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Rufus’ dollops had literally dropped to nothing for a while. Then there would be another and we repeated the Aloe and they would disappear again. Then, they just kept coming, regardless of what we tried. A package was waiting every morning and sometimes 1 or 2 more times during the day and evening. A change had occurred, though, that could be helpful to finding another remedy. His stools became lienteric. From Merriam Webster: "containing or characterized by the passage of undigested or partially digested food — used of feces or diarrhea." We were literally getting ready to walk out the door for a few days away, so I took a quick look at Murphy’s repertory which shows a couple of possible remedies that fit the idea of both his loose/easy stool as well as lienteric stool. I left 4 bowls of food in the fridge for the dog sitter to give him, each with China officinalis wedged into some pieces of meat. There has not been a dollop since. Not the usual morning offering nor the evening drop off. And, I think he looks a little happier about life. He seems to be sleeping less. He comes to sit by us in the day rather than staying by himself. But, we've been here before… so, stay tuned! I am hopeful but not certain. Cinchona officinalis (or, China officinalis, AKA China, or Peruvian Bark) — from which we get quinine is also the first homeopathic remedy to be “proved” by Samuel Hahnemann. He devised his theory of “like cures like,” then he tried it on himself. Thus he “proved” his theory. (Look for an upcoming article on this topic.) At it’s worst, the Cinchona patient is “despondent, gloomy, has no desire to live, but lacks courage to commit suicide” (Allen 2017, p. 100). Could Rufus have been in that state? Dunno. “Gloomy” could certainly be a word attributed to his disposition recently. Cinchona also has “drawing or tearing; in every joint” (Allen 2005, p. 100). We know he has this going on. You can see it and hear it when he stands up or drops down. Cinchona is an excellent remedy for the elderly, the weak or the recuperating. We believe Rufus to be on the older side. (He has been with us for 5-1/2 years and the vet estimated he was 4 or 5 at that time.) Cinchona is part of the 3rd line Banerji Protocol for Malnutrition with loss of weight (Banerji and Banerji 2013, p. 131). That could fit old Rufus. His harness seems pretty loose these days despite our not altering his diet. When he first joined our family, he was only 85 pounds (and was missing a great deal of his fur, plus mange, plus fleas and yeast infections — I had forgotten how unwell he used to be!) Though the vet recommended a chicken and rice diet for him, we quickly learned that rice was not his friend and he has been grain free ever since and last we checked, he was about 130 pounds. But, there is absolutely no question that he was malnourished upon arrival here. Bone broth has been an amazing thing for this lovely beast and I credit that, along with cell salts and well chosen homeopathic remedies, for getting him back to health. Homeopathy is definitely not an exact science and it is not at all unusual to need to zigzag your way through a case. I hope we are at the end of Rufus’ dollops, but in the event that we are not, I am prepared to follow his symptoms to make sure that his remaining years are as pleasant as possible — for him, and for us! Julia Coyte, CHom classicallypractical.com #wellnessawaits. #homeopathycanhelp Allen, H. C., 2017. Keynotes : rearranged and classified with leading remedies of the materia medica and bowel nosodes including repertorial index. Noida, U.P., India: B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd.
Banerji, P. and Banerji, P., 2013. The Banerji protocols : a new method of treatment with homeopathic medicines. India: Pratip Banerji.
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Morrison, M.D., R., 1998. Desktop companion to physical pathology. Nevada City, Calif.: Hahnemann Clinic Publ. Pareek, R. S. and Pareek, A., 2012. Homeopathy for Acutes and Emergencies. Kandern, Germany: Narayana Publishers.  Entire books have been written on homeopathic potency (see a partial list below). It truly is a nuanced topic. There are many theories and “rules” and throughout homeopathic history, there is no end of discussion as to which potency should be used under which circumstances. I will make choosing the right potency short and simple. 1. In an emergency, the right potency is the one you have. 2. If you have the right remedy, the potency is secondary. If you take a remedy and it works for you, stick with that remedy and that potency. 3. When in doubt, use a low potency (6c). Repetition of remedy: 1. In an acute illness or injury, use whatever potency you have as frequently as needed to keep the situation in hand. Follow the symptoms. (Example: If fever is the main symptom and Arnica* is helping to lower the fever, repeat the Arnica if/when the temperature begins to rise. As the temperature stabilizes, decrease the frequency until the remedy is no longer needed. * People assume Arnica is a homeopathic remedy which is only used to treat muscular aches and pains from “over doing it.” Homeopathic Arnica has a keynote symptom of “Bruised sensation. May feel, ‘as if beaten'” (Morrison, M.D. 1998). Those needing Arnica sometimes describe their condition, “as if they had been hit by a truck.” Your body doesn’t care if the aches and pains come from an injury, strenuous activity or from a fever. The remedy, in this case Arnica, will address the symptoms, regardless of causation. 2. If after a few doses of a remedy and the acute situation is not improving, it is most likely that you do not have the correct remedy and a new remedy should be chosen. 3. When dealing with chronic problems, I strongly recommend working with an experienced homeopath to help guide you through these issues. Every individual and every circumstance is different. One person’s arthritis is therefore not like the next person’s arthritis. An experienced homeopath can help guide you accordingly. 4. When in doubt, use a low potency (6c). 5. The higher the potency, the less frequently it should be repeated. 6. If using a homeopathic combination remedy, follow the manufacturer’s instructions. One of the beautiful aspects of homeopathic medicine is that it is truly an individualized method of healing. Everything I have mentioned in this article are basic "rules of thumb" and these suggestions may not fit all individuals. Working with an experienced homeopath, especially for chronic conditions, is highly recommended. Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical Homeopathy #wellnessawaits A few remedies are known to act better in specific potencies for specific conditions. Note: individuals may react differently and these are only general rules of thumb. Lycopodium clavatum 30c for edema/swelling, such as the stuffy nose which accompanies a cold or allergies. Banerji Protocol, repeat twice daily until improvement. In an acute situation like a stuffy nose, expect Lycopodium to act more quickly. If it does not, it may not be the correct remedy for your symptoms. Consult a homeopath. Nux vomica 30c for constipation. Banerji Protocol, repeat twice daily until improvement. Note: this is not the Banerji’s first line protocol for constipation, but it is their easiest protocol for constipation. In acute situations, expect this remedy to act within a day or so. If it does not, switch remedies or consult a homeopath. Magnesium phosphoricum 6x for painful menstrual cramps. Mag phos has been said to work better when administered in hot water. (This is not known to be the case for other remedies). To use this method, drop a few pellets into a cup of hot water and sip as though drinking a cup of tea. ADMINISTERING HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES Dry pellets can be administered by placing them under the tongue. For an unconscious person, infant or pet, the dry pellets can be placed between the gum and cheek. Alternatively, dry pellets can be dissolved in liquid✦ and administered by mouth (take a sip) or by placing a few drops on a cloth and placing it on the thin skin of the inside of the wrist. It is important to note that when dissolving remedies in water, every sip or application is a dose. Sensitive Individuals Some people are simply very sensitive and do better on a lower potency. Others are still even more sensitive and do better by putting their remedies in water and taking a teaspoon of that water✦. And still others are even so sensitive that they do best by taking an olfactory dose — taking a little whiff of the remedy❊. ✦ for instructions on water dosing: Hahnemanns LM and Water Potencies Homeopathic Remedy Dosage Instructions for turning pilules into liquid remedies ❊ Olfactory dosing For those wanting to learn more about using homeopathy, here are a few links to get you started. CHE’s Home Prescriber Course, FREE! Gateway to Homeopathy, Joette Calabrese, $47. Robin Murphy, ND, Emergencies and First Aid 1, $90 (available either as a CD or download directly to your computer or phone) Books and articles, if you would like more in-depth information on the topic of homeopathic potency: Barker, R., 1992. LM potencies : a selection of articles giving a practical guide to their use. Norfolk: The Homeopathic Supply Company. Bhatia, Dr. M., 2009. Homeopathic Potency Selection - Dr. Manish Bhatia [online]. Hpathy. Homeopathy Plus, 2021. Q. Which Potency Should I Choose? [online]. Homeopathy Plus. National Center for Homeopathy, 2021. How to Choose a Remedy’s Potency [online]. National Center for Homeopathy. Plouvier-Suijs, M., 2014. About potencies. Emryss Publishers. Rawat, P. S., 2016. Select your dose & potency. New Delhi: B. Jain. Rozencwajg, J., 2010. The potency : advanced prescribing in homeopathy : the Fibonacci potencies : a unified theory and practice of modern homeopathic posology. Haarlem? Emryss. Sources used in this article:
Banerji, P. and Banerji, P., 2013. The Banerji protocols : a new method of treatment with homeopathic medicines. India: Pratip Banerji. Morrison, M.D., R., 1998. Desktop companion to physical pathology. Nevada City, Calif.: Hahnemann Clinic Publ.  I’ve heard jokes made about homeopathic first aid kits. You know the sort of thing. “How is this sugar pill going to help you when you’re bleeding out?” Point taken. Your gushing finger will eventually need to be bandaged up, once you have the bleeding and shock under control. That’s where the homeopathy comes in and that’s why I keep both a homeopathic first aid kit & a good conventional first aid kit handy.* Homeopathic Phosphorus is indicated when there is “bright red and abundant blood” (Ratera, 2016). I have witnessed the blood stop flowing, whether it be from my son’s profuse bloody nose or my gushing finger. “Maybe the blood was stopping on its own, anyway!” Maybe. But, when you see the blood stop flowing on multiple occasions and situations… I’m going with the Phosphorus is working… and very quickly! Cantharis is one of the best remedies for burns (Ratera, 2016, p. 386). Not only can this remedy be taken by mouth to relieve the pain and to start the healing, homeopathic Cantharis can be diluted in water and applied topically after soaking some gauze in the solution. Calendula is another remedy which works well when diluted and applied topically, especially if there are lacerations (deep cuts). Homeopathic Calendula is highly indicated “to promote healthy granulation (Taber’s Medical Dictionary: “granulations bring a rich blood supply to the healing surface”) and prevent excessive suppuration (Taber: “the formation of pus”) and disfiguring scars” (Allen, 2017, p. 76). Plus, it helps the pain… a lot! ** I have included a few links to research papers on Calendula in this article. For more links to further research on the benefits of homeopathic remedies, visit my research page. And, let’s not forget the first rule of dealing with an emergency … staying calm. Arnica should be one of the first remedies administered in an emergency. Homeopathic Arnica is highly indicated in the patient who says there is nothing wrong with them (especially when they are clearly in need of medical attention). Arnica, too, can be applied topically for bruises, strains and muscular injuries, but NEVER on an open wound. English physician Dorothy Shepard (1885-1952) writes about her patients who believed they were being given morphine when in fact they had been given homeopathic Arnica (Shephard, 1989, p. 145). I am not suggesting that homeopathy can fix everything all by itself, (though, it can go an awfully long way!) Homeopathy is also excellent to use ON THE WAY TO THE HOSPITAL! If you are dealing with someone who is suffering hives or an allergic reaction and it looks like it is turning into an anaphylactic situation, administer homeopathic Apis mellifica immediately (Ratera, 2016, p. 322) and frequently while on the way to the hospital or when you are waiting for the ambulance to arrive. If you are faced with someone having a stroke or heart attack, administer Arnica or Aconite immediately (Banerji and Banerji, 2013, p. 56; Pareek and Pareek, 2012, p. 17; Pareek and Pareek, 2012, p. 47) and frequently while you are waiting for the ambulance to arrive. In addition to all the horrible scenarios that are possible, a homeopathic kit can also help address everyday issues that arise: ear aches, fever, too many sweets, diarrhea & vomiting, bumps and bruises and coughs, colds & allergies. I have written a few times about when my homeopathic remedy kit has come in handy… here and here. Below, please find some links to a wide range of homeopathic remedy kits. Once you have a kit in your possession, you are on your way to protecting yourself and your family both in everyday and emergency situations. The more you use it, the more you will want to use it because you will be amazed at how quickly bad situations can be averted and made right. * I have no affiliation with any of the companies listed in this article. Julia Coyte, CHom classicallypractical.com #wellnessawaits #homeopathycanhelp Homeopathic Remedy Kits These prices and links are accurate at the time of writing this article in September 2021. 1/2 dram vials are excellent for travel. 2 dram vials are much easier to dispense the remedies and are excellent for home use. A 30c kit is a very good place to start, regardless of who makes it or how many remedies are included. Americans For Homeopathy Choice An Altoid sized tin with twelve 1/2 dram glass bottles to which you can add your own remedies, $20. Or, you can purchase a full kit which includes twelve 1/2 dram OHM Pharma remedies, $60. A truly easy to carry choice. BONUS! All profits from this kit are donated to Americans for Homeopathy Choice. Boiron Remedies included: HomeoFamily Kit: this is a nice drawer-like kit, holding 32 full size Boiron remedies in both 6c and 30c as well as 12 individual Oscillococcinum tubes, includes the “Easy Guide” with room to hold 16 additional full size tubes: $199.99. Remedies included. HomeoTravel Kit: Room to hold 16 remedies, 6c & 30c combined, $109.99. Remedies included. Boiron storage containers only (no remedies included), but a good way to organize your loose Boiron tubes! My Home Kit: is an empty drawer-like container with room to hold 48 Boiron tubes plus 18 doses of Oscilloccinum: $49.99. My Pocket Kit is an empty container which holds 5 Boiron tubes: $1.99. My Travel Kit is an empty container which holds 16 Boiron tubes: $29.99. Hahnemann Labs: 2020 kit: 12 remedies, 30c: $70 — 2 dram First Aid: 15 remedies, 30c: $61.95 — 2 dram Home Remedy Kit: 35 remedies, 30c: $154.95 — 2 dram Expanded Home Remedy Kit: 50 remedies, 30c: $203.95 — 2 dram Helios Childbirth kit, 18 remedies, 200c £29.95 Traveller kit, 36 remedies, 30c, £42.95 Pet kit, 24 remedies, 30c, £36.25* *Homeopathic remedies are the same whether for pets or for people. A pet kit could be used for people and a people kit can be used for pets. Accident & emergency, 18 remedies, 200c, £29.95 Basic 18 kit, 30c, £29.95 Basic 36 kit, 30c, £42.95 Lotus Health (Robin Murphy, N.D.) First aid kit, 1/2 dram, 50 remedies, in either 30c or 200c: $150 Robin Murphy, N.D. also offers a number of CDs or Downloads to learn all about homeopathy and homeopathic remedies. I highly recommend all of his lectures, but in this instance, I suggest his “Emergencies and First Aid” lecture. Natural Health Supply First aid: 50 remedies, 1/2 dram: 6c: $149 30c: $149 200c: $179 Emergency kit upgrade, Part B, 1/2 dram: 30c: $169 200c: $189 Household kit, 25 remedies, 2 dram: 30c: $159 200c: $189 Tissue salts kit, 12 remedie, 2 dram:$ 59.95 Ollois First aid kit, 4 remedies in a little case, 12c and 30c: $29.99 Washington Homeopathy 50 remedy kit 30c, 1/2 dram: $124.99 (out of stock til 10/21) 50 remedy kit 200c, 1/2 dram: $174.99 (out of stock til 10/21) Top 100 kit: $224.99 (out of stock, no date given) Empty storage kits: 1/2 dram, 50 count: $7.59 1/2 dram, 100 count: $8.19 Resources for this article:
Allen, H.C. (2017). Keynotes : rearranged and classified with leading remedies of the materia medica and bowel nosodes including repertorial index. Noida, U.P., India: B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd. Banerji, P. and Banerji, P. (2013). The Banerji protocols : a new method of treatment with homeopathic medicines. India: Pratip Banerji. **Givol, O., Kornhaber, R., Visentin, D., Cleary, M., Haik, J. and Harats, M. (2019). A systematic review of Calendula officinalis extract for wound healing. Wound Repair and Regeneration, 27(5), pp.548–561. **Hostanska, K., Rostock, M., Melzer, J., Baumgartner, S. and Saller, R. (2012). A homeopathic remedy from arnica, marigold, St. John’s wort and comfrey accelerates in vitro wound scratch closure of NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 12(1). **Nicolaus, C., Junghanns, S., Hartmann, A., Murillo, R., Ganzera, M. and Merfort, I. (2017). In vitro studies to evaluate the wound healing properties of Calendula officinalis extracts. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 196, pp.94–103. Pareek, R.S. and Pareek, A. (2012). Homeopathy for Acutes and Emergencies. Kandern, Germany: Narayana Publishers. Ratera, Dr.M.M. (2016). First Aid with Homeopathy. Dr. Ratera specialized in Internal Medicine and also studied Traumatology and Emergency Medicine in Spain. Shephard, D. (1989). The magic of the minimum dose : experiences and cases. Saffron Walden: Health Science Press. A highly readable book, loaded with good information. Venes, D. and Clarence Wilbur Taber (2013). Taber’s cyclopedic medical dictionary. [22nd ed., ISBN: 9780803629776]. Philadelphia, Pa.: F.A. Davis.  Why do homeopathic remedies have silly sounding names? Homeopathic remedies are always referred to by their Latin name. The world over, Apis mellifica (Honey Bee in English; abeja in Spanish; honigbiene in German; медоносная пчела in Russian, at least according to the Internet) will be known as the same thing and easily found. Finding the right potency, however, can be confusing. This article is the first in a series of background information on homeopathic medicine:
Potency, or strength (for lack of a better word) is indicated by the number following the name of the remedy on the tube of homeopathic pellets (see above photo). What you would find on the shelves in most stores in the US would most likely be 6c, 30c and occasionally 200c. You may also see some with a low number preceding an "X". These numbers indicate how many times the remedy has been diluted and succussed (shaken or banged against a solid object). This process is referred to as “potentization” and it is this process that makes the original substance “potent.” “Sorry, what?” Ok. Let’s back up a moment. Homeopathic remedies are made from virtually any substance.1 A soluble substance, one that is able to be dissolved in liquid, is made into a tincture. From this tincture that has been created, one part is taken and added to 99 parts of a mixture of alcohol and water and succussed (shaken) 100 times. This is now a 1c potency. Non-soluble substances are triturated (ground up) with lactose* (generally speaking).2 Taking one part substance and adding it to 99 parts lactose creates a 1c potency. (Once this substance has been triturated a few times, the mixture is able to be processed further through the liquid method listed above.) Thus, a 30c potency has been diluted (1:100) 30 times and succussed/shaken 100 times, 30 times over. (This 30c liquid is then sprayed on the pellets to create the remedy. When the instructions on the homeopathic vial state that 4 or 5 pellets are equal to 1 dose, they are saying that one in every 4 or 5 pellets is guaranteed to have the remedy on it.)  http://i1.wp.com/www.drjurj.ro/homeopatie/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/homeopathic-dilutions-diagram.jpg An X potency is created in the same manner but instead of 100 (c), it is diluted and succussed 10 (x) times. A dilution of 1:10 is designated as 1x. (A 6c potency is 10 times as dilute as a 6x potency. As a point of interest, 6x & 3c have a similar potentization. I know it's baffling, but don't you find it kind of fascinating?!) There are other designations used throughout the world and there are other potency scales used. For the purpose of this article, we will only be addressing X and C potencies. I include the table below for a glimpse into what else is out there in the world of homeopathic designations and for our non-US readers to be able to equate their homeopathic designations to ours.  If you’re with me so far, here’s where homeopathy can get confusing. The lower the number, the more of the original substance remains. The larger the number, the less of the original substance remains and therefore is considered more potent or more powerful. It is this counterintuitive point that is the basis for a lot of the controversy that surrounds homeopathy. After 23 dilutions in the decimal scale (X) (Robinson, 2014) or 11th or 12th centesimal potency (C) (Lockie, 1993), there are no molecules of the original substance left. "What? There is nothing of the original substance left? Nope, not to a normal microscope anyway. I told you it was going to get confusing. Chikramane et al., (2017) found nanoparticles of the starting metals in 30c and 200c remedies. Put in simpler terms… if I were to take some feces and put it through the potentization process mentioned above, would you want to drink that glass of water? That's what I thought, too. Something has to still be hanging around in there, even if a standard microscope can't see it. “Why dilute the existing substance in the first place? Why don’t you just use the original substance in its original form?” That’s a good question. Samuel Hahnemann, who founded homeopathy as we know it back in the late 1700s, learned through his experimentation that some of his patients got worse before they got better and as a result began to dilute his remedies to provide a gentler cure. He found they not only avoided the “aggravations” with these diluted remedies, but they also worked “faster and more effectively. They were, paradoxically, weaker but more potent” (Lockie 1993, p. 2). Some of the substances used to make homeopathic remedies are highly toxic and would not be safe to ingest in their original form. But, the homeopathic potentization process (when followed according to the strict methods as described in The Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States (HPUS) results in a new substance so dilute and gentle that adverse affects are similar to those caused by placebo (Stub et al., 2016). (No, homeopathy is not simply a placebo based on sugar pills to make you think you feel better. I will post an article on this topic in the future.) Science has not yet caught up with homeopathy. Despite hundreds of years of use and clinical success, science still has no explanation for this phenomenon. They are seemingly making inroads, however, and the latest explanation lies in the water and the idea that water has a memory (Homeopathy Research Institute | HRI, 2018; Pollack Lab, n.d.). It is this memory of the substance in the water that acts curatively in the body to help the body strengthen itself. Julia Coyte, CHom classicallypractical.com #wellnessawaits 1 The Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States (HPUS) defines the exact standards, tests and guidelines for each remedy. See https://www.hpus.com for more information. 2 If you are lactose intolerant and concerned about taking homeopathic remedies, contact me to see if we can address that problem, homeopathically speaking. The amount of lactose in the pellets is quite small, but, since the medicine is on the outside of the pellets, you can realistically have them in your mouth for a very short time and then spit them out and still gain the benefit as the medicine will be absorbed quite quickly. *Ollois is a relatively new homeopathic remedy manufacturer that is lactose free, available now in some grocery and natural food stores in the US. OHM Pharmacy also states their pellets are free of lactose. If you struggle with lactose intolerance, book an appointment to help relieve you of this burden or contact me for how best to take homeopathic remedies so lactose will not be an issue. Sources referenced in the writing of this article:
Chikramane, P.S., Suresh, A.K., Kane, S.G. and Bellare, J.R. (2017). Metal nanoparticle induced hormetic activation: a novel mechanism of homeopathic medicines. Homeopathy: The Journal of the Faculty of Homeopathy, [online] 106(3), pp.135–144. Creedy |, M. (2016). Potency - the power of Homeopathy. Helios Homeopathy (n.d.). helios-frontend. Homeopathy Research Institute | HRI. (2018). “New Horizons in Water Science”: Evidence for Homeopathy? Lockie, A. (1993). The family guide to homeopathy : symptoms and natural solutions. New York: Simon & Schuster. Nelsons. (2021). Homeopathic Dilution. Pollack Lab (n.d.). research. [online] pollacklab. Reichenberg-Ullman, J. and Ullman, D. (2010). Homeopathic Potency Selection Simplified (Feb/March 2010) Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients. [online] www.townsendletter.com. Robinson, K. (2014). Small doses big results : how homeopathic medicine offers hope in chronic disease. Stub, T., Musial, F., Kristoffersen, A.A., Alræk, T. and Liu, J. (2016). Adverse effects of homeopathy, what do we know? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, [online] 26, pp.146–163.
*I have no affiliation with these companies, I just like their products. Boiron Calendula Cream Coco and Camille Maruca Design Resources used in this article: Morrison, M.D., R., 1998. Desktop companion to physical pathology. Nevada City, Calif.: Hahnemann Clinic Publ. Pareek, R. S. and Pareek, A., 2012. Homeopathy for Acutes and Emergencies. Kandern, Germany: Narayana Publishers.  I first learned about the homeopathic remedy Ammonium carbonicum when I was just beginning my adventure into the world of homeopathy. It was taught to me as part of a Banerji Protocol for menopausal symptoms: Brainfog, moodiness & irritability and abnormal menstrual bleeding. I next stumbled upon Ammonium carbonicum when I had flu-like symptoms. I remember the headache very well. It was like I had eaten ice cream too fast except time was not helping the pain to go away. I was thumbing through a book that had been sitting on the shelf, waiting for this very moment to prove its usefulness. The Homeopathic Treatment of Influenza: Surviving Influenza Pandemics Past, Present and Future with Homeopathy by Sandra J. Perko. This book has since earned a prized location on my bookshelf. Headache Symptoms: Am-c (Ammonium carbonicum): Headache with fever. Headache centered in the forehead at the root of the nose. Headache with nausea. Better with pressure and in a warm room (Perko, 2005, p. 211). This description was by far the closest listed for my headache that day, though the words alone didn’t fully describe the pain I was experiencing. When I learned that Ammonium carbonicum is a homeopathic remedy made from smelling salts, that’s when the penny really dropped. If you have ever had a good whiff of ammonia, you know where that odor concentrates — right at the root of the nose — right where an ice cream headache settles in. I took one dose of homeopathic Ammonium carbonicum 200c and I was on my way back to engaging with the world. Perko’s book is formatted in such a way that even if it is you who is trying to figure out the best remedy for yourself when you’re feeling rotten, it is totally do-able. Following interesting information about influenzas throughout history (which you can marvel at later, when you’re feeling better), page 138 jumps right in with Predominating Symptoms: “Fever Predominates: High Temperature - Severe Sweating” and lists 54 short descriptions of homeopathic remedies and the types of fever symptoms they address. There are not chapters, per se, but headings: Fever, Perspiration, Chill, Respiratory symptoms, Catarrhal (mucus) symptoms, Cough, Throat, Larynx, Tongue & Mouth symptoms, Nasal, Sneezing, Eyes, Musculoskeletal, Headache & Face symptoms, and Vertigo. Each subheading is followed by dozens of 2-4 line entries of clear symptomatic descriptions of each homeopathic remedy. Following the Predominating Symptoms is the “Influenza Differential Reference” listing the previously mentioned remedies and how they each relate to the flu. Unlike most Materia Medicas, this one first lists “Influenza Keynotes” and then provides a paragraph from noted homeopaths (current and historic) and their thoughts on the homeopathic remedy in regard to its connection to influenza. The end of the book closes out with a section on “Complications of Influenza” and homeopathic remedies which may help and a special Bird Flu section. You may now be wondering how menopausal symptoms relate to a remedy for an ice cream headache. Good question. Most homeopathic remedies relate to all/most parts of the body in their individual ways.* Let’s look at Ammonium carbonicum on a very surface level and think back to the old movies and novels where we would see women of a certain age taking a little whiff of their smelling salts. We learn in Tasca’s article, (2012) Women and Hysteria in the History of Mental Health that “During the Victorian Age (1837-1901) most women carried a bottle of smelling salts in their handbag: they were inclined to swoon when their emotions were aroused, and it was believed, that, as postulated by Hipocrates [sic], the wandering womb disliked the pungent odor and would return to its place, allowing the woman to recover her consciousness.” I posit that it wasn’t the “wandering womb” that was causing the problems and nor were her problems to be considered "hysteria," but various menopausal symptoms were in play and that the smelling salts were helping to address. Menopausal Syndrome, Banerji Protocol: Menopausal symptoms, in general, including brain fog, moodiness & irritability as well as heavy menstrual bleeding: Ammonium carbonicum 200, once every 10 days. Note: this is one part of the protocol and other remedies would be employed to address further menopausal symptoms. If you are experiencing a difficult time as a result of peri-menopause, menopause or post-menopause, book an acute appointment now * Keep an eye out for an upcoming article on homeopathic “provings” which will bring a little clarity on how we know how homeopathic remedies affect individuals. You can sign up to have the latest articles delivered to your email here. Banerji, P. and Banerji, P. (2013). The Banerji protocols : a new method of treatment with homeopathic medicines. India: Pratip Banerji. Tasca, C. (2012). Women And Hysteria In The History Of Mental Health. Clinical Practice & Epidemiology in Mental Health, [online] 8(1), pp.110–119.  Perko, S.J. (2005).
The homeopathic treatment of influenza : surviving influenza epidemics and pandemics past, present and future with homeopathy. San Antonio, Tx: Benchmark Homeopathic Publications.
 Remember way back when when we used to routinely exercise our immune system? We would be constantly bombarded by germs that if you weren’t strong enough would result in… [play the ‘duh duh duh’ music here] a cold! There is/was a school of thought that getting and beating these types of attacks is/was good for your health — taking your immune system for a walk, so to speak. My family routinely turned to Boiron’s Cold Calm for quick relief almost every time a little “somethin’ somethin’” seemed to be creeping in. Cold Calm is a combination homeopathic remedy that can certainly save time and energy if the symptoms are just starting to present and are not quite clear enough to choose just one remedy. Or, when you are the person suffering and the inability to think clearly sets in. Here are the homeopathic remedies included in Cold Calm with a little more information to understand what’s in it and how these individual remedies may help your symptoms. Allium cepa is the red onion — you know, the thing that makes your eyes itch and burn and tear up and your nose follows streaming along soon after. Apis mellifica is the honey bee — you know, the thing that stings you and you swell up… like your nose or your eyes if you have a cold. Belladonna has a reputation as a “virus interrupter.” More specifically to coming down with a cold, Belladonna can be helpful with congestion or when suffering a headache as a result of stuffiness. It’s certainly helpful if any sore throat is involved. Eupatorium perfoliatum, also known as “Bone-set” is an excellent fever remedy, specifically (wait for it…) when your bones ache, including your facial bones as a result of sinus pain. Gelsemium sempervirens is one of the great homeopathic influenza remedies. This remedy is taught in the homeopathy schools as the 7 dwarfs remedy: for when someone is Droopy, Drowsy, Dumb, Dizzy, Drained — that’s only 5, but you get the idea. An excellent headache remedy. Kali bich — for when it’s thick! The old homeopathy books call them “clinkers” — that’s a booger to you and me in modern parlance. Lumps of stuff in the nose or throat. Again, another excellent headache remedy if the symptoms fit. Nux vomica — good for stuffy nose, but even better for sneezing. Nux vomica is also an excellent remedy for the tummy symptoms which can sometimes accompany a cold/flu. And, it’s really good for the short temper that can sneak in there when you’re feeling crummy. Phytolacca decandra — swollen glands and sore throats, specifically the sore throats where the pains shoot from the throat into the ears on swallowing. Pulsatilla — if there is a loss of taste and smell. Stuffy nose; a bad odor in the nose; mucusy, loose cough, bland watering eyes (not burning, that’s Apis mentioned above). I have heard Cold Calm referred to as "magical" — now you know why. This little mixture covers just about everything one would need at the start of “a little somethin’ somethin’” coming on. If Cold Calm isn’t quite cutting it for you and you need some further assistance with cold or flu symptoms, book an acute appointment and we’ll see what we can do to get you feeling better quicker. Julia Coyte, CHom Classicallypractical.com #homeopathycanhelp Photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash Once upon a time, when somebody sneezed or coughed, we all assumed it was either a cold or allergies and we really didn't think very much about it. Now, if you're in public and you have to sneeze or (heaven forbid!) cough… hold it in -- don't even go there!
Allergy season has returned to our neck of the woods. Headaches. Sneezing. Runny noses. Blocked up sinuses. Tickling in the throat. Yuck. Let's look at a few homeopathic remedies that might be of assistance. Allium cepa is a go-to remedy for runny noses which burn and eyes that water blandly and can present with a dull frontal headache. Arsenicum album -- for burning discharge from the nose and the eyes and eyelids may be puffy. Here's a potentially important piece of the allergy puzzle with this remedy: Complaints return annually. (While this is more of a classical homeopathic approach to allergies, Arsenicum album can certainly be applied in a practical or therapeutic way, as well.) Euphrasia focuses on the eyes. Opposite to Allium cepa, Euphrasia has a bland runny nose and burning eyes. The eyelids may also itch and burn. Natrum muriaticum can have a profuse watery discharge from the eyes and the nose and what comes out of the nose may have an egg white consistency. Taste and smelling may be an issue as well as a tickling in the pit of the throat. Nux vomica -- obnoxious, relentless sneezing as well as irritation in the nose and eyes. Grumpiness might just be a part of this picture, too. Sanguinaria can be very helpful for sinus issues and facial pain and headaches from the blocked sinuses. Wyethia also has the runny nose and sneezing, but it also has the peculiar symptom of an itchy palate -- requesting your tongue's assistance in rubbing back and forth trying to scratch that itch. There are many, many homeopathic remedies to address the many, many allergic symptoms. If you need help deciding what remedies may best suit your symptoms, or if you are prone to allergies in general, homeopathy can help to strengthen your system and lessen this burden. Contact classicallypractical.com to see if homeopathy can help relieve your seasonal allergies now and in the future. Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical Homeopathy #homeopathycanhelp |
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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