 Next up in my series on aging, "It's Never Too Late," is #2, Balance issues. What causes balance issues? Inner ear disorders, head injuries, neurological conditions and even medical issues such as diabetes, heart disease and thyroid problems, or, medications could be the culprit, too. In other words — it could be hard to find out what is causing these balance issues. There are a lot of avenues to investigate. It could make your head spin! Did I mention vertigo is a common cause of balance issues? One of the beautiful aspects of homeopathy is we don’t need to know if it’s a thyroid problem or an inner ear disturbance. We only need to know what symptoms play out with these balance issues. Can it help if we know the cause? Sure, but it’s not necessary. Let me be clear here, though. I am not suggesting to skip the investigation. Definitely figure it out with the help of a medical professional. Signs and symptoms of balance problems include (Mayo Clinic 2018):
This could become a long article with lots of twists and turns (a little vertigo-causing itself it could be, actually!) but we’re not going there. We’re going to make it simple. We’re going to look at the top homeopathic remedies for vertigo, dizziness, falling and the sensation of falling. Calcarea carbonica, Calc carb for short. Clumsy, awkward, falls easily. Feet may turn inward when walking. Get tired from a short walk. There may be a tendency to fall to either side, particularly the left side, or backward. Vertigo can be caused by turning the head, looking upward or going upstairs/uphill. This is an excellent remedy for the elderly in and of itself, regardless of a tendency to fall. Cocculus indicus has a fear of falling and a tendency to fall to either side. Cocculus has an affinity for the spine, and especially of its motor nerves. “There may be a weakness in the small of the back, as if paralyzed; the small of the back gives out when walking; the soles of the feet feel as if they were asleep; the thighs ache as if they had been pounded; first one hand then the other goes to sleep; sometimes the whole arm falls asleep … These symptoms lie at the foundation of the symptomatology of the whole drug; they all seem to depend upon spinal weakness” (Farrington 2010). In most cases which respond well to Cocculus, there is some component of vertigo at play and may be accompanied by nausea which may be worse in a sitting position or when changing from a reclining to a sitting position. Natrum muriaticum. Nat-mur has a fear of falling, too. With vertigo, this remedy has a tendency to fall forward or to the left. The vertigo feels as if they are falling and may be worse standing near a window (or looking out of a window) or on closing the eyes and is improved when lying with the head propped high. Vertigo may be worse in the morning, especially when getting out of bed and occasionally the vertigo may be accompanied by nausea or nosebleeds. Nux vomica fears falling, too, but particularly in the afternoon. (Homeopathy never fails to amaze me with its odd specificities!) With vertigo, a person who may benefit from Nux vomica isn’t so particular which way they fall: forward, backward or to the side. The vertigo of Nux-v feels as if the brain (and other objects) turn in a circle. Rhus toxicodendron tends to fall backward, forward, or, to the right. It’s a major remedy for the tendency to fall when rising from bed. Or, they may have the sensation as if they would fall over. There may be a fear of death or a weakness of memory during the vertigo. Vertigo may be worse when lying down. Rhus tox is also noted in a form of vertigo common in old age which gives a sensation of confusion and dullness (Choudhuri 2016). Stramonium popped up in the search as the only remedy listed for the following: tends to fall backward while walking; tends to fall in the dark; tends to fall to the right while sitting or rising from bed from a sitting position. There is also a tendency to hallucinations that they are falling. Vertigo is worse walking in the dark or when the eyes are closed. A few other remedies with some particular falling tendencies (single remedy rubrics): Phosphorus for vertigo with a tendency to fall from a chair. Causticum tends to fall to the left while looking upward. Spigelia tends to fall while looking down. Strength and balance training are always a good thing, despite your age. I know nothing about Elderlygym.com, but they had some good, common sense information and some clever exercises to get started on reclaiming your balance. Or, find a well-qualified yoga or pilates teacher who has experience working with people your age. If you (or a loved one) finds yourself no longer vertical on a regular basis, get it checked out. “To put everything in balance is good, to put everything in harmony is better.” Victor Hugo. Homeopathy can help with both. Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical homeopath #wellnessawaits Reference list
Choudhuri, N. M., 2016. A study on materia medica : an ideal text-book for homoeopathic students. Accessed through Radar Opus software. Noida, U.P., India: B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd. Elderlygym.com, 2019. 12 Best Elderly Balance Exercises For Seniors to Reduce the Risk of Falls [online]. Eldergym® Senior Fitness. Available from: . Farrington, A., 2010. Lectures on Clinical Materia Medica in Family Order. Accessed through Radar Opus software. Mayo Clinic, 2018. Balance problems - Symptoms and causes [online]. Mayo Clinic. Morrison, R., 1998. Desktop companion to physical pathology. Nevada City, Calif.: Hahnemann Clinic Publ. Murphy, R., n.d. Repertory, version 3. Accessed through Radar Opus software.
0 Comments
 I am surrounded by dandelions on this holiday weekend. As a kid, I never understood why the adults hated them so much and I’m still a little mystified by that, actually. They’re bright and fun and, heck, if you hold one under someone’s chin, it can detect whether or not they like butter? Or, was that supposed to indicate someone who wet the bed? Who comes up with this stuff we all do/did as kids?! Anyway, cuz I’m sitting in this rare delight of a field of dandelions, I thought I would share a little bit about what they can do, both homeopathically as well as herbally. The entire plant is edible and nutritious, according to Nicole Apelian (Apelian 2020). Lately, I have been enjoying various dandelion teas. [a word of caution — there’s a really tasty Dandelion Chai Probiotic tea that is excellent at moving things along, if you get my meaning.] Some are made from the roots; some from the leaves; some from both. Not long ago, I mentioned the dandelion beverage that helped me kick the coffee habit years ago. She goes on to say that the bitter roots are good for liver and GI issues and the leaves have a powerful diuretic effect (makes you pee) and that “the plant makes a great general tonic for the entire body. Dandelion is high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.” Maybe I’ll put some in my salad tonight. Taraxacum officinale is their Latin name and homeopathically, they have been used since the days of its founding father, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann. I would definitely consider Taraxacum in conditions involving a weakness in the liver. It is very useful as an organ support remedy. Taraxacum has an affinity for both the liver and the bladder. “A symptom in connection with disordered digestion, which has proved a good guide for Taraxacum in some cases is the ‘mapped tongue.’ The tongue is coated white and clears off in patches, leaving dark red, very sensitive spots” (Murphy). Other symptoms which might point to Taraxacum:
Exhaustion is part of this picture and the person wants to sit or lie down but that actually makes them feel worse. They feel better from moving or walking and being in the open air. In fact, the symptoms may come on when sitting and disappear when walking. There you have it, a little bit of information on that ubiquitous dandelion. Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical homeopath #wellnessawaits  Reference list
Apelian, N., 2020. Herbal Focus: Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) [online]. Survive and Thrive with Nicole Apelian. Frans Vermeulen, 2011. Concordant reference : complete classic materia medica. Assesse, Belgium: B. Jain Archibel. Mayo Clinic Staff, 2018. Geographic tongue - Symptoms and causes [online]. Mayo Clinic. Murphy, R., n.d. Repertory, version 3. Accessed through Radar Opus software.  It’s never too late to try homeopathy. In other words, homeopathy can work beautifully in addressing those conditions/symptoms that we generally attribute to “old” people. I don’t think people are as old as they used to be. Maybe it’s cuz I’m firmly ensconced in my middle years or, maybe, they just aren’t as old as they used to be. Wasn’t it declared that 60 is the new 40 a few years ago? I think it’s true. Regardless, barring the worst case scenario, aging is inevitable. Though we can kick the can down the road and we can treat ourselves well and keep things at bay, generally speaking, we’re all going to get there eventually and more likely than not, we’re going to feel our age at some point in time. What kinds of things am I talking about? According to Vital Record, 92% of seniors have at least one chronic disease and 77% have two (Smith 2018). [Note: I tried to find an age for “senior citizen” on the internet and it appears to be not a thing. Some places say 60-65, others say when someone retires or receives social security benefits. I thought it was a definite number. Who knew!?] What constitutes a chronic disease? According to “an official website of the Department of Health and Human Services” (Anon. n.d.), it is a condition that lasts 12 months or longer and either limits the person or it results in ongoing medical intervention (which could certainly limit a person, but I digress). Well, you certainly don’t have to be old to have a chronic disease, but I suppose it only makes sense that we rack a few of them up as we trundle along through this thing called life. American Senior Communities (2017) lists the following conditions as most common in the elderly.
Today begins a short series in addressing a few of these common “senior” conditions and how homeopathy may be of assistance. Cognitive decline. Vital Record says 47.5 million people worldwide have dementia and that number is expected to nearly triple by 2050. They also note that there is no cure for dementia, just a treatment plan and medications to manage the disease. I’m not going to say that homeopathy holds all the answers to all the problems in the world of health, but I believe strongly that it’s a good place to start! It’s important to remember, homeopathy works beautifully alongside conventional medical treatment. Homeopathy in Dementia (Teut and Doppler 2019) is a little book (75 pages, or so) listing short write-ups of 15 homeopathic remedies which may be of help in this difficult condition, followed by case studies. While I do know of some situations where homeopathic remedies are being lauded for a complete turn-around of cognitive decline following early intervention, that’s not where I’m headed in this article. With dementia and related conditions, there are always side issues that come along. This is where homeopathy can really shine… improving the quality of one’s life. Common side issues in dementia include:
This is certainly not an exhaustive list, just a sampling of quality of life issues which may possibly be helped through the use of homeopathic remedies. If you are noticing your own mental decline or a loved one is suffering with dementia, I strongly urge you to consult with a professional homeopath to see how homeopathy may help. “Homeopathic treatment is always worthwhile, even in individuals who are seriously ill and in need of care where there is no hope of complete recovery of health” (Teut and Doppler 2019). Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical homeopath #wellnessawaits Reference list
American Senior Communities, 2017. Top 10 Health Concerns for Seniors | ASC Blog [online]. Senior Living Communities & Nursing Homes in Indiana | ASC. Anon., n.d. Chronic Conditions | Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality [online]. www.ahrq.gov. Josh, 2022. 20 Most Common Medical Conditions Affecting Older People [online]. LifeConnect24. Smith, S., 2018. 10 common elderly health issues - Vital Record [online]. Vital Record. Teut, M. and Doppler, C., eds. 2019. Homeopathy in Dementia: Materia Medica and Case Studies. Emryss.  I’ve been hearing that ringworm is going around. Is it true? I must confess, it’s getting pretty hard to tell what is true these days when you’re looking at the news. Regardless of all that nonsense, it’s important to be pro-active and know what to do if whatever is going around is coming your way. With that, let’s talk about ringworm. Ringworm is a fungal rash, named because of the ring that encircles the rash — no worms are involved. It is related to athlete’s foot and jock itch and it’s important to remember that fungal infections are likely to be contagious. They can spread through contact with the infected skin of others (including animals) or objects like towels, bedding or clothing. What to look for, according to Mayo Clinic:
“Ringworm may cause bald patches and consistent scratching leads to oozing and blistering” (Alton and Alton 2021). Sounds kind of miserable. How can homeopathy help? My first homeopathic stop would be from the Drs. Banerji who recommend the following protocol:
Now, let’s look at these remedies individually and see why they might help. Graphites is a big skin remedy. In this instance, it can be helpful for moist, crusty eruptions and has thick borders. Blisters which itch and ooze. Skin that comes off in scales or flakes. It is well indicated for eruptions which burn or itch as well as “smarting” — they just hurt. Itching skin, with the need to scratch it until it is raw. It’s also helpful for spots of falling hair (bald patches). Kali sulph is the primary cell salt which is indicated in ringworm, according to Natural Healing with Cell Salts ((Weintraub 1999). I’ll just let George W. Carey, MD sum up the skin conditions noted in his book, The Biochemic System of Medicine (1896): “All sores on the skin, when exuding a thin, yellow, watery matter, sometimes with dryness and desquamation of the surrounding skin. Skin scales freely on a sticky base… This salt also greatly aids desquamation in eruptive diseases and assists in the formation of new skin.” [author’s emphasis, not mine] Coffea cruda, a homeopathic remedy made from raw coffee, helps to keep one’s mind off of things. In my mind, I have somehow squashed the squirrel from Hoodwinked with the dog from Up to represent this remedy. The squirrel becomes hyper-focused when he has coffee and Dug the Dog’s attention leaves whenever there is the mention of a squirrel. So, my mind justifies this craziness in this way… when your mind is hyper-focused on the itching (think: squirrel from Hoodwinked) take the Coffea cruda remedy and it can remove the attention of the itching to the “squirrel” over there (think: Dug the Dog). In other words, the remedy removes the hyper focus and allows your mind to go elsewhere. Here’s to being prepared for the real stuff as well as the (possibly) over-hyped stuff. May we one day be able to easily decipher truth from fiction again. Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical homeopath #wellnessawaits Reference list
Alton, J. and Alton, A., 2021. The survival medicine handbook : the essential guide for when help is NOT on the way : a Doom and Bloom guide. United States? Doom And Bloom Llc. George Washington Carey, 1896. The Biochemic System of Medicine. F. August Luyties. Lockie, A., 1993. The family guide to homeopathy : symptoms and natural solutions. New York: Simon & Schuster. Mayo Clinic, 2018. Ringworm (body) - Symptoms and causes [online]. Mayo Clinic. Morrison, R., 1998. Desktop companion to physical pathology. Nevada City, Calif.: Hahnemann Clinic Publ. Prasanta Banerji and Pratip Banerji, 2013. The Banerji protocols : a new method of treatment with homeopathic medicines. India: Pratip Banerji. Weintraub, S., 1999. Natural healing with cell salts. Pleasant Grove, Ut: Woodland Pub. 
Reference list
Delagran, L., 2012. Impact of Fear and Anxiety | Taking Charge of Your Health & Wellbeing [online]. Taking Charge of Your Health & Wellbeing. Jeffers, S., 2023. Feel the Fear... and Do It Anyway. Harvest. LeDoux, J., 1998. Fear and the brain: where have we been, and wwww.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S0006-3223(98)00282-0/fulltexthere are we going? Biological Psychiatry [online], 44 (12), 1229–1238. Mcintyre, A., 1996. Flower power : flower remedies for healing body and soul through herbalism, homeopathy, aromatherapy, and flower essences. Holt. Schroyens, F., n.d. Synthesis Adonis. (accessed through Radar Opus software). Steimer, T., 2002. The biology of fear- and anxiety-related behaviors. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience [online], 4 (3), 231–49.  Hubele, L., 2016. Gemmotherapy for Everyone: An Introduction to Acute Care, Emryss Publishers. I am just dipping my toe into using Gemmotherapy. I got really excited when I first learned of their existence a couple of years ago. Recently, I have been soaking up as much information as I can find in the on-line and print world of Gemmotherapy and I have to say, I’m liking what I’m seeing. “Gemmo-what” I hear you say? … Gemmotherapy is a branch of Phytotherapy. (I’ll continue explaining in case that word is new to you, as it was to me a couple of years ago.) Phytotherapy is the use of plant-derived medications. Phytoembryotherapy (or, embryophytotherapy) is the use of plant embryonic tissues — and that’s what Gemmotherapy is. I think of it as plant stem cell therapy. Gemmos are made “from the first buds and shoots of select trees and shrubs each spring that contain the growth material for the entire plant.” Cool, huh?! “These cells possess all the power of the future plant and all the genetic information as well as the energetic imprint. Due to this, Gemmotherapy extracts are able to clean and fortify human cells simultaneously.” A relative newcomer to the world, they have been studying the biochemical properties at the university level for over 50 years in Europe and Gemmotherapy has been approved as a medicine by the EU. (In the US, the FDA considers it an Herbal supplement.) “Due to ongoing research, we know this gentle yet powerful therapy can be used on newborns to geriatric clients.” Sound familiar? "Gentle and powerful," just like homeopathy! And, they work beautifully together! Gemmotherapy for Everyone: Introduction to Acute Care by Lauren Hubele provides case examples, including: croup, anxiety, UTIs, postpartum mastitis and acid reflux of an infant as well as information on 20 individual Gemmo extracts and how they can be used successfully in acute conditions. She divides her protocols by bodily systems: respiratory, elimination, adrenal/immune response, circulatory, musculoskeletal, nervous system as well as inflammation in general. Lauren dedicates a page to the description of each individual Gemmo, including a brief history of the plant’s use as an herb or homeopathic remedy or a Bach flower essence. Following that, she lists:
Chapter 5 begins by teaching us how to dose the Gemmo and then dives into the protocols with an explanation of what each Gemmo’s role is in resolving each acute condition. Coughs, Diarrhea, Earaches, Headaches (she makes mention this protocol is not helpful for migraines, in case you were wondering), Nausea and vomiting, and Seasonal allergies are just some of the helpful protocols found in the book. Gemmotherapy can be used alone or in conjunction with homeopathy. And, bonus (!), it’s tasty, too, so kids will happily take their doses. Gemmotherapy for Everyone wraps up its 128 pages with a really helpful FAQ section, including the all important “is it safe for pets” question. (Yep!) The author points out that this book and its protocols are for the “treatment of acute symptoms, those that appear suddenly and are not recurring.” Like homeopathy, Gemmotherapy for chronic conditions is highly individualized. For more information, laurenhubele.com is a great place to spend some time to get to know the Gemmos. She also sells individual Gemmos, as well as kits. If you are interested in exploring the use of some Gemmos in your healing journey, book a free 15-minute chat and we’ll see if it sounds like a good fit for you. Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical homeopath #wellnessawaits Gemmotherapy for Everyone: An Introduction to Acute Care is available for purchase on Amazon for $28.95, or, directly from her website, laurenhubele.com: $12 for an E-book and $20 for paperback (though the paperback is out of stock on her site at the time of this writing).
 A quick and positive response to homeopathy can often open the door for people to discover further benefits of this marvelous modality. Last fall, we were at a gathering and somebody mentioned having been stung by a bee the day before. She had a hard, hot, red, painful lump on her leg, just above the knee. Well, I always have homeopathic remedies with me, so I offered a dose of Apis mellifica. Not long after, the site was a little softer and a little less painful. We repeated the Apis. She was pleased. I sent her away with the tube of Apis. A few days later I heard from her that she had been stung again. “Those little bee pellets of yours really work. I’m impressed! The bees have been vicious and I’m keeping this nearby.” Is Apis the only remedy for a bee sting? Nope. For further information on what other homeopathic remedies may help if you’ve been stung or bitten: Summer Fun #3: Flying Things, Wasp Attack 1 & 2. Apis mellifica is a homeopathic remedy made from a crushed honeybee and processed or, potentized into being a medicine which can help bee stings. Technically, in this instance, Apis would be considered Isopathy, not homeopathy. Homeopathy is “like cures like” and Isopathy is “same cures same.” Click HERE for more information. Isopathy, from the Greek, “equal or same suffering.” Isopathic remedies are made from the actual substance which is causing the allergic reaction or illness. We saw the example of Apis for the relief from the physical complaints of a bee sting, other possible isopathic uses would be potentized (for the sake of this discussion, potentize will refer to turning a substance into a homeopathic remedy) substances to help relieve allergies, (e.g. potentized cat hair to lessen the effects of cat hair on a person allergic to cat hair). The Journal of Asthma has a study evaluating isopathic treatment of allergic mice. For further basic information on Isopathy, click here. Where else does the potentized honeybee (the homeopathic remedy Apis mellifica) come in handy? The quick way of remembering how Apis can help is to think about what happens when one is stung by a bee: swelling, fluid-filled, hot (sensation as well as feeling worse from hot), burning pain, stinging pain and redness. Back to homeopathy (as opposed to isopathy)… when you have a condition resulting in one or more of those symptoms, Apis mellifica may be helpful. For example:
One other very important thing that may possibly happen when one is stung by a bee is an anaphylactic reaction, resulting in swelling of the airway, tongue or throat, causing trouble breathing. If you find yourself in this position, get to the hospital immediately and administer Apis frequently while waiting for the ambulance or while on the way to the hospital. The blossoms are blooming, the bees are busy gathering pollen and I will catch you next time with some more homeopathic nuggets. Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical homeopath #wellnessawaits Further Reading & Reference List:
Coyte, J., 2021a. Wasp Attack, pt 1 [online]. CLASSICALLYPRACTICAL.COM. Coyte, J., 2021b. Wasp attack! part 2 [online]. CLASSICALLYPRACTICAL.COM. Coyte, J., 2021c. My Little Bag of Wellness : the homeopathic remedies I carry with me [online]. CLASSICALLYPRACTICAL.COM. Coyte, J., 2022. Summer Fun #3: Flying Things (mainly) [online]. CLASSICALLYPRACTICAL.COM. Homeopathyplus.com, 2023. What Is Isopathy? | Homeopathy Plus [online]. Homeopathy Plus. Mayo Clinic, 2021. Anaphylaxis - Symptoms and causes [online]. Mayo Clinic. Mazloomi, E., Ilkhanizadeh, B., Zare, A. and Shahabi, S., 2020. Evaluation of the efficacy of isopathic immunotherapy in the treatment of allergic asthma in BALB/C mice. The Journal of Asthma: Official Journal of the Association for the Care of Asthma [online], 57 (6), 670–679.   Spring has sprung around here and it has brought along with it some nasty little bits of pollen blowing around.
Homeopathic remedies can help in the sniveling, dripping moment; and, done correctly, they can help uproot the problem in the long term. Often though, the remedy that helps acutely is not necessarily the remedy that will help to address the underlying cause. For this, I recommend working with a professional homeopath. If you are suffering the itching, burning eyes or the nose running like a faucet, check out my previous articles: “Allergies are Back” and “Hayfever” for some homeopathic remedy ideas. Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical homeopath #wellnessawaits  Kitchen Quickies… Burns As the name implies, Kitchen Quickies are short and to the point remedy suggestions to get you on your way if you have suffered any mishaps in the kitchen. I open my oven door and pull the rack out to tend to whatever lovely thing is cooking all the time. The other day, however, I managed to singe my forearm on the rack. What did I do? I immediately sprayed it with something I keep in my kitchen for precisely such occasions: Similasan Burn Recovery.* (Note: Mine was a minor burn. If you have anything more serious than a superficial burn, seek medical assistance.) This Burn Recovery bottle has pride of place in my cupboard and is standing ready and available for quick access following silly cooking errors as well as sunburned shoulders. Next to this spray is a little tube of Cantharis, which I also took shortly after using the spray. At bedtime that night, I put a little Boiron Calendula ointment* on the burn and that was that. I didn’t think about it again until my husband saw it and commented a few days later, saying, “that was a nasty burn.” I had pretty much forgotten about it because I didn’t feel it again after the first day. This Similasan burn combination contains homeopathic Calendula, Cantharis, Echinacea, and Urtica urens. All of these homeopathic remedies would likely be just as affective if taken orally when chosen individually, based on the presenting symptoms. But, this spray feels so good! (Additionally, homeopathic pellets can be put in some fresh water and applied to the skin for a similar effect to the commercially available spray.) Homeopathic Calendula is the first remedy I think about for any skin ouchies — big and little. According to K. Chandran (and Kuttan 2008), it’s with good reason. They found “the administration of Calendula officinalis extract significantly decreased the serum level of marker enzymes of tissue damage….” (Note: This research was conducted using an extract of Calendula.) Why these homeopathic remedies?
Keep on cooking, but mind the oven racks! Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical homeopath #wellnessawaits * I have no affiliation with this company, I just like their products. K. Chandran, P. and Kuttan, R., 2008. Effect of Calendula officinalis Flower Extract on Acute Phase Proteins, Antioxidant Defense Mechanism and Granuloma Formation During Thermal Burns. Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition [online], 43 (2), 58–64.
|
Julia Coyte, CHomI am passionate about homeopathy and I love sharing this passion. Having a working knowledge of homeopathy shouldn't be kept a secret. If people have the ability to help themselves, their children and their friends when they have minor ailments, life just gets better for everyone. That is the purpose behind Ruminating on Remedies. Archives
March 2023
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed