HOMEOPATHY
Homeopathy is a system of medicine which is based on treating the individual with highly diluted substances given in mainly tablet form, which gently triggers the body's natural system of healing.
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I was relieved to find a cure for my hayfever which previously took over my life from May to September - a constantly streaming nose is not a good look! I now take 'Luffa Complex', and they're small and dissolve on the tongue - much better than trying to swallow a large pill. There are no side effects, so they don't make me drowsy as some antihistamines do, and I can continue to drive safely. |
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I can also recommend Oats Avena Sativa if you need help to sleep. We all have periods where our routines are disrupted, and this exerts a gentle sedative action on the nervous system.
Avena Sativa contains high amounts of vitamin B, minerals and other nutrients necessary for the proper functioning of the nervous system. Research carried out by two Edinburgh physicians, using the EEG to assess sleep quality, has shown that those using Avena Sativa had a quieter sleep than those in the control group. |
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His informative books are a good place to learn more. 'How To Live A Healthy Life' asks why is the health of such a high proportion of people in the Western world in such shoddy shape? According to exponents of homeopathy, it's because we're out of tune with nature. And in nature, everything must be in balance.
As well as recommending remedies and diets designed to repair damage, Vries also explains how we can prevent and reduce the risk of sickness in the first place. This book offers sound holistic advice on how to maintain a healthy mind, body and soul.
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See the links page for contact details for practioners of Homeopathy. The time they spend on selecting treatments for your individual needs is invaluable, and their style couldn't be further away from the 10 minutes you're lucky to get at your GP's surgery.
Mary-Jane Sharratt also offers Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Technique (N.A.E.T.) which is a highly effective allergy treatment.
Keith Smeaton has been accepted onto the Register of the Society of Homeopaths (R.S.Hom), and has been a qualified homeopath for over 20 years. He's also trained in nutrition and counselling for an integrated approach.
Many thanks to Mary-Jane Sharratt for sharing her years of experience with these articles:
Natural treatments for hayfever
By Mary-Jane
Sharratt of Sussex Homeopathy
http://www.sussexhomeopathy.co.uk
For some, hayfever is merely an inconvenience, but for severe sufferers the symptoms can be quite debilitating.
Conventional treatment is usually the use of anti-histamines, which are commonly available over the counter from pharmacies. The main drawback with many anti-histamines is that they can make you drowsy - not much good if you are trying to work or are sitting exams.
Who suffers from hayfever?
Hayfever can affect anyone, of any age. Some people develop it as adults, and some children seem to grow out of it - every case is different. It is quite usual for hayfever to affect several members of a family, indicating that there may be an inherited sensitivity to pollen. It can also be more prevalent among those with a family history of asthma and other respiratory infections.
How can natural remedies help?
Herbs, supplements and homeopathic remedies can greatly relieve the symptoms without the side-effects of drowsiness. The box below summarises some of the treatments that may help with your symptoms.
Common hayfever symptoms may be similar to the effects you suffer when slicing an onion - runny nose and watering eyes. If your hayfever symptoms are similar to this, you may benefit from the remedy allium cepa which is made from onion. (This is the principle on which homeopathy is based - like cures like).
Those with allergies may also benefit from an immune boost, so herbs and supplements to boost immunity are useful (see box).
Can natural therapies cure hayfever?
There are many examples where treatment with a qualified herbalist or homeopath has resulted in a diminished tendency towards hayfever.
Homeopaths often use a two-pronged
approach; firstly they may prescribe remedies specific for the
individual hayfever symptoms such as those shown in the
box. Secondly they will treat 'constitutionally' with the aim
of strengthening the immune system and reducing the tendency to a
pollen allergy. Because the hayfever season can be quite
short, treatment may be over 2 or 3 years, although appointments are
generally several weeks or months apart. Treatment can be started at
any time of year, but practitioners often prefer to begin in early
spring before the symptoms are at their
worst.
Is there anything else I can do?
Eliminating or reducing the amount of wheat and dairy in your diet may help - many people with allergies are also intolerant to these commonly consumed foods, and reducing their consumption will boost your body's immunity.
Eating a diet high in fruit and vegetables as well as munching on plenty of seeds will help to boost immunity as well.
Here are some natural remedies that you can use to help you
achieve a sneeze-free summer:
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What is it? |
What does it do? |
Where from? |
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Echinacea (one tablet daily) |
Boosts the immune system |
Widely available from health food shops & chemists |
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Vitamin C - 2,000 mg daily |
Boosts the immune system
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Widely available from chemists and supermarkets |
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Luffa |
Provides relief from symptoms |
Available as a tincture, tablets or nasal spray from health food shops |
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Locally produced honey |
Relieves symptoms |
Paynes Southdown Bee Farm or other local suppliers - available in local shops |
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Cypress, eucalyptus and juniper essential oils |
2 drops of each in a bowl of hot water provide an excellent steam inhalation to clear a blocked nose |
Chemists, health foods shops and specialist aromatherapy oil suppliers |
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Euphrasia tincture - as an eyebath for sore, itchy eyes |
Add 3 drops to cooled, boiled water and bathe the eyes regularly |
From Helios Homeopathic Pharmacy (01892 537254 www.helios.co.uk) |
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Homeopathic remedies |
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Allium cepa, euphrasia & sabadilla |
For sneezing, sore runny nose and itchy eyes |
Sold as Pollenna by Nelsons from most chemists |
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Kali Bich 30 |
For blocked, painful sinuses with gluey mucus |
Available from most chemists |
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Mixed pollens 30 |
An effective remedy for hayfever symptoms where pollen-allergy is the main problem |
Available from Helios Homeopathic Pharmacy (see contact details above) |
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New Era Combination H |
A mix of remedies effective in the treatment of hayfever |
Available from health food shops |
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Homeopathic remedies should be taken when hayfever symptoms appear. They can be taken up to 3 times a day if required, and are safe to give to children. If you already consult a homeopath, they can supply the remedy most appropriate for your symptoms. |
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By Mary-Jane
Sharratt of Sussex Homeopathy
http://www.sussexhomeopathy.co.uk
When we're packing to go on holiday, the first aid kit is often one of the last things we remember to pack. Nature has a whole host of remedies that can help with common holiday ailments, and we don't always have to resort to pharmaceutical drugs.
The journey
If you're travelling by car or boat and some of the passengers are prone to travel sickness, try Nelson's Travella which contains a mix of seven homeopathic remedies. It is ideal for car-sick dogs as well as safe for babies and children.
For those who are afraid of flying, the homeopathic remedy Argent Nit may help. Take one tablet every hour for 3 hours before the flight, and during the flight as required. Rescue Remedy is also useful to take on the plane to calm the nerves - as it is a liquid it will need to be carried in a clear bag through airport security.
If you are flying long-haul, the homeopathic remedy Arnica 30 taken every 3 hours during the flight will help you to adjust to the change in time zone. Australian Bush Flower Travel Essence (available from some health food shops) is a fabulous remedy to combat jet lag - when travelling to Australia I experienced only minor jet lag after using it and can highly recommend it.
Don't forget to drink loads of water during the flight (buy a big bottle once through airport security, as airline cups are tiny) and avoid the complimentary alcohol on the flight as it will dehydrate you even more.
The beach
We are all familiar with warnings to apply plenty of sunscreen and not stay in the sun for too long, but sunburn can happen by accident - most commonly when walking around or on parts which we missed with the sun cream (feet and ears seem to suffer most frequently).
If you do get sunburnt, lavender essential oil is fantastic at soothing the skin, and aloe vera gel also has a soothing effect. The homeopathic remedy, Belladonna will calm a sun-induced headache accompanying the burning skin.
The food
Even in countries where the water is safe to drink, if you have a sensitive stomach it may be worth buying bottled water (which is generally a fraction of the price of bottled water in the UK) at least for the first few days until you adjust to the change in food and climate.
The general advice in areas where the water may be less than pure is to avoid salads and unpeeled fruit and to drink and clean your teeth only in bottled water.
If you are afflicted by severe traveller's tummy and are incapable of venturing further than the bathroom, one of the most easily accessible remedies is to drink a glass of Coke which has gone flat - the phosphoric acid in it can revive a prostrate traveller very quickly.
The homeopathic remedy Arsen Alb is excellent for food poisoning. It is also worth packing a bottle of Acidophillus (available from health food shops) which contains millions of 'good' bacteria, and will replenish these in the digestive system after a bout of diarrhoea.
When recovering from a serious digestive upset, it is essential to drink plenty of water, with sugar added to rehydrate the body.
Things that bite
If, like me, you seem to hold a special attraction for things that bite, you need to be prepared to fend off the mosquitoes. You can make your own natural repellent by mixing:
1 part thyme essential oil
2 parts lavender essential oil
1 part eucalyptus oil
in a small amount of vodka and then
diluted with spring water.
Mosquitoes don't like the smell of garlic so taking a supplement of 15mgs a day may help (it may be advisable for everyone you are with to take it if you don't want to become a social outcast!). Vitamin B1 (300 mgs daily) can also prevent being bitten, as can a glass of water containing a teaspoon of cider vinegar daily.
If you do get bitten and the bites swell and become hot and red, the homeopathic remedy Apis should reduce the swelling and alleviate the pain. This is particularly good for bee and wasp stings. If the bite is bluish in colour try the remedy Ledum.
Remember that bites can occur in the UK with just as much severity as overseas - I have never experienced mosquito bites as bad as the ones I suffered in the exotic climes of Suffolk!
Holiday essentials
Here are the remedies which I always take on holiday:
- Tea tree oil - a natural antiseptic, for everything from cleaning a dodgy toilet seat to applying to a cut
- Arnica - both homeopathic tablets and as a cream or gel, for bumps and bruises
- Rescue Remedy - for its wonderful calming properties
- Lavender oil - for sunburn and promote a good night's sleep in unfamiliar surroundings
- Milk thistle - a fantastic herb to
boost liver function and invaluable after a night sampling the local wine
- Aloe vera gel - a soothing gel which
can be applied to burns, cuts, scratches, bites, rashes - any type of sore skin