A blog on homeopathy -- Ruminating on Remedies

Dandelions

5/29/2023

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:

frequent urging to urinate with copious discharge of urine
jaundice
apathy, lack of reactions, “little zest for work”
impatient and irritable
an occipital headache which is worse lying
stitching pains, especially around the liver
bitterness: bitter taste in the mouth, bitter burps, hacks up sour mucus
debilitating night sweats

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.

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It's Never Too Late, part 1: Cognitive Decline

5/27/2023

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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.

Cognitive decline
Balance issues
Oral health problems
Heart disease
Osteoarthritis or osteoporosis
Respiratory diseases
Diabetes
Influenza or pneumonia
Vision or hearing loss
Cancer

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:

Sleep issues resulting in the “need” for sleep medication
Excessive saliva/drooling
Unusual or “out of character” behaviors:
- aggression
- inappropriate behavior
- change in hygiene habits
Restlessness and anxiety
Depression
Constipation
Bladder issues/incontinence
Swallowing difficulty
Loss of appetite/ weight loss
Gastro-intestinal problems
Chronic cough/other respiratory conditions

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.

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Ringworm

5/20/2023

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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:

a scaly, ring-shaped area (on the bottom, the trunk, the limbs)
itching
slightly raised rings with a round, flat patch of itchy skin
the rings may overlap

“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:

Graphites 200c, one dose taken every 3 days
Kali sulph 3x, taken twice daily
and, if the itching is really bad, Coffea cruda 200c, every hour until better.

They also caution that if one member of the family has it, it may spread to the whole family (Prasanta Banerji and Pratip Banerji 2013), so be prepared!

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.

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Feel the Fear

5/14/2023

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“Of all the liars in the world, sometimes the worst are our own fears.”
Rudyard Kipling

The other day, driving slowly over a speed bump not far from home, I noticed a woman I have met before but I don’t know. Given her house is right next to the speed bump, I’ve had occasion to notice her many times over the years. This time, she was standing next to her dog who was lying under an opened umbrella propped on the ground next to him, and her stance said she was concerned about the dog. What was really memorable about this woman in the beginning days of May of the year 2023, however, was that she was outside, by herself with not one, but wearing two (!) masks on her face. I have since seen her a couple more times, still donning both masks.

I have nothing but compassion for this woman who is clearly frightened beyond comprehension. What makes you think she is frightened? Maybe she is protecting herself from allergens? Remember, I’ve seen her over the years, standing in the same place in her yard, yet the masks are relatively new.

This is not an article about the pros and cons of masking. This is an article about that extremely powerful emotion which I am surmising lies behind the masking: fear.

According to Louise Delagran, writing for the University of Minnesota’s “Taking Charge of your Health & Wellbeing,” fear and anxiety impacts us in the following ways:

Fear weakens our immune system, can cause cardiovascular damage, GI problems and decreased fertility and lead to accelerated aging and even premature death.
Fear can impair memory and cause damage to certain parts of the brain which can, in turn, make it even more difficult to regulate fear and leave the person with chronic anxiety. “To someone in chronic fear, the world looks scary and their memories confirm that.”
Fear can disrupt the processes which allow us to regulate our emotions which, in turn, impacts thinking and decision making.
Long-term fear can lead to fatigue, clinical depression and PTSD.

This, she says, is the case despite the threats being real or simply perceived.

The mind is a powerful thing!

Fear & Homeopathy

Frederik Schroyens in his Synthesis Adonis repertory, lists 1,400+ rubrics listed under: Mind, Fear. Some examples: Fear of being alone. Fear of cancer. Fear of cats. Fear of crossing a bridge. Fear of disease. Fear of being neglected. Fear of liquids. Fear of open spaces. Fear of thunderstorms. And, fear of death is a big one, with nearly 100 sub-rubrics listing all sorts of ways people fear they might die.

Using homeopathic remedies to address your fear can help your body help itself to avoid the fear taking root and taking control of your physical and mental well-being.

With over 1,000 homeopathic remedies which may be indicated in various manifestations of fear, where does one start?

The beginning of the alphabet, of course!

Aconitum napellus or Aconite for short. This is a good and easy one to remember because “Aconite” rhymes with “fright.” If you have a scary experience, Aconite is an excellent place to start. Even if that scary experience was in the past, Aconite is indicated in ailments from frights and can help clear out the fear “residue,” if you will. Fear of death, fear of doctors… overpowering fear. Sudden fear and panic attacks also may be helped with Aconite. Physical ailments may begin suddenly.

Argentum nitricum can be particularly helpful with the nervous system — people who anticipate everything that could go wrong. Fear of accidents; being alone; losing control; claustrophobia. Argent-nit is part of a very helpful combination remedy known as "AAA." (See: "What Goes Up" for more info on AAA.) Argentum nitricum sufferers often have gastro-intestinal issues: nervous diarrhea as well as impressive belching.

Arsenicum album is particularly good for fears about one’s health. Fear of disease and germs; fears of being incurable; fear of being poisoned; fear of suffering. Physical ailments may have a burning quality to them as well as a general restlessness.

Calcarea carbonica is for the worrier. They are overwhelmed, over-worked, over-burdened and they worry about their health, too: cancer, germs, infection and contagious, epidemic diseases. Fear of insanity; fear of rats, insects and monsters. Physically, they get worn out easily and may have a sensation of inner trembling.

Lycopodium clavatum is particularly well indicated when low self-esteem and low confidence come into the fear picture. Lycopodium fears: failure and humiliation; public speaking, or, the undertaking of anything. Physically, Lycopodium is another good gastrointestinal remedy, this time with bloating and loud abdominal rumbling.

Phosphorus is more indicated for a sort of free-floating anxiety and for those who are over-sensitive to external impressions, especially when they are alone. Fear of the dark; ghosts; noise; thunderstorms. Physically, there may be a tremendous thirst or excessive bleeding, including nosebleeds.

It’s important to remember that all of these remedies are considered polycrests or, very large homeopathic remedies, which cover a great variety of symptoms, both physical and mental and these are just tiny snippets to help give a sense of the remedies and how they relate to fear.

Dr. Edward Bach, the homeopath who discovered the Bach Flower Essences a century ago, said it was “our fears, our cares, our anxieties and such like that open the path to the invasion of illness” (Mcintyre 1996).

There are a number of Dr. Bach’s flowers which could apply here, (especially if we were to compare them to the homeopathic remedies listed), but I am just going to briefly focus on a small handful.

Aspen to address a fear of the unknown or the supernatural — the faceless fears that go bump in the night… The generalized, nameless anxieties.

Cherry Plum is for the fear of losing control.

Crab Apple addresses a fear of contamination, by a disease, for example.

Mimulus is for the fear of “known” things. If you can put a name to what you are afraid of, Mimulus is your flower.

Red Chestnut for the fear or worry for the well-being of others, especially loved ones.

Rock Rose for terror, as such following an accident or nightmares.

Don’t be afraid to address your fears. After all, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Whether you choose to try homeopathy or flower essences or cognitive behavioral therapy, (or, even better, a combination of all 3!), feel the fear and do it anyway**!

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

** Full disclosure, I’ve never read this book, but I’ve always loved the title!

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.

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Gemmotherapy!?

5/7/2023

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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:

Indications for use
Organ system(s) affected
Other Gemmos it may be paired with
Contraindications
and, finally, the growth and cultivation of the plant.

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).

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Dandelions

It's Never Too Late, part 1: Cognitive Decline

Ringworm

Feel the Fear

Gemmotherapy!?

Julia Coyte, CHom

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