed to be 4almonella. $ advised her to repeat the remedy.  A month later 5inda told me! 1$ too# the remedy as soon as they stopped the drip in hospital. $ am so much better nowI $ thin# it really helped me to "et my stren"th bac#. $ was feelin" a bit run down before $ "ot the 4almonella! as $ had 0ust finished e%ams! and had wor#ed really hard. But $ finished my course! and $;m a midwife nowL2 4he has remained absolutely well since then. his case history shows how the viral illness is often superimposed on other symptoms that show that the person;s health is already slippin" out of balance. 5inda;s symptoms all fit well with the remedy 5actic acid. he whole "roup of 1acid2 remedies! includin" +hosphoric acid! is well #nown for wea#ness and e%haustion. All the 15acticum2 remedies have this characteristic tendency to low blood su"ar! or hypo"lycaemia! and the need to eat fre,uently. Also typical is the cravin" for dairy products and sweet foods. )n the mental level! the 5acticum remedies suit patients who are very feminine and "irlish! even childish and dependent. 5inda;s attitude to dolls and babies is typical! and her chosen profession is interestin"L 5actic acid is also well #nown for the severe dryness of the throat and laryn%. Dr Julie !eraghty  Ch1 )C *&om trained as a G" but now practises homeopathy full time in .dinburgh as well as teaching homeopathy to doctors and other health care practitioners in !cotland and abroad,

"ost "olio !yndrome  Ann Tomes tells her own story about how homeopathy has affected her life /y first encounter with homeopathy was in ?M9! 8 years a"o followin" an in0ury to my ri"ht #nee. After bein" told by an orthopaedic sur"eon that he 1would not touch it2! $ felt desperate enou"h to try anythin" once. $ had been in considerable pain for some two years and had been wal#in" with the aid of two stic#s. his was hard enou"h but $ was also brin"in" up a youn" dau"hter and both she and my husband!
But 3r Eac# wasn;t only interested in the reason for this in0uryI he wanted to #now my whole story! which "oes bac# much further. Childhood polio $t was durin" the ?K epidemic that $ contracted polio! at the a"e of seven years. After the initial paralysis it was obvious that my ri"ht le" was useless! my ri"ht side sli"htly shortened and my left foot also sli"htly affected.  After nine months in hospital with physiotherapy! $ learned to wal# a"ain with the use of a calliper! which was dispensed with as the stren"th in my muscles improved. 4even years of wee#ly sessions of physiotherapy followed but did not restore the dama"e done when! while in hospital! my le" was placed in a splint with the #nee bent and the foot pointin" down. )f course! it was set li#e cement with ti"htened tendons and wasted muscles. Conse,uently! $ have wal#ed with a permanently bent #nee and on the metatarsal 0oint ever sinceI bein" unable to l ower my heel to the "round. $n spite of this $ had as near a normal childhood as possible. $ was a very tomboyish "irl and had lots of male cousins with whom $ played. $ climbed trees and "ot stuc# up them and rode a bi#e! which $ was always fallin" off. /y parents allowed me to do what $ wanted to in terms of play and didn;t try to wrap me up in cotton wool. $ went to school and was in the hoc#ey and netball teams in positions where $ didn;t have to run about too much as $ fell very easily. $ couldn;t dance but most of my teen years were ta#en up with courtin"
the e%tra boost "iven me b y homeopathy. When $ told my *+ $ wished to try homeopathy! he said! 1Well! if you want to you can! but $ don;t have any faith in it2. $ have since reported to him the improvement6 and his comment was 1$;m impressed2. $t seems such a pit y that with somethin" li#e homeopathy bein" available! more people don;t "ive it a try. "ost "olio !yndrome *ollie unton writes his condition has only recently been described and seems to be the lon" term after effects of havin" polio. $t is not clear if the virus is still in the body! but inactive! or if the problems arise from dama"e to muscles! tendons and li"aments by the virus when it first affected the person.  Also! over many years limbs become distorted and withered by the effects of the polio and this causes a lot of pain. +ain wears people down and affects sleep and mood ma#in" them low and despondent when they see no solution to the situation. 3espite all the modern pain #illin" dru"s and anti-inflammatories people are still in pain! mainly because these medicines do not deal with the underlyin" cause of the pain. /rs omes; pain responded very promptly to +olio nosode 89c! three tablets in  hours! so presumably this remedy helped to heal up any viral activity or residual dama"e. )nce your pain is "one you improve mentally also and be"in to "et your 0oie-devivre bac#. However! in homeopathy you need to "ive a constitutional remedy to maintain the improvement or it will not hold. $t is as if the nosode and the remedy wor# at different levels in the body! but to"ether they are more effective than if only one of them is ta#en. he remedy Carcinosin 89C was also ta#en to "ood effect as it produced a boost in her ener"y. his is a remedy! which is prescribed when there is a history of severe illness previously &in her case! the polio'! where there may have been a strict upbrin"in"! and where the person may be a perfectionist with anticipatory an%iety. Anticipatory an%iety means that the person worries about! thin#s about or plans events that are "oin" to happen. $t may stop a person "ettin" to sleep or wa#e them up in the early hours. +eople who need Carcinosin are stron" willed with very! very "ood senses and li#e thin"s to do with nature and water. hey have a fastidious nature and a stron" sense of duty. Children are very sensitive to bein" told off. *ollie unton *1 1! )'C(G &&om has been practising homeopathy for 2= years+ until recently as a G"+ and now in private practice,

"ost-natal depression – "atient !tory (arol "od+a found homeopathy was :ust what she needed to recover from post-natal depression
"ost-natal depression Jenifer Worden discusses how homeopathy can help women suffering from this distressing condition he first thin" that can be said about post-natal depression &+<3' is that to the women who have suffered it and those women readin" this article! who may be sufferin" from it! the effects of +<3 are distressin"! debilitatin" and are very real. +<3 is not uncommon! with up to ten per cent of all mothers affected to a "reater or lesser de"ree. he incidence of +<3 is hi"her in the months immediately followin" childbirth but it is not un#nown for a small number of women still to be sufferin" the effects a year after the birth of their child. "N) and its symptoms +<3 may be defined as a non-psychotic depression occurrin" durin" the first si% months after the birth of a child. he term 1non-psychotic depression2 for the lay person means that the mother does not suffer from hallucinations or delusions. hese are the symptoms of a severe mental illness and re,uire ur"ent specialist medical attention from a consultant psychiatrist. +<3! on the other hand! can affect all women after childbirth but more often women who have a history of life events such as bereavements or a poor marital relationship which includes lac# of support! feelin"s of 1havin" to mana"e on one;s own2! coupled with a "eneral perception of bein" isolated.  Another factor that adds to the pressure of some women who suffer from +<3 is that the family do not #now how to react to the mother who is sufferin"! so throu"h lac# of #nowled"e and! in some cases! understandin"! are dismissive of the problems faced by a woman after childbirth. his then creates a further spirallin" of the helplessness some women undoubtedly feel! leadin" to a sense of inade,uacy and not bein" able to cope! which inevitably leads to insomnia! an%iety and debility.  Additionally! other symptoms may be present includin" a difficulty in concentratin"! a loss of confidence and self-esteem! not eatin" properly due to a lac# of interest in food and! in e%treme cases! recurrin" thou"hts of death! or even suicide itself. With re"ards to the latter! it must be stressed that this is a very rare event and it may be that there are other underlyin" causes for such thou"hts. While the mother is the direct sufferer of +<3! it must not be for"otten that the behaviour of the patient can impact on the family or close loved ones! leadin" to tensions and stresses within the family "roup! which in turn re-impacts on the mother. his then becomes a self-perpetuatin" downward spiral of tension! misunderstandin" and depression. Because of the potential devastatin" effects on the family life overall! it is important that the mother see#s help as soon as possible. $t is also not uncommon for a new mother to be in self-denial about her problems but realistically the feelin"s of inade,uacy normally will tell her that all is not well and therefore she should see# professional help. "N) and the wor%ing woman Whilst +<3 has been reco"nised for some time as a clinical condition! the effects on the family and society in "en eral were not so pronounced in the years leadin" up to the war. However! durin" that period! between?9 and ?! women were conscripted in lar"e numbers to wor# in factories! munitions and to serve in the Armed 7orces. his new role for women and the chan"es to society immediately followin" the war meant that women went to wor# as matter of course and became de facto a 0oint! or second bread winner. $t is in this e%panded role for women! in a wor#in" environment! that she may fear havin" a baby will in some way compromise her ability to fulfil this role. As a conse,uence! this can produce serious problems with depression immediately followin" the birth of the child. $n this conte%t! therefore! the underlyin" problems which cause +<3 are accentuated by economic concerns or the loss of position in a company or a 0ob! should the mother have to ta#e time away from her employment to attend ante natal classes! hospital appointments and so on. hese pressures inevitably brin" about a "uilt comple% whereby the mother is torn between the love and desire for her baby and fulfillin" her role as a partner in a marria"e or relationship. $t must not be assumed that the depression suffered by non-wor#in" mothers is any less severe or debilitat in" than that for women who wor#. $t is only that in the latter case! where secondary considerations may be involved! the depression may be accentuated or intensified. !ee%ing help $t is very important for women sufferin" from +<3 to understand that they are not alone and help is available in many ways6 from counsellin"! medication and complementary therapies. 7irstly with respect to counsellin"! this can be done informally by the health visitor who can carry out a brief ,uestionnaire to assess a woman;s mental state and then offer appropriate support or non-directive counsellin" as 1active listenin" visits2. 7or many women! this will be sufficient to allow a full recovery in a matter of wee#s. 4econdly! if the symptoms do not subside! medication prescribed by the *+ can help but! f or those women who are worried about the sideeffects of any dru" prescribed for depression! there are homeopathic remedies which can be used. his is very important because! to a lar"e number of people! there is unfortunately a sti"ma about bein" dia"nosed with depression and see#in" possible help. $t is because of this and of the reported problems associated! ri"htly or wron"ly! with the dru"s prescribed to combat depression! that homeopathy can be of such benefit.

omeopathy and "N) $ thin# it is important to state that when considerin" a homeopathic approach to the problems of +<3! it should always be remembered that homeopathy can do the patient no harm. $ndeed! there is a lar"e body of evidence to support the premise that it can ma#e a substantial difference to the sufferer. As As a practisin"

7inally! what is vital for women sufferin" from post-natal depression to remember is that you are not alone. As a mother myself! $ #now ho w easy it is to feel that somehow you are not worthy or ade,uate. 3o not worry! help is available to you from many different sources includin" counsellin"! conventional medicines and homeopathic remedies! so don;t despair and don;t be fri"htened to as# for help. $t is there and available for you. /enifer 0orden *1Ch1 *'CG" *&om is a part-time N! G" in 'ingwood+ ampshire and has a private homeopathic practice in ighcliffe+ )orset, !he treats patients with a wide range of conditions and across the complete age range,

"olycystic (varian !yndrome Mollie Hunton describes Hunton describes how she treats this condition homeopathically +olycystic )varian 4yndrome 4yndrome &+C)4' used to be called 4tein-5eventhal syndrome when $ was at medical school! and was so rare that no "ynaecolo"ist could find a case of it to demonstrate to us.
:i"ht patients had had their hormone levels chec#ed. )ne had not and one was not sure. 7our were told that their testosterone levels were not elevated and the rest were not told their results. 4even had had an ultrasound scan! in two of whom no cysts were seen. his does not necessarily mean that cysts were not there! only that they were not seen. 4ometimes the ovaries are not easy to see if the patient is very overwei"ht or the ovaries are positioned deep in the pelvis. )ne patient had not been offered a scan. his meant that only five patients had a definite dia"nosis of +C)4! which tells you that the *+s do not consider a dia"nosis of +C)4 or that they feel the e%pense of the investi"ations is not warranted. However! it is important to ma#e a dia"nosis because there may be treatment implications = diabetes and 4yndrome  must not be left unchec#ed. $ now chec# the blood su"ar of everyone who is overwei"ht. Althou"h only five patients had had a definite dia"nosis! the other five had not had an e%planation for their lon" menstrual cycles and other symptoms. Where there were classical symptoms of +C)4 but no confirmatory test results! $ e%plained my theory of the 1tou"h ovarian capsule2 situation. $ did su""est to three patients that they as# their *+s for tests and one person was refused. 5reatment $t is very important for people who are overwei"ht to lose it and for diabetics and women who have 4yndrome  to stic# to a low carbohydrate &"lycemic' load way of eatin". *lycemic load is simply the best measure of whether a food! a meal! or a diet will help create blood su"ar control! and help lose wei"ht &see +atric# Holford;s web site or his boo# 5ow *5 3iet /ade :asy'. +eople who are overwei"ht all have emotional problems focussed on food! for e%ample comfort eatin". )ne patient in this study had bulimia! which always is emotional in ori"in and has added emotional overtones. When you embar# on treatin" +C)4 you are treatin" a chronic condition that has often been present! albeit unreco"nised! for many years! which is why people become depressed. Homeopathy is the only system that loo#s at the whole person and not 0ust at their hormones and ovaries. Case study /rs E! a"ed 8! came to see me because she had had +C)4 for ten years and durin" her first pre"nancy she had a lar"e ovarian cyst which could not be operated on and she had to have a caesarean section. 4he was now pre"nant for the second time and wanted to try and deliver normally normally.. Her +C)4 was dia"nosed at the a"e of  when she was e%periencin" irre"ular bleedin". At the time she was wor#in" on a ship which she found very stressful. 4he developed severe acne which was treated by a dermatolo"ist with /inocin! a stron" antibiotic. After this she developed irre"ular bleedin" and a scan showed ovarian cysts. 4he was put onto oestro"en patches. 4he then conceived naturally! but developed the lar"e cyst. he cyst was dealt with durin" the caesarean. :ventually she wanted to conceive a"ain! but was unable to. 4he was referred bac# to the "ynaecolo"ist and was due to have a laparoscopy when she became pre"nant. By nature she was a home person. )n board ship she had been very homesic#. 4he was very moody and often burst into tears. 4he hated stuffy atmospheres and always slept with the window open. 4he hated to be cold. 3espite what she thou"ht about her acne scars! she was a very attractive person with blond hair and blue eyes. $ prescribed +ulsatilla 99c! three tablets to be ta#en in one day once a month whilst pre"nant. 4he did not develop any cysts and went on to deliver normally normally.. (utcome )ut of the ten patients treated! two were lost to follow up. hree were unable to handle the diet! however one had an improvement in her cycle despite havin" considerable emotional problems e%posed which can be difficult to treat. Another felt she had had a therapeutic consultation. here were lots of improvements recorded in patients; cycles! in their diets and in their mental health. his is a comple% syndrome with a lot of symptoms in different systems and often of lon" standin". $t would obviously ta#e a lon" time for chan"es and recovery to occur. 4ometimes there is not enou"h time and patients find the conventional system with its ,uic# f i%es hard to resist. *ollie unton *1 1! )'C(G &&om teaches homeopathy to undergraduates at 1irmingham *edical !chool, !he is "resident of the *idlands branch of the &aculty of omeopathy and has a private practice,

5op 5o p = reasons we visit the podiatrist 0ith summer around the corner Dr Tari, Khan gives Khan gives you advice on how to get your feet loo%ing their best  An en"ineerin" miracle combinin" "race! "race! durability and sensitivity = it;s an apt description of the human foot. +erhaps one of the most ne"lected parts of the bod y! "enerally "enerally hidden from site! the importance of feet is only f ully appreciated when somethin" "oes wron". Healthy feet in "ood wor#in" order "ive us the 0oy of movement. +ainful! unhealthy feet ma#es feel tired and irritable and ta#e the pleasure out of life. Consider the punishment the foot absorbs in a lifetime. As we move! at a comfortable 99 steps a minute pace! each heel stri#es the pavement with the e,uivalent of a lb 0olt 9 times a minute. As we wal# an avera"e of  !999 !999 miles in a lifetime! that means tens of

millions of 0olts for each foot. he five most common problems that hobble into my clinic are6 Athletes foot! Corns! Crac#ed heels! 4ore soles &plantar fasciitis'! and Gerrucae &plantar warts'. 4, Athlete’s foot his is a fun"al infection. $t can lead to intense itchin"! crac#ed! blistered or peelin" areas of s#in! redness and scalin". $t can occur on moist! waterlo""ed s#in especially between the fourth and fifth toes! or on dry! fla#y s#in around the heels or elsewhere on the foot. $t;s caused by a number of fun"al species which you can pic# up from anywhere &typically communal areas such as pools! showers and chan"in" rooms' or anywhere where you may wal# around barefooted. 1he fun"us on each bit of s#in that falls away from someone else;s feet can be pic#ed up by you if you;re prone.2 )nce your feet have been contaminated! the warm! dar# and sweaty environment of feet cramped in shoes or trainers provides the ideal breedin" "round for the fun"us. However! athlete;s foot also occurs in dr y! fla#y areas. $t;s ,uite common in summer sandalwearers. he sun ma#es your s#in dry out! so it loses its natural protective oilsI this combined with the constant trauma from sandals ma#es them more prone to infection.7or prevention chan"e your footwear on a re"ular basis. here;s no point sortin" your feet out if you constantly reinfect them by puttin" them into damp! fun"ally infected shoes. $t ta#es -M hours for shoes to dry out properly! so alternate your shoes daily. o help shoes dry out more ,uic#ly! ta#e any insoles out. Also! loosen any laces and open your shoes out fully so that air can circulate. *o for trainers with ventilation holes. &irst Aid medicines that can help? •

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1erberis vulgaris, When the s#in has dry! scaly lesions with circumferential pro"ression and healin" from centre out wards. Graphites, 4#in ooFes a thic#! viscous! honeyli#e fluid. he i tchin" is relieved by localised cold while the individual is sensitive to cold.

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"sorinum, /ycosis &fun"al infection' f ound on unhealth y! dry! wrin#led! scaly! itchy s#in on the sole of the foot.

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!epia, $tchin" not relieved by scratchin"! rin"wormli#e eruption every 4prin"! sweaty feet! worse on toes and intolerable odour.

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!ilica, :ruptions itch only in daytime and evenin"! (osecoloured blotches and coppery spots.

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!ulphur, 4#in that is dry! scaly unhealthy! pimply eruptions and pustules. $tchin" especially from warmth! in the evenin"! often recurs in sprin"time! in damp weather.

/edicines should be ta#en initially in @c or c three times a day for the first two wee#s. $f fun"us presents for several months or years ta#e 89c once daily up to three months. 2, Corns Corns li#e calluses develop from an accumulation of dead s#in cells on the foot! formin" thic#! hardened areas. hey contain a cone-shaped core with a point that can press on a nerve below! causin" pain. Corns are a very common ailment that usually forms on the tops! sides and tips of the toes. Corns can become inflamed due to constant friction and pressure from footwear. Corns that form between the toes are sometimes referred to as soft corns. here are very simple ways to prevent and treat the corns. Jou should wear properly fitted footwear with e%tra room in the toe bo% &toe area'.  Avoid shoes that are too ti"ht or too loose. Use an orthotic or shoe insert made with materials that will absorb shoc# and shear forces. Also avoid ti"ht soc#s and stoc#in"s to provide a healthier environment for the foot. ry to steer away from corn removin" solutions and medicated pads. hese solutions can sometimes increase irritation and discomfort. 3iabetics and all other individuals with poor circulation should never use any chemical a"ents to remove corns. opical a"ents li#e /ari"old a"etes; cream or oil are found to be very effective for treatment of this condition. &irst Aid medicines that can help? •

Antimonium crudum, 4#in that is hard! thic#ened &Hyper#eratotic' and yellow corns! often in multiple.

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&errum picricum, Corn! which have a yellowish discolouration. he medicine acts best in dar#haired people.

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ypericum, 
Homeopathic medicines should be ta#en at @cc twice dail y for up to two wee#s for acute conditions and 89c ta#en daily for up to three months for chronic conditions. $f a corn is present for sometime then see# help from a homeopathic podiatrist! who can remove it and use a topical phytotherapy based treatment to prevent it returnin". E, Crac%ed heels /any factors cause crac#ed heels such as dry s#in due to wearin" sandals and shoes without bac#s! this leads to the heel buildin" up callus due to friction and pressure bou"ht on by wal#in" and further leadin" to fissure formation with pain and bleedin". here are others reasons such as s#in conditions li#e ecFema and psoriasis and abnormalities of the heel structure! which lead to a biomechanical instability with the bone and fascia around the heel. +atients with poor circulation and especially diabetics often do not have enou"h blood supplyin" the s#in to carry out the re,uirements to f unction normally. o help prevent crac#ed heels stop wearin" the shoes that caused the problem. At the end of the day soa# feet in warm salt water for 9 minutes to ease them and help to ta#e down the inflammation caused by the friction and pressure of bein" on your feet all day. 3aily application of cream or ointment! the uses of traditional plant-base preparations alon" with products with neem! coca butter! shea butter and vitamin : also show promisin" results. +umice crac#s or dry s#in! ma#e sure the sole of the shoe is well cushioned and not rou"h or too hard! you can put in an insole or heel cushion. Avoid shoes li#e flip flops and hi"h heel shoes! if ta#in" lon" wal#s or wal#in" on hard surfaces. &irst Aid medicines that can help? •

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Antimonium crudum, 3ry fissures often found on heels or e%ternal borders of feet. 4caly and pustular eruptions are often burnin" and itchin"! worse at ni"ht. "etroleum, 4#in dry! constricted! very sensitive! rou"h and crac#ed! leathery. hic#! "reenish crusts! burnin" and itchin"I redness! rawI crac#s bleed easily. Graphites, (ou"h! hard! persistent dryness of portions of the s#in! :ruptions! ooFin" out a stic#y e%udation. Crac#s in heels and in between toes! burnin" and stin"in" pain. !ulphur, 3ry! scaly! unhealthy! itchin"! burnin"! worse scratchin" and washin".

Homeopathic medicines should be ta#en as 89c twice daily up to three si% wee#s. F, "lantar &asclitis "ain in the sole of my footD he plantar fascia is a broad band of fibrous tissue located alon" the bottom surface of the foot that runs from the heel to the forefoot. :%cessive stretchin" of the plantar fascia! usually due to over-pronation&flat feet'! causes plantar fasciitis. he inflammation caused by the plantar fascia bein" stretched away from the heel often leads to pain in the heel and arch areas. he pain is often e%treme in the mornin" when an individual first "ets out of bed or after a prolon"ed period of rest. $f this condition is left untreated and strain on the lon"itudinal arch continues! a bony protrusion may develop! #nown as a heel spur. $t is important to treat the condition promptly before it worsens. 5opical treatments that can help the following conditions? Arnica cream = Bruisin"  Arthritis 1ellis perennis cream = 3eep bruisin" ypericum cream =
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Apis meliflica, Affected 0oints are reddishpin# and swollen. here is stin"in"! burnin" pain improves with cold applications. Arnica, 7ollowin" physical effort or repeated trauma &e" badly fittin" shoes'. here is purplish oedema and intense pain! which improves after hot application. 1ellis perennis, 3ama"ed muscular fibres of blood vessels and muscular soreness. 3eep bruisin"! due to mechanical causes. 7irst remedy in in0uries to deeper tissues after ma0or sur"ical wor#. $n0ured nerve endin"s! lead to intense soreness and intolerance to cold weather. 1ryonia, Eoints are red and hot! fre,uently swollen and sensitive to sli"htest touch. here is a sensation of throbbin"! acute and stin"in" pain! which is a""ravated by the sli"htest movement.

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ypericum, hrobbin" pain follows the course of the nerve from the foot to the lumbar re"ion.

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ali bichromcium, +ain that is wonderin" al on" bones! soreness of heels when wal#in" and tendo Achilles painful and sore.

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;edum, Eoints are swollen! hot and pale. +ain is a""ravated at ni"ht and by warmth of the bed and improved by cold applications. +atient immerses foot in cold water if the bi" toe is affected. 'hododendron, *enerally erratic! searin" pain is a""ravated b y stormy weather! particularly before storm! and improved as soon as storm brea#s out. 'hus to#icodendron, +atient complains of painful! 0oint stiffness! which occurs at the start of a movement then disappears as the movement continues. +ain a""ravated by damp weather! cold and rest. 'uta graveolens, +ain in the 0oint! which is a""ravated by rest and improves immediately after movement. But! without the warmin" up phase of (hus to%. (uta causes less stiffness than (hus to%. !taphysagria, +ain intense in soles of the feet and Achilles tendon.

$n acute cases! low potency &@c' is more effective as a sin"le remedy three times a da y for three days and thereafter 89 potency once daily for  a wee#. $n chronic cases 89c twice daily f or up to four wee#s. =, @errucae "lantar 0artsD  A common viral infection of the s#in! verrucae &warts on the foot or hand' are a problem for more and more people who use communal areas such as swimmin" baths! sports and health clubs. 4ome stubborn verrucae do not respond well to conventional medication. 4ur"ical treatment can be painful and often causes scarrin". 7irst Aid medicines that can help6 •

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Antimonium crudum, 7re,uently seen in the - year a"e "roup. Gerruca that! has a rou"h horny surface pro0ectin" sli"htly above s#in! and is surrounded by horny collar. Usually sin"le! but can be multiple. +resent on palms! soles! fin"ers! and toes! under nails. (arely on face! scalp or body. Calcarea carbonica, (ound! solitary! isolated! hard warts. Causticum, Warts underneath the nails and located at the end of nose or lips on flat plane! which bleed easily. Whitish-yellow in colour. )ulcamara, ransparent plane warts! which are more visible in low-an"led rather than direct li"ht and are located on the bac#s of the hands or on the face. Also seborrheic! wide and soft! brownish warts most often located on the bac#. &errum picrum, $ndicated in small! pointed warts occurrin" in lar"e "roups especially fin"er and toes. Graphites, )rifices of the face R beard re"ions. +resent as s#in ta"s! and are found under the nail bed *reyish! brown! or fleshcoloured. Natrum mur, 4een on the soles of the feet. 4uperficial! sli"htly raised! hard! multiple! with a craFy pavin" pattern present. hey are painless! with only one pla,ue with several small warts.
verrucae! ran"in" from two to several hundreds. +resent at the tops of feet! red circular in shape and colour. 4eem to be common in children! youn" women and immuno-compromised patients. •

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Nitric acid, 4mall! punctuate lesions! horny wall surroundin" central depression. *olden yellow in colour! Warts havin" painful fissures which bleed! "ivin" the impression of bein" stuc# with a needle or splinter. 5hu:a, Warts that are hardened lumps! 7i"-warts! and warts that appear in the form of cauliflowershaped lesion. An e%cellent first line remedy for all verrucae.

a#e hu0a 89c twice daily for ei"ht wee#s. All other remedies c twice daily up to si% wee#s. 5on"-standin" lesions hu0a 99c/ stat dose with 89c doses twice wee#ly one month. General &ootcare •

Wash your feet every day in warm soapy water  &don;t soa# them! as this mi"ht destroy the natural oils' and dry thorou"hly! especially between the toes.

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$f your s#in is dry! apply moisturising &calendula' cream all over the foot! e%cept for between the toes.

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5i"htly apply a foot powder.

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(emove hard s%in gently with a pumice stone! but not if it is over a bony area or 0oint. $f this is the case! or if the hard s#in is painful! consult a re"istered chiropodistpodiatrist. rim your toe nails regularly! usin" proper nail clippers. Cut strai"ht across! not too short! and not down at the corners as this can lead to in-"rowin" nails. eep feet warm! and e%ercise to improve circulation.  Always wear the right shoe for the 0ob. 4ee# prompt treatment for burns! cuts and brea#s in the s#in! and for an y unusual chan"es in colour or temperature. his is particularly important if you have diabetes. $f your feet hurt! somethin" is wron"L Jou can also prevent foot problems before they occur by visitin" a re"istered chiropodistpodiatrist for advice on how to #eep your feet healthy.

&inding a homeopathic podiatrist •

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7or a list of homeopathic podiatrists please visithttp6www.britishhomeopathic.or""ettin"XtreatmentfindXpractitioner 7or

Homeopathic podiatrists are health care professionals who specialise in the medical treatment of the feet and lower limbs. hey were once #nown as chiropodists but are now "enerally #nown as podiatrists. Homeopathic podiatrists are able to dia"nose and treat most foot patholo"ies. Homeopathic podiatry is a term used f or a podiatrist who uses oral homeopathic medicines! topical phytotherapy &/ari"old herapy' in podiatric mana"ement. 5he omeopathic podiatrist is someone who has carried out specialist training in homeopathy related to the treat ment of podiatric conditions, 5hey will normally have ;&om "odD+ )&om "odD or *&om "odD earned from the &aculty of omeopathy after their names, 5hese denote their depth of homeopathic %nowledge,)r 5ari9 han+ "h) ;ondD+ 1!c onsD+ 1!c "od *edD+ *Ch!+ &&om"odD+ is a Consultant "odiatrist and !pecialist in omeopathic "odiatry and director of the *arigold Clinic at the 'oyal ;ondon ospital for 7ntegrated *edicine,

"ain Dr Ronald $ivingston discusses the homeopathic approach +ain is perhaps the most widespread and arrestin" symptom of which patients complain. his ma#es it particularly suitable to ill ustrate the action of individual homeopathic medicines.

3efined in the )%ford 3ictionary as 1sufferin" or distress2! it could be described as awareness of disturbance of e,uilibrium! ran"in" from sli"ht discomfort or unpleasantness! soreness! tenderness and achin" to a"ony. /uch attention is "iven nowadays in pain clinics to the underlyin" source and e%planation of pain and its function. he central nervous system contains nerve paths concerned predominantly either with muscular activity or sensation. $t is the sensory part of the nervous system with which we are concerned. +hysiolo"ists sub-divide the two types of pain into protopatic or crude pain and epicritic or more subtle forms of pain which are conveyed throu"h different pathways in the nervous system. he ordinary approach to this is hi"hly material! even when concerned with matters of the emotions and the mind. We are all accustomed to describe everythin" in terms of wei"hts! measures and calibrations! to fra"ment and analyse events and problems into ever smaller parts! rather than consider them as different parts of a whole within which all aspects combine! buildin" up into a harmonised totality. $t is in the latter manner that the homeopathic physician considers pain and other sub0ective! emotional and psycholo"ical states of indisposition or illness. 7nstinctive +ain! we consider! is protective in character = one of the ways in which nature e%presses the patient;s needs. W ithout pain we would not survive very lon". )ur vulnerability to all sorts of influences adverse to our wellbein"! especially physical dan"ers li#e burns! cuts and other in0uries would be vastly increased. )ur instinctive reaction to anythin" unpleasant! whether physical or mental! is to withdraw from it. $n practice we describe pain = emotional or physical = under a variety of headin"s! each of which su""ests to us the probable need for a particular homeopathic remedy best suited to that particular #ind of pain within the overall ran"e of the patient;s temperament and character. 7or instance! an achin" pain is almost certain to respond to Arnica. A sharp cuttin" pain li#e that inflicted by a clean raFor ed"e responds to 4taphisa"ria. he pain of a stin" or stab with a small point of entry! as for instance from steppin" on a rusty nail! responds to 5edum especially if the pain is relieved by cold. +ain resultin" from a blo w to the soft tissues of the eye is enormously relieved by Bellis perennis. *raFes and superficial wounds and those in0uries or conditions in which pain shoots alon" a limb respond to Hypericum. Cantharis relieves the pain of a burn or scald! Apis or Urtica urens that of stin"s and aller"ic lumps and bumps which itch intolerably. Apis patients are made worse by heat. he pain and achin" in varicose veins respond very well to Hamamelis and +lacenta. he pain of ulcers in the mouth and elsewhere in cases where the patient is aware of discomfort only when food or some other ob0ect is passin" over the area concerned reacts well to
often accompanied by pain transmitted down the left arm or upward to the nec# = responds to Cactus "randiflorus and 5atrodeatus mactans. 3ysmenorrhea &pain associated with the menstrual cycle' often responds well to a number of different medicines! particularly 4ulphur! 5ilium ti"rinum! 5achesis! 4ilica and 4epia! each with its own characteristic features associated with the overall nature of the medicine as it compares with the symptoms of the patient. 7or instance! the first two of these remedies feel the heat! while the last two feel the cold. 5ilium ti"rinum rushes about in furious haste believin" herself unable to finish all her choresI 5achesis is very lo,uaciousI 4ilica timid! "loomy and withdrawnI 4epia morose! temperamentally unpredictable! sometimes 0oyous! sometimes miserable! feelin" the cold and hatin" fat. (pium Causal"ia! or the pain e%perienced at the site correspondin" to that of an amputated limb! is often helped by Chamomilla. his remedy is! in "eneral! best suited to the type of pain = found anywhere in the body = which combines intolerable pain with annoyance! as for instance in the teethin" of infants.  A discussion of pain should not omit reference to )pium which is used homeopathically for the absence of pain and reaction to stimuli where these would not be e%pected = a most peculiar and e%traordinary aberration of the usual responses. )pium is also useful for the physical pain we understand as fear = as in ni"htmares when the terror returns a"ain and a"ain! ni"ht after ni"ht! often for years. 7rom the fore"oin" it will be seen that we can ta#e virtually any symptom or any medicine as a launchin" pad and use it to illustrate the basic principles of homeopathic therapy. &irst published in omeopathy 5oday+ 0inter 4<=HI.

!potlight on Nervous !ystem by Tom Whitmarsh he nervous system can encompass so much.
inducin" severe spasm in all muscles! includin" those of breathin"' or the nosode made from the tetanus to%oid. $ have a number of patients who find their spasm much lessened by a re"ular dose of +lumbum &lead' or
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absolute need to stay completely still ¬ even movin" the eyes durin" a headache attac#' = BryoniaI one-sided mi"raine headache occurrin" especially at wee#ends! relieved by a wal# outside &wantin" to do anythin" but "o to bed in the dar# is an odd feature in mi"raine' and often associated with nausea or vomitin" = $ris versicolorI

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sudden onset burstin" pain = BelladonnaI

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ri"ht-sided pain which comes up from the bac# of the nec# over the side of the head to lod"e behind the eye = 4an"uinaria.

(ther pains he so=called 1Arnica of the nerves2! Hypericum! is appropriate for reducin" pain in in0ury were there is specifically nerve dama"e. $t can even be helpful in reducin" the len"th of relapses in /4 &for e%ample in bouts of inflammation of the optic nerve = optic neuritis'. $;ll mention two other specific pains! which are always hard to treat conventionally and for which homeopathy sometimes has some answers. •

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+eripheral neuropathy6 this is often a result of diabetes. he nerves which ta#e sensation from the ends of the limbs &especially! at first! the feet' lose their proper blood supply because of the su"ar imbalances in diabetes and so sufferers cannot feel thin"s correctly. his ability to feel is replaced by a nasty pain which is constant and deeply debilitatin". 7or e%ample! patients often say that it feels as if they;re wal#in" on hot pebbles. $ have had some success in this situation with the remedy Hydrophis &from the venom of a sea sna#e' and also
tri"eminal nerve on one side of the face. $t can be tri""ered by a variety of stimuli! includin" touch! brushin" the teeth! a cold drau"ht and tal#in" or eatin". 4ufferers can have many! many stabs in one day and can "et seriously depressed with the pain. Conventional treatment relies on anti-convulsant medication ta#en re"ularly and sometimes sur"ery! which can be effective for a while! but the symptoms often return. he remedies Aconite! Gerbascum! almia and 4pi"elia are amon" those which can help sufferers. !ei>ures and epilepsy hese are very common = whether present from birth or comin" on for no obvious reason in childhood or presentin" later in life as the result of stro#es or other brain in0ury. /ost people with epilepsy will be controlled to some e%tent on a variety of anticonvulsant medications. Homeopathy can add to the control but should not be used as the sole treatment. (emedies which can often improve control of childhood epilepsy and sometimes allow reduction in medication! include Baryta carbonica! Cicuta! Belladonna! 4tramonium and Hyoscyamus. Baryta carbonica is particularly interestin" if the epilepsy is part of a more "lobal delay or impairment in the child;s development. $t can reall y 1#ic# start2 them and brin" them bac# to a more appropriate level of function. $nterestin"ly! it also has a role at the other end of life! in older people who are perhaps 1slidin" bac#2 in their functionin". a#in" a stro#e to be a brain in0ury! then it is clear that a hi"h potency of Arnica post-stro#e should be helpful. $ have also seen homeopathic )pium be e%tremely beneficial in people who have bouts of somnolence and 1absence2 after stro#es! probably amountin" to small seiFures. !peech disorders +eople;s speech can be affected in neurolo"ical conditions f or a variety of reasons. he loss of normal fluency and content of speech may be transitory! as in some people with mi"raine! or lon"-term and f i%ed! as in some followin" a stro#e. $t is common to have some form of speech disturbance after a stro#e and this is an area where homeopathy can help. A family of remedies which has a special relationship to speech problems is that of the sna#es. he best #nown sna#e remedy in homeopathy is 5achesis! but not all people who would benefit from a sna#e remedy will benefit from this particular one. he remedies are usually made homeopathically from the venom! althou"h we do use a number of  non-poisonous sna#es &such as the Boa constrictor' where other parts have to be used. he idea that there are families of remedies! usually related botanically or Foolo"ically is very current in homeopathy and so we loo# to find the 1themes2 of a family in a particular case and sort out which sna#e it should be for this individual. 4na#e 1themes2 mi"ht include a tendency to bleedin" and haemorrha"es! disordered speech! a feelin" of con"estion! a disli#e of constriction and a feelin" you "et that they are tryin" to "et your attention in a particular way = seduce you &they often wear very allurin" clothes = sna#e s#ins are very beautiful'. All of these themes are issues you mi"ht reco"nise as belon"in" to 5achesis! but then we can "o further and realise that we are actually seein" "eneral sna#e themes here. ryin" to sort out which sna#e is most appropriate for an individual will then depend on particular characteristics and symptoms of that person. 7or e%ample!
*uscle and :oint problems 5reating severe aches and pains conventionally may bring unwanted side effects, omeopathy has much to offer+ saysJanet !ray  4ome of the most common presentations in "eneral practice are problems of pain in 0oints and muscles. 4ometimes these problems are acute! as in sports in0uries! sometimes they are chronic! as in osteoarthritis! and sometimes they are intermittent! as in bac# pain. Whatever the problem! they provide the *+ with a challen"e for mana"ement. he *+ must ta#e a careful history! e%amine the affected part! and ma#e a dia"nosis! possibly with the help of blood tests and %-rays. Havin" confirmed the dia"nosis! the treatment option must then be decided! which may be the prescription of an anti-inflammatory dru"! such as ibuprofen! a local steroid in0ection! a referral for physiotherapy or a referral to a rheumatolo"ist.  As a *+ myself! $ use all these options! and we are luc#y enou"h in our practice to have a physiotherapist trained also in acupuncture. However! $ also have another therapeutic option up m y sleeve = the use of homeopathy. his method of treatment really comes into its own when side-effects are e%perienced with the use of conventional medication! some of which can be very serious. Homeopathy can offer help in many situations which otherwise mi"ht cause prolon"ed incapacity. 7or instance! the use of Arnica in acute in0ury is well #nown! but often for"otten in the heat of the moment. he sooner it can be "iven! the more effective it is! but it is not too late to start it even several days after an in0ury. $ will ,uite often see a patient with a sprained an#le! done two to three days previously! and $ will then start not only Arnica! but also (hus to% "iven concurrently. his combination is very useful in other situations! such as a bad bac#! caused by "ardenin"! or a #nee in0ury done at football.

1ac% problems )f course! we must always remember our homeopathic basics! so (hus to% would only be appropriate if the modalities of stiffness after rest! pain better for heat! and relief by "radual movement were present. 4o when Clive! a"ed ! came to see me with a 9-year history of bac#ache! caused by 0arrin" his spine in a divin" accident! $ needed to #now the modalities of his pain. $n his case! the pain was a lot worse on movin"! and pain-free at rest and was relieved by ice-pac#s! so $ prescribed Bryonia @c! twice daily for one month. When $ ne%t saw him! he had achieved a ?9 per cent improvement! and was deli"hted. nee problems 4imilarly Bob! a"ed 8! had a four-year history of pain in his #nees! which had started after a strenuous "ame of "olf. His pain was also worse for movement! and he had no early mornin" stiffness. As a person he was e%tremely thirsty! so despite the lac# of a mar#ed reaction to heat or  cold! $ prescribed Bryonia @c! twice dail y! for him too. A"ain! after one month! he had improved enou"h to stop his pain#illers. *oving pains $t is always very satisfyin" to treat a patient successfully usin" homeopathy! who has puFFled the rheumatolo"y specialists. /ar"aret! a"ed @! was one such case! who came to see me privately with an acute arthritis of un#nown ori"in. When she came to me! she had severe pain in her ri"ht elbow! such that she could not even feed herself! and her left an#le and forefoot were very inflamed! ma#in" wal#in" very painful. he 0oints includin" her elbow were very painful! such that she could not even feed herself! and her left an#le and forefoot were very inflamed! ma#in" wal#in" very painful. he 0oints were swollen! but not red! very stiff in the mornin"s! and improved by both heat and ice-pac#s. he site of the affected 0oint flitted around! such that a wee# previously it had been her left shoulder and left elbow. 4he was on ma%imum doses of ibuprofen! and also some powerful second-line anti-arthritic dru"s! to no avail. $n her character! she was a chan"eable person! describin" herself as bein" either up or do wn. 4he was very weepy and loved consolation and cuddles. 4he admitted to li#in" to be the centre of attention and! indeed! had been an actress. 4he craved fresh air! was not particularly thirsty! and was averse to fatty food. he local 0oint modalities were difficult to prescribe on! but her constitutional type was plainly +ulsatilla. o the amaFement of her rheumatolo"ist! within a month of ta#in" +ulsatilla! her 0oint pains all subsided and the swellin" resolved in all but her ri"ht an#le! which had completely resolved by the second follow-up consultation. "revention better than cure :,ually successful was the case of :mma! a"ed M! who had developed flittin" 0oint pains at the a"e of . Both her mother and "randmother suffered from rheumatoid arthritis! and she was obviously worried that she was developin" the same. 4o far! her blood tests for rheumatoid had been ne"ative. When $ saw her! the pains were worse for pressure and better for motion! with a lot of stiffness! and more comfortable in the warm weather.  As a person! she was chilly! and loved the sunshine. 4he described herself as an optimist! with a positive attitude to life. 4he was very emotional and empathetic to othersI very affectionate! with a need for physical touch. )n these symptoms! $ prescribed +hosphorus on a constitutional level! and this settled her symptoms very ,uic#ly. )ver the years that $ have been treatin" her! she has needed one or two doses of +hosphorus per year to #eep her 0oint problems under control.  Althou"h it cannot be proved! $ have a stron" feelin" that had she not been treated homeopathically! she mi"ht well have "one on to develop rheumatoid arthritis. !evere rheumatoid arthritis )bviously! prevention is better than cure! and the treatment of patients with established rheumatoid arthritis is often less dramatic. However! some help can be "iven with symptom control! as was the case with /iss 4.*.! a"ed @K! who came to see me with very lon"-standin" rheumatoid arthritis! which had caused severe deformities of her hands and feet. 4he had had a #nee replacement! and had had operations to both feet. 4he had had "old treatment 9 years a"o! which had caused some #idney dama"e. By the time she came to me! her disease had more or less burnt out! but she was sufferin" from e%treme fati"ue and some residual 0oint pains. $ treated her constitutionally with
medica an e%act description of the symptoms of "out 1$nflammation of the "reat toe! cannot bear to have it touched or moved2 &Boeric#e'. 5edum &marsh tea' has the clinical picture of swollen! hot! pale 0oints! with the ball of the "reat toe swollen. 7ormica rufa &crushed live ants' is e%cellent for chronic "out and stiffness in the 0oints. he s#in on the "outy 0oint is red! itchin" and burnin". Conditions of muscles Conditions of the muscles such as fibrositis! fibromyal"ia and polymyal"ia rheumatica are difficult to treat conventionally. 3ia"nosis is often delayed and can be very difficult. 7ibrositis is thou"ht to be caused by small adhesions between individual muscle fibres! causin" stiffness and pain i n isolated spots! 1tri""er points2! mainly in the bac#! shoulders and buttoc#s. he remedy ali bichromicum fits this description well! havin" 1pain in small spots2. 7ibromyal"ia is very similar but involves more diffuse tenderness and pains in the muscles. (emedies such as (hus to%! if the modalities fit! can be very useful. +olymyal"ia rheumatica is a specific inflammation of the pro%imal muscles of the upper arms and thi"hs! which are very tender and wea#. Climbin" stairs is particularly difficult! as is raisin" the arms above the head to open cupboards! etc. his condition responds very well to steroids! but as the disease usually ta#es a couple of years to run its natural course! the steroids may have to be maintained for this len"th of time. o avoid the side-effects of steroids! homeopathic treatment can be tried. /rs :.C.! a"e ! developed pains in her upper arms and thi"hs! and a blood test showed she was sufferin" from polymyal"ia rheumatica. 4he as#ed me to treat her homeopathically rather than "o on steroids! so $ "ave her (hus to%! which fitted her modalities well. However! after some wee#s of treatment! there was very little improvement! so $ "ave her 4ycotic co! which is a bowel nosode! useful if the well-indicated remedy fails to wor#. he improvement with this was dramatic! causin" a rapid decrease in pain and increase in stren"th. Homeopathy on a constitutional basis is the most successful way of treatin" all these conditions! but local prescribin" can be very useful. &ro>en shoulder 7roFen shoulder is another condition that runs a very prolon"ed course. $t often seems to be provo#ed by minimal trauma! or by painful conditions of the chest wall causin" lac# of use of the shoulder! which then seiFes up. he natural course is severe pain in the shoulder for a year! and then complete 1freeFin"2 of the 0oint for another year. After that the whole thin" resolves spontaneously. )f course most people do not want to wait for natural resolution! and various homeopathic shoulder remedies can be useful. almia latifolia &mountain laurel' is indicated for ri"ht-sided shoulder pain and 7errum metallicum for left-sided shoulder pain. 'epetitive strain in:ury (epetitive strain in0ury should be treated by immobilisation of the painful part for two wee#s! accompanied by an appropriate remedy! such as (uta "rav. )bviously it is important to modify the behaviour that caused the problem in the first place! by payin" attention to posture and hand positionin" at a #eyboard! for e%ample. his article by no means comprehensively covers the whole field of 0oint and muscle problems but hopefully "ives a flavour of what homeopathy can do in this area. $ do not want to "ive the impression that homeopathy is a miracle cure in all such cases! and indeed some patients fail to respond to apparently well-indicated remedies. A lot of improvement can be achieved by homeopathic self-help! but more complicated problems will need to be mana"ed by a homeopathic practitioner. /anet Gray *A *11Chir *'C(G *&om )'C(G )&&"+ a G" for over 23 years+ has used homeopathy in her 1ristol practice for the last 4= years, !he lectures in homeopathy at the 1ristol 5eaching Centre and has a small private practice near Chippenham,

5he menopause ot flushes+ irritability+ tearfulness – all problems that can be helped homeopathically+ writes Anne (lover  /any patients spea# enthusiastically of the help the y have received from homeopathic treatment for menopausal symptoms as various as hot flushes! profuse sweatin"! mood swin"s! irritability and sleep disturbance. hese reports are now supported by careful follow-up studies from

review of her personal profile. 7or instance! a patient with hot flushes may be as#ed if these occur mainly at a specific time of day or ni"htI are worse in company or solitudeI or seem to be made worse by particular food or drin#. 4imilarly for more "eneralised effects such as mood swin"s! information about factors that seem to ma#e them better or worse can be very helpful for homeopathic prescribin". 4uch ,uestions help clarify what we mi"ht term the i ndividual patient;s reaction pattern. hey are part of the individual;s profile and are an important aid for the selection of a homeopathic prescription. o illustrate how such ideals can be applied in practice here are four summaries of reports from patients with the sort of detail that would be very useful for homeopathic prescribin". $ admit there is a de"ree of 1poetic licence2 here as few patients would "ive their reports with as much detail! but they are offered to indicate the ran"e of information needed for homeopathic prescribin". After each of them $ summarise some of the further information that can assist the selection of a homeopathic medicine. A =F year-old woman 14orry to bother you! but these hot sweats are such a nuisance and $ am fed up with them. $ hate bein" a nuisance and havin" to ta#e an appointment but $ am near the end of m y tether. hese sweats have been botherin" me for about ei"ht years! they started 0ust before my periods stopped and seem to have "ot steadily worse. hey are especially bad in the evenin" and ni"ht! it is as if they well up from my feet. he sweat rolls off me. $ feel so embarrassed. $ 0ust want to hide. Between these blasts of heat and sweat $ "et cold and shivery so $ am openin" and closin" the window li#e a yo-yo. he family try to help or humour me but that ma#es it worse. $ really wish the y would leave me alone. hey used to pacify me with a nice plate of cheese and pic#le but even that annoys me now. $ can still en0oy a "ood evenin" out dancin" = that has always been my escape. But at other times $ am 0ust fed up and irritable = hardly surprisin" since $ sleep badly. $ often wa#e at  or 8am and cannot sleep a"ain because $ cannot stop thin#in" about everythin". he family seem to avoid me in the mornin"s. hat suits me! $ am tired and worn out.2 Additional information •

3espite tiredness! feels better for e%ercise! such as a session in the "ym or a "ood lon" run. )ften prone to restless fid"etin".

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)ther mood chan"es include! impatienceI lac# of en0oyment of most thin"s! 1even the "randchildren are a dra"2.

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Concernin" se%ual activity! definitely not en0oyed! can be averse to it.

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4tron" food or drin# l i#es or disli#es = averse to fats! loves vine"ar and en0oys a cold "lass of really dry wine.

+rescription6 consider 4epia 89c A FI year-old woman 1han# you for seein" me. $ especially li#e tal#in" to a woman about these problems! $ am a bit scared of the men. /y problem now is hot flushes. $ so easily "et hot and flustered. /y periods are a bit irre"ular! and $ still "et +/ but $ phone my mum and she listens and helps me. $t is the hot sur"es that bother me. hen $ "et shivery after it. $t ma#es me feel really weepy. /y female friends try and help! $ li#e that. But sometimes $ upset them because $ "et a bit moody or sul#y. $ don;t want to be li#e this! it really upsets me. $ can;t seem to ma#e my mind up about anythin". $ have never been confident! but no w even the bit of confidence $ had is "one. /y friends say $ cry easily! one of them called me a lea#y tap. $ felt really hurt. /y moods seem to chan"e so ,uic#ly. $ try and hide it because $ want my friends to stay with me! but $ cannot help cryin" when $ am really fed up. hat ma#es some of them leave me and $ really don;t want to be alone. $ "et fri"htened! especially in the dar# evenin"s.2 Additional information •

Usually a conscientious! timid! yieldin" person but if pushed can be very an"ry.

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:n0oys a stroll in a li"ht breeFe. *entle e%ercise helps! not too vi"orous.

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Hi"hly sensitive! easily hurt and inclined to show her feelin"s.

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Concernin" food and drin# preferences! hates f ats! loves sweet thin"s and is well #nown f or her lac# of thirst. Has a particular intolerance of por#.

+rescription6 consider +ulsatilla 89c A = year-old woman 1han# you for seein" me toda y. $ apolo"ise for botherin" you with somethin" so trivial but these menopausal effects are a nuisance. $ tried to #eep it to myself! but $ bro#e down in the Well Woman clinic last wee# when $ was havin" the routine chec#s and the sister! who #nows $ am not supposed to have H(! su""ested homeopathy mi"ht help. 4o here $ am. 4orry! $ really should be able to contain my feelin"s. he flushes

are a bit of a problem! but $ am more bothered by the va"inal dryness and irritability. $t has made it even more difficult for me to obli"e my husband. 14orry! $ don;t find it easy to tal# about this. $t all "ot much worse when /other died a year a"o. $ have tried to #eep "oin"! but 0ust do not en0oy life as $ used to. he family said $ coped well when /um died! but $ #now $ hid my feelin"s. $t was! and still is! easier to cry alone. $ cope o#ay at home but it is "ettin" more difficult. $ #now $ am snappy! then $ re"ret it and feel worse. 4ometimes $ feel so an%ious! $ have no idea why! it  0ust comes over me. )ne definite problem is noise! $ really can;t stand it! so the "randchildren leave me feelin" ,uite e%hausted. $ am sorry to have to admit all of this! it really is not me to tal# about it! but it has all "ot too much for me.2 Additional information •

 A particularly low patch occurs about mid-mornin"! needs elevenses.

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3oes not want sympathy and is prone to suppress emotions but if pushed can show an"er.

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(eacts stron"ly to sea air! usually feels better for it! occasionally worse.

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Concernin" food and drin# preferences! a"ain! a stron" reaction to salt! usually craves it but occasionally averse. Hates fat or slippery food! disli#es and feels worse for coffee! and usually shows a poor tolerance of alcohol

+rescription6 consider
ends to be tal#ative! but ambivalent attitude to company.

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Can be easily offended! critical or suspicious.

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*enerally feels better in the open air.

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$n earlier years! +/ cleared as soon as her period started.

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 A mar#ed tendency to laterality in that any symptoms she e%periences are li#ely to be worse on the left side of her body.

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 After sleep! prone to wa#e feelin" unrefreshed and "enerally worse for it.

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7ood and drin# preferences = particularly en0oys oysters. :n0oys alcohol but is prone to f eel worse after ta#in" it. 5i#es sharp! acidic drin#s.

+rescription6 consider ;achesis E3c. )ose +atients should ta#e a sin"le tablet of the appropriate prescriptionthree times in the first day then watch for a response. $f symptoms improve! no repeat is needed while that improvement lasts. $f similar symptoms recur later! the dose could be repeated. $f there isno benefit! it is wiser to see% further advice from a homeopathic practitioner. Anne Clover *1 1! ;'C" )'C(G )"* &&om was a consultant at the homeopathic hospitals in ;ondon and 5unbridge 0ells until her retirement from these posts in 4<< and 2334, !he is now living in Cornwall and participates in homeopathic teaching based in 1ristol,

0hat can we learn from the recent '5 scare6 As%s Sara -ames he recent publicity "iven to the use of hormone replacement therapy &H(' has left many women and their doctors unsure as to the best course of action to deal with menopausal symptoms. $t is certainly disconcertin" when perceived medical wisdom chan"es so rapidly! for until ,uite recently H( was promoted as the answer to so many of the problems that we face! not only durin" the menopause! but as we a"e too. 7irst this year was the dramatic headline that H( increased the ris# of both breast cancer and heart attac#s and then within a few wee#s one of the chief investi"ators in this trial claimed that many women had come off H( unnecessarily and the ris#s were not as bad as first reported. What are we to thin# and who should we believeD istory of '5 he bac#"round to H( is an interestin" one. $nitially only oestro"en replacement was "iven. However! after a while! there was fairly clear evidence that the use of oestro"en alone! while reducin" menopausal symptoms! "ave an increased ris# of uterine cancer and so combined oestro"en and pro"esterone treatment became standard as this reduced the ris# to the uterus. Unfortunately! it ma#es it far harder to study the effects of H( as oestro"en and pro"esterone have differin" effects on various or"ans and the picture of ris#s and benefits become more complicated.
serious medical recommendations. omeopathic treatment of menopausal s ymptoms $f your symptoms are not too severe it is well worth tryin" a simple! over the counter homeopathic medicine. $f you feel there are other health issues as well! or you do not respond to the medicine! you should see# an appointment with a ,ualified homeopath. /edicines which $ have found to be very effective! ta#en as needed in a c potency! include6

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4ulphur for burnin" flushes! associated with redness and s#in eruptions and a cravin" for sweets. 5achesis for fre,uent flushes with a bri"ht red face! perspiration and a variable ener"y level! fluctuatin" from e%treme e%haustion to over activity and tal#ativeness. $t is often associated with the inability to stand ti"ht clothin"! especially around the nec#. 4epia for e%haustin" flushes with a lot of perspiration! but less chan"e of colour. )ften helpful when there is also bac# ache and a sense of the womb droppin" down. A sepia person often feels worn out but pic#s up once they start doin" thin"s! such as e%ercise! especially dancin"! and seein" friends.  Amyl nitrate is the medicine $ have found best for burstin"! throbbin" headaches associated with flushes. Usually the upper body is very hot from the flushes but other body parts can be freeFin" at the same time.

After '5 ow homeopathy can help with menopausal symptoms by Jenifer Worden $t may seem stran"e to be mentionin" a form of treatment! Hormone (eplacement herapy &H('! that is firmly planted in the field of conventional medicine in a ma"aFine for those interested in complementary therapies. However! althou"h H( has its detractors! it does still have a part to play in restorin" wellbein" to women sufferin" from menopausal symptoms. he menopause is that sta"e of a woman;s life when her reproductive system starts to wind down! causin" a wide ran"e of symptoms! some of which can be very distressin" and debilitatin". he vast ma0ority of women will start to e%perience the so-called 1chan"e of life2 in their late 9s but symptoms may persist after a woman has passed her @9th birthday. he main symptoms e%perienced are hot flushes! ni"ht sweats! bladder problems such as cystitis and infections! depressed mood! reduced se% drive! for"etfulness and reduced concentration. 7or most women! symptoms will last two to three years! startin" with an irre"ul arity of periods and endin" with the periods completely stoppin". After  months! a woman who has not e%perienced any periods is commonly said to have "one throu"h the menopause and to be 1post-menopausal2. Any va"inal bleedin" after this time should always be reported to a doctor  or practice nurse as it could be an early si"n of endometrial cancer &cancer of the womb'.  As a *+ $ am often as#ed by worried women to carry out blood tests to see whether or not they are "oin" throu"h the menopause but such tests do have drawbac#s. hey only "ive a 1snapshot2 of the hormone levels a woman is e%periencin" at a certain point in time and are notorious for bein" returned from the testin" laboratory as bein" within the normal ran"e when the patient is ,uite clearly e%periencin" some or all of the symptoms of the menopause. +atients often feel let down by the results! which is why *+s tend to advise a"ainst these tests in "eneral. he e%ception to the rule is where a woman has a con"enital lac# of a womb or has had a hysterectomy with preservation of her ovaries. Chan"es to the menstrual cycle are not apparent in these women and early subtle chan"es of the menopause can be confused with a mild depression! perhaps leadin" to incorrect treatment of the underlyin" problem. $n the end! the best way to 0ud"e whether a woman is "oin" throu"h the menopause is to listen to her and to loo# at her as a whole which is the holistic approach. )ften all a woman will need at this point in her life is reassurance that her symptoms are normal and that she is not sufferin" from a mental illness. he ups and downs of teena"e "irls at puberty are echoed in women at the menopause but without the ability to scream and shout and to flounce out of the house! slammin" the door. $nstead! most women will either be loo#in" after a family or wor#in"! which can lead them to feelin" trapped emotionally and physically by their symptoms. Why some women sail throu"h the menopause with the minimum of symptoms and others re"ard it as the worst time of their lives is not understood by the scientific community and e%actly what causes hot flushes is also somewhat of a mystery. Althou"h we #now that it is the reduction of levels of oestro"en &the principle female hormone' that seems to be responsible for hot flushes and ni"ht sweats! the e%act means b y which this happens is not clear. What is clear is that for women with debilitatin" symptoms and a mar#edly reduced ,uality of life! H( can literally be a life-saver! increasin" the hormone levels bac# up to normal and often havin" a dramatic effect! reducin" symptoms to a more mana"eable state within a wee# or so of startin" treatment. 5he problem with '5 4o if H( is so wonderful! why has it fallen from "race recentlyD he main reason is research showin" that H( could increase the ris#s of

havin" a heart attac# or stro#e. he Women;s Health $nitiative &WH$' study &99' was carried out in the United 4tates on a population of women ten years older than would commonly be prescribed H( in the U and who also had e%istin" ris# factors for heart disease. Althou"h the older and less fit women in the research could have biased the results a"ainst H( as they were inherently more li#ely to suffer from heart disease! the medical profession was concerned enou"h by the results to si"nificantly reduce their prescribin" of H(. his course of action was bac#ed up by the /illion Women 4tudy! funded by Cancer (esearch U! which loo#ed at an increased ris# of cancers lin#ed to ta#in" H(! principally cancer of the womb. $t is estimated that at least 89!999 women stopped ta#in" H( after the WH$ research was published and that of the 899!999 women estimated each year to enter the menopause! many will now loo# at alternatives to conventional treatment. he
reason for recurrent urine infections and difficulties with se%ual intercourse at the menopause. Conventionally! these symptoms can be treated with oestro"en creams or pessaries used va"inally without many of the ris#s of H( per se! but not every woman wishes to do this. he  Adamas can be used alone! or in combination with 4epia. 0eight-gain /any of the best-#nown homeopathic medications can be used durin" the menopause such as +ulsatilla and
5he male mid-life crisis 0hen men reach a certain age they sometimes behave out of character+ writes"rian Kaplan Have you ever heard of a happily married man who 1found himself2 and 1ran off2 with his secretaryD )f course you have. /ost probably he was between  and ? years old.
attention to the state of mind of their patients. )bviously there is no 1best remedy2 for male mid-life crisis. $n order to thin# of possible homeopathic remedies! it is necessary to loo# at some of the main issues that can contribute to this syndrome. hese are the five main areas of concern that often seem to come up6 sense of mortality! marria"e! family! wor# and leisure. !ense of mortality  At a certain point in every man;s life! he realises that he is "oin" to die. he moment may arrive with a deterioration of health or even somethin" as trivial as male-pattern baldness. 7or reli"ious people! this sense of mortality may not be a problem. 7or many others however! it can be fri"htenin" and lead to the ,uestion6 1Have $ done what $ needed to do with my lifeD2 $f the answer to this is ne"ative &as it almost always is'! then this can lead to a fear of death and conse,uent an%iety and depression. (emedies that have 1fear of death2 can then be thou"ht of6 Arsenicum album? fear of death! predicts early death! fastidious! tidy people who tend to be miserly. ali arsenicosum? especially if there is a f ear of heart disease &much more prevalent these days with all the pub licity on coronary heart disease'. "hosphorus? for more open men who are interested in the arts and love ph ysical and mental reassurance and sympathy. *arriage /en in fulfillin"! happy marria"es are less li#ely to suffer from this syndrome than men who feel trapped in loveless! se%less marria"es or who are half of a couple who only live to"ether 1for the sa#e of the children2. 4e% may be far less fre,uent than before and his wife may be stru""lin" to come to terms with the chan"es in her physiolo"y due to the menopause and the end of her reproductive years. His libido and ability to perform se%ually may also be ebbin" a bit due to a"e! fati"ue! pressure at wor# and loss of confidence. (emedies to consider are6 Nu# vomica? successful! powerful men who li#e to burn the candle at both ends and may well see an affair or two as the 1solution2 to their problems. /ay be critical of their wives and family. ;ycopodium? men who have a problem with commitment anyway! and now that life is "oin" throu"h a hard phase! start to wonder if they married the ri"ht person in the first place. Also candidates for an affair. )n the other hand the y may be startin" to e%perience some symptoms of se%ual dysfunction. &amily $t can be ,uite dauntin" for a man to see his children leave home. He mi"ht suddenly realise that the best opportunities for spendin" time with them have now "one and start to re"ret not ma#in" more time for them. his ma#es us thin# of remedies for "rief and loss6 Natrum muriaticum? silent "rief. :verythin" bottled up inside. Aversion to sympathy and will seldom see# counsellin" or advice of his own accord. Aurum metallicum? "rief that manifests as deep depression. /ay even thin# or tal# of suicide. Usually suits successful! powerful men who distract themselves from their "rief by becomin" wor#aholics. 0or% 7ew 0obs are "uaranteed these days and men feel far less secure in their place of emplo yment. his lac# of confidence "ets worse as they "et older and 1new blood2 is brou"ht into the company. hey may feel they could lose their 0ob at any time. hey may also ,uestion what meanin" their 0ob has in their life and start to wonder if they are doin" the ri"ht 0ob at all. 7ear of poverty can be a useful rubric here6 1ryonia? fear of poverty! irritable and constantly and pessimistically tal#in" about business. !taphisagria? repressed an"er! resentment! sudden outbursts of an"er! hi"h se% drive! tendency to masturbation. Useful when there is resentment at not bein" promoted or doin" the wor# they hoped to be doin". Aurum metallicum? for men who avoid facin" the many challen"es of middle a"e by 1throwin" themselves into their wor#2 and becomin" wor#aholics. hese men tend to be successful &"old standard'people and of ten very wealthy. hey may loo# ,uite contented to collea"ues and friends but inside they feel deeply depressed and may even entertain suicidal thou"hts. ;eisure /en who wor# too hard to have any hobbies or leisure time are more vulnerable to a mid-life crisis. As retirement looms they have every reason to become fearful. )ther men mi"ht loo# forward to playin" more "olf or spendin" time with the "randchildren but if a man never had time for these in the first place! then it;s unli#ely they have been nurtured enou"h to "enerate real enthusiasm. he word and symptom 1apathy2 comes to mind6 "hosphoric acid? apathetic! listless! indifferent and settled despair. He has little enthusiasm for anythin".

5ime running out )f course the remedies listed above onl y represent a small percenta"e of the many ways men with the male mid-life crisis may present to a homeopath. here is! however! one symptom in the repertory that epitomises the stru""le these men are en"a"ed in. $t is in the /ind section of the repertory and is6 7ear of bein" unable to reach his destination.  As life reaches its mid-point! it starts to dawn on some men that they may never realise the dreams of their youth. ime is simply runnin" out and this fills them with dread. he main remedy for this symptom is 5ycopodium! and indeed $ have found it an important treatment &but by no means a panacea' for the male mid-life crisis. $t is possible! however that men who always needed 5ycopodium as a constitutional remedy have a hi"her incidence of this syndrome. 5ycopodium has a fear of the challen"es that life throws at us and the mid-life and increasin" sense of mortality is a bi" challen"e for anyone to have to face. ow useful is homeopathy in treating male mid-life crisis6 $n my e%perience! homeopaths can be of "reat use to these men. Unli#e orthodo% medicine! homeopathy really encoura"es people to tal# about their whole lives. Eust spea#in" to an empathic listener about the vicissitudes of this crisis can be of "reat therapeutic benefit. /any men may turn up their noses at counsellin" and psychotherapy but may be prepared to reveal all to a doctor who is prepared to listen. Homeopathic doctors tend to be 1listenin" doctors2 so the homeopathic consultation process itself can be very helpful for sufferers of this syndrome. $n addition! the prescription of the ri"ht homeopathic remedy can be 0ust the tonic these men need. his article was first published in the 4prin" 998 issue of Health R Homeopathy. 1rian aplan *11Ch &&om has practised as a homeopathic doctor for over 23 years, 7n 4<J he edited )r Gibson’s !tudies of omeopathic 'emedies with *arianne arling and in 2334 he published the critically acclaimed 5he omeopathic Conversation, 7n 2332 he was elected as a fellow of the &aculty of omeopathy,

;upus Mi%hael (urtin describes this debilitating disease and e#plains how homeopathy can be an effective treatment 5upus &systemic lupus erythematosus' is multisystem autoimmune disease. his means that the symptoms are caused by the immune system attac#in" the body! and almost every or"an can be affected. 5upus &5atin for wolf' ta#es its name from the fact that it can cause rashes across the chee#s and nose! said to resemble the face of a wolf.  Althou"h this can be a very difficult condition to treat because so many different parts of the body are involved! a holistic approach such as homeopathy may prove to be very effective. Autoimmune disease  An autoimmune disease occurs when the body mounts an immune response a"ainst its own parts. )ther e%amples of autoimmune diseases include Crohn;s! diabetes! coelic disease! thyroditis! multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. he cause of these diseases is f ar from clear. Certain individuals may be predisposed to developin" them and! with the e%ception of an#ylosin" spondylitis! women are more susceptible. :nvironmental factors almost certainly play a role! and it is notable that in areas of the world where infectious diseases are endemic! the incidence of autoimmune disease is si"nificantly lower. Common symptoms of lupus 5upus usually starts with 0oint pains! especially i n the small 0oints of the hands and feet! which may flit from one set of 0oints to another. 4#in rashes are also common and these are often made worse when e%posed to stron" sunli"ht. +atients will usually have fever! malaise! wei"ht loss and often feel completely e%hausted and fati"ue easily. 5ymph "lands in the nec# and other parts of the body are often tender and swollen! and muscles may ache and become tender to the touch. All of these symptoms may be caused by a number of different conditions! and lupus is often difficult to dia"nose on the symptoms alone. 0ho gets lupus6 5upus affects mainly youn" women and is in fact nine times more commonly found in women. $t is rare to ma#e the dia"nosis after the a"e of @9 althou"h it can affect both se%es at any a"e. $n :urope and America! it is much more common in women of Afro-Caribbean ori"in than in white women! althou"h the condition is rarely found in Africa. 0hat causes lupus to develop6 he honest answer is that no one #nows what causes an individual to develop lupus! and it is probable that this is a multifactorial disease. here is a "enetic predisposition! for e%ample if an individual is dia"nosed with the condition there is a one in twenty chance that a siblin" will develop lupus. his ris# is increased to nearly one in three if identical twins are involved. Certain "ene patterns have been identified which may ma#e an individual more susceptible. A number of dru"s includin" certain antihypertensives! antifun"al a"ents and antibiotics may act as a tri""er for developin" lupus or a related condition. $t is also possible that viruses may cause lupus to develop. 0hich parts of the body can be affected6 Girtually any part of the body can be involved. Commonly affected or"ans are6

K 1lood and lymphatic system he bone marrow may be affected "ivin" anaemia and a low platelet count which will cause tiredness and easy bruisin". A specific antibody called antiphospholipid antibody may be present in the blood stream which can predispose to blood clots and has been associated with an increased rate of miscarria"e in pre"nancy. K /oints +ain and swellin" in the 0oints is common. Althou"h this can be di stressin"! it is unusual for 0oint dama"e or lon"-term deformity to occur. K !%in  Apart from the facial rash described earlier! the s#in may become hypersensitive to sunli"ht &photosensitivity' and rashes often occur in areas which are more commonly e%posed to the sun! such as the forearms and hands. Hair loss &alopecia' may occur althou"h this is often mild and patchy and the hair usually re-"rows. K eart and lungs (arely these or"ans are affected. /ore commonly the linin"s of the heart or lun"s! the pericardium or the pleura may become inflamed "ivin" pericarditis or pleurisy. 4ymptoms may include breathlessness or sharp pains on ta#in" a deep breath. K 1rain and nervous system /i"raine may affect up to one in three people with lupus. 7ati"ue and depression are also fre,uently a problem. K idneys )ne in three patients with lupus may have some form of #idney disease. his is usually mild inflammation which rarely causes serious problems or si"nificant dama"e to the #idneys! but does need to be monitored. K (ther organs he di"estive system and the eyes are less commonly affected. )iagnosis  Althou"h a lot is now #nown about this condition there is still no sin"le dia"nostic test. 4pecific antibodies in the blood are usually present and the detection of these antibodies in combination with the symptoms described earlier "o towards confirmin" the dia"nosis of lupus. Conventional treatment here is no #nown 1cure2 for this condition and conventional treatment i s directed towards controllin" the disease and its symptoms.
 A "ood ,uality sunscreen with at least factor  protection should be worn. K Avoidance of unnecessary e#posure to infection 5upus can have an adverse affect on the immune system! and the immune suppressin" dru"s that are often used durin" symptom flare-ups can ma#e the body even more susceptible to infection. Clearly we are continually e%posed to viruses on the bus! train! in the wor#place etc on a daily basis! and short of spendin"  hours a day in a bubble it is impossible to live in an infection-free environment. $t is important however to ta#e sensible precautions and avoid those family and friends with obvious #nown infectious diseases! especially chic#enpo%. K )iet  A diet low in saturated animal fat may be helpful in reducin" 0oint pains and inflammation and will certainly improve overall health and wellbein". here is some evidence to su""est that fish oil supplements may be useful. ealth and homeopathy *eor"e Githoul#as! the eminent *ree# homeopath! describes levels of health. A person whose health is in the uppermost level will e%perience no symptoms and en0oy perfect health and happiness. As we descend the levels! minor often self-limitin" symptoms will develop. hese are caused by e%posure to environmental influences li#e viruses or stress. he immune system is able to deal with this and the symptoms resolve spontaneously. At this sta"e there is merely dysfunction of the or"ans and the body heals itself. /ovin" further down the levels! symptoms develop which don;t disappear and chronic disease ta#es hold. *ood homeopathic prescribin" on a constitutional level can prevent this deterioration in health. Constitutional treatment $ndividuals can be classified accordin" to the characteristic reaction patterns of body. 7or e%ample! somebody who has a phosphoric constitution will e%perience pain as a burnin" sensation. hese individuals are very an%ious and indeed may become overwhelmed and 1burnt out2 by their an%ieties. hus a +hosphorus patient who develops lupus will have a tremendous an%iety about her health! will be very fearful! especially when alone and is particularly fri"htened of thunderstorms. he pains in her 0oints and muscles will be described as 1burnin"2. +ain in other parts of the body &e" mi"rainous headaches' will also have a burnin" ,uality.  A patient with a
Apis? red burnin" rashes! often associated with fluid retention and swellin" &oedema'. Better from cold applications. &luoric acid? hair loss especially alopecia areata. !epia? yellowbrown 1saddle2 across the brid"e of the nose. !ulphur? red itchy rashes. Worse with heat! especially the heat of the bed at ni"ht. Worse at ni"ht. W orse for bathin". K ;ungs +leurisy may develop durin" flare-up of lupus. he followin" remedies may be useful in helpin" to control the pain. Aconite? sudden onset of sharp pains! especially after fri"ht or shoc#. Worse after e%posure to cold dry wind. 1ryonia? stitchin" pains &such as found in pleurisy' worse from the sli"htest movement. K *igraine /any homeopathic remedies are helpful in the treatment of these headaches. 1elladonna? intense throbbin" head pains be"innin" in the ri"ht occiput and e%tendin" forwards to the ri"ht eye. Worse at 8.99pm. Worse with any 0arrin". Better lyin" still in a dar# room. Natrum muriaticum? burstin" pain! sometimes described as a small hammer in one spot. Worse around 9.99am. A""ravated by sunli"ht. !pigelia? stitchin" neural"ic pain on the left side in or above the left eye. Better with heat or hot bathin". he cause of autoimmune disease remains unclear but the incidence and prevalence of these illnesses is clearly risin". his rise is mirrored by the increasin" occurence of atopic diseases such as asthma and ecFema. 4tudies have shown that the use of antibiotics in the first twelve months of a child;s life can lead to a threefold increase in the ris# of developin" asthma. $s it possible that the drive to minimise our e%posure and ris# from infectious diseases is actually leavin" our immune systems with nothin" to do other than attac# our own or"ansD *ichael Curtin *1 Ch1 )7" *.) AC *&om is a G" with a special interest in complementary medicine, e has a private practice in homeopathy and acupuncture+ with clinics in 1edfordshire and ertfordshire,

;iver problems (armel (asserley  discusses how homeopathy can help he liver is the powerhouse of the body. $ts primary role is the synthesis of fuel components for use by other or"ans. $ts function is to control carbohydrate metabolism! lipid &fatty acid' metabolism! protein metabolism and bile secretions. )ne of its most important roles is carbohydrate stora"emetabolism that is the monitorin" and stabilisin" of blood "lucose levels. he liver produces "lucose both from its own &"lyco"en' stores and from muscle lactate! as well as from fatty tissue. $t also responds to a hi"h blood "lucose by increasin" its upta#e of "lucose and depositin" it in its stora"e mechanism as "lyco"en. When you have eaten! the liver stores fuel derived from "lucose. When you haven;t eaten for a while! the liver senses this and increases the synthesis and e%port of "lucose when blood "lucose levels are l ow. &he pancreas also senses the fed state ad0ustin" its insulin output accordin"ly.'  An important re"ulatory function of the liver in respect of di"estion is the formation and secretion of bile. Wron" dietary inta#e over a prolon"ed period puts inordinate strain on liver function. he liver also re"ulates fatty acid synthesis! and contributes to steroid production. Alcoholic cirrhosis and dru"-induced dama"e are not uncommon ailments nowadays. rauma causin" rupturehaematoma can be helped with Arnica in con0unction with orthodo% treatment. 'eading the signs Common portents of liver disorders are 1indi"estion2 stomach 1wind2! paindiscomfort under the ri"ht ribs and inability to di"est fatty foods! loose stools and pale stools. $ have had so many cases of $B4&$rritable Bowel 4yndrome' that have cleared up finall y when the treatment was directed at the liver and not 0ust the bowel. /ornin" nausea of pre"nancy to me is not normal. 4o often as a youn" *+ $ reassured my patient that it was normal! only to find as they "rew up or "rew older that they had "all bladder problems. $ now treat mornin" sic#ness very seriously and follow these patients post-natally in respect of liver di"estion. )ne patient had to%aemia durin" pre"nancy developin" into 0aundice! which was cured with +hosphorous m alternatin" with 4epia m. his lad y responded after three days. 5he homeopathic cure

)rthodo% medicine is very useful in "ivin" an assessment of more advanced disease. :ven here homeopathic prescribin" can achieve stunnin"! une%pected results. his was so in a patient who had chronic viral hepatitis and was ta#in" lar"e doses of cortisone &9m" a day initially! lowered to 89m" a day on"oin"'! and was cured over a two-month period on +hosphorous 89c twice a day for three days initially. he patient felt somewhat better = less nauseous! less bloated. he +hosphorous was stopped for four days &allowin" the body to respond'. /y rule to the patient is 1when losin" any "ood effect do it a"ain but less often2. $ therefore "ave one +hosphorous 89c in the evenin"! mornin" and evenin". hen $ stopped and waited! this time for a further wee#. his re"imen was repeated over a month when $ decided to prescribe +hosphorous @c one a day for a month. he lower potency more often seems to be indicated when the cause is due to a to%ic dru". his patient was completely cured. He reduced his o wn cortisone himself and finally came off it alto"ether. /any months later $ "ave him one 5ycopodium 89c in the evenin"! mornin" and evenin" as a constitutional medicine and never saw him after that. Another case li#e this re,uirin" a similar pattern of prescribin"! arose with a dental wor#er who was cured usin" Aurum met 89c. He had specialised in "old fillin"s. ;iver damage 3ama"e to the liver can be due to inflammation due to infective a"ents causin"! for e%ample! hepatitis and liver abscess. his often responds rapidly to homeopathic +hosphorous &89cm' as well as Hepar sulph &99c'. /edorrhinum &m' = Hahnemann;s miasm = may be needed to finish the treatment.  An orthodo% dia"nosis is useful and often essential. $t "ives an indication of how advanced the disease is and of other or"ans li#ely to be affected. 7rom the point of homeopathic prescribin"! however! this is purely of academic interest as the homeopath relies on the si"ns and symptoms especially related to the re,uired medicine and also the constitutional ma#e-up of the patient and more importantly the chan"e in that constitutional ma#e-up. By constitution $ mean! how hisher physiolo"y wor#s for himher. Homeopathy reco"nises the ailment and chooses the re,uired medicine but always &or should always' as# what was it in the constitution! which predisposed this person to "et this ailment in the first place. Hahnemann stressed the predisposition &miasm' to illness as much as the illness itself. $n practice $ li#e to see where the person is comin" from! where he is now and more importantly where he is "oin" = health-wise. hus the past history is very important. A "ood e%ample of this is the "all bladder stonecolic of middle-a"ed women. $t amaFes me how many had nauseamornin" sic#ness durin" pre"nancy. $ have also had many patients with various di"estivebowel problems which cleared up when an old hepatitis infection was treated &mostly with +hosphorous 89c'. $n "eneral practice the commonest liver ailments for me have been "all bladder ailments! for e%ample stones! spasm of biliary duct and also hormonal chan"es. :%cept in hepatitis! liver ailments are normally of slow onset. :ven "all stones! which may seem of acute onset! may have been developin" over ,uite some time. )ietary prevention /uch controversy has ta#en place over fat inta#e. Hi"h-density fats &polyunsaturates' help to emulsify our food. 5ow-density fats &animal fats' have been blamed for arteriosclerosis &hardenin" of the arteries' and "all stones. he ar"ument still continues! there bein" older people who have bro#en all the rules and still have a healthy e%istence. his is where the constitutional ma#e-up of the person becomes interestin". By and lar"e the /editerranean diet of fruit! ve"etables and olive oil is advised. he commonest and probably earliest symptom of liver problem is 1indi"estion2. $t can have many causes = hi"h stomach acid! hiatus hernia = but usually it can be the start of a "all bladder problem. he "all bladder is attached to the duodenum by a narrow duct! which has a valve at the duodenal outlet. When the contents of the stomach enter the duodenum! the "all bladder contracts and releases bile &"all' into the duodenum. Here it emulsifies the food! which is now in the correct condition to travel around the intestine and be absorbed. $f there is spasm of the bile duct there will be swellin" of the "all bladder and bile cannot "et out. $t will swell and cause enormous discomfort and pain. he food will not be emulsified and will travel on in lumpy uneven form! often pale in colour due to an absence of bile in the intestinal contents.  As stated earlier! if the role of the liver is the synthesis for fuel for other or"ans! then the whole body must be investi"ated for other or"an involvement especially #idneys. Hahnemann laid enormous emphasis on whole body involvement in disease. $ thin# this is one area where the homeopathic approach has so much to offer! especially in prevention. 5he most common remedies used 7n early disease? Indigestion-right(sided  •

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Chelidonium Ic = one three times a day for up to three wee#s. 4top treatment if bowels loosen. 4tools should be dar# and pass easily = pale stools show bile obstruction. *ag phos E3c -one twice a da y after usin" Chelidonium. $f pain is subacuteacute use

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/a" phos 89c one every 9 minutes for three to four doses. 4top. Wait. his can be repeated as re,uired. /a" phos is specifically a muscle rela#ant. Yuite often there are other si"ns of muscle tension &for e%ample cramps' in other parts of the body. 5ycopodium 89c -bein" a ri"ht-sided remedy is almost specific for liver and #idney clearance. here is sometimes a raised diastolic &lower level' blood pressure and patients are chilly = tired = windy = constipated = bloated after meals. hey often #eep "oin" for a lon" time and become chronic sufferers before doin" anythin" about themselves.

+ain . discomfort- left(sided  •

Cardus marianus -one three times a day for up to two wee#s.

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Nu# vomica E3c -ur"e to move bowels! which passes off = chill y = irritable 1leave me aloneL 2

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"hosphorous E3c -lon" narrow stools = can be pale = a hi"hly-strun" patient = pale &hint of yellow' s#in.

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!epia E3cH4m -patient "rey and worn out = hormonal hot flushes = emotionally flat nauseous.

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;achesis E3c -althou"h most often re"arded as a left sided remedy! it is often indicated in portal con"estion = shown by a sensation of feelin" terrible on wa#in" or after noddin" off durin" the day. his is due to venous con"estion that affects the liver circulation on lyin" down for any len"th of time. Yuite often it is needed if other remedies fail to wor#. !ulphur  -4ulphur persons are often bi" eaters and drin#ers. 5iver problems can be of alcoholic ori"in. hey find dietary re"imes ne%t to impossible. When treated with homeopathic 4ulphur they can become less warm-bodied! less loose-bowelled and often constipated. Here they need
"rug damage •

(pium 4m andor Nu# vomica E3c can be used alon"side orthodo% medicine.

Other therapies •

Herbal remedies need s#ilful prescribin" by a ,ualified herbalist and some are now under observation for liver cancer.

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4ome atha yoga e%ercises are very useful in helpin" venous draina"e of the li ver.

Carmel Casserley *1 1Ch *&om was a G" in ;ancashire for E years+ 9ualifying in homeopathy in 4<4, !ince retiring in 4<<3 she has been in private practice and has wor%ed in 'omania on and off for four years+ her special interest being autismHautistic behaviour,

!potlight on /oints by /anet Gray $n "eneral practice! $ was fre,uently consulted by people with problems with their 0oints. $n any one sur"ery! $ would ,uite li#ely see two or three such patients! whose problems could vary from a simple 0oint sprain to severe deformity due to rheumatoid arthritis. $n between these e%tremes come the many patients who have developed pain in a particular 0oint! which does not resolve with simple measures. $t is important! first of all! to find out the 1a"enda2 of the patient! or else one can find that the patient "oes out dissatisfied! whatever you do. )ne of the most fre,uent worries of patients with 0oint pains is that they are "ettin" arthritis. $ can remember several patients consultin" me over the years with fairly trivial 0oint problems! and $ could not understand their apparent over-reaction until $ discovered the underlyin" worry. )ften a parent or close relative would have suffered from severe! incapacitatin" arthritis! and the patient was terrified that this was the first si"n. hey were envisa"in" endin" up in a wheelchair in the near future. Gery often it was possible to dispel these fears completely by close e%amination of the 0oint or by %-ray. )nce the patient was reassured that the symptoms were not those of arthritis! they no lon"er worried about the sli"ht discomfort. !o what is arthritis he word comes from the *ree# arthros! meanin" 0oint! and itis! meanin" inflammation. 4o arthritis simply means inflammation of the 0oint. $t is! therefore! an incomplete dia"nosis! and this is where the problems arise. here are many different forms of arthritis! and each has a different clinical course and pro"nosis. 4o when a patient says to me! 1)f course! my mother had arthritis.2 $ have to try to find out what sort she had! and whether it is li#ely to be hereditary. (steoarthritis (AD his is the most common form of arthritis. $t is caused by the de"eneration of the cartila"e that covers the ends of the bones! where they 1articulate2 with other bones. When the cartila"e wears away! there is bone "ratin" on bone! which is obviously very painful! and limits the

mobility of the 0oint. $n addition! pro0ections of bone! called osteophytes! "row out around the 0oint! causin" swellin" and sometimes trappin" nerves. )A was not thou"ht to be hereditary but recent research has chan"ed the thin#in" about this! and it is now thou"ht that )A can cluster in families. $t is not a "enerally pro"ressive disease! so the patient can be reassured that it will not usually spread to involve other 0oints. $t was previously thou"ht that it was onl y a mechanical de"eneration of the 0oint due to wear-and-tear! because it is usually seen in 0oints that have been over-used! or previously in0ured! but the reco"nition of "enetic f actors has introduced the idea that it is an active disease process. /ost elderly people suffer from )A of the #nees as they "et older! particularly if they are overwei"ht! which is not surprisin"! because the #nees have transported all the body;s wei"ht for many years. $t is worse in people who have spent a lon" time on their #nees! for e%ample carpenters! cleaners! and also in runners and footballers. )A of the hip also occurs in athletes! especially " ymnasts and dancers! who have over-stretched the 0oint. Before the days of hip replacement it was a common cause of elderl y people bein" bent over a Fimmer frame! wal#in" slowly in e%treme pain.
!eptic arthritis )ther 0oint problems can be caused by infections and these are very serious. hey have to be treated promptly with intra-venous antibiotics or else permanent dama"e will occur. he worst sort is tuberculous arthritis! not seen nearly so much these days but unfortunately showin" a resur"ence. omeopathic treatment  Althou"h it is absolutely necessary to ma#e an accurate dia"nosis of the type of arthritis for the "eneral mana"ement of the patient! from a homeopathic point of view it is the symptoms that are important. 4o! if a patient is sufferin" from 0oint pains! worse on wa#in" in the mornin" with "reat stiffnessI better on limberin" up after a whileI better for a hot bath or showerI "enerally better in the hot dry weather! and worse in the cold and dampI worse on over-activity! but stiffens ,uic#ly on restin" = that patient will re,uire (hus to%icodendron whatever the patholo"y! especially if the patient is restless! and unable to stay in bed because of the pain. (uta "raveolens has identical modalities to (hus to%icodendron! but has more a predilection to tendons and li"aments! rather than 0oints. However it can be useful for arthritis! particularly of the #nees! where (hus to%icodenron has been seemin"ly well indicated but has failed to act. $f! however! the sufferer prefers the cold weather! and the 0oints are so painful that they dare not move them! even splintin" them to #eep them still! they will re,uire Bryonia. he symptoms of "out are often characterised by an e%,uisite sensitivity to touch! such that the patient cannot bear even the bedclothes on the affected limb. he 0oint is red! hot! shiny and swollen! and the pain is a"ony! stin"in" in nature and much worse for the heat. his fits the remedy! Apis mellifica! but if the modalities were identical with the e%ception of bein" worse for cold! Colchicum would be the remedy. Belladonna is appropriate when the onset is e%tremely sudden! the pain is throbbin" or burstin" in character! and the patient cannot bear bein" 0arred in the sli"htest. (hododendron is suitable for those people who are 1human barometers2. hey are very sensitive to the approach of a storm! and will be able to tell from their 0oints that the weather is "oin" to chan"e. $n particular they are worse from a chan"e to cold! damp weather. heir 0oint pains tend to improve immediately on movin"! and are better from warmth. hey tend to shift about. 5edum is "ood for chilly people! but who prefer cold applications on their painful 0oints. heir pains often start in the small 0oints of the feet! and then move upwards. With +hytolacca! the pains are described as li#e electric shoc#s! shootin" alon" the limbs. A stran"e symptom is that one foot is usually colder  than the other. 3ulcamara is for a person who is e%tremely sensitive to the damp. $t is said that even watercress ma#es their 0oints acheL hey are better for wal#in"! and are restless! with shootin"! tearin" pains! particularly of their hips. almia latifolia is very "ood for shoulders! when there are shootin"! tearin" pains! worse for movement! and worse at ni"ht. he odd characteristic of this remedy is that the pains move from central to the periphery! and from the upper to the lower part of the body! whereas 5ac caninum has pains that move from side to side! and is particularly "ood for hips. *uaiacum is a lesser-#nown medicine! but should not be for"otten for pain in the thumb 0oints! improved by cold applications. Cause and effect 4o far! we have concentrated on the 0oint symptoms in "uidin" us to the ri"ht medicine! and this is called local prescribin"! whereby low potencies are used fre,uently. $ often use this method in "eneral practice where there is not a lot of time to "lean more information! and achieve very "ood results. $t is particularly useful when patients have been ta#in" conventional medicines! such as anti-inflammatories! and have been sufferin" from "astric side-effects! and are loo#in" for an alternative approach. However! there are other approaches which can "ive more deep-seated results. $t is important when prescribin" homeopathically for any condition to consider the aetiolo" y. 7or e%ample! $ had a patient in her late 9s who had been sufferin" from (A for about ten years! and conventional medicine had failed to halt the pro"ression of the disease. When $ too# her history she told me that her 0oints first flared up immediately after her husband had died = but her rheumatolo"ist told her that it was nothin" to do with it. $ prescribed
to her rheumatolo"ist;s amaFement! her blood tests returned to normal. 7rom time to time she would return to me for repeat doses of +ulsatilla! which #ept her well. Causticum is another useful 0oint medicine that wor#s best when used constitutionally. $ had a patient! now a"ed @! whose (A had started after the birth of her second child. Her main problem was her hands! because her fin"ers were stiff! swollen and difficult to use. 4he noticed that! unusually! her 0oints were much better when it was rainin"! but were worse in the cold! dry weather. 4he was a rather irritable person! but very sympathetic and emotional. 4he tended to "et very involved in 1causes2! especially those to do with the environment. $ "ave her Causticum and the swellin" and stiffness in her fin"ers resolved! enablin" her to peel the potatoes a"ain. 5he future /ore and more powerful dru"s are bein" developed by pharmaceutical companies to modify the pro"ress of arthritic disease! but rheumatolo"ists constantly have to 0u""le the dan"ers of the disease with the dan"ers of the dru"s used to treat it. Homeopathic doctors are luc#y = our medicines are "entle! have no side-effects! and treat the whole person. )ur homeopathic hospitals see a hi"h proportion of musculo-s#eletal problems! and a recent audit from the Bristol Homeopathic Hospital showed a K9 per cent rate of improvement. $ am not claimin" that homeopathy can cure every case of rheumatoid arthritis! or stop the deterioration in an osteoarthritic 0oint! but $ do feel that we have a valuable complementary form of medicine that can certainly help to arrest the disease! or at least modify it so that lower doses or less powerful dru"s can be used to treat it. Certainly! durin" my years wor#in" in "eneral practice! $ would not have been without my armamentarium of homeopathic medicines. /anet Gray *A *1 1Ch &&om *'CG" )'C(G was a G" for over 2= years and used homeopathy in her 1ristol practice, !he has  :ust given up lecturing in homeopathy at the 1ristol 5eaching Centre and has recently retired from both the N! and her private practice,

7rritable 1owel !yndrome )octors may be dismissive of it but+ says Janet !ray + for the sufferer it is a condition causing untold suffering+ worry and inconvenience )ne of the problems most commonly seen by *+s is 1tummy ache2. $t is the 0ob of the *+ to sort out those patients who may have a serious disease! for e%ample! stomach ulcers! diverticulitis! or! even worse! bowel cancer! from those who 1simply2 have irritable bowel syndrome &$B4'. here is no test for $B4 = rather it is a dia"nosis made by e%cludin" other diseases! which probably e%plains why doctors may have a rather dismissive attitude to it. he patient may be told! 1All your tests are normal = it;s only $B4.2 $n actual fact! from the sufferer;s point of view! it is a condition causin" untold sufferin"! worry and inconvenience. Nature of the condition $B4 is a very common condition! affectin" as many as 9 per cent of the population! with more females sufferin" than males. $t is concentrated in the 9 to 9 year a"e "roup! but can occur at all a"es. $t is a cluster of symptoms! &see below' rather than a patholo"ical disease! and is assumed to be due to disordered bowel motility! or possibly increased sensitivity to "ut sensation! which in turn may be due to a variety of factors. hese may include stress! food intolerance or the aftereffects of a tummy bu". 4ometimes the condition seems to be a conse,uence of simple constipation! or a sudden chan"e in diet. he bowel may also react to emotional states! such as an"er or an%iety. 4uch 1"ut reactions2 appear to be especially li#ely in those who find i t difficult to share their feelin"s with others! e%pressin" mental distress throu"h physical symptoms. 7ood sensitivities or intolerances can cause $B4 symptoms &as opposed to true f ood aller"y which occurs rapidly after in"estin" very small ,uantities of the food concerned! for e%ample peanuts or shellfish'. Abnormal fermentation in the colon! follo win" antibiotic usa"e and candidal colonisation of the bowel! can also cause $B4 symptoms. )ifferent types of 71! $B4 is classified accordin" to which symptoms are the most fre,uent. 4everal classifications e%istI the followin" one is used at the Central /iddlese% Hospital. !pastic colon? Characterised by constipation and abdominal pain! which is most often left-sided and relieved b y openin" the bowels. /ay be associated instead with diarrhoea.

&unctional diarrhoea? Characterised by attac#s of diarrhoea! mostly in the mornin"s. he f irst bowel movement is usually formed! followed by a rush of mushy or watery motions. hese may be e%plosive! and sufferers are often toilet-bound for lon" periods of time. &oregut dysmotility? Characterised by abdominal bloatin" and discomfort fre,uently after eatin". Gisible stomach enlar"ement is often a problem and any pain is more often e%perienced on the ri"ht side. .#tra-bowel manifestations? $B4 sufferers often have other symptoms includin" lethar"y! bac#ache! urinary symptoms &1irritable bladder2'! pelvic pain and mi"raine. !ymptoms of irritable bowel disease •

 Abdominal pain associated with defecation.

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$rre"ular pattern of defecation for at least two days a wee#.

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hree or more of the followin"6 = altered stool fre,uencyI = altered stool form &hardloose'I  = altered stool passa"e &strainin"ur"ency sense of incomplete evacuation'I  = mucus per rectumI  = bloatin" or feelin" of abdominal distension.

0arning symptoms that need investigation? •

Chan"e in bowel habit.

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+assin" blood per rectum.

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Wei"ht loss.

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Constant abdominal pain.

Conventional management his is a syndrome that is not mana"ed well with conventional treatment. 4ymptomatic relief can be obtained with smooth muscle rela%ants such as peppermint oil or mebeverine hydrochloride. Constipation can be mana"ed with ispa"hula bul#in" a"ents and diarrhoea with loperamide or codeine phosphate. 3ietary mana"ement is important with a trial of an e%clusion diet to detect food intolerance! if indicated by the history. However none of these conventional mana"ements addresses the problem as a whole = they 0ust sin"le out one symptom at a time to treat. his is where homeopathy is so valuable as a therapy. $t is truly a holistic form of treatment! addressin" not only the bo wel symptoms! but also the psyche and the other e%tra-bowel symptoms that may be present. Case histories he followin" cases show how $B4 can be treated with different homeopathic medicines accordin" to the underlyin" problems. a#e Eohn! for instance. He was a 9 year-old en"ineer! happily married with one dau"hter. However! his life was pla"ued by fre,uent attac#s of abdominal pain! with distension! wind and constipation. He also suffered from heartburn! which wo#e him in the ni"ht. $t all seemed to start after several courses of antibiotics "iven for severe pneumonia. He was now unable to eat bread &somethin" he loved' or  fruit or curries or fatty food. His own *+ had investi"ated him thorou"hly and ascertained that there was 1nothin" wron"2 other than $B4. He was treatin" him with the usual antispasmodics and antacids! which helped each attac#! but did nothin" to prevent a recurrence. Eohn was very upset that his *+ appeared to be dismissive of him! and did not listen to him.

He was ,uite emotional while $ was ta#in" his history! and also told me with tears in his eyes about the death of his father. Because of this! and because of his f ood intolerances! $ "ave him +ulsatilla 89c! and he was incredulous of the improvement. His heartburn stopped completely! but he still had occasional attac#s of left-sided abdominal pain! causin" him to bend double! and which were relieved with a hot water bottle. He was still ,uite an"ry with his *+! so this time $ "ave him Colocynth 89c! which resolved the problem.  Another man! Cyril! was a @9 year-old pipe fitter who had suffered from $B4 for ten years. $t started when his wife was very ill and he had had to nurse her until she died.  All his investi"ations were normal! and he was on conventional medication! which was not really controllin" his symptoms. He suffered from lower abdominal pain! with a feelin" he must rush to open his bowels.here was no wind! but copious diarrhoea! and he was always worried he may have an accident. He was a chilly person who loved the heat. 7ood-wise! he had a sweet tooth! and also desired cream! but was averse to fat! curries and spices. He was a "reat worrier about little thin"s! and was always restless and a"itated. He described himself as a 1fuss-pot2. )n these characteristics $ prescribed Arsenicum 89c! with the result that he was "radually able to reduce his conventional medication! and eventually come off it alto"ether. Eoan was incapacitated by diarrhoea! which drove her out of bed in the mornin"s. 4he was a 8K year-old teacher who had developed problems after a tummy upset M months previously! after which she never seemed to settle completely. 4he constantly felt the need to open her bowels and also suffered from wind! "ur"lin" and bloatin". 4he described herself as a hot! sweaty person! althou"h she loved the hot weather. 7oodwise she loved cream and butter but was averse to salt. 4he adored her food and ate i t very ,uic#ly. Her personality pro0ected itself as e%trovert and bubbl y and she admitted to bein" untidy and not mindin" mess. $ "ave her 4ulphur 89c and her diarrhoea became a thin" of the past. Bob;s problems started when he had an attac# of diarrhoea whilst on a fli"ht to the U4A. He was a 9 year-old successful business man! but this problem made him very an%ious whilst travellin" and when he #new he was "oin" to be involved in lon" meetin"s. He was ambitious! with hi"h standards! but his an%ieties were holdin" him bac#. :specially problematic were situations when he would be as#ed to do a public presentation. Althou"h he always did them well! it was at tremendous personal cost. He had a "reat desire for chocolate! which immediately disa"reed with his tummy! and he could only eat small meals because he became full very ,uic#ly. He had abdominal pain on the ri"ht side! which was better for openin" his bowels and passin" flatus. He always had a bad time at pm.  All these characteristics led me to prescribe 5ycopodium 89c! to which he responded very well. General "ractice he vital point in the treatment of $B4 is to prescribe on the totality of the patient;s symptoms! rather than 0ust on the local abdominal symptoms. he cases described above were patients who consulted me privately! but in fact M9 per cent of my time is spent in *eneral +ractice. $ am therefore very well aware of the time constraints under which *+s wor#! but $ am still upset at the number of patients who feel that their *+ 1hasn;t time2 to listen to them. )ur attitude to our patients is so important! and it actually does not ta#e very lon" to listen to the patient;s story. hose of us who use homeopathy in *eneral +ractice #now that it is not always easy to spot the constitutional remedy ,uic#ly! but it is made sli"htly easier by the fact that maybe as many as 89 per cent of patients who develop $B4 do! in fact! have have a 5ycopodium constitution. $n other words! the typical 5ycopodium person! who is ambitious! sets hi"h standards for him or herself! is hi"hly an%ious! but is determined not to show it! is 0ust the person who will develop $B4 when under stress. )thers who may develop such symptoms with an"er will re,uire remedies such as
7nsomnia omeopathy can help you achieve a good night’s sleep+ writesKeith Souter 

Bein" unable to sleep can be one of the most frustratin" conditions. +eople often complain that they feel alone! isolated by their wa#efulness when everyone around them is deep in the arms of /orpheus. Jet insomnia is very common. 4leep troubles affect  per cent of people at some point! and over ten per cent of the adult population have a chronic problem with insomnia. here have been many famous insomniacs. Gincent Gan *o"h apparently used to douse his mattress and pillow re"ularly with a stron" concentration of camphor in an effort to deal with his sleeplessness. /arilyn /onroe was another re"ular insomniac who used hypnotics to "et off to sleep and whose sad death was thou"ht to have resulted from an overdose of sleepin" tablets. Eudy *arland;s problems with sleep seemed to arise from an addiction to amphetamines! which #ept her awa#e and which she countered by ta#in" sleepin" tablets. 7inall y! *roucho /ar% developed intractable insomnia after the ?? Wall 4treet Crash in which he lost a fortune. (ather than turnin" to alcohol or sleepin" tablets he developed a uni,ue method of easin" his isolation durin" his sleepless ni"hts. He randomly used to rin" up total stran"ers and insult them on the telephone. $t did not help him to sleep! but it apparently mellowed his temper. Normal sleep Wor# in sleep laboratories e%tendin" bac# over the last four decades has advanced our #nowled"e of the physiolo"y of sleep. 3urin" a normal sleep time we seem to "o throu"h several cycles of sleep composed of four sta"es of non-rapid eye movement &<(:/' and rapid eye movement &(:/' sleep! in an ebb and flow manner as depicted in the dia"ramin the +37 version of this article. <(:/ sleep is divided into four pro"ressively deeper sta"es. 4ta"e $! li"ht sleep! sta"e $$! middle sleep! and sta"es $$$ and $G! deep! deltawave sleep. (:/ sleep! when dreamin" occurs! follows <(:/ sleep and occurs in four or five episodes durin" a sleep time of about ei"ht or nine hours. *enerally! the first (:/ burst lasts about ten minutes! while the last may occur for over an hour or two. $f you divide a sleep time of nine hours into three periods of three hours! then the first third will be predominantly <(:/ sleep and the last third will be mainly (:/ sleep. $f one wa#ens from a full and "ood ni"ht;s sleep then it is usually from (:/ sleep or a short episode of sta"e $ <(:/ sleep! when you have a recollection of your last dream! before it disappears as you "rasp consciousness. 4ta"e $ <(:/ sleep occurs at the start of sleep and at potentially wa#eful times durin" the ni"ht. $t ma#es up about five to ten per cent of total sleep time. $t is characterised by twitches and occasional 0er#in" movements. 4ometimes one may e%perience 1hypna"o"ic pseudohallucinations2 at this time! such as when one ima"ines fallin" off a "ate and 0er#in" awa#e. hey are of no si"nificance. 4ta"e $$! when one becomes less aware of the e%ternal environment occurs throu"hout the sleep cycle and ma#es up about 9 to 9 per cent of sleep time. 4ta"es $$$ and $G occur mainly in the first third of the ni"ht and account for about 9 per cent of the sleep time. 4leep-wal#in"! ni"ht terrors and bed-wettin" all seem to occur in this part of the sleep cycle. 4ta"e $G is the hardest sleep to be roused from. (:/ sleep ma#es up the remainin" 9 to  per cent of the sleep time. :ven now we are not sure about the functions of the individual sta"es of sleep! but it seems that the whole process is essential to brain functionin" and to "eneral health of the bod y. $t is thou"ht that <(:/ sleep is associated with "rowth and repair of the brain and body! and that (:/ is associated with mental functions! dreamin" and processin" of memory. Changes in sleep patterns $nfants sleep for about  to @ hours a day! in several episodes. (:/ sleep predominates at the e%pense of sta"es $$$ and $G <(:/. )lder children develop a pattern more a#in to an adult! with the noted adolescence period bein" characterised by e%cessive somnolence. hen in the elderly! there is a 9 to  per cent reduction in sta"es $$$ and $G <(:/ sleep! less (:/ sleep! and an increase in sta"e $$ <(:/ by about five per cent. +hysiolo"ically! this means that to have the complete restorative sleep! the total time in bed must increase. Unfortunately! because more time is spent in the li"hter sta"es of sleep there is more opportunity for various medical conditions to impin"e on the sleeper and wa#en them to cause a complaint of insomnia. 7nsomnia  As with any human parameter! it is hard to lay down numbers about ideal durations of sleep. 4ome people may sleep efficiently for si% hours with no complaint! yet others need a full ei"ht or nine hours of unbro#en sleep. $nsomnia is therefore a hi"hly sub0ective complaint.  A reasonable wor#in" definition of insomnia could therefore be6 a complaint of difficulty in initiatin" andor maintainin" satisfyin" sleep. $nsomnia is one of those conditions where there is immense variation in the sort of problem that it causes. here may be difficulty fallin" asleep! difficulty stayin" asleep! wa#in" early! or 0ust feelin" unrefreshed. And of course! there can be secondary effects! such as daytime fati"ue! poor concentration and irritability. here may be obvious causes of insomnia! such as prostate problems in men! bladder problems! heart failure! hormonal chan"es and various arthritic or painful conditions. here may be underlyin" psycholo"ical causes such as simple worry! more mar#ed an%iety or depression. Habit problems! such as too much caffeine! tobacco or alcohol! or side-effects from medication may also play a part. And! of course! restless or noisy bed-fellows may be #eepin" one a wa#e. 7inally! if the individual is a snorer then sleep apnoea needs to be considered. $n this condition the respiratory drive is low durin" sleep! causin" periods when the individual stops breathin" and either snores loudly or wa#es up. $f this is suspected then a medical opinion should be sou"ht. omeopathy and insomnia Homeopathy can often ma#e a bi" difference to insomniacs. he approach is to consider the sleep disturbance as part of the overall clinical picture. here is no such thin" as a homeopathic sleep-in"-tablet! 0ust as there is no such thin" as a homeopathic pain#iller. he well-selected remedy! if it includes the pattern of the sleep disturbance! may solve the problem.

Havin" an awareness of what happens durin" the sleep cycle can be helpful! in that it mi"ht indicate a remedy or "roup of remedies. 7or e%ample! dutiful types who tend to wa#en in the early hours with an a""ravation of some symptom or another between two and four may well need one of the ali salts. he followin" patterns may also help in the choice of a remedy. )ifficulty getting off his is a common problem with an%iety states! so the remedies in which an an%iet y component is prominent may help. Aconite may help the person who panics on "oin" to bed. hey may fear sleepI feel that they mi"ht not wa#e up! so sleep could ta#e on the spectre of death.  Arsenicum album may help the restless! meticulous type of person who cannot "et off to sleep because they have to "et everythin" ordered in their mind. ;ight sleepers Wa#efulness from the least bac#"round noise is su""estive of a need for Coffea with its hei"htened sensitivity and inabil ity to "et into the deeper sta"es of sleep. Asarum also helps when any noise wa#ens the sleeper! especially if they have "reat sensitivity to any noise durin" the day. $nsomnia after over-indul"ence in stimulants! food! drin# or after overe%ertin" oneself late in the day may indicate
opinion from a homeopath to elucidate the best remedy. "repare for sleep  Adoptin" "ood sleep preparations is worthwhile. he followin" may help6 . "et into a bed-time routineI . ma#e your bedroom a place for sleep or love-ma#in"! not a study! computer or G roomI 8. ma#e your bedroom a ,uiet room without tic#in" cloc#s! etcI . ma#e it a dar# room when the li"hts "o offI . avoid caffeine! tobacco or alcohol in the late evenin"I @. have the room temperature 0ust ri"htI K. if you can;t sleep after half an hour "et up and do somethin" pleasurable until you feel sleepy. eith !outer *1 Ch1 &'CG" *&om *7"si*ed )ip*edAc is a part-time G" in 8or%shire, e also has a private holistic medicine practice and is a newspaper columnist as well as the author of Homeopathy for the Third Age and Homeopathy: Heart & Soul ,

7nfluen>a Ri%hard Ro#inson advises on the homeopathic treatment and prevention of this common winter illness )ne of my first personal e%periences of the effectiveness of homeopathy was shortly after $ started the lon" course in homeopathy at the (oyal 5ondon Homoeopathic Hospital some years a"o. $ had been out for the day one 4aturday! and on arrivin" home be"an to feel very unwell. $ was shivery! hot and cold! with teeth chatterin" and feelin" very wea#. $ dra""ed myself to bed with an inward "roan! #nowin" that $ would be unfit for anythin" for the ne%t few days. $ still had a clear enou"h head thou"h! to thin# that since $ was studyin" homeopathy! now would be a "ood time to see if these homeopathic remedies actually wor#ed. 4ince my symptoms appeared to fit the *elsemium picture $ too# a pilule of *elsemium 89c followed by another one half an hour later! and then doFed off. $ wo#e up after an hour and "ot out of bed = all the symptoms had completely disappearedL $ was astoundedL $ had never had such an e%perience before = any previous time that $ had had flu symptoms li#e this! they would have been sure to last several days! with or without conventional treatment. $ was very impressedL $nfluenFa is caused by infection with the influenFa virus. Uncomplicated influenFa is characterised by the abrupt onset of fever! chills! nonproductive cou"h! muscle pains! headache! nasal con"estion! sore throat and fati"ue. $t is usually dia"nosed clinically.
 At the start of an attac# of ;flu! ta#e a dose as soon as possible. (epeat two or three times at si% hourly intervals.

•

7or a well established attac# of ;flu! ta#e one mornin" and evenin" for up to three days.

L5ailor-madeM preparations 1ailor-made2 ;flu preparations are produced b y many homeopathic pharmacies. 7or e%ample! one preparation contains the homeopathic dilution of the current influenFa virus amon"st other thin"s! such as a combination of previous ;flu virus potencies. he recommended dosa"e is 89c three times per day once a fortni"ht durin" the ;flu season. Another e%ample provides a combination of $nfluenFinum 89c and Bacillinum 89c. he recommended dosa"e is one dose a wee#! increased to once a day if in contact with influenFa.  Althou"h there are ,uite a few specific remedies for influenFa! the followin" are the ones $ have found most helpful. Gelsemium his remedy covers a lar"e percenta"e of the ordinary! typical ;flu cases familiar to us all. Where often someone feels a bit out of sorts the day before! possibly a little headachy! a little feverish! a bit of va"ue pain6 he "oes to bed! does not sleep very well and ne%t mornin" he feels rotten. *elsemium ;flu is rather slow in onset! usually comin" on over si% to ei"ht hours and produces primarily a feelin" of intense weariness. he patient is very dull and tired! loo#s bleary-eyed and sleepy! with heavy! droopin" eyelids bein" a #eynote of *elsemium. hey feel hot and stic#y! and yet have the sensation of little shivers of cold up and down their bac#s! as if someone had spilt a little cold water down their bac#. he *elsemium patient tends to feel sha#y! with a tremor in their hands noticeable when they tr y and lift somethin" and the y tend to "et very shivery when e%posed to cold drau"hts. hey tend to have an unpleasant headache that is usually throbbin"! affectin" the bac# of the head radiatin" into the nec# and there is a "eneralised achin" soreness in the muscles. 3espite their sensitiveness and dry mouth! patients with *elsemium ;flu are not usually very thirsty. his lac# of thirst is another #eynote of *elsemium. 7or potency and dosa"e $ would su""est one 89c up to hourly in the acute sta"es! reducin" the fre,uency as the symptoms improve! and stoppin" the remedy when the symptoms clear. his re"ime would be suitable for the followin" remedies as well. 1aptisia $ remember ta#in" a telephone call from a patient whom $ had been treatin" for another complaint to say that she had come down with the ;flu! and was there any homeopathic remedy that mi"ht helpD )n as#in" her to describe her symptoms she said that she felt very tired with her face flushin" hot and the rest of her cold. 4he had throbbin" pains in her head which shifted about! her face was flushed and she felt 1all puffed up2 with a pressure in her head! she found it very hard to concentrate! she said that she felt weird when she stood up! and felt dru""ed and dopey. $ su""ested that she try Baptisia. 4he told me at her ne%t appointment that her symptoms had cleared after a few hours! and that she had been deli"hted at the response. his is the classic picture of the Baptisia influenFa = "enerally a more to%ic situation than in *elsemium the symptoms are more intense with mental confusion and feelin" befuddled = their faces often appear puffy and swollen! their e yes are heavy! but with a con"ested! besotted loo# rather than the droopin" eyelids of *elsemium. )ccasionally! one may even elicit the rather biFarre Baptisia #eynote of 17eels he &or she' is scattered all over the bed and tries to brin" all the pieces to"ether a"ain2. 1yronia  Another telephone call was from a patient whose son had 0ust had to ta#e to his bed with ;flu! a"ain en,uirin" if a remedy mi"ht help. Here the picture was different a"ain = he had shut himself away in his bedroom and was lyin" still 0ust facin" the wall! was irritable and unresponsive! and 0ust wanted to be left alone &most unli#e the usual 0unior invalidL'. His thirst for lar"e amounts of cold water confirmed the dia"nosis of Bryonia and a"ain a few doses of the 89c potency brou"ht about a hasty recovery. .upatorium perfoliatum his is another remedy! which can be e%tremely useful in influenFa. Here the most noticeable factor is the severity of the pains which are a severe ache involvin" all the bones of the s#eleton = arms! le"s! shoulders! bac#! hips and particularly the shin bones. he pains develop very rapidly and the patient often says it feels as if the 0oints were bein" dislocated! or as if the bones were bro#en = it is that type of deep-seated severe pain. Associated with the pain! there is intense restlessnessI the patients are always movin" to try to ease the achin" pain in one or the other of their bones. :upatorium patients are always chilly! feelin" cold and shivery but parado%ically tend to be very thirsty for ice-cold drin#s. Arsenicum album +robably the best remedy for 1"astric ;flu2 influenFa with "astroenteritis! vomitin" and diarrhoea is Arsenicum album. Here! the patient tends to feel worse between midni"ht and one o;cloc# in the mornin" and tends to have a fever! followed by chills and ri"ors. he face is hot and patients crave open air! yet the body feels chilled. hey feel worse for eatin" and drin#in"! but are thirsty for small sips of water. here is a mar#ed restlessness punctuated by collapse or prostration! and the patient tends to have the classical Arsenicum an%iety often out of all proportion to the severity of the symptoms. he sufferer wants company at all times.

Homeopathy! therefore! can be e%tremely effective in both the prevention and treatment of influenFa and as always! is a cheap and safe alternative to the allopathic approach. +erhaps homeopathy should be the approach promoted in the
&ertility problems Mollie Hunton describes four cases where homeopathy has helped to produce a much-wanted baby +roblems with fertility seem to be becomin" more common. $nability to become pre"nant! recurrent miscarria"e and babies born very prematurely all occur fre,uently nowadays. he vets report similar problems with sheep and cows and soil analysis of the "round that they "raFe shows severe deficiency or absence of vital minerals and trace elements li#e selenium! iodine and Finc. $f crops are "rown in similar situations it is li#ely that humans may be sufferin" from the same deficiencies. $f so it would also account for the vast i ncrease in cancer and heart problems! as selenium is an antio%idant. However! whatever the cause! homeopathy seems to be able to help women conceive and have healthy babies. 7or me it is a very rewardin" part of my practice. !ara  At 8M 4ara had been seein" an infertility specialist for seven years. 4he was told that there was no obvious reason why she could not become pre"nant. All her tests were normal and she was offered $G7. 4he decided to try homeopathy before embar#in" on that route. W hen $ too# her history $ could not find any symptoms on which to base my prescription. 4he had not had any previous illnesses and was well in herself. $ as#ed about her family history. Her mother was well! but she did not remember her father. 1What had happened to himD2 $ as#ed. 1He died  0ust before $ was born.2 1What did he die ofD2 B. here was my only clue. $ prescribed ub bov 9/! three tablets in one day! and two months later she missed her period. 4ara had a normal pre"nancy and birth and subse,uently had two more children without the need for any more remedies. his was a situation where the patient herself had no illness! but suffered from a problem passed on to her by her father which stopped her becomin" pre"nant. As her father had B at the time she was conceived the remedy was uberculinum bovinum. ate $ first met this 8K year-old woman in "eneral practice one evenin" as an emer"ency. 4he had had a miscarria"e and had not stopped bleedin" for seven wee#s. A scan had shown that there were no remnants of the pre"nancy left behind! but there may have been a fibroid developin".
/ulie his 89 year-old woman had a complicated menstrual history havin" started her periods at the a"e of 8 but only menstruatin" once a year since. At the a"e of M Eulie had started the pill and ta#en it until the a"e of @ after which she had not had any periods at all. he "ynaecolo"ist thou"ht she had had a premature menopause and put her on H(. )ne of the main reasons for her periods disappearin" was that at  she;d had a spell of anore%ia and her wei"ht dropped to seven stone. Her husband;s sperm count was also sli"htly low. After investi"ations! all of which were normal! she was told there was no chance of pre"nancy without the fertility dru" Clomiphene. hree cycles of that made no difference. 4he;d also had a chronic cou"h with ear infections and mild hearin" loss on the left side since she was youn" and had had lots of antibiotics. Eulie was a fastidious lady who wept easily and li#ed to be appreciated. Her family meant everythin" to her and not to be able to have children was devastatin". 4he suffered from anticipatory an%iety! li#ed the company of individuals but was shy in a crowd. +roblems with cycle control and absent periods seem to becomin" more common. $ have therefore devised a method of maturin" the follicle with homeopathic remedies. he re"ime is easy6 )ophorinum 89c &also called ovarian e%tract' one daily from day five to nine inclusive! countin" the first day of a bleed as day one! and 7olliculinum 89c! one daily from day 9 to  inclusive. 3ay  is ovulation day in a M-day cycle. he )ophorinum matures the whole ovary and the 7olliculinum matures the follicle. $f there are no periods! a cycle is counted from any date. $f the ovary does not produce a ripe follicle the e"" cell cannot be released from it and there is no possibility of pre"nancy. his woman too# both remedies plus three tablets of +ulsatilla 9/. 4he came bac# to see me two months later havin" had two periods! one after 8 days and the second after M. Her temperature chart did not show an ovulation pattern. Her cou"h had cleared up for the first time ever. As she had a stron" family history of cancer $ "ave her Carcinosin 99! three tablets in  hours. Eulie did not come bac# a"ain but after three months on this re"ime she became pre"nant and delivered a healthy baby "irl  months after her first consultation. ;esley  At 8! 5esley had ta#en the pill for  years before tryin" to become pre"nant for the last M months. 3urin" this time she had had a miscarria"e at  wee#s and one at ei"ht wee#s. 4ince then she had had irre"ular periods. As a child and teena"er! repeated ear! throat and chest infections! had been treated with antibiotics as had her acne. 4he suffered from continuous thrush. 4he was warm-blooded! intolerant of heat and sweated a lot. 4he slept well and her ener"y was "ood. here were two e%periences of "rief in her life as a friend had died 0ust before she became pre"nant for the first time and her "randmother had also died durin" this pre"nancy. With such a history of antibiotics and her physical reactions $ first prescribed 4ulphur @c three times a day for t wo wee#s! then twice a day for two wee#s then once a day until she came bac# to see me a few wee#s later. 5esley must have ovulated at the time of the first appointment and she was already pre"nant when $ ne%t saw her. $n view of her previous history she was advised to have monthly scans by her "ynaecolo"ist. he ne%t time $ saw her was when she was @ wee#s pre"nant. Her recent scan was normal! but she had developed a cou"h. 4he was not #een to ta#e any more antibiotics! and a few days of +ulsatilla 89c four times a da y was very helpful. $ ne%t saw her when she was seven months pre"nant. he doctor had found su"ar in her urine. 4he was advised to stop ta#in" any su"ar in her diet and prescribed 4ulphur @c three times a day as before. 7our wee#s later she told me that the urine su"ar had "one! but she was worried that the baby was too bi". 4he was advised to try a low "lycaemic diet6 no "lucose! sucrose! maltose! de%trose! lactose in mil# and fructose in fruit. $ also advised 4ulphur 89c twice a da y for a wee# plus Caulophyllum 89c daily &which helps to prepare the cervi% for labour' and Arnica 99c to ta#e every two hours durin" labour. 5esley delivered a healthy! but lar"e! baby "irl after bein" induced at 8? wee#s. 4he has #ept off the su"ar since and has subse,uently had another baby "irl without any problems. *ollie unton *1 1! )'C(G &&om has been practising homeopathy for 2= years+ until recently as a G"+ and now in private practice, !he is "resident of the *idlands branch of the &aculty of omeopathy and teaches homeopathy to undergraduates at 1irmingham *edical !chool,

igh blood pressure (armel (asserley  advises on a holistic approach to treatment Blood pressure refers to the measured pressure in the circulatory system. he latter consists of arterial blood 1pumped2 by the heart deliverin" o%y"en and other nutrients to the or"ans and tissues! and venous blood which returns 1used2 blood bac# to the lun"s to release carbon dio%ide and receive o%y"en. he #idneys filter materials and salts! mainly sodium. his heart-lun"#idney mechanism must be #ept in "ood wor#in" order to maintain health. 3iet and e%ercise are of utmost importance in the prevention of heart! lun" and #idney disease. $t does not ta#e our modern medicine to tell us this. Hahnemann! the founder of modern homeopathic medicine! wrote at len"th on the absolute importance of diet in the prevention of chronic disease. His instructions were enli"htened = albeit severe = no spices! salt! tea! coffee etc and he advocated pure food "rown as close to nature as possible. He laboured the importance of e%ercise! moderate where necessary. But most of all his emphasis was on the removal of stressful factors and restin" when necessary. We have added nothin" to his directions.

)iet 3iet should be as near or"anic as possible. )r"anic foods are balanced foods absorbin" nutrients in proportions and at a pace intended by nature. When forced to behave in ways not intended! nature can hit bac# in relentless ways. 7or e%ample food "rown in soil containin" too much aluminium due to acid rain! nitrates from industrial waste! or artificial nitro"en to force "rowth! can have devastatin" effects on the human body causin" fine 1scratch2 mar#s in the arteries around which pla,ues can "ather cholesterol and other material causin" atheromatous patches. hese are wea# areas! which can rupture and l ea# causin" stro#es. his is especially so where blood pressure is raised. 4tron" tea! coffee and nicotine! as well as causin" emotional stress cause stimulation of the delicate arterial musculature. After a while this will cause hardenin" of the structure. +ressure increases inside the soft pliable arteries and hardenin" of the arteries occurs. his shows up in older people especially. $t is a shame to speed up the process from youth and the middle years due to i"norance andor ne"lect.
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 A"itation may need Ars alb 7ear may need Aconite

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 An%iety may need Ar" nit

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 An"er may need
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(esentment may need 4taphysa"ria

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*rief may need $"natia

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Blac# depression may need Aurum met

 All of these medicines must carefully fit the patient;s picture. Homeopathic medicine has always been with us. $t was Hahnemann;s specific contribution to show the importance of the mental and emotional symptoms in treatin" the patient. .#ercise his must be "raded to the individual. Where blood pressure is raised! e%ercise must be carefully underta#en and supervised bearin" in mind the chronicity or otherwise of the blood pressure. 4ometimes! it is safer to al ter diet and prescribe homeopathically well before prescribin" e%ercise. Wei"ht reduction causes less wor# for the system as a whole. :%ercise especially in fresh air helps the inta#e of o%y"en and opens

up slu""ish arteries which helps venous blood return! improvin" o%y"en inta#e and so on. 1lood pressure his is the measurement of the pressure in the system! the upper level &systolic' caused by the 1pump2 or cardiac pressure. he lower fi"ure &diastolic' refers to the pressure left in the system &caused by hard versus soft arteries! and #idney competence' when this is rela%ed. $n youn" healthy adults normal blood pressure is 9-89M9-M. he recent 1Health 4urvey of :n"land2 defines hi"h blood pressure rather conservatively as a blood pressure of @9? &or bein" on anti-hypertensive dru"s'. here are re"ional variations with a hi"her prevalence within the north of the country compared to the south. 4ome $ndian tribes &for e%ample the Jamomamo livin" in GeneFuela' eat fruit! ve"etables! nuts and occasional animal food. hese adult men have an avera"e blood pressure of ?@. here is no rise with a"e = as in those populations in Western cultures. 5reating blood pressure homeopathically Havin" advised on diet and e%ercise &where appropriate' plus rela%ation techni,ues! the homeopathic prescription is best found when tailored to the individual constitutional ma#e up of a person. he commonest medicine $ have used is 4ulphur. hese are the warm-blooded people often lovin" clubs! pubs and parties. hey are very personable and 1ma#e an entry2 socially. hey have "ood appetites! often li#e alcohol! are thirsty! li#in" lon" drin#s e" cold beer. 3espite bein" out late perhaps carousin"! they wa#en bri"ht and early and are often out a"ain and on the "o. hey can be very untidy and not always charmin" to live with. $n my e%perience! they commonly "o on to develop a 5achesis ma#e up. hey become lo,uacious! alcoholic or are on the way to becomin" an alcoholic. hey become very heavy-headed in the mornin"s on wa#in" = also after a nap. hey are losin" control and becomin" 0ealous and envious. heir systolic and diastolic blood pressures are normally very hi"h. hrombosis in the left le" is common and may have already been treated. When 5achesis is indicated and prescribed it wor#s very ,uic#ly. When #idneys are involved the diastolic is often raised more than a systolic readin". 5ycopodium is almost specific here. $t may need repeatin" at wee#ly intervals initially then the distance between needin" it will be"in to widen. When the diastolic fi"ure settles! a truer constitutional picture may present itself e" Arsenicum alb or Causticum. /ost patients will need a potency of salt itself &
A little bump or a ma:or in:ury6 (leve M%.ntosh discusses head in:uries and their homeopathic treatment When (odney! a ? year-old man who had sustained a severe head in0ury in a road traffic accident ei"ht months previously! came for homeopathic treatment! he had already seen numerous doctors and specialists. Before his head in0ury! (odney had been wor#in" as a security "uard at a popular holiday resort. His head in0ury was severe and he spent a month in intensive care followed by a month in a rehabilitation ward. 4ince then (odney could no lon"er wal# without assistance. He had the muscle stren"th to wal#! but didn;t seem to #now where his le"s were or how to control them. He became very possessive of his wife! insistin" that she remained constantly at his side in case he needed help! which he often did. He understood when spo#en to but had "reat difficulty tal#in". He spo#e very slowly and his words were so slurred it was difficult to understand him. He sometimes became tearful and spo#e of how much he would li#e to wor# as a security "uard a"ain! a 0ob he had really en0oyed. He also missed his independence! especially bein" able to drive himself around. His "reat passion in life had always been cars. When frustrated

or an"ry about his life! his functionin" declined further and he couldn;t feed! wash or dress himself. $ was deeply moved listenin" to (odney;s story with his mother and his wife sittin" there. $ realised 0ust how easily it could be me with a head in0ury! sittin" in front of a doctor! my life turned upside down. Jet stories li#e (odney;s are told over and over a"ain each and every day in Britain. !tatistics British head in0ury statistics ma#e disturbin" readin". Around one million people receive emer"ency care for head in0uries annually. Althou"h many of these in0uries will be minor! one in five will need to be admitted to hospital. Head in0uries account for one per cent of all deaths! but for   to 9 per cent of deaths in five to 8 year olds. About 9 per cent of traumatic deaths are associated with head in0ury! and @9 per cent of deaths in road traffic accidents are the result of head in0ury. $t is the most common cause of death in abused children. he most prevalent causes of head in0uries are road traffic accidents. )ther common causes are assaults! falls from windows in youn" children and falls in the house in the elderly and toddlers. 4ports in0uries! particularly of contact sports such as bo%in" or ru"by! also contribute. here are fears that lar"e numbers of British soldiers returnin" from $ra, and Af"hanistan may be sufferin" from head in0uries followin" a direct blow to the head or bein" close to an e%plosion. $n the United 4tates! there are estimates that up to 9 per cent of returnin" soldiers may be affected. 5ypes of head in:uries Head in0uries are sometimes called 1concussions2 or 1traumatic brain in0uries2 &B$s' and can ran"e from mild to severe. /ost mild head in0uries cause no harm! but sometimes even mild in0uries can cause serious! lon"-term problems. •

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 A concussion is a 0arrin" to the brain. A person may pass out for a short while when concussed. hey may even feel a bit daFed or lose their vision or balance for a while.  A brain contusion is a bruise of the brain. here may be some bleedin" in the brain! causin" swellin".  A s#ull fracture is when the s#ull crac#s. 4ometimes the ed"es of the bro#en bones cut into the brain and cause bleedin" or other in0ury.  A haematoma is a bleed on the brain that clots. $t may only develop as late as a few wee#s after the in0ury and sometimes needs ur"ent sur"ical treatment. $t may cause a headaches! restlessness! vomitin"! balancin" difficulties and stran"e behaviour.

0hen to get help *ettin" a bump on the head! particularly in children! is very common and it is often difficult to #now whether it is serious or not. Jou should "et medical help if you notice any of the followin"6 •

any symptom that is "ettin" worse! such as headaches! nausea or drowsinessI

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difficulty wa#in" someone from sleepI

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unusual behaviour! particularly irritability and confusionI

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not #nowin" one;s name or where one isI

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pupils of different siFes or pupil that are dilated &bi""er than normal'I

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difficulties spea#in" or wal#in"I

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draina"e of bloody or clear fluids from nose or earsI

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vomitin" more than two or three timesI

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seiFuresI

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wea#ness or numbness in the arms or le"s.

'ecovery /any patients after mild head in0uries will describe a number of symptoms which are collectively #nown as post-concussional syndrome. he

symptoms are irritability! depression! an%iety! an%iety! as well as headaches! diFFiness! tiredness! poor concentration and difficulty sleepin". $n most people! these symptoms will "o a way without any help. However! the intensity and len"th of time before the symptoms resolve varies in different people. $t is those sensations and symptoms which ma#e one person distinct from another that are most important in selectin" the correct homeopathic medicine. ;ong-term difficulties  Althou"h most symptoms symptoms resolve within a few months of a head in0ury! in0ury! a si"nificant number of people are left with with lon"-term problems afterwards. $mprovements in the emer"ency care of people with head in0uries means more people survivin"! sometimes with permanent and often serious emotional or neurolo"ical problems. he severity of lon"-term symptoms is related to a number of factors! includin" which part of  the brain was dama"ed! how e%tensive the dama"e was and for how lon" after the in0ury the person had memory loss. +eople with problems resultin" from a head in0ury will sometimes be referred to psycholo"ists! psychiatrists! psychiatrists! neurolo"ists! neurosur"eons! physiotherapists! and occupational or speech therapists. /ost of these patients will also benefit from a referral to a homeopathic physician. 7ntellectual impairment +roblems with 1thin#in"2 activities may persist after head in0uries. hese include6 •

ta#in" lon"er to process informationI

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difficulties focusin" attention and bein" easily distractedI

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for"etfulness and other memory problemsI

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difficulties followin" instructions!

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or"anisin" and plannin".

hese may be so severe that such people may be severely learnin" disabled and unable to ta#e care of themselves. .motional and personality changes 5ess obvious and often more disablin" than the intellectual impairment are the lon"-term personality and emotional chan"es after head in0uries. :motional chan"es include depression! euphoria! fearfulness! an%iety and an increased ris# of suicide. :motional problems may sometimes benefit from allopathic antidepressant medication. +ersonality chan"es! especially when the frontal lobe &the part of the brain behind the forehead' is dama"ed! include apathy! obsessiveness! obsessiveness! irritability! loss of motivation and spontaneity and even a""ressive behaviour. $mpulsivity and disinhibition! includin" se%ually inappropriate behaviour! can also be a problem. +ersonality problems are e%tremely difficult and frustratin" to treat with allopathic medication alone and homeopathy can help a "reat deal. "hysical problems /ild lon"-term physical problems are fati"ue and "enerally doin" thin"s more slowly. 4ome people have serious physical disabilities of all types! from blindness to an inability to wal#. :pilepsy is another common conse,uence of severe head in0uries! and many will need lon"-term epileptic dru"s. Unfortunately! despite the best allopathic epileptic dru"s! some people still have fre,uent seiFures or disturbin" side-effects. 4uch people will often benefit ,uite dramatically from the addition of carefully selected homeopathic medication. "revention he best way to protect yourself and your family from head in0uries is to prevent them from happenin" in the first place. Wear a seatbelt and ensure that youn" children are in a child safety seat or booster.
 Aconite is indicated within the first few minutes or hours after in0ury! in0ury! where the person is restless and terrified! even panic-stric#en! panic-stric#en! by the fear of imminent death. hose needin" Arnica often deny that they need any help! sayin" that they feel ,uite well. hey may be severely bruised. )pium is valuable for someone who i s in a daFe or even a coma after the head in0ury! with with a flushed and bloated-loo#in" face. hey may have severe in0uries elsewhere! yet not complain of pain. Chronic he followin" remedies can be valuable in many of those sufferin" from the lon"-term conse,uences of head in0uries.
7s it :ust a headache6 )ifferent headache-types are generally not well diagnosed+ with patients often feeling dismissed with a recommendation to ta%e more pain%illers, Tom Whitmarsh discusses how an approach informed by homeopathic method can help /i"raine is one of the most commonly encountered headache types in clinics. All headaches of course! are not mi"raine and! in fact! mi"raine does not even necessarily involve a headache. he reason why dia"nosis is important is that there are some serious ,uestions which sufferers need to have answered = li#e! 1Have $ "ot a brain tumourD2 13o $ have inflammation of the arteries in my brainD2 1Have $ "ot hi"h blood pressureD2 *laucoma is another worry.

/ost people who present with a headache! even to a neurolo"ist! do not have one of these problems but it is important to see a doctor if you have a new headache. *enerally headaches f all into two cate"ories6 acute! episodic headaches which occur every no w and then! and headaches which are there all the time. What differentiates mi"raines from other headaches is the horrible throbbin" pain! not necessarily one-sided &thou"h it often is'! usually associated with disli#e of li"ht and sound and nausea and vomitin". he point is that it happens episodically! attac#s attac#s varyin" in fre,uency from once or twice a year! or even once in a lifetime! to up to ten times a month.  Acute headaches with serious causes are rare! but chronic chronic headache! which "oes on day in day out! is more usual. )ne of of the commonest causes of headache and in fact one of the commonest reasons for visitin" the doctor at all! is as an effect of prescribed dru"s. 4o before anyone tries to "ive you any more pills! they should be made aware of what you are already ta#in". /y principle thou"ht about headaches in "eneral and mi"raine in particular is how to mana"e them simply simply.. 4ome people only "et mi"raine when they do a certain thin" or eat a particular food. /ost people have wor#ed it out for themselves. $ #new one woman who was a wine buyer and she;d wor#ed out that it was only when she dran# wine which had been a"ed in wood that she had a mi"raine. As lon" as she avoided these! she was fine. )ne mystery of mi"raine is how so many different thin"s can provo#e the same symptoms = too much sleep! too little sleep! lau"hin"! cryin"! too much food! too little food! any number of apparent causes and yet they all seem to provo#e the chan"es in the brain which will produce these horrible symptoms in sufferers. When mana"in" mi"raine! you have symptomatic treatment as it happens and treatment that cuts down the li#elihood of the attac# occurrin" in the first place. 4ufferers often use both strate"ies. Homeopathy "enerally falls into the latter cate"ory. Belladonna or Bryonia are sometimes very effective as acute treatments! but my best successes usually come with deep-actin" constitutional therapy based on the individual characteristics of the mi"raine and also ta#in" account of other specific aspects of physiolo"y and personality. $ feel happier prescribin" when there is a specific time or event which tri""ered the onset of the mi"raine! for e%ample! some "rief or upset in circumstances. Head in0uries are a very "ood e%ample! when
 A few hours after a "ame of badminton! he;d "et an achin"! pulsatin" sore head associated with disturbed vision. As he wal#ed! it would 0ar with every step! a pain over the whole head. $f he sat down in a dar# room with some nice music and too# two stron" pain#illers! it would "o away in 89 minutes. :ventually! any e%ercise would brin" on the headache! even a bris# wal#. he conse,uence now was that he was puttin" wei"ht on. $t also really mattered to him that he could not play competitive sport. With the headaches! he didn;t li#e bri"ht li"hts or loud noises. hen he said! 1/y brother had a headache at the a"e of 8 and died of a brain tumour.2 $ said that $ could assure him that he didn;t have a brain tumour! however there is one particular #ind of headache! rather similar to his! that is associated with a developmental abnormality at the bac# of the brain &Arnold-Chiari syndrome'. 4o $ arran"ed for him to have a brain scan! which was normal and another reassurance that he felt he needed. )ne remedy mentioned with headaches particularly after e%ertion is :piphe"us and $ "ave him this. When he came bac# a"ain! the remedy had been ineffective and he had a definite headache after 0ust rushin" around. 4o he;d ta#e more of the pain#illers which made him feel better for a couple of hours! but alerted me to the dan"ers of anal"esic overuse. He said! 1$;m irritable! $;m a""ressive! $;m an"ry and $ want to "et thin"s done.2 /any of you will reco"nise some features of
5he preventive role of homeopathy and the treatment of headaches and migraine  Andre/ $o%ie+ a gifted physician+ generously shared his %nowledge with the thousands of people who consult his boo%s, As a tribute to him+ here are three e#tracts from The )amily !uide to Homeopathy ,  At the deepest level! homeopathy is preventive in intent. Homeopathic remedies do not wade in and 1Fap2 offendin" or"anisms! leavin" the immune system less able to cope than before. Yuite the opposite. hey nud"e the immune system = not only the white cell populations of the body but also the mental and emotional states which #eep those populations healthy = into "reater responsiveness and readiness so that disease is #ept away or prevented from recurrin". $n fact! homeopaths are trained to loo# for diseases before they happen. W hen a homeopath prescribes constitutionally! he or she is prescribin" not only for the present ailment but for tendencies which have not yet manifested themselves as medically reco"nised ailments. he foetus in the womb can be treated homeopathically to minimise imbalances inherited from the mother and father. Homeopathic treatment of childhood ailments lessens the ris# of the latent wea#nesses they cause bein" activated in later life = infants and children! with their newly minted immune systems! respond e%cellently to homeopathic treatment. Homeopathic immunisation a"ainst the "raver diseases of childhood is not usually offered unless a child is particularly at ris#I most homeopaths prefer to ta#e the route of boostin" "eneral resistance to disease. $n adults! prompt homeopathic treatment of minor illnesses can often prevent persistent! and sometimes serious! complaints developin" in later life. At all points in the cycle of development! birth! "rowth and maturity! subtle symptoms of constitutional wea#ness can be pic#ed up by careful homeopathic analysis and treated before they bur"eon into chronic and entrenched disease. he followin" hypothetical case history shows how a homeopathic physician mi"ht approach a case of late-onset asthma.  At nine months old! the future /rs  develops ecFemaI the ointment used to treat it leaves her s#in very dry. Apart from dry s#in and constipation! she is a "enerally health y child. At the a"e of ! she has a bad f all from a horse. A year later she develops hay fever! which turns into aller"ic rhinitis &a runny nose all year round'. 4#in tests show that she is aller"ic to house dust mites! "rasses and horses. 3esensitisin" in0ections clear up her runny nose but leave her feelin" unwell for some time afterwards. $n the early 9s she is underwei"ht and suffers from an almost continuous post nasal drip &catarrh drippin" down the bac# of her throat'. $n her  late 9s she marries and has two children! both full-term! healthy babies. Apart from dry s#in! constipation! occasional nosebleeds and irre"ular periods! she feels reasonably well throu"hout her 89s. $n her early 9s! she loses two people very close to her! her mother and eldest son. 4hortly afterwards! she develops asthma.

4he consults a homeopathic physician for the f irst time. Hi"h potency
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Headache comes on suddenly! feels worse in cold or drau"hty surroundin"s! person apprehensive! headache feels li#e a ti"ht band around head or as if brains are bein" forced out of head6 Aconite 89c.

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Head feels bruised and achin"! pain occasionally sharp! made worse by stoopin"6 Arnica 89c.

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4tin"in"! stabbin" or burnin" headache! rest of body feels bruised and tender! symptoms worse in hot! stuffy surroundin"s6 Apis 89c.

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hrobbin"! drummin" headache! flushed face! dilated pupils! distinctly worse in hot sun6 Belladonna 89c.

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Head feels bruised! sharp! stabbin" pain made worse by sli"htest eye movement6 Bryonia 89c.

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Head feels full and swollen! face purple and con"ested-loo#in"! e%pression dull and heavy! dilated pupils! limbs wea# and sha#y6 *elsemium @c. Giolent headache in which every heartbeat sets up an answerin" thump and throb in the head! made worse by stoopin" or sha#in" head6 *lonoinum 89c.

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Burstin"! achin" headache! hypersensitive scalp! worse in damp! fo""y weather6 Hypericum 89c.

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Headache described as ti"ht band across forehead or as nail bein" driven out throu"h side of head6 $"natia @c.

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+erson often irritable! prone to dull! diFFy! bruisin" headaches which are rather li#e bein" beaten around the head! worse first thin" in the mornin" but better when person "ets up6
*igraine )ccasional severe headaches! usually confined to one side of the head! associated with nausea and vomitin"! blurred vision! and other visual disturbances! intolerance to li"ht and occasionally numbness and tin"lin" in the arms. $n a severe attac#! the only thin" to do is lie down in a dar#ened room until the symptoms wear off. Attac#s are often heralded by abnormal tiredness! nausea! or flashin"! shimmerin" or distortion of  ob0ects towards ed"e of visual fieldI once the headache comes on! these symptoms tend to disappear. he immediate cause of mi"raine headaches is constriction! then swellin" of the arteries which supply the brain! but why the arteries suddenly behave in this way is not #nown. 4tress! hypo"lycaemia! and certain foods are the most f re,uently cited 1tri""er factors2 of this miserable complaint. $ncidence and fre,uency of attac#s tends to tail off in middle a"e! thou"h they may worsen durin" the menopause in women. Homeopathic treatment of mi"raine is constitutionalI however! the remedies listed below are recommended for use in emer"encies! to be ta#en ,uarter-hourly for up to 9 doses! if possible at the first si"ns of an attac#.

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Blurrin" of vision before headache comes on! ti"ht feelin" in scalp! headache ri"ht-sided but less insistent if person moves around! vomit mostly bile6 $ris @c. Headache worse on ri"ht side! feels as if temples are bein" screwed into each other! tryin" to concentrate ma#es pain worse! diFFiness6 5ycopodium @c. hrobbin"! blindin" headache! warmth and movin" around ma#e headache worse! head feels overstuffed and con"ested! attac# preceded by numbness and tin"lin" in lips! nose! and ton"ue6
$f you sense an attac# comin" on! splash your face with cold water for a few minutes! then lie down somewhere ,uiet for an hour or soI for some sufferers this has the effect of fendin" off an attac# alto"ether. 4ome people find that 0ust wor#in" throu"h the headache! or not "ivin" in to it! "ets rid of it. .#tracted from The )amily !uide to Homeopathy  by Andrew ;oc%ie+ published by "enguin at O4=,<< www,penguin,co,u% P Andrew ;oc%ie 4<<,

!pring is in the air and the snee>ing begins  Angela Jones outlines the treatment of hay fever and rhinitis Hay fever and rhinitis are complaints that may seem trivial to the observer. However! to the sufferer they are the source of considerable annoyance and even distress! often detractin" from a person;s ,uality of life. A lar"e ran"e of over-the-counter and prescription medications are available for the treatment of rhinitis and hay f ever. hey fall into two main "roups6 the antihistamines and the topical steroids. Both of these types of dru" wor# by suppressin" the body;s immune response to aller"ens &substances that cause an aller"ic response! such as pollen or house dust mite'. hey are "enerally only effective if ta#en on a once-or twice-daily basis. Althou"h more refined than they used to be! these conventional medications can still cause a number of side effects! the most worryin" of which is sedation that can interfere with the individual;s ability to concentrate! drive and to operate machinery. Usin" homeopathy to treat rhinitis and hay fever is attractive for several reasons. 7irst! it offers a mode of therapy that is individualised to the

patient. :very aller"y sufferer e%periences his or her aller"y in a different way.
Bouts of sneeFin"

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Burnin" nasal dischar"e causin" sore nostrils and upper lip

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:yes itch and water profusely but do not burn

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Better in cold room or open air 

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Worse in evenin"

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ic#ly cou"h

 $mbrosia: •

$ntolerable itchin" of eyelids

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+rofuse tears due to smartin" and burnin" of eyes

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(unny nose! may have stuffed-up feelin"

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 Asthmatic attac#s

 $mmonium muriaticum: •

Hot acrid nasal dischar"e corrodes lip

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)bstructed stuffy feelin" and loss of sense of smell

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Unable to clear nose by blowin"

 $ralia racemosa: •

7re,uent sneeFin"

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/ar#ed wheeFin"! especially when lyin" down

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7eelin" as if somethin" in throat

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Worse for least current of air 

 $rsenicum iodatum: •

$rritation and tin"lin" in nose with constant desire to sneeFe

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Burnin" waterin" of eyes

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/ay have dry wheeFy cou"h

 $rundo: •

:verythin" itches

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Burnin" and itchin" in ears and eyes

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 Annoyin" itch in roof of mouth! throat and nose

uphrasia:

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:yes severely affected with profuse burnin" waterin"

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Burnin" and swellin" of eyelids

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Headache and aversion to bri"ht li"ht

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Worse for warmth

Sanguinaria: •

Chronic rhinitis or hay fever complicated by nasal polyps

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3ryness and burnin" of ears! throat and nasal passa"es

'yethia: •

+articularly for symptoms confined to bac# of nose and throat

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3ry and intensely itchy

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3ry wheeFy cou"h

Constitutional medicines he constitutional approach to prescribin" for hay feverrhinitis arises from the fact that many constitutional types are particularly prone to hay fever or rhinitis as part of their ma#e-up. hus! if a constitutional medicine is "iven! as well as raisin" the "eneral level of health! the tendency to troublesome symptoms is reduced. Case history 0 /r  was a 8 year-old accountant who visited me for treatment of i rritable bowel syndrome. He was troubled by bouts of burnin" diarrhoea which occurred especially in the mornin"! causin" him to be driven out of bed and sometimes persistin" so that he was late for wor#. He was a "enerally fit and ener"etic type but had a sli"ht tendency towards ecFema! hay fever and asthma for which he too# conventional medication. $n "eneral! he was a warm-blooded individual! often throwin" the bedcovers off at ni"ht and stic#in" his feet out of bed. He admitted to bein" ,uite thirsty and to li#in" fatty rich foods and sweet thin"s. He was fairly untidy in the house but careful with his wor#. He en0oyed current affairs and documentary pro"rammes and tended to read f actual boo#s rather than fiction. $ felt that his overall constitution fitted that of the medicine 4ulphur and therefore "ave him three doses of 4ulphur 89c at hourly intervals. He made a "ood recovery from his $B4 and needed a further course of 4ulphur after about  wee#s. When reviewed the followin" autumn he remar#ed that he had had virtually no hay fever symptoms that year. $ndeed! he had not needed to buy any antihistamines at all. Case history 1 /iss J was a M year-old bar mana"er who consulted me specifically for aller"ic rhinitis. 4he was e%tremely sensitive to any smell and had severe bouts of sneeFin" several times every day which she found disruptive and debilitatin". 4he was in "ood "eneral health and loved to travel. $ndeed! she really lived from one holiday to the ne%t and had already visited all the continents. 4li"htly plump! she admitted cheese and bacon were her favourite foods. 4he was moderately thirsty. $n view of her food preferences and her mar#ed desire for travel! $ thou"ht that the medicine Calcarea phosphorica would be helpful as it seemed to match her constitutional type. $t had an effect from day two and she has only needed one repeat dose in the past  monthsL hese cases illustrate the use of two constitutional medicines. wo others that are commonly seen are6 +ulsatilla: •

Chan"eable

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+rofuse dischar"es! often yellowish

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/ar#edly better for open air and "ently movin" aboutI and

Silica: •

Chilly persons

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)ften constipated

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hin despite "ood appetite

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4weaty feet

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Be"inners readin" this "uide should feel reasonably confident in usin" the local medicines and possibly also the isopathic method of desensitisation with potentised aller"ens. However if a constitutional approach is needed! it is always advisable to consult a ,ualified homeopathic practitioner. Angela /ones *A 1* 1Ch *'CG" )C )'C(G )&&" *&om is a member of the &aculty of omeopathy and an N! G" who uses homeopathy in her practice,

ay fever? a homeopathic view by Ja%,ueline M Mardon 7ar from brin"in" happiness! the innocuous-soundin" hay fever &also #nown as seasonal aller"ic rhinitis' may cause many to dread the cheery sprin" and summer months.
steroid sprays. $n the past few years it has become as 1normal2 to many people to buy these over the counter as buyin" paracetamol! and this social acceptance of potentially harmful dru"s does concern me. $ really hope and e%pect to be able to offer a different approach! and certainly would aim to help minimise reliance on these dru"s usin" a variety of methods. As this condition can affect all a"es and last many! many seasons and years of life! $ thin# it is reasonable to use alternatives. Also! $ have to point out that the conventional approach to treatment does not necessarily brin" relief to everyone and there are side-effects such as drowsiness with antihistamines which can curtail or limit their use. $ would not claim homeopathy helps everyone! but it certainly deserves a tryL Causes? the history he person attendin" the clinic has their own particular story to tell and as al ways with homeopathy! it is the individual e%perience which wei"hs the most. 4ome bac#"round #nowled"e about pollens and other tri""ers can be helpful in identifyin" what may be causin" the symptoms. Classically! those sensitive to "rass pollens have symptoms any time from /ay to 4eptember and! dependin" on weather conditions and early si"ns of sprin" that can bur"eon in northern climes li#e *las"ow these days! the symptoms can start much earlier than this! certainly in April. rees which have wind-borne pollen! that is! those with the characteristic! rather lovely cat#ins! can cause symptoms at varyin" times dependin" on their individual season for flowerin"! from 7ebruary to Eune. Weed pollens or fun"al spores can cause problems later in the year in the autumn. Where rhinitis is year-round! consideration may be made of the possible contributory factor of dusts or house dust mite. he person may live beside a forest of birch or have particular tri""ers in their "arden such as a shrub or flowers. here may be one picture superimposed on another! such as when an animal lover has sensitivity to their pet cat &year-round symptoms' but there is worsenin" when cuttin" the "rass. $t could be a very simple or comple% story! but will reveal much to the attentive listener. As with other aller"ic complaints! the history offers the clues. 2I’m as restless as a willow in a windstorm, I’m as 3umpy as a puppet on a string I’d say that I had spring fever, but I know it isn’t spring I am starry(eyed and vaguely discontented, like a nightingale without a song to sing O why should I have spring fever, when it isn’t even spring4  &from It 5ight $s 'ell *e Spring ! lyrics by )scar Hammerstein $$! in the film State 6air ?' *ultiple sensitivity? a case for a nosode6 $n people with multiple sensitivities who demonstrate aller"ic reactions on many levels! such that their s#in and breathin" is affected! and who may have a history of family members affected by similar complaints! the practitioner may consider usin" a nosode and in fact this may be the preferred first option. $n such a person! the cho#ed up catarrh may be the tip of the iceber"! with much aller"ic disease underlyin"! particularly if there have been a lot of suppressin" conventional treatments! such as steroid. $ also sometimes re"ard the constantly runnin"! inflamed nose as a si"n of a sort of pressure valve for the person. Homeopathy can treat the underlyin" imbalance and have a more lastin" benefit. 7or e%ample! a child who has had many courses of antibiotics for colds and chest infections and whose "randmother and uncle or cousins have 1poor chests2! chronic bronchitis or asthma or other aller"ies! could benefit from a short course of uberculinum 89c! or 99c! three doses. $f the indications for this remedy are stron"! such as the child has a mar#ed need to be outside! they may sweat easily at ni"ht or have unusual tastes for salami and smo#ed flavours! be real "rumps when it is time to wa#e them in the mornin" and "enerally live-wires! always runnin" about! then this may be enou"h treatment in itself. $n a youn" adult! who is rather restrained and fastidious! warm in their approach to others and e%tremely sensitive in their perceptions and sensitivities! both to aller"ic stimuli and also to the environment in an artistic appreciation! there could be consideration of the nosode Carcinosin. he person may feel drawn to the sea and particularly love chocolate. he history in the family of cancer! diabetes or tuberculosis in a close relative could be si"nificant. Also! some sense of not pleasin" a parent and havin" unreasonable demands made durin" childhood. hey tend to be very conscientious and others rely on them. With their warm and sympathetic natures! they tend to do a lot for others! sometimes with scant re"ard for themselves. With such a person who may present to the practitioner with severe illness and multiple aller"ic sensitivities! the relationship may be lon"er for  therapeutic effect and a rewardin" openin" to the process can be with Carcinosin in a hi"h potency such as 99c or / or perhaps 5/ as these individuals may particularly ris# a""ravation! a le"acy of suppression $ suspect. )ther nosodes can be helpful such as +sorinum in an e%tremely chilly person who is rather blea# in their outloo#. here could be dryness of the nose rather than a dischar"e but unpleasant-smellin" and sweaty feet or dischar"e from the ears. +robably this remedy would not be a first approach but helps if there is no pro"ress. here mi"ht have been suppressive treatment with steroids of asthma or bronchitis and s#in can appear unhealthy and somehow unwashed. /edorrhinum is worth considerin" in children who are a bit slow in their development! fearful of the dar# and with a tendency to bite their nails! with a snuffly nose or perhaps with the sensation of it bein" bloc#ed. hey may have asthma and characteristically sleep on their tummies! maybe on their #nees with face pushed into the pillow. 5he option of 7sopathy he wide variety in the way the person can e%perience hay fever or aller"ic rhinitis ensures many diverse approaches to treatment. he simplest may be with isopathic remedies! which are made from the potentisation of pollens! dusts or other substances that the person may be

sensitive to. he history alone may be the #ey here. he seasonal effects of "rass pollens or trees may seem clear to the person by their own observation. $t can be very specific! such as for the patient $ had who was a beautiful sin"er! called to do solos at church weddin"s and funerals. Unfortunately! she was intolerant of the ebullient and heavily-scented lilies decoratin" these occasions. Another person from the east coast of 4cotland may be affected by the acres of violently-hued yellow oilseed rape which is commonly "rown there. Allergy testing estin" with s#in pric# tests can help identify aller"ens and $ do this commonly in my clinic! particularly where there are lon"-term symptoms with no clear pattern or the picture is chan"in" all the time. he person has to stop their antihistamine treatment for two wee#s before this test can be carried out. $n aller"ic rhinitis! whether seasonal or perennial! $ test with a wide ran"e of house dust! house dust mite! pollens such as mi%ed "rasses! flowers! weeds and mi%ed trees with sometimes individual pollens li#e birch or timothy "rass! moulds! and animal fur or hair when appropriate. he results may sometimes be surprisin" and help to inform a treatment! which remains based on the history. here can also be a contributory effect from foods and these mi"ht be included with the tests if there is a suspicion of this. 7sopathic treatment his can be with a re"ime of three doses of a 99c or 89c preparation of mi%ed "rass pollens! usually "iven in /arch in a preventative way for the season that year. /i%ed tree pollens would tend to be "iven i n 7ebruary. An alternative is to ta#e a month;s course of 89c stren"th! twice a day. he patient may "et a feel for what #ind of re"ime suits them best or which they prefer. 4ometimes a boost of a further short course of mi%ed "rass pollens in early Eune will be of benefit if they have had a worsenin" at that time the previous year. With treatin" this condition! there can be an improvement the first year! with a stron"er improvement e%pected in subse,uent years! wor#in" to a pro"ressive cure. $f there are multiple sensitivities to aller"ens! confirmed on investi"ations! $ would consider combinin" the nosode with a constitutional approach and limit isopathy to the two or three stron"est reactions on s#in pric# testin". $ also prefer to space isopathy at least a month apart. $f isopathy wor#s well for that individual! then they may only need to plan their remedies early in the year. )f course! those fortunate to "o abroad chasin" the sun in winter may need their preventive treatment then. Constitutional prescribing his can be a mainstay of treatment for hay fever and rhinitis in "eneral and $ use it commonly with more comple% cases of aller"y. (emedy pictures can come to mind and patients to illustrate this.
eading off hay fever this summer  Dr Ja%,ueline Mardon discusses homeopathic medicines that can help ha y fever sufferers

4ome swift preventive action may be called for at this time of year for sufferers of seasonal aller"ic rhinitis! also #nown as hay fever. 4prin" is startin" later after our prolon"ed! cold winter and it may not be too late to ta#e a few doses of /i%ed *rass pollens &89c or 99c'! which are best ta#en about a month before you e%pect your symptoms to come on. $f you are someone who has a worsenin" of rhinitis towards the end of Eune! then this may be due to imothy *rass pollens and ta#in" three separate doses at the end of /ay could be a helpful prevention. $ would recommend a consultation with a homeopathic practitioner to discuss your problem! in particular if it is severe or prolon"ed and really affectin" your life a lot. However! $ believe there are different 1local2 homeopathic remedies! which could be of use dependin" on the #ind of symptoms you suffer from. $t may be that more than one remedy seems to be ri"ht at different times and it can be hard to choose for oneself! but $ hope the followin" hints and pointers are useful. Conventional medicine With symptom-relief #ind of treatment! $ would really hope that you could lar"ely avoid use of conventional antihistamine tablets or steroid nasal sprays = althou"h these are very commonly available! they do have potential side effects and are not beneficial to everyone! and unfortunately any benefits they do have may decline with lon"er-term use. omeopathic medicine choice $f the main focus of distress is itch! in the nostrils and stri#in"ly the roof of the mouth! which ma#es you feel li#e rubbin" your ton"ue up over it  = a stran"e "ymnasticsL = then the remedy Wyethia is an option &an alternative name for it is 1+oison Weed2 which confirms what a nasty and unpleasant effect these symptoms have'.  Another medicine to consider when there is an unusual itch is Arundo! which is made from an $talian "rass. he nose runs and the person may have lost their sense of smell and there may even be a cou"h and 1chestiness2 too. $tchin" is distressin"ly inside the ears and you may feel burnin".  Apis $ have found particularly helpful in children with hayfever who have intense and dramatic swellin" around their eyelids! which really puff up and loo# ba"" y! "ivin" a very distinct and disturbin"! almost bu"-li#e appearance. Apis is made from the honey bee! another association with summer. he eyes in fact 1stin"2 and the delicate tissues around the eye are very red! swollen and sensitive to touch althou"h cold compresses may be soothin". he swellin" and redness can come on very rapidl y! for e%ample after a child has been playin" in the "rass! and this is one of the fairly rare times when $ would feel li#e tappin" a stran"er on the shoulder to su""est a homeopathic medicineL $n my e%perience it wor#s effectively and ,uic#ly and $ would su""est lo w potencies such as @c repeated fre,uently as needed in the acute case.  A different eye complaint may be e%treme itchin" of the eyelids! which can really seem intolerable. Ambrosia! a beautiful name! is also #nown as ra"weed! may be a help for this very distressin" and otherwise hard-to-treat symptom. he eyes will typically be waterin" too! with the other symptoms! such as runnin" nose. here may be nose bleeds too and a 1stuffed-up2 feelin" in the nose and head.  Anyone who has peeled an onion will reco"nise this ne%t medicine! which is Allium cepa! the red onion. $t is commonly tried as a self-help in hay fever as it reflects a typical picture for many people of streamin" eyes! which are usually however not stin"y or irritated! and a runnin" nose which is irritatin" to the nostrils. here may be some relief to be out in the open air and "enerally worse for bein" cooped up in a warm room. 4abadilla is a remedy where by contrast! the person with hay fever prefers to be cosseted indoors in the warm and may feel worse in the open air. 4tron" smells of flowers or "arlic may ma#e them worse. here can also be itchin" in the nose and at the bac# of the throat. :yes can run too. 4neeFin" is the stron"est characteristic of this remedy and it can be in "reat noisy! violent and prolon"ed bouts! maybe 9 sneeFes at a timeL $ have seen 4abadilla be a "reat comfort and relief to sufferers from this affliction = and their familiesL he medicines $ have mentioned so far are "iven orally in low potency usually such as @C! but where there is usually a lon" season of discomfort with the seasonal rhinitis! "ivin" the remedy as 89C twice a wee# over this time could be tried. :uphrasia is a very useful and effective remedy which can be ta#en orally but also is used ,uite commonly as eyedrops and this can be a "ood alternative to other&conventional' eyedrops. Another name is 1:ye-bri"ht2 and the hay fever focus is on the eyes with a lot of burnin" sensation! runnin" of the eyes! intolerance to bri"ht li"ht with sometimes a lot of blin#in" and screwin" up of the eyes. Althou"h the nose may also run! this does not usually irritate the nostrils or around the nose and upper lip &in contrast to Allium cepa where the nose can really nip'. $ have found very helpful orally but some people may prefer tryin" eye-drops instead or as a bac#up for really severe days. omeopathic consultation 7or over-the-counter remedies li#e these and self-prescribin"! some advice from a homeopathic pharmacist can be of "reat value and it is certainly a condition which is very common and f or which! $ am "lad to say! help is available. he further option of a full consultation with a homeopathic practitioner should symptoms remain very difficult to shift! could be a ne%t step on review at the end of the season. 4upport with constitutional prescribin" and isopathy! which $ have described elsewhere! may then come into its own. Ja%,ueline Mardon *11! *"hil *'CG" *&om is a specialist in homeopathic medicine at Glasgow omeopathic ospital+ where she also runs the allergy clinic,

Grief 

Coming to terms with loss the homeopathic way by "o# $e%ridge We all "rieve. $t;s part of life. he fact that it is a universal e%perience raises the ,uestion of whether or not we should consider "rievin" to be normal and! if not! when is it not normalD $n other words! when would it re,uire treatmentD hat ,uestion! in turn! raises fundamental ,uestions about the purpose of homeopathic treatment. After all! why would we want to treat normal lifeD 5et;s be"in by addressin" that. he f irst principle of homeopathy is the treat ment of li#e with li#e. :very remedy is described in the standard materia medica which collate the information from sources such as provin"s and clinical e%perience. hese remedy descriptions are li#e stories or patterns. Homeopathic treatment involves selectin" the remedy whose description best matches the stories or the life patterns of the patient. $n orthodo% medical practice we treat patholo"y = disturbances which we call diseases or illnesses. However! the homeopathic approach is both deeper and more encompassin" than the orthodo% approach. $t involves a full consideration of the person who has the disease! the human bein" who is e%periencin" the illness. his means that pretty much anythin" and everythin" the patient tells of their e%perience is potentially usable in the process of remedy selection. What this doesn;t mean! however! is that every aspect of a human bein" or their e%perience can be chan"ed by a remedy. We need to ma#e a 0ud"ement about e%actly what we;re hopin" to chan"e. 5et;s consider "rief in the li"ht of that perspective. 5he grieving process *rief is well reco"nised to be a condition! or a process even! with several different aspects. $t;s often described as havin" distinct phases. he best-#nown description of phases came from :lisabeth bler-(oss in her ?@? boo#On "eath and "ying 6 denial! an"er! bar"ainin"! depression and acceptance. /ost people now a"ree that this description helps us to understand that "rief can have many different forms and that as time passes these forms can chan"e. However! it;s also now widely accepted that not everyone who e%periences "rief "oes throu"h all of these sta"es! and that those who do e%perience all of these sta"es don;t necessarily do so in that se,uence. /ost of these phases can be distressin" and uncomfortable and as healthcare is about the relief of sufferin" it;s no surprise that doctors "et involved in attemptin" to help people who are "rievin". )rthodo% dru" approaches such as a sedatives! pain#illers and antidepressants may have a role to play in helpin" people who "et stuc# or overwhelmed in the process of "rievin"! but the main drawbac# in usin" that approach is that it fre,uently simply numbs the patient! suppressin" the whole process and carries with it the dan"er that the sta"e of acceptance! of comin" to terms with the now altered life! is either never reached or is unsuccessful. he homeopathic approach to sufferin" is different. Homeopathic medicines don;t suppress symptoms. (ather they stimulate the processes of  repair! of recovery and even of "rowth. 7rom a purel y theoretical viewpoint therefore homeopathic medicines can play a more useful role in "rief than dru"s can. However! 0ust let me add one word of caution here because althou"h a remedy can facilitate the process of "rievin"! it cannot replace it. $n other words! homeopathic remedies cannot ma#e "rief "o away.
Whether or not shoc# is felt! what most people e%perience ne%t is usually a period of "reat instabilit y. his is a time of tremendous emotion and mood chan"es can be dramatic! swin"in" wildly from deep depression to hysterical lau"hin" within minutes. he picture of $"natia is typical of this period. $t can show itself throu"h rapidly chan"in"! intensely mental states with outpourin"s of tears and distress one minute and silent closin" down the ne%t. his instability can lead to what appear to be inappropriate behaviours6 lau"hin" when others are serious and sad! or refusin" to spea# when spo#en to. he person in the $"natia state has a stron" tendency to si"h bi"! deep si"hs and they will fre,uently complain of the sensation of a lump in the throat which ma#es swallowin" difficult = a symptom relieved more by the swallowin" of solids than by li,uids &,uite contrary to what you;d e%pect'. $t;s no surprise that this intense and unstable state most commonly appears in the first f ew hours and days after the bereavement but it;s also a very common pattern to appear durin" funerals. 5he angry phase  An"er will emer"e to a "reater or lesser e%tent dependin" on both the character of the individual and their prior feelin"s towards the deceased and the e%tent to which there is some sense of whether or not the person e%perienced a 1"ood2 death. 7or e%ample! the /a"nesium salts! /a"nesium carbonicum and /a"nesium muriaticum both share the characteristic of rapidly flarin" an"er which disappears as ,uic#ly as it appears = flashes of an"er. Both also share the characteristic of intense feelin"s of emotional sensitivity and loneliness. ent describes them as bein" the remedies for the orphans and Ean 4cholten! the 3utch homeopath! describes how they are fre,uently indicated in children whose parents have separated or divorced. Ean also su""ests that /a"nesium carbonicum is more indicated when the patient has stron" feelin"s of an"er to wards their father and /a"nesium muriaticum more indicated when the an"er is felt towards their mother. his an"er mi"ht have been present before the death of the particular parent or it mi"ht emer"e only afterwards. $f the person;s dyin" has "one badly then often the relatives and loved ones have stron" feelin"s of in0ustice! feelin"s that the deceased was not well treated in their last illness or final days. hat state of an"er and indi"nation is commonly seen in the indications for 4taphysa"ria which is another intense and unstable state characterised by the e%pression 1it;s not fairL2 Colocynth! which we associate with abdominal colic! is also indicated in these an"ry! indi"nant states. ;oss $t doesn;t ta#e lon" before the bereaved feel a profound sense of loss. $n the old materia medica! the lan"ua"e used to describe this is 1forsa#en feelin"2. here are ,uite a number of remedies which include this feature but let me 0ust hi"hli"ht a couple of very different patterns which share this common feelin". +ulsatilla is a remedy well indicated for people who have intense feelin"s of loss. $n particular where people have a sense of loss characterised by feelin"s of abandonment. hey don;t 0ust feel alone! they feel as if they;ve been left alone. he response to this deep feelin" in the +ulsatilla patient is to see# comfort and support. hey feel emotional! weepy and distressed and they need the company and sympathy of others. A person in such a state can come across as very needy and! it;s true! they do need a lot of care! support! and attention. hey want to be hu""ed and held. he +ulsatilla state also has the feature of instability which we considered in the earlier phases of "rief. heir moods may swin" wildly and this! of course! ma#es the e%perience all the more unsettlin"! both f or the person e%periencin" the "rief and for those around him or her.  A very different way of dealin" with the sense of loss is seen in the typical
However! that #ind of e%perience! where someone e%periences e%chan"es with their dead loved one! is really not at all uncommon. 4econdly! In $merica tells the story of an $rish family comin" to terms with the loss of one of their children to leu#aemia. 5ittle 4arah Bol"er who plays Christy "ives a stunnin" portrayal of
Coming to terms with loss  Anne 'ettigre/ discusses how homeopathy can be used to help people face up to the death of loved ones 1$t;s li#e a window that will simply open of its own accord. he room "oes cold! and we can do nothin" but shiver. But it opens a little less each time! and a little less and one day we wonder what has become of it.2 5emoirs of a eisha by Arthur *olden *rief is amon" the most difficult of human sufferin"s that we all have to face. Before $ discovered the 0oys of homeopathy $ found "rievin" patients the most difficult to treat.
wanted to see the child to say "oodbye. 4he had been left alone in a sluice room with the baby in a metal tray. 4ince then! not a day had "one past when she hadn;t thou"ht about this child and what mi"ht have been. 4he "rieved in silence. When she had tried to spea# of it once! a friend had told her it was best not to tal# about it. he loss of a child she had never held was a wound which had never properly healed. he death of her brother-in-law had re-opened the scar. he window in the Eapanese metaphor had never closed. However! homeopathy ed"ed it shut. his lady had many features of that wonderful "rief remedy! ine,

&ibromyalgia  Angela Jones describes this painful condition while Tom Whitmarsh reports on the treatment of two of his patients 7ibromyal"ia is nothin" new. A condition involvin" widespread pain in the muscles has been reco"nised for centuries and "iven various names! includin" 1rheumatism2 and later 1muscular rheumatism2. $t was not until the early 9th century that *owers described 1fibrositis2. he ne%t step forward came in the ?K9s when the term 1fibromyal"ia2 was coined and reco"nition of the lin#s between fibromyal"ia and other similar syndromes bein" described came durin" the ?M9s. However! its acceptance as a medical dia"nosis did not come until much late r! with the American Colle"e of (heumatolo"y publishin" its criteria for dia"nosis of fibromyal"ia syndrome &7/4' in ??9! thus establishin" the problem as an 1official2 illness.
pain on the ri"ht and left sides of the bodyI

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pain above and below the waistI

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pain in the a%ial s#eletonI

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pain on palpation in at least  of M tender points.

0hat causes fibromyalgia6 he cause of 7/4 is not #nown. $t is li#ely that different people dia"nosed with 7/4 are actually sufferin" from the symptoms for different reasons and some of the su""estions include hyper-e%citability of the central nervous system and alterations in the mechanisms for the perception of pain as well as interactions with the limbic system which "overns sleep! and stress and immune re"ulatin" systems. ow common is fibromyalgia6 :stimates of how many people suffer from 7/4 vary. A U4 population study in 99@ based on health insurance data su""ested one in K people was affected with a @8M split female to male. his is interestin" as previous surveys su""ested a much hi"her incidence in women but it could be that men sufferin" from the disease are more li#ely to attract a dia"nostic label and treatment within the U4 health system. ow is fibromyalgia treated6 o date there is no "uidance available althou"h an application has been made to the U
5he .uropean multidisciplinary tas%force evidence-based and e#pert opinion-based recommendations? •

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7ull understandin" of fibromyal"ia re,uires comprehensive assessment of pain! function! and psychosocial conte%t. 7ibromyal"ia should be reco"nised as a comple% and hetero"eneous condition where there is abnormal pain processin" and other secondary features. )ptimal treatment re,uires a multidisciplinary approach with a combination of non-pharmacolo"ical and pharmacolo"ical treatment modalities tailored accordin" to pain intensity! function! associated features such as depression! fati"ue and sleep disturbance in discussion with the patient. Heated pool treatment with or without e%ercise is effective in fibromyal"ia. $ndividually tailored e%ercise pro"rammes includin" aerobic e%ercise and stren"th trainin" can be beneficial to some patients with fibromyal"ia. Co"nitive behavioural therapy may be of benefit to some patients with f ibromyal"ia. )ther therapies such as rela%ation! rehabilitation! ph ysiotherapy and psycholo"ical support may be used dependin" on the needs of the individual patient. ramadol is recommended for the mana"ement of pain in fibromyal"ia. 4imple anal"esics such as paracetamol and other wea# opioids can also be considered in the treatment of f ibromyal"ia. Corticosteroids and stron" opioids are not recommended.  Antidepressants6 amitriptyline! fluo%etine! dulo%etine! milnacipran! moclobemide and pirlindole! reduce pain and often improve function therefore they should be considered for the treatment of f ibromyal"ia. ropisetron! pramipe%ole and pre"abalin reduce pain and should be considered for the treatment of fibromyal"ia.

Case studies #om 'hitmarsh describes two cases of fibromyalgia $n my e%perience at *las"ow Homeopathic Hospital! it is unusual to find someone with symptoms of fibromyal"ia 0ust on its own. /ost people affected are stru""lin" with multiple dia"noses and so many thin"s feel wron" in addition to the pure symptoms attributable to fibromyal"ia. $ ,uite often find myself "ivin" more than one medicine! often addressin" the constitution with one remedy and the pain with another! perhaps in a lower potency. Case one 7ay is @. 4he has described herself as a 1career woman2! wor#in" for and eventually runnin" various companies and always active and en"a"ed fully with life. 4he first sou"ht homeopathic help when she was . 4he had had pain in the chest fully investi"ated conventionally and little was found! thou"h she had had lifelon" heartburn. 4he had had a lot of anti-acid medications for this and was eventually found to have "allstones for which she had her "allbladder removed. 4he suffered from recurrent attac#s of bronchitis and to crown it all! fell down some steps on the way to her "arden and sustained a crushin" of one of her spinal vertebrae at the a"e of . 4he was subse,uently found to have "eneral thinnin" of the bones &osteoporosis'. 4oon after the fracture of the spine and the discovery of osteoporosis! she be"an to suffer from widespread aches and pain in her muscles. 4he saw a rheumatolo"ist! who did lots of tests &mostly ne"ative' and confirmed a dia"nosis of 1secondary fibromyal"ia2.  A hi"hly communicative woman! 7ay suffers a constant feelin" of heat throu"hout the body and notices how easily she comes out in bruises at the sli"htest #noc#. 4he described her e%perience of the pain = 1it feels as if the body is on fire2! or the pain can be sharp and stabbin". $t is particularly bad when she tries to use her arms. he e%ample she "ave was how uncomfortable it is to stand and chop ve"etables. 1$t is a pain $ cannot bear.2 $f sittin" down and the pain "ets bad! then she can find herself slidin" down the chair! which "ives a small measure of relief. 4he hates to be constricted with any ti"ht clothin" and very much prefers loose thin"s to wear. 4he had become miserable and depressed at her inability to cope with the pain brou"ht on by the normal tas#s of livin" = she had been so fit and active. 4he was helped with pain in her an#les! #nees! lower bac#! shoulders and wrists initially by addressin" the vertebral fracture with a hi"h potency &99c' of Arnica and also Arnica cream to rub into the bac#. he remedy which has been most helpful for her "enerally has been 5achesis! in hi"h potency! 99c three doses over  hours! and then 5/ five drops daily. his she says! 1lifts the mood2 and 1helps a lot to let me cope2. he particular muscle pain all over the body was helped with re"ular doses of (hus to% @c three times a day. Case two +atricia is . 4he was referred for inpatient care b y her rheumatolo"ist! who had performed many tests and made dia"noses of depression and fibromyal"ia. $t was noted in the referral that she was under"oin" some marital disharmony. Her husband had affairs while she was unwell and sufferin" from panic attac#s! as well as a very reduced libido. hey went to (elate for counsellin" to"ether! but she remained worried that it mi"ht happen a"ain and she had lost her trust in her husband. 4he is ,uite fastidious about the state of her home and one of her bi" upsets

is that because of the pain in the muscles! she is no lon"er able to be as tidy as she wants to be in her house. 4he has two children who are well and a "randson whom she adores. 4he describes them all as bein" 1very much part of my life2 and she "ives the air of bein" a welcomin" mother to them all. :very detail of their lives concerns her. 4he has pain in all her muscles from the nec# down! which she describes as 1li#e someone inside! twistin" my muscles and 0oints2. here;s also an 1e%cruciatin" nerve pain2! li#e a dentist hittin" somethin" with a drill! in the muscles most days. he pain is worse with any activity. $t is e%haustin" and she suffers 1horrible fati"ue2 by the end of every day. 4he has fre,uent dreams of her childhood family home and her parents. 4he was scared to leave her husband! althou"h he continued to have affairs and was unsupportive of her illness as she was scared of 1splittin" the family up2. 4he was admitted to *las"ow Homeopathic Hospital and "iven the remedy Calc carb 99c! three doses over  hours and the 5/ five drops daily. he ne%t time we saw her! three months later! she had made definite plans to leave her husband and was feelin" a lot calmer because of this decision. he pain was unchan"ed. he potency of the remedy was increased to 5/ and the pain has be"un to come under control. 4he still plans to leave as well. Calc carb is often "iven to people who invest a lot of their ener" y in homema#in" and ma#in" the home beautiful for their family. )ne can see what a desperate betrayal the husband;s serial infidelity is for such a person and why it mi"ht ma#e them particularly unwell. 4o in this case! the constitutional remedy was all that has been re,uired. )r Angela /ones is an N! G" who trained in homeopathy in ;ondon and 1ristol in the early 4<<3s, !he wor%ed in a large practice in !outh 0ales for ten years and had a private homeopathic practice based in Cardiff, After returning to .ngland in 4<<<+ she ran a 1A-funded clinic in )idcot+ (#fordshire with )r Nic% !al>man, !he continues to use homeopathy in her cur rent N! role+ which is wor%ing mainly with people e#periencing homelessness, 5om 0hitmarsh *A *11! &'C" &&om is Consultant "hysician at Glasgow omeopathic ospital,

!witching off the pain &ibromyalgia is a debilitating condition that causes severe muscle and :oint pain and fatigue, !inger-songwriter-mily Maguire spea%s candidly to Health and Homeopathy about her life as a sufferer of this chronic illness and how homeopathy has helped her, $t was when $ was in my early teens that $ first be"an to be troubled by constant muscle pain and fati"ue. $ had constant pain from muscle spasms that seemed to be movin" around my body! burnin" sensations or aches that could last for seconds! minutes or hours. 4ometimes $ would "et a flare-up and my whole body would feel li#e it was on fire. )n bad days $ had "reat difficulty wal#in" and "ettin" up and down stairs. /y arms and le"s would suddenly seem to lose all stren"th or $;d have what $ would call a 1wipe-out2! when $ would be overcome by e%treme fati"ue and have to lie down wherever $ happened to be! even if $ was in the street.
for the rest of my life was very difficult for me! and resulted in my sufferin" from an%iety! depression and other co"nitive problems. An alternative approach $t was possibly this failure to come to terms with my illness that led me to e%plore complementary medicine! and $ must have tried nearly every alternative therapy under the sun in attempt to find a cure. $ tried osteopathy! chiropractic! Chinese herbal medicine! aromatherapy! hydrotherapy! ma"netic therapy! a :<4 machine! heat pads! yo"a! the Ale%ander techni,ue! ai Chi! rei#i and more! but none of them had any effect. Homeopathy! for some reason! was the last therapy $ tried. his now appears stran"e to me because my "odmother had been cured of severe depression at the

on+ *@+ "lay,com and i5unes, &or information about .mily’s musical career visit www,emilymaguire,com 7gnatia he homeopathic medicine $"natia is derived from the seeds of $"natia amara or 4aint $"natius bean! a seed pod from a tree found in the +hilippines and other parts of 4outh :ast Asia.

omeopathy and care of the feet by Tari, Khan  An en"ineerin" miracle combinin" "race! durability and sensitivity = it;s an apt description of the human foot. +erhaps one of the most ne"lected parts of the bod y! "enerally hidden from si"ht! the importance of feet is only fully appreciated when somethin" "oes wron". Healthy feet! in "ood wor#in" order "ive us the 0oy of movement. +ainful! unhealthy feet ma#e us feel tired and irritable and ta#e the pleasure out of life. 7oot problems have pla"ued the human race since time immemorial. Chiropodists &or podiatrists as they are increasin"ly #nown' "ive two reasons for this. 7irst! the foot has not yet completed the evolutionary development made necessary when our ancestors strai"htened up from the crouched position &in which they helped themselves alon" with their hands'. he second factor is that our feet! made for wal#in" on

yieldin"! uneven surfaces = "rass! sand! earth = must now pound hard pavements. he foot has two basic functions6 to adapt to the surfaces on which we wal# or run and absorb the shoc# of impactI to ta#e the body wei"ht from above and move it forward. Consider the punishment the foot absorbs in a lifetime. As we move! it "oes throu"h three forward motionsI heel impactI a transitional balance phase as the wei"ht moves forwardI the thrust of the toes as the se,uence is repeated on the opposite foot. Wal#in" at a comfortable 99 steps a minute pace! each heel stri#es the pavement with the e,uivalent of a lb 0olt 9 times a minute. As we wal# an avera"e of !999 miles in a lifetime! that means tens of millions of 0olts for each foot. But the foot is built to withstand many #inds of stresses! so lon" as the health of its comple% structures is maintained. he arch of the foot counteracts much of the shoc# of poundin" it "ets with each step. *arigold 5herapy for foot problems 4o important are our f eet to our wellbein" that they need and deserve as much attention as we "ive to our face. Jet the reality is that most of us tend to i"nore their basic needs and "enerally treat them with disrespect. 4mall wonder that countless people hide away their feet because they are ashamed of them. With a little effort on a re"ular basis! self-treatment of the more common problems can restore ailin" feet. /ari"old herapy is a proven way of  doin" this. +ainless! ,uic#-actin" and without aller" y reactions! it consists of topical applications = oil! tincture! mass! ointment and cream. /any chiropodists currently use it in con0unction with chiropodial treatments. he "entle! non-invasive action of /ari"old herapy ma#es it ideal for self-help. $t is based on homeopathic principles! the products are prepared homeopathically and used in combination with other homeopathic medicinal plants. Caution 3o not attempt self-treatment if you have any of the f ollowin"6 diabetes! circulatory problems! infection! poor eyesi"ht! unsteady hand. now your limitations. $f self-treatment doesn;t improve your condition! see a ,ualified chiropodistpodiatrist. Common &oot "roblems •

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 Achillo-bursitis = inflammation of the Achilles tendon in the heel as a result of shoe friction.  Athlete;s foot = very common! hi"hly infectious condition caused by a fun"us which can be pic#ed up in communal areas or by wearin" other people;s shoes. When between the toes! it is characterised by moist! bro#en s#in! an unpleasant smell and itchin". When on the ball of the foot! it causes the s#in to peel. )n the heel it creates deep painful fissures which can sometimes bleed. Bunion = seen more in women than men! there can be a hereditary tendency but wron"ly-shaped or badly fittin" shoes are the usual cause. Constant pressure on the bi" toe 0oint produces inflammation with conse,uent pain! stiffness and swellin" of the soft tissues and enlar"ement of the 0oint. he usual advice is for an operation! all too often with unsatisfactory results. 3espite the prescribed lon" rest! many people have complications! a painful scar and inflamed foot bein" common. here is also a lon" waitin" list for bunion sur"ery. he so-called tailor;s bunion appears on the side of the little toe. Corns! callous and fissures = can appear on any part of the foot as a result of constant! e%cessive pressure and friction. Corns can be hard &usually on top of toes'! soft &between toes'! neuro-vascular! vascular and seed. he most common site for callous is on the ball of the foot. 7un"al infection of nails = a toe-nail &usually the bi" toe' may become thic#ened andor discoloured due to trauma to the nail plate from shoes! allowin" fun"us to enter. *out = inflammation of the bi" toe 0oint which can appear overni"ht due to an e%cess of uric acid in the body. $n"rown toe-nail = occurs when the side of the nail cuts throu"h surroundin" s#in. he area becomes very sensitive to pressure and continued pressure may cause redness! swellin" and eventually! infection. (emoval of part or the whole of the nail and treatment of infected tissues re,uires professional attention. Homeopathic podiatry can speed recovery and prevent recurrence. +oor nail condition = dry! brittle or thin! soft can be due to pressure and friction accompanied by a constitutional deficiency of mineral salts or could arise from the side effects of dru"s ta#en for a systemic problem. Gerucca = a common viral infection of the s#in! veruccae &warts on the foot or hand' are a problem for more and more people who use communal areas such as swimmin" baths! sports and health clubs. 4ome stubborn veruccae do not respond well to conventional medication. 4ur"ical treatment can be painful and often causes scarrin".

5reatment guide /ari"old herapy consistin" of topical applications only has been shown to be speedier in action and more successful than oral remedies for

many common foot problems. 4ome conditions! however! also re,uire constitutional treatment. $t is recommended that biochemic tissue salts are tried first and then homeopathy if necessary! @c or 89c. (emedy selection should be in accordance with the patient;s symptomatolo"y and the materia medica and prescribed in accordance with usual homeopathic practice. $f self-treatment doesn;t improve your condition! see a professional. +lease see the tables in the +37 version of this article for su""estions of homeopathic medicines you can try. 'outine foot care •

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Wash feet at least once a day with mild soap and warm water! usin" soft brush for nails. 3ry "ently and thorou"hly! especially between toes.  As a preventative treatment a"ainst some common foot problems! apply all over feet and between toes han;s a"etes &/ari"old' incture and )il! first a few drops of tincture and then a few drops of oil massa"ed in for one minute. $f s#in is dry use oil only. hree times a wee# "ive feet a salt bath & tablespoon of salt to a bowl of warm water' to relieve achin"! tired feet and stiffness and improve circulation. eep toe-nails clean. When trimmin"! don;t cut too short. $f toes are normal! cut nails strai"ht across. $f an y toes are deformed! cut to shape of toe.

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3on;t use raFor blades or other sharp ob0ects! or medicated corn pads.

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3on;t put cotton wool between toes. $t will harden and increase pressure or irritation.

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*o barefoot whenever possible while indoors but not elsewhere.

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3on;t wear shoes without hosiery. 3aily foot e%ercises

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)n "ettin" up stand on tiptoe five times.

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+lace a stron" rubber band over the two bi" toes and "ently pull toes apart ten times.

)aily foot e#ercises •

)n "ettin" up stand on tiptoe five times.

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+lace a stron" rubber band over the two bi" toes and "ently pull toes apart ten times.

Guidance on footwear 4hoes need to accommodate the shape of the foot and its function as it helps the body to move. Badly fittin" or wron" shaped shoes can cause painful foot problems. Buy shoes! preferably when you have been on your feet for some time! to suit the shape and structure of your feet = not fashion. his is especially important for wor#in" shoes worn for lon" periods. /ost people have a lar"er foot. 7it to allo w this and allow 8mm space between the tip of the shoe and your lon"est toe. he foot is s,uarish in shape = not pointed. +ointed toe shoes don;t "ive feet enou"h room. 4,uare! hi"h toe-bo%es are best for your feet. Jour new shoes should bend easily at the ball of the foot and the heel should fit snu"ly. Buy leather. $t adapts to the shape of the foot! absorbs moisture and vaporises this into the air. Without this! feet "et hot and perspire profusely. Athlete;s foot fun"us thrives in dar#! damp! warm places. Hi"h heels &over 8?mm' are not "ood for the f eet. hey thrust too much body wei"ht forward! often into very narrow-toed shoes. 7oot problems which may have been dormant! such as hammer-toes! bunions! corns and callouses! are a""ravated by wearin" hi"h heels re"ularly. +rolon"ed wearin" can also lead to muscle imbalance in the lower limbs which in turn can cause lower bac# problems. (otate the shoes you wear.
he /ari"old rust is a re"istered charity for homeopathic podiatric medicine. 7or further information tel6 99 M8@K K8. *, 5ari9 han "h) 1!c 1!c"od*edD !'Ch &;! )&om"odD is "odiatry 5utor to the &aculty of omeopathy and Consultant "odiatrist at Great (rmond !treet ospital for !ic% Children+ in the )epartment of .pidermolysis 1ullosa as well as Consultant and )eputy )irector of 5he *arigold Clinic+ 'oyal ;ondon omoeopathic ospital $C; N! 5rust,

A 9uestion of balance "odiatrist (olin 'erry  e#amines the role of homeopathy in his wor% +odiatrists treat a wide variety of foot and lower limb patholo"ies. As a practisin" homeopathic podiatrist! it is important to understand my patients and all their individual differences. $ no lon"er see the patient merely in terms of lesions and conditions! but in a more holistic li"ht. heir podiatric problems may have become compounded by factors such as "rief from bereavement or wor#-related stress. $f we feel overstretched and find life difficult to cope with! it is little wonder that we feel both physically and mentally drained. Conversely! if we are well and full of confidence our whole system is liable to be more robust. Homeopathy has allowed me to combine my #nowled"e of physical patholo"y "ained as a podiatrist! with the psycholo"y that $ studied whilst readin" for a post-"raduate university de"ree. $t is an ideal philosophy for "uidin" the healer into a deeper and meanin"ful rapport with the patient. $n recent years $ have encoura"ed patients to tal# to me whilst they wal#ed up and down in the sur"ery! either barefoot or with their shoes on! dependin" on how they felt it was easier to tell their stories. 4ome people seem to find it easier to tal# about problems they may be e%periencin" in their lower limbs when "iven the opportunity of bein" able to demonstrate what they wish to communicate by actin" it out = the whole story bein" somewhat different from the sum of its parts. (rthoses  At this point! it may be informative if $ "ive you a brief resum[ re"ardin" the sub0ect of podiatric biomechanics. 7undamentally! this is an anatomical discipline. he practitioner is trained to loo# for problems in the patient;s s#eletal structure. *ait analysis and pressure analysis have been used in conventional podiatry durin" biomechanical assessment for many years. a#in" notes! whilst observin" the way people wal#! combined with evaluatin" the way their feet contact the "round! are important factors in podiatric biomechanics. $t is possible to use these results to assist in the prescription of suitable insoles called orthoses. 7unctional foot orthoses aim to help correct the way people wal#. he podi atrist is wor#in" with humans in not a dissimilar way that a farrier ad0usts horseshoes to ali"n the le"s of a horse so it can canter around in a more balanced fashion. +atients! who use their feet a lot while wor#in" or playin" sport! can develop pain in the shoulders! bac# and lower limb if they are not wal#in" correctly. his can be because bones in their feet are not ali"ned correctly. +odiatrists use terms such as 1overpronation2 and 1forefoot adduction2 to describe different conditions that may need correction. 5aymen tend to stic# to more accessible terminolo"y such as 1dropped arches2.  Accommodative foot othoses are primarily desi"ned for comfort6 they see# to ta#e the pressure away from uncomfortable lesions and to provide soft a"reeable shoc# absorption. +eople sufferin" from conditions such as diabetes and arthritis are often made more comfortable by the "entle support that they can offer. :lderly patients may not respond favourably to 1correction2 usin" firmer functional orthoses! as they may no lon"er have the stren"th in their bones to adapt to this more robust form of treatment. 4ome podiatrists refer to semi-functional orthoses. hese belon" somewhere between functional and accommodative orthoses. $ must admit! however! $ have always found the barriers between all three somewhat blurred. he "ood news is that if orthoses are correctly prescribed! they can often provide a safe and comfortable treatment that is noninvasive and able to be modified and adapted if indicated. Gait analysis 7or some years now it has not only been possible to observe patients wal#in" but also to ta#e films as they do so. hese can be played bac# at normal speed and also in slow motion. $t is possible to film the patient so the practitioner can see the whole body movin" throu"h the "ait cycle. $nformation can then be recorded and! with the patient;s consent! stored for future reference. his can be particularly useful in comple% cases or when you wish to refer bac# to it! to see if there has been a chan"e in the way that someone is wal#in" several years later. $t is often possible! however! for an e%perienced practitioner to ma#e an accurate dia"nosis and prescription without the need of visually recorded "ait and or pressure pad analysis. A "ood eye and a note pad! in con0unction with as#in" the patient the ri"ht ,uestions at the ri"ht time! can be faster and 0ust as beneficial as relyin" on technolo"y. here is nothin" wron" with usin" technolo"y! as lon" as it supplements rather than replaces the relationship between practitioner and patient. When $ first started to use "ait analysis to assist in homeopathic treatment is difficult to say. $ suppose it was a little li#e a certain /edorrhinum symptom! when a person ima"ines someone stal#in" them. $t simply crept up on me! evolvin" rather than becomin" a conscious decision on my part. omeopathic treatment )ne of the first times $ remember usin" the techni,ue of encoura"in" a patient to tal# about their patholo"y whilst wal#in" and standin" was about ten years a"o. he patient was a male approachin" late middle a"e. He had visited me on several occasions for minor foot problems such as a few small corns and some fla#y white dry s#in on his f eet. He always presented at the clinic i n a very smart desi"ner suit and tie! his hair and appearance immaculate. Unfortunately! he appeared to be somewhat withdrawn and reluctant to say little more than was necessary to enable me to treat the lesions on the s#in of his feet.

 After $ had seen him a couple of times! he became noticeably more rela%ed durin" his appointments. $t was unli#ely that he would ever be the most lo,uacious of patients! but his body lan"ua"e was definitely less tense than when we first met.
naturally if we left her on her own for a few minutes! so we withdrew to the waitin"-room. When we returned some five minutes later she was dressed in her shoes and soc#s a"ain and with a "rin on her face! li#e the cat who had "ot the cream. When we played the tape bac#! it was obvious that there was nothin" for the mother to worry about. As soon as we left the room the patient proceeded to dance her ballet steps for the camera. he performance was worthy of the
;oo% after your feet – winter’s coming /ane ., Greenwood tells how training in homeopathy has helped improve her healthcare practice both at home with her family and in her professional life as a podiatrist $f $ may be"in by paintin" a picture for you. $ma"ine! nestled in the steep-sided slope of a mountainous re"ion in 4witFerland! a chocolate bo% ima"e of a villa"e. he roofs of the timbered homes are heavy with snow and the drip-drip sounds from the effect of the brilliant! warm sprin" sun echo around. Bri"htlycoloured clothes capture your attention alon" with s,ueals of deli "ht as the children! whose ruddy faces e%press "lee! speed down the "radients on sled"es! s#is! and boards. Jes! it;s 7ebruary half-term school holidays and it is the annual s#iin" trip. At this time of year 5eysin becomes a small s#i resort easily accessible by public transport from *eneva airport! the final le" bein" a mountain railway that ta#es you from the valley bottom up throu"h vineyards and into deep snow-covered pastureland. he s#i schools have :n"lish-spea#in" instructors who are e%tremely carin" with their char"es! reassurin" apprehensive parents who fear for their offsprin";s safety. Han" on a minute! what is all this to do with homeopathy $ hear you shout. Well are you sittin" comfortablyD hen $ will e%plain &rolics in the snow Havin" ,ualified as a podiatrist in ?MK at Huddersfield University and then in 99 with the 7aculty of Homeopathy at the Academic 3epartments of *las"ow Homeopathic Hospital under the main tutela"e of 3r 3avid (eilly /3! and 3r ari, han! podiatrist! $ was well versed in the use of homeopathy in a limited way in acute conditions. Also! bein" the mother of three youn" children! $ used remedies on a re"ular basis to counteract the various bumps! scrapes and encounters with wildlife that they presented me with. 4o much so! $ carried &and still do' Aconite 89c around with me all the time. 5eysin was our s#i resort of choice in 7ebruary 99! havin" introduced the children to the deli"hts of the winter slopes the year previously. )ff  we went aimin" for the children to have a full wee# of e%pert tuition leavin" some free s#i time for my husband and me. 4#i lessons were boo#ed for the eldest and youn"est child. However! the middle child bein" very adventurous and havin" a 1no-fear2 outloo# on life! wanted to snowboard. By the fourth day! thin"s were "oin" well. We were feelin" invi"orated! havin" overcome remembered challen"es li#e how not to fall on your bottom when wal#in" down a slope with s#is in one hand and poles in the otherI and the art of "oin" to the toilet without dan"lin" "lasses! hats! "loves and sleeves into the toilet basin. $t is also surprisin" how you ,uic#ly "ain a hearty appetite counteractin" any thou"ht of arrivin" home a few pounds li"hter followin" all the e%ercise. 5he accident he family was usin" Arnica 89c to ease the tired! achin" muscles felt in the calves and upper body! alon" with the soothin" effects of a warm deep bath with a few drops of lavender oil added to aid rela%ation and sleep. )n the fifth mornin"! time was forcin" us to rush to the s#i schools to ma#e the lesson start times. his was when the accident happened. he snowboardin" hero fell with full wei"ht on his arm. We #new somethin" ma0or had happened. 7irst aid trainin" came into action! out came the  Aconite 89c! one tablet administered. he distressed patient was made more comfortable by pac#in" the painful limb with snow to reduce swellin" whilst husband hurried to s#i shop ne%t door for help. he shop offered a lift to local *+trauma clinic! fortunately only a f ew doors down. he patient was assessed immediately by a nurse! then *+! conversin" in :n"lish. hen the ,uestion! 1Has he been "iven anythin"D2 $ replied! 1)ne tablet of 89c Aconite.2 *ood was the reply. 1We will "ive him Arnica KCH and a dose of pain #iller too2. $ was flabber"asted! however wonderfully reassured! to receive an inte"rated service. )ur son was e%tremely brave. He underwent an %-ray to chec# the e%tent of the dama"e!which turned out to be! in the doctor;s words 1li#e your name! *reenwood! a "reenstic# fracture2. Continuin" with the "reen theme! he chose this colour for the cast. Upon as#in" the medical professionals about the availability of homeopathy in 4witFerland! they replied! 14ome accept it! others do not! and it is not used widely.2 3epartin" the sur"ery! the onloo#ers! namely the patient;s parents! self-administered Aconite 89c to help with the shoc# of the event.  All this occurred within the hour 0ust in time to collect his brother and sister from their s#i school = what a wonderful service and all within a few hundred metres of the accident. (apid recovery from the event ensued with help from Arnica 89c four doses throu"hout the rest of the day

and then twice daily for the ne%t two days and lots of tender lovin" care. he followin" day we relied on our feet alone for transport and visited the pea# of 5a Berneuse 9Mm hi"h above the villa"e via the cable car to the u#los restaurant for a last lin"erin" loo# at the view. 5ater in the day! the s#i school;s presentation ceremony rewarded all three children with medals! a 0ust reward. Upon arrival bac# into the U! the

he #it should contain a selection of creams6 Arnica cream for application to unbro#en! bruised s#in! and amus cream for chilblains. $n addition! it would be wise to add plasters containin" a "el to protect unbro#en blisters! and some containin" Calendula to heal bro#en ones. $f you have pre-e%istin" foot problems! it would be wise to visit your podiatrist well in advance to chec# and treat them before 0ettin" off to the snow. hey can recommend further footcare to enable you to #eep your feet healthy. /y enthusiasm for homeopathy and my vocation in "eneral! have "ained momentumI $ have e%perienced remar#able results when $ have inte"rated homeopathy into my private wor# as a podiatrist. he patients inspire me to #eep tryin" to introduce it into my

Give your feet a brea% this summer  M0 Taufi, Khan advises on the treatment of common conditions which beset an often neglected area of our bodies he touch of sun and air on the body are life-enhancin" 0oys of summer but sadly for many people not so far as the feet are concerned. All too often these passports to mobility and all this brin"s in life enrichment are #ept hidden away because the owner is ashamed of them. 4ic# feet  = tired! achin"! infected! inflamed! swollen or otherwise distorted = ta#e the pleasure out of life! affectin" health and well bein" to a "reater or lesser de"ree. $t is possible to predict that over 9 per cent of the population will suffer from at least one #ind of foot problem or another durin" their lifetime. 7oot disorders affectin" the s#in! bones and nails come in many forms. 4ome are due to systemic causesI for e%ample! circulatory problems affect the feet and lo wer limbs 0ust as other parts of the body! as sufferers from cold feet and chilblains are all too aware. omeopathic podiatry /ore and more people who have had discoura"in" results from other treatments are turnin" to homeopathic podiatry! a complementary specialty which includes! as first line treatment! /ari"old herapy phytomedicine applied topically in con0unction with podiatric techni,ues and! when indicated accordin" to the si"ns and symptoms! homeopathic oral medicine. As in dentistry! the use of homeopathy in podiatry is more limited than in medicine. $t was e%perience of the limitations of homeopathy in treatin" numerous podiatric disorders! especially those on wei"ht-bearin" areas! which led to the research and discovery of /ari"old herapy. $ts e%tensive use in both

Homeopathic remedies! prescribed accordin" to the si"ns and symptoms &in addition to /ari"old herapy'! are 4ilicea! hu0a and Ant crud. (esolution may ta#e some months. Athlete’s foot 4#in infections find a very f avourable environment in the footwear favoured by millions today = trainers = over-used! under-aired and never disinfected. he hi"hly infectious condition of athlete;s foot is characterised by moist! bro#en s#in when between the toes and an unpleasant smell and itchin". When on the ball of the foot! it causes the s#in to peelI on the heel it creates deep painful fissures that can sometimes bleed. /ari"old herapy tincture and oil for athlete;s foot is used and homeopathic remedies! prescribed accordin" to the si"ns and symptoms! include 4ilicea! Baryta carb and 4ulphur. @erruca  A verruca! caused by a viral infection! is a very common s#in problem and a haFard for the "rowin" number of people usin" communal areas such as swimmin" baths! sports and health clubs. /ari"old herapy for verruca is applied within a cavity pad once wee#ly! two to four times accordin" to the clinician;s 0ud"ment. his is followed up usin" the prescribed tincture and oil. he speed of response to /ari"old herapy for verruca is affected by the state of the person;s immune system. Homeopathic medicines include Ant crud! Causticum and
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Wash feet every day and dry thorou"hly especially between the toes. eep an eye open for the start of any possible problem as that is the time to be"in remedial action. *ently massa"e the feet every day or! failin" that! every other day! with a suitable natural oil or unmedicated cream. /ari"old &a"etes' Cream! used in /ari"old herapy is a popular choice for many.

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:very day wear clean soc#s or ti"hts.

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)nce a wee# "ive your feet a warm salt bath for ten minutes! a tablespoon of salt to a bowl of water.

&ootwear  3o not wear the same shoes day in! day out. Choose f ootwear that fits well and supports the foot. Alternate the shoes you wear as much as possible! certainly every other day. Care of the growing foot :very day when the child is bathed! e%amine the feet carefully for any incipient problems and raise any concerns at the family health clinic. $t is important for abnormalities to be corrected at an early a"e if possible. When the child be"ins to wal# the feet should also be e%amined by a podiatrist who will advise on the best type of footwear for the "rowin" foot. $f in early teens the child is influenced by peer pressure to choose unsuitable shoes either to increase hei"ht or for reasons of fashion! a tendency to depressed or hi"h arches needs particular attention. $t is at this time that the seeds of serious problems can be sown. ow to obtain homeopathic podiatry Under the

omeopathy and eye conditions &rom styes to con:unctivitis+ Carol /ac%son advises on the most appropriate treatment /aybe you have seen the tele vision adverts for a 1new2 eye drop available over-the-counter for con0unctivitis. he active in"redient is chloramphenicol! a bacteriostatic which means it prevents the "rowth! but does not #ill! a number of the bacteria #nown to cause con0unctivitis. $t;s a useful addition to the repertoire of conventional medicine available to a pharmacist! but of the patients $;ve seen so far only a few would have benefitted from the drops. he uses for homeopathic remedies are far more wide-spread. )anger signs 5et;s first note the si"ns that would indicate when self-treatment should not be attempted6

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suspected or #nown presence of a forei"n body &thou"h! in this instance! a dose of 4ilica would aid the removal of said 1body2 by an appropriate practitioner'I

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pain or swellin" round the face not associated with obvious trauma to the area! eye movement is restricted &indicatin" cerebral involvement'I

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vision affected or there is nausea and vomitin" &as above'I

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the eye is 1dama"ed26 the pupil is torn! irre"ular or not reactive to li"htI the cornea is cloudyI

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patient has "laucoma or you suspect "laucomaI

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patient has had recent eye sur"ery or laser treatment.

he conditions $ will consider for self-treatment are mostly acute and therefore $;ve limited myself to a few remedies reasonably easy to obtain on the hi"h street. Con:unctivitis Con0unctivitis comes in four varieties6 viral! bacterial! aller"ic and as a result of a forei"n body causin" abrasions. +hysically the si"ns are often difficult to distin"uish. Aller"ic con0unctivitis would be bilateral! produce watery dischar"e and be accompanied by itchin". he other conditions would probably start in one eye! the dischar"e would be thic#er and more stic#y and the pain would be more burnin" and stin"in". But we mustn;t over-"eneralise and indeed the cause is not so important from a homeopathic point of view. eneral measures he eyes have a "reat ability to heal themselves and con0unctivitis is more often than not self-limitin". $t helps to bathe the eyes as often as possible with salt water & a teaspoon to a pint of boiled and cooled water'! or! if the eyes are especially 1stic#y2! a mi%ture of half mil# to water! 1sterilised2 as above. Contact lenses should be removed and discarded if possible or at l east thorou"hly cleaned to prevent re-infection. Homeopathic treatment  Apis mel is useful for aller"ic con0unctivitis. he con0unctiva are bri"ht red and very swollen! there seem to be water ba"s under the eyes which lea# e%cess hot fluid. here may be sudden piercin" pains. Both eyes are normally affected. With Arsenicum alb the con0unctiva is red! swollen and infected. here is purulent dischar"e and a burnin" sensation! but warm compresses ease the pain. he li ds may be 1crusty2 and eyelashes could fall out. he patient is often panic#y and not easily reassured.  Ar"ent nit presents a similar picture. he inner canthi of the eye are particularly affected! becomin" red and swollen. he patient will be more worried than panic#y and will feel better for closin" the eyes and pressin" them. Belladonna on the other hand presents with a very hot! red! swollen but essentially dry eye. he condition may have come on very suddenly and any pain associated is throbbin". Characteristically the pupils are dilated! starin" and brilliant. he patient will be more cross than panic#y. :uphrasia and Allium cepa are normally associated with hay fever or colds. hey wor# almost as opposites. $ remember which is which by thin#in" of the affects of peelin" stron" onions. Burnin" nasal dischar"e! but bland copious tears &even thou"h the eyes themselves will burn'! that;s Allium or onion. :uphrasia is the other way roundI bland nasal dischar"e but burnin" tears which leave a 1varnish2 on the face. $n practice! if people aren;t sure of their symptoms $ tell them to try one and if it doesn;t wor# use the other.
4ulphur is indicated for styes which are swollen and red! causin" burnin" and itchin". he lids in this instance would be more oily than dry. +ulsatilla styes are bland! pussy yellow affairs that cause little pain and are usually associated with colds and "eneral 1un-wellness2. 5rauma eneral measures /a#e sure that there are none of the dan"er si"ns as at the be"innin" of this article. A cold compress well help to prevent swellin"! or better still a compress of witch haFel lotion &Hamamelis'. Homeopathic treatment  )f course Arnica is the "old standard for trauma in0uries! and certainly if that;s what you have! "ive itI however eye in0uries respond better to Hamamelis for the bruisin" and 5edum if the s#in has been cut. A"ain these are not that easily found! but if you are e%pectin" to have eye sur"ery they can be ta#en as prophylactics. his includes use for cosmetic sur"ery! as a collea"ue of mine will attest toL .ye strain eneral 5easures 3on;t do too much and whatever you;re doin"! do it in "ood li"htL $f you suffer from eye strain re"ularly it;s important to have your eyes chec#ed by an optician in case you need "lasses or are not wearin" the correct prescription. he ones you can buy in many chemists etc are for short term use only. hey do not replace the need for proper optical assessment. Homeopathic treatment   As for all muscular strains (uta "rav would be the remedy of choice. wice daily dosin" should be sufficient and it should not be used lon" term. Contact lenses Eust a brief note about contact lenses6 they should be removed whilst treatin" any eye conditions! thou"h the remedy itself will not dama"e them. $ have contact lenses myself and don;t li#e havin" to do without them! but there are some particularly nasty bacteria associated with lon"-term wear. $f you have an infection associated with contact lenses it should be treated with antibiotics. +articles stuc# under a lens and rub bin" the cornea can ,uic#ly lead to corneal ulcers. he lens should be ta#en out as soon as possible. Calendula can be used to soothe these minor irritations. he lens should be left out for at least a wee# to allow the corneal surface to repair.  Any ma0or irritations! or where the lens was not removed ,uic#ly! need to e%amined by an optician.  And for those horrid occasions when a soft lens folds itself up and hides under the upper lid! causin" 0ammed-shut eyes! sweatin" and panic = if you can see to find your remedies! use hi"h potency Aconite. 7ailin" that! in my e%perience! sittin" on the side of the bath and sin"in" to yourself usually wor#sL Carol /ac%son *'"harm! )&om "harmD is a community pharmacist, (ne of the first group of pharmacists to pass the diploma e#am for the &aculty of omeopathy+ Carol advises her customers on homeopathy and promotes it to the other health care professionals she wor%s with,

.pilepsy and homeopathy – a patient’s story )n Mth /ay this year! as part of
)ver the years / has ac,uired "reater #nowled"e of the condition and now #nows these stran"e sensations were partial seiFures and a common characteristic of a certain type of epilepsy. $t was while pre"nant that / suffered her first tonic-clonic seiFure = the medical name for the violent convulsions normally associated with the illness = which! at the time! doctors attributed to her pre"nancy. But in ?K / had another seiFure when not pre"nant and was referred to a neurolo"ist. After havin" an electroencephalo"ram &::*' e%amination! which measures the pattern of electrical activity in the brain! / was dia"nosed with idiopathic temporal lobe epilepsy. 1$ had a youn" family at the time and no relatives livin" nearby! so $ was e%tremely an%ious about the safety of my children. his in turn made me very depressed!2 said /. / was prescribed +henobarbitone! an anti-epileptic dru" &A:3' which was the standard treatment for this t ype of epilepsy at that time. However! this powerful barbiturate failed to stop the seiFures and caused unpleasant side-effects includin" tiredness! depression! poor memory and impaired co"nitive ability. 4ome years later another doctor su""ested she try a ne w dru"! CarbamaFepine. 4adly! the treatment and care of patients sufferin" from epilepsy in the re"ion where / lived was somewhat uncoordinated! and as a result of a lac# of communication between her doctors / was left ta#in" both dru"s for a number of years which! she now realises! was a mista#e. !ee%ing an alternative approach o be dia"nosed with such a serious chronic illness is devastatin". oday there are a number of e%cellent support "roups wor#in" to improve the ,uality of l ife for sufferers and promote a "reater understandin" of epilepsy. /ore clinics! staffed by specially trained nurses! have also been set up to help patients come to terms with their illness and provide the specialist medical and practical advice needed to assist them in livin" normal lives. 4adly! in the mid-seventies this was not the case and / found her local clinic unsatisfactory! so much so she had to rely on her *+ for emotional support.  Althou"h the seiFures eventually ceased! the severe side-effects she was e%periencin" from the A:3s were havin" a ne"ative impact on other  areas of her life! in particular her career prospects. While wor#in" part-time as a cler# for a firm of solicitors! she was "iven the opportunity to ,ualify as a le"al e%ecutive. But she found the side-effects from her medication were ma#in" studyin" impossible. 1/y memory was so poor that $ could be wor#in" on a case file all afternoon! but the ne%t day $ wouldn;t be able to remember the names of the family concerned!2 she e%plains. 1$t was obvious $ couldn;t hope to wor# at a professional level on the dru"s $ was ta#in".2 / consulted another doctor whose only advice was to continue with the medication. Havin" lost all faith in conventional medicine;s ability to help her! instead of see#in" a referral to the neurolo"y department of her local hospital she started to loo# for an alternative approach to mana"in" her condition. And this is how she came to try homeopathy. 1his was twenty-seven years a"o and althou"h $ can;t remember why $ decided to try homeopathy! $ do recall that $ #new $ wanted to see a medically ,ualified homeopath. 4o $ contacted the 7aculty of Homeopathy for advice and was "iven the details of t wo practitioners in my town!2 says /. 1he first consultation with the homeopathic ph ysician $ chose to see lasted for about an hour. he doctor as#ed me all sorts of ,uestions that covered every aspect of my life includin" what food $ li#ed and disli#ed and whether $ preferred hot temperatures or cold. $ now realise this was helpin" her to draw up a complete picture of the patient she had before her! but it also allowed me to feel that $ could confide in her and $ eventually told her about an e%tremely upsettin" episode from my past which was still hauntin" me.2  At the end of the consultation / was as#ed whether she believed in cause and effect. 1$ can;t remember the e%act ,uestion! but $ did tell her that $;ve always had a stron" notion of this philosophical concept!2 she says. 17inally! the doctor said she wanted to thin# about my case and would "et bac# to me.2  A little later the doctor contacted / sayin" she thou"ht she mi"ht be able to help. At the ne%t consultation / was prescribed the homeopathic medicines
17ind out all you can about your condition!2 she says. 1ell your doctors or epilepsy specialist nurse that you;re loo#in" into the possibility of usin" homeopathy. 4ome people use homeopathy to ease the side-effects of the A:3s which is relatively strai"htforward. But if you;re thin#in" of reducin" your A:3s you need to be aware that it mi"ht not be possible! as it depends on what is causin" your condition. $f the A:3s are wor#in" for you! then thin# very carefully about what you mi"ht lose if you reduce them and have a seiFure.2 / is also ea"er to stress there is much better support for sufferers today than there was when she was first dia"nosed with the condition. 1he hospital clinic $ attended twenty-five years a"o no lon"er e%istsI its modern e,uivalent is very differentL Althou"h there is still a shorta"e in some parts of the country there are now more neurolo"ists with a special interest in epilepsy! and more epilepsy specialist nurses.2 :%cellent support and advice can also be obtained from :pilepsy Action which aims to improve the ,uality of life and promote the interests of people livin" with epilepsy. After receivin" trainin" / started wor#in" for the charity as an accredited volunteer! deliverin" epilepsy awareness sessions to any or"anisation that would li#e to learn more about the condition. 4he also reco"nises the advances conventional medicine has made in the treatment of epilepsy. 1Better dru"s are now available to patients and there is far "reater understandin" of the non-seiFure aspects of the condition. But althou"h conventional treatment has improved! life can still be very difficult for people with epilepsy. :ven the new A:3s don;t always control seiFures or ensure a comfortable e%istenceI therefore $ believe there is a role for homeopathy! but only if it;s used with care and professional advice.2 :ven thou"h homeopathy produced astonishin" results in relation to her own health! / reco"nises there has been little research into the use of homeopathy as a treatment for epilepsy. Conse,uently! she believes it;s essential for anyone considerin" the possibility of usin" homeopathy to reduce their dependence on conventional medication to remain under ,ualified medical supervision. )n no account should they stop ta#in" their medication unless instructed by a specialist in controlled hospital conditions! which is occasionally done to allow specific tests to be carried out. 1:pilepsy is a very complicated condition and you need medical e%pertise! so be sure to choose a medically ,ualified homeopath from the 7aculty of Homeopathy. $f anyone advises you to stop ta#in" your dru"s suddenly! don;t listen to them! as this is potentially very dan"erous.2 .pilepsy – facts and figures •

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:pilepsy is a neurolo"ical condition affectin" around @!999 people in the U! or one in 8 people has epilepsy. he condition is caused when there is a sudden e%cess of electrical activity in the brain! causin" a temporary disruption in the normal level of communication between brain cells.

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$f someone is dia"nosed with epileps y! it means they have a tendency to have seiFures.

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here are around 9 different types of seiFure and a person may have more than one type.

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:pilepsy can affect anyone! at any a"e and from any wal# of life.

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:very day in the U! K people are dia"nosed with epil epsy.

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)nly  per cent of people with epilepsy in the U are seiFure-free. $t is estimated that K9 per cent could be seiFure free with the ri"ht treatment.

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/any people with epilepsy are still discriminated a"ainst due to i"norance about the condition.

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:pilepsy is covered by the 3isability 3iscrimination Act.

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/any people with epilepsy can ta#e part in the same activities as everyone else! with the help of simple safety measures where appropriate. +eople who have been seiFure free for a year can re-apply for their drivin" licence.

7or further information! please visit the :pilepsy Action website at www.epilepsy.or".u# /embers of the public and healthcare professionals loo#in" for confidential advice and information on many aspects of epilepsy can contact the :pilepsy Helpline on 7reephone 9M9M M99 99! or helpline]epilepsy.or".u#! or te%t info to 9KK?K M98?9.

!potlight on .N5 by /enifer 0orden

+roblems of the ear! nose and throat are usually considered to be predominantly winter illnesses but this is not necessarily the case. Althou"h more common throu"h the months of )ctober to 7ebruary! infections of the :< system can occur at any time and a *+ probably sees more patients with these types of ailments than any other comparable illnesses over the course of a year. Also! children are particularly prone to :< problems and this last winter! owin" to the e%tended mild weather! has been an unusually fertile period for these types of viruses. :ars! noses and throats are incredibly comple% and are desi"ned to moisten air bein" inhaled and also to remove irritant particles such as dust and pollen. .ars he ear is divided into three parts. he outer ear! pinna! is the portion of the ear that can be seen. At the innermost part of the pinna is the tympanic membrane! eardrum! and behind that! the middle ear. he inner ear contains the balance mechanism! the cochlea! and connects directly via the auditory nerve to the brain. $f the middle ear becomes inflamed due to an infection! then the resultin" illness is called acute otitis media &A)/'. 4ymptoms come on suddenly and A)/ is dia"nosed by the combination of earache! usually accompanied by a hi"h temperature and "eneral malaise plus si"ns of fluid in the middle ear. he usual indication of A)/ seen by a doctor when loo#in" into the e%ternal ear is that the eardrum! normally "rey! dull and opa,ue li#e a piece of "reaseproof paper! is red! shiny and bul"in"! because of increased pressure. $f the fluid stays in the middle ear! it may thic#en and lead to the condition #nown as 1"lue ear2.  A)/ is common and in the U! about 89 per cent of children under three visit their *+ with this each year. Until recently! the vast ma0ority were prescribed antibiotics. However! without antibiotics! A)/ symptoms improve in  hours in about @9 per cent of children and in M9 per cent within three days. $f antibiotics are not "iven! about one in a thousand children will perforate their eardrum! a condition #nown as supperative otitis media. he evidence for the effectiveness of antibiotics in this condition is very limited despite their hitherto widespread use. he most effective conventional treatment has shown to be pain#illers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol which relieve the discomfort of the earache.
 A remedy that historically has been used for sinusitis is ali bich! and althou"h reco"nised to be one of the most effective treatments! the e%act mechanism by which it wor#s is unclear. $t is prescribed where there are thic#! stic#y dischar"es! especially from mucous membranes! such as those of the nose! throat and lun"s! hence its application in acute sinusitis. he nasal dischar"e is "reen! yellow or bloodstained and difficult to blow out and there may be stic#y crusts in the nose or even ulceration. Hydrastis is a remedy used where the sinus dischar"e tends to "o down the bac# of the throat rather than down the nose. $t is often felt as a lump in the throat and this is technically #nown as post-nasal drip and to"ether this combination is #nown as catarrh. Catarrh is a troublesome dischar"e and! li#e sinusitis! difficult to treat conventionally. here is anecdotal evidence that avoidin" dairy products in one;s diet can reduce the incidence of sinusitis and post-nasal drip but no firm evidence as yet. 5hroat and tonsils 7rom the nose! we will now consider the throat and the tonsils. he latter consist of lymphoid tissue and play a part in the immune response to infection in babies and children but are usually inactive by adulthood. he decision to remove tonsils sur"ically to prevent recurrent attac#s of tonsillitis has been a fiercely debated issue between :< sur"eons over the years. Currently tonsillectomy is avoided unless a patient is sufferin" from at least four severe attac#s of tonsillitis per year! re,uirin" antibiotics to settle the symptoms each time and resultin" in si"nificant time off school or wor#! which is a far cry from the fifties when tonsillectomy was a relatively common procedure.  Another distressin" ailment of the throat is ,uinsy! which is an abscess on or around the tonsil. $t is very painful and! if left! can be potentially serious. Anne! an ele"ant! well-"roomed K year old whose loo#s defy her years! came to see me as she had become unwell followin" an earlier viral infection which she seemed unable to throw off. 4he developed a persistent cou"h and felt "enerally debilitated which resulted in ,uinsy and! despite prompt action by her *+ with antibiotics! had to be admitted to hospital for incision and draina"e of the abscess. 4eemin"ly! she made a full recovery and so was distressed to develop a second ,uinsy t wo months later. 7ortunately this one burst on its own but it left her very apprehensive about it reoccurrin" a"ain.  Anne is an an%ious person who tends to worry about her health and she has had a series of serious illnesses over the years that have added to her apprehension.
 A family history of aller"y increases the ris# of developin" hay fever. he pea# a"e of onset is in adolescence but it is increasin"ly common to find people developin" symptoms in their 9s and 89s. Hay fever can be treated successfully with antihistamines but side-effects! such as sleepiness! may ma#e that particular treatment less than perfect. Althou"h there is a "ood selection of so-called non-sedatin" antihistamines! even these can cause drowsiness in susceptible patients. herefore! because of its lac# of side-effects! homeopathy can really come into its own in treatin" this distressin" condition. )ne of the most successful pieces of homeopathic research e%amined the treatment of hay fever sufferers with a remedy based on a combination of hay fever tri""ers called /i%ed pollens and "rasses 89c. 3r 3avid (eilly of the *las"ow Homeopathic Hospital loo#ed at the effect on hay fever symptoms of "ivin" a dail y dose of the above remedy and compared it to "ivin" a placebo. he result of the study showed that homeopathy was si"nificantly better than placebo i n relievin" the symptoms of hay fever and is a very powerful piece of evidence for the effectiveness of homeopathy in "eneral. /i%ed pollens and "rasses 89c can be "iven on a daily basis at the first si"ns of hay fever and continued throu"hout the season. /enifer 0orden *1Ch1 *'CG" *&om is a part-time N! G" in 'ingwood+ ampshire and has a private homeopathic practice in ighcliffe+ )orset, !he treats patients with a wide range of conditions and across the complete age range.

ealing the interconnected anatomy of .N5 Keith Souter  loo%s at homeopathic medicines suitable for common ea r+ nose and throat problems )torhinolaryn"olo"y is the branch of medicine and sur"ery that specialises in the dia"nosis and treatment of conditions affectin" the ears! nose and throat &:<'! as well as head and nec# disorders. +eople are very susceptible to a wide ran"e of ailments that can produce symptoms affectin" the ears! nose and throat separately or to"ether. (espiratory problems are e%tremely common in "eneral practice! accountin" for almost 89O of consultations. )f these about half are due to upper respiratory and throat infections. Homeopathic medicines when 0udiciously selected to cover the patient;s pattern of symptoms will often shorten the course of the problem or even nip it in the bud. $n addition! more chronic problems affectin" the ears and nose such as perennial rhinitis! nasal polyps! and some cases of tinnitus will often respond very well to homeopathic intervention. 7nterconnected anatomy he ears! nose and throat are all interconnected. he nose has several f unctions. 5ined with sense or"ans it i s! as we all #now! the or"an of smell and is capable of detectin" smells produced from as little as one molecule in a million. $t also warms air and filters out particles and bacteria from inspired air. he nasal passa"es lin# up with the facial sinuses which are cavities within the bones around the eyes and within the chee# bones. A small structure called the :ustachian tube lin#s the middle ear to the naso-pharyn% which is the area of the upper throat that lies behind the nose. his has the 0ob of e,ualisin" the pressure inside the middle ear with that outside the body and is the or"an responsible for the poppin" sound you hear in the ears when you e%perience a chan"e in altitude durin" a fli"ht. We describe the ear as havin" three parts6 outer! middle and inner. he outer ear consists of the pinna which funnels sounds into the ear canalI while the middle ear is a closed chamber containin" the three small ear bones or ossicles which transmit sound to the inner ear. he inner ear consists of the bony labyrinth! which has two componentsI the cochlea! or or"an of hearin"! and the semi-circular canals which control balance. With the ear! nose and throat bein" so physiolo"ically lin#ed! it is easy to see how a problem with one or"an can affect the others. Colds (e"ardless of how under the weather it ma#es you feel! a cold is more of a minor ailment than a serious illness! yet it is one which has a hu"e economic impact in terms of lost days at wor#. $n homeopathy it is appreciated that people do not "et a 1common2 cold! but "et instead an illness that is fairly uni,ue to them. 4treamin" eyes! a runnin" nose and fre,uent bouts of sneeFin" will easily be reco"nised as cold symptoms! but it;s the subtle differences between these types of symptoms that homeopaths use to identify the correct remedy. /atchin" up the symptom profile with an appropriate remedy profile means relief is close at hand. o illustrate this $;ve put to"ether a list of medicines and the symptom profiles to which they are best suited. •

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 Allium cepa6 hin# of the symptoms that peelin" an onion induce and you have the picture of the type of cold that Allium cepa! a homeopathic preparation of red onion! will alleviate. he eyes will be producin" a watery dischar"e! but the nasal dischar"e may be ,uite acrid and cause the nose to become sore and ra w around the nostrils. *enerally! people with these symptoms feel better for bein" in the open air.

:uphrasia6 his remedy is for colds that are producin" symptoms that are the antithesis of those treated by Allium cepa. he dischar"e from the eyes tends to be acrid and they may be ,uite inflamed! whereas the nasal dischar"e is bland.

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 Arsenicum album6 3erived from the metallic element arsenic! this remedy is "ood for people who are neat! tidy and sli"htly fussy with a tendency to "et ,uite restless. Althou"h the nose may feel bloc#ed! it will run at the same time causin" e%coriation and soreness of the s#in above the upper lip.


Nasal polyps  A nasal polyp is a beni"n! fleshy swellin" that "rows from the linin" tissues of the nose and sometimes from the sinuses. hey result in a profound feelin" of nasal bloc#a"e and are common in people who suffer from aller"ic conditions li#e hay fever or asthma. /en are four-times more li#ely to "et nasal polyps than women. he /ateria medica offers a number of remedies for this unpleasant nasal condition. •

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+ulsatilla6 Catarrhal problems often pla"ue people who need +ulsatilla. hey also tend to be peevish! are rarely thirsty and prefer bein" outdoors.

4an"uinaria6 his remedy can also brin" relief to people who develop polyps. 3ominant characteristics of the patient could be a hyper-sensitivity to smells which causes a reaction to flowers! aerosols and odours. And they may be prone to havin" more problems on their ri"ht side.

eucrium6 his is actually the main homeopathic remedy for polyps! particularly if the individual has a history of other polyps! such as fibroids or colonic polyps.

Nose bleeds :veryone suffers from a nose bleed at some time or other. But if you;re havin" recurrent nose bleeds then a medical assessment is sensible! because nasal cautery may be needed. $t may also be a symptom of an underlyin" health problem! so a trip to your *+ to "et your blood pressure chec#ed would be advisable.
Belladonna6 A "reat sore throat remedy indicated when the person;s throat suddenly becomes hot and sore and their ton"ue loo#s strawberry coated. And they may be flushed but with a pallor around the mouth.

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Calcarea carbonica6 his "reat polychrest may help if there are lar"e! dou"hy "lands in the nec#.

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5ac caninum6 his is the remedy to thin# of when the pain moves from one side to the other.

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5achesis6 he sore throat starts of the left and the person hates the throat bein" touched. $t may appear purplish. By contrast! 5ycopodium is associated with ri"ht sided sore throats.

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/ercurius solubilis6 hin# of this when the mouth f eels unclean and the ton"ue is coated with imprints of the teeth visible.

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+hytolacca6 he throat feels dry! but swallowin" sends a sensation of electric shoc#s up into the ears.

!inusitis

his usually follows a cold and results in pain around the eyes and over the chee#s. $t can be e%tremely painful and debilitatin". Belladonna is often effective for sinusitis above the eyes. Hepar sulph comes to mind when the whole face feels sore and there is yellow nasal catarrh. ali bich may help when there is profuse yellow dischar"e! crustin" of the nose and pain in the face! which "ets worse when the patient is bendin" over. 4ilica is indicated when there is e%treme soreness and the head feels sore! is worse for noise! and the person wants to be wrapped up. .arache *enerally! earache is cause by an ear infection and is most common in youn" children. here are a number of remedies that may help includin" Belladonna! Hepar sulph and +ulsatilla! all of which have already been mentioned. But there are others too6 •

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7errum +hosphoricum6 Widely used as a ,uic#-actin" remedy for short-term conditions and suitable for treatin" earache particularly if  the patient is not feverish.

 Aconite6 When the earache comes on suddenly and the patient appears flushed! feverish and restless! then this remedy is indicated.

@ertigo Gerti"o is a feelin" of bein" diFFy and off balance. $t may occur as part of a cold or followin" a viral illness that affects the or"ans of balance in the ears. $t is worth tryin" treatment for up to a couple of wee#s. But if it persists it is definitely advisable to have this investi"ated to e%clude /eniere;s disease! which affects the inner ear! or the presence of a more serious patholo"y such as an acoustic neuroma! a type of brain tumour that develops from the linin" of the auditory nerve. •

Belladonna6 hin# of this if the patient is feverish and the verti"o is worse for turnin" in bed.

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Bora%6 his is indicated if there i s a fear of downward movement! such as in a lift.

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Cinchona officinalis6 /ade from +eruvian bar#! this is one of the main remedies. $f the patient;s verti"o is part of a "eneral infection! then it is li#ely that Cinchona officinalis is the medicine for them. *enerally! thou"h! this remedy is associated with tinnitus &noises in the ears' and headaches.

Cocculus indica6 Another very effective remedy. $t is the classic travel sic#ness remedy.

/any of the homeopathic medicines hi"hli"hted above are available over the counter from your local homeopathic pharmacy. However! it is important to remember that if the symptoms persist you should always ma#e an appointment to see a doctor. eith !outer *1 Ch1 &'CG" *&om *7"si*ed )ep*edAc has a private holistic medicine practice and is a newspaper columnist as well as the author of Homeopathy for the Third Age and Homeopathy: Heart & Soul ,

.ndometriosis  Anne (oates tal%s to !arah 1agnall about how homeopathy helped relieve her painful periods and !ara .ames describes the treatment she gave her for the condition 4arah had been sufferin" from endometriosis and had been warned that she mi"ht have trouble conceivin" naturally. :ver since her periods had started at ! 4arah had had problems. 1he first one was a"onisin". We "ot the doctor out in the middle of the ni"ht because we thou"ht $ had appendicitis. $ was vomitin" and $ had diarrhoea. he doctor also thou"ht it was appendicitis and it was only when the bleedin" be"an the ne%t day that we realised it wasn;t.2 he menstrual difficulties continued into her 9s. 1/y periods were investi"ated a lot. :ventually $ had a laparoscopy in ?? and was dia"nosed with endometriosis throu"hout the abdomen. hey said it mi"ht cause me fertility problems! as it was ,uite severe. 1)ver a course of about f our to five years $ tried ,uite a few different hormone treatments that induce menopause and stop your periods. his wasn;t very nice = the side-effects were obviously ,uite nasty with ni"ht sweats and "eneral hot flushes! e%cessive thirst! no periods! enlar"ed breasts and wei"ht "ain. /y sleep was interrupted = $;d probably drin# about two litres of water durin" the ni"ht and then have to "et up for the toilet all the timeL 1$ had no periods for about ei"ht months. his was followed by si% months of periods that were bearable = not pain free = and then they "radually "ot worse until they were very painful. hen $ had pain in between! pain on ovulation and $ always had diarrhoea and vomitin" = never very pleasantL /y husband had only ever #nown me on some #ind of hormone treatment = $ was always a bi t of a hormonal mess. :ventually! $ said to the doctor that $ didn;t want any more hormone treatment. he "ynaecolo"ist then tal#ed about sur"ical intervention! which $ didn;t particularly fancy and warned me that the ,uality of my e""s mi"ht be ,uite poor. He su""ested that $ should try for a child immediately.

1$t was a bit of a shoc# to my husband /atthew and me because we didn;t really want to be pushed into startin" a family when the "ynaecolo"ist told us we should. We wanted to do it in our own time. We actually made a decision then after a lon" hard tal# about it that it wasn;t the ri"ht time for us.2 $t was at about this time in ??M! that 4arah;s father! Ashley (eynolds! a BHA rustee! su""ested "oin" to the (oyal 5ondon Homoeopathic Hospital. 4arah;s *+ was supportive and after some initial difficulties she was "iven an

perennis which $ use routinely to help with healin" after childbirth. $ have recently seen 4arah and her baby and they are both well. $ was especially interested when 4arah told me that her haemo"lobin level had risen noticeably after she had ta#en 7errum phos re"ularly. What is so fascinatin" about 4arah;s story is not onl y that her periods are less of a problem and that she was able to conceive naturally but also that we have an ob0ective measure of some of the chan"es which occurred. 4o often homeopathy is said to be 1only a placebo2 but here we have a patient who was not e%pectin" miracles from homeopathy and in whom we were able to measure that ovulation had been re"ularly established after the ovarian remedies and that the haemo"lobin level in the blood rose after ta#in" 7errum phos. :ndometriosis is a stran"e condition. $t occurs when the cells! which normally only form the linin" of the womb! spread to other parts of the body! particularly the pelvis. hese cells are hormonally sensitive and chan"e each month with the natural variations in hormones. $t is these chan"es in the cells outside their usual position which "ive rise to the severe pain of endometriosis. his condition is e%tremely common but it is not clear if the incidence is risin" or if it is simply bein" dia"nosed more often now. $t can be helped by homeopathy in many different ways. As in 4arah;s case the best approach is to try to prescribe the constitutional remedy = that is the remedy which suits her best as an overall person rather than bein" a specific cure for endometriosis. here are also local remedies which can be used for specific problems such as pain and heavy periods or to support a patient before and after the sur"ery which is so often necessary. :ndometriosis is a common but complicated condition and it is important that anyone see#in" homeopathic help is treated by a fully ,ualified homeopath. Sara -ames 1!c *1 Ch1 )G* *&om is the )irector of .ducation and a physician in the women’s and children’s department of the ';, !he also has a private practice in north west ;ondon,

.ndometriosis Mollie Hunton discusses the homeopathic treatment of a condition that affects so many women :ndometriosis is a "ynaecolo"ical complaint that seems to be becomin" more common. $t is defined as the presence of endometrium &the linin" of the womb' outside the uterus. he main symptoms are painful periods! heavy periods! pelvic pain! pain on inter course! ovarian cysts and sometimes bowel symptoms. $t currently affects two million "irls and women in the U. 4o how does it occurD here are a number of theories to account for the condition which involves retro"rade spilla"e of endometrium down the fallopian tubes durin" menstruation. he normal situation is that spilla"e is absorbed by the body! but in endometriosis it is not and so it sits around in the pelvis wherever it lands! often on the ovaries. hat su""ests that the immune system in the pelvis is not wor#in" well. As it can lead to bloc#a"e of the tubes and interference with ovarian function! it can also cause fertility problems. 3ia"nosis is made by the "ynaecolo"ist carryin" out a laparoscopy and havin" a loo# inside the pelvic cavity. As this method of dia"nosis is available now! it is readily used and as a result more cases are identified than 89 years a"o when it was not available. $t is carried out on teena"ers who complain of severe painful periods and is often found at that a"e. he youn"est patient in my first study of this condition was 8 when it was dia"nosed in her. Usually in conventional treatment! hormones are used to suppress menstruation = no periods! no endometriosis. $t seems to wor# well in some people despite merely suppressin" symptoms and for those people badl y affected! laser sur"ery may be advised. However! a lot of people have side-effects to one of the main treatments! 3anol. )thers are not helped and for some women the symptoms return after stoppin" the conventional treatment. 7or these women and those with fertility problems &the treatment means they have no hope of pre"nancy whilst on the medication' homeopathy is particularly useful. "atient audits  As $ was seein" a number of patients with endometriosis $ decided to study their histories closely to see what $ could learn. $n homeopathy we are interested in everythin" about the patient so each person had provided a lot of information about themselves! includin" their past histories. his proved to be the most helpful aspect because it led me to a much better insi"ht into their condition. /y first study of ei"ht patients was to investi"ate whether homeopathic treatment was effective. he patients were seen in both "eneral and private practice. $ used the *las"ow Homoeopathic Hospital outcome score to assess the patients; responses! where P is cure of symptoms! 9 is no chan"e and - is death. 7rom my results! all patients had considerable relief of symptoms! especially of heavy periods! painful periods and pelvic pain. All felt very well i n themselves. However! $ followed them up afterwards and some had had relapses. $ needed to find out why. Homeopathic remedies prescribed were for pelvic pain of which Apis helped but Belladonna did not seem to. he most useful remedies were 7olliculinum and )ophorinum! both made from different parts of the ovary. hese two remedies are "iven in a se,uence that $ wor#ed out in studyin" this "roup of patients. )ne tablet of )ophorinum 89c is "iven daily from days five to nine inclusive and 7olliculinum 89c is "iven! one daily! from days 9 to  of the menstrual cycle. he remedies are indicated where there is irre"ularity of the cycle! ovarian cysts or infertility. his re"ime is also used to "ood effect by other doctors as previously reported by 3r 4ara :ames. $ also prescribed Candida 89c! Carcinosin for one woman who had a stron" family history of cancer! 5achesis! +ulsatilla! 4epia! 4ulphur!
$ noticed that endometriosis can occur at any a"e between puberty and the menopause and there was often a history of multiple repeated courses of antibiotics and recurrent attac#s of thrush. Women e%perienced a lot of stress and often had poor diets hi"h in su"ar. $ thou"ht that this could be related to poor immune system function! poor or uncoordinated tubal and uterine motility function which would cause pain and what $ came to call the 1tou"h ovary syndrome2. his seemed to fit in with the observations of absent! poor or late ovulation. he ovum could not escape! or found it difficult! from an ovary with a tou"h capsule. $n this situation the re"ime of )ophorinum 89c and 7olliculinum 89c were indicated! and in fact produced two pre"nancies in three women who were tryin". Why did the condition relapseD Both the people who became pre"nant relapsed! one after stoppin" breastfeedin" and both after rela%in" their diets. !econd group :ncoura"ed by the information $ discovered by auditin" the patients $ had already treated! $ decided to do a second audit some years later. $ wanted to find out what $ had learned from the first audit and how this #nowled"e would affect my approach to handlin" the situation in future.  Also! could $ learn anythin" moreD 7rom the first audit $ had learned that6 •

 All the patients consulted me because of the failure of their medical treatment or because of side-effects from their medication.

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:ndometriosis responds well to the homeopathic method.

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+re"nancy could be achieved.

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(emedies needed to be prescribed on all levels6 locals! nosodes! isodes and constitution.

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3iet and supplements are very important.

he second "roup of ei"ht patients had once a"ain all been dia"nosed by laparoscopy and all had their own variation on the symptoms and si"ns. At this point $ too# an in-depth loo# at the (epertories = 4ynthesis and Cara = to see if $ could find more useful remedies. $t is ,uite complicated in that there are at least five rubrics &lists of remedies' that could be used for painful periodsI for e%ample in the 1female2 chapter  = menses! painful and pain! uterus! menses beforeI and in the 1abdomen2 chapter = pain! site! menses before! pain! menses before or durin" and pain! crampin"! menses before. $t meant that case history-ta#in" needed to be very e%act. $t also made me loo# closely at the actual remedies needed to see how they related to the pelvic or"ans. $ had not realised that the doctors who compiled the repertories #new so much. We #now very little about ovarian pain and its causes! but these are fre,uently mentioned in the (epertory. We also thin# that pre-menstrual syndrome is a modern disease! but it is all there in the (epertory! which was first published in ?. $t helped to find unusual symptoms! li#e 1the more the flow! the "reater the pain2 which has only one remedy for it = Cimicifu"ia. $ had the feelin" followin" up the first "roup of patients that this problem was more difficult than $ had first envisa"ed. )ver time women had returned with relapses. $ decided to ta#e a more careful loo# at the second "roup to see what it was that brou"ht them bac#. he problems were li#ely to be that my prescribin" had not been accurate enou"h! there were obstacles to cure or new problems had arisen which once a"ain had depleted the immune system. his analysis showed that painful and heavy periods were easier to treat and all patients felt better after the first consultation. +elvic pain seemed more difficult to treat and was often the symptom that made people return for another consultation. he interestin" thin" which seemed to emer"e was how many people had a history of fre,uent antibiotic usa"e from childhood. $ therefore compared this "roup of patients with another "roup matched for a"e! but with different problems. )nly one of the matched "roup had had antibiotics! whereas all the endometriosis "roup had. (elapses occurred after dietary lapses with su"ar inta#e and with stressful life events. he remedies $ used this time fell into three "roups6 Constitutional? 4ulphur and
Anne’s story  A"ed 8K! Anne had had a laparoscopy and 3RC and had been told she had endometriosis sta"e $$$ &$ is mild and $G is severe'. 4he complained of severely painful! heavy periods with clots! pelvic pain and infertility. 4he had been prescribed 3anaFol which caused her periods to disappear. his was no help as she wanted to become pre"nant and time was runnin" out. 4he had 0oined the :ndometriosis 4ociety and had read about homeopathy in their newsletter. +reviously she had been on the pill for seven years which would have mas#ed the symptoms of endometriosis! so she only noticed the symptoms when she stopped ta#in" it M months previously. $n her teens she had had recurrent throat infections and had had repeated courses of antibiotics. 4he e%perienced recurrent attac#s of thrush ever since. 4he also suffered from premenstrual mi"raine. $ advised Anne to follow a no-su"ar diet to help the "ut recover from Candida. &hrush is yeast and onl y "rows in the presence of su"ar.' his means readin" pac#ets and tins for "lucose! sucrose! maltose and de%trose. 7ructose! a fruit su"ar! does not seem to affect the Candida.  Anne decided to stop ta#in" the 3anaFol. $ prescribed Candida 89c! one daily for 9 days and 4ulphur 89c one three times in one day! every two wee#s. $ also su""ested she ta#e /a"nesium ) daily because a hi"h dose of ma"nesium would help with uterine and tubal spasm and therefore pain! and ome"a oils &fish and evenin" primrose oils' which provide the raw materials to ma#e prosta"landins = hormones which "overn the contractions of the uterine muscle.  After four months Anne returned not havin" had another attac# of thrush. 4he now complained of pain and numbness in both "roins! heavy periods! bri"ht red with clots. 7or the ne%t cycle she too# )ophorinum 89c daily on days 9 to ! and Belladonna 89c as re,uired for pelvic pain or mi"raine. he foll owin" month she became pre"nantI her pre"nancy pro"ressed normally and produced a baby "irl. 4he was deli"hted and breastfed the baby for a year. After stoppin" breastfeedin" her symptoms returned and needed )ophorinum for three cycles to brin" relief. 4he also too# 5achesis 89c for her mi"raine and pelvic symptoms. A year later she had an early miscarria"e followed by another normal pre"nancy. /ulia’s story
;ove+ hate Q :ealousy Keith Souter e#plores those unfathomable emotions that are often at the root of our distress $t is said that love ma#es the world "o round. $t has also been said that hate #eeps it spinnin". he sheer power of these emotions has been reco"nised since the be"innin"s of time. $t is probably true to say that love is the most unfathomable of the emotions. he Ancient *ree#s! those masters at encapsulatin" sentiments and emotions into the form of deities! made the "oddess Aphrodite the very essence of love. $t is li#ely that she was derived from the earlier  Assyro-Babylonian "oddess $shtar! a voluptuous warrior deity! and the 4yro-+hoenician "oddess Astarte! patron deity of or"ies. he spread of the various cults and the amal"amation of one into another would have been inevitable in those dim and distant days when one maritime power traded! fou"ht and overcame another.  And so Aphrodite came to be venerated throu"hout the Ae"ean. But 0ust as today we reco"nise different types of love! so too was Aphrodite #nown by different names in different centres accordin" to the character of the love which was bein" represented. hus Aphrodite Urania! the celestial Aphrodite! was the "oddess of pure or ideal love. Aphrodite *enetri% or
order to teach the mortal a lesson she sent :ros to punish her. As it happened! :ros fell in love with her and visited her ni"htly! until her two sisters ur"ed her to discover his identit y. :ros left her and she went throu"h a"onies as she tried to recapture her lost love. 7or Aphrodite;s part! 0ealousy deepened to become the most bitter hatred. his little aside into the realms of Ancient *ree# mytholo"y is fairly instructive. $t shows that there are many different types of love! and that pride! 0ealousy and bitterness can all be somehow related in the dynamics of relationships. Hate! the ne"ative of love! can stem from any of these. hey are all deep and powerful emotions which may lie at the heart of our distress and be the roots of a myriad of ailments. ;ove-sic%ness By this term $ refer to those conditions which come about throu"h unre,uited or disappointed love. hey can vary f rom the loss of interest in life of the proverbially 1heart-bro#en2! to stress-induced asthma! irritable bowel syndrome! or even the development of de"enerative diseases.
nec#s. Natrum muriaticum = for hate in melancholic types who are easily offended and who tend to hold "rud"es! often for years. hey can actually seem to nurture their hatred! which they find totally 0ustifiable. hey are worse for consolation and "enerally have a cravin" for salty foods. Nitric acidum = these people cannot and will not for"et a sli"ht! and may feel totally unable to for"ive. hey themselves find it difficult ever to apolo"ise. hey cannot let matters drop and may be incessantly brin"in" the sub0ect up with family and friends! to the point of losin" sympathy. hey are "enerally pric#ly in nature and may pester people about their problems and their health. "hosphorus = for hate in creative! artistic types who are very sensitive. hey "enerally li#e bein" the centre of attention and disli#e bein" shoved from that position! easily developin" a hatred of the one who upsta"es them. hey may hold "rud"es and their temper may erupt swiftly li#e a newly-struc# match. !ulphur  = for those people with a stron" sense of 0ustice. hey can develop hatred of institutions and or"anisations. hey may be of a philosophical nature! with a tendency to slouch! lean and fi d"et. hey can be e%tremely "ood campai"ners! because they are so passionate in their hatred. /ealousy William 4ha#espeare was the first to describe 0ealousy as 1the "reen-eyed monster2 in#he 5erchant of ;enice and then Othello! which is a masterful description of this awesome emotion. hose who are afflicted by it can find themselves perpetratin" "reat acts of maliciousness or smaller deeds of spite. $t is a completely ne"ative emotion which can cause harm to the individual! as well as to others throu"h the actions of the 0ealous person. 3efinin" 0ealousy is difficult! but $ believe that 4pinoFa encapsulated it when he described it as a 1mi%ture of hate and love2. When there is a real conscious feelin" of 0ealousy! then the followin" remedies mi"ht help. Apis mellifica = for those who tend to be as 1busy as bees2. hey can be wor#aholic! controllin" types who can be very irritable when crossed. hey can be 1stun"2 by 0ealousy and be very protective of family and loved ones. W hen anyone threatens their security! their home! their relationship! they will be prepared to stin" bac#. hey have a hi"hly suspicious nature. +hysically they are sub0ect to problems with mucus membranes! s#in and 0oints. hey tend to be clumsy. Arsenicum album = for fussy! tidy! restless people. hey may become 0ealous of anyone who possesses neater or more aesthetically refined thin"s than themselves. yoscyamus = for tal#ative! suspicious types who tend to be immodest. heir 0ealousy may be so intense that they may act rashly and ma#e a fool of themselves. hey may "o into fits of lau"hter about inconse,uential matters. hey may also develop a fear of bein" poisoned! so will become suspicious of food! medicines and drin#s. ;achesis = for tal#ative! suspicious people who often e%perience bloatin". hey are hi"hly susceptible to 0ealousy and may be driven to fits of temper which comes out as verbal abuse. his 0ealousy pattern may be apparent in f emales premenstrually! or around the time of the menopause. ;ycopodium = for worried! hi"hl y-strun" individuals who anticipate events with fear! often for a disproportionately len"thy period of time beforehand. hey may envy people who can carry off any situation! while they a"onise for da ys. hey tend to be professionals and may become acutely 0ealous of their collea"ue;s attainments or popularity. Nu# vomica = for fiery! irritable types who tend to use stimulants. hey are constantly pressured and are often hi"h-achievers. heir 0ealousy smoulders on and they are liable to bouts of irritability. hey are impatient! never satisfied with their lot and prone to 0ealousy. hey are often pla"ued with di"estive problems. "ulsatilla = for timid! weepy t ypes who are very chan"eable. hey are easily influenced b y others. hey "et peeved at people! become  0ealous very swiftly! yet will tend to bottle their emotions up. hey are rarely thirsty and have to be reminded to drin#. !tramonium = for intense! tal#ative types. hey tend to have rapid mood chan"es and althou"h they may seem placid! they can flare up and feel as if they could do violence. hey can bite! scratch or stri#e out when in such a mood. hey tend to be full of fearsI of the dar#! of animals! and of bein" alone. Eealousy may seem totally out of conte%t. hey may be prone to stammerin". )osage hese remedies can be e%tremely useful in people who have problems with these emotions! or in whom ailments have come about as a result of these deep and powerful emotions. he ri"ht remedy in these states can be liberatin".  As to the inevitable ,uestion of potency! when dealin" with emotions and conditions arisin" from emotions! $ find that the hi"her potencies wor# best. 7or an individual usin" these remedies the 89c ta#en twice or three times a day for three days should! if appropriately selected! be ade,uate to start the re-balancin" process.

eith !outer *1 Ch1 &'CG" *&om *7"si*ed )ip*edAc is a part-time G" in 8or%shire, e also has a private holistic medicine practice and is a newspaper columnist as well as the author of Homeopathy for the Third Age and Homeopathy: Heart & Soul ,

*anaging ec>ema Sarah "u%ingham discusses how homeopathy can have more to offer than conventional treatment and includes case studies from Sara -ames and Jayashree Shah $t is no surprise that ecFema is the most fre,uently referred condition to the homeopathic hospitals. $f you have suffered with ecFema you will #now that conventional medicine stru""les to deal with this often very uncomfortable illness! and treatments are palliative rather than curative.  Antibiotics! antihistamines and steroids are on offer to mana"e symptoms and these may help in the short-term! but can become ineffective over time or less well tolerated. (ecently! new 1immunosuppressive2 dru"s have been introduced to tac#le severe ecFema! includin" what are #nown as topical calcineum inhibitors &tacrolimus! pimecrolimus'. But a report in the *ritish 5edical
effect too = occupations at "reatest ris# of developin" contact dermatitis for e%ample are chefs! hairdressers! metal wor#ers! nurses! cleaners and construction wor#ers.  Accordin" to the <:4 children under five are at "reatest ris# of havin" their symptoms worsened by food aller"ies and it is thou"ht that in around 89 per cent of children with ecFema! food may be a contributin" factor. $t probably "oes without sayin" that a healthy diet based on fresh! additive-free foods is beneficial. $n addition some people are aller"ic to specific foods = a combination of homeopathic treatment! improved nutrition and desensitisation should help to calm aller"ic reactions. 5en helpful tips from the National .c>ema !ociety •

Bath in warm water! not hot. Heat increases the itch. 3o not use bubble baths which contain deter"ents and will irritate the s#in.

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 Avoid soap which is dryin" to the s#in! use a soap substitute instead.

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 Apply emollients fre,uently and liberally.

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$mmediately after bathin" apply emollient as this will help trap the water under it and thereby aid re-hydration.

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4mall children and the elderl y should use a bath mat as emollients can ma#e the bath slippery.

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Wash clothes in the minimum effective ,uantity of non-biolo"ical! un-perfumed washin" powder. *ive clothes an e%tra rinse. Avoid fabric conditioners.

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Wear cotton or sil# ne%t to the s#in. Wool and man-made fibres can irritate the s#in. Use cotton sheets and duvet covers.

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eep bedrooms cool! overheatin" ma#es ecFema worse. Warm! moist environments also encoura"e house dust mites.

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eep pets out of the bedroom! animal dander can ma#e ecFema worse.

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(e"ular damp dustin" and vacuumin" will help to #eep the dust levels down.

.c>ema case study 4 /elody Ba#er decided to see# out homeopathic treatment for her son after little success down the conven-tional avenues. 3rew;s ecFema had started around the a"e of one! at first in small patches on the insides of his elbows. hese never went away and then "radually the ecFema spread down his forearms to his hands! which were very bad by the time he was two and a half. /elody too# 3rew to the *+ who prescribed steroid cream and wraps. hese did not help his s#in and /elody tried Chinese medicine to find a cure. )n the whole this was not effective! thou"h one of the treatments did result in 3rew bein" ,uite free of ecFema for a few years. However! 3rew;s ecFema came bac# with a ven"eance when he started secondary school. $t appeared on his hands! spread up his arms to his chest! nec# and face and also to his tummy and le"s. He was covered in it. /elody as#ed their *+ for help but he could only offer a stron"er steroid cream! which she did not want to use on her son;s s#in. 4he as#ed for a referral to the (oyal 5ondon Homeopathic Hospital &(5HH' and 3rew;s homeo-pathic treatment started in Eanuary 99M. 3r 4ara :ames saw 3rew! now ! at the (5HH and after only three appointments there was a very si"nificant improvement. he ecFema cleared from his face! chest! tummy! nec# and arms. He still has some on his hands! but /elody feels the homeopathic medicine and cream are really helpin" him. Homeopathic treatment will often result in an all-round improvement and an increase in the sense of well-bein"! alon"side improvements in the main symptoms. his is certainly what 3rew found. 1$ li#e havin" the homeopathic medication because it;s natural and since ta#in" it! it has made me feel better on the inside as well as the out-side. $ would describe it as feelin" fresh inside.2 /elody was "rateful to "et a referral for her son on the ema case study 2 Wa,as; case was ,uite similar to 3rew;s in that his ecFema was much worse in the summer and it flared up badly when he was under pressure or was an%ious. Wa,as had suffered from ecFema since the a"e of two and his condition was described as 1intractable2 by his doctors.  After many *+ visits for creams! emollients and steroid treatment! followed by a full dermatolo"y consultation and a stay in hospital! Wa,as; s#in was no better and his mother! (ubina! was at her wit;s end6 1We;d "iven up.2

3urin" a very bad f lare-up at a"e 8! (ubina was approached by 3r Eayashree 4hah! a *+ at the same

.c>ema in children Sara -ames describes how she treats this relatively common problem $n the children;s clinic at the (oyal 5ondon Homoeopathic Hospital! ecFema is one of the most fre,uent reasons for referral. $t varies in severity from a few small patches to a severe s#in condition which can cover most of the bod y. $t appears to be an increasin"ly common condition and the allopathic treatments available are palliative rather than curative! and may be associated with lon"-term side effects. 4evere ecFema in a child can have a massive effect on the whole family. Complicated creamin" and banda"in" re"imes are very time-consumin" and children are often irritable and eat poorly as they feel so uncomfortable. 4evere itchin" can interrupt sleep for everybody and children can feel sti"matised at school if their rash is visible. 7or all these reasons people often see# homeopathic help for their children. History ta#in" is a vital part of the art of homeopathy and! as there are many possible causative factors in a case of ecFema! which can effect the choice of a homeopathic remedy! it is essential to collect as much information as possible. :cFema is often lin#ed with other aller"ic conditions so $ li#e to find out as much as possible about any other medical problems in the child or his family and $ also "o into as much detail as possible about the pre"nancy! birth and early life of the child. he choice of homeopathic treatment is a wide one as there are many remedies! which affect the s#in! and a variety of treatment models which can be used. )ne of the most successful ways is to prescribe the constitutional remedy for the child! that is the remedy that fits the overall person! not 0ust the local s#in symptoms. :%amples of remedies commonly used in this way include many well #nown homeopathic treatments such as 4ulphur! Calc carb and Arsenicum album. here is often a stron" family history of aller"ic conditions! or other diseases in a case of ecFema. When Hahnemann was developin" his principles of homeopathy he noted the stron" predisposition to various disease types in different families and postulated an inherited e%planation for this in his theory of miasms. his approach is still e%tremely relevant today and in the treatment of ecFema it is often essential to consider this miasmatic approach and prescribe a relevant nosode. $ find it very useful either when there is a clear family history of certain diseases or when a constitutional remedy seems to suit a child very well but does not produce a complete cure. here are many other treatment models which are useful for ecFema. $ find very commonly that parents have often already made some lin# between an event in their child;s life and the onset or worsenin" of their ecFema. hese can be a variety of thin"s such as separation from a parent or carer! the birth of a new baby in the family! the introduction of new foods into the diet! a seemin"ly unrelated illness or vaccinations. he beauty of homeopathy is that there are remedies which are #nown to be useful in these situations and $ find that when there is a clear aetiolo"ical lin# with the symptoms! homeopathic treatment is particularly successful. hus
desensitisation! in the lon"er term. Case histories wo children whom $ have recently seen at the (5HH illustrate the combination of various homeopathic strate"ies in the treatment of ecFema. 4teven a"e three was covered in ecFema when $ first met him. He had a very dry scaly s#in! which bled profusely when he scratched it. He slept poorly at ni"ht due to the itchin" and always wanted to be in his parents; bed! so none of the family was "ettin" proper sleep. He had been treated e%tensively by his *+ and local hospitals! mainly with steroid creams and repeated courses of antibiotics when the s#in loo#ed infected. He also had a tendency to "et recurrent cou"hs and colds. $n spite of all this he was an e%tremely lively! sociable boy who was popular at nursery! sensitive to others; feelin"s and loved to be the centre of attention. He seemed a fairly typical +hosphorus child and a course of +hosphorus improved both his s#in and his tendency to catch colds by about 9 per cent. When the dose was repeated and the stren"th increased! however! there was not much further improvement. His mother was applyin" *raphites ointment locally and was able to "ive up the steroid creams completely! but $ still felt we could improve thin"s further. He had a history of one "randparent havin" suffered from B and his mother remembered that his cradle cap had worsened as a baby after his BC* vaccination. )n the basis of this $ prescribed Bacillinum! a mi%ed tubercular nosode! and the improvement continued. His s#in is now virtually free of ecFema and his resistance to colds much better. Eana! a si% year-old twin "irl! was behavin" badly at home as well as sufferin" from ecFema. 4he had s#in problems virtually all her life and was in hospital at the a"e of one for this. All of the family had been traumatised by this event as Eana was petrified by the whole e%perience. he parents could still remember and visualise the fear on her face and vowed never to let her "o into hospital a"ain. 4ince that time her s#in and behaviour had deteriorated. At home she was dictatorial! always wanted her own way and fou"ht constantly with her twin! while at school she was well behaved even thou"h her s#in was itchin" a lot in the warm classroom. Based on her overall behaviour! the s#in symptoms and the fact that she had been worse since a severe fri"ht $ prescribed her 5ycopodium! which has been a tremendous help both to her and her familyL Her behaviour at home started to improve within a few days of the first dose and her s#in is now "radually improvin" too. 4he has also been able to stop her steroid creams and now uses Calendula and Urtica cream which suits her well. :cFema may at first "lance seem a superficial condition but as can be seen it is often connected with a more complicated history. $n my e%perience parents can be very "ood at decidin" when to repeat a dose of a remedy or in the selection of a local remedy! but $ would always advise a full homeopathic consultation with a well ,ualified practitioner to help with the treatment for the ecFema. !ara .ames 1!c Ch1 )G* *&om is the )irector of .ducation and a physician in the women’s and children’s department of the ';, !he also has a private practice in north west ;ondon,

&aith and perserverance Alice !tainer tells Anne (oates how homeopathy cured her ec>ema 7or as lon" as she can remember! Alice 4tainer suffered from ecFema. As a small child she had patches behind her #nees and in the folds of her arms but it didn;t really impin"e much on her life until she was  when she suffered a severe flare-up. 1$t was all over my face and was very painful. $t also affected my eyes so much that the *+ thou"ht $ had con0unctivitis. 1$ thin# it was hormone-related. /y *+ referred me to a dermatolo"ist who prescribed steroid creams and moisturisers but they didn;t really help at all. he doctors assumed that moisturisin" is a "ood thin" but for me it made the ecFema worse. $t became hotter and more uncomfortable and itchy so $ have to use moisturisin" creams very carefully.2  Alice;s ecFema didn;t respond to orthodo% treatment and when she was  a friend of the family who believed in holistic treatments! su""ested she try homeopathy. he friend had been treated by 3r (oy W elford so Alice made an appointment to see him privately. 3r Welford found an appropriate remedy strai"htaway. 1He prescribed si% powders of
hen! at the a"e of ! 0ust after she had finished her de"ree! the homeopathic boosters she had been ta#in" suddenly stopped wor#in". 1he ecFema started to encroach a lot more on my life. his time it was on my bac# and $ had random flare-ups over my le"s that went away on their own accord after several wee#s. /y condition was a lot more unstable and erratic and then the ne%t bout was one of the worst = the ecFema was all over my nec# and loo#ed l i#e a red collarL2  At that time! Alice was ta#in" a "ap year wor#in" in )%ford. 4he ran" 3r Welford and he "ave her advice on the phone.  Alice went to 5eeds University to study for her /A and then be"an her +h3 on Henry Eames. 7rom the a"e of  to  her ecFema was "ettin" worse and was not under control. 1$ never had total body cover but it was localised in bi" patches which $ 0ust tried to mana"e as best $ could. 4ometimes $ had a bit of a cry. $ wasn;t very happy in 5eeds and the ecFema was impin"in" more and more on my life.2 he followin" summer when Alice was ! she had a pub meal of tuna in a sauce and had an anaphylactic reaction. 1Within ten minutes $ was throwin" up. $ had to have adrenaline. $ discovered afterwards that scombroid fish poisonin" &when fish is not #ept at the ri"ht temperature and hu"e levels of histamine build up' mimics an aller"ic reaction. 1$;ve had tuna since and $;ve been fine. But after that my ecFema "ot a lot worse and appeared on my forehead where $ had never had it before. /y s#in loo#ed li#e roof tiles and $ couldn;t frown. $t was really biFarre. $ had to vacuum my bed and room daily = it didn;t ma#e me feel "ood about myself = $ felt dis"ustin". By this point $;d been prescribed oral steroids but they made no difference.2 3urin" the autumn term of 99 she started to lose a lot of wei"ht! she was not sleepin" and was tryin" to hold down two 0obs! one in the main university library and one in the :n"lish faculty office at the same time as studyin". 1At one point $ had to see an emer"ency doctor and apolo"ised! sayin" $ probably shouldn;t have come but he said! no this is badL $ felt really weird and spaced out because $ wasn;t sleepin". $ didn;t feel $ was me. :verythin" was an effort! even brushin" my hair and puttin" on clothes. 1When $ went home for Christmas! $ 0ust wasn;t well enou"h to "o bac#. /y parents thou"ht if $ was at home $;d "et better. /y *+s at home were 0ust not "ood with ecFema and recommended steroids! then moisturiser then clin"film = it was humiliatin" bein" wrapped up by my sister  or mother before "oin" to bed and i t made my ecFema worse. he *+ wasn;t very sympathetic sayin" that as the s#in is the lar"est or"an $ was bound to feel illL :cFema had ta#en over my life to such an e%tent that normal life was 0ust impossible.2  Alice ran" 3r Welford a"ain and as#ed that if he couldn;t see her! could he recommend another doctor. $n Eanuary 998! she saw 3r Eulie *era"hty who su""ested that Alice;s body had chan"ed so that the
+eople who need these remedies all have issues to do with needin" their identity to be reco"nised within the "roup or family that they are part of. $n 5ac lupaninum there are more specific issues to do with feelin" isolated from and shunned by the "roup! which causes despair and an"er.  Alice felt that her ecFema was isolatin" her and she often used the word 1dis"ustin"2 when describin" her s#in durin" the bad phases. his is an understandable reaction! however not all people with ecFema will feel this way! and so we have to note what is most characteristic about the particular patient;s feelin"s about their illness. $ was very interested to hear from Alice that she has had a fascination about wolves since childhoodL /ulie Geraghty *1Ch1 *&om )C is a full time homeopathic physician, !he wor%s at 1ristol omeopathic ospital one day a wee% and has a private practice in 1ristol, !he also teaches homeopathy to doctors and other health professionals both in the $ and abroad,

&rom heart-burn to wind Janet !ray e#plains the vagaries of the human digestive system 1We are what we eat2 = so the old ada"e "oes! so maybe it is not surprisin" that many people have problems with their di"estive system. hese problems can vary from a bit of indi"estion occasionally! to serious and incapacitatin" inflammatory bowel disease. +erhaps to start with it is instructive to loo# at the sort of foods that man evolved to di"est. +rimitive men were hunters and "atherers! so this meant meat! when the hunters were in luc#I fish! dependin" on where they livedI and roots and fruit! dependin" on the season. *rains were not cultivated until much later! so many doctors and nutritionalists feel that this so-called 1stone-a"e2 diet is the one that the human system can best handle. Alon" with the cultivation of "rain crops came the domestication of cows! with dairy products becomin" incorporated into man;s staple diet! althou"h these are certainly not 1natural2 foods for humans.
push up the stomach! worsenin" the propensity to reflu%. his is obviously worse lyin" down and on stoopin"! because "ravity is no lon"er able to help the stomach contents to stay down. Acid is secreted by the stomach mucosa &linin" of the stomach' to di"est the food! so stomach contents are always very acid = it does not ta#e lon"! therefore! before the walls of the oesopha"us become 1burnt2 by the action of the acid! causin" the t ypical pain of heart-burn. he stomach is lined by cells! which are usually acid-resistant! but the oesopha"us has no such protection.  A classical situation is an over-wei"ht person who is wo#en at two in the mornin" by a severe burnin" pain behind the sternum! who has to sit up and ta#e a dose of an antacid to neutralise the acid! and thus relieve the pain. he pain can be so severe as to mimic a heart attac#.  Advice should always be "iven about wei"ht loss! and raisin" the head of the bed to assist "ravity in its wor#. 5reatment *raphites = for a person who is overwei"ht and has a rather laFy temperament. hey often have rather coarse s#in! and indeed often suffer from s#in problems. hey are rather "reedy! which is a problem for wei"ht loss! but are averse to meat. hey "et a constricted feelin" soon after a meal and have to loosen their clothes. Unusually! their pain is relieved by lyin" down! so this feature is useful in #eynote prescribin". +ulsatilla = indicated for someone with the chan"eable! emotionally demandin" attitude typical of the remedy. heir indi"estion comes on strai"ht after a meal too! and they are upset b y a lot of foods! especially rich sauces coo#ed with cream and butter! pastries and por#. hey are thirstless! which is a useful prescribin" feature. )yspepsia his describes the sort of pain one would e%perience if sufferin" from "astritis &inflammation of the stomach' or actual peptic ulceration. he pain is located centrally 0ust below the sternum! #nown in medical 0ar"on as the epi"astrium. When the inte"rity of the linin" of the stomach has been breached! it becomes open to acid-dama"eI this can be due to infection by a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori &H. pylori' or by an e%cess of acid secretion. (esearch is still pro"ressin" as to the cause and si"nificance of an infection by H. pylori! and to the best re"ime of treatment. he pains of dyspepsia are often sharp in nature! and are due to acid comin" into contact with either a raw surface in the stomach or an actual ulcer. *astritis is the sta"e before ulceration when the "astric mucosa is simply inflamed and raw because of the action of the acid! but not actually ulcerated. he pain is often at its worst when the patient is hun"ry! as there is no food in the stomach to absorb the acid! and then a"ain a few hours after eatin". $t is often relieved by food or by antacids. he conventional treatment is by H &histamine ' anta"onists! such as Cimetidine! which stop the secretion of the acid. his often renders the patient pain-free very ,uic#ly! but unfortunately we need our acid to di"est our food! so the patient may run into other di"estive problems in the lon" term. he patient may also be "iven H. pylori eradication therapy! if they have tested positive to the bacteria! involvin" stron" doses of antibiotics! which cause their own problemsL 5reatment
reasons than the
!potlight on )igestion by eith !outer  he di"estive system is central to our whole bein"L When $ say that $ do not mean to be flippant! because it actually is a central feature of our anatomy. $n a sense! the di"estive tract is a lon" tube! around which our various tissues and or"ans are arran"ed. he food we ta#e in is passed alon" that tube! bein" altered by "rindin"! chemical reaction and enFymatic brea#down. We absorb nutrients from it and dispel unwanted products of di"estion as it passes! finally "ettin" rid of the waste matter with the passa"e of a bowel movement. And the amaFin" thin" is that it is! li#e most of our body wor#in"s! an automatic and well-ni"h continuous process. A long dynamic tube $f you loo# at an earthworm or even a sna#e! then you "et a fairly clear impression of the tubular nature of their di"estive tracts. hey seem to have very simple anatomies with literally strai"ht di"estive systems that run the len"th of their bodies. By contrast the nine metres of the di"estive tract of the human bein" is convoluted and compressed into a relatively short body. his curious anatomy that we have ma#es dia"nosis of problems e%tremely difficult at times. Abdominal pain! for e%ample! can arise from several or"ans! or from different parts of the di"estive system! and the pain-sufferer may not be able to pinpoint where the pain is comin" from. $f we were simple lon" tubes! li#e the earthworm or sna#e! then you would probably have a clearer idea of the source of a pain.  A #nowled"e of the anatomical positions of the various or"ans and of the position that the di"estive tract ta#es up within the abdominal cavity helps to identify where a problem may be comin" from. A"ain ta#in" pain as an e%ample! acute discomfort in the ri"ht lo wer ,uadrant of the abdomen could be indicative of appendicitis! whereas pain in the top of the abdomen! 0ust below the breast bone su""ests pain from the stomach! while pain in the ri"ht upper ,uadrant of the abdomen! 0ust under the ribs is more su""estive of a problem with the "all bladder. But to thin# of the di"estive tract as a lon" pipe is obviously to oversimplify it. $t is a dynamic tube! the different parts of which have specific functions. 3i"estion be"ins the moment that food is ta#en into the system. he smooth muscles of the di"estive tract move food alon"! brea#in" it up! "rindin" and mi%in" it with a se,uential outpourin" of chemicals and enFymes in order to reduce it into absorbable nutrients. Ultimately! waste products and indi"estible residues are passed out of the body as faeces. he contents of the bo wel are also worth considerin"! because they do not 0ust consist of a slurry of di"ested matter and waste products. Jour  intestine is actually home to many millions of microor"anisms. hey are not bein" passed out with every bowel movement! but live within the intestine and are part of the total body mass that comprises the individual. hey are as much part of you as are the hairs on your head and the nails on your fin"ers and toes. But! more importantly! you and they are livin" in harmonious co-e%istence. Jou need them as they need you. hey actually fulfil a valuable role in your di"estive processes! and in maintainin" your health. he avera"e human body mass consists of K to 99 trillion cells. Up to 89 trillion of these are bacteria! the ma0ority of which inhabit the di"estive system. Considerin" those fi"ures! you will see that there is plenty of scope for thin"s to "o wron". 5he e#tent of the problem 3i"estive problems are e%tremely common in "eneral practice! accountin" for between  and 9 per cent of *+ consultations. he ma0ority of these problems are disorders of function! such as so-called functional dyspepsia! constipation and irritable bo wel syndrome. $ndeed! it is estimated that these three disorders ma#e up about @9 per cent of all referrals to specialist "astroenterolo"y clinics. here certainly seems to have been a chan"e in the pattern of some "astrointestinal disorders over the years! partly because of improvements in dia"nostic tests and treatment advances. 4ur"ery for peptic ulceration is now relatively rare! than#s to the development of several "enerations of dru"s and the discovery of the role of the micro-or"anism Helicobacter pylori in chronic dyspepsia. Havin" said all that! conventional medicine has little to offer people with functional problems. 4ymptom control with anti-spasmodics! fibre bul#in" a"ents and la%atives form the main emphasis of treatment. However! ,uite simply! they have only a limited usefulness for the sufferer. !ome tips to aid digestion $ ma#e no claims for any t ype of diet. Jet the followin" are factors that $ feel are worth considerin". hey alone may ma#e a difference to one;s di"estive system.

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3rin# a cup of boil ed water in the mornin" before brea#fast. his seems to cleanse the stomach and often wor#s wonders.

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:at slowly. )ne of the main causes of indi"estion is unchewed food.

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3on;t eat food 1pipin" hot2. )ur stomachs are not meant to have hot foods inside them. A useful thin" to remember is that if it is hot in the mouth it is hot in the stomach. his includes tea and coffee. 7ood and drin#s that are too hot may disrupt enFymes and in0ure the linin" of the stomach. 4o! always wait for it to cool. 3o not eat on the hoof. /eals should be ta#en at a leisurely pace. $f you eat on the move! there is more chance that di"estion will not be"in. $nstead foods in the stomach and intestine will start to ferment! producin" "ases that bloat you.  Avoid eatin" fruit with the meal. emptin" thou"h it is! because it seems li"hter on the stomach than puddin"s! it is not "ood at the end of a meal. his is because fruit di"ests faster than dense proteins! so fermentation and "as accumulation may occur. $f bloatin" is a persistent problem! try simplifyin" your meals. $nstead of havin" lots of food "roups at one meal try separatin" them. 7or e%ample! proteins need acid enFyme di"estive 0uices! whereas carbohydrates need al#aline enFyme di"estive 0uices. When you have to brea# down both types all at once you are not achievin" optimal enFymatic action! so some fermentation and "as accumulation may occur. ry ta#in" sli"htly smaller servin"s and thin# twice about second helpin"s. As a "ood rule of thumb! try to "et into the habit of estimatin" the ,uantity you allow yourself usin" 1nature;s food bowl2. Cup your two hands to"ether as if you were usin" them to ma#e a bowl. he ,uantity of food that would fill that 1bowl2 should be your ma%imum at any meal. /a#e sure that you drin# enou"h water. $deally! hydrate your stomach with a "lass of water half an hour before a meal.

omeopathy and digestive symptoms Homeopathy has "reat proven worth in dealin" with many di"estive complaints. And since homeopathy depends upon the individual;s own e%perience of a symptom! it has terrific scope for self-mana"ement of symptoms and minor complaints. 7or this reason $ am not "oin" to discuss any actual patholo"y! but merely run throu"h some common symptoms! startin" at the top of the wonderful dynamic tube that is the di"estive tract and loo#in" at the indications of some of the remedies which mi"ht help. But first! be aware of certain warnin" symptoms which should not be i"nored. An early medical opinion and dia"nosis is important in the followin" situations6 •

sudden severe abdominal painI

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vomitin"! especially if accompanied by abdominal distensionI

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wei"ht loss which is not from deliberate dietin"I

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alteration in the normal bowel habit! either with persistent looseness or constipationI

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bleedin" from the bac# passa"e.

he remedies that $ have included in this brief loo# at the di"estive system are by no means a definitive listin" for each of these "roups! but they are ones that $ use fre,uently. )ifficulty swallowing We call this symptom 1dyspha"ia2. $t is a symptom that $ would always advise someone to have chec#ed out by a health professional. )nce that has been done! there are a handful of remedies that can ease the symptom and which may brin" about a cure.  Asafoedida is a truly wonderful remedy when the individual actually feels 1reverse peristalsis2! that is! waves of movement travellin" up the oesopha"us and carryin" food bac# to the mouth. $ndeed! this reverse peristalsis &peristalsis bein" the name for the movement of food or residues down the di"estive tract' can occur anywhere alon" the len"th of the alimentary canal. *lobus hystericus is the name "iven to the sensation of havin" a lump i n the throat. his is usually present all the time! but ma y seem so acute when faced with food that it cannot be eaten. $"natia is the remedy of choice here! especially when swallowin" is so difficult that cho#in" occurs. $t is a remedy that is often chosen in hi"hly-strun"! almost hysterical individuals. $f such a problem occurs after a shoc# or bereavement then this remedy may settle it completely. When the difficulty in swallowin" is associated with a bloated feelin" in the throat! and if the individual disli#es ti"ht clothes! scarves and hi"h nec#lines! then thin# of 5achesis.

3ifficulty caused by a splinter-li#e sensation in the throat! in one prone to irritability may well indicate that
his refers to infre,uent! difficult and sometimes painful evacuation of the bowels. $n many ways it is a sub0ective complaint! since normal openin" of the bowels varies from person to person! some people "oin" normally only once or twice a wee#! and others "oin" normally three or four times a day. 4ustained alteration of the bowel habit needs chec#in".  Alumina is an e%cellent remedy for very severe constipation in elderly people when the desire to open the bowels seems to have been lost. he individual may sit and strain and even feel impelled to use fin"ers to try to e%pel hard! #notty motions. +etite! shy individuals who produce lar"e hard motions when they do open their bowels may be helped b y Baryta carbonica. Bryonia is helpful for people who "et constipated when they travel and who e%perience a burnin" sensation when they open their bowels in this constipated state. Calcarea carbonica is useful in chubby people who parado%ically ,uite li#e the sensation of bein" constipated. hey may lose the desire to open their bowels! but suffer no ill effects from it. 7or children who "et ,uite distressed when they strain to open their bowels! only to feel as if the motion recedes bac# inside them in between strainin" attempts to pass it! 4ilica is useful. 4trainin" almost always produces a stin"in" sensation in the bac# passa"e. )iarrhoea  Acute episodes of diarrhoea can leave the individual feelin" ,uite drained and wea#! as the result of electrolyte loss. (eplacement of fluids and electrolytes is the mainstay of treatment! but the followin" remedies can nip an attac# in the bud.  Arsenicum album is e%tremely useful in very neat! an%ious! restless people. he diarrhoea produces a burnin" sensation around the anus! which may become ,uite red and inflamed. he motions are usually watery and offensive. 7or cases which start in the early mornin" or 0ust after midni"ht China is useful. he motions are watery with undi"ested residues present! to"ether with much mucus. 4ulphur is useful for people who are forced out of bed every mornin"! often at  or @am! by a sudden desire to open the bowels. he motions are loose and e%tremely offensive. +odophyllum also helps the sudden ur"e to open the bowels! especially when the diarrhoea is almost e%plosive. here is much "as! much noise and the motions splatter the toilet bowl. here is usually a lot of "ur"lin" in the abdomen before the ur"e comes. aemorrhoids Haemorrhoids or piles are actually varicose veins of the rectum. $f you can match the ri"ht remedy to the symptoms then a dramatic chan"e can be produced.  Aesculus is made from horse chestnut! and the appearance of the horse chestnut in its pric#ly coat "ives an indication of the pattern of symptoms. $t feels as if there are small stic#s or a pric#ly chestnut shell in the bac# passa"e. he sufferer may e%perience shootin" pains which "o ri"ht up the bac#. When the haemorrhoids protrude li#e a bunch of "rapes Aloe is useful. hey are sore and there may be uncertainty as to whether "as or motions will be passed when the ur"e comes. Hamamelis is the commonest remedy used for soreness and bleedin" haemorrhoids while
5op tips for aiding digestion 5oo much food and drin%6 eep these useful hints and homeopathic medicines in mind General tips •

3rin# a cup of boil ed water in the mornin" before brea#fast. his seems to cleanse the stomach and often wor#s wonders.

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:at slowly. )ne of the main causes of indi"estion is unchewed food.

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3on;t eat food 1pipin" hot2. )ur stomachs are not meant to have hot foods inside them. A useful thin" to remember is that if it is hot in the mouth it is hot in the stomach. his includes tea and coffee. 7ood and drin#s that are too hot may disrupt enFymes and in0ure the

linin" of the stomach. 4o! always wait for it to cool. •

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3on;t eat on the hoof. /eals should be ta#en at a leisurely pace. $f you eat on the move! there is more chance that di"estion will not be"in. $nstead foods in the stomach and intestine will start to ferment! producin" "ases that bloat you.  Avoid eatin" fruit with the meal. emptin" thou"h it is! because it seems li"hter on the stomach than puddin"s! it is not "ood at the end of a meal. his is because fruit di"ests faster than dense proteins! so fermentation and "as accumulation may occur. $f bloatin" is a persistent problem! try simplifyin" your meals. $nstead of havin" lots of food "roups at one meal try separatin" them. 7or e%ample! proteins need acid enFyme di"estive 0uices! whereas carbohydrates need al#aline enFyme di"estive 0uices. When you have to brea# down both types all at once you are not achievin" optimal enFymatic action! so some fermentation and "as accumulation may occur. ry ta#in" sli"htly smaller servin"s and thin# twice about second helpin"s. As a "ood rule of thumb! try to "et into the habit of estimatin" the ,uantity you allow yourself usin" 1nature;s food bowl2. Cup your two hands to"ether as if you were usin" them to ma#e a bowl. he ,uantity of food that would fill that 1bowl2 should be your ma%imum at any meal. /a#e sure that you drin# enou"h water. $deally! hydrate your stomach with a "lass of water half an hour before a meal.

omeopathic medicines Homeopathy has "reat proven worth in dealin" with many di"estive complaints. However! be aware of certain warnin" symptoms which should not be i"nored. An early medical opinion and dia"nosis is important in the followin" situations6 •

sudden severe abdominal painI

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vomitin"! especially if accompanied by abdominal distensionI

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wei"ht loss which is not from deliberate dietin"I

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alteration in the normal bowel habit! either with persistent looseness or constipationI

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bleedin" from the bac# passa"e.

eartburn his symptom refers to the burnin" sensation that the individual e%periences as acid is s,uirted into the oesopha"us from the stomach. A sensation is felt risin" throu"h the chest up to the bac# of the throat. Calcarea carbonica is very "ood at relievin" chronic heartburn in chubby people who "et cramps in the stomach! really burnin" heartburn and who belch noisily. )ften they "et a sour taste in their throats after belchin". /il# often disa"rees with them and produces heartburn and indi"estion! whereas for most people mil# helps. When heartburn and re"ur"itation occurs after only small snac#s then ;ycopodium will probably brin" relief. ypically! the heartburn only spreads up as far as the Adam;s apple! but it tends to last for hours at a time! despite antacids or mil#. he stomach often feels bloated durin" these episodes. "ulsatilla is indicated when heartburn is associated with the taste of a food ta#en hours before. 7atty foods! butter and por# seem to cause these bouts of heartburn! and it is more li#ely to occur when they are peeved about somethin" or with someone. hey rarely feel thirsty. )yspepsia 3yspepsia is a pain or an uncomfortable feelin" in the upper part of the abdromen! usually related to food or meals. $t is what most people refer to as indi"estion. $t can occur at any a"e and about a ,uarter of the population will e%perience it at some time. here are many causes of  dyspepsia! and if it is prolon"ed! a medical opinion should be sou"ht.  A band-li#e pain in the upper abdomen which comes on when the person is hun"ry! and which is relieved for two or three hours after eatin"! only to recur a"ain! calls out for Anacardium. $ndecisiveness is typical with someone in need of this remedy. 3yspepsia associated with nausea! a "nawin" pain in the upper abdomen and retchin" of mucus su""est the remedyArgentum nitricum. hese fol# are often hurried! full of fears! especially as they anticipate a meetin" or event! and prone to bouts of loose motions. Nu# vomica is well #nown to people as a remedy of e%cess! or overindul"ence. he pains classically come on about two hours after food. 5i#e Ar"entum nitricum these people are hurried! but they are less li#ely to be fearful. $rritability and an"er are more in #eepin" with their temperament.

By contrast! sweet! "entle and selfsacrificin" people who e%perience flatulence and dyspepsia after too many starchy or f atty foods may need Natrum carbonicum. hey cannot ta#e mil# and very often have multiple food aller"ies. "hosphorus is e%tremely useful in people "iven to ready vomitin" with their dyspepsia. hey crave cold drin#s! which seem to help for a short time! only to be vomited ten minutes or so later. 1loating Bloatin" may arise from e%cess "as in the stomach! small intestines or the colon. Carbo vegetabilis is a useful remedy when the individual feels chilly! blown up li#e a drum! and when passin" wind both up and down produces ease. H Spring 0??@7

)iabetes mellitus Janet !ray  e#plains how homeopathy can contribute to the management of this condition+ improving 9uality of life and helping to control complications 3iabetes mellitusN is a condition in which the normal mechanism of the body for controllin" the level of "lucose &su"ar' in the blood stream has

"one awry. A hormone called insulin! which is produced b y the pancreas! is responsible for controllin" the movement of su"ar! in the form of "lucose! across from the blood stream into the individual cells of the bod y. $ntracellular "lucose is the 1fuel2 of the cells! without which they cannot wor#. $n diabetes! either the pancreatic beta cells fail! and thus insulin is not producedI or the body become insensitive to the action of insulin with the same end result. 4o diabetes is really a condition of 1starvation in the midst of plenty2 where the "lucose piles up in the blood stream and spills over into the urine! but the individual cells are starved of "lucose. $n the case of pancreatic beta cell failure! insulin is the only possible treatment! and must be "iven re"ularly by in0ection. his type of diabetes is #nown as type  diabetes or formerly 1insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus2. 5et me say at this point that there is no homeopathic alternative to insulin! althou"h some remedies may help to reduce the insulin re,uirements. +eople with type  diabetes are often ,uite youn" at the time of dia"nosis! and will often have lost a lot of wei"ht before dia"nosis is made. $n the case of the cells bein" resistant to insulin! mana"ement can often be achieved b y a healthy diet! re"ular physical activity! dru"s and sometimes insulin = this is type  diabetes and used to be #nown as 1non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus2. hese people are often in their  middle years at time of dia"nosis! and are often overwei"ht! and can thus be helped considerably by dietin" and re"ular physical activity. *anagement of diabetes 4o where can homeopathy contribute to the mana"ement of diabetesD 7irst of all! homeopathic treatment can help improve the "eneral health of a person with diabetes. $f a person with diabetes is in "ood health! his or her insulin re,uirements will be steady and the blood "lucose well controlled. $f the "eneral health is poor! it can be very difficult to achieve "ood control. his can be helped by administerin" a 1constitutional2 remedy! based on the totality of the patient;s symptoms and characteristics. he effect will be to improve the "eneral sense of well-bein"! to improve diabetes control! and maybe to lower the insulin or dru" re,uirements. he remedy 4yFy"ium &Eambol seeds' has a reputation for a specific effect on diabetes! and can be "iven in mother tincture! three drops daily in water. $ cannot claim much success with this! but a veterinary collea"ue has reported e%cellent results in do"s. Boeric#e;s /ateria /edica mentions several other remedies! which cause diabetic symptoms! such as an increased urinary output and the presence of su"ar in the urine &"lycosuria'! in their provin"s. Uranium nitricum is one of these! and it is associated with "reat emaciation and fluid retention! thirst! nausea and vomitin". $t can be tried in low potency! twice daily. +hloridFin &obtained from the root of the apple and other fruit trees' is another remedy indicated. !pecific complications Unfortunately! if the blood "lucose level is not well controlled in diabetes! several serious complications can arise. $t is important that people with diabetes have re"ular chec#s to detect any complications early. However! homeopathy can help to alleviate some of the symptoms of these complications. Neuropathy he peripheral nerves can be dama"ed "ivin" rise to bluntin" of sensation in the feet and hands. his can be dan"erous because minor in0uries! such as blisters! will not be felt and will thus be i"nored. hey can then pro"ress to seriously infected ulcers which will ta#e a lon" time to heal. $ must stress that althou"h homeopathic remedies can help here! they must be used in a complementary and not alternative way! because conventional medicines such as antibiotics may be vital to prevent "an"rene from occurrin". he numbness may be helped by Conium &hemloc#' especially if this is accompanied by wea#ness of body and mind! difficulty wal#in" because of tremblin" and wea#ness! and di FFiness. +lumbum &lead' may be useful if the numbness is accompanied by hypersensitivity with neural"ic pains. hese pains are better for hard pressure and rubbin"! and worse at ni"ht. he infected ulcers can be helped to heal by usin" Calendula &mari"old' both e%ternally as a lotion! and also internally! usin" a @c potency twice daily. Nephropathy he urine must be re"ularl y chec#ed for the presence of protein which would indicate that the #idneys have become affected. *ood diabetes control will minimise the ris# of #idney dama"e. Unless severe dama"e has occurred! homeopathic remedies can help renal function. Apis mellifica &the honey bee' can stimulate a "ood urine flow and improve fluid retention.
remit. his also tends to prevent recurrences. )ther useful remedies are6 •

Helonias &unicorn root'6 +rofuse! thic#! creamy dischar"e. 4evere itchin" and soreness.

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reosotum6 4melly! yellow-stainin" dischar"e. (awness and itchin".

.rectile dysfunction impotenceD his is a problem that causes a lot of distress! and for which there is no easy conventional solution. *ood diabetes control is of the essence! but homeopathic treatment can also help. A"ain! $ would use a constitutional remedy wherever possible! with the addition of the followin" remedies in low potency6 •

Coca &divine plant of the $ncas' = especially where associated with e%haustion and palpitations. $rritable! prefers to be alone.

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+hosphoric acid = mental debility. Cannot maintain an erection. esticles tender and swollen.

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/oschus &mus#' intense desire! but impotence. 7aintin" fits = tends to be hysterical. Worse for cold. 3esire for stimulants.

Arteriopathy +eople with diabetes in the past were put on diets rich in fats to compensate for the su"ar and carbohydrate that they could not eat. $t is now realised that this is not necessary and nowadays people with diabetes have much healthier diets! low in fats and with an avera"e carbohydrate content. $t is possible therefore that the hi"h rate of atherosclerosis &furrin" of the arteries' seen in people with diabetes is as a result of their diet! and not of the disease itself. Atherosclerosis causes heart disease! stro#e! poor circulation in the limbs and #idney dama"e. Hopefully the incidence of these complications will now reduce. $ would li#e to illustrate this complication with a case history. /r 4 &a"ed @?' came to see me with an infected ulcer on his bi" toe. $t had failed to heal usin" conventional treatment! includin" an admission to the hospital for intravenous antibiotics. His other le" had been amputated four years previously after a similar infection could not be controlled. He was under the care of a vascular sur"eon who was very "loomy about his chances of #eepin" his remainin" le". -rays showed osteomyelitis of the bone underlyin" the ulcer! and 3oppler studies showed a very poor circulation in the le". $ treated him with a constitutional remedy &
)ental homeopathy – an accidental introduction 'eter Dar#y  e#plains how a tumble from his bi%e had dramatic repercussions in his professional life $t was a fine autumnal 4unday mornin" when we set off on our mountain bi#es for an off-road so0ourn on Cannoc# Chase. $ could never have visualised that this ride would chan"e my dental practice and dental prescribin" so dramatically and e%plosively. :%plosive was how it felt when $ parted company from my trusted bi#eL $ was admitted to hospital where it was found that $ had a severely fractured ri"ht shoulderI t wo hours later $ was in emer"ency sur"ery. A wee# later! on anticoa"ulant treatment! $ was sent home. he acute care $ received was second to none but it was after that phase that my aches and pains really started. $ remember a patient sayin" that the pain from a bro#en bone is li#e the throbbin" pain of a dental abscess = $ thin# he was ri"ht. +ain #illers had relatively little effect and

due to the prescribed anticoa"ulants the choice of anal"esics was limited. $ tried a tens machine to reduce my aches and pains but this had a minimal effect. $t was durin" a session with my physio that the chance remar# was made6 1why don;t you try homeopathic Arnica and (utaD2 $ had nothin" to lose so $ too# hi s advice. he difference was mar#ed. he sore! bruised feelin" and the ache in the 0oints was less. 4omethin" was ma#in" a bi" difference. Could it be the homeopathic medicineD  After this very personal e%perience $ wanted to find out more and decided to pursue a course in homeopathy. here is a clear! concise career pathway to learnin" dental homeopathy in the U to a reco"nised hi"h standard. he 7aculty of Homeopathy in 5ondon found the venue and $ enrolled on a basic course in dental homeopathy at the (oyal 5ondon Homoeopathic Hospital! *reat )rmond 4treet. his led to the 7aculty;s 57Hom ,ualification. $ now had the basic understandin" of homeopathy! treatin" my own patients who had simple problems usin" either conventional allopathic medicine or ta#in" a homeopathic approach. +atients were more than happy to 1try2 this homeopathic medicine = much to my deli"ht. +atients; acceptance and willin"ness to use homeopathic remedies outstripped my personal e%pectations. $ used it only on well-defined patholo"ical conditions for e%ample pericoronitis! ulceration! herpes! trauma where $ was able to use a homeopathic prescription which is specific in these particular cases. here are some dental problems which cannot be treated by allopathic means! such as teethin" and dental an%iety. he ability to treat such cases homeopathically can only be a positive step forward both for the profession and patient ali#e. 3entists must remember that patients are actively see#in" out more complementary treatments and that the media i s rife with articles on all forms of complementary medicine = dental homeopathy bein" only one of many. $n many dental cases homeopathy can be used alon"side conventional allopathic medicines! as an ad0unct to or instead of conventional treatment. Homeopathy in the U is "rowin". he medical profession has had homeopathy in the

7nfection in a tooth soc%et after e#traction acute oestitisD +atients often present with varyin" symptoms! some have a throbbin"! poundin" pain! a 1pain with every heartbeat2! and the soc#et loo#s red and an"ry indicatin" homeopathic Belladonna. $f the patient complains of a low "rade "nawin" pain and yet the soc#et loo#s reasonably healthy! $ would consider (uta. &(uta is particularly "ood in patients who have dama"e to the li"ament coverin" the bone! be it sur"ical or as a conse,uence of any accidental trauma.' A"ain there is no real indication for antibiotics unless there is a very mar#ed to%ic state or swollen lymph "lands. Apthous ulcers Care has to be ta#en when treatin" any type of ulcer in that a positive dia"nosis that it is neither pre-mali"nant nor mali"nant is essential. When $ am happy with the dia"nosis! $ consider which homeopathic remedies can be used. Ulceration can be comple% to treat and the ,uestion why the patient is "ettin" recurrent aphthous ulcers needs to be considered. he reason could be hormone imbalance! stress or dietary deficiency or an underlyin" patholo"y! for e%ample diabetes. 7or simple relief of aphthous ulceration $ often use6everfew . &$t was noted that when the herbal form of 6everfew was used to treat mi"raine it often produced ulcers in the mouth'. A topical application of +ropolis painted on the ulcer "ives the patient immediate symptom relief. he choice of homeopathic remedy for aphthous ulceration will depend on specific symptoms and their appearance. 3o the ulcers tin"leD Are they soreD What colour is the baseD 7or instance if the patient has a poorly #ept mouth! increased salivation with a metallic taste! and a "rey base to the ulcer then $ would consider homeopathic /ercury. Alternatively if the base of the ulcer loo#ed "reenyyellow a remedy called ali bichromium would be appropriate. )bservation and notin" symptoms is paramount in remedy selection. Cold sores around the lips erpes labialisD $f treatment is started at the onset the results are "enerally "ood! as with most viral conditions. he patient symptoms and prescription are very important in remedy selection. $f the patient complains of a pric#lin"! itchy sensation $;d choose (hus to%. &(hus to% is poison ivyI when the s#in is rubbed a"ainst the plant the same pric#ly! itchy sensation is felt.' We use it homeopathically in the treatment of herpes in its initial sta"es. (hus to% cream can also be applied. $f the sun a""ravates the herpes then a remedy called
7n the dentist’s chair  'hil Wander discusses how homeopathy can help ma%e dental treatment more comfortable $ first became interested in homeopathy about 9 years a"o when my wife "ave me Arnica followin" a s#iin" accident and the healin" was spectacular. $ felt $ had to learn more about homeopathy = 0ust ho w could a couple of tablets placed under my ton"ue produce such remar#able healin" and what other homeopathic remedies would be useful in my dental practiceD $ attended re"ular seminars at the /anchester Homeopathic Clinic! a charitable institution and teachin" centre allied to the 7aculty of Homeopathy in 5ondon! under the tutela"e of 3r *eor"e Burns and was inspired by his #nowled"e and humour &1dentists are collectors of old ma"aFines who run a fillin" station2' and also at the (oyal 5ondon Homoeopathic Hospital. o"ether with a small "roup of li#e-minded dentists! $ be"an a tremendously e%citin" 0ourney on the road to dental homeopathy.

he homeopathic dentist is concerned about the 1whole2 patient not 0ust the 1hole2 in the tooth.
"ain andHor swelling his must be the most common emer"ency after dental treatment. Arnica is the remedy here. Jou can anticipate trouble by always ta#in" an  Arnica tablet 0ust before enterin" the sur"ery and ta#in" another as soon as you leave! if there has been any treatment done under local anaesthetic! or any deep scalin". 5oothache oothache has several remedies dependin" on the symptoms e%perienced. 7or e%ample! throbbin" pain will be relieved by Belladonna. $f heat brin"s on the pain! +ulsatilla will ease it. $f cold eases the pain! Coffea will help. $f clenchin" the teeth eases the pain! 4taphisa"ria will help. $f rubbin" the chee# over the tooth eases the pain! /erc sol will help. (ther remedies include? •

 Aconite for toothache which comes after bein" out in cold dry winds.

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 Arnica for where there is bruisin"! soreness and pain.

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/a"nesium phosphate for relief from heat! pain shoots li#e li"htenin".

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4ilica for toothache with swollen face and "lands! abscess at root of teethI sufferer wants the face to be warm.

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Chamomilla very useful in tincture form for acute toothache of pulpal &nerve' ori"in.

1leeding $f you have had a tooth e%tracted and later in the day the soc#et starts to bleed! apply pressure to the wound by bitin" on a damp! rolled-up hand#erchief and ta#e a +hosphorus tablet. +hosphorus is indicated when the blood is bri"ht red! which it is li#ely to be in this case. $f the blood is bluish! then 5achesis is the indicated remedy. his latter remedy is more often indicated when there is bleedin" from the "ums from "um disease. 7nfection $f! after tooth e%traction! some infection "ets into the soc#et and it becomes painful and a bit smelly! then *unpowder is the remedy that will stop the pain and infection. &4oldiers in the Crimea #new about this and used to ta#e "unpowder from a bullet if they had a "unshot wound.' Abcess $f you are ever unfortunate enou"h to have toothache with a "um boil which is red! swollen and throbbin"! then Belladonna will brin" relief. $f! in the acute sta"e! the swellin" from the abscess runs down into the nec#! /yristica is an absolutely ma"ical remedy. When the abscess has occurred before and the condition is more chronic! then Hepar sulph will ,uic#ly brin" relief. $t must be potency @c. his is very important as the hi"her potency will ma#e the "um boil dischar"e throu"h the s#in. +otency @c ma#es the body;s lymphatic system drain the abscess. *outh ulcers hese can be e%tremely painful. hey are relieved very ,uic#ly with 6everfew . 4ome people have repeated attac#s of mouth ulcers and they should continue to ta#e the 6everfew  for a few days after the ulcers have "one. his will brea# the cycle of repeated attac#s Cold sores  A painful cold sore &herpes' on your lip can be cured very ,uic#ly with (hus to%. Amalgam fillings /erc sol is a wonderful remedy for eliminatin" mercury from the body. Anyone who has an%ieties about amal"am fillin"s can ta#e this remedy6 three on day one and one a day for the rest of the wee#. Whenever an amal"am fillin" is removed by your dental sur"eon! follow the same re"ime. 5rauma in:ury 7or a blow to a tooth ta#e Arnica and if the tooth feels loose ta#e (uta hourly. Cavities o treat caries &decay' temporarily! apply +lanta"o tincture liberally on a cotton wool bud to the cavity. Conclusion Homeopathy definitely has a place in modern dental treatment. $t is not a replacement for the s#ills of the dentist but is a vital ad0unct in many cases! particularly to help those of you who are apprehensive or suffer from "um problems that are not respondin" to conventional treatment.  A homeopathic remedy may be readily added to the dentist;s treatment procedures! resultin" in less discomfort! shorter period of recovery and will ma#e the patient feel better without side effects. Homeopathic remedies increase your ability to heal and enable you to handle the dental e%perience with confidence.

&urther information  A "rowin" number of dentists have trained in homeopathy = loo# for the letters /7Hom &3ent' or 57Hom &3ent' after their other ,ualifications. /7Hom &3ent' is the hi"hest level of homeopathic trainin" currently availableI 57Hom &3ent' means that the dentist has passed the 7aculty;s +rimary Healthcare e%am and can use homeopathy in a limited way. /7Hom and 57Hom dentists are included in the 7aculty;s directory of practitioners available on the BHA website at www.britishhomeopathic.or".he British Homeopathic 3ental Association also provides information and a listin" of dentists interested in homeopathy6 www.bhda.co.u#. "hilip 0ander 1)! *G)!'C! )&om )entD is a founder member and chairman of the 1ritish omeopathic )ental Association, e has recently been awarded an honorary fellowship from the &aculty of omeopathy in recognition of his pioneering wor%+ promotion+ teaching and research in dental homeopathy, e practices in *anchester city centre,

5op = reasons we visitthe dentist 'hil Wander loo%s at common dental ailments he scope for homeopathy in dental practice is broad. Help is at hand for a ran"e of different ailments people commonly e%perience = pain! discomfort! inflammation! bleedin". $t can have a role in calmin" dental an%ieties! speedin" recovery and ma#in" the e%perience in the dentist;s chair "enerally a bit more comfortable.
hrobbin" pain6 Belladonna

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Heat brin"s on the pain6 +ulsatilla

•

Cold eases the pain6 Coffea

•

/a0or decay! clenchin" teeth helps6 4taphisa"ria

•

Where teeth sensitive and sore to touch! e%posed roots! worse with cold air or fluids6 +lanta"o

•

oothache in pre"nancy6 4epia

)ther medicines $;ve found useful are Aconite &toothache after bein" out in a cold wind'! Arnica &pain with bruisin"soreness'! /a"nesium phosphate &pain shoots li#e li"htnin"! worse with cold and better with warmth' and 4ilica &swollen face"lands! patient wants face to be warm'.  And of course! Chamomilla! which is particularly indicated for teethin" babies. +lanta"o tincture! locally applied every  minutes! is an e%cellent therapy for sensitivity! "ivin" immediate and lon"-lastin" relief after 0ust a few applications. $t can be rubbed onto or around a tooth or teeth that are sensitive to hot or cold! or applied as a 1toothache tincture2.  As you can see there are numerous medicines that can apply in toothache! dependin" on the symptoms! and the above is not an e%haustive list. $f in doubt about the correct one to ta#e! thin# ABC6 Arnica! Belladonna! Chamomilla. 2, Abcesses $f you have ever been unfortunate enou"h to suffer toothache with a "um boil which is red! swollen and throbbin"! then Belladonna will brin" relief. $t is best used for an abscess early on. ry 89c every half an hour. $f the swellin" from the abscess runs down into the nec#! try /yristica! which wor#s e%ceptionally well = $ have #nown it to resolve the problem in cases where sur"ical incision seemed essential. 4ilica is useful if the abscess has been lin"erin" for a lon" time and hasn;t come to a head! and to hasten dischar"e when the pus is drainin". $f you have chronic &recurrin"' abscesses then Hepar sulph should help! i n the @c potency if the abscesses are pus-filled! althou"h you should always visit a dentist if the condition is severe. /erc sol @c is useful for bad breath as a result of sores! with e%cessive salivation. +yro"enium can be used when there is pus present but without draina"e. And Bryonia is indicated when there i s acute inflammation or if pric#in" pain is relieved by firm pressure. +ulsatilla can help! as with toothache! where the pain is accentuated by heat and relieved by cold water. Consider usin" a homeopathic mouthwash as well. E, Gum disease *um disease can be very painful and is a ma0or cause of tooth loss. $nfected or bleedin" "ums are usually caused by a build-up of pla,ue on the teeth because of poor dental hy"iene or because the saliva is too acidic. $n less common cases vitamin deficiency! blood disorders! or dru"s may be the cause. 5reatment can be comple# and a visit to a homeopathic dentist is recommended+ so that he or she can find the correct constitutional medicine for you, $n addition to this you may find that usin" some of the medicines in this article is useful6

•

Unhealthy! bleedin" "ums6 Arsenicum album

•

*ums that bleed after brushin"6 7errum phosphoricum

•

Bleedin" "ums with bad breath6 /erc sol @c once daily

•

4wollen! painful "ums! ton"ue has whitish coatin"! patient consumes a lot of stimulants li#e coffee and tea6
•

4wollen "ums that bleed easily! over-production of saliva6 +hosphorus

Hypericum can be used for tender "um tissue! to promote healin". China is also useful for bleedin" "ums. F, 1ro%en teethHe#tractions 4ome people only end up at the dentist when their teeth cause them a ma0or problem! either by fallin" out! brea#in" off or by bein" #noc#ed in an accident. 4ymptoms associated with the potential loss of a tooth or teeth can! understandably! include an%iety and shoc#. +robably the most well-#nown of all homeopathic medicines! Arnica! is as effective in dentistry as it is in other fields of healthcare. $ use it routinely in my sur"ery! "ivin" it to patients before and after treatment. As well as its affinity for the psycholo"ical state of the patient! it is brilliant for treatin" soreness! swellin" and bleedin". 5uc#ily $ rarely see patients who have had serious accidents! and spend much more of my time usin" Arnica before and after e%tractions and more e%tensive dental procedures! to ameliorate the associated symptoms. Hypericum is also very useful if there has been associated nerve dama"e and +hosphorus should be considered to control bleedin". $f you have had a tooth e%tracted and later in the day the soc#et starts to bleed! ta#e +hosphorus 89c or use +hosphorus tincture on a cotton wool ball or han#ie and apply pressure to the soc#et to stem the flow. (uta "raveolens is indicated where the bone is in0ured in a dental procedure and for 1dry soc#et2. 4ymphytum is also a medicine to thin# of! as it encoura"es the "rowth of tissue followin" dental trauma. =, *outh ulcers hese can be very irritatin" and painful but can be alleviated with homeopathic 7everfew! which is also #nown to help mi"raine sufferers. A homeopathic mouthwash is advised. )ther homeopathic medicines which mi"ht help are6

•

Ulcers with a raw appearance that bl eed easily6
•

4mall red ulcers worse for salt or acid6 Bora% 89c! every fifteen minutes

•

4tic#y saliva with a swollen ton"ue6 Hydrastis

+ropolis tincture is also beneficial! applied neat or ta#en as a mouth wash to relieve symptoms while healin" occurs. $t seems to reduce the amount of time ulcers ta#e to heal from seven to ten days to two or three days. (ral health the homeopathic way *outhwashes  A ran"e of homeopathic mouthwashes are available. he most important of these is Calendula. Hypericum and Calendula &Hypercal' mouthwash will leave the mouth feelin" comfortable and fresh after treatment. $t is particularly indicated after sur"ery! as Calendula has e%cellent healin" properties and Hypericum has an affinity with the nerves. a#e one or two drops of the tincture in a "lass of warm water. here are also other "ar"les available from natural health shops! with combinations of in"redients includin" tinctures of myrrh! propolis and #rameria &also #nown as rhatany! a perennial shrub found in
"hilip 0ander 1)! *G)! 'C! &&om)entDruns private and N! dental practices in *anchester and !alford, e has E3years e#perience in holistic dentistry+with a special interest in the use of "ropolis and the replacement of mercuryHamalgam fillings, 7n 233< he was vote done of the top 43 most influential dentists in the $ by )entistry maga>ine,

Nipping cystitis in the bud )r Marysia Kratimenos and Keren Sall outline how homeopathy can alleviate this infection $ma"ine havin" the need to "o to the bathroom 9 or 89 times a day. his is what a sufferer of cystitis "oes throu"h alon" often with a burnin" sensation accompanyin" urination. Gery few women will escape the discomfort of this urinary tract infection. Around one in si% women "et cystitis each year. Women tend to suffer from it as they have a short urethra &the tube that passes from the bladder out of the body' and its openin" is located to very close to the anus ma#in" it easy for bacteria from the anus to reach the bladder and cause an infection. 4ymptoms can include one or more of the followin"6 •

4tin"in" or burnin" sensation when you pass urine

•

he need to urinate more fre,uently and ur"ently! even if you pass little or no urine

•

*eneral feelin" of bein" unwell

•

)ccasional blood in urine

•

+ain or tenderness in lower bac# or abdomen

•

Urine that is cloudy or dar# coloured! and may have a stron" smell.

0hy homeopathy6 Homeopathy can be used successfully in tandem with conventional treatment with antibiotics. Homeopathy is helpful in buildin" up the constitution and so reducin" the ris# of recurrent attac#s of cystitis. A homeopath will ta#e a detailed history to ensure that a suitable homeopathic medicine is prescribed. A urine sample will be sent off for analysis in a laboratory and a preliminary inspection of urine carried out. A stron" smell! cloudiness or the presence of small amounts of blood su""ests a bacterial infection. As *+s usin" conventional treatment will usually wait for the results of the urine culture before prescribin" antibiotics in cases of cystitis where there is no fever or obvious "eneral illness! it is well worth tryin" a homeopathic remedy in the meantime to alleviate discomfort. $f your temperature is very hi"h and you find your pain e%tends to the loins! beware as this may indicate the infection has ascended to the #idneys and medical intervention must be sou"ht ur"ently. +rompt medical attention is also warranted if there is blood in urine. idney infection can lead to the scarrin" of #idneys so immediate treatment with antibiotics is imperative. A homeopathic consultation reatment with homeopathy comprises of a two-pron"ed attac#. 7irstly to treat the infection! and secondly to improve "eneral health! so avertin" further infections. he &deeper treatment' is best left to a professional homeopath. 7or an acute attac# a relatively hi"h potency! 89c should be ta#en. $t can be repeated every hour! decreasin" the fre,uency of the remedy as the symptoms improve. $f there is no improvement after two or four doses! sufferers should see# professional homeopathic treatment. 5he right homeopathic medicine Aconite his is prescribed if the symptoms come on very suddenly and without any warnin"! often after a fri"ht or e%posure to cold. 3ivin" into icy water may brin" on cystitis. here is a lot of fear and this may lead to retention of urine. here is a sensation of pressure in the bladder and burnin" before urination. Arnica montana  Arnica is useful for treatin" cystitis that follows bruisin" in0uries of the perineum. $t is therefore suitable for urinary problems followin" childbirth. here may be trouble emptyin" the bladder and some involuntary dribblin". Cantharis his will help if you suffer from a"onisin" pain before! durin" and after urination. :ach drop of urine will feel li#e scaldin" acid and there may be blood in it. Beside yourself with pain you will avoid drin#in" so you won;t have to pass urine. Cantharis was well #nown to the /ar,uis de 4ade and his followers.

Nu# vomica his medicine is "iven when there is intense chilliness and the person feels very irritable with the cystitis. here is a constant ur"e to urinate and a sense that the bladder is full althou"h tiny amounts of urine are passed.


Drink large amounts of water to flush out the infection.  Avoid tea and coffee as they can aggravate the symptoms.  Drink large amounts of cranberry juice or take tables of cranberry concentrate as they make the urine too acidic for the bacteria to thrive.  Likewise sachets of powder available at pharmacies work on the same principle. Some make the urine less acidic as they contain large amounts of bicarbonate.  Keep the bladder empty as holding on to urine will only make matters worse and encourage a more serious infection.  It is advisable to empty the bladder after se to avoid infection.  !athing and hygiene products such as talcum powder and perfumed soap should all be avoided as they irritate your urethra.  Don"t wear thongs or tight trousers# pure cotton underwear is best$ as are stockings rather than tights.

*arysia ratimenos *1 1! &'C!.)D &&(* is on the staff of the 'oyal ;ondon omeopathic ospital where she is involved in stress clinics+ general medicine+ paediatrics and neurolinguistic programming, !he also teaches on the *&om course and has a private practice,

Crohn’s disease  Andrea Wiessner  discusses the homeopathic treatment of one of her patients Crohn;s disease is a chronic inflammatory "astro-intestinal disease that can affect the whole di"estive tract from mouth to anus but favours the lower part of the small bowels. $t can cause symptoms of bowel inflammation! such as abdominal pain! diarrhoea and "eneral malaise and it

can cause ulcerations in the mouth or anus and anal fissures. But it is also sometimes accompanied by manifestations outside of the di"estive tract! such as arthritis! inflammation of the eyes! inflammation of the sacroiliac 0oint and s#in rashes. )ne of its complications is the stricture of parts of the bo wels due to lon" standin" inflammation which then usually re,uires sur"ical intervention. Acute episodes are usually treated with oral steroids and lon"-term maintenance treatment often consists of immuno-suppressive a"ents and medicines used in the treatment of some forms of cancer. "auline (eferred to me by her *+ in
that sta"e. However! $ told her to use her conventional medication if symptoms did not settle ,uic#ly. $ also prescribed /ercurius sol @c three times per day! when re,uired! for her iritis. When $ saw her ne%t! two months later! she had much improved. he pain had settled! her 0oints and bac# were fi ne and her ener"y levels better. 4he had ta#en /ercaptopurin for ten days but stopped it a"ain and had been well. )ver the followin" two years! she had been really well apart from one chest and throat infection. 4he continued with +hosphorus 89c once wee#ly and 4epia / every few months.  A year a"o she came to see me with severe bac# pain a"ain! associated with stiffness and pain in her hip. 4he had been run down and felt this mi"ht be a precursor for the Crohn;s a"ain. 4he had already tried 4epia! but this time it did not seem to affect her symptoms. $ prescribed (hus to% 89c once daily until the bac# pain had settled and told her to then ta#e +hosphorus 99c! three sin"le doses within  hours. 4he has been fine since with one more minor episode of bac# pain! which responded well a"ain to (hus to%. 4he now ta#es +hosphorus 99c every few months if her "eneral well-bein" deteriorates. 5he remedies he remedies that helped +auline most were 4epia! the in# of the cuttle fish! and +hosphorus! a remedy from the mineral #in"dom and an element from the periodic table. )n first "lance! this seems stran"e as they come from completely different sources. However! patients who re,uire 4epia sometimes appear ,uite 1phosphoric2 and this mi"ht be due to the fact that the cuttle fish itself contains a lot of +hosphorus. $n retrospect! $ would say that +auline is probably more of a +hosphorus type constitutionally. However! she had "ood responses to 4epia initially! possibly due to the overlappin" symptoms of both remedies. he ,uestion why she responded and which one is her constitutional remedy is probably ,uite academic thou"h! as the main thin" is that +auline;s symptoms improved and that she is on her path to health. "hosphorus +hosphorus means the 1li"ht-brin"er2 &the *ree# word 1phos2 means li"ht and 1phoros2 means brin"in" or bearin"'. +hosphorus is a poisonous substance and reacts violently. $t is used in the manufacture of safety matches. )n a physical level! +hosphorus;s destructive processes dominate the homeopathic picture! such as irritation and inflammation of the linin" of or"ans! inflammation of nerves and the spinal cord and destruction of bones. $ts picture also contains haemorrha"es and "eneral wea#ness. But 0ust li#e the fire! destructive as it can be! it also brin"s warmth! li"ht and sustains life.  As +hosphorus brin"s li"ht in the physical sense! the +hosphorus type of person is a li"ht-brin"er in other ways. He or she is a very open and e%trovert person who ma#es you feel "ood in their presence. )ften! when they enter the room you have a sense that the li"ht has been switched on.
0hen orthodo# medicine has nothing more to offer, -li+a#eth Thompson discusses the role of homeopathic treatment for female cancer patients  At the *las"ow Homeopathic Hospital &*HH' we are seein" an increasin" number of people referred with a dia"nosis of cancer. his reflects an increased interest in how complementary approaches to cancer care can support people at different sta"es of the cancer dia"nosis. $n the past four and a half years of wor#in" at the *HH! $ have learned that the people comin" to the hospital want different thin"s from complementary medicine. 4ome people come when conventional treatments can no lon"er offer them anythin" to save their lives. his is a fri"htenin" time for them and althou"h the homeopathic approach may not offer a cure at this late sta"e of their illness! it can often offer hope of a different #ind. 4ometimes it helps people to outlive the pro"nosis "iven to them by months or even years. 4ometimes it helps them need less in the way of conventional medicine includin" pain #illers and offers them continuin" support despite pro"ressive disease.  As a doctor wor#in" in both conventional and complementary cancer care $ have learned the importance of inte"ratin" these two perspectives. $deally the doctor practisin" homeopathy would wor# as an inte"ral part of a much wider team which would include family members! nurses! "eneral practitioners! oncolo"ists! sur"eons! palliative physicians and other complementary therapists. $t is disappointin" sometimes to see that other healthcare professionals can be unsupportive of a person;s desire to use complementary therapies and for some people the #nowled"e that the team is not wor#in" to"ether can cause doubt and insecurity.

4ome patients come at the be"innin" of their dia"nosis wantin" to support their bodies with "entler approaches and help themselves recover from some difficult and powerful treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. As well as usin" homeopathic medicines! the *HH also has e%perience in usin" /istletoe which is "i ven by in0ection and has been shown to stimulate the "roup of white cells whose numbers can be depleted durin" chemotherapy and radiotherapy. )ther patients come when they have finished most of their treatments but may still not be feelin" well despite bein" "iven the all clear by their doctors. $n the past fe w months a team of us at the *HH have been carryin" out a research study with women who have survived breast cancer but are havin" difficult menopausal symptoms. hese women can not use Hormone (eplacement herapy &H(' and many of them are on a dru" called amo%ifen which can ma#e symptoms such as hot flushes a lot worse. $n a pilot study we loo#ed at  women all of whom had difficult menopausal symptoms! such as hot flushes! mood disturbance! fati"ue and  0oint pains. All of the women had had a dia"nosis of breast cancer. he medical profession is realisin" that these symptoms can really affect ,uality of life but conventional approaches are limited. $n particular H( is not advised &because the hormones in H( may stimulate breast cancer cells'. About three ,uarters of the women in the study said they had found the homeopathic approach useful for their symptoms and satisfaction with the approach was hi"h. $n terms of persuadin" collea"ues within medicine that the homeopathic approach is worth recommendin"! we can reassure them throu"h research that people "ain a benefit which ma#es a difference to them. 7ollowin" on from this pilot study! further research at the *HH! funded by the rust;s Homeopathic (esearch Committee! is loo#in" at M9 women all of whom have hot flushes and have had a dia"nosis of! and conventional treatment for! breast cancer within the last five years. Half  of the women will have a consultation plus a placebo &dummy' medicine and half will have a consultation plus a homeopathic remedy to treat the hot flushes. We #now that people can "et well a"ain under the influence of a placebo and we are e%pectin" ,uite a lot of the women on placebo to improve. nowin" how many women "et well with placebo helps us to #now how many people we need to see if we wanted to show a difference between placebo medicines and homeopathic medicines and this could be a lot of women. We are "rateful to all the women who are ta#in" part and still need another 9 women to 0oin the study. (esearch of this sort is very important in helpin" us to clarify the roles of different complementary medicines in cancer care. he 0ourney of dealin" with a serious disease and the conse,uences of treatment can be a difficult one. $ believe that complementary therapies can rise up to meet the person alon" this road and help restore wellbein" and confidence in their own bodies. )ne wonderful aspect of the homeopathic approach is that it can be a very important opportunity to help someone re-evaluate their life and their health. 4ometimes hurts in the past have never been healed and sittin" with someone as they describe difficult e%periences can be itself therapeutic. Combinin" this therapeutic listenin" time with substances from nature that "ently stimulate the body;s own healin" potential can be an approach that throu"h patient demand and research we can demonstrate is really worth offerin" to many more people. Case !tudy  A @ year-old woman was referred to outpatients with a dia"nosis of hot flushes. 4he had under"one a left mastectomy for breast cancer in
better than she did before her dia"nosis of cancer. )r .li>abeth 5hompson *'C" *&om trained in homeopathy with the omeopathic "hysicians 5eaching Group in 4<<2 and began wor%ing at the G in 4<<= seeing patients with cancer in a research clinic, !he and her husband+ also a *ember of the &aculty of omeopathy+ have three young children who thrive on love and homeopathy when necessaryR

Ad:ustment and empowerment -li+a#eth Thompson discusses how integrated care can ma%e all the difference to cancer patients (eceivin" a dia"nosis of cancer can be a very fri"htenin" e%perience and many people remember the e%act moment of hearin" this difficult news. he e%perience can cause shoc# and an%iety and the feelin" that one;s life is spirallin" out of control. he person can often feel li#e their body has let them down by developin" such a serious illness and they can lose confidence in themselves and their future. here is often a desire to loo# more deeply into their health in "eneral and to find meanin" in their lives as a whole. /any supportive approaches such as psycholo"ical procedures e%ist to help people durin" this difficult time of ad0ustin" to a life-threatenin" illness. Complementary and alternative medicines &CA/' can also offer an important avenue of support with an underlyin" philosophy that the individual e%perience is important and connections that a person may ma#e in their life and health are important. CA/ also honours the idea that the body has its own innate healin" potential which can be stren"thened in various ways. A preparation of /istletoe would be an e%ample of a complementary medicine which has been shown to stimulate the immune system and when "iven alon"side chemotherapy and radiotherapy can reduce fati"ue and improve ,uality of life. We are very fortunate here in Bristol to run a complementary cancer care service that is inte"rated into the rest of the acute Healthcare rust where the hospital is sited! University Hospitals Bristol 7oundation rust. We see about 9 patients a year with many referrals comin" directly from healthcare professionals within related cancer services and research su""ests patients want their treatment choices valued and approved by their oncolo"ists. We have a close relationship with the breast care nurses wor#in" with the sur"ical team in the north of Bristol and the team at the Bristol Haematolo"y and )ncolo"y Centre. !upportive role 4ometimes it is the simple thin"s that seem to help and one of the thin"s that we offer at the hospital is continuity of care. $f a patient comes to us they stay with us throu"hout their five-visit pac#a"e of care which involves one hour-lon" consultation and four 9-minute follow-ups. A common reason for referral is for women with breast cancer who are sufferin" side-effects of their treatments such as hot flushes with amo%ifen or 0oint pains with Arimide%. )ther problem symptoms mi"ht include an%iety! mood and sleep disturbance. his constellation of symptoms associated with oestro"en withdrawal has few in the way of conventional treatments and H( is now contra-indicated in women with breast cancer as it could increase their ris# of recurrence. 4ometimes women do not want to "o on conventional medication such as antidepressants! which is another orthodo% treatment for these symptoms! because they feel they have had enou"h dru"s and they want to approach it with "entler! non-pharmaceutical approaches. We also see men with prostate cancer! who have similar symptoms of hot flushes! sleep disturbance! an%iety and loss of confidence associated with their hormonal cancer treatment. We see people comin" at different points in their dia"nosis. 4ome patients are often comin" after all their cancer treatments have been carried out! but they are sufferin" from the on"oin" side-effects of their treatments. 4ometimes we see people who from the moment of dia"nosis want to use homeopathy to support them throu"h their sur"ery! radiotherapy and chemotherapy. )ften they can be people who have used homeopathy re"ularly for themselves and their families and it is a natural choice to continue to do so alon"side conventional treatments. 4ometimes it is the point of bein" told one has recurrent or advancin" disease that mi"ht encoura"e someone to come and have homeopathy and en"a"in" hopefully with someone can be very important at this time of crisis. Alison’s story $n 4eptember 99! Alison was dia"nosed with a""ressive breast cancer! one year after the birth of her baby boy! )wen! and the news was totally shoc#in". 4uddenly she was a disease and not a person and she became very! very fri"htened and incapable of mana"in" her life. )nly one year before! she had had e%tensive tests on a breast lump that didn;t feel normal to her! but as she was breastfeedin" and had e%perienced a de"ree of mastitis! specialists at Weston 4uper /are +C first dia"nosed a permanently bloc#ed mil#-duct. he lump was rechec#ed by biopsy when )wen was one and out of the blue! *rade $$$ cancer was dia"nosed which had b y then spread to nearby l ymph nodes. 4he was immediately told to stop breastfeedin" and ur"ed to ta#e a course of counsellin". $n the space of a couple of days she was told she would have a mastectomy followed by radiotherapy and months of chemotherapy. 4he was also told that the treatment would mean that is was very unli#ely she would ever have any more children.  Alison comments6 1$ thin# $ went to pieces. $ 0ust couldn;t cope with the news. $ became very irrational about everythin". /y husband and family basically too# over and mana"ed all my appointments and too# care of my son. )f course! $ had to "ive up teachin".2  Alison was concerned about aspects of the planned treatment. As a violinist! she wanted to reduce any chance of lymphodema as permanently swollen arms would have made it difficult to play a"ain. 4he transferred to 7renchay Hospital where 4imon Cawthorn had an e%cellent trac# record for avoidin" lymphodema! as well as an e%cellent reputation as a breast care sur"eon. 4he had sur"ery within wee#s.

he counsellin" she received had proved necessary and effective. 1$ was so an"ry and scared and $ needed to find balance for my emotions in order to function properly.2 4he attended a three-day course at +enny Brohn Cancer Care! a wonderful holistic centre previously #nown as the Bristol Cancer Help Centre. 1*oin" there saved me from a #ind of madness as $ had felt li#e an anomaly before. here were mothers of youn" children! li#e me! and even a woman who was pre"nant when dia"nosed. $ decided to boo# on to a five-day retreat at the centre durin" my chemotherapy.2 he chemotherapy treatment too# nine months! durin" which she felt very sic#! was crushin"ly tired and lost her hair. Her days on retreat had helped her calm down and loo# at herself more ob0ectively. Always an open-minded person! she was now determined to use everythin" and anythin" to "et better. 4o when her oncolo"ist 3r Braybroo# su""ested homeopathy! she a"reed to "o to the Bristol Homeopathic Hospital. omeopathic care  Alison was referred to the Complementary Cancer Care 4ervice via her oncolo"ist and be"an a course of treatment to help with the sideeffects of chemotherapy! to help her come to terms with her condition and to try and ensure no relapse of the cancer. 1$f $ had to sin"le out one complementary treatment that $ really felt helped me the most!2 comments Alison! 1it would be homeopathy. 3r hompson was fantasticI she spo#e to me as a person! she really wanted to #now ho w $ tic#ed. 4he didn;t focus on my symptoms but she focused on me as a person! how $ was emotionally copin" and how she could help ease the emotional pain $ felt. 1$ remember her as#in" in one session how $ was and tellin" her that $ did not thin# it was possible to feel more emotional pain than $ felt = $ said $ feel li#e my heart is brea#in";. /uch of this pain was associated with the devastatin" news about my fertility and comin" to terms with the fact that $ would never have any more children. he remedy she prescribed chan"ed me utterly and $ turned a corner.2  Alison also has re"ular acupuncture! ta#es Chinese herbs! osteopathy and massa"e to #eep her arms mobile and has chan"ed her diet in line with advice from the +enny Brohn Centre! so that now she eats an almost ve"an diet! avoidin" meat and dairy products. here are still difficult moments6 Alison was put on a dru" which brou"ht about an early menopause! includin" all its symptoms. 4he said it 1made me feel very tired and oldL = older than my years! dra""ed down and heavy2 but a repeat of her homeopathic remedy in a different potency too# those symptoms away. 4he has had scares too = she was recalled after a mammo"ram! which turned out to be clear in the end. 4he says she is luc#y to have a lovin" and close family! a "reat *+! a "roup of e%cellent complementary therapists and a wonderful homeopath.  Alison reco"nises how far she has travelled. 1When $ was dia"nosed $ was one person. $ #now that $ left that person behind when $ started on my 0ourney to recovery. Homeopathy played a hu"e part in that. $ was able to find out what really mattered in life.2  Alison adds! 1$ am really an"ry about the way some of the press ridicules homeopathy. Choosin" your treatment is a personal thin" and the ri"ht #ind of treatment is different for different sorts of people! so different treatments need to be on offer so that you can ma#e that choice. All $ #now is without my wonderful son! the love and support of my family and friends and the homeopathic treatment! $ don;t thin# $ could have done it. 1/y homeopathic remedy is li#e my crutch = $ seriously feel as if $ can;t live without it. $ don;t #now what $ would do without 3r :liFabeth hompson and the Bristol

can be the e%perience to feel that one does not "et the attention and reassurance one has needed and this leads to disappointment and feelin"s of bein" let down. When the halo"en state is felt stron"ly it can ma#e one feel hot! restless and ca"ed! with an an%ious desire to escape or "et away. Both of these substances! 4tannum and muriaticum relate to ph ysical problems as well. 4tannum has a relationship with cancer and with voice problems! with a loss of voice or stammerin" or a sense of wea#ness with the voice and hollo wness in the chest with a hard! deep! painful cou"h! better for holdin" the chest. he stomach can feel wea# and empty and there can be problems with the ovaries.  Alison had a #nife-li#e pain in the ovary at ovulation and the silver series can relate to the testes and the ovaries. he chloride! muriatic! element can often have a physical relationship with the sinuses and with nasal dischar"e and post-nasal drip andthere can be pain in the sinuses or tenderness in the breasts which can sometimes be related to the menstrual cycle. *reat thin#ers in homeopathic practice have helped us understand these medicines and be able to predict how an un#nown remedy mi"ht appear. 4tannum muriaticum is not a well-#nown remedy and yet seemed to be a "ood match for Alison as an individual. abeth 5hompson 1A(#on *11! *'C" &&om is ;ead Clinician for a thriving outpatient service from the 1ristol omeopathic ospital with a team of twelve doctors, 5here is an active research and audit programme and .li>abeth is Academic )irector for a seven-year academic teaching programme,

!potlight on Circulation by /enifer 0orden $n order to understand what can "o wron" in the circulatory system! it always helps to understand how it wor#s. As a doctor! $ have spent many years "ettin" to "rips with how a heart wor#s and what veins and arteries are! and what they do! but $ appreciate that what has become second nature to me mi"ht not be so to anyone else. $ will! therefore! e%plain what circulation is! what can "o wron" with it and! most importantly! how homeopathy can help. $ will discuss three problems of the venous system &veins' and three problems of the arterial system &arteries'. When discussin" various problems and their homeopathic treatment! $ most commonly would use a @c or c stren"th remedy twice daily for physical symptoms only! for e%ample varicose veins! and a 89c stren"th for a severe problem havin" both physical and mental symptoms li#e heart failure. his is! however! a rou"h "uide only and for comple% symptoms! $ would always recommend that you see# advice from a professional medical homeopath 0hat is circulation6 he heart is basically a powerful ba" of muscle! which by alternatively rela%in" and contractin"! acts as a pump. :ach cycle of rela%ation and contraction forms a sin"le heartbeat! which we feel as our pulse. he blood circulatin" around the body and head comes throu"h lar"e nveins &vena cava' in to the ri"ht side of the heart. he ri"ht side of the heart is divided into an upper and a lower chamber &space' divided by a oneway valve. As the heart s,ueeFes &contracts'! the blood is pushed throu"h this valve and out into the lun"s via a blood vessel #nown as the pulmonary artery. he blood then passes throu"h the lun"s! where it absorbs o%y"en from the air that we breathe in with every breath. he blood! full of o%y"en now! returns to the left side of the heart via the pulmonary vein! into the upper chamber first and then into the lower chamber. $t is finally s,ueeFed out into the aorta! which is the lar"e artery leadin" from the left side of the heart. he blood then passes around the body and head! releasin" its valuable o%y"en load! before returnin" via the vena cava to start the whole process all over a"ain. he reason why blood is so important is that o%y"en is needed by every livin" tissue and cell in order for it to "row! repair and reproduce. )%y"en ma#es blood bri"ht red. his is why blood ta#en in routine blood test at hospital or the *+ sur"ery is a dar# red colour as i t comes from the veins &unless the nurse or doctor has made a mista#eL' and so has little o%y"en. Arteries and veins he arteries are li#e the bi" brothers of the circulatory family. hey are stron" and have relatively thic#! muscular walls! which are hard to stretch but better at maintainin" pressure. hey are able to cope with f luctuations in pressure! caused by the alternate contraction and rela%ation of the heart but if put under too much pressure! they will start to build up their muscular walls! rather li#e an athlete or body-builder does when muscles are as#ed to do e%tra wor#. his ma#es them harder to stretch and therefore increases the pressure within the arteries! which we measure as blood pressure.

he veins are the little brothersI they are thinner-walled with less or little muscle. hey cannot hold pressure in the same way as the arteries. 5in#in" the arteries to the veins are small arteries #nown as arterioles! which become smaller capillaries! which in turn 0oin to"ether to form the lar"er venules! which then form lar"er veins. By the time the blood is bac# into the veins! most of the blood pressure has dwindled away so the venous system is a low pressure one. $n order to help the blood supply return to the heart from the lower half of our bod y! which which means it must wor# a"ainst "ravity! there are small one way valves in the veins of our le"sI more about those laterL (i"ht! so we have a pump with a networ# of veins and arteries #eepin" us healthy and alive! what can "o wron"D @aricose veins hese are very common and can be either be inherited from our parents or ac,uired. hey are often re"arded as a bit of a 0o#e but to anyone who has them! they are not particularly funny. hey hey "ive rise to troublesome symptoms such as tired! achin" le"s! swollen an#les and sore! hardened areas in the le"s. (emember those one-way valves in the le"s that $ mentioned earlierD $t is the "radual failure of those veins due to increased pressure on the venous system in the le"s that leads to the blood not bein" pumped bac# to the heart so efficiently. his means that e%tra pressure is put on those simple valves! which sometimes "ive up the "host completely and fail. When they do! they lead to the veins becomin" stretched and contorted! which in turn "ives rise to the familiar raised! #nobbly varicose veins. +re"nancy! +re"nancy! constipation and standin" for lon" periods of time all put e%tra pressure on the veins in the pelvis! which in turn affects the lower le" veins. hey can be associated with inflammation in the varicosities &phlebitis' or ecFema around the lower calf and an#le &varicose ecFema'. Conventional treatment relies on bloc#in" the veins where the valve has failed and allowin" undama"ed veins in the area to ta#e over. his can be done by b y in0ection or by physically 1strippin" out2 the dama"ed veins sur"ically. However! However! there are several homeopathic options to try before the situation becomes too severe. +ulsatilla is a very commonly used remedy! due to its affinity for circulatory disordersI especially those associated with pre"nancy. his does not mean that male members of the population cannot use itL (easons to choose +ulsatilla f or the treatment of varicose veins include the symptoms bein" all ri"ht one day but not the ne%t. +eople who do well with +ulsatilla often tend to be mild-mannered! avoidin" ar"uments if they can! but these are "eneralisations and are only meant as a "uide when treatin" very physical symptoms! such as varicose veins. /y second choice of homeopathic remedy for varicose veins would be Calc carb. Whereas +ulsatilla tends to suit people who are "enerally warm-blooded and prefer to have fresh air in their homes! those re,uirin" Calc carb are definitely chilly! with with mar#edly sweaty feet. hey hate damp conditions or damp weather but! li#e those needin" +ulsatilla! tend to be mild in manner! perhaps ver"in" more to the shy side or sli"htly nervous.  Another useful remedy! remedy! related to Calc carb carb is Calc fluor. his is particularly useful useful where there are hardened! #notty varicosities varicosities of the veins! especially after phlebitis. An almost specific remedy for varicose veins and piles is Hamamelis. 4ulphur can be used when there is ulceration and irritation of the varicosities! such as in phlebitis or varicose ecFema. )ne of the #ey symptoms for choosin" 4ulphur is 1must scratch until it bleeds2. "iles he technical term is haemorrhoids. he term pile is often used for both true of the anus! and false piles! which are usually s#in ta"s or polyps of the anal and rectal tissue. &3octors don;t help as we also use the term interchan"eably but the treatment is ,uite different.' Haemorrhoids are caused by the same problems that cause varicose veinsI pre"nancy and constipation. However! if the circulation is slu""ish! such as if the heart is not wor#in" effectively! this can also result in haemorrhoids. Haemorrhoids can be internal or e%ternal. $nternal haemorrhoids stay inside the rectum and cause discomfort and bleedin" on havin" the bowels open. :%ternal haemorrhoids drop down and cause pain! bleedin" and difficulty in openin" the bowels. 4#in ta"s become inflamed and itchy. )ccasionally! )ccasionally! e%ternal haemorrhoids haemorrhoids can bleed into themselves and cause a small blood clot that is surprisin"ly painful! "iven the siFe of the problem. A simple draina"e operation by your *+ or sur"eon can sort this latter problem out and Arnica is very helpful when ta#en afterwards. Homeopathically! Hamamelis! Calc fluor and Arnica are e%cellent for haemorrhoids and some of the commercial homeopathic haemorrhoid Homeopathically! creams have a mi%ture of these remedies within them. $f the s#in of the anus has become crac#ed! "ivin" rise to the symptoms of violent cuttin" pains after openin" the bowels lastin" for hours!
then Baryta carb can be used for the same symptoms. 4everal of the homeopathic remedies derivin" from sna#e venom are used for circulatory problems. his relates to the fact that the effect of venom from the bushmaster sna#e &5achesis'! rattlesna#e &Crotalus' and cobra &:laps' is to cause swellin" and paralysis with poolin" of the blood in affected areas. $n homeopathy homeopathy!! use of a substance that causes symptoms similar to those that one is tryin" to cure is the basis of the 1li#e cures li#e2 principle. ypertension Hi"h blood pressure! hypertension! affects over @ million people in the U and is a ma0or cause of stro#es.
Coughs and snee>es spread diseases, but homeopathy can alleviate the s ymptoms+ writes /enifer 0orden $ would li#e to consider several homeopathic remedies and how they can combat winter colds and ills. However! before $ do! $ would li#e to state that! as a doctor! $ support vaccination for influenFa for the vulnerable and senior citiFens.

$n my e%perience! wor#in" as a *+ in a practice with one of the hi"hest populations of patients a"ed over @ years in the U! our annual flu vaccination campai"n has meant that $ inevitably see far fewer cases of influenFa than $ did when $ was doin" my medical trainin" in /anchester where older patients were less numerous. here will always be individuals who have a naturally stron" constitution and who have no need for vaccination a"ainst flu! but bein" vaccinated does not prevent homeopathy helpin" alon"side to ward off those winter ailments. Whilst the ob0ect of this article is to discuss homeopathic remedies for colds and flu and "eneral winter ailments! we should consider why we catch these in the first place. )bviously! there are many opportunistic viruses that are contracted when we are sufferin" from somethin" else.  As a doctor! $ see this fre,uently and the reason reason we catch these secondary secondary infections is because because our immune system has been wea#ened in combatin" the first and in this wea#ened state is not able to resist the onset of the second. ;ow immunity and lifestyle What causes the lowerin" of our immune systemD he short answer is many thin"sL 4tress and tiredness not only caused by ph ysical e%ertion but also by simple lac# of sleep and "eneral worries of a material or personal nature. 4o! what can we do to improve our chances of not catchin" these viruses in the first placeD Well! by improvin" personal hy"iene which $ have covered at the end of this article! and by boostin" our immune system. wenty wenty years as a *+ have shown me that "lib statements to patients on lif estyle chan"es do not necessarily produce results. $f you are in debt or have personal relationship difficulties! it is impractical for a doctor! and indeed probably impossible! to try to correct these but the inescapable fact is that stress wea#ens your immunity and can reduce your ability to fi"ht off winter illnesses. herefore we should loo# at those factors which can be chan"ed! or thin"s we can ta#e to help raise our resistance. /ost practitioners today believe that a lifestyle which includes a balanced diet of fresh fruit! ve"etables and salads combined with re"ular physical e%ercise is better than a diet hi"h in fat and a sedentary lifestyle. 4mo#in" and alcohol in e%cess not only reduce the ability of your immune system to fi"ht off infection but is foolhardy in the e%treme. However! even with the best diet and a relatively stress-free life! we will! all of us! inevitably catch a cold or influenFa. 4o! how can homeopathy help in this instanceD $ have chosen four remedies that $ re"ularly prescribe for winter ailments. Aconite )ne of the remedies most fre,uently used in winter is Aconite and it is usually recommended when symptoms of a cold come on suddenly! typically after e%posure to a dry chill y wind. here may be a severe headache! which is often described in the terms of fullness! or heaviness and may be centred on the left temple and is usually throbbin" in nature. he face is typically flushed! hot and red with dry! sore and bloodshot eyes. he throat is normally red and dry with a sensation as if somethin" were 1stuc# in the throat2. 7rom this! it may be understood that these symptoms of heat and dryness! affectin" the left side of the body! with an acute sensitivity to cold winds or drau"hts are those which may be successfully treated with Aconite. his remedy may also be used to treat a painful! dry! hac#in" cou"h which manifests itself with a feelin" of tension and pressure in the left side of the chest. Here a word of caution however6 symptoms that persist for more than two to three wee#s! or increase in severity! despite the administration of a homeopathic remedy! must be investi"ated as a matter of ur"ency b y a healthcare professional.
ygiene
7nfantile colic Colic%y babies seem to be inconsolablebut homeopathy can help saysDr Tim Ro#inson $nfantile colic is a common problem in babies! especially up to around si%teen wee#s of a"e. $t is characterised by incessant cryin"! often inconsolable! usually in the evenin"s and often throu"h the ni"ht. Havin" e%cluded underlyin" patholo"y! the standard advice "iven by *+s and health visitors is windin" techni,ue! $nfacol or *ripe Water. hese measures are often ineffective but fortunately there are a number of homeopathic medicines that may be effective. $n my e%perience Colocynth is the most successfulI alternatives are Carbo Ge"! Chamomilla and
her! havin" seen her before and since the treatment. 4he was now settlin" after feeds! windin" much more easily and havin" only brief bursts of cryin" durin" the evenin". Accordin" Accordin" to /um! durin" the day she seemed much happier and more contented in herself;. 4he no w lay willin"ly on the floor! needed very little comfortin" or holdin". :ach evenin" she had fed fre,uently but was now able to be put down without screamin". 4he was now sleepin" for lon" stretchesI on three ni"hts she had slept from pm to @.89am. he difference in Amelia had been noticed the day followin" the start of Colocynth and had continued from then onwards. Havin" had si% wee#s of colic and cryin" on a daily basis! Amelia;s mother mother had certainly noted the difference! as had all the familyL 4he herself was familiar with homeopathic treatment &her pre"nancy nausea and heartburn was more effectively treated with
Coughs and snee>es spread diseases ;ee ayne offers advice on complementary therapies for winter ailments he common cold is caused by a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract. 4ymptoms typically appear one to two days after infection and last around a wee#! varyin" in type and severity but "enerally includin" sneeFin"! sore throat! runny or bloc#ed nose! cou"h! headache and sometimes! especially in children! fever. he symptoms symptoms will "enerally resolve themselves and it is usually possible to continue with one;s dail y business! especially with the help of allopathic or complementary therapies. $nfluenFa is also a viral infection and! althou"h a vaccine has become available in recent years! the l ar"e number of different strains means that flu is still widespread. $t is characterised by sudden onset with fever! e%treme e%treme fati"ue! muscle soreness as well as some or all of the symptoms of a cold. hese symptoms can last up to two wee#s and usually re,uire the patient to rest completely for several days. 7lu is responsible for many deaths each year and can be dan"erous in very youn" or elderly patients and in those with an e%istin" chronic condition such as diabetes or asthma. $f f lu is suspected in such cases or in any case where there is a prolon"ed hi"h fever! the doctor should always be consulted. Colds and flu spread more easily in the winter months due to the cold weather = we tend to spend less time outdoors and turn the heatin" up indoors. his! to"ether with close contact with others in the home! at school! at wor# or on public transport creates a perfect environment for the spread of a virus. And the bad news is! there is no cureL 4o we must concentrate on alleviatin" the symptoms and stren"thenin" the body;s natural defences. Conventional treatment  Allopathic treatments for cold and flu symptoms symptoms are widely widely available and include pain#illers for relief of muscle muscle aches and pains! sore throat! throat! fever and headachesI nasal sprays or decon"estants for a bloc#ed noseI antihistamines to dry up runny nose and eyesI and cou"h suppressants. Combination medications containin" two or more of the above are also e%tremely popular due to both their convenience and economical nature. 4uch treatments do however have limitations. /any over the counter medicines! includin" some pain#illers and decon"estants! are not suitable for children or patients ta#in" prescription medication = a pharmacist will be able to assist you in the appropriate choice.  Additionally! these medicines treat a "eneral "roup of of symptoms! without without considerin" the patient;s individual needs or specific specific type of symptom. omeopathy

(emedies may be ta#en safely by any patient includin" babies and those ta#in" prescription medication without concerns re"ardin" sideeffects or interactions. Because homeopathy ta#es into account the overall picture = a person;s emotional ma#eup and "eneral health! the type of illness and specific 1modalities2 that ma#e the symptoms better or worse = two patients presentin" with the same complaint! such as a cold with fever! mi"ht very well be "iven different homeopathic remedies. 7or e%ample! in treatin" a fever! Aconite or Belladonna mi"ht be recommended in cases of sudden onset! althou"h 7errum phos or Bryonia may be more appropriate if onset is "radual and dependin" on the modalities. However! in a patient who is emotional! weepy and maintains that the symptoms improve outdoors! +ulsatilla may be more useful. 7or flu! *elsemium is often the remedy of choice! especially in symptoms characterised by sha#in"! chill and sore! achin" muscles especially in patients who disli#e cold and damp. he table below summarises the ma0or remedies useful in the acute treatment of cold and flu symptoms.

General symptoms

Remedy

%irst signs especially after a chill$ thirsty$ possibly anious.

Aconite

Sudden onset$ high fever# hot$ red$ r ed$ throbbing headache$ sensitive to light$ noise.

!elladonna

Streaming nose &possibly eyes too'$ snee(ing$ clear discharge often thicker after )*+*, hours$ prefers to suffer alone and shuns sympathy.

 -atrum mur 

eadache$ pains all over$ irritable$ nauseous$ &also good for a hangover/'. -ose congested with little discharge$ chilly 0 cannot get warm$ even in bed.

 -u vomica

1stablished symptoms$ headache$ shivers$ fatigue$ aches and pains$ alternating hot and cold$ sore nose$ very sleepy.

2elsemium

3ery 3ery thirsty$ sore muscles4bones$ headache$ worse on 1upatorium perf  movement. %eve %ever$ r$ cata catarr rrh$ h$ bur burni ning ng nas nasal al dis disch char arg ge$ sne snee( e(in ing. g.

Arse Arseni nicu cum m iod iod

Slow onset$ mild fever$ worse at night$ better for cold$ %errum phos nosebleeds. 5atarrh in nose with thick discharge$ ears feel  blocked$ worse at night$ better in fresh air and with attention from loved ones.

6ulsatilla

Dry$ painful cough$ worse at night$ thirsty 0 often most effective as a linctus.

!ryonia

A specialised combination remedy for the prevention and treatment of colds and flu. 7ften prescribed by Influen(inum4!acillinum homeopathic doctors for at risk patients. However! self-prescribin" self-prescribin" is often difficult and the advice of a health professional trained in homeopathy will always provide the most appropriate treatment and most effective outcome. his is especially important if receivin" other homeopathic treatment from a ,ualified practitioner. $n :urope and America! a very popular homeopathic product called )scillococcinum can be bou"ht over the counter for the prevention and treatment of colds and flu. his product is not licensed for "eneral retail sale in the U! but mi"ht be obtained with a doctor;s prescription. (ther therapies  Aromatherapy oils can also also be very "ood for relievin" many of of the symptoms of of colds and flu! if used appropriately and after see#in" see#in" professional advice. )ils can be used in an inhalation or diluted in a carrier oil such as almond or "rapeseed for use in massa"e. +eppermint and eucalyptus oils can be used to clear the head! unbloc# the nose and ease muscular aches and pains. +eppermint oil can also be placed in a hot footbath to help draw to%ins f rom the body. ea ea tree oil is used for its intrinsic anti-viral properties and to boost immunity and lavender oil is "ood for easin" headaches! muscle aches and pains and soothin" chesty cou"hs. 7or adults! add a few drops of oil to a bath! vaporiser or bowl of hot water and inhale. 7or children or babies! a few drops in a cup of warm water placed above the radiator in their bedroom at ni"ht can wor# wonders.

Herbal remedies! vitamins and supplements also have much to offer. A number number of studies have shown that ta#in" Finc and vitamin C durin" a cold can actually shorten its duration by as much as 9 percent. he herb echinacea can boost the immune system and help prevent infection from ta#in" hold if ta#en re"ularly. ome remedies :ven so much as mention a runny nose or sore throat within earshot of my "randma and she;ll promptly whip up a batch &or seven' of her famous chic#en soupL $f we consider some of the #ey in"redients! we be"in to realise that the use of this traditional remedy actually has some basis in fact. $t has a hi"h salt content and! as we #now! "ar"lin" with salted water helps to destroy bacteria and ease symptoms of a sore throat. )nions and "arlic &theAllium remedies in homeopathy' are also e%cellent for colds. While in the #itchen! ensure your cupboard is well stoc#ed with honey to coat a dry! scratchy throat! lemon and other citrus fruits for their vitamin C and antio%idant properties and cinnamon for its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. ea ea prepared with these in"redients &or a 1hot toddy2 containin" one other important 4cottish in"redient' is very soothin" and helps to promote a "ood ni"ht;s sleep. +erhaps *randma really does #now best after allL ;ee ayne "h) *'"harm! )&om"harmD is a community pharmacist in Glasgow,

5ired all the time6 Jonathan Hardy  discusses  discusses the role of homeopathy in helping to treat *. /yal"ic :ncephalomyelitis &/:' has received increasin" attention in recent years. $t is also #nown as chronic fati"ue syndrome &C74' and is sometimes dia"nosed as post-viral fati"ue syndrome &+G74'. $t is thou"ht that there are up to 9!999 people with /: in the U. $t can affect men! women and children of all a"es and bac#"rounds! althou"h it is more common in females. 4omeone is most li#ely to develop the illness between the early twenties and mid-forties.  As with most illnesses! illnesses! /: affects people in different ways. he he most common symptom symptom is overwhelmin" overwhelmin" and persistent fati"ue or tiredness. tiredness. 7ati"ue after e%ertion may occur immediately! or it may be"in a day or two later and this delayed reaction is a distinctive feature of /: and should help in dia"nosis. +ain is another common symptom. $t can be felt as achin" in the muscles or 0oints. +ins and needles! muscle twitchin" and headaches or mi"raine are other common symptoms. +atients often feel "enerally unwell! and this malaise is similar to flu. here may be a sore throat with or without swollen "lands. 4leep is often disturbed6 there may be a need to sleep e%cessively! or insomnia. 4leep may be unrefreshin" or bro#en. 4leep reversal is sometimes seen! for e%ample! not bein" able to sleep until .99 or .99am and then sleepin" throu"h till noon. /ental functionin" can be disturbed! with difficulty concentratin"! poor memory and difficulty in or"anisin" thou"ht and e%pressin" oneself. 4ome patients are often found to have abnormalities in the nervous system! includin" part of the brain called the hypothalamus which re"ulates sleep! temperature control and appetite. here may be difficulties with balance and verti"o. 0hat causes *.6  Around two-thirds of cases of /: are tri""ered by an obvious viral infection! includin" influenFa! "landular fever! fever! viral menin"itis! viral viral hepatitis and less commonly infection with bacteria or other or"anisms. he problem is that the patient does not recover in the normal way. +hysical +hysical in0ury or trauma! such as an accident or operation! also occasionally appear to be tri""ers. /any people with /: report an increase in stress in their lives around the time they first became ill. )iagnosis here is no medical test to confirm a dia"nosis of /:. he condition is usually dia"nosed when tests have ruled out other conditions. 4ome individuals are concerned when they receive a dia"nosis of /:. 7or others it can be a relief at least to be "iven a name to their complaint. $t can help them to come to terms with it and to have a measure of control over their illness. 5he homeopathic approach  As with any case homeopathically! homeopathically! it is always essential essential to individualise. What we mean by this this is findin" the individual remedy in a specific specific case. $n the homeopathic repertory it is interestin" that the symptom 1Wea#ness2 is the bi""est sectionL here are many hundreds of remedies in it. Also all the symptoms $ have listed above are fairly common symptoms! and therefore not very helpful i n pinpointin" one particular remedy out of many. 4o how do we do i tD 'emedy families )ne device for understandin" cases which is "ainin" increasin" attention at the moment is to loo# at remedies in "roups and families. By #nowin" the common themes in a particular "roup of remedies we can help to narrow down the field from the thousands of remedies to choose from! to a much smaller "roup! before finally findin" the individual remedy. )ne "roup of remedies which is especially useful in very e%hausted patients is the acids. (ecent insi"hts show that the main theme of acids is a stru""le followed by collapse! in other words! e%ertion followed by e%haustion. $n patients needin" these remedies one will see the theme of constant stru""le and effort and then at some point the person has become so e%hausted that a small set-bac# or stress is enou"h to lead to a state of collapse. his theme of stru""le and collapse

is clearly e%pressed in certain symptoms which are common to all the acids6 Hurry! $ndustriousness! 7ear of failure! )ver-activity = and then on the other hand! 7ati"ue and Apathy and :%haustion. he point is that this stru""le and effort will be made in a particular direction in that person;s life and this specific direction depends on which acid the patient needs. "hosphoric acid +hosphoric acid is the acid formed from the element +hosphorous. )ne of the main issues in the life of a +hosphorous person is the desire for  love and care. +hosphorous people tend to be very affectionate! friendly and sympathetic and so the effort in a +hosphoric acid person is a constant effort to be carin" and to receive the reciprocation of that love and affection. $t is well-#nown that +hosphoric acid patients very often fall into a state of ill-health as a result of emotional traumas such as "rief! dis appointed love! home-sic#ness or receivin" bad news.  A 8 year-old "irl was brou"ht to me with /:. 4he was a very "ood athlete! but was both physically tired and unable to attend school throu"h complete mental e%haustion. 4he had been ill for several years. )n close en,uiry $ learned that her parents had divorced when she was seven years old. 4he was a very sensitive! mild and reserved child = all characteristics of the +hosphoric acid temperament. he mother said! 14he really hasn;t been affected by the divorce. 4he never tal#s about it! $;m sure it has nothin" to do with her illness.2 5oo#in" into the child;s eyes! $ sensed a deep but une%pressed "rief. 4he was "iven doses of +hosphoric acid in a hi"h potency every two to three wee#s and has made a complete recovery.  A  year-old boy was brou"ht to me in a state of complete apathy and indolence. He was a sensitive youn" man who loved nothin" more than playin" his "uitar. 4pea#in" to him alone! it transpired that he had been re0ected by a "irl with whom he had fallen in love. He said! 1$f she doesn;t want me then life means nothin" to me. $;ll never love anyone else.2 +hosphoric acid patients can have a stron"ly sentimental and nostal"ic nature. With one course of this remedy he was bac# to his old cheerful and active self. He later told me that there was another "irl whom he was really interested in and he had for"otten his old passionL  A woman in her 9s came to me complainin" of depression. )n ,uestionin" she admitted to bein" completely e%hausted and havin" no ener"y or interest in life at all. $t turned out that her best friend was dyin" of cancer and my patient was closely involved in carin" for her. 4he had few other friends! and this friendship was very deep and lon"-standin". he state of apathy or i ndifference is very fundamental to the +hosphoric acid state and this remedy ,uic#ly restored her to her old self. $n these three cases you could say the 1effort2 is in the direction of lovin" and carin". he 1collapse2 is when the person feels the love is not returned or the love will be lost throu"h bereavement or separation. he collapse in +hosphoricum acidum therefore is on an emotional level. "icric acid his remedy shows a collapse on a mental level. he common causation is mental e%ertion and therefore it is a "ood medicine for students who are e%hausted from too much study = $ can ima"ine hordes of teena"ers clamourin" for this remedyL here is also muscular debility with a tired! heavy feelin" all over the bod y but the mental symptoms predominate with lac# of will-power and disinclination to wor#. here is a dread of failin" the e%am and little interest in surroundin"s. *uriatic acid his is the homeopathic name for the remedy prepared from hydrochloric acid. his is the acid f ormed by the combination of hydro"en and chlorine. he theme in chlorine patients &/uriaticums in homeopathic terms' is of bein" disappointed and hurt and the effort which is made to avoid that happenin" is carin" and nurturin" for others. $n the collapsed state a /uriatic acid patient is especially e%hausted on a physical level. We read in Allen;s :ncyclopaedia6 1*reat debility6 as soon as he sits down his eyes close! lower 0aw han"s do wn! slides down in bed2.  An interestin" /uriatic acid case of mine was a youn" woman with an e%tremely dar# comple%ion! blac# hair and dar# eyes! which are characteristic of the remedy. 4he suffered with chilblains and painful mouth ulcers! both of which are well-#nown symptoms of the remedy. he pain in the ulcers was stin"in" and burnin"! which is a characteristic sensation in the acids. 4he did very well with the remedy = the chilblains and ulcers cleared up and she no lon"er felt the cold. !ulphuric acid 4ulphuric acid is a very interestin" remedy. he theme of hurry and effort is very apparent. he patient is fretful and impatient and must do everythin" in a "reat hurry. hey are hurried in eatin"! in movin"! in occupation! while wal#in" and while writin" and can be very impatient about trivial matters. hey cannot bear to be stuc# in a traffic 0amL $n the collapsed state there is e%treme mental de0ection. he patient feels disheartened! morose and unable to wor#. )n a physical level! stren"th can seem to sin# rapidly and there is a desire for stimulants.  A 4ulphuric acid patient of mine was a motor mechanic who ran a very successful business providin" classic cars and other vehicles for the film industry. he trouble was the fumes from the en"ines made him illL After he had been wor#in" in the environment of the e%haust for a while he would "et terrible headaches and e%haustion. $t is interestin" that 4ulphuric acid is one of the ma0or constituents of car e%hausts. Homeopathic 4ulphuric acid helped with his symptoms. An e#hausted world 4ulphuric acid is the cause of acid rain = the acidity in the environment caused by the burnin" of fossil fuels. his really is a symptom of the environment as a whole becomin" e%hausted throu"h over-activity. We are burnin" up our resources on an environmental level too fast! and as a result the natural systems in our environment are collapsin". We should learn from the homeopathic insi"hts into the cycle of over-activity followed by collapse in individuals that we cannot carry on li#e this on a "lobal scale without producin" dire conse,uences. Homeopathy aims to produce balance and stability in the constitution of the individual. $f we can re"ain balance in our activities in the world

then the environment will naturally restore itself to health. /onathan ardy *A 1* *&om has been practising homeopathy full-time in ampshire since 4<=, e obtained a degree in >oology before studying medicine and has a special interest in animal remedies,

An overpowering tiredness 0ith the theme of this year’s omeopathy Awareness 0ee% focussing on tiredness+Dr (harlotte Mendes Da (osta loo%s at how homeopathy may be able to help patients suffering from a condition causing such intense mental and physical e#haustion their lives are seriously affected, Henry is K years old and has intermittent fati"ue. $t is cyclical! occurrin" every ten days and lastin" for five da ys. $t started a few years previously followin" a flu immunisation &he has not had another one since'. With the fati"ue he has stiff 0oints! loss of appetite! poor balance and is irritable. He also has episodes lastin" about half an hour where he 0ust feels 1ill2! which he describes as a bit li#e havin" the flu. He "enerally feels a bit feverish with the fati"ue. Catnaps help a bit and "entle e%ercise also helps sometimes. $ learn Henry has diabetes and had a heart attac# in 99@ after which he needed coronary artery bypass sur"ery. He ta#es various dru"s for these conditions &five in total'. 7or his "eneral symptoms Henry hates hot weather! doesn;t mind the rain but disli#es wind because of the noise. here are no particular food desires or disli#es! but he li#es stron" tastes when he is fati"ued as he feels his appetite is dulled. He sleeps e%cessively when fati"ued but sleep is "ood. Henry is a retired boo#seller. He says he;s "enerally contented. 7eelin" he has done his duty b y his family! he now wants to do the thin"s he is interested in li#e drawin" and paintin". He admits he can "et an"ry over little thin"s and can be selfish. His wife has complained to me separately about this on occasion. 7rom the consultation it is clear to me Henry is sufferin" from chronic fati"ue syndrome &C74'! but ho w can homeopathy help this man and others with this condition. C&! Chronic fati"ue syndrome is a debilitatin" illness with many sufferers in the U. )ver the years this condition has been called different names includin" amon" other thin"s neurasthenia! post-viral fati"ue syndrome and myal"ic encephalitis &/:'. here are an estimated 9!999 people in Britain affected by this illness the cause of which is lar"ely un#nown. he main symptoms of C74 are severe and debilitatin" fati"ue! both physical and mental. he fati"ue can be persistent or come and "o but will have lasted at least four months before a dia"nosis can be made6 it is not relieved by rest. he fati"ue is accompanied by a myriad of physical and mental symptoms. +hysical symptoms include painful muscles! 0oint pains! sore throat! headache! diFFiness! flu-li#e symptoms or difficulty re"ulatin" ones temperature. /ental symptoms include poor short-term memory and concentrationI depression is also common. 4ufferers often complain of disturbed sleep and that the fati"ue is usually worse a day or two after increased mental or physical activity and can then be prolon"ed. $nfections or immunisations may also precipitate a worsenin" of the fati"ue. /any people also become completely intolerant of alcohol. While no sin"le cause of C74 has been identified there are #nown tri""ers. hese are often infections particularly "landular fever caused by the :pstein Barr virus. A fati"ue state may be brou"ht on if a person has insufficient rest durin" an infection or sometimes if fever suppressant dru"s are used. 5ess common tri""ers include ma0or trauma and operations! vaccinations and or"anophosphate pesticides. here is wide debate as to the causes of C74 but as yet no laboratory tests e%ist to confirm the dia"nosis. What is #nown is that it is commonly associated with a respiratory or "astrointestinal viral infection and is related to a resultin" abnormality in the immune system! which is seen by some as bein" in a state of overactivity. here is some evidence that the mitochondria &parts of the cell which provide ener"y' in muscles of patients with C74 are also abnormal. C74 can have a hu"e impact on those sufferin" from the condition! as they are often severely limited in their ability to carry out normal activities of daily livin" includin" wor#! household duties! social and sportin" pastimes. he severity of C74 is defined by the de"ree to which the condition affects a person;s functionin" and dail y life. his is ,uite simply mild! moderate or severe. With mild C74 people are mobile! can care for themselves and may be able to wor#! althou"h they will often need a whole wee#end to rest. At the severest end of the scale sufferers are unable to do any activity for themselves! may spend most of their time in bed! have severe co"nitive problems and are often wheelchair dependent. )ifficult diagnosis 3ia"nosis is not easy and should only be made by a healthcare professional or specialist &usually a neurolo"ist'. $t is a dia"nosis of e%clusion! so other possible dia"noses must first be e%cluded and the symptoms should persist for at least four months in an adult or three months in a child! where a paediatrician should confirm the dia"nosis. here are a multitude of illnesses causin" severe and prolon"ed fati"ue! and these need to be e%cluded by a doctor. he doctor should have ta#en a clinical history! e%amined the patient which characteristically in cases of C74 involves a thorou"h physical e%amination. Conditions that have symptoms very similar to C74 include6 hormonal &diabetes! hypothyroidism'! infection &"landular fever! hepatitis B or C'! neurolo"ical &multiple sclerosis'! rheumatolo"ical &rheumatoid arthritis'! cancer &any type'!

"astrointestinal &coeliac disease! inflammatory bowel disease'. he doctor of a patient presentin" with C74 symptoms will re,uest investi"ations! which will be mainly blood tests. hese include chec#in" for anaemia! specific infections = for e%ample the :pstein Barr virus = liver and #idney function. 5reating chronic fatigue syndrome here is no conventional dru" treatment for C74 althou"h antidepressants are sometimes used to treat the depression. he essence of treatment is conventionally 1activity mana"ement2 and "raded rehabilitation. here is evidence that co"nitive behaviour therapy is helpful. )ther approaches that can be beneficial in the treatment of C74 are6 •

•

•

(est periods are essential althou"h they should not be too len"thy e.". 89 minutes at a time.  A "ood and healthy diet Homeopathy &A study in 99 showed evidence that homeopathic medicines are superior to placebo for C74'

(eturnin" to the case of Henry! $ concentrated on his "eneral symptoms and prescribed 5ycopodium clavatum as a c potency to be ta#en twice daily for five days out of every fortni"ht. At a follow-up appointment a couple of months later Henry reported that he had had no more episodes of the fati"ue and felt e%tremely fit. When $ bumped into his wife outside the sur"ery not lon" after! she than#ed me for her husband;s new personality as he was a much easier man to live with nowL 5he homeopathic approach  After this len"thy introduction to C74! which is essential in understandin" somethin" about the illness and the impact it has on sufferers; lives! we can now loo# in more detail at how homeopathy can play a part in treatin" it. $t should be pointed out! however! that C74 is not an easy illness to treat! so it is important not to promise an instant cure while at the same time remainin" positive! emphasisin" that even if cure is not possible some alleviation of symptoms may well be hoped for. Under the symptom headin" 1Wea#ness2 in our homeopathic repertory there are at least ?99 homeopathic medicines. 4o choosin" the ri"ht one i s not easy! especially as the main symptom is often fati"ue that worsens with any #ind of e%ertion.  As always in homeopathy! once a definite dia"nosis of C74 has been made it is vital to ta#e a full homeopathic history. he emphasis should be on what is individual and special about the patient;s symptoms! for e%ample the particular feelin"s they have in their muscles e.". twitchin"! or the type of headaches they have. *eneral symptoms are also important such as their reaction to the weather and temperature! the time of day! alon" with food desires and aversions. +articular note should be ta#en of any cause of the C74 if it is #nown! for instance influenFa! or "astroenteritis! or "landular fever! and also if an y conventional treatment was "iven at that time. Choosin" the correct medicine will usually ta#e time and consideration with the homeopath and patient havin" to be prepared to try more than one homeopathic medicine if there is no result with the first. he patient needs to be patientL Here are e%amples of a f ew medicines that are more commonly indicated in C74. However! in many cases a homeopathic medicine that does help a patient could well be one in which fati"ue is not necessarily the first symptom that sprin"s to mind. 7rom the followin" descriptions it can be seen that different homeopathic medicines can have a lot of symptoms in common! so "enerally it would be advisable to see# help from a professionally ,ualified homeopath before decidin" on a particular medicine! and a doctor should always be consulted to e%clude other serious illnesses that C74 may mimic = or vice versa. Gelsemium? $ndicated by wea#ness with drowsiness! diFFiness! dullness and tremblin". /uscle aches with heaviness and wea#ness. remors and twitchin" of the muscles may also be a feature. he sufferer mi"ht have a dull heaviness in the head and have blurred vision! feel worse in damp! cold weather and mentally be dull with a lot of an%iety. A stran"e symptom with *elsemium is that symptoms are better for  profuse urination. ali phosphoricum? +ossibly one of the most widely used remedies for C74! especially if the illness follows a bout of influenFa. he mental symptoms of ali phosphoricum are an%iety with depression! insomnia and ni"htmares. he an%iety may present as a fear of crowds and a"oraphobia. 5oss of memory mi"ht be a problem. here is muscle wea#ness and aches and pains! all worse with e%ercise! the cold and mental effort. he symptoms are better from sleep! eatin" and "entle movement. A suitable dose mi"ht be @c twice daily! reducin" with improvement. *ercurius solubilis? Also #nown in the abbreviated form /erc sol! this is often a "ood remedy for acute "landular fever &caused by the :pstein-Barr virus'. $f those symptoms become more chronic and result in C74! then /erc sol may still be a "ood medicine to "ive. he patient may have a persistent sore throat with enlar"ed cervical lymph nodes &"lands' and have a lot of salivation. hey may also be sensitive to both heat and cold. $nsomnia with "reat restlessness at ni"ht and ni"htmares may also be a feature. he muscle pains will be deep with tender bones. As with ali phosphoricum there may be loss of memory and poor recall of names. "hosphoric acid and other LacidM remedies? Wea#ness and e%haustion is a feature common to all the 1acid2 remedies. With +hosphoric acid the nervous e%haustion comes first! followed by the physical. $t may be the remedy to "ive when someone has C74 followin" an illness such as prolon"ed diarrhoea. he patient may be listless! apathetic = even sullen = find it difficult to cope and sufferin" depression as well. hey may also be very sensitive! especially to music. he patient;s physical symptoms may include loo#in" worn-out! pale and thin! and they may have blue rin"s round the eyes. hey will probably be very chilly with a poor appetite while bein" very thirsty.

he other acid remedies include +icric acid! /uriatic acid and 4ulphuric acid. :%haustion is the common feature of these acid remedies. he e%haustion in these remedies may have been preceded by overactivity! and Githoul#as has described the mental e%haustion of +icric acid! the emotional e%haustion of +hosphoric acid and the physical e%haustion of /uriatic acid. +icric Acid has e%treme muscular wea#ness with tremblin" and twitchin". he le"s may feel ti"ht or have pins and needles and the person will have to lie down! which does provide relief. !cutellaria? Also #nown as /ad-do" s#ullcap! 4cutellaria is a plant native to
. Weatherley-Eones!
Case !tudy? "athway to recovery -laine Hamilton charts one patient’s :ourney to health $n 4eptember 998 /ary! ! was referred to my clinic at the *las"ow Homoeopathic Hospital with Chronic 7ati"ue 4yndrome &C74'. his is a dia"nosis "iven to a series of symptoms! which can arise from a variety of underlyin" causes. he immune system is comple% and in C74 it is not wor#in" efficiently. his affects many systems in the body resultin" in common symptoms of fati"ue! di"estive problems! "landular swellin"s! muscle and 0oint pains! memory and concentration problems and mood swin"s! hormonal imbalance and decreased resistance to fi"htin" infections. his condition responds very well to homeopathic treatment which addresses the whole person and the possible individual

underlyin" reasons for developin" C74 in a safe and "entle manner. Eust prior to her first consultation /ary had come off both the Hormone (eplacement herapy &H(' ta#en for ten years since an early hysterectomy and the anti-depressants which had been prescribed for the previous ei"ht years for her C74. 4toppin" the H( was a *+ practice policy decision but it was /ary;s choice to do without the antidepressants. 1$ decided to try and prove that $ could "o it alone after all this time of usin" this stuff as a crutch.2 /ary had re,uested a referral f or homeopathic treatment as she was concerned about the amount of antibiotics she had been prescribed due to her susceptibility to infection. 1$t seemed every time $ came in contact with nieces and nephews $ came down with somethin" or other. $nitially $ consulted a naturopath privately who su""ested echinacea and "in#o biloba! which did not ma#e much of a difference. /y *+ #new $ was see#in" alternative forms of treatment and su""ested that $ would be a prime candidate for homeopathy.2  At her first appointment as $ too# her detailed history! /ary described herself as feelin" 1hi"hly emotional! irrational! an%ious and depressed2. Her early marria"e at K ended in divorce when she was . 4he re"arded this as a 1relief2 and has had no contact with her e%-husband since. However! she found it tou"h brin"in" up her youn" son on her own. When he became rebellious in his teens! they drifted apart and that caused her 1"reat emotional pain2. Her hysterectomy at 8M was a relief from the constant pain and discomfort of endometriosis. But emotionally! she felt very sad that 1there was no chance now of ever havin" another baby and $ felt "rieved to some e%tent over the finality of it. $ also had difficulty in copin" with some of the physical symptoms of va"inal dryness! facial hair! increased wei"ht and reduced feelin" of femininity.2  At the time /ary seemed only concerned with the physical menopausal symptoms especially the sweats. 1$ had no prior e%perience of usin" homeopathy. $ assumed it was alon" the lines of the naturopath;s remedies and $ e%pected a specific tincture or pill to wor# li#e ma"ic on m y sweats. $t is only with hindsi"ht that $ realise that there was an immense emotional turmoil "oin" on inside me! which was contributin" to my feelin"s of a"itation. 1$ was desperate to appear normal; and cope on my own but $ was in a constant personal crisis of not bein" able to deal with various elements of my life.2 /ary attributed her C74 as bein" a conse,uence of never bein" well since havin" "landular fever in ??. However she had been unwell in her mid to late teens and as a child she said she was very tearful! scared of the dar# and loud voices and any display of a""ression made her stomach ache. he homeopathic consultation was unfamiliar to /ary but i t was one that "ave her hope of recovery. 1$ was truly interested in someone loo#in" at the whole of me; and at the initial consultation $ found the physical surroundin"s very healin" and tran,uil and $ felt safe. $ also did not e%pect to feel understood so easily. $ had a "reat feelin" of $;ve landed in the ri"ht place; and althou"h $ cried throu"hout the interview! $ never felt silly or pathetic. he sweats that $ thou"ht were important did not "et too much attention as $ realised that :laine was more interested in my emotional responses to thin"s.2 /ary told me that she had always been apolo"etic for respondin" emotionally to 0ust about every situation in her life and considered it a failin". 5he treatment $ prescribed +ulsatilla for /ary as it suited the totality of the case plus constitutional indications. his means it suited /ary;s mental! emotional and physical characteristics and her presentin" symptoms. An attractive! sensual woman! fashionably dressed and youn" loo#in" for her a"e! /ary;s character was soft and "entle and durin" the initial consultation she was very tearful. he feelin" of havin" been forsa#en ran throu"h her life e%periencesI she lac#ed confidence and was dependent on support from various sources. (elatin" to /ary;s past and present history +ulsatilla is very useful in "ynaecolo"ical and hormonal related symptoms! mild depression! and fati"ue. $ "ave her 4ilicea = termed the chronic remedy of +ulsatilla = for her acne. $ chose the 5/ potency initiall y as /ary;s ener"y levels were low and $ wanted to avoid the possible ris# of a""ravation occurrin". As more mental emotional symptoms were displayed in subse,uent consultations the potency was increased to 99c and then / stren"th. *ary’s road to recovery 1he process from initial consultation until now has been as much about counsellin" as homeopathic treatment. $t was a lu%ury to e%plore how $ felt about thin"s and this was somethin" $ had never previously been allowed in all my life. $ realised $ had e%posed the very core of me throu"hout the sessions and felt a bit vulnerable but $ can still remember how desperate $ was at that time and if $ had not thou"ht $ could trust :laine with what seemed my secrets then $ hate to thin# where $ would be today. 1he counsellin" played an important part in my recovery. $t was also a personal test after discussions to #eep myself to"ether until the ne%t meetin". $t was interestin" "oin" bac# to previous events in my life and e%plorin" them further. he homeopathic remedy too# the an%iety out of my stomach. Whether the positive effect was psycholo"ical or due to the remedy was not really important to me. $ found it reassurin" that they were not harmful chemicals but totally safe.

1
1ladder problems (leve M%.ntosh discusses three common issues? infections+ incontinence and bedwetting+ and their homeopathic treatment Bladder problems are common and can be a challen"e to even the most competent *+ or specialist. /any will not resolve completely usin" conventional treatment alone. Homeopathy offers tremendous relief to those who have not found help elsewhere and should often be used first because of the absence of side-effects. 7nfections Bladder infections! also #nown as urinary tract infections &U$s' or cystitis! are e%tremely common. At some time in their lives up to 9 per cent of women will have a bladder infection. /ost are uncomplicated causin" mainly discomfort and inconvenience. Common symptoms include burnin" urine! lower abdominal pain! needin" to urinate more often than usual &fre,uency' and feelin" as if you will lea# if you don;t "et to the toilet when the ur"e to urinate comes &ur"ency'. o confirm the dia"nosis! rapid analysis of urine can be performed usin" a urine dipstic# test or a sample can be sent to a laboratory for analysis. $f a bladder infection is caused by bacteria! laboratory analysis will usually identify which it mi"ht be. 4ome women have persistent symptoms of a bladder infection! but no si"n of infection on urine analysis. his poorly understood condition has various names! includin" 1spastic bladder2 or 1urethral syndrome2! and responds very well to homeopathic treatment. $n youn" children below the a"e of two bladder infections can be difficult to dia"nose. 4ymptoms are non-specific and include fever! vomitin" and not "ainin" wei"ht. Bladder infections in youn" children may need further investi"ations to e%clude a structural abnormality predisposin" to bladder infections. omeopathic treatment Bladder infections respond well to homeopathic treatment! which focuses on assistin" the body to fi"ht the infection and enablin" it to "et on top of future infections. When antibiotics are used routinely to treat uncomplicated bladder infections! the person is more li#ely to develop recurrin" or chronic bladder problems needin" repeated courses or lon" term anti-biotics. Antibiotics should be reserved for complicated infections such as those affectin" the #idneys and in vulnerable patients! such as those with diabetes! abnormal #idneys or pre"nant women. /any bladder infections will improve after a few days 0ust by drin#in" more water! ta#in" vitamin C and "arlic capsules. Cranberry 0uice! stin"in" nettle and dandelion teas are also helpful. (ecurrent cystitis can be prevented by emptyin" the bladder as soon as the ur"e is felt. $t is also important to empty the bladder before puttin" pressure on it! such as durin" se% or cyclin". 4taphysa"ria is very useful for treatin" 1honeymoon cystitis2! a term used to describe bladder infections which develop after havin" se%. When needin" to urinate! the woman mi"ht feel she has to "et to the toilet as fast as she can or else she mi"ht lea#. At an emotional level! there may be suppressed an"er and resentment. However! this is often so deep that the person is una ware of it! and the only clue to the homeopath mi"ht be! for e%ample! an abusive relationship that they are trapped in. $nfections characterised by an intense! scaldin" pain when passin" urine may be helped by Cantharis. here may be blood in the urine and there is a sensation of not bein" able to fully empty the bladder or the rectum. Une%pectedly! the irritation of the bladder may increase se%ual desire in the person. Bladder pain which comes on suddenly and intensely! with an e%tremely ur"ent need to pass urine! points to +ulsatilla. he person may crave

open air and movin" about! and feel worse indoors. *enerally! they disli#e fatty or rich foods. :motionally! they may be very affectionate and crave physical closeness and become tearful or weepy. Case study 7our year-old 4ue had developed recurrent bladder infections ei"ht months before! soon af ter her youn"er sister was born. Her mother had ta#en her to numerous specialists and she had had various tests. 7or the previous five months she had been on antibiotics continuously and there were no bladder or urinary symptoms. 4he was a very clin"y and needy child who always wanted to be held. After four wee#s of +ulsatilla 89c once daily! there was little chan"e. At her ne%t consultation! it emer"ed that she was often bullied at her pre-school! so her prescription was chan"ed to 4taphysa"ria 89c daily for four wee#s. Her mother stopped her antibiotics and she has not had another bladder infection in the last two years. 7ncontinence $ncontinence is the lea#a"e of urine when one does not mean to urinate. $t affects about five per cent of women and can have an enormous impact on the social life and emotional health of those who are affected by it. here are various types of incontinence! all of which can be made worse by bladder infections! which should be considered before a dia"nosis is made. !tress incontinence 5ea#in" urine when one cou"hs! sneeFes! runs! lifts somethin"! lau"hs or does anythin" which increases the pressure on the bladder inside the abdomen is the most common form of incontinence. /en who have had prostate sur"ery and women who have had many children or are post-menopausal are more at ris#. :ffective non-dru" treatment includes pelvic floor e%ercises and wei"ht reduction in those who are overwei"ht. Hormonal therapy! medication which acts on the nerves controllin" the bladder and sur"ery are also used. omeopathic treatment
$n most children who are wettin" their bed! no cause will be found. $t is very rare to find a physical problem in a child who is "rowin" normally and doin" well at school. 7or peace of mind! "ettin" a medical opinion can be valuable in e%cludin" the easily treatable! rare or serious causes of bedwettin". +ain when urinatin"! pain in the #idney &which is felt in the bac# on the side 0ust above the waist'! fever or blood in the urine are all symptoms which may su""est a problem such as an infection of the urinary tract. Bedwettin" accompanied by increased thirst may be caused by diabetes. Bedwettin" in a child who was previously dry needs to be carefully assessed! as there may be emotional stress &at home or at school for e%ample' which brou"ht on the bedwettin". Conventional treatment +arents may be offered conventional dru"s to treat bedwettin". However! it is important to be aware of their side-effects and limitations in order to be able to wei"h up the benefits and ris#s. 3esmopressin! if used every ni"ht! is effective in reducin" bedwettin". However! it does have a lon" list of side-effects and as soon as it is stopped! the bed-wettin" recurs. ricyclic antidepressants are sometimes also used as one of their side-effects is urinary retention. hey are much cheaper than desmopressin! but can cause behaviour problems and rarely! but tra"ically! fatal heart problems. 1edwetting alarm he most effective treatment is the bed-wettin" alarm! sometimes called the enuresis alarm or the bell and pad alarm. Bedwettin" alarms provide a lon"-term and dru"-free solution. Within si% wee#s most children will be completely dry and stay that way. $t re,uires commitment and careful supervision! but it has a hi"her success rate than conventional dru"s and the child has the confidence of #nowin" they are unli#ely to wet their bed a"ain and do not have to rely on dru"s. here are a variety of bedwettin" alarms available! but the basic desi"n is that of an alarm! which is lin#ed to a tiny sensor in the underwear that is tri""ered as soon as the child starts passin" urine. $t is best if the child and a parent share a room for a few wee#s while usin" the alarm as sometimes the child will be so deeply asleep! that they are not wo#en immediately by the alarm yet the parent will definitely wa#e up. he parent then needs to wa#e the child strai"ht away to ta#e him or her to the toilet to finish passin" urine. he child;s brain soon learns to wa#e the child automatically 0ust before he starts to urinate. omeopathic treatment Homeopathic medication is effective and safe althou"h it should only be used in con0unction with or after a bedwettin" alarm has been tried. Causticum is a useful remedy for numerous bladder problems! includin" bedwettin". he child may describe dreamin" of urinatin" when they wet the bed. hey may be sensitive to the cold and drau"hts and feel "enerally better in rainy! cloudy or damp weather. he child may be very intense! sincere and sympathetic and have stron" feelin"s about 0ustice or ecolo"ical issues. As adolescents! they may become idealistic and rebellious. hey may have a stammer and show sli"htly obsessive tendencies of chec#in" and rechec#in" tas#s. /ercurius symptoms are all worse at ni"ht. Children needin" /ercurius are sensitive to minor chan"es in temperature! both hot and cold. hey perspire at ni"ht and salivate! even droolin" onto the pillow. Bad breath and a metallic taste in the mouth are also typical. he child may be withdrawn and shy! but sometimes is also precocious. Beside wettin" their bed! children needin" Baryta carbonica will sometimes have recurrent sore throats and tonsil litis. $n between throat infections! their tonsils may remain massively enlar"ed. hey may also have swollen lymph "lands in the nec#. hey may lac# self confidence! can be ,uite an%ious and need constant reassurance. hey may have been dia"nosed with attention deficit disorder! but without hyperactivity. Case study /ar"aret! at @! had been wettin" her bed almost every ni"ht since birth. 4he seemed intense and serious. 4he would wet her bed within a few hours of retirin" and she preferred overcast weather. Unfortunately the family was livin" in poverty and could not afford a bedwettin" alarm so she was mana"ed purely homeopathically. 4he was "iven Causticum @c every evenin". Within a month she was only wettin" her bed every fifth ni"ht and she seemed more rela%ed and friendly. Cleve *c7ntosh *1Ch1$C5D )*!AD *C&"!AD *&om is a specialist family physician and homeopath in private practice in Acornhoe%+ !outh Africa, is practice reflects the e#citing diversity of cultures in !outh Africa, e lives on a farm on the border of the ruger National "ar% with his wife 1elinda+ also a family physician studying towards her *&om+ and their toddler son !amuel,

A change of personality Ma#el Aghadiuno describes how persevering with a medicine had beneficial effects for her young patient 4ammy first came to see me with his mother last sprin" at his *+;s re,uest. His mum was ,uite desperate and did not #now what else she could do for her son. he problem centred on his outbursts of an"er. 3urin" his fits of temper he would wrec# his room and even brea# thin"s that were ,uite dear to him. His an"er was spiced with spittin"! stri#in" and swearin". He would also call his mum a 1bitch2 and be very difficult to handle. His mother would have to resort to restrainin" him physically if she could but this was becomin" an increasin" challen"e. He was doin" what all boys of 8 do = "row = and he was thus becomin" too stron" for her. 4ammy;s child psychiatrist prescribed him (italin but his mother reported that this only seemed to ma#e his behaviour worse. he an"ry outbursts could occur every day or sometimes several wee#s would pass before anythin" of any moment occurred. $n between the outbursts 4ammy was "enerous! helpful and "ood to his youn"er

brother. Unfortunately 4ammy;s behaviour was disruptive at school too. He was suspended and the special needs school was now spea#in" of e%cludin" him permanently. $ loo#ed at the two people who were in front of me6 4ammy who was rather nonchalant and wore a set frown on his forehead with a puFFled screwed up facial e%pression and his mum whose face was taut with concern to the point of real an"uish. $ as#ed 4ammy first what the problem was. He commented with a slow! slurred drawl that he did not have any. He sat on the chair ,uite ,uietly and $ found it hard to believe that he was capable of the violence which his mum had reported. His sad story then unfolded. !ammy’s history 4ammy was #noc#ed down five years before and he suffered severe brain dama"e. He was in coma for four months and while in coma his eyes were wide open and he 0ust stared. He showed no si"ns of reco"nition of his family and it was unclear whether or not he could hear. He lost his memory and had to re-learn for e%ample what a cup was. He could no lon"er control his bladder and he was unable to hold a conversation because he simply no lon"er possessed any vocabulary = in effect he had become li#e a baby. *radually he started to move his arms and le"s and then the slow painful road to recovery be"an. He remained in a rehabilitation unit for ei"ht months and should actually have remained lon"er but homesic#ness made him as# to leave. Conversation with 4ammy consisted of only a few sentences in response to my ,uestions. he vocabulary was simple and $ was conscious of tryin" to be as clear as possible in order not to emphasise even more that his speech was inappropriate for a boy of his a"e. $n fact he tended to "et very frustrated because he could not e%press himself as ,uic#ly and as ade,uately as he wished. he accident had left him with very bad wea#ness and spasticity of his arms and le"s. His "ait was slow and he tended to dra" his feet alon" the floor. here were also problems with his balance and he sta""ered. he *+ had pointed out to me that 4ammy had absence seiFures.  As well as the an"ry outbursts since the accident 4ammy had developed a predilection for play with youn"er boys and li#ed the toys of his youn"er brother. He had periods when he e%pressed the desire to #ill himself and he felt down because he did not have any friends. His mother commented that he also seemed to have lost his inhibitions and loo#ed at pictures of semi-dressed women without any embarrassment or compunction. +rior to the accident there had been no history of developmental problems or of epilepsy and his health had been "ood. he history of head i n0ury and of the childli#e behaviour made me wonder about Cicuta virosa. he reversion in his behaviour seemed to me the thin" that was particularly characteristic of his case. )ther features were the coma followin" head in0ury! the fact that he had ailments since head in0ury! the an"ry outbursts and the absence seiFures. $ also had to consider his habit of swearin"! spittin" and stri#in". $ repertorised the case so that my bias towards Cicuta mi"ht not e%clude remedies! which could be potentially more helpful. Arnica! Helleborus!
4tramonium. He seemed 1to "o out of his way to wind his brother up and he was wilfully bein" a nuisance2. He used the most colourful assortment of scurrilous words with which to insult his brother and the other family members. He also too# "reat pleasure in seein" his brother  cry and added that he hated his father and brother. 4ammy said he was a "reat fan of :lvis +resley and that :lvis tal#ed to him durin" the ni"ht. $ thou"ht that his mischievousness and obstinacy mi"ht have called for uberculinum. 7ive wee#s later his mother reported that he was 1,uic#er to calm down2. He seemed to "et worse initially but then he "ot better. He had 1not really2 been stri#in" his mother and he was playin" better with his youn"er brother. He let his brother come into his room = usually forbidden territory = and they mana"ed to watch a video to"ether amicably. He was also 1a wee bit more alert2 in that he was ma#in" 0o#es and bein" witty. Unfortunately this improvement did not last lon". His tantrums be"an to increase a"ain and the school was threatenin" to e%clude him. He lost his temper fre,uently but was ,uic# to apolo"ise. His mother with hindsi"ht thou"ht he was a lot better on Cicuta.  At the be"innin" of last year $ decided to repeat Cicuta at the sli"htly different potencies of 99c! / and 9/ ta#en over three days whenever  he has a relapse and to continue with the daily dose of @c daily. His mother reported a month later that he was much better and his behaviour at school had improved. 7our wee#s after this he 1had not hurt anyone once2. He was playin" well with his brother at home! he was 1very pally2 with him and was 1very "ood2 at school. he school holidays passed off without an y incident and this was usually a difficult time for everyone. $ su""ested he continue on Cicuta ta#in" the hi"h potencies if there was a relapse. 3urin" the past year he has had some minor setbac#s but in his behaviour "enerally he is much better. He is calmer and durin" the summer holidays he made a "ood friend. 5he remedy Cicuta belon"s to the Umbelliferae family and its common name is cow bane. $t is also #nown as water hemloc#. Clar#e in his 3ictionary of /ateria /edica has identified these as some of the characteristics of this remedy6 He confounds the present with the past. 3iscontent and ill-humour. 7or"ets his own name. He thin#s himself a youn" child.  Accordin" to homeopathic literature Cicuta has been used successfully in the past to cure cases of cerebrospinal menin"itis and also epilepsy. Giolence is apparently a leadin" feature as are some of the classical features of epilepsy. 4ammy;s case tau"ht me that you have to persevere with a remedy once it seems to stop wor#in"! usin" it in different potencies until you are finally convinced that it is not wor#in". )nly then mi"ht you consider tr yin" a different remedy. *abel Aghadiuno *1Ch1 *!c *'CG" )G* *&om practises at the Glasgow omoeopathic ospital as well as ta%ing homeopathic clinics for ;othian "C5, !he also wor%s in general practice for Glasgow "C5,

A child’s periodic table "o# $e%ridge describes how homeopathic metals can help children with behavioural problems When children start school they are thro wn into ,uite another world from that of the family.
he child who needs homeopathic aluminium is a confused child! who lashes out because of violent impulsiveness. hese outbursts really surprise people because normally the Alumina child is ,uiet and "entle. $n fact they mi"ht seem e%tremely biddable because actually they have had their natural character suppressed usually by a very dominant parent who has repeatedly told the child that whatever their wishes are they are not "oin" to "et what they want. his erodes their self-confidence and they can be very scared of sharp thin"s and of the si"ht of blood. However! there remains a stron" tenacity! almost obstinacy! in their character. his is most evident in the characteristic they have of not bein" hurried. $t;s impossible to hurry them. his i s not because they want to "o slowly thou"h! it is because they 0ust cannot seem to "o as fast as even they themselves would want to. $nside they feel hurried but they can;t ma#e their actions "o fast enou"h so they end up ma#in" lots of mista#es. his shows in class especially with difficulties in readin" and writin" practice. heir inner hurried feeli n" also leads to ph ysical restlessness! with fid"ety hands and feet! and even in some cases to sleepwal#in". Jou mi"ht find them an%iously wanderin" from room to room at ni"ht rubbin" their ti"htly closed eyes. Argentum nitricum his remedy is made from silver nitrate and is most commonly used to treat anticipatory an%iety. here are many possible remedies for anticipatory an%iety and Ar"entum nitricum will only wor# well when the features match and the circumstances are ri"ht. ey indications are the physical symptoms of sha#y hands and le"s accompanied by a sha#y tummy. hese children will describe the typical butterflies-in-thetummy feelin" and mi"ht have to run bac# and forward to the loo with diarrhoea. hey are hot children who easily feel overheated and when they "et an%ious their sweet tooth becomes ,uite e%cessive. hey crave su"ar and sweet thin"s but when they eat too much of them it ma#es them feel worse and upsets their tummy more. he most important thin" for these children is their performance. hese are children who can be "reat performers! whether in music! drama or sport! but they tend to be so bound up in the importance of performin" well that each event becomes ,uite an ordeal for them. $f they don;t do well they really feel ,uite lostL By lost! $ mean as if they are all alone in the world. hey are over-e%citable and impulsive children which can mean they are "reat fun! or that they are hard to contain. Aurum 7ortunately! "old is not a commonly indicated remedy for children! but sadly! in this day and a"e of increasin" psycholo"ical pressures on children! depression! even severe depression which drives a child to attempt suicide! has become more common. he child who needs homeopathic "old is often a very industrious! hardwor#in" and ambitious child. hey mi"ht have an over-developed sense of duty and responsibility and can easily feel "uilty that they are not doin" what they are supposed to be doin". hey do have a stron" sense of their own uni,ueness but this can lead to feelin"s of bein" alone and cut off from others. hey are hu"ely over-sensitive to contradiction which can result in e%plosive outbursts of an"er and violence. heir tendency to over-sensitivity e%tends to almost all environmental stimuli = noise! music! smells and touch! all of which they can find overwhelmin". When the y cannot mana"e to pro"ress! in particular when they are contradicted or frustrated! they are li#ely to see everythin" as hopeless and blac#! a catastrophy. his is when they tumble into deep depression. Cuprum Homeopathic copper is often indicated for children who have difficult behavioural problems. hey tend to be fiercely independent children! never as#in" for help. As you mi"ht ima"ine this ma#es them rather headstron"! or even obstinate. hey have "reat abilities to be f ocussed and hard-wor#in"! really stic#in" at tas#s and al ways playin" by the rules. However in situations where there are confrontations either with other children in the class or with a teacher who anta"onises them they tend to blow up both verbally and physically! lashin" out with a sarcastic ton"ue! mimic#in" people and playin" tric#s on them and even lashin" out destructively! bitin"! or spittin". hey are also breathholders when an"ry and can turn spectacularly blue in the face durin" these temper tantrums. &errum he 7errum child has a will of iron. his can result in them bein" both bossy and intolerant to contradiction. hey have a tendency to be physically robust or a bit overwei"ht and their bossiness means they always want to be in char"e. hese are often very self-confident children! the leaders in the class! not the followers. hey are typically hard wor#ers who will really stic# at thin"s but they suffer from a certain lac# of fle%ibility or adaptability. hey can be rather oversensitive! bein" easily provo#ed. When challen"ed they will either stand their "round or fi"ht.  A common response to a challen"in" situation is either to flee or fi"ht. $n the case of 7errum they will always fi"ht. hese #ids don;t run away from thin"s. However! if there is too much chaos around! and particularly if other children are bein" especially noisy! the 7errum child will try to find solitude away from the others. hese children are often very an%ious about f amily members! worryin" that relatives they actually feel responsible for mi"ht become seriously ill or die. he focus for this mi"ht be a youn"er siblin" or! in cases where one or other of the parents is sufferin" from a chronic! incapacitatin" illness to the e%tent that there is a de"ree of role reversal and the child has to be a carer! the focus is on the parent. "latina +latinum is a very e%pensive metal and the indications for its use homeopathically are centred on this sense of bein" special. Actually it is more than bein" special! these children are li#ely to feel both superior to others and cut off from others. hey are difficult to ma#e contact with and mi"ht even have been dia"nosed as autistic! or sufferin" from Asper"er;s 4yndrome. )ne little "irl $ successfully treated with +latina was #nown by her family as 15ittle +rincess2 and she ruled the household from her bedroom at the top of the house. 3espite her sli"ht physical appearance! her stren"th of will really dominated the whole family and she would tell everyone else in the house what to wear each day. his stran"e sense of superiority seen in these children can even lead! as it did in this particular child;s case! to a refusal to play with any children who are not smaller than them. he +latina child is easily bored and will shut herself in her room sayin" everythin" is borin" and uninterestin". his is a deep #ind of dissatisfaction with thin"s. hey need to have routines and to feel that they are able to impose their will to the e%tent that they can control their surroundin"s. )ne focus for this mi"ht be eatin". 5ots of children are fussy or pic#y eaters! but the child who needs +latina ta#es this to ,uite another level. hey may not only refuse to eat all but particular foods but they often have a stran"e insistence on the position of food on the plate. 7or e%ample it is common for them to insist that no two #inds of food on a plate touch each other.

"lumbum he child who responds to homeopathic lead is e,ually insistent on routines and order. But their need for order is more compulsive than in the child who needs +latina. $n fact! they will describe feelin" compelled to sort thin"s out! "et thin"s done! and "et them done in 0ust the 1ri"ht2 way &by which they mean their usual way'. his can ma#e them rather ri"id and they are children who particularly don;t li#e chan"e or havin" to do anythin" ne w. he other aspect of the child who needs +lumbum is a #ind of contrariness. hey actually love to do what they;ve been forbidden to do and if they are then permitted to do it they ,uic#ly find they;ve lost interest. his means they are really susceptible to parents; tried and tested mana"ement techni,ue of 1reverse psycholo"y2. $n addition to this! these children often present with a combination of restlessness! poor memory function and mood swin"s. his combination can! as you mi"ht ima"ine! result i n considerable learnin" difficulties.  A physical problem which these children often have is colic#y abdominal pains which ma#e them double up and are relieved by applyin" firm pressure and local heat. Zincum Homeopathic Finc is most commonly indicated for the constantly restless child. hese are the "reatest of fid"ets. $ can always spot them in the waitin" room &or even on the trainL' because their f eet 0ust never stop movin". $t;s li#e watchin" perpetual motionL hese are often aw#ward #ids! a"ain of an Asper"er;s 4yndrome type! who find it hard to ma#e connections with the other children! often have a dominatin" father and are harbourin" a l ot of frustration and an"er. As is almost always the case with suppressed an"er! it tends to come burstin" out with "reat vehemence and violence which! of course! ma#es it increasin" difficult for them to fit in socially. hey are also over-sensitive children! particularly to noise and to voices. $n most of the children who are very restless we also see an instability of mood and the Zincum child is no e%ception. $n fact their mood swin"s can be ,uite mar#ed! oscillatin" between feelin" down and feelin" cheerful! an"er and shyness! and an%iety and contentment. 1ob ;ec%ridge *1Ch1 &&om is a specialist in omeopathic *edicine at Glasgow omeopathic ospital, e teaches homeo pathy internationally and is the author of Homeopathy in 'rimary (are, e was "resident of the &aculty of omeopathy from 4<< to 233=,

Asthma omeopathy has an important part to play+ writes Ma#el Aghadiuno  Asthma is a very common condition affectin" five per cent of the population at one sta"e of life. $n the Western world! up to ten per cent of children have the disease. $t is certainly not confined to our epoch = 4eneca the youn"er! a powerful (oman leader and historic fi"ure of the theatre! described his asthma as his 1last "asp2. However! he was somethin" of a celebrity durin" his a"e and his demise was certainly not due to asthmaL $n asthma the bronchial tubes narrow and this ma#es it more difficult to breathe. 4ymptoms that occur in asthma are chest ti"htness! cou"hin"! wheeFy breathin" and shortness of breath. hese symptoms may simply occur when the body has to wor# harder = such as on wal#in" ,uic#ly! "oin" upstairs or runnin". House dust may provo#e an asthma attac# if there is a history of aller"y as may e%posure to cat! do" or horse hair. +eople who suffer from hay f ever may find that they "et asthma-li#e symptoms too. $t is helpful to find out if the asthma is caused by an aller"y as this can offer some direction that treatment with homeopathy may pursue. Asthma patients may have a personal or family history of hay fever andor ecFema! as these conditions tend to e%ist to"ether. Conventional treatment $n terms of conventional treatment! the medication available can offer reasonable control of symptoms. Bronchodilator inhalers &available on prescription' such as 4albutamol &Gentolin' and Bricanyl &erbutaline' are desi"ned to act on the muscles of the airways and help the air flow throu"h. Jou could thin# of the airways as tunnels! which narrow down when there is asthma. he bronchodilators are the wor#men which widen the tunnel all owin" "reater flow of air &the traffic'. here are also steroid inhalers such as Becotide &Beclomethasone' and +ulmicort &Budesonide' which you could ima"ine to be the wor#men who do the maintenance wor# in the tunnel preventin" the build up of debris or do thin"s which #eep the tunnel nice and wide = they act by reducin" the inflammation. $f used well and if the asthma is not severe! inhalers such as Becotide can do a "ood 0ob. $f someone has asthma and they are already on conventional medicine $ would stron"ly recommend that they do not stop their medication or alter it without decidin" this to"ether with a doctor. 4toppin" medication can result in a flarin" up of the asthma and this may be confused with a homeopathic a""ravation! or worse! it could be potentially very serious.
helpful in the treatment of asthma. 1latta orientalis his is the lar"e dar# )riental coc#roach. As a species! coc#roaches are ni"ht-active insects and most live in damp places. $nterestin"ly! asthma sufferers who benefit from this remedy may complain that their condition is worse in mouldy! damp environments. here may also be an aller"y or sensitivity to moulds! mildew and rottin" leaves. his "roup of people comment that e%ertion and ascendin" tend to a""ravate their symptoms althou"h this can be a "eneral findin" in asthma. he combination of obesity and asthma indicates that Blatta orientalis is a remedy worth considerin". 7pecacuanha $f asthma is associated with nausea andor vomitin" then $pecacuanha could be indicated. his remedy is obtained from the dried roots of a creepin" shrub! Cephaelis &or +sychotria' ipecacuanha! which is native to BraFil but cultivated in other tropical climates. :metine! the active principle of $pecac! is obtained from the bar# or the root. $t is a powerful poison that produces vomitin" and is sometimes prescribed to relieve the stomach of some other poison. raditionally $pecac is used as an e%pectorant in the treatment of bronchitis or croup! stimulatin" bronchial secretions to ma#e cou"hin" easier. $n terms of homeopathy $pecac patients present with a constant cou"h with "a""in" and vomitin". he chest may rattle and the patient complains that the symptoms are worse in warm humid weather and that heat "enerally ma#es her feel worse. 4he therefore may prefer sittin" up by an open window to "et some air. he hands and feet are cold and perspire profusely. $pecac is reco"nised as a remedy for childhood asthmatic crisis. +rompt medical intervention is obviously indicated well before a child reaches this sta"e of illness. ;obelia inflata 5obelia inflata &$ndian tobacco' derives from a common American plant! which has small blue flowers and inflated capsules. he 1inflation2 of the capsules could serve as a symbol of the type of asthma that this remedy helps. Asthma can be a fri"htenin" e%perience especially when you feel that you are not "ettin" enou"h air into your lun"s. As with many other conditions! this can lead to hysteria and panic. +anic can lead to wor#in" unnecessarily hard to breathe and this can result in 1over-inflation2 of the lun"s. With this type of asthma! the shortness of breath is far out of proportion to the wheeFe and therefore the amount of narrowin" of the airways that there actually is. he patients who need 5obelia can feel a sensation of constriction or a lump in the chest. $t can also be helpful when an asthma attac# occurs durin" labour. 3rafts and cold or damp tend to ma#e the asthma worse while slow deep breathin" ma#e it better. 4tran"ely! rapid wal#in" also improves thin"s. Antimonium tartaricum his! li#e $pecac! was used traditionally in medicine as an emetic. $t was also used as an e%pectorant helpin" the production of catarrh from the chest. $t was used in the treatment of several diseases. but because the side-effects were fre,uent and to%ic this eventually limited its use. 7ortunately! the doses that are used in homeopathy are infinitesimally small so it can be administered with some benefit. his remedy can be useful i n children and in the elderly! especially where the asthma is associated with infection and a lot of mucus. he mucus causes a coarse! wet soundin" rattlin" noise both on breathin" in and out. he patient may say that he feels "enerally better when he is fanned but he also mi"ht be rather irritable and wish to be left alone. here are also some other symptoms such as breathlessness! which is worse from heat and lyin"! but these are not really very specific. !ambucus nigra his can be helpful particularly in childhood asthma. he elder is one of the most mysterious plants in British fol# tradition. raditionally feelin"s about the elder were ambivalent = some considered it the friend of witches and were e%tremely superstitious about even brin"in" the wood into the house. However! the elder was also used for its protective and curative effects = protection a"ainst witches! for wardin" off flies and curin" warts. he remedy 4ambucus ni"ra is prepared from a tincture of the leaves and flowers. here was a le"end that if you fell asleep under elder flowers! the scent would poison you and you would never wa#e up. +erhaps there is some truth in this if homeopathy will cure what it will cause. he patient who mi"ht benefit from 4ambucus wa#es up in the ni"ht with a fri"htenin" sensation of suffocation and may even have cyanosis &blueness of the face'. here can be severe spasms of the respiratory airways so it is very fri"htenin". hese patients are worse at midni"ht or from midni"ht to 8am. he asthmatic attac# may be associated with mar#ed perspiration! especially on wa#in". Natrum sulphuricum his is a very useful remedy for asthma in both children and adults. he asthma may stop at puberty and reappear later from the 89s on wards. he asthma may even appear in association with a period of "rief. $t tends to be worse at am or between  and am. 3amp weather = be it cold or warm = ma#es it worse! as does fo" and storms. $t may also be worse before menstruation. At times! there can be rattlin" and "reenish mucus. *edorrhinum his can be very valuable in the treatment of childhood asthma! particularly where asthma and ecFema may also be combined. he shortness of breath is reputed to be better when the child #neels on the bed curled up with the chest touchin" the #nees &#nee-chest position'. Wet weather ma#es the asthma worse but bein" at the seaside improves it. 5uberculinum his is a useful remedy for asthma sufferers as it helps build up the immune system to try to prevent recurrent colds and chest infections which may precipitate asthma attac#s. 1)ne-liners2! which may direct towards a particular remedy! are6

•

WheeFin" improved by belchin"6 Carbo ve"etabilis

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Cou"h improved by ta#in" cold drin#s6 Cuprum metallicum

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 Asthma symptoms improved at ni"ht by lyin"6 :uphrasia

•

Cou"h worse from eatin"6 ali bichromium

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/ar#ed sneeFin" that ma#es asthma attac# worse or provo#es an attac#I cou"hin" causes tears6 4abadilla.

7inally asthma sufferers include many famous people from the past and present day. Beethoven! Charles 3ic#ens! Che *uevara! Eohn 7 ennedy! :liFabeth aylor and Eudy Collins number in their ran#s. Besides havin" asthma in common! they all led or lead active! full! varied and ener"etic lives = the ultimate aim for all asthma patients. *abel Aghadiuno *1Ch1 *!c *'CG" )G* *&om has been practising homeopathic medicine for some years+ previously at the Glasgow omoeopathic ospital and also in .dinburgh, !he currently wor%s in the 1romley homeopathic clinic and also treats patients privately,

omeopathy for arthritis and rheumatism 'eter )isher  discusses his approach to this common+ painful and potentially crippling group of conditions  Arthritis and rheumatism are amon" the commonest forms of chronic disease and! with an a"in" population! are set to become commoner still. 4trictly spea#in"! arthritis means disease of the 0 oints! while rheumatism is disease of the soft connective tissues which support and move the 0oints. $n fact! the distinction is often artificial! since many of these conditions affect both the 0oints and connective tissues. )steoarthritis! the commonest of these conditions! is basically 1wear and tear2 of the 0oints. he root of the problem is wearin" out of the cartila"e! the tou"h! slippery 1"ristle2! which allows the ends of the bone to slide smoothly over each other and absorbs shoc#s. he 0oint becomes stiff and painful! and may crea# as it is moved.  As the cartila"e wears down! the bones on either side of the 0oint may react by formin" small bony out"rowths called osteophytes. )ne of the sites where bony nodes can easily be seen is the last 0oint of the fin"ers. 4pondylosis is a similar problem affectin" the spineI here the main problem is de"eneration of the dis#s which separate the vertebrae.  As one would e%pect with a de"enerative condition the prevalence of osteoarthritis increases with a"e! it affects nine per cent of the total population but around K9 per cent of the over-K9s. $t is the commonest of all rheumatolo"ical conditions! and indeed probably the commonest of all chronic diseases! because many sufferers live with it for many years.
and Goltarol amon" many others! certainly has. here are some !999 hospital admissions and !999 deaths from these dru"s every year in the U alone. Althou"h the new "eneration of <4A$3s is safer! they are only "lorified pain#illers! which do not affect the basic disease process. 4imilarly for rheumatoid arthritis! a ran"e of powerful dru"s is available but all of these have lon" and alarmin" lists of side effects. 5he homeopathic approach $n treatin" someone sufferin" from arthritis and rheumatism with homeopathy! 0ust as with any other condition! $ loo# at the person as a whole. $n practice this means startin" by loo#in" at what e%actly the problem is6 pain! stiffness! sleep disturbance! limitation of particular activities! or whatD Where is itD How lon" has it been a problem! and what has been the evolutionD 1:volution2 means where did it start and what has happened since = has it moved! if so! in any particular patternD 3oes it come and "o! any pattern to thatD 3id anythin" seem to tri""er it off in the first placeD hen the modalities = simply any factor which ma#es the problem worse or better6 for instance hot or cold applications! banda"in" or support! the weather etc. Here it is important to #now what is normal6 for instance it is usual for an acutely inflamed! swollen! tender 0oint to be relieved by cold applications. But in homeopathy e%ceptions to the rule are of particular interest. $ then move on to the rest of 1homeopathic2 histories! $ inte"rate the two. 4ometimes the conventional part of the history can "ive a vital clue. 7or instance! a woman came to consult me with e%tra-articular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis. When $ as#ed if anythin" seemed to have tri""ered the problem! she said she couldn;t thin# of anythin". But when $ en,uired into the social bac#"round it turned out she had been throu"h a messy divorce! includin" a court battle for custody of the children! which she eventually won. he onset of her illness coincided almost to the day with the end of the custody case. $ was amaFed that she did not ma#e the connection. $t was clear that this was a topic she didn;t want to discuss. ranslated into the ,uaint ?th century lan"ua"e of some homeopathic boo#s this is 1a""ravated by consolation2. $t was this that "ave me the first clue to the homeopathic medicine! 4epia! to which she had an e%cellent response. his was an e%ample of 1not what they say! but how they say it2. hen to complete the history! the 1mentals2 and 1"enerals2. he mentals include how the patient reacts to and copes &or fails to cope' with their problems! and the so-called 1constitutional2 features6 is this a stron"-willed and assertive person! or the oppositeD idy and or"anised or untidyD And so forth. hen the "enerals! for instance does this person feel the cold e%cessively! prefer the mornin" or the evenin"D $ then e%amine the patient! a"ain this not 0ust a matter of "ood medical practice! but can "ive important clues to possible homeopathic treatment. 7or  instance warm! swollen 0oints may su""est the medicines Apis or BryoniaI stiff contracted 0oints Causticum or 7ormica. !ome cases of arthritis and rheumatism treated with homeopathy /rs 4 is an Asian woman! a"ed 8? when she first consulted me in April ??8. 4he had been dia"nosed as sufferin" from rheumatoid arthritis about M months earlier. 4he wor#ed in a supermar#et! and althou"h she had had some pain and swellin" in her #nuc#le and fin"er 0oints for a couple of years before the dia"nosis was made! this had never reall y bothered her until she started to wor# on chec#out. &his was in the days before bar code scanners! so chec#out involved a lot of #eyboard wor#L' Within wee#s of startin" on chec#out! she developed severe pain and swellin" in many of her fin"er and #nuc#le 0oints. 4he was ta#en off chec#out! but this lead to only sli"ht improvement. Her *+ referred her to the rheumatolo"ist at the local hospital! and the dia"nosis of rheumatoid arthritis was made! confirmed by blood tests. 4he had had several conventional treatments! which either did not help! or caused side effects. Her *+ was sympathetic and referred her to me at the (5HH. he basic features were typical of rheumatoid arthritis! but on tal#in" to her a number of idiosyncratic characteristics came out. Althou"h the problem had started in the hands! it had since involved a number of other  0oints! but unusually! the arthritis moved unpredictably from 0oint to 0oint. A #nee! say! would be painful and swollen for a couple of wee#s! then settle down by itself! only to flare up elsewhere. Her arthritis was definitel y worse before her monthly period and it became clear she was ,uite depressed about the situation6 she became weepy! on discussin" it. But unli#e the patient mentioned earlier! was ,uite willin" to tal# about her  feelin"s! and seemed to feel better for doin" so. hese features "ave me a 1tripod2! the traditional basis for a sound homeopathic prescription6 one typical local! mental and "eneral feature. $ prescribed +ulsatilla. $ saw her a"ain a couple of months later and was pleased to hear that she was feelin" much better in herself! more cheerful! and felt that her 0oints were better. 4he had reduced the pain#illers &which upset her stomach' and was ta#in" them on an 1as re,uired2 basis. here have been some ups and downs since! and $ have prescribed some other medicines! but always come bac# to +ulsatilla. he blood tests have steadily improved! and %-rays shown no further deterioration. 4he still wor#s in the supermar#et! but is now a mana"er. $ continue to see her once or twice a year! but she now has virtually no trouble from the arthritis and ta#es only homeopathic treatment and nutritional supplements for it. /iss AY! K8! is a colourful and artistic character6 a ballet dancer since her teens! she had risen to prima ballerina in a ma0or company! and later tau"ht ballet for many years. 4he came to me complainin" of pain in various 0oints! particularly the #nees. 4he had had numerous in0uries and strains to her 0oints! especially feet and #nees! durin" her career. )n many occasions she had danced despite in0ury. 4he had had several operations on her #nee cartila"es. )n e%amination! $ found her to be e%tremely supple! able to touch the floor with the palms of her hands with strai"ht le"s. 4he had lar"e nodes on her fin"ers. $t was clear that she had osteoarthritis relatin" to overuse and in0ury. 4he had been advised to have her #nee 0oints replaced! but was reluctant to do so! because she felt that the previous #nee operations had done more harm than "ood in the lon" run. $ was interested by her e%treme fle%ibilityI it seemed that this was not solely due to her professional trainin". As a child her mother had ta#en her to the doctor for 1"rowin" pains2! and the doctor said she had sway-bac# #nees! and she had been 1double-0ointed2! able to bend her thumbs ri"ht bac# to her f orearms. )n this basis $ prescribed Calcarea fluorica! and 4ymphytum! (hus to% and 5edum cream to be rubbed into the 0oints. 4he came bac# a couple of months later! sayin" that the pains in her 0oints were under "ood control! the cream "ave several

hours relief when she needed it. 4he probably will need to have her #nee 0oints replaced eventually! but for the time bein" she finds her symptoms ,uite tolerable. Dr 'eter )isher  *A *1 1Chir &'C" &&om is Clinical )irector of the 'oyal ;ondon omoeopathic ospital and omeopathic "hysician to 5he Bueen,

(vercoming an#iety and fears As people react in different ways to the same stress+ says Janet !ray + homeopathy has so much to offer  )ne can thin# of all sorts of occasions in which fear and an%iety manifest themselves and cause difficulties in handlin" the situation. 7or e%ample! one may be an entirely competent driver! but put into the conte%t of a drivin" test! may "o to pieces and fail. $n such circumstances some people simply freeFe! and are unable to thin# what to do ne%t. 4ome brea# out in cold sweats and palpitations! while others have to dash off to the l oo. A homeopathic remedy can be tailored to the individual reaction of the person. 5et;s loo# at some remedies in different situations. a#e /i#e! for instance. He was a  year-old motor cross competitor! who was e%tremely successful on the British circuit. When he went abroad to compete! however! for some reason he found himself 1freeFin"2 on the start-line! and doin" very badly. He told me that his le"s felt li#e 0elly! and his mind 0ust went blan# = not #nowin" what he was meant to be doin". *elsemium &false 0asmine' soon put him ri"ht! with one dose the ni"ht before! and another one hour before each race. He was soon bac# to his previous form as British 4upercross Champion. $ am fre,uently consulted about pre-e%amination nerves. Aconite is an e%cellent first-aid remedy = it will calm down the adrenalin levels instantly! but as it is not a deep-actin" remedy! it will not result in a lastin" cure. $t can! however! be repeated as fre,uently as needed. $f the sufferer is e%tremely restless! unable to sit still! wa#in" at two in the mornin" worryin" about the forthcomin" e%am and sometimes feelin" sic# and sha#y! a dose or two of Arsenicum album will soon dispel the nerves. $f! however! li#e /i#e! the an%iety manifests itself as a complete inability to concentrate on the revision! and when confronted with the paper the mind "oes blan#! and the student is totally unable to recall any facts! the medicine needed is *elsemium. )ther medicines that may be useful for e%am nerves are Ar"entum nitricum! 5ycopodium and Anarcardium. 5i#e *elsemium! the an%iety displayed by Ar"entum nitricum and 5ycopodium is anticipatory. hat is to sa y! the sufferer starts the symptoms when even 0ust thin#in" about the forthcomin" event! unli #e Aconite and Arsenicum! which is more immediate. he sufferer re,uirin" Ar"entum nitricum will "et the feelin" that there is a tremendous hurry to "et the wor# done! and that there will not be enou"h time for all the revision. hey "et very hot and bothered! and often suffer from palpitations. he stress brin"s on a cravin" for sweet thin"s! but they also have a stron" li#in" for salt! and may bin"e on sweet and savoury food ali#e. he 5ycopodium type conceals his nerves better! but at a "reat cost to his "uts. He has "reat ambition! and is determined to do well! but his own hi"h standards cause their own stress. He may well develop irritable bowel syndrome! dyspepsia or mi"raine. He al so li#es sweet foods! but they disa"ree with his stomach! causin" bloatin" and windL )n the day of the e%am he will probably ac,uit himself well! but is do""ed by reversin" letters! or failin" to thin# of the ri"ht word. We tend to thin# of Anarcardium for memory disorder and depression! so i t can be very useful for teena"ers "ettin" in a ri"ht state over their e%ams. hey have "reat difficulty rememberin" what they have revised and completely lose their confidence. 4o "reat is the psycholo"ical disturbance due to the stress of possible failure! that they may be driven to suicide. "roblems at school  Another area of stress for which $ am fre,uently consulted! is that of school in "eneral. Joun"er children may be unhappy at school for various reasons6 they may be bein" bullied! they may have a very strict teacher of whom they are scared! they may have difficulty ma#in" friends. 4arah! a"ed 9! was brou"ht to see me sufferin" from tummy aches! which had be"un two years previously when a new "irl started at school! who 1too# over2 her best f riend. 4he was a sensitive "irl who was often an%ious and worried about bein" told off in class. )n startin" school at the a"e of five! she had displayed considerable separation an%iety! and even now her mother suspected that sometimes the tummy aches were a ploy to be able to stay home with her. 4he often had a sweaty head and hands! and loved e""y bread! but hated mil#. At two or three in the mornin" she would wa#e with a bad dream! often of dead men! and would "o into her parents; bedroom for comfort. 4he was scared of hei"hts and thunder. $ "ave her Calcarea carbonica! which not only settled her tummy aches! but also helped her with her self-confidence! and she started ma#in" new friends. +enny! a"ed nine! hated school! even thou"h she made friends easily! and had two special friends there. $ eventually discovered that her problems had started when a disabled child was admitted to the school! and this distressed +enny immensely. 4he could not bear to see the

child in her wheelchair and was so upset that she would cry all ni"ht. 4he often felt sic# with her an%iety. 4he also worried about the state of the world! and the health of her parents and loved ones. At ni"ht she had to have a li"ht on! and she hated "oin" to stay with her "randparents as they had a 1scary house2. 4he often dreamed of bur"lars. W ith this de"ree of sensitivity and carin"! +hosphorus was well indicated! and $ "ave her one dose per wee# until she settled. After one month! she was attendin" school happily! and was not so an%ious when around the disabled child. 5een troubles eena"ers have worries other than e%ams! because "rowin" up is a stress in itself. Eohn was one such lad! who at the a"e of @ started havin" episodes of faintin". His *+ had e%cluded any serious patholo"y and had put it down to 1nerves2. Eohn told me that he hated school and he hated bein" a teena"er. He was self-conscious of his spots and f elt that his "irlfriend had "one off him. He was avoidin" social situations because of the fear of faintin". )ver the past year he had "rown rapidly! and his appearance was that of a lan#y bean-pole. His mother complained of the terrible smell from his shoes! and althou"h he admitted to bein" sweaty! he was very chilly. )ne of his complaints was headaches! which were helped by wrappin" hi s head warmly! but his bobble hats made him feel more self-conscious. At school he lac#ed confidence and under-achieved. His teachers made the common comment = 1could do better2! but somehow he lac#ed the ability to try. $ "ave him 4ilica! one dose wee#ly! and after a month his s#in had cleared and he had had no further faintin" episodes. here are all sorts of other situations that can be helped by homeopathy! such as fear of flyin"! "oin" for interviews! public spea#in" and appearin" on the sta"e. 7or patients sufferin" from chronic an%iety! such as panic attac#s and a"oraphobia! the case must be ta#en in depth by a ,ualified practitioner in order to achieve effective relief! but in acute situations! such as e%amination nerves! the "eneral public can reach for the Aconite bottle with confidence. /anet Gray *A *11Ch &&om )'C(G )&&"+ a G" for over 23 years+ has used homeopathy in her 1ristol practice for some 4= years, !he lectures in homeopathy at the 1ristol 5eaching Centre and has a small private practice near Chippenham,

1eating the blues A homeopathic guide to an#iety and depression by Jeni Worden 7ive to ten per cent of patients visitin" their *+ will be sufferin" from 1clinical2 or 1ma0or2 depression. his means that as a *+! two to three of the patients $ see in a normal wor#in" day will be e%periencin" debilitatin" and disablin" symptoms of feelin" down! depressed or hopeless and will have little interest or pleasure in doin" thin"s. oo many people still thin# that depression is 1all in the mind2 and there is a "reat deal of "uilt felt by sufferers that they cannot 0ust snap out of it. Havin" a 1nervous brea#down2 still carries a sti"ma! especially if symptoms are severe enou"h to need a hospital admission or referral to a psychiatrist. $ spend a "reat deal of my professional life reassurin" people that they are not "oin" mad and their symptoms do have a rational e%planation.  As well as clinical depression! where symptoms are severe enou"h to affect day to day livin"!  to 89 per cent of my patients will have depressive symptoms but still mana"e to continue with wor# or home life without serious problems. his situation is referred to as 1subthreshold2 or 1mild2 depression! dependin" on the severity and number of symptoms. his is probably the lar"est "roup of patients with a psycholo"ical problem that $ see in my sur"ery every day. +eople come with a variety of complaints! includin" a feelin" of persistent fati"ue! lac# of appetite or e%cess appetite resultin" in comfort eatin"! not bein" able to loo# forward to en0oyable events such as holidays or family celebrations! poor sleep! feelin"s of an%iety and low selfesteem! "uilt for 1not really bein" ill2! feelin"s of not copin"! lac# of interest in activities or relationships! loss of se% drive and "enerally feelin" cut off from the world. Whilst most of us can e%perience all of these feelin"s at some time to a "reater or lesser e%tent! it is when they last for wee#s on end that we start to feel unwell and out of balance. $t is in these circumstances that the body starts to need a little help to recover. 5he good mood hormone What causes depressionD /ost people #now that our brain produces a 1"ood mood2 hormone called serotonin. $f we do not produce enou"h of it or it "ets bro#en down too ,uic#ly! then a low mood results. Yuite what tri""ers off this chemical imbalance is the sub0ect of hot debate b y scientists! but its results are only too clear to sufferers of this common condition. here may be an inherited element to depression! possibly a "enetic factor but scientists are unsure whether depression is due to nature or nurture. $ suspect it is a mi%ture of both. Certainly $ come across some people whose brains permanently seem to produce low levels of "ood mood hormone! meanin" they always feel somewhat under par mentally. 5reatment $n the past! people with symptoms of depression or an%iety were often treated with tran,uilliFers! or benFodiaFepines li#e diaFepam &Galium'. his is because depression is really a mi%ture of feelin" low combined with symptoms of an%iety. he latter can ran"e from wa#in" up with a sin#in" feelin" or butterflies in the stomach or panic attac#s to full blown physical symptoms of acid indi"estion! problems with swallowin"! diarrhoea! a feelin" of ti"htness in the throat! difficulty breathin"! wei"ht loss! and a sureness that 1somethin" serious is wron" with me2.  Althou"h tran,uilliFers may still be used by the medical profession if symptoms of an%iety are very severe! they are now "enerally recommended only for short term use &up to two wee#s at a time'. he most common medications for depression these days are antidepressants which help to rebalance the mood hormones! commonly selective serotonin reupta#e inhibitors &44($s' and less often! the tricyclic antidepressants &CAs'. However! their effectiveness in mild or subthreshold symptoms is ,uestioned by modern research and they are now not routinely advised for *+ use by the
Health and Clinical :%cellence &<$C:'. Herbal treatments also wor# in a similar way to conventional antidepressants althou"h usually with a lower rate of side effects6 they often have a combination of active i n"redients as opposed to the synthetic medications! which are sin"le substances in a potentially more potent form. 5al%ing therapies <$C: su""ests that *+s use either counsellin" or co"nitive behavioural therapy &CB' to treat mild depression. his has been shown to be more effective in the first instance than medication for most sufferers with less troublesome symptoms! but unfortunately availability varies "reatly throu"hout the U. $ find the socalled tal#in" therapies e%tremely useful to help people chan"e their sometimes ne"ative way of thin#in" and such treatments can be life chan"in"! helpin" people re"ain normal function without a reliance on tablets. $ have wor#ed as a *+ in both 3orset and Hampshire and have always been able to refer patients on the
 Arsenicum patients can be convinced that they have a physical illness which is bein" missed because they feel so ill and may in fact end up havin" a number of investi"ations such as endoscopy and colonoscopy before finally acceptin" what is wron" with them. hey can feel that they will never be well a"ain. 7ear is a prominent symptom! causin" apprehension and dread! with an overwhelmin" feelin" that everythin" will "o wron"! and they despair of their recovery. hese can be patients that $ have to try very hard to reassure and $ will often use a 89c dose! three to four times a day! with Aconite 89c ta#en as needed if they are havin" additional panic attac#s. 7gnatia Where depression follows from bereavement! loss! or a shoc#! such as witnessin" a fatal road accident! $"natia can be useful. he symptom picture is typified by emotional ups and downs with mood swin"s and is often ,uoted in homeopathic reference boo#s as 1lau"hter alternatin" with tears2. Havin" suffered the loss of my o wn parents! $ #now myself the separation feelin" that one under"oes when someone close to you dies and $ remember bein" able to tal# ,uite calmly one minute! and then bein" overcome with tears soon afterwards before becomin" calm a"ain a few minutes later. )ften the sufferer can prove difficult for friends and loved ones to deal with as they are 4) up and down! bein" resistant to sympathy and oversensitive to well meanin" advice! which may be wron"ly ta#en as criticism. $"natia patients tend to 1bottle thin"s up2 and cry and "ive deep si"hs durin" the course of their consultation. $t may be hard for them to tal# if they are overcome with their miserable situation and friends can find it well ni"h impossible to cheer up such patients. +oor sleep is common and so is the feelin" of a ball or somethin" stuc# in the throat! #nown conventionally as "lobus syndrome. $ of ten "ive a few $"natia 89c tablets to recently bereaved patients to ta#e when needed! especially around the time of the funeral! and will use a 99c on a wee#ly or monthly basis for persistent depressive symptoms. Natrum muriaticum  Another remedy that can bottle thin"s up! but reacts ,uite differently to the $"natia patient is
not less! and feel they must 10ust "et on with it2! and yet feel more and more tired and low in spirit as time "oes on. *rud"es can build up! with resentment. here may be an increased sensitivity to noiseI certain passa"es of music may move them to those lon" awaited tears! but without relief from their lo w mood. $ have discovered to my cost that usin" too hi"h a dose of
Allergy Attac%R omeopathy achieves long-term relief for chronic allergy patient  A ,uarter of the U;s population will develop an aller"y at some time in their livesI and the problem is "ettin" worse with the number of sufferers increasin" by O every year. 7or most sufferers their aller"y is more of an unpleasant inconvenience than a debilitatin" condition. Eenny;s case history! however! hi"hli"hts how aller"ies can sometimes cause such a severe physical reaction! the patient;s health and their ,uality of life is seriously affected. We also see how the limited treatment that conventional medicine offers only produces shot-term relief! and how

e%perience for me and my parents. )n visitin" our family doctor $ underwent an aller"y test and was found to have acute aller"ic sensitivity to a wide ran"e of aller"ens includin"6 the house dust miteI bed miteI hay! tree and "rass pollenI horse and cat danderI and oil seed rape pollen. 4o indoors and out $ was sub0ected to a wide ran"e of airborne particles that would tri""er such violent reactions $ would! at times! be left feelin" e%tremely ill. Althou"h $ had to suffer these attac#s throu"hout the year = havin" a severe reaction about every two months = because my family lived in a rural area! it was durin" the sprin" and summer months that $ was most vulnerable. )ver the years $;ve inevitably become somethin" of an e%pert on aller"ies and their cause. Aller"ies are caused when a normally harmless substance &the aller"en' tri""ers a hei"htened or altered reactivity of the bod y;s immune system. When someone suffers an aller"ic reaction their immune system believes the aller"ens to be threatenin" and so it produces $": antibodies to attac# the i nvadin" material. his is called the immune response. /ore antibodies are produced every time the person comes in to contact with the aller"en! causin" the release of chemicals such as histamine in the body which result in an aller"ic reaction. 3ue to the severity of the aller"ic reactions $ was sufferin"! the family doctor referred me to the all er"y clinic at the
past. After three months even the mild symptoms be"an to clear up. $t was incredible = 0ust li#e a miracleL  At the follow-up appointment $ could hardly contain myself and was effusive in my praise of the treatment $;d received and the results it had produced. But $ must confess! $ was somewhat ta#en abac# for 3r /cCallion appeared unmoved by the dramatic improvement in my condition. $t was as if 3r /cCallion failed to see how this improvement in my health would brin" about hu"e benefits to my everyday life. But she later e%plained that she has! over the years! seen these results so many times with other patients! she;s no lon"er surprised at the success of the treatment. ;asting relief  he doctor then as#ed about my emotional state. Althou"h until then $;d not re"istered any increase in emotional sensitivity! $ suddenly realised that $;d been ,uite tearful at times since be"innin" the homeopathic medication. 3r /cCallion su""ested $ stop ta#in" the +ulsatilla and only use the aller"y medicine as and when $ needed it. his $ did! only ta#in" the homeopathic medicine when $ felt the aller"y symptoms returnin". *radually $ noticed that $ needed to do this less and less often. $ no lon"er suffer any severe aller"ic reactions and it;s now been two years since $ last needed to ta#e the homeopathic medicine. 7urther evidence of the dramatic improvement in my condition came when the field directly behind my house was planted with a crop of oil seed rape. :ven when the oil seed rape is in full flower $ suffer not even the sli"htest reaction! while some of my family and friends are sneeFin" their heads offL $t;s amaFin"L $;m now 8 and still livin" in :ast +erthshire in the villa"e of Blair"owrie with my husband and two youn" children! :mily and 7raser. 4o impressed have $ been with homeopathy $ have inte"rated it into the healthcare of my family. /y only re"ret is that $ didn;t see# help from a homeopath sooner! as $;m convinced it would have saved me from years of discomfort and illness.

Allergy – the bane of modern living *eil "eattie discusses how isopathy can help  Aller"ic problems have a ma0or impact on modern society. Aller"ic diseases are currently calculated to cost the member states of the :U ? billion :CU per year in medical e%penses and wor# absence alone. )ne fifth of our children are asthmatic and M per cent of these have an aller"ic basis to their problem. he other commonest aller"y-related diseases are ecFema! aller"ic rhinitis! seasonal and perennial! aller"ic con0unctivitis! and urticaria. /odern allopathic medicines have proved more and more effective at controllin" the symptoms of aller"y! either early in the aller"ic process! such as Cromo"lycate for asthma! or late in the process as with antihistamines. 3esensitisin" treatment used to be available as a series of in0ections but had to be withdrawn after it was shown that one in 99!999 patients was havin" anaphylactic reactions. 7ortunately recent studies in *las"ow have proved the efficacy of isopathic medicines as desensitisin" a"ents! and the use of these preparations in the Aller"y Clinic at the *las"ow Homoeopathic Hospital has shown a clear clinical benefit to the patients. 5et me e%plain for anyone who is unsure of the difference between isopathy and homeopathy. $sopathy involves the administration of homeopathically prepared remedies derived from the same material as that responsible for causin" a diseased state! in this case an aller"ic problem. hey are thus "iven on a basis of 14ame to treat same2 rather than the classical homeopathic principle of 15i#e to treat li#e2. he commonest aller"ens affectin" patients at the Aller"y Clinic in *las"ow were "rass pollens at M per cent and the house dust mite at  per cent. 7or hay fever sufferers it is hard to avoid e%posure to "rass pollens durin" the summer months but most try to ma#e appropriate lifestyle chan"es. 5on"-lastin" steroid in0ections are an effective preventative treatment! but there are worries about repeated use. here are now non-sedative antihistamines available and sprays of steroid or antihistamine are "ainin" in popularity. However! these all re,uire continuous use. How much simpler to ta#e a course of a safe homeopathic remedy at a cost of less than ^8. +re-seasonal use will often "ive a trouble-free summer but booster courses can be ta#en.
someone else to do itL  At the Aller"y Clinic in *las"ow! we set out to try and find out the best treatment re"ime for desensitisin" aller"ic patients. +atients were referred by their *+! or specialists in other hospitals! to the Aller"y Clinic with a variety of medical problems that were thou"ht to be of an aller"ic ori"in. We too# a "eneral and aller"ic history! then carried out a 4#in +ric# est to try and identify the problem aller"ens. At  minutes! if the test was positive! the resultin" weals were measured! and the aller"ens accordin"ly ran#ed from worst to least. A trace of the weal pattern was ta#en for record purposes. +atients with ne"ative s#in tests were e%cluded from our study.  All patients were as#ed to ta#e no antihistamines for seven days before initial attendance at the Aller"y Clinic. hey then had a four-wee# runin control period! dail y recordin" their symptoms and "eneral wellbein"! before commencin" isopathic treatment for the worst aller"en. hey were as#ed to continue recordin" dail y the outcome and returned to the clinic for review after four wee#s of ta#in" medication. )ther aller"ens were then treated in the same way at monthly intervals in descendin" order of severity. +atients were randomly allocated to one of the followin" three treatment "roups6 three powders of the appropriate aller"en in the 89th centesimal potencyI three powders of the appropriate aller"en in the 99th centesimal potencyI one tablet of the appropriate aller"en in the 89th centesimal potency twice daily for four wee#s.  All patients received a pac# containin" three powders to be ta#en on the first day! and  tablets to be ta#en one twice daily for four wee#s. 4ome K patients! mainly sufferin" from asthma! ecFema and aller"ic rhinitis! were treated in this double blind trial. 3urin" the trial! the patients were instructed to continue with their normal medication! but many felt able to reduce or discontinue their allopathic medicines and did so.  A total of  per cent of the patients defaulted durin" their treatment for a variety of reasons. )f those remainin"! MK per cent reported that their aller"ic symptoms were substantially or completely relieved by the isopathic treatment alone. his success was reported across all disease "roups and different aller"ens. We ended up with a clear winner between the various treatment re"imes. he best results were obtained usin" one tablet of 89c twice daily for four wee#s. Usin" this re"ime 8 per cent of patients reported complete relief of their symptoms and M? per cent of patients reported improvement.  About  per cent of those referred to the clinic were e%cluded from the study because their s#in test showed no response. here didn;t seem to be any rhyme or reason for this but we had to e%clude them from the study and treat them by more "eneral prescribin". 3esensitisation is not a substitute for minimisin" e%posure to a #nown aller"en but sometimes it is impossible to avoid an aller"en completely as in the case of a dairy student $ treated who had become aller"ic to cows. A few doses of Cow hair relieved his problemL 4ensible precautions should always be ta#en and all opathic medicines li#e inhalers in asthma have a vital role to pla y. Where an aller"en can be identified! however! desensitisation should be considered as it can often ma#e a substantial difference to the ,ualit y of life of the patient. 7s your home a health ha>ard6 We;re continually bein" told about e%terior air pollution! but for many of us pollutants in our homes can a""ravate or cause health problems. 3ust! dust mites! mould and mildew! and animal dander and other aller"ens present in most houses can cause sneeFin"! nasal stuffiness! runny nose! itchy! watery eyes! and asthma. House dust al ler"y is particularly important because the symptoms are year round rather than seasonal li#e pollen aller"ies. (esearch has shown that reducin" mite and aller"en levels in homes can lead to an improvement in aller"ic symptoms and a reduction in the amount of medication needed. (ecent research shows that one in si% homes in the U suffers from damp patches and mildew problems and over one third of all homes in the survey e%perienced winter problems of steamin" windows and condensation. While the avera"e family produces as much as 9 pints of moisture in the home each day "enerated from breathin"! showerin"! washin"! coo#in" and tumble dryin" dust mites are havin" a field day and those who are susceptible to aller"ies and asthma find their symptoms worsenin". )ne answer to the problem of e%cess humidity is to increase ventilation by openin" windows and usin" e%tractor fans. However this means heat loss and may present a security ris# when people aren;t at home. 3ouble "laFin" may solve condensation problems on windows but the e%cess moisture in the air will fi nd the ne%t coldest surface = usually in an unheated room = causin" mould! peelin" paper or crumblin" plaster.  Another solution is to use a dehumidifier which e%tracts e%cess moisture from the air which is then cleaned and warmed before bein" returned to the room. )ne dehumidifier! placed strate"ically! will remove e%cess moisture from the whole of a three to four bedroomed house. )r Neil G * 1eattie+ Ch1 *&om wor%ed at the Allergy Clinic+ Glasgow omoeopathic ospital from 4
Allergy? a modern epidemic how homeopathy can help+ by Sarah "u%ingham and Ja%,ueline Mardon reviews one of her cases /any people are "enetically predisposed to aller"ies = this is #nown as atopy and you often see aller"ies such as ecFema! asthma and hay fever runnin" in f amilies. Atopy is becomin" more common and the rea sons for this are not entirely clear. )ne theory is that people have much better health these days and the body;s immune system doesn;t have a lot to cope with! so "oes into 1overdrive2 in response to normally harmless substances. here is some evidence to su""est that those who have "rown up with lots of brothers and sisters are l i#ely to have had numerous infections in childhood which their immune systems have had to fi"ht off and so have simultaneously built up resistance to aller"ensI so per haps the trend towards smaller families is a factor. )ther possible contributin" factors include increased pollution in the atmosphere and the use of chemicals in food! medicine and household products. Whatever the cause! more and more people are becomin" susceptibleI an estimated three million people in :n"land alone now consult their *+ each year about an aller"y-related condition. 0hat is allergy6  Aller"y is a hei"htened or altered reactivity of the immune system to e%ternal substances. Conditions that are caused by an e%ternal a"ent or 1aller"en2 include ecFema! aller"ic asthma! urticaria &hives'! hay fever and perennial rhinitis &all year round hay fever-li#e symptoms'. he most common aller"ens are house dust mites! pollen from trees and "rasses! cats! do"s! mil# and e""s.  An aller"ic person;s immune system believes aller"ens to be dama"in" and so produces a special type of antibody &$":' to attac# the invadin" material. his leads other blood cells to release further chemicals &includin" histamine' which to"ether cause the symptoms of an aller"ic reaction. A reaction can be caused b y inhalation! swallowin"! in0ection! or contact with the s#in! eyes or airways. $n mild cases there may be sli"ht itchiness or reddenin" of the affected area. $n serious cases anaphylactic shoc# can occur! where the body;s immune response is so e%treme that it causes low blood pressure! constriction of breathin" and sometimes even death. But this sub0ect is too comple% to be covered here. 5reatment Conventional medicine often involves ta#in" antihistamines or steroids to mana"e symptoms. A hu"e ran"e of products is also available over the counter. hese may be useful but can also have unwanted side-effects li#e drowsiness! need to be used continuously and are not effective in all patients. By contrast! homeopathic medicine stimulates the body;s own defence system to cope with e%posure to aller"ens! rather than suppressin" the aller"ic symptoms. )ften! treatment doesn;t have to be ta#en continually = for e%ample! a homeopathic medicine ta#en before the start of the hay fever season can protect the patient throu"h the whole season! reducin" the need for antihistamines. here are a number of ways in which homeopathy can be used to help aller"y sufferers. ;ocal prescribing /edicines are prescribed based on the patient;s actual aller"ic symptoms! for e%ample runny nose! itchy eyes! sore throat. his is #nown as 1local2 treatment and can be achieved in a standard *+ appointment or even throu"h self-prescribin"! althou"h it;s probably best to visit a homeopathic doctor to "et the correct medicine! as you are less li#ely to pic# the ri"ht one off the shelf first time. Constitutional prescribing Constitutional treatment in homeopathy is sli"htly different. $t is based on a more in-depth consultation which ta#es into account not only the aller"ic symptoms but also the patient;s individual way of copin" with the disease. his may involve loo#in" at aspects of the patient;s lifestyle! eatin" habits! medical history and state of mind to achieve a complete picture of the individual. 7sopathy $sopathy is similar to homeopathy! but the treatment is selected solely on the basis of the patient;s proven aller"ies &as shown by s#in testin"! for e%ample'. $t involves "ivin" a patient the substance to which they are aller"ic in a homeopathic potency. $t is best to arran"e a consultation with a homeopathic doctor so that they can tailor treatment to you as an individual. :ach of the five

committee in 999! which advocated the creation of a stron"er research infrastructure for complementary therapies. At the time the 3epartment of Health allocated limited funds! but none went towards research in homeopathy. his is disappointin"! especially in view of the potential for savin"s on conventional medicines such as steroids. o date! 8 randomised controlled trials have been carried out in aller"y! nine of which had positive findin"s! clearly demonstratin" that the area needs further investi"ation. here is! of course! no need to convince those patients who have used homeopathy with success. heir own positive e%periences are proof enou"h for them that homeopathy wor#s. At Bristol Homeopathic Hospital! a si%-year study of patient outcomes found that M? per cent of under @s with asthma reported improvement and K per cent felt 1better2 or 1much better2! as did @M per cent of ecFema patients under @. Homeopathy clearly has an important role to play in aller"y treatment. he current burden on the health system could be alleviated if more *+s were trained in homeopathic medicine or were able to refer to a homeopathic clinic or hospital. /ore reasons why homeopathy is a vital part of the

much less li#ely to cause a""ravation! an important consideration in such a sensitive and atopic individual. 5wo months later  Eoe returned on his own to tell me his eyes had been "ood! the best for a while with no bad days since his last visit. His s#in had been ,uite dry and itchy. He appeared much more rela%ed &in retrospect and in contrast $ realised how ti"ht he had been' and his s#in "enerally less red. His nec# was a bit blotchy! perhaps an indicator of his emotional sensitivity. He had left home and started his university course three wee#s before and was returnin" to see his parents every wee#end. He had mana"ed to stop all his medication e%cept the )pticrom. He felt he had had a "ood initial response with the homeopathy with his eyelids and was pleased about this. $ "ave
1ad abits omeopathic medicines may help+ writes Keith Souter  1The %hains of ha#it are generally too small to #e felt until they are too strong to #e #roen2 3 Samuel Johnson 3r 4amuel Eohnson &K9? to KM' is one of the towerin" fi"ures of :n"lish literature. *rub 4treet 0ournalist! poet! novelist! moralist and le%ico"rapher! he published his "reatest wor#! $ "ictionary of the nglish &anguage in K?. He has been described as 1ar"uably the most distin"uished man of letters in :n"lish history2. han#s to his bio"rapher Eames Boswell! we have a wonderful picture of this lar"er than life fi"ure. He was witty! "re"arious! yet sub0ect to depression and numerous in0urious habits. He was also sub0ect to many involuntary mannerisms and prone to fid"et and ma#e nervous noises. He himself was aware of them! but ,uite incapable of stoppin" them. Boswell described his many tics and twitches6 2'hile talking or even musing as he sat in hi s chair, he commonly held his head to one side towards his right shoulder, and shook it in a tremulous manner, moving his body backwards and forwards, and rubbing his left knee in the same direction, with the palm of his hand7 In the intervals of articulating he made various sounds with his mouth) sometimes giving a half whistle, sometimes making his tongue play backwards from the roof of his mouth, as if clucking like a hen, and sometimes protruding it against his upper gums in front, as if pronouncing Auickly under his breath, B#oo, too, too’7 $ll this accompanied sometimes with a thoughtful l ook, but more freAuently with a smile7 enerally when he had concluded a period, in the course of a dispute, by which time he was a good deal e!hausted by violence and vociferation, he

used to blow out his breath like a whale74  Eohnson was also said to 1perform his "esticulations2 upon enterin" a room or a buildin". A small "irl once as#ed him why he made these stran"e noises and movements! to which he replied that they were 0ust 1a bad habit2. /edical historians are now ,uite convinced that he was! in fact! a sufferer from ourette;s syndrome. his was! of course! un#nown in Eohnson;s day. $t is li#ely that he was much distressed by it! for he declared that he was of a most melancholic nature. And in 1performin" his "esticulations2 before enterin" a room it is li#ely that he was tryin" to control these tics and 1"et them out of the way2 before he had to see and tal# to people. he full name for this condition is *illes de la ourette;s syndrome! after the doctor who first described it in M. $t is characterised by ma#in" movements and sounds that you cannot control. And it is often also accompanied by various emotions! such as an%iety! depression and by the development of obsessive compulsive behaviour and various habits.
it as the places that you indul"e the habit. 4mo#ers have had their habitat severely restricted and many people will have "iven up 0ust by virtue of havin" been forced out onto the street corner to indul"e their habit. With problems drin#in" or "amblin"! then avoidin" the places where temptation lur#s is obviously sensible. With other nuisance habits such as nailbitin"! or nosepic#in"! chan"in" habitat may not be so easy. But if the habit is somethin" that the person does loc#ed away in their room! then "et out of the comfort Fone and chan"e the habitat in favour of the limeli"ht where there are people and therefore less tendency to indul"e. 7inally! ta#in" up new interests may help. 3o somethin" outra"eous. Choose somethin" that you have never mana"ed to "et round to! or which may seem out of character. $f you want to chan"e habits! you are chan"in" yourself! so these sorts of chan"es become symbolic of how you can ma#e it happen. abit reversal his is a behavioural techni,ue that was first devised in the ?K9s by psycholo"ists
Baryta carbonica is the first medicine that $ thin# of here. $t is useful in sli"ht! nervous children who stru""le to advance. )n the other hand +ulsatilla helps those children who always want to be outside and who can "et in a real strop with people. $ have also found that +hosphorus wor#s well when the ur"e is described as bein" li#e havin" a hot! itchy thumb! which is eased by suc#in". Nailbiting Bitin" your fin"ernails to the ,uic# is a common cartoon ima"e. Jet it is not funny to be afflicted with this problem. $ usually combine habit reversal techni,ue with simple tapin" over of the nails that are least bitten. Usually these are the little and rin" fin"ernails. 7or the observation period $ permit the individual to nibble at the others. :ach evenin" the taped nails are loo#ed at and compared! then immediately retaped.  After two wee#s the nails should loo# ,uite normal and it will induce a desire to achieve this on all of them. We then use a remedy.  Alison had been a nailbiter all of her life. 4ecure in a "ood! wellpaid 0ob! the habit was an embarrassment to her. $ have to admit that she and $ almost "ave up! for my initial choices made no difference. hen we focused on the ur"e to bite and why she did it. $t seemed that it was due to intense irritation around the nailbed! which only bitin" would help. his led to a prescription of Ammonium bromatum. his eased the itch ,uite amaFin"ly! and the above techni,ue helped to clear up the problem.  Ar"entum nitricum and 5ycopodium are two other medicines that $ find are often indicated. +eople needin" these tend to suffer from anticipatory an%iety! when any stressrelievin" habit may be intensified. hose who need Ar"entum nitricum tend to crave cold sweet drin#s! while 5ycopodium li#es warm sweet drin#s. 5he big three  Alcohol! tobacco and dru" dependence are all hu"e problems and $ have touched upon smo#in" already. All three of these need behavioural treatment! but the followin" remedies have all performed well in treatin" people with these problems. Caladium is a #eynote remedy for tobacco addiction! especially in men who have noticed that they have become impotent or have erectile problems. hese problems are probably due to the to%icity of nicotine. Capsicum is a "ood remedy for people who crave dru"s! tobacco or alcohol and who tend towards bein" overwei"ht! of a peppery temperament! and who easily feel homesic#. 7inally!
Addictive personalities Addiction and compulsive behaviour can ruin lives but they can be overcome e#plains *arysia ratimenos o most people the word 1addict2 con0ures up ima"es of a down and out! lyin" semi-conscious in rat infested s,ualor! surrounded by filthy needles and bro#en bottles. Helpless! hopeless! re0ected by society. And yet we only have to scan the daily papers to see f amous celebrities confess to alcoholism! cocaine habits and addiction to love and se%. 4o what is addiction and what ma#es an addictD $s there such a thin" as an addictive personality! or is it a case of 1there by the "race of *od2D When does havin" that whis#ey after a hard day;s wor# transform into somethin" more sinister! turnin" one into an alcoholicD he definition of addiction is by no means clear. When does a social habit end and an addiction startD he )%ford 3ictionary says it is 1doin" or usin" somethin" as a habit! or compulsively2. Webster;s 3ictionary defines addicted as 1enthusiastic devotion! stron" inclination or f re,uent indul"ence2. +sycholo"ist Eohn Bradshaw provides the clearest definition of addiction as 1a patholo"ical relationship to any mood alterin" e%perience that has life dama"in" conse,uences.2 By usin" the word e%perience! the net i s spread wider.  Addiction is not 0ust about the 1se%! dru"s and roc# and roll2 scene. )ne can be addicted to "amblin"! food! tobacco! stimulants! prescription dru"s &tran,uillisers! and maybe even +roFac'! e%ercise! the $nternet! computer "ames! television! desi"ner labels! wor# the list is endless. he #ey in understandin" the nature of addiction lies in Eohn Bradshaw;s words = the 1patholo"ical2 relationship and its 1life dama"in"

conse,uences2. $t;s as if too much of a "ood thin" is not enou"h. A pleasurable habit! such as a drin# with friends! is not an issue! but a compulsive need to drin# oneself into oblivion each and every ni"ht is an obvious problem that needs attention. he conse,uences of many addictions li#e smo#in" and drin#in" to e%cess are reco"nised! yet i"nored by the addict. At one level there is an understandin" that a price must be paid! but the person is so dependent on the habit that the realisation of the ris#s involved is almost irrelevant. $n dealin" with any addiction! it is fundamental to understand what the addiction is doin" for the person. $t is not as simple as chan"in" the behaviour. $f it were! why would people be constantly on diets! battlin" with their wei"htD o ,uote *arfield! the world;s most famous lasa"ne addict 13iet is die with a t2. *arfield;s pleasure in life is food. a#e that away and what does he haveD he company of a socially inept! neurotic owner! and slobbery! half-witted do" and the resident flea populationL Hardly the perfect recipe for funL *arfield! a classic 4ulphur personality! lives for lasa"ne. He loves the taste of lasa"ne! he adores the way it fills the emptiness he has within him! it provides him with e%citement &will dinner be lasa"ne or cannelloniD' and i t distracts him from the boredom of his life. What is *arfield without lasa"neD $t;s his raison d;_tre.
provocative and challen"in" about the dru" scene. Blac# humour conveys the messa"e that dru" use is only for the 1stoopid2.  Alice Cooper has demonstrated immense coura"e in overcomin" his addiction within a social settin" that condones such behaviour and also in sharin" his e%perience with a broad audience. And without the help of homeopathy tooL Homeopathy may be used as an ad0unct to the treatment of dependency problems. )bviously the main stay of treatment must be on a medical  psycholo"ical level! but homeopathic treatment from a professional may assist in the deto%ification process and help with healin" the emotional issues.  Alcohol! tobacco and dru"s leave their mar# physically.
medicine+ paediatrics and neuro-linguistic programming,

5he yperactive child *arysia ratimenos e#plains how the holistic approach of homeopathy can help with severe behavioural problems $n recent years there has been an e%plosion in the number of cases of hyperactive children and those with attention deficit. )ver two million children in America are currently on medication for A3H3! that is one in every 89 children. Ciba *ei"y! who manufacture (italin! the 1dru" of choice2! would have us believe that this is due to 1hei"htened awareness2. 4ome paediatricians totally deny that the condition e%ists at all and! instead! blame the symptoms on other reasons! such as food sensitivity or environmental factors. he truth is probably a combination of both these e%treme views. We are all more aware of behavioural issues with certain children! and the boundaries between children 1playin" up2 and 1patholo"ical2 behaviour is very blurred. )iagnosis +art of the problem is that the "uidelines for ma#in" the dia"nosis of attention deficit with or without hyperactivity are ill defined and sub0ective. 4ome children with the condition are dreamy and 1away with the fairies2. )thers seem to resemble a 0uvenile Attilla the Hun. And conventional medicine lumps them all to"ether under the umbrella of A3H3L  And their treatmentD (italin! an amphetamine. 4peed. A stimulant to treat over-activity. $nadvertently! the 5aw of 4imilars! a fundamental homeopathic principle has been borrowed by the very doctors who believe it is ill o"ical and unscientific. o dia"nose A3H3 doctors use a chec#list of symptoms. he more symptoms that are tic#ed and the lon"er they have been present! the more li#ely a dia"nosis of A3H3. he symptoms are already deliciously va"ue! and then one has to consider whether they are 1maladaptive and inconsistent with the developmental level2. he criteria for inattention! hyperactivity and impulsivity are all listed separately and dependin" on the score in the three "roups one is either labelled as havin" attention deficit with or without hyperactivity and impulsive behaviour. /ost children will avoid! disli#e and be reluctant to do their homewor#! lose thin"s necessary to do the homewor# and conveniently turn a deaf ear to parents; entreaties to "et on with it! whilst cheerfully wor#in" out how to "et to the ne%t level in +o#emon. 4ound familiarD hat combination of behaviour patterns scores four points on the inattention criteriaL Accordin" to these criteria most of the children $ see in the clinic have A3H3 to "reater or lesser de"ree and $ score full mar#sL $t is little wonder that the condition is bein" dia"nosed so fre,uently. here have always been children with challen"in" behaviour! but the method of treatment and the dia"nosis is ever chan"in". 4ome of these children are very difficult todeal with from a parentin" point of view and in my opinion the parents need as much support as the children. $ often hear mothers say 1$t;s so hard to love Eohnny! $ do try but2 and as you watch the little darlin" demolish the room with the efficiency of a tornado! you are filled with understandin". +arents have a bad enou"h time dealin" with this sort of behaviour without havin" someone &who usually has no children' tellin" them it;s all their faultL here are man y ways that the parents can improve the situation! once they #now how. $t should always be born in mind that in the meantime they are doin" the best they can in a very difficult situation. Causes
Unli#e conventional medicine! homeopathy see#s to treat each child as an individual. here is no homeopathic (italin. :ach child is assessed as the uni,ue person they are. he remedy must reflect everythin" about the child. A detailed history is fundamental to the correct choice of remedy. he homeopath will as# about the health of the child and the family! the pre"nancy and delivery! early development! vaccinations! life events! schoolin"! favourite foods! drin#s to mention 0ust a few points. he more information "athered! the easier it is to find that tailor-made remedy. )ften apparently trivial information will lead to the remedy. 4ometimes a drawin" made by the child holds the #ey to the cure. $ have seen a dreamy child with so-called attention deficit paint beautiful pictures of fairies and mushrooms. he remedy that brou"ht the child bac# to :arth was A"aricus muscarius! the classic toadstool. Another child that responded to arentula drew U7);s resemblin" a spider. $n some cases the onset of the behavioural issues dates to a specific life event. Gaccines may lead to sleep disturbances and behavioural difficulties. here has been much reportin" of the possible but as yet unproven association between the //( vaccine and autism. And what is autismD $n my opinion it is the ultimate detachment from 1reality2. 3reamtime becomes the only world some of these children #now. /any of them are truly "ifted in a creative way. here are numerous e%amples of the 1idiot savant2! the autistic person who can play musical instruments with absolute "enius. Usin" homeopathy! the adverse effects of vaccines can be overcome! whilst retainin" the protection from the infectious disease. $deally! $ prefer to prepare the child for vaccination with a remedy and to space out the vaccines. $n0ectin" a two month-old baby with polio! tetanus! whoopin" cou"h! diphtheria! H$B! and now menin"itis C "erms! albeit in a modified form! is a hu"e strain on an immature immune system. Homeopathy considers every factor! from the "enetic component to specific possible causes. he aim of treatment is to stimulate healin" at the deepest level! and to allow a "entle return to health. (italin and related dru"s act by suppressin" the symptoms. )ne common complaint is that the children feel and act doped-up! and they lose the "ood side of their hyperactivity. here is a positive side! which we aim to retain with homeopathy. $t is as important to nurture the creative spirit! the ima"ination! the ener"y! and the curiosity that these children often show as it is to remove the unacceptable behaviour patterns. 4o many of these children have wonderful "ifts. Homeopathic treatment balances these ,ualities! so that the child can fulfil his or her true potential. (italin does not allo w that to happen. Bein" a chemical dru" it is sub0ect to many side effects. /any children e%perience headaches! stomach aches! hi"h blood pressure! drowsiness and blurred vision. $t has to be ta#en every four hours! and when the dru" is wearin" off the children often become even more unmana"eable. he 7ood and 3ru" Administration has shown that in animal studies (italin causes liver cancer. 7or all these reasons! $ feel it is well worth ta#in" time to e%plore other possibilities. 5oo#in" at diet! lifestyle! environment and family dynamics can well be e%tremely beneficial. +sycholo"ical support is essential for both child and parent&s'! whether this is in a formal conte%t such as Behavioural herapy or
Acrophobia  Anne (oates describes her fear of heights and Keith Souter  e#plains how ;ac felinum can help  Acrophobia! fear of hei"hts! belon"s to the "roup of disorders #nown as the specific phobias. he word is derived from the *ree#akros! meanin" 1hi"h2 and phobos! meanin" 1fear2. he thin" about specific phobias is that althou"h they can cause considerable an%iety or phobic fear! they can usually be incorporated into one;s life. $n other words! the an%iety only comes on when faced with the situation! so if one can avoid puttin" oneself in that situation! then it need not pose a "reat problem. $n fact! this is "enerall y how people deal with their phobias. hey avoid situations and live around them. Unfortunately! these specific fears often impin"e upon one;s social life and if one is to continue to avoid the situations which provo#e the fear! then a diminishin" social life is usually the conse,uence. he "ood thin"! ho wever! is that the more specific the phobia! the easier it is to treat! either with some form of

behavioural therapy or with homeopathy. $n homeopathy it is important to listen to the individual;s e%perience of a problem. /any people often mista#enly use the term verti"o to describe their fear of hei"hts. his is understandable! since the problem they e%perience is often provo#ed by hei"hts. Jet verti"o is a very specific spinnin" sensation which ma#es the individual feel that they are actually movin". 4ince it may be provo#ed by loo#in" down from a hei"ht! it is perceived to be one and the same thin" as a fear of hei"hts. his is not actually the case. Anne’s story $ can remember e%actly when $ first e%perienced acrophobia. $ had ta#en my dau"hter to the ballet at 4adler ;s Wells &pre-refurbishment' and had boo#ed my favourite seats = first row dress circle. What $ hadn;t bar"ained for was the steepness of the tierin". $ sat down and couldn;t move for fear that $ would topple over the balconyL Althou"h $ #new intellectually that this was totally improbable! $ couldn;t stop the feelin"s. $ #ept tellin" )livia not to move either and she loo#ed at me as thou"h $ had "one mad. hat day mar#ed a turnin" point. $ went from someone who loved hi"h and scary fair"round rides to someone who was often found riveted to the spot unable to move forward for fear of hei"hts. At these times my insides felt as thou"h they were "oin" to fall out = not a very pleasant feelin". )n a chair lift to the
there! yet seems rooted with fear to the branch.
&ind a "ractitioner 

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0hat is it made of6 Homeopathic medicines are made mainly from plants and minerals which are hi"hly diluted and then added to lactose tablets or pills. (ead more about how the medicines are made.

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