 I may be a little late on the uptake with this one, but it’s still early days of summer and I’m sure this information may come in handy for someone.
Those crazy photos of the apocalyptic skies in New York in the last couple weeks reminded me of being in Minnesota a couple of years ago during some other Canadian fires. The smoke was thick and unpleasant. I stopped in a natural foods store and picked up some Nat Mur. I was looking for a 6x cell salt, but all they had was a 30c. Nat Mur might not be THE remedy to choose for each individual symptom of smoke inhalation, but it’s a big remedy that covers symptoms wide and far and it worked so beautifully that should I find myself in another smoky situation, Nat Mur 30c is what I am going to grab. Let’s take a look at what the repertories have to say about this remedy and smoke. Nat Mur is a remedy for the sore throats of smokers, particularly for a rawness in the throat from smoking. Burning eyes. Watering eyes with a cough. Aggravations from smoke inhalation. Toxicity following smoke inhalation. Nat mur is also a good headache remedy as well as nausea during a headache. Difficult breathing with a cough. Coughing with an irritation in the air passages. A couple of other remedies to consider… Euphrasia would be another excellent choice for the burning, stinging eyes. Carbo veg is the go-to remedy if it feels like there is not enough oxygen getting into the lungs. Next week I will be writing all about coughing, but just a quick mention here for Ipecac — for a nagging, gagging, choking cough. Ipecac is also very good for nausea during a cough, which breathing in smoky air can certainly cause. Here’s to clear blue skies. Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical homeopath #wellnessawaits
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 “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). This topic is near and dear to me… Arthritis (this article focuses on osteoarthritis). Every time I have had an x-ray done over the last 10 or so years, they came back and said there is arthritis in there. Why would I have so many xrays? Cuz I had pain, that’s why. I have x-ray evidence of arthritis in my hands, (fingers and wrists), feet, ankles, knees and following an injury as a teenager, I was told the left side of my jaw was “bone on bone.” I’m pretty sure that were I to have further imaging on my hips and low back and neck that arthritis would be seen in those places, too. Now, I would like to point out that in that last paragraph I used the past tense. Since using homeopathy to address my arthritis, my pain levels have absolutely plummeted. It’s a rare day when my hands ache. I walk about 3 miles a day and while I do sometimes have some stiffness afterward, it is short-lived and soon forgotten. I’m not going to say all my joints are in perfect working order, but compared to where I was (and, definitely as compared to where I was headed), I have very few complaints at the age of 55. I had way more pain and discomfort 10-20 years ago. (I credit homeopathy for the bulk of my relief, but in addition to exercising regularly, I also eat a good, healthy whole foods diet, including plenty of bone broth and I also credit rolfing, too.) Once we hit age 65, nearly half (47.4%) of Americans have been diagnosed by a doctor as having arthritis (Brooks et al. 2018). If we want to add in people who have not bothered to get an official diagnosis, I’m willing to bet that number is considerably higher. Dr. Andrew Lockie (1993) estimates that 90% of people over the age of 40 have some degree of osteoarthritis in one or more joints. Along with the physical discomfort, osteoarthritis and all its limitations can lead to depression and sleep disturbances (Brooks et al. 2018). Additionally, anxiety and depression can lower your pain threshold and then the chronic pain aggravates the anxiety and depression — resulting in a vicious circle. See? It’s a good thing to try and get a handle on as soon as possible! What exactly is arthritis and who gets it? “Arthritis” is painful inflammation and stiffness of the joints. (Joints, as a reminder, are places where two bones meet.) Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease. Degeneration is structural or functional breakdown. Common symptoms include pain, redness, heat and swelling. The most commonly affected joints are: hands, knees, hips, neck and lower back. In addition to the breakdown, small bone growths (osteophytes or bone spurs see also: The Importance of a Proper Diagnosis) may grow on the edges of the joint. Or, a bit can break off and float inside the joint space. (I had this as a kid when I chipped my patella). Did I mention that I have had more than my fair share of injuries? I was a busy kid, playing hard and getting hurt! The receptionist at the orthopedist’s office once said to me, “you really do love us, don’t you?” Anyone can get it, though generally speaking, it’s not a problem until we age — especially women when it develops after menopause. Though young people can get it as a result of an injury or a genetic defect. Why is osteoarthritis so common? Joint injury, obesity, genetics and anatomical factors affect joint mechanics (Shane Anderson and Loeser 2010). But, wear and tear takes its toll and “age remains the single greatest risk factor for the development of OA in susceptible joints.” So, how can homeopathy help arthritis? It’s very important to remember that conventional medicine doesn’t have a lot to offer in terms of helping osteoarthritis. The first line treatments are pain relievers, according to Mayo Clinic: Tylenol, Advil and Duloxetine (Cymbalta). (I highly recommend looking into the side effects of any medicines you plan on putting in your body. Drugs.com is a quick way to do this.) Other therapies which may be helpful include: physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around the joint; occupational therapy, and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS*) — low-voltage current to relieve pain. Beyond these, then we’re looking at more serious interventions, including cortisone injections and surgery to replace damaged joints. Homeopathy is not the absolute answer to every problem (though I think it's pretty close!) What homeopathy can do is to assist your body to wellness. When I began using homeopathy to treat my arthritis, as much as I was wanting an overnight success, that’s not how it works. The first few remedies I used went a long way at relieving my immediate discomfort, taking the edge off, so to speak. There is a lot to undo after a lifetime of wear and tear. It wasn't until I got into some deeper remedies that the daily pain disappeared. Let’s start with some support remedies: cell salts, (also known as tissue salts/remedies or biochemical medicine or Schüssler’s tissue salts). Cell salts are derived from substances that are naturally present in the human body, intended to nourish and balance our bodies; they are our building blocks. Dr. Schüssler “worked by the theory of deficiency. The idea of deficiency is that, if we can ascertain exactly which mineral salt or salt the body’s cells are starving for, and if we can give the body those salts in a manner in which it can absorb and digest them, then the cells will be nourished and the balance needed for function, form and good health will result.” “The cell salts are, therefore, a strange balance between allopathy and homeopathy, or, better put, a balance between homeopathy and nutritional medicine.” (McCabe 2009). Dr. Carey (1894) recommends three cell salts** for arthritis: Ferrum phos for an acute attack with very painful joints which are worse on movement. Tenalgia crepitans, (inflammation of a tendon sheath in which movement of the tendon is accompanied by a cracking sound). Natrum phos “is indicated in all cases of rheumatism of the joints.” Natrum sulph should be given alternately with Ferr phos in acute cases, but in chronic cases, Nat sulph alone may be helpful; especially in joints of the fingers. Other cell salts which may be helpful: Kali mur: in acute arthritis may be alternated with Ferr phos. Movement makes the pains worse; tenalgia crepitans. Natrum mur: for chronic arthritis; the joints crack; synovitis; rheumatic arthritis, especially of finger joints; hot, painful swellings of the knee joint. Mag phos is useful for the (violent) pains; excruciating pains which are spasmodic in character. Kali sulph: for pains which shift from one joint to another and are worse by heat. Shifting and wandering rheumatic pains in the joints. Calc phos for bone health, in general. Calc fluor for enlargements of the finger joints. Cell salts are generally given in a 6x potency and they can be combined in the mouth at one time as one dose and taken twice daily. (Martin & Pleasance*** makes a Comb M for rheumatism with equal parts Calc phos, Kali mur, Nat phos and Nat sulph.) On to homeopathy itself. For dealing with the acute pain of arthritis, a quick go-to remedy is T-Relief*** or T-Relief Arthritis***, both are available in either a cream or a tablet. Medinatura*** also makes/sells BHI Arthritis Pain Relief***. All three of these combos are made of slightly different remedies. The individual remedies which are shared between these combinations are worth investigating. Arnica for soreness all over the body. Worse for touch, pressure, cold or cold, damp weather. Worse for motion. Bryonia for excruciating, often stitching pains. Worse for the slightest motion (they just want to be still) and heat. Even though they are worse for moving, they feel restless. Better for pressure and warmth on the painful part, lying still, especially lying on the painful side. Joints may be hot and swollen. May seem irritable. Dulcamera is worse especially in damp weather, and cold damp autumn and the change of weather in general. Better for motion and warmth. Ledum may have some swelling and coldness in the affected joint. Worse for heat or becoming over-heated and motion. Though they may be chilly, they feel better for cold applications or cold bathing. Pain in the small joints, especially the toes and joint pains seem to progress up the body. Ledum is particularly good for the feet and lower legs. The soles of the feet may be painful. Ledum can also be helpful for the after-effects of steroid injections. Rhus tox (see also: Rhymes with Box) is a good remedy for all forms of rheumatism. Worse in the morning on waking, cold, sitting still (resting) and when first moving. Better after getting up and going, continued motion and hot baths or showers. They may be restless and feel better if they keep moving. All of these remedies listed are primarily to address the acute pain of osteoarthritis. Alan Schmukler (2006) mentions that Bryonia or Rhus tox will bring relief in a majority of cases. This is just a small sampling of the most common (and readily available) remedies which may help arthritis pain. I could keep writing on homeopathic arthritis remedies for hours! There's a lot to say and a lot of individual remedies which may be further tailored to specific arthritic symptoms. I highly recommend working with a professional homeopath to try and get to the root of the issue. In the meantime, try one of these above listed remedies and see if you can get a little relief. Life is just way too short to be in constant pain and discomfort. Try some homeopathy and see if you can get back to doing things you love. Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical homeopath #wellnessawaits * I have and am very pleased with ireliev’s wireless TENS unit (though, I must say, I really don’t use it very often any more). Again, I have no affiliation with this company, I just like their product. ** It is possible to purchase a mixture of all 12 cell salts. However, I have found better results when choosing just the best indicated cell salts rather than using the full complement. ***I have no affiliation with this company, I just like their products. Reference list:
Anon., 2023. tenalgia crepitans [online]. TheFreeDictionary.com. Arthritis Foundation, 2016. Arthritis and Mental Health [online]. Arthritis.org. Brooks, J. M., Titus, A. J., Polenick, C. A., Orzechowski, N. M., Reid, M. C., MacKenzie, T. A., Bartels, S. J. and Batsis, J. A., 2018. Prevalence rates of arthritis among US older adults with varying degrees of depression: Findings from the 2011 to 2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry [online], 33 (12), 1671–1679. Carey, G. W., 1894. The Biochemic System of Medicine. F. August Luyties. Kansal, K. and Kaushal, R., 2015. Textbook of practice of medicine with homeopathic therapeutics. New Delhi: B. Jain. Lockie, A., 1993. The family guide to homeopathy : symptoms and natural solutions. New York: Simon & Schuster. Mayo Clinic, 2021. Osteoarthritis - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic [online]. Mayoclinic.org. McCabe, V., 2009. The Healing Echo. ReadHowYouWant.com. Morrison, R., 1998. Desktop companion to physical pathology. Nevada City, Calif.: Hahnemann Clinic Publ. NIAMS, 2019. NIAMS Health Information on Arthritis [online]. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Rath, L., 2022. What Is Arthritis? [online]. www.arthritis.org. Schmukler, A. V., 2006. Homeopathy : an A to Z home handbook. Woodbury, Minn.: Llewellyn Publications. Schüssler, W. H., 2003. Schüssler’s twelve tissue remedies : comprising the theory, therapeutic applications, materia medica and a complete repertory of tissue remedies. Sittingbourne, Kent: Homæopathic Book Service. Shane Anderson, A. and Loeser, R. F., 2010. Why is osteoarthritis an age-related disease? Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology, 24 (1), 15–26. Teut, M. and Doppler, C., eds. 2019. Homeopathy in Dementia: Materia Medica and Case Studies. Emryss. Thornton, P., 2022. Duloxetine: Uses, Side Effects, Dosage, Warnings [online]. Drugs.com.  As the only female in my lovely little family, men’s health is a very important topic to me. This is Men’s Health Week and, I just saw this morning that June is also Men’s Health Month. It all makes sense — Father’s Day is this Sunday and a perfect time to speak to/about and for men. A few years ago we had a dead skunk under an old playhouse in our back yard — a heavy old structure. Two of my husband’s friends came right over and dug into this nasty job. (They did this happily, it seemed to me!) This morning we are faced with an enormous tree branch that dropped on my husband’s brand new car last night. I’m willing to make a bet that it will be a small pack of men who will show up and somehow use all their might to move what amounts to an actual tree (not just a branch) to free his car. Could I and my female friends have dealt with digging out the dead skunk? Well, yes, but I know I would have been complaining. Could I and my female friends deal with this huge tree branch? Maybe, but quite honestly, I would most likely hurt myself. I appreciate the strength, ingenuity and stick-to-it-iveness of the men who get these kinds of jobs done! (As I write this, I am watching two men heft the 20 year old freezer (that has decided to quit on us) out of our kitchen. One of them is holding the weight while the other one guides. There’s some definite heavy breathing going on -- it’s hard work!) So, though men “happily” unearth dead, stinky skunks and, I know a good part of them enjoys coming up with and employing a Rube Goldberg* approach to freeing a trapped car, and others use their youthful strength for difficult jobs — that doesn’t mean they don’t ache and hurt afterward — even if they don’t admit it. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard, “My husband has XYZ. Can you help him if I tell you all about his symptoms?” The short answer is quite possibly, but the full answer is, he needs to be a willing participant! For little things, you can find a lot of answers by searching my website. This can be a good way to get him to see how well homeopathy can work for him. For the bigger things, he needs to be willing to work directly with a homeopath. I know this can be difficult for some men. But, I also want these fellows to know, it might just be worth their time and effort! Most of the men I know aren’t willing to sit down and do a full homeopathic consult. For those fellows, I recommend a Focused Consult. Arthritis? — let’s work on that. Prostate issues? — let’s work on that. Migraines? — let’s work on that. Look for more articles in the near future focusing on the health issues of men. Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical homeopath #wellnessawaits * An example of a Rube Goldberg cartoon.  https://www.rubegoldberg.org/all-about-rube/cartoon-gallery/id_56  “Getting long in the tooth” is a funny way of saying someone (or something) is getting old. Horses’ teeth apparently continue to grow with age. Age also wears the teeth down and makes it hard to determine the horse’s age (Martin 2023). So, I guess it stands to reason that someone who is getting long in the tooth may also have some issues with their teeth. According to the American Dental Association, dry mouth, cavities and periodontitis can be problems as we age. Additionally, 19% of seniors no longer have any natural teeth. Conventional medication use can cause dry mouth, which, in turn, raises the risk of oral disease (Raphael 2017). Homeopathy can't help bring your teeth back after you've lost them but for other oral issues, like dry mouth, it can be very helpful. One of my favorite homeopathic remedies for dry anything is Natrum muriaticum. (See: Salty Lips.) Nat Mur can be helpful, particularly if there is a dry mouth WITH thirst. It’s a very helpful remedy for all sorts of mouth issues, actually. Mouth sores and ulcers; bleeding gums; offensive breath; a bluish discoloration to the lips during a chill and gingivitis (the precursor to periodontitis (Ubertalli 2022). Contrary to all the dryness, Nat Mur may be helpful for mucus or slime in the mouth or excess salivation, even causing them to spit constantly at night. Sore pain in the mouth. Toothaches from chewing or from cold anything and they may be sensitive to touch. (I’ll just throw this one in here since we’re talking about dryness and Natrum muriaticum: Women with dry lady parts may find Nat Mur helpful, too.) Other generally dry remedies (homeopathically speaking) to consider for dental issues are Bryonia and Nux moschata. Homeopathic Bryonia may have dry, cracked lips and the person may have a tendency to lick them or pick them. The person may make a chewing motion with their jaws. Toothaches may seem to go from one tooth to another and the pain may be worse when lying down. The tooth pain may be sharp and there may be swelling cheeks with the toothache. Homeopathic Nux moschata has a dry mouth WITHOUT thirst. Slimy mucus may be found in this remedy, too. The palate is so dry that the tongue may get stuck up there. Or, the tongue may seem dry itself. Toothaches which are better from warmth. All three of these remedies may show other signs of dryness common in old age, like: dry stool (or constipation), dry skin, dry eyes, dryness inside the nose. To help combat cavities at any age, see “Smile On!” If you suffer from gingivitis and/or periodontitis, I suggest working with a professional homeopath. Here's to keeping your pearly whites for when you arrive at the pearly gates! Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical homeopath #wellnessawaits Reference list:
American Dental Association, 2012. Aging and Dental Health | American Dental Association [online]. Ada.org. Harvard Health Publishing, 2010. The aging mouth - and how to keep it younger - Harvard Health [online]. Harvard Health. Martin, G., 2023. ‘Long in the tooth’ - the meaning and origin of this phrase [online]. Phrasefinder. Murphy, R., n.d. Repertory, version 3. Accessed through Radar Opus software. Raphael, C., 2017. Oral Health and Aging. American Journal of Public Health [online], 107 (S1), S44–S45. Ubertalli, J. T., 2022. Periodontitis - Dental Disorders [online]. Merck Manuals Professional Edition.  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. |
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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