Kitchen Homeopathy:
Remedies Taken from Everyday Food
By Vinton McCabe Ó Vinton McCabe, 2010
Since Samuel Hahnemann, the Father of Homeopathy, created the basic homeopathic pharmacy from the herbal pharmacy of his day, it should come as no surprise that many of the most basic and most important of today’s homeopathic remedies are taken from source materials that each of us would find in our kitchen cupboard. Among these are: Allium Cepa, which is taken from the red onion, and which is among our most important remedies for those who suffer from colds and seasonal allergies; and Allium Savitum, which is made from garlic, and which is very helpful for those with colitis and/or intestinal parasites. Common vegetable have also been made into homeopathic remedies. Among these are: Asparagas Officinalis, which is made from asparagas, and which is very helpful for those with urinary troubles and their associated lower aches and pains in the region of the lower back; and Pastinaca, taken from parsnip, which helps those who are in withdrawal from alcohol or drugs. Even common parsley, which, in our century has been largely reduced to a bit of green foliage on a diner plate, when potentized into the remedy Petroselinum, is of great help to those with digestive and urinary troubles. In fact, dozens of common fruits and vegetables are part of the homeopathic pharmacy, as are common nuts, including the cashew, which, in the form of the remedy Anacardium Occidentale, is used as a medicine for those with a wide range of skin conditions, from corns and warts to ringworm and to long-lasting ulcers on the skin. (It should be noted that, historically, the nut itself was said to have healing powers for the skin and ladies who applied the juice of the nut to their skin were said to extremely youthful in their appearance. This is particularly odd in that the cashew is related to the rhus family of plants, including poison ivy and poison sumac, and those who fail to wash there hands after handling the nuts often develop an itching and burning wherever their hands touch their skin.) As a remedy, Anacardium Occidentale works wonders for those who complain of itching and burning of the skin (as does the related remedy Rhus Toxicodendron), as well as for those who have painful cracking of the skin. Seeds, as well as nuts, may also be potentized into homeopathic remedies. Pumpkin seeds, for instance, when prepared homeopathically as the remedy Cucurbita Pepo, are an excellent medicine both for those who are seasick and
for women who experience nausea during pregnancy. But by far the most important category of “kitchen” homeopathy belongs to the spices and herbs that we daily use to season our foods. A quick look at even the most basic Materia Medica—the book used by homeopaths worldwide in the study of their remedies—lists some sixteen different remedies taken from these condiments: from black pepper to cayenne and to table salt; from anise to nutmeg to cinnamon to ginger and cloves; from peppermint to spearmint; from wild thyme to sweet marjoram to sage and saffron. Even cane sugar has been shaped into a potent homeopathic remedy. Now, most of those foods listed above, especially those under the category of “herbs and spices,” are already well known for their medicinal impact on the human system. They have been part of the herbal cannon of medicines for thousands of years. But homeopathic medicine, although it comes from the same materia medica of plant substances as does herbal medicine, is not the same thing as herbal medicine. In fact, herbal medicine is categorized as allopathic medicine, and has quite the opposite effect on the human system from homeopathic medicine. Hahnemann and the Development of Homeopathy Two hundred years ago, when he was in medical school in the University of Vienna, Samuel Hahnemann noticed again and again that the patients in his clinic were actually being harmed more by the medicines that were used to treat them then they were by the ailments that had caused them to seek treatment in the first place. And it was Hahnemann’s search for a form of medicine that could have the impact of herbal medicines like belladonna or aconite, but without their toxic effects, that lead to the creation of what would ultimately be known as homeopathy. In seeking a new method of working, the first thing that Hahnemann tried was simple dilution. He took at toxic substance, like aconite, and dissolved it in water or alcohol. Those things that would not dissolve he ground with milk sugar. He then took one part of this dissolved substance, called a Mother Tincture, and mixed it with nine parts water. This he called a 1X remedy, using the Roman numeral “X” for “10” since the total mixture had ten component parts. He then took one part of the 1X and mixed it with nine parts water to make a 2X and so on. In further experimenting with his medicines, Hahnemann also developed a technique that he called Succussion. By this, he meant the mixing or shaking of the medicines after they were diluted. Thus, the process of potentizing his medicines ultimately had two parts: dilution and succussion. Over the years, Hahnemann developed different scales of dilution. He
added a “C” scale, again using a Roman numeral, this time for “100” to refer to the potency level. One part of substance was mixed with 99 parts water in order to create a remedy that was far more diluted than was the X scale. Again, this scale was continual, with the 30C remedy that can so easily today be purchased in a health food store, considered an extremely high dilution, in that it referred to thirty levels of dilution, each containing 100 parts of dilution. Therefore, the creation of the remedies by hand was a time consuming work for Hahnemann, but one that paid off very well. Because, in working with his potentization process, Hahnemann found that, as the remedies were diluted and succussed, instead of becoming weaker, as one might reasonably think that they would, they actually became stronger and stronger in their medicinal action, but contained none of the toxic dangers of the original substance. In fact, as we can prove today with modern technology, they contained none of the original substance. This disappearing of all the molecules of the original substance takes place at the level of 12X in Hahnemann’s original X scale of dilutions, and at the level of 4C in his second scale. It is at these levels that none of the original substance remains, although remedies at these levels and above still retain the full medicinal impact of the remedy. In fact, Hahnemann found, again and again, that, as he diluted and succussed his remedies, that they actually became more powerful with each level of dilution. That, as the material dose of the actual substance fell away, its echo, its life force remained and was capable of more and more impact on the human system. Therefore, the remedy at a level of 12X potency is far more powerful than is the 4X. And the 30C is more powerful in its action than is a 9C. And that same 30C would have far more impact than that 4X. Today, again thanks to modern technology, dilution has gone much further. A third scale of potency has been developed, again borrowing a Roman numeral to give it is name. The “M” scale, diluted to the 1,000s, is actually a continuation of the C scale. When you reach the 999C level of dilution, the next level is called 1M, referring to 1,000 levels of dilutions. From that point onward, dilutions are done to the 1,000 and they are called 1M, 2M and so forth. This is our highest level of dilution, and also our most powerful level of homeopathic treatment. Therefore, Hahnemann, with his potentization process created exactly what he set out to create: a pharmacy of medicines with full medicinal impact and no toxic side effects. The Philosophy of Homeopathic Treatment It was an American homeopath, James Tyler Kent, who said that
homeopathic remedies are homeopathic in two ways: in the way in which they are made and the way in which they are used. By this he refers to homeopathic philosophy--which, like the remedies themselves, was largely shaped by Samuel Hahnemann, and which determines the manner in which the remedies are used. There are specific rules--what Hahnemann called the “Three Laws of Cure”--that shape the process of homeopathic treatment. In addition to this, there is what is known as “Hering’s Law” that gives an indication to both patient and practitioner as to just how the healing process should take place. Now, Hering’s Law perhaps should not be referred to as a “law” at all. Instead, it is a description of the way in which healing most generally takes place. Hering tells us that the healing process most often moves from the inside outward (which is to say that physical manifestations of illness will usually move ultimately to the skin in the form of rashes. Should these rashes be left alone to heal and not again suppressed with allopathic treatment, then healing will be complete). In the same way, he indicates that healing most often starts at the top of the head and moves downward. That it moves from more vital organs to organs of lesser import (again, ending with the skin, which is considered, in homeopathy, to be the least “important” organ). Finally, Hering tells us that the symptoms will disappear in reverse order. In other words, the symptom that came on first will be the last to leave, and the symptom that was the last to manifest will be the first one removed. Not all healings will take place as Constantine Hering described them, but his “law” gives us a general pattern to look for in homeopathic treatment. Unlike Hering’s Law, Samuel Hahnemann’s Three Laws of cure are immutable. They are the principles that define the philosophy of homeopathy and inform its practice. The First Law of Cure is called Similar. This is the heart of homeopathy. It states that “like cures like.” But this I mean that the homeopath will, in treating a patient, give that patient a remedy whose action it is to create a group of symptoms in a healthy patient that are as similar as possible to those being experienced by the patient. In this way, the homeopath works with the symptoms and with the patient’s own “Vital Force” (think: immune system) in clearing away the symptoms of illness. By working with the patient’s symptoms in a manner that actually strengthens the patient’s ability to heal himself, all traces of the illness are completely removed and nothing is suppressed into his system. The Second Law of Cure is called Simplex. This law states that we must use only one remedy at a time. This is important because, in managing the case, it is vital to know what a remedy is capable of doing. And if more than one remedy is given at the same time, it is impossible to know what each remedy is doing. It is also
impossible to know what the combination of the two remedies might do while working in concert with each other. Only by giving a single remedy at a time can we be sure of its impact upon the case. This is not to say that more than one remedy will not be ultimately used in a given case, only that they should be given one at a time and allowed to work fully before another remedy is used to follow up. Finally, there is the Law of Minimum. This tells us that we want to use every remedy in the same way—in the lowest effective potency and the fewest number of effective doses. In other words, it is never the goal of homeopathic treatment to over-medicate the patient. Nor is it ever the goal of homeopathic treatment to “manage” diseases with open-ended treatments. It is always the goal of homeopathic treatment to work with the patient and to stoke the patient’s own Vital Force to allow his body to totally and completely heal itself. This having been said, let us look at some specific remedies taken from food substances: Remedies Taken From Food Substances Science has always had a difficult time deciding just what should be classified as “food” and what should be classified as “medicine”--in other words, just where is the line between nourishment, the function of food, and improvement, the function of medicine? Just look the words up in the dictionary, food is defined as, “any nourishing substance eaten, drunk or otherwise taken into the body to sustain life, provide energy, promote growth, etc.” Medicine is defined as “any substance used in treating disease or illness.” Therefore, food sustains life while medicine combats, as the dictionary says, disease or illness (although what the difference is between the two is, I do not know). Which makes is largely a matter of preventative medicine versus intervening medicine, and just where the line is between those two, much like food and medicine, I also don’t know. Any of us who has been alive for more than twenty years should remember the arguments on the floor of Congress over just this matter, as some Congressmen felt that it was time to control the American public’s access to so-called medicinal herbs (a list that should include garlic and onion), and others felt that, as these medicines were by and large considered to be foods and not medicines by the general public, it was best to drop the whole thing. And so it was dropped, at least for now. In homeopathy, we have no such issue with a substance being a food or a medicine, because, in the process of becoming potentized into a homeopathic
medicine, all molecules of substance ultimately fall away, leaving only the energy imprint of the substance behind, making homeopathy a form of energy medicine, as opposed to both herbal and modern chemical medicines, all of which are, by virtue of the substance used in combating disease or supporting health, to be categorized as allopathic treatments. But homeopathy comes from the same folk tradition as does Western herbal medicine, and many of the remedies available are taken from traditional herbals, many of which (like garlic and onion) have come to be considered foods that have some medicinal impact, rather than medicines that can be fully digested (sort of like an actor who sings as opposed to a singer who can act). But while homeopathy shares a common history with herbal treatments, both the manner in which the medicines are used, and the way in which the medicine acts upon the human system are dramatically different. With this in mind, let us consider some homeopathic remedies.
ALLIUM CEPA: Remedy Source: Vegetable Remedy. The remedy is made from the common onion, belonging to the natural order of Liliaceae. The common food product is found all over the planet. The remedy is made from the fresh red bulb of the vegetable. A tincture is created from either the onion bulb or the whole plant and then potentized. The plant is gathered in either July or August. The remedy Allium Cepa was created by Constantine Hering in 1847. Situations that Suggest Allium Cepa: Allergies of all sorts. Hay Fever. Seasonal Allergies. Colds. Coughs. Inner Ear Infections. Upper Respiratory Infections. Headaches. Sore Throat. Remedy Portrait: Think of how your body reacts when you slice an onion and you have the usual portrait of Allium Cepa. Your eyes are running, as is your nose. Moisture seems to run from every part of your face. Morrison says that the profuse watery discharge is “like a faucet.” Look for the patient to have to stuff Kleenex into their nose to stop the flow. With Allium Cepa colds and allergies, the water coming from the eyes is bland, that is, it does not burn or itch the eyes. They tear and tear, and the flow is very watery. The discharge from the nose, however, causes irritation. The skin around the nostrils is red and sore and, often, cracked. These are the colds in which the nose becomes so sore that you do not want to blow it. Allium Cepa is so effective when dealing with allergies that Morrison warns us that we have to be a little careful with using it. He writes that the remedy will help with allergies in up to a third of all cases for at least that season. But Morrison tells us that seasonal allergies are never truly acute situations, and that a remedy that is deeper acting and more specific to the case is usually called for in order to clear the allergies away for all time. If we are to use the Band-Aid approach with Allium Cepa, we will find that, although the allergies will grow better for one season, in the next the remedy will be of much less help. Morrison even warns that using this acute remedy for a constitutional situation can ultimately suppress the allergies into a deeper condition like asthma. But this aside, the wise use of this remedy, when the symptoms match the remedy’s action, will be a great blessing to all involved, as Allium Cepa is perhaps our most important acute remedy for persons with colds.
It is interesting to note that those needing this remedy will usually reveal themselves by the fact that they crave onions. They will refuse to eat cucumbers. Allium Cepa is helpful with headaches, especially headaches that accompany colds or allergies. The patient will tend to also have symptoms involving the eyes. The eyes will burn, will ache, will feel as if they were tearing from smoke. The patient will want to rub their eyes. The throat also has symptoms. The patient will have laryngitis. This loss of voice may or may not accompany a cold or allergies. The throat will also be sore, and the pain will be made much worse by coughing. The patient will have to grasp their throat and hold it still when they cough, in that the coughing makes them feel that they are going to tear their throat open. Keynotes: “Sore” and “raw” are the two words that best sum up the pains of Allium Cepa. In some cases, the patient’s whole body will feel raw during their cold. The allergies in Allium Cepa tend to come on every year in August. The remedy is also very useful for spring allergies, especially those that come on after damp weather, or from northeasterly winds. These allergies cause discharges from the nose that burn both the nose and the upper lip. The nose drips so much that drops of watery discharge will drop off the tip of the nose. Aggravations: There is a general aggravation from being in a warm room. Aggravation also from getting wet. The Allium Cepa patient who has a headache will find that the headache is made worse by closing his eyes. The patient is worse by having to sit still. The patient’s allergies tend to be worse in the late afternoon. The patient, however, will have a general aggravation in the evening. The patient will also be worse for eating salad, which they will not be able to digest well. The same is true for peaches. Ameliorations: There is a general amelioration when the patient is outside in open air. Even if the allergies are made worse by being outside, the patient will want to be outside. The patient is better for moving about. They will want to go outside and walk.
Dosage and Potency: This is a light, quick-acting acute remedy. A dose will last from a single day to a week. The lower potencies are most commonly used. The potency 30C is most common for the treatment of colds. Higher potencies work best in single doses, although the lower potencies may be repeated as needed. Allium Cepa in general does not take repetition too well, and should be repeated with reservations. Relationships: Allium Cepa is complementary to both Phosphorus and Pulsatilla. In cases of allergy that have been helped by Allium Cepa, Phosphorus should be considered for a constitutional remedy.
ALLIUM SATIVUM: Remedy Source: Vegetable Remedy: All-S is taken from a tincture which is created from a fresh bulb of garlic. Garlic has been used as both a medicine and a condiment since prehistoric times. As a medicine, it has been used as a treatment for worms, for fevers and for high blood pressure. As a homeopathic remedy, some of the same conditions apply. Certainly garlic, as either an herbal or homeopathic, acts to purify the human system and to eliminate pathological flora in the digestive tract. As a homeopathic, it may be used in the treatment of diverse conditions including insect stings and bites, colitis, headache and tuberculosis. Situations that suggest Allium Sativum: Asthma, Bronchitis, Colds, Cough, Sore Throat with Hoarseness; Chronic Indigestion, Colitis, Constipation, Diarrhea; Skin Rash, Ringworm; Fevers; Headaches; Diabetes; Worms and Parasites. Remedy Portrait: In the acute sphere of treatment, we often think of All-S as a remedy that is very helpful in treating those who have been bitten by insects, especially those who have not done well since they were bitten. Those who become pale and lifeless, whose Vital Force seems drained away. They will not want to walk, and feel special weakness in their legs, which they feel will not or cannot support them. These patients will also share the digestive complaints common to the remedy listed below. All-S is also a great remedy with which we can ward off insects. Those taking the remedy will be far less likely to be bitten or bothered by any insect,
especially mosquitoes and ticks. All-S also acts as a cleanser for the system and will cause the digestive tract to expel worms and parasites of all sorts. It will eliminate intestinal flora that can create symptoms of digestive distress, including colitis. (Note that garlic is also available in the form of a flower essence, a sort of “zero-potency” homeopathic, which will act as both a cleanser and an insect repellent without also having the deeper impact of the fully potentized homeopathic remedy on the human system. That essence must be used daily for at least three or four weeks in order to be effective. The potentized homeopathic form will act much more quickly in most cases.) In patients in either acute or chronic states, digestive symptoms always figure strongly in the disease picture. Look for the patient to belch frequently and to complain that the belching leaves a burning sensation in their throat and stomach. This is a patient who constantly complains of a burning sensation in the stomach, and who is very sensitive to any sensation of pressure in the area of the stomach, whether the pressure comes from too tight clothing or from human touch. A sensation of weight or pressure may also have no apparent cause and may be disruptive enough to keep the patient from sleeping. (Although the patient will become very sleepy after each meal.) As this is a remedy for colitis, look for the patient to complain of a constant, rather dull pain in the intestines. The pain is especially great during periods of constipation. The constipation alternates with sudden diarrhea, which is preceded by a sudden, cutting pain in the abdomen. The headaches of this type may accompany colitis, especially the constipation stage, and will involve a sensation of weight and/or pressure in the head, especially in the forehead. This is a patient who will regret any change in their diet, or any dietary indiscretion, no matter how small. In chronic cases involving colitis, look for gluttony on the part of the patient. The usual patient needing this remedy will have worked his way into illness through gluttony, or through constantly eating foods that disagree. For patients who eat too much meat, and who do not drink enough liquids. Keynotes: The burning belch is keynote, as is the onset of indigestion by any small change in diet. It is also keynote that the patient will not want to walk at all, as every step causes a terrible pain in the bowels. Aggravations: Worse from any change in temperature.
Worse from any sensation of weight or pressure. Worse from any change in diet. Perhaps we can sum these up with the idea that change of any sort is very difficult for this type. Also worse from movement, especially walking. Worse from overeating. Ameliorations: Better from sitting down, especially from sitting down while bent over. Dosage and Potency: All-S tends to be given in lower potencies, beginning with 6C, although 30C is perhaps most common. It may be repeated as needed. Relationships: Although Allium Sativum is related to Allium Cepa in source material, the two remedies have little in common, and are often in fact thought to be incompatible. All-S is considered compatible with Arsenicum.
LYCOPERSICUM: Remedy Source: Vegetable Remedy: The Tomato, also called the Love Apple. Full name: Solanum Lycopericum, it is native to North America. It is part of the family Solanaceae N. O., a group of plants that form the foundation of many important homeopathic remedies, several of which will be considered here. The remedy is made from a tincture of the ripe fruit. In folklore, the tomato was used in the treatment of obesity. Situations that suggest Lycopersicum: Seasonal Allergies, Sore Throat; Obesity and Gout; Headache; Back Pain, Rheumatism; Diabetes. Remedy Portrait: In acute situations, this is often used as a remedy for those with seasonal allergies. Like Allium Cepa, this is considered a basic, wideaction remedy for the symptoms of allergy, but look for those symptoms to be better when the patient is outdoors in fresh air. In that the Allium Cepa symptoms are made much worse when the patient is outside, the two remedies can be considered alternative for each other in the particular circumstances of seasonal allergy.
On a deeper level of treatment, Lycopersicum is most often used for the obese patient, one who is also very gassy. Look for the patient to suffer from flatulence in the later morning, between 10a.m. and noon. They will suffer violent belching which leaves them with the flavor of food in their mouths. Look for the patient to also complain of a burning sensation in their stomach that begins in the early evening and continues all night. This is a thirsty patient, one who wants large quantities of water. They tend toward the diseases of obesity, especially to diabetes and to gout. They have poor circulation and tend to be chilly, especially at night. Look for the evening chill to be proceeded by a great thirst for cold water. They may also be sweaty, especially when they are asleep at night, but sweat is confined only to the patient’s back. Listen for their voice to become hoarse every evening. The patient will complain of a constant tickle in their throat and will constantly clear their throat. There are also common eye symptoms: the eyes ache and feel heavy. The lids are heavy and swollen. The patient will have trouble reading, as all letters seem to run together. The patient’s eyes water as they try to read or do close work. Look for them to constantly have to wipe their eyes. Keynotes: It is keynote to the type that their thoughts seem to just suddenly disappear, they forget everything. This is particularly true if they lean their head against anything. Aggravations: The patient is worse from noise or from any motion. Ameliorations: They are better when in a warm room. Better from the application of heat. When the patient has a headache, he is better from smelling tobacco smoke. Dosage and Potency: All doses, low to high, as needed. Relationships: Lycopersicum is antidoted by the remedy Coffea and by the substances coffee and vinegar.
SOLANUM TUBEROSUM:
Remedy Source: Vegetable Remedy: Solanum Tuberosum is taken from the common potato, and is made from a tincture created from the green potato. It may also be created from a tincture taken from the berries of the potato plant, which have long been known to have toxic properties. These toxins, which are shared among the members of the Solanacaea family, including Dulcamara have been isolated in the creation of a separate but related remedy called Solanium, which is used in cases of symptoms including fever with shivering chills, vomiting and convulsions. It is keynote that the patient’s skin is tinged yellow. It should be noted that the remedies within the Solanum family are all rather small remedies, with Solanium being the dominant remedy of choice. While this is a related remedy, its use is somewhat different. Situations that suggest Solanum Tuberosum: Cramps; Stammering; Colic. Remedy Portrait: This remedy is often used for cases involving cramps, especially cramps in the calves, or in the fingers and thumbs. Cramps may also involve the tongue, which the patient will find to be heavy, and will have difficulty in moving, especially in order to speak. Therefore, the patient will have indistinct and slurred speech. Some needing the remedy will have such difficulty that they will refuse to speak at all. The picture of the remedy also includes dilated pupils. The patient will complain that their vision is blurred, that they cannot make things out. The patient’s eyes tend to stare and the eyes seem sunken in their sockets. This is a patient who tosses about a good bit in bed, although they are weak and tend to feel faint when they rise up out of bed. Their respiration is shallow and quick. Keynotes: The patient will have a good deal of frothy, rather thick phlegm in their mouth. They tend to have so much saliva that they spit when they speak. Aggravations: from lying still and from rising up. Ameliorations: from rest, from breathing slowly, from loose clothing Dosage and Potency: Used in all potencies, repeated as needed.
Relationships: Complementary to Solaninium and other related remedies, especially Dulcamara. Also complementary with Mercurius, especially in cases of slurred speech. Note on the Solanaceae Family of Remedies: As has already been stated, there are several remedies in this group, all of which share a common toxin. In fact, it could be argued that more remedies are made from this group of plants than from any other. (Certainly Compositae—a remedy group containing Arnica, Eupatorium, and Chamomilla, among others—is the only other group that comes close.) Among the remedies in this group are:
SOLANUM CAROLINENSE (Horse Nettle): which was first considered a remedy for epilepsy, and has since been used as a remedy for different cases involving convulsions of all sorts, including whooping cough. SOLANUM MAMMOSUM (Apple of Sodom): is used in cases involving stupor, sleepiness without the ability to sleep and an ongoing sense of unease during which the patient is unable to keep still or quiet. SOLANUM NIGRUM (Black Nightshade): which was used topically as an herbal treatment for inflammations, has been used homeopathically for cases involving headache which is accompanied by giddiness and sleepiness. Also for skin conditions, including burns and ulcers, which mirrors the herbal application. While the folk name for the plant suggests some relationship to Belladonna, which belongs to the same family of plants, there is, in fact, very little in terms of homeopathic use. SOLANUM TUBEROSUM AEGROTANS (Rotten Potato): taken from a plant with “potato murrain,” which is characterized by an infestation of peronospora on the leaves. The tubers will have brown spots as well. This remedy was actually created by Mure during the great potato famine in Ireland in 1846. He created the remedy from the whole potato. In keeping with the homeopathic adage that, “the stronger the poison, the stronger the cure,” this remedy is actually a more vital tool for healing than is the remedy taken from a healthy potato. It is used for the same sort of symptom picture--combining digestive,
eliminative and exhaustive symptoms--that Solanium is used to treat. DULCAMARA (Woody Nightshade): An excellent remedy that for patients who cannot bear cold and damp. While this symptom appears in many different remedies of this type, it is utterly central here. This remedy is often needed by those who cannot bear the time of year in autumn when days are warm and nights chilly and damp. It is an excellent remedy for hay fevers, colds and rheumatic pains that occur at this time of year. Other remedies in this group: Capsicum, Hyoscyamus, Stramonium and Tabacum.
APIUM GRAVEOLENS: Remedy Source: Vegetable Remedy: This wonderful little remedy is made from common celery. As a folk remedy, the substance was used in a couple of different ways. The root was injested by those who were retaining urine. It was also said to be useful for those who tended to fidget, who could not keep still. The seeds were known to have the ability to creating heartburn and belching that tasted of celery. They were said to also induce vomiting. Situations that suggest Apium Graveolens: Heartburn, Queasy Stomach; Retention of Urine; Headache; Post Nasal Drip; Fidgets; Toothache. Remedy Portrait: This is one of the remedies that pretty much mirror the herbal remedy in terms of symptoms and usage. The patient needing this remedy will tend to have headaches that are accompanied by heartburn. Look for swelling of the hands and throat as well. Pain in the area of the stomach often alternates with a skin rash, which is very itchy--and which also have a stinging sensation--and changes location on the skin frequently. Pain and pressure in the stomach will precede the rash, and will disappear as soon as the rash appears. The patient will crave either apples or oranges. May also crave oatmeal. Consider this remedy for toothache that is located in the left molars and which is made better by holding cold water in the mouth. Keynotes: The patient alternates between lethargy and energetic
behavior. At times, they may feel both at once, and become very fidgety as they emotionally are dull and depressed by are physically very hyperactive. This is a remedy that contains a unique picture of sleeplessness. The patient has sleep that does not refresh, he awakens from 1 until 3 every morning, yet is not tired in the morning from his lack of sleep. Aggravations: Aches and pains are worse if the patient lies down. Ameliorations: Most symptoms are made better by eating, especially headache. Insomnia, however, is not improved by eating. Dosage and Potency: All potencies used as needed. Relationships: none found.
Remedies Taken From Herbs And Spices: Here we have a very long medicinal history. Most of the substances included here, such things as cayenne pepper, ginger and parsley, have all been used historically as medicines. And when potentized and added to the homeopathic pharmacy, they prove to be valuable healing tools.
NATRUM MURIATICUM: Remedy Source: Mineral Remedy: Natrum Muriaticum is made from sodium chloride, or regular table salt. Because this chemical compound is so common to our environment and is, indeed, a natural part of our own bodies, the remedy taken from it is one of our most benign and curative. This is one of the most important remedies for both acute and chronic conditions. Natrum Muriaticum is one of Samuel Hahnemann’s first remedies. Situations that Suggest Natrum Muriaticum: Emotional Distress: Grief. Suicidal States. Depression. Also: Sexual Dysfunction. Allergies and Chemical Sensitivities of all sorts: Environmental Illness, Chronic Fatigue. Hay Fever and Rhinitis. Asthma. Also: Herpes and Aphthae. Contagious Diseases: Cold and Flus, Sore Throat, Fever and Fevers of Unknown Origins. Whooping Cough.
Digestive Disorders: Dyspepsia, Gastritis, Constipation, Colitis, Ulcer. Hemorrhoids. Obesity. Edema. Goiter and Grave’s Disease. Addison’s Disease. Joint and Muscle Pain: Low Back Pain. Sciatica. Painful Conditions of the Spine. Skin Conditions: Eczema and Psoriasis. Rash. Ringworm and Warts. Eye Troubles: Myopia, Eyestrain. Headaches and Migraine. Heart Disorders: Arrhythmia and Hypertension. Varicose Veins. Anemia. Remedy Portrait: Among the many uses for Natrum Mur are cases that involve fever, especially intermittent fever; hay fever and colds--Natrum Mur is one of our best remedies for colds that begin with sneezing; headache, especially chronic migraines and headaches that come on from studying and overwork; and digestive ailments that can be traced of an overuse of salt. Among the many chronic conditions for which Natrum Mur is a frequently indicated remedy are thyroid problems, especially hyperthyoridism and diabetes. Natrum Mur is a grief remedy. It is often considered to be the chronic equivalent of Ignatia. When patients cannot remain at the emotional pitch of Ignatia, they tend to evolve, over time, into the more stoic emotional plateau of Ignatia. It is keynote of Natrum Mur that, when faced with any pain, emotional or physical, the patient will want to just go and lie down on their bed. They will want to be left alone, and they will not want to be consoled by anyone else--this, in fact, is the single worst thing that anyone can do. Keep this in mind as we take a look at the acute and home uses for Natrum Mur. This is perhaps the single most useful remedy for colds and for hay fever. Consider this remedy whenever either condition comes on with sneezing as the first symptom. The patient will then experience a flow of mucus from the nose that is like raw egg white in consistancy--clear and somewhat thick. In a cold, this flow will last for one to three days, in hay fever, it may last a good bit longer. The patient will have violent attacks of sneezing. Patients will complain that the inside of their nose hurts, that their nose feels overused and tender. They do not want to touch it or blow it, but the mucus just keeps on flowing. The patient will lose all sense of smell. Listen for them to have the nasal voice of a patient whose nose is entirely blocked. They will be unable to breathe through their nose at all. As the cold or allergy continues, patients will complain of a cough. This cough will seem to come out of the pit of their stomach. The patient will complain of a tickling in the pit of their stomach that makes them feel that they have to cough. The coughing will bring on an increase of all of the patient’s aches and pain. Patients will complain that their head aches when they cough. They will complain of pains in their abdomen when they cough. This is a remedy that should be considered in all cases of
whooping cough in which the patient’s eyes stream with tears as the patient coughs. The eyes give many indications of the remedy. The patient will say that their eyes feel weak and bruised. This is a remedy for those whose eyes feel tired from overwork. For those whose eyes feel weak after they read too much. Look for the patient’s eyes to tear and for their eyes to smart from tearing. Look for the patient’s eyelids to be swollen. Look for the patient to complain that their sense of vision is diminished. The patient will feel that they cannot bear to look when they are outdoors in the bright sunshine. They will have pain in their eyes when they are looking downward. They may say that they see firey halos around all objects. The patient will also complain that they have lost their sense of taste as well. Look to the patient’s tongue as an indicator of the remedy. Their tongue will have a frothy coating, and will have small bubbles on the sides. The patient will complain that their mouth and throat feel dry. They will say that they have a sensation of numbness in their mouth, particularly in their tongue. This numbness may extend to the patient’s lips and even to their nose. Look for the patient’s lips to be dry. It is keynote of this remedy that the middle of the patient’s lower lip will be cracked. The Natrum Mur patient will be very thirsty. They are among the thirstiest patients. They will want cold water. This symptom is so strong that its absence will counter-indicate the remedy. The patient will crave salt. They will not want baked things, especially bread. They will be repulsed by anything that they consider to be fatty or slimy. This is an excellent remedy to consider in cases of simple indigestion and hear burn. The patient will be hungry, and yet will not be sure if they want to eat. They will still be thirsty. They will complain of a throbbing pain in the pit of their stomach. They may experience a cutting pain all across their abdomen. Consider this remedy for patient’s who are chronically given to constipation or to diarrhea or to both in alternation. Consider this remedy for those who are given to constipation in which the stool is dry and crumbling in nature, but who, from time to time experience a sudden pinching pain in their abdomen that drives them into the bathroom. This will be followed by a sudden, painless bout of diarrhea. They will at this time have a large evacuation, which will again be followed by a period of constipation. In the same way, Natrum Mur should be considered for the woman who experience an irregular period. The patient will experience a bearing-down pain before her period. And that period will mirror the symptoms of elimination: sometimes scanty, with other flows being profuse. The patient will feel hot during the flow of the period. This is an excellent remedy for patients with acute or chronic back pain.
Think of this remedy for those who want to go and lie down when they have back pain. The patient will want to lie on something very firm, perhaps on the floor. They may feel a numbness that extends from their back into their arms or lower extremities. Also consider Natrum Mur for the patient who experiences cracking in all their joints when they move. Who experiences weakness in their legs, especially in their knees. Also for the patient who has a chronic weakness in the knees or ankles. Consider this for the patient who has injured their ankles or knees in the past and now has a chronic tendency to re-injure the joint. The patient will complain that their legs are cold, but that their head and chest feels congested and hot. Look at the patient’s skin and hair for an indication of the remedy. The patient will have skin that is greasy. Their hair will be oily. This is perhaps the most important remedy that we have for those with fever blisters, especially fever blisters that accompany a cold. Think of this remedy for cases of eczema in which the skin is raw, red and inflamed. Also look at the patient’s hands for an indication of the remedy. Consider Natrum Mur for the patient who has warts on their hands. Especially on the palms of the hands. Look for the patient’s hands to be hot and sweaty. Keynotes: Look for the symptoms of Natrum Mur to always follow the sun. As the sun rises over the horizon, the symptoms begin. This is certainly true of the headaches common to the remedy, which will come on while the patient is in bed in the morning. If the Natrum Mur patient is moving into a migraine, she will know it upon awakening. The symptoms will grow worse as the sun rises in the sky. The patient will begin to feel better as the sun begins to set. By evening, she will be much improved. In the same way, the Natrum Mur patient is worse for sunshine and better for lying down in a dark and quiet room. The Natrum Mur patient wants to be alone. They do not wish to be consoled. Often this will be an irritable patient, who will fly into tantrums over nothing. The Natrum Mur will also often be a weepy patient, who will cry for no apparent reason. Look for the patient’s face to be shiny and oily, it will look as if it has been greased. Look for a general loss of taste and smell. Look for a crack in the middle of the lower lip. Also herpes on the lips are very common. This is a major remedy for herpes. The patient will be very thirsty for cold water. They will also crave salt.
The Natrum Mur patient will be averse to bread and to any food that they consider “slimy.” Most often, this will include oysters. The Natrum Mur patient will sweat while eating. Aggravations: Look for a general aggravation of all symptoms from 10 until 11 a.m. The Natrum Mur patient will also be aggravated at the sea shore or from sea air. They will also, however, crave the sea and desire to go there. There is a general aggravation also from the sun and from sitting out in the heat of the sun. The Natrum Mur will also be aggravated by any mental exertion. And, although the patient is weepy, there is an aggravation from crying. Amelioration: The Natrum Mur will be improved by open air. They are also made better from cold bathing. They are further improved by skipping regular meals and by lying on the right side. Dosage and Potency: This is another remedy that was adopted by Schuessler in his cell salts. He gave the remedy in 6C potency. But homeopaths make use of Natrum Mur in all potencies, from the very lowest to the highest. Many used this wonderful remedy in 30C, and find that potencies lower than this are not as effective. The low potencies are given as needed. Higher potencies are given in the single dose, and, if they need to be repeated, will work best if another remedy is given before the Natrum Mur is repeated. One dose of Natrum Mur will hold for up to 6 weeks. Relationships: Natrum Mur is complementary in action both to Apis and to Ignatia. In fact, Natrum Mur can often be considered to be the constitutional equivalent of Ignatia. Both Ignatia and Apis should be given before Natrum Mur.
PIPER NIGRUM: Remedy Source: Vegetable Remedy: This remedy is taken from black pepper, from a tincture created from the dried peppercorns, to be exact. The plant is from the Natural Order Piperaceae. The plants are tropical climbing shrubs. The fruit of the shrub is
considered ripe when it is red. It is gathered before it is fully ripened and is then spread on mats in the bright sunshine. The peppercorn then loses its red color and becomes black and shriveled. Note that white pepper is taken from the same plant, but, in this case, the outer skin of the peppercorn is removed by maceration in water and by subsequent rubbings. Situations that Suggest Piper Nigrum: Headache. Toothache, tooth decay. Irregular periods in women, uterine cramps. Constipation. Remedy Portrait: This patient is usually one who is sad and apprehensive. They lack the ability to concentrate and are easily startled. They are startled by any noise. They often exhibit the unusual fear that they are being poisoned. Look for this patient to complain of the sensations of burning and pressure in their body. It may occur anywhere in the body, but is commonly worse on the left side. It will also be worse in the head, as this is an important headache remedy. This is a full, heavy headache that is accompanied by a sensation of burning along with the pain. A leading homeopath of more than a century ago, Clarke, noted that he had personal experience of this headache, in that he would get a headache every time he ate highly peppered foods. Those headaches would lift with a dose of this remedy. He said that his head felt heavy with this headache, and he also felt as if his temples were being pressed in, as well as pressure in the nasal and facial bones. The patient's face will often be bright red during the headache. They will be very thirsty and will have dry lips and mouth. (Those chronically needing this remedy will most likely have cracked lips that are very dry.) Women will often require this remedy for irregular periods. Their period will be difficult and capricious, with severe cramping and a flow that is either too lacking or too heavy. Other conditions that are common to the Piper type include heart conditions with palpitations and irregular pulse. Also those who chronically feel a burning sensation during urination. Burning in bladder and urethra. Commonly, the patient feels that his bladder is full, and even swollen. He has the strong urge to urinate, but is not able to. Note that is this also a common cough remedy, especially in cases when the patient has severe bouts of coughing when he tries to go to sleep. Coughing is very violent. The patient may even cough up blood. This is a loose, croupy and hollow kind of cough. The patient may also have bouts of suffocation, especially on
going to sleep. Keynotes: Diet is commonly the keynote. This is a very thirsty patient who loves and craves rich and extravagant foods. They love spicy--especially, peppery--foods, which do not agree with them. Look for all symptoms of all sorts to be aggravated by the patient eating spicy things. Aggravations: Worse from spicy or too-rich foods. Worse when the weather drops in the evening, especially during damp or wet weather. Worse from motion. Ameliorations: Better from rest. Potency and Dosage: Piper Nigrum works best in low potency, and may be repeated as needed. It will usually need to be repeated fairly often in chronic cases. Relationships: There are no remedies that are not compatible to Piper Nigrum, nor any the work particularly well with the remedy.
CAPSICUM: Remedy Source: Vegetable Remedy: Capsicum Annum is also known as Cayenne Pepper. It belongs to the family of Solanaceae, which makes it a relative of the potato and tomato, which were considered previously. The plant is native to South America and the West Indies. The remedy is created from the pods of the plant. In that the source plant is taken from Solanaceae N. O., this remedy in its use and action, belongs along side such other remedies as Belladonna, Stramonium, Hyosamus and Dulcamara, as well as those taken from the potato and tomato. Because of the rather fixed topic explored in these pages, I have placed the remedy here. Situations that suggest Capsicum: Aches and Pains, Neuralgia, Rheumatism and Rheumatic Pains, Sciatica; Coughs, Asthma, Whooping Cough; Diarrhea, Dysentery, Heartburn; Obesity; Measles; Fevers; Homesickness; Delirium Tremens.
Remedy Portrait: Think of cayenne and you have the indications for the remedy. Burning pains that occur anywhere in the body. It may be considered the remedy of choice in all cases involving burning pains, even if they lack any other the other characteristics of the remedy, as long as those burning pains are made worse if the patient makes the mistake of dowsing those burning parts with cold water, which will greatly aggravate any Capsicum case. As this is a rheumatic remedy, the patient will greatly react to cold and damp, but especially to cold. They are terrified of getting cold, because that translates into pain for them. In fact, this whole remedy picture combines the redness of the original pepper with coldness. Burning combines with coldness. Redness with coldness. The patient’s face will be both red and cold (a unique combination among homeopathic remedies.) The pains tend to run along the nerves of the body, especially in the legs. Pain will run from hip to foot and will be worse if the patient coughs (and, as this is a cough and whooping cough remedy, that can be likely). They left leg is particularly likely to be affected. The left leg may be so painful that the patient limps when he walks, or even staggers as if drunk. Drunkenness runs through this remedy as well. The patient may seem drunk, both in action and in behavior. And it should be remembered as an important remedy for those who suffer withdrawal from alcohol. Mentally, this is a patient experiences many changes of mood, who may be singing one moment and angry the next. They seem vague and confused as well. Often, they very much want to be left alone. The mental symptom that is most common is home-sickness. The patient will also be sleepless and will tend to have a bright red face when homesick. They will be sentimental and very emotional. Those chronically needing this remedy will tend to have poor muscle tone. They are said to be “weak, lazy, indolent, fat, red, clumsy, awkward and of unclean habits.” Certainly this is a mouthful, but those who need this remedy constitutionally tend to be those who do not exercise, and who have exhausted their energy, leaving them disinclined to perform any physical or mental labor. They tend to have troubles when they become cold, and they are usually fearful of getting cold. The remedy also acts with great strength on all the mucous membranes of the body. It also acts on hard tissue and bones. Keynotes: This is a patient who shudders. They shudder when in pain or in the open air. They will avoid cold air above all else. Burning, however, is the most important keynote, a burning pain that is
made worse by cold. Aggravations: Worse from drinking, especially cold things. Worse also from empty swallowing. Worse especially from becoming cold, from open air, from any draft. Even a warm draft will aggravate symptoms. Worse from bathing or from becoming wet. Worse during damp weather. Worse from motion in times of headache, it makes the patient think that his head will split. Amelioratons: Better from continued, very gentle motion. Better while eating. Better from warmth in general. Potency and Dosage: One dose is said to act for a week. It is commonly used in potencies up to 200C. It may be repeated as needed. Relationships: Capsicum is most compatible with Belladonna, which is taken from a related plant source. Belladonna acts especially well when used before Capsicum. Other remedies that precede well include: Lycopodium, Pulsatilla, and Silica. The remedy Chinchona follows well. Sulphur and Chinchona antidote Capsicum.
ZINGIBER OFFICINALE: Remedy Source: Vegetable Remedy: The remedy is taken from ginger and is created from a tincture of the dried rhizome. As a spice, and as is common to spices, ginger has a distinctive action on the digestive organs. It can cause symptoms associated with indigestion, including flatulence and pressure in the region of the abdomen. As a homeopathic, it speaks to these symptoms when they re naturally occurring. Situations that suggest Zingiber: Digestive Disorders, Bad Breath; Diarrhea, Intestinal Colic; Retention of Urine; Food Poisoning; Asthma; Anxiety and Nervous Disposition.
Remedy Portrait: The action of the remedy impacts especially upon the urinary and respiratory organs. Symptoms can come on after eating bad food or drinking impure water, from eating melon or bread. In the urinary sphere, the patient will complain of a dull ache in the region of the kidneys, and a frequent desire to urinate. Urination produces a sharp, stinging pain. Urine continues to drip and burn after urination complete. Look for a great increase of urine, or almost a complete cessation of urination. Urine may be thick and dark in color, almost brown in color. In the respiratory sphere, the patient will also have pain on breathing. Asthma. The patient’s throat feels scraped, chest aches on breathing. There is also commonly a chronic cough that produces phlegm in the morning but is dry the rest of the day. As with the spice, the remedy is helpful for a wide range of digestive symptoms: for diarrhea, and for nausea especially. The patient has a reduced digestion, the patient says that it feels as if there is a stone in their stomach. The patient reports rumbling in the stomach as well. The patient may be chilly or hot, or the two may alternate. Commonly, the patient says that he feels hot and cold, both at the same time. Look for nausea especially to combine with the sensation of hot and cold combined. Keynotes: This odd combination of hot and cold is keynote, as is the fact that the patient needing this remedy tends to have diarrhea after drinking warm water. The odd sensation that the patient’s own head is too large for his body is also keynote. Aggravations: Worse from being touched. Worse from pressure of any kind. Worse when lying down. Worse also from any motion, especially upon rising. Worse from laughing or talking. Ameliorations: Better when sitting or standing. Better when uncovered. Potency and Dosage: This remedy tends to be given frequently in low potency doses. It is a quick acting remedy, whose actions fade fairly quickly as well. Potencies up to 30C are most common, starting with the 6C and 9C potencies. All
potencies, however, may be used. Relationships: This remedy is most compatible with Sulphur. It is antidoted by Nux Vomica.
PETROSELINUM: Remedy Source: Vegetable Remedy: Taken from Pretroselinum Sativum, common parsley. A tincture is made from the whole plant in the spring when the plant is first in flower. This tincture is potentized into the homeopathic form. This remedy was used by Hahnemann himself, who considered it an important remedy for those with gonorrhea, when the patient experiences a frequent desire to urinate. As a folk remedy, it was also used in herbal form to combat gonorrhea. For this, it was used in the form of parsley tea. Parsley was eaten after meals because it acted as a solvent for uric acid in the system and promoted urination. Parsley tea was also a Scottish remedy for those with chronic urinary and bladder diseases. Parsley and butter were also combined together and used as a topical treatment for bruises. Situations that suggest Petroselinum: Gonorrhea; Cystisis, Retention of Urine; Fevers; Night Blindness. Remedy Portrait: Most of the symptoms for the remedy occur in the region of the kidneys. There will be a sudden urge to urinate. Often, this urge is fruitless. Patient may feel the need to urinate every half hour. If they do not attempt to urinate, the patient may feel sudden pain in the region of the kidney. In cases of gonorrhea, the patient feels intense itching in the urethra. Discharge will be of milky white or yellow fluid. Look for the orifice of the urethra to be agglutinated with mucus. Keynotes: Sudden desire to urinate. Painful urination, but also pain if the patient does not urinate. Bethmann, who created the remedy, found some 36 distinct symptoms in the genito-urinary tract, making it a very specific remedy.
Also considered an excellent remedy for babies who have trouble with urination, especially when accompanied by fevers. Dosage and Potency:
All potencies, especially low potencies, as
needed. Relationships: Most similar in action with other gonorrheal remedies, such as Mercurius, although it has pains in common with Causticum and Aconite.
Other Remedies From Herbs And Spices: ORIGANUM (Sweet Marjoram): has a strong impact on the female sex organs. It also impacts the breasts. It is considered a major homeopathic remedy for nymphomania. SALVIA OFFICINALIS (Sage): The herb is said to increase all the senses and mental acuity. Improve memory. As a homeopathic it is considered a remedy for those with depression. Used as a homeopathic it is most often associated with coughs, especially dry coughs that are of a tickling nature. These coughs are often associated with night sweats and fever. ROSMARINUS OFFICINALE (Rosemary): This is a small remedy that is most often used by female patients who experience pain during and after miscarriage, with fainting spells, spasms of pain in the chest, cold hands and feet, and a weak and irregular heartbeat. The patient also usually experiences a headache, with sensations of weight in the head. The patient experiences memory loss and depression. THYMUS SERPHLLUM (WildThyme): is an excellent small remedy for those with respiratory infections, whooping cough and asthma. It is keynote that all these conditions are dry in nature, with no expectoration. The patient will also experience ringing in the ears and a sensation of pressure in their head. This is a remedy most often used with patients who are children. PIMENTA (Allspice): Is an excellent small pain remedy. It is especially effect in pain that runs along the nerves of the body. Pimenta is especially useful in one-sided neuralgia, in which some parts of the body are hot while other parts are very cold. CINNAMONUM (Cinnamon): This spice is considered a powerful homeopathic remedy for those with cancer, especially uterine cancer. In female patients, it is also a remedy associated with morning sickness during pregnancy (it is an excellent remedy for nausea in general). It is also an excellent remedy for women who bleed excessively during their period. In Conclusion In the study of homeopathy and its pharmacy of remedies it is important
to remember that, in the search for new remedies, by Hahnemann and by those who have followed him, nothing has been overlooked. Sometimes the most benign substances, salt being perhaps the best example, yield amazing results and become powerful remedies. But most often, it is the remedies taken from toxic substances, including poisonous plants, that yield the most powerful tools for healing. But that is a story for another day.
About Vinton McCabe Vinton McCabe has studied homeopathy for the past thirty years, and served as the president of the Connecticut Homeopathic Association from the establishment of that non-profit organization in 1985 until his move to rural Connecticut in the year 2000. As the chief educator for that organization, he has been responsible for training thousands of lay persons and medical professionals alike in the basics of homeopathic philosophy and in the proper uses of homeopathic remedies. In addition, McCabe has served on the faculty both of the Open Center of Manhattan and the Wainwright House of Rye, New York as a homeopathic educator. He also taught homeopathy at the Learning Annex, the Omega Institute, the New York Botanical Garden and the Seminar Center in Manhattan. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Hudson Valley School for Classical Homeopathy, for whom he also developed educational materials. He has appeared nationally as an advocate for alternative health care on such programs as “The Gary Null Show.” He also traveled throughout the United States, teaching courses in homeopathic philosophy and the uses of homeopathic and Bach Flower remedies. In the early days of the Internet, he hosted a popular site dedicated to homeopathy and related subjects at Simile.org. McCabe has worked with medical professionals, including acupuncturists, naturopaths and chiropractors, as a homeopathic consultant. He also is a trained vision therapist, and practiced vision therapy for seven years (1993-2000) at the Rye Learning Center in Rye, New York. In addition to his work in vision therapy and homeopathy, Vinton McCabe has won awards for his journalism, as well as for poetry and theatrical writing. He is a published novelist. Recently, he was awarded an individual artist grant by the Connecticut Commission on the Arts for the creation of his first full-length drama, “Appassionata”. In 1990, he was given the Dewar’s Young Artist award in poetry. Vinton McCabe has also worked as a producer, a writer and a host in both television and radio. He was producer and host of the PBS series Artsweek, and creator and Executive Producer of Healthplan, an award-winning health care special produced by Connecticut Public Television. On radio, he has acted as a film and theater critic and hosted his own daily talk show. As a print journalist, Vinton McCabe has done features work for many weekly and daily papers, as well as monthly publications, including New England Monthly, The Stamford Advocate and The New York Times. He acted as Arts Editor both for the Fairfield County Advocate in Connecticut and for Corpus Christi Magazine in Texas. Vinton McCabe credits much of his understanding of the healing process (and his insistence that the quest for healing is far more important to patients than is any attempt at curing disease), as well as his background in electronic and print journalism to the time he spent with evangelist and faith healer Oral Roberts. McCabe is a 1976 graduate of Oral Roberts University. After graduation, he went on to become Roberts’ head writer for his television show “Oral Roberts and You.” Says McCabe of the experience, “you can only watch so many people getting up out of wheelchairs and running around to come to the conclusion that we have a far greater capacity for healing than we ever suspect. That search for healing ultimately lead me to homeopathy.” He lives in Litchfield County, Connecticut.
Books by Vinton McCabe (All Books Available at Amazon.com): Let Like Cure Like (released in paperback with the title Homeopathy, Healing & You in 1998), published by St. Martin’s Press (1997). Practical Homeopathy, published by St. Martin’s Press (2000). Greater Vision, Co-authored by Dr. Marc Grossman, published by Keats Publishing/McGraw Hill (2002). Household Homeopathy, published by Basic Health Books (2005). The Healing Enigma: Demystifying Homeopathy, published by Basic Health Books (2007). The Healing Bouquet: Exploring Bach Flower Remedies, to be published by Basic Health Books in January 2008. The Healing Echo: Discovering Cells Salt Remedies, to be published by Basic Health Books in January 2009.
