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

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.

1. Cognitive decline
2. Balance issues
3. Oral health problems
4. Heart disease
5. Osteoarthritis or osteoporosis
6. Respiratory diseases
7. Diabetes
8. Influenza or pneumonia
9. Vision or hearing loss
10. Cancer

Today begins a short series in addressing a few of these common “senior” conditions and how homeopathy may be of assistance.

Cognitive decline.
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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. 
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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

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Reference list
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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.