Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Natural Remedies: Homeopathy

I had heard of homeopathy in the past, but didn’t quite know what it was until Soleil was incredibly ill around the age of 12 months. She was vomiting after every meal for a week. We took her to Dr. Hoe Mark (an excellent homeopath in Saskatoon) and told him her symptoms. He asked a dozen questions related to her health history and then he gave us a homeopathic to give her. Most health food stores have a section of homeopathic remedies. You can get them in spray liquid or dissolvable tablets, depending on what its for. This particular one was a liquid spray. Within 20 minutes of giving her a couple sprays, she stopped vomiting and the rest of her symptoms began to disappear within 24 hours.
 
I was curious as to how homeopathy worked and came across a fantastic book from the library entitled, Practical Homeopathy, by Sylvia Treacher. The book covers what homeopathy is, how it works and has an easy to read reference chart of ailments and the best remedies to treat them. The book also includes an explanation on how to make remedies, what ‘dosages’ mean in terms of homeopathy and it has an illustration of how to make your own tinctures. Below are some highlights from Sylvia Treacher's book.
 
Highlights about Homeopathy:
Ø Homeopathic remedies can be purchased in tablets (dissolve on the tongue), powders or tinctures.
Ø There are No side effects
Ø Homeopathic medicine follow the principle; Like cures like or the Law of Similars
Ø Homeopathic remedies stimulate the body’s own healing mechanism
Ø The remedies are made mostly from plants and minerals
Ø They discovered how to use the remedies by testing healthy volunteers. The remedy being tested or ‘proved’ is given in repeated doses to people until symptoms arise. Symptoms that arise are recorded in detail. It is not necessary to match all symptoms of a remedy.
Ø Homeopaths usually give 1 remedy at a time.
Ø Homeopaths take into consideration mental, emotional and physical state, including habitual thought patterns that can create illness
Ø The belief behind homeopathics is that if health is to be restored, symptoms need to be welcomed rather than ignored or supressed in some way. Symptoms represent the body’s way of healing itself and are saying something is out of balance.
 
Homeopathics we keep in the medicine chest:
Ø Chamomilla: (made from German chamomile) - helps calm, especially when teething and it works within 15 mins!
Ø Arnica: bleeding, bruising or swelling
Ø Nat mur: Decreases mucus/phlegm.
Ø Cina: can’t sleep do to nervousness/stress
Ø Belladona: calming
Ø Pulsitilla: infections
Ø Streptococcinum: sore throat
 
Below is a list of other various natural remedies we use:
Ø Ionic Silver: natural antiseptic topically or taken orally
Ø Oil of oregano or lemon: put in tea for sore throat
Ø Raw garlic cloves in soup, on toast: relieves sore throats, immune booster when getting a cold, better for your body when its minced
Ø Red Clover Blend: circulatory system support
Ø Peppermint tea or Tiger Balm: headaches
Ø Rescue Remedy: release stress
Ø Fresh Lavender in pillow cases: help get deeper sleep
Ø Asea (not Acai): balancing post natal hormones, getting deeper, more restful sleeps, healing wounds quicker, and having more balanced energy.
Ø Aromatherapy: eucalyptus/colds, peppermint/headaches, bergamot or patchouli/grounding
 
From what I’ve researched and from taking them personally, natural remedies absorb into our bodies quicker and are more effective than synthetic medicines. I also find that the symptoms are gone almost instantly and the price isn’t that much different that over the counter products.
Most of the information can be found in Practical Homeopathy, by Sylvia Treacher. I’ve also included a link below that I also found helpful in learning more about homeopathy and another one with great information on various herbs and their benefits.
 
 

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