 I just saw a CHE (Centre for Homeopathic Education) post on a remedy combination that most people could probably use at some point in their lives. If you have children, I practically guarantee they could benefit from this one.
Seeing this CHE post, “Tissue Salts for Strong Teeth,” reminded me that a few dentist appointments ago, I was told I had some staining (I think that was the term they used) and the beginnings of cavity. I could feel nothing. I could see nothing. I only had the dentist’s word for it. They recommended some chemical-based toothpaste. That’s not my thing. What is my thing? Homeopathy, of course! I went home and I immediately started taking the following cell salt combination remedy, twice daily. (This remedy can sometimes be purchased together, or, if you can't find that, put a pellet of each into your mouth at the same time.) Calc fluor 12x to help strengthen tooth enamel. Calc phos 6x to help strengthen and repair teeth. Silica 6x for the health and strength of teeth. What happened? Well, when I went back 6 months later for my next cleaning they didn’t mention it so I asked about it. I was told they saw no signs of anything that had been there previously. Whoo hoo! To test this combination further, shortly after my experience, my teenage son was told he had a cavity behind one of his brackets for his braces. He, too, then began taking the Calc Calc Sil combination. I’m not certain he was as diligent as I was about taking it, but, when the day came, he told me they had a hard time finding it. Turns out it was there, but considerably smaller. He then said to me, “I think your stuff worked.” That’s huge coming from a teenager! He was impressed enough with my “stuff” that he has decided on his own to continue taking this cell salt combination for the duration of his orthodontic treatment. It’s important to remember that my dental issue was caught in the very early stages and I have no experience with this combination for more advanced dental issues. Cell salts are a good reason to smile on! Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical homeopath #wellnessawaits
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 One evening, my oldest son called wondering what to do about a painful canker sore… My answer that night was Borax. (For another possible answer to that question, click here… Throat or Tongue?)
Borax is a homeopathic remedy whose physical symptoms focus primarily on the mucous membranes. Borax also has an interesting keynote symptom in that there is found a fear or dread of a downward motion. Where might you find this strange sensation in everyday life? When you’re trying to place an infant in a bed. I remember experiencing this when my kids were little — (Unfortunately, I was not privy to this information then, though!) — a little fellow, sound asleep in my arms and the second the baby was about to be placed in their crib — that was it, they were up and not too happy about it either. In fact, they most likely screamed. Screaming, ironically, is another keynote symptom for Borax. Go figure! It’s not unusual for me to get calls and texts from friends and family asking for quick remedy suggestions. As a matter of fact, these queries have been coming in even before I was an “official” homeopath. You see, you don’t need to be an “official” homeopath to be able to help your friends and family — you just need a little know-how and, more importantly, a couple of successes under your belt, to provide the confidence to share this marvelous knowledge. How do you get started with this? You are already in the right place! This blog provides lots of practical little nuggets for you to try. In case you missed them, here are some links to some quick go-to information… Puncture wounds… Poked by a Branch Stiff necks… A Pain in the Neck Minor infections… Ingrown Toenails… ouch Colds… Calming the Cold Allergies Are Back! Homeopathy & Dentistry Grief and worry… Homeopathy can make a heavy world a little lighter Injuries… I did a doozy… Constipation… The Eagle has Landed! Thankful for a Yeast Infection Indigestion… Just going for a Pepcid… Quick list of go-tos… Keep Calm and Carry a Homeopathic Remedy Kit Cough cough! Brace Face Over-indulgence… Too Much! Wasp Attack! part 1 Ear Infections Back strain … Rhymes with box Diarrhea… Traveler's Diarrhea Nausea… Seasickness Overwhelmed Croup… Barks in the night Hoarse voice… Hoarseness UTI… When it hurts to go There are more, this is just a short list to get you started. Go to ClassicallyPractical.com and have a peruse, get yourself a remedy kit and see how useful it can be for you and your loved ones. Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical homeopath #wellnessawaits  Waking up in the middle of the night to your little one “barking” and struggling to breathe is a frightening thing. Croup, according to Taber’s Medical Dictionary “is an acute viral disease, usually occurring in children from 6 months to 5 years and marked by a resonant barking cough, (sounding like a seal), and varying degrees of respiratory distress" (Venes and Clarence Wilbur Taber 2013). Croup isn’t a separate disease unto itself — it’s something that can develop from a common cold or flu. “If there’s enough swelling, irritation and coughing, a child can develop:
Mayo says to seek medical attention if your child:
Despite how scary it sounds, croup isn’t usually serious and it mostly can be treated at home. Why the barking? The cough forces air through the swollen and irritated passageway and results in a seal-like bark. My oldest was prone to this and it is indeed an unnerving experience. I didn’t know about homeopathy then, but we were able to treat him at home each time by sitting in the steamy bathroom until it all calmed down. Conversely, taking the child outside into the cold night air or having them stand in front of an open freezer can also do the trick (Cleveland Clinic 2021). How can homeopathy help? The first remedy to consider for croup is Aconitum napellus, or Aconite, for short. (Remember! Aconite rhymes with fright!) It’s a pretty sure bet that both the child and the parent* will be frightened! Use Aconite at the first sign. Repeat, if needed. Aconite is the “go-to” remedy for any illness with rapid onset. * Don’t forget Ignatia for the worried parent! Other homeopathic options for croup: Spongia tosta is the next remedy to consider if the Aconite did not take care of it quickly. Spongia is known to have a cough which sounds like a saw going through wood — a very dry cough and warm drinks are probably helpful. Hepar sulph might be useful in the morning or in the following days when the cough can sound basically the same, but it changes to a wetter cough — loose and possibly rattling. There may be some choking fits that accompany the cough. Repeat the chosen remedy every 15-20 minutes, if needed. If the child falls asleep, that’s good! If they wake again, repeat the remedy. (Click for an instructive video of cough sounds and their corresponding homeopathic remedies.) If your child is prone to croup, consider working with a professional homeopath to help prevent recurrences. Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical homeopath #wellnessawaits Allen College of Homoeopathy, n.d. Listen the Cough Sounds & Diagnose the Remedy (Part 1) [online]. www.youtube.com. Cleveland Clinic, 2021. How to Care for Your Child’s Croupy Cough [online]. Cleveland Clinic. . Kessels, L., n.d. Home Remedies for Colds and Croup: Do They Work? [online]. www.stlouischildrens.org. Mayo Clinic, 2019. Croup - Symptoms and causes [online]. Mayo Clinic. Venes, D. and Clarence Wilbur Taber, 2013. Taber’s cyclopedic medical dictionary. [22nd ed., ISBN: 9780803629776]. Philadelphia, Pa.: F.A. Davis.  Are you impetuous, like I am? Actually, I don’t always act hastily, but I have been known to quickly grab a homeopathic remedy for myself or my family and forget to write down what it was and for whom and why. Oops.
Why does it matter? The theory being, if a remedy worked for somebody for a certain condition, if that condition appears again in that certain someone, that certain remedy will most likely act well again. It makes total sense and it’s so easy! So, why do I have such a hard time remembering to do this? I think it’s because the remedy acted well and I forget that the thing was even a thing and therefore I forget to write it down. If you are new to homeopathy, start doing this now! If you’ve been using homeopathy for yourself and your family for awhile, without keeping track, stop it! Make this simple task a habit and you will save yourself a lot of time and energy in the future. It matters not whether it’s a good, old-fashioned pen and paper or a fancy electronic gadget or an old shoe box filled with quick notes jotted down as they happen (this one may be difficult to reference in the future but if your shoe box were a holding place until you could put it to order — go for it!) What matters is that it’s a useable system for you. Nothing fancy is required here… Name/Date/Primary Symptom/Remedy/Result I recommend one page or section per person, then, for example, you can go back to the spring dates and see what helped your daughter’s hay fever last year without having to jump through all the hoops of figuring it out all over again. If she gets the same sort of chest cold each winter — go back to those dates and there the remedy is — easy to find. I am a typer. Even if I write notes by hand, I like to transfer them into my computer because that seems to be the way I learn best. (Somehow my fingertips on the keyboard help me remember things, I guess.) Then, I have nicely accessible, searchable notes for all my family members, and, bonus (!) I don’t have to try and re-decipher my scrawl. Such a simple thing, it’s hardly worth writing an article about it… except, for how very useful this simple habit can be. Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical homeopath #wellnessawaits  Woulda. Shoulda. Coulda.
Regret. Guilt. Excessive apologizing. In keeping with the Yuletide theme, let’s turn our attention to the Christmas tree which may be standing in the corner of your room. If you have one, there’s a good chance it’s pine. The Bach Flower Essence Pine can help address all these icky guilt-like feelings. Whether lingering from something long past or whether they are brand new; whether it’s over something big or just a small thing — anything for which one cannot forgive themselves. In the words of Dr. Edward Bach: “Even when successful they think they could have done better and are never content with their efforts or the results.” Holding on to these thoughts do you no favors. Let them go. With the new year arriving tomorrow (finally!), keep your Bach Pine handy, leave the old yuckiness behind and I’ll see you in 2023! Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical homeopath #wellnessawaits
 Tis the season for… Sore Throats. Sore throat complaints are keeping me busy this month! Some have the dreaded Covid, some have the flu, some may have strep throat and some people just have a sore throat. What to do about this pharyngitis? (Pharynx is the part of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity and “itis” for inflammation.) Well, at the first sign of feeling unwell, I like the Banerji protocol of Aconite 200c mixed with Bryonia 30c. Taking this right away can often nip things in the bud and send the yucks away before they can settle in. Another option for those who are quick on the draw is Ferrum phos 6x. This, too, can often turn things around in short order. Once the yucks have made themselves at home and one is definitively feeling unwell, let’s look at a few homeopathic remedies which may help. (Note: There are many remedies which can be helpful for sore throats, these are just a few of my favorites.) See also: Calming the Cold; Some Flu Remedies to Consider and Tis the season for the crud. Baptisia Extremely painful, dark red throat, where swallowing liquids is the only option and even that is very difficult, despite being thirsty; tiny bites of food gags them. They may have swollen glands and/or bad breath. Belladonna The sore throat appears suddenly and generally hurts more on the right side with burning or throbbing pain. The throat and the tip of the tongue may be red. Pain is worse from turning the head, touching the throat and swallowing, especially liquids. Face will often be red and hot but the hands and feet tend to be cold. Gelsemium Burning and rough sore throat with pain that extends from the throat to the ear. May feel like there’s a painful lump in the throat that cannot be swallowed. Pain in the sternocleidomastoid — the long muscles on either side of your neck. Paralysis of the vocal cords. Swallowing solid foods is difficult. Hepar sulph Homeopathic Hepar is known for a sticking sensation in the throat, like a splinter or a bone. Pain extends to the ear on yawning and swallowing. May hawk up thick, yellow, sticky mucus. Wrapping up the external throat feels good. Cold drinks or becoming cold makes them feel worse but warmth in general and warm drinks can help. There may be a pulsation felt in the throat and they may feel worse in the evening and at night. Very sensitive to the pain and sensitive to everything else, too, actually and they may be irritable and impatient. Lachesis A purple throat, often on the left side (or starts on the left and moves to the right) and feels worse when swallowing liquids — even saliva is difficult — empty swallowing makes the throat hurt even worse (though they may have a constant desire to swallow). Swallowing solids may be easier. May have a disturbing constricting sensation, causing them to loosen clothes around the throat. Ear pain with sore throat. There may be a sensation of breadcrumbs or a painful sensation of a lump or plug which is not relieved by swallowing. They may choke easily, especially on falling to sleep and may have a suffocative feeling. Often feel worse on waking. Lycopodium Often on the right side with a dryness in the throat and they may not be very thirsty. A stitching pain on swallowing which is better with warm drinks and worse with cold drinks. Choking on swallowing. They may feel like there is a lump or a plug in the throat. They are chilly but they also want fresh air but are worse becoming cold or eating/drinking cold things. May have digestive issues at the same time as the sore throat. Mercurius sol Lots of saliva and a raw, rough and burning feeling in the throat. Lots of slime gets stuck in the throat and there may be drooling while sleeping. Swollen glands. A bad or metallic taste in the mouth and may have bad breath. The throat may be copper colored. Throat pain on coughing. The throat may be worse at night and they may also experience night sweats. Finding the right temperature is often difficult. Rhus tox Body aches and restlessness may accompany the sore throat. The tip of the tongue may be red. The throat becomes irritated and the voice becomes hoarse and is often worse from talking. The pain is worse from swallowing at first, but improves with more swallowing. Warmth is helpful and moving around may help, too — feeling worse when they are resting. Like the swallowing, they may feel worse when first moving around but better as they keep moving. When to see a doctor? According to the Mayo Clinic, see a doctor if:
TONSILLITIS A few quick notes relating to tonsillitis. (Note on type: Most highly indicated, highly indicated and indicated.) Again, there are many homeopathic remedies for tonsillitis and I am just focusing on the throat remedies already mentioned. Tonsillitis, in general — in order of importance: Belladonna, Ferrum phos and Mercurius. Hepar & Lachesis. Baptisia and Lycopodium. Tonsillitis with pus: Hepar, Mercurius. Belladonna, Lycopodium, Lachesis Hardness of hearing with tonsillitis: Hepar, Lycopodium and Mercurius Chronic, recurring tonsillitis: Hepar, Lachesis and Lycopodium Painless tonsillitis: Baptisia Burning pain in tonsils: Belladonna and Mercurius Purple tonsils: Hepar and Lachesis Bright red tonsils: Belladonna and Ferrum phos Dark red tonsils: Baptisia and Lachesis Tonsillitis in children: Ferr-phos, Lachesis, Lycopodium and Mercury Sharp pain in tonsils: Belladonna, Lachesis, Lycopodium and Mercury Tearing pain in tonsils: Belladonna Throbbing pain in tonsils: Belladonna STREP THROAT Strep throat is another possibility and can lead to long term problems in rare cases. Unlike most sore throats, strep is caused by bacteria. Strep A is big in the news this year, especially in the UK, but there are other strains of strep which can cause throat problems, too (A, C & G are the primary throat culprits). I never messed around with strep throats when my kids were little because I know two people who suffered terribly as a result of untreated strep. “Untreated strep throat can cause an autoimmune reaction in which the body attacks its own tissues and may lead to rheumatic fever, chorea and kidney damage” (Berkow et al. 1995). How can you tell the difference between a sore throat and Strep throat? Ultimately, for a full diagnosis of strep throat, you need to see a doctor and get a throat culture. According the the Merck Manual and the Mayo Clinic, strep throat symptoms typically appear suddenly and include:
In very young children (under 4), the only symptom may be a runny nose. (When my kids were little, I learned that strep infections in littles may present with only stomach problems, so keep that in mind.) “People with strep throat generally get better in 2 weeks, even without treatment. … antibiotics can shorten the duration of symptoms in young children and prevent serious complications such as rheumatic fever” (Berkow et al. 1995). (Note: There are homeopathic remedies which can be helpful in strep throat, but that is beyond the scope of this article.) If you are suffering from a sore throat, try one of these homeopathic remedies so you can get back to some painless Fa La La-ing before the festive season is behind us. Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical homeopath #wellnessawaits Reference list
Berkow, R., Beers, M. and Fletcher, A., 1995. The Merck Manual Home Edition. Merck Research Laboratories. Mayo Clinic, 2018. Strep throat - symptoms and causes [online]. Mayo Clinic.  I live in a desert. I live in a desert for a reason. I like that nice, dry weather, usually with a big, blue sky filled with a sun that has meaning!
Soon, I’m headed to other climes and I must admit, even though I am really looking forward to the trip, I am not looking forward to the cold and damp. The last time I was in this weather in the winter, I would get so cold it took a long time soaking in a deep, hot bath to warm up. Literally. Chilled to the bone is a real thing. Back in the day, I didn’t even know about homeopathy, let alone use it. So, this time, I’m doing a little prep work of what remedies to have along with me. Previously, I wrote about frost bite and the remedies that can help with that. I’ll bring that remedy with me, but that’s very different to the deep-seated cold of damp weather. Three remedies stand out in my search: Dulcamara, Nux moschata, and Rhus tox. These are not the only remedies, just the 3 that keep popping up most clearly and therefore, a good place to start (and the 3 remedies I am going to be sure to bring with me!) Calc carb showed up quite often, but it didn’t really have any distinguishing features, but I’ll leave it in anyway, just cuz. Homeopathic Dulcamara has a strong keynote aggravation from damp weather. “Any condition which has this feature may find its remedy in Dulcamara” (Robin Murphy). Most Dulcamara complaints are related to the mucous membranes (mouth, nose, eyelids, lungs, stomach, intestines). Symptoms unique to Dulcamara in the cold and damp:
A few symptoms where Dulcamara is your best bet (though, Calc carb, Nux moschata and Rhus tox are still indicated, but not as clearly):
Homeopathic Nux moschata is what would be called a dry remedy. (It’s made from nutmeg, so that kind of makes sense to me.) A very dry remed actually; so, it’s no surprise that the person who could benefit from it would not fare well in the cold and damp. Three symptoms that appear in the cold and damp and are unique to Nux moschata:
If you experience any of these symptoms as a result of being in the cold and damp, Nux moschata is most likely the remedy for you. Homeopathic Rhus tox is a remedy that is known for feeling better from heat — generally, the hotter the better! So, it would make sense that a person needing Rhus tox would feel worse in the cold and damp. Specific to Rhus tox as a result of the cold & damp:
A few other rubrics to consider that don’t fit nicely into my (mostly) neatly segregated remedies:
Here’s to sitting by a blazing fire, sipping something hot and lovely! Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical homeopath #wellnessawaits  On Black Friday, I shared some good deals on homeopathic remedies.
For Cyber Monday, if you would like to give a more personalized gift of homeopathy, take advantage of my sale… for yourself or your loved ones. Click here, and choose your appointment type. When you confirm the appointment, enter the words “Wellness2023” and a 30% discount will be applied for you. If you are giving the gift of a consultation, please email me at juliacoyte@classicallypractical.com and we’ll figure out the details that way. What are your consultation options? I’m glad you asked. Adult Initial Consultation is up to 2 hours and includes two follow-up consultations of up to 1 one-hour each. Regularly $250, on sale for $175. That’s 4 hours of consultation time for $175. That’s a bargain! Choose this option for a full-on homeopathic consultation… to address all those long-standing issues that have been begging you for your attention. Focused Adult Consultation for those who just want to focus on a specific health issue, one-hour at a time. Regularly $150, on sale for $107. Choose this option if you want to address your eczema or IBS or rosacea or arthritis or hot flashes or … that one niggling thing for which you have not been able to find relief. Child (under 12) Initial Consultation is a 90-minute initial consultation and one 45-minute follow-up consultation. Regularly $175, on sale for $122.50. Choose this option for any chronic condition for those 12 and under: skin conditions, gut issues, sleep problems, behavioral issues…. Bach Flower Essence Consultation is a 1-hour consultation resulting in a personalized remedy selection for adults or children. Regularly $35, on sale for $24.50. All of these consultation options include contact during treatment for any questions or situations which arise. Give the gift of wellness to yourself or your loved ones. I look forward to working with you. Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical homeopath #wellnessawaits classicallypractical.com |
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
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