 I was beginning to think the flu season may have just skimmed over the world this year, but here it is… a little later than usual, but, just like always, it is no fun. And, just like always, a little prevention can go a long way. (See also: Calming the Cold; Flu Remedies to Consider; Ho Ho Ho, (not Oooooh No!); Ahh-choo; On the 4th Day of Cell Salts… Ferr Phos.) Let’s jump ahead to the unfortunate situation we see in the picture above where those early signals were missed (or, ignored) and, here we are, unable to get out of bed… feeling just awful and the kids are hungry. (Oh, man, I remember those days. So painful!) So, where would one start in this scenario? Below are seven MAIN COMPLAINTs, followed by 4 or 5 commonly found remedies with 4 or 5 symptoms each which may help to choose a remedy to get back on your feet quickly. Remember! We are not looking for perfection. We are looking for improvement. We are looking to move the worst symptom out of the way for a minute so you can do what you need to do and then, when that’s done, get back into bed to rest properly. This is far from a complete flu repertory. The intent here is to put as many remedies as possible in a quick list. All of these remedies could (pretty much) be listed under all of the headings. In other words, they are (for the most part) wide-reaching flu remedies. Choose the worst MAIN COMPLAINT (found in BOLD CAPS) you are experiencing at the moment and then choose the remedy that best fits your current symptoms. Notes:
 ACHING BODY: Arnica
 COUGH: Antimonium tart
 FEVER*: Aconite
 GASTRO: Arsenicum album
 HEADACHE: Belladonna
 NOSE: Arsenicum album
 SORE THROAT: Causticum
It’s important to remember that there are many, many homeopathic remedies for each of these main symptoms. This is just a brief list which may help to get dinner on the table or that important email answered. Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical homeopath #wellnessawaits * Be sure to seek treatment if the fever is very high, continues to climb or is accompanied by seizure or fainting or severe headache or stiff neck (to name but a few concerning symptoms). For more information:
If you have already been through the worst of the flu, check out “Get Well Soon” to find a few helpful tips on recuperating.
0 Comments
 I’m sure you have noticed that there are some winter illnesses going around. One of them tried sneaking into our house just as we were packing up Christmas. So far, we have been able to foil its plans.
When the first signs struck the other day, I used my go-to remedies to pretty good effect. (See previous articles: Flu Remedies; Ho Ho Ho; Ammonium carb; Calming the Cold; The Crud.) Unusually for me, I had a nasty sinus headache that my normal remedies managed to quiet but not quite subdue. Then, I saw sitting next to my desk, a little bottle of something I bought on a whim and forgot all about. A cute, little bottle called, “Achoo!*” Achoo! is a gemmotherapy combination (see here for more information on Gemmos) of Common Alder, Black Currant and Dog Rose. Lauren Hubele’s website* (which is the only place I have been able to find which sells it) says it is a remedy "to support upper respiratory health". Let’s take a quick look at the ingredients. Common Alder or Alnus glutinosa is a fluid harmonizer and is useful in case of colds, flu, viruses, headaches and localized inflammation, especially those originating from a mucosa. It is known to support natural defenses and is said to act best if used at the beginning of symptoms of upper respiratory conditions. Black Currant or Ribes nigrum is also useful for immune system support. It has a high content of vitamin C and can be very useful in any inflamed condition, in particular in the respiratory tract (in my case, sinusitis). Dog Rose or Rosa canina is another immune support and is particularly useful when the head is involved: adenoids and sinuses. Today is Saturday and I first felt these symptoms on Wednesday evening. Thursday was a little tough, but thanks to my remedies, it didn't stop me from living my life. Yesterday was mostly fine and today I am completely back to normal with good energy and no sinus pain, whatsoever. If you are quick on the draw when you first feel symptoms, homeopathy and gemmotherapy can get you right back on track with minimal disruption to your life. It’s the early days of these winter illnesses. If you haven’t done so yet, pick up a few of the remedies listed in my earlier blogs and a little bottle of Achoo!, too. Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical homeopath #wellnessawaits * I have no affiliation with this or any other company, I just like their products.  Flu season has returned. Well, colds, flu, Covid, influenza, whatever you want to call it — it’s back.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - homeopathy doesn’t give a hoot what you call it. Homeopathy only cares about the symptoms you are experiencing. Here is a short and sweet list of remedies to keep handy - to take at the first sign of feeling unwell; whether that be cold symptoms or fatigue setting in or aches or sneezing.
Not homeopathic but pretty impressive… Last December while traveling in England, everyone around me was coming down with whatever it was everybody was coming down with. I was in Helios pharmacy picking up some remedies and I saw A. Vogel Echinaforce tablets on the shelf. I took these, as well as Ferrum phos 6x and never had so much as a sniffle. I would use that combination again in a heartbeat. If you don’t get there in time with the above remedies and the yucks have made themselves at home, see Flu Remedies to Consider. With all of these remedy suggestions (unless otherwise noted), take a dose at the first sign of feeling unwell. Repeat every 3-12 hours. When feeling better, stop the remedy. If the symptoms return, start the remedy again. Now, go out there, make merry and celebrate the joyous season like you used to! Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical homeopath #wellnessawaits  I live in a desert. I live in a desert for a reason. I like that nice, dry weather, usually with a big, blue sky filled with a sun that has meaning!
Soon, I’m headed to other climes and I must admit, even though I am really looking forward to the trip, I am not looking forward to the cold and damp. The last time I was in this weather in the winter, I would get so cold it took a long time soaking in a deep, hot bath to warm up. Literally. Chilled to the bone is a real thing. Back in the day, I didn’t even know about homeopathy, let alone use it. So, this time, I’m doing a little prep work of what remedies to have along with me. Previously, I wrote about frost bite and the remedies that can help with that. I’ll bring that remedy with me, but that’s very different to the deep-seated cold of damp weather. Three remedies stand out in my search: Dulcamara, Nux moschata, and Rhus tox. These are not the only remedies, just the 3 that keep popping up most clearly and therefore, a good place to start (and the 3 remedies I am going to be sure to bring with me!) Calc carb showed up quite often, but it didn’t really have any distinguishing features, but I’ll leave it in anyway, just cuz. Homeopathic Dulcamara has a strong keynote aggravation from damp weather. “Any condition which has this feature may find its remedy in Dulcamara” (Robin Murphy). Most Dulcamara complaints are related to the mucous membranes (mouth, nose, eyelids, lungs, stomach, intestines). Symptoms unique to Dulcamara in the cold and damp:
A few symptoms where Dulcamara is your best bet (though, Calc carb, Nux moschata and Rhus tox are still indicated, but not as clearly):
Homeopathic Nux moschata is what would be called a dry remedy. (It’s made from nutmeg, so that kind of makes sense to me.) A very dry remed actually; so, it’s no surprise that the person who could benefit from it would not fare well in the cold and damp. Three symptoms that appear in the cold and damp and are unique to Nux moschata:
If you experience any of these symptoms as a result of being in the cold and damp, Nux moschata is most likely the remedy for you. Homeopathic Rhus tox is a remedy that is known for feeling better from heat — generally, the hotter the better! So, it would make sense that a person needing Rhus tox would feel worse in the cold and damp. Specific to Rhus tox as a result of the cold & damp:
A few other rubrics to consider that don’t fit nicely into my (mostly) neatly segregated remedies:
Here’s to sitting by a blazing fire, sipping something hot and lovely! Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical homeopath #wellnessawaits 
Reference list
AlMahameed, A. and Pinto, D. S., 2008. Pernio (Chilblains). Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine [online], 10 (2), 128–135. Cleveland Clinic Frostbite: Causes, Symptoms, Stages, Treatment & Prevention [online]. Cleveland Clinic. Drugs.com, 2021. Nifedipine Uses, Dosage & Side Effects [online]. Drugs.com. Fudge, J., 2016. Exercise in the Cold. Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach [online], 8 (2), 133–139. Golant, A., Nord, R. M., Paksima, N., and Posner, M. A., 2008. Cold Exposure Injuries to the Extremities. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons [online], 16 (12), 704–715. Kanoore Edul, V. S., Ince, C., and Dubin, A., 2015. What is microcirculatory shock? Current Opinion in Critical Care [online], 21 (3), 245–252. Knapic, J., Reynolds, K., and Castellani, J., 2020. Frostbite: Pathophysiology, Epidemiology, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention. Journal of special operations medicine : a peer reviewed journal for SOF medical professionals [online], 20 (4). Leverette, M. M., 2019. Hot, Warm, or Cold Water for Laundry? [online]. The Spruce. . Mayo Clinic, 2018. Frostbite - Symptoms and causes [online]. Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, Chilblains - Symptoms and causes [online]. Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, 2021. Frostnip [online]. Mayo Clinic. Murphy, R., 2015. Keynote Materia Medica. Blacksburg, Virginia: Lotus Health Institute. Murphy, R., n.d. Homeopathic Remedy Guide. accessed through Radar Opus software. Peshin, A., 2018. What Is Lukewarm Water? How Hot Is It? [online]. Science ABC. Raducan, A. and Tiplica, G., n.d. Cold Injuries -Chilblains and Frostbite Е В Р О П Е Й С К А Д Е Р М А Т О Л О Г И Я [online]. Strohecker, B. and Parulski, C. J., 1997. Frostbite Injuries of the Hand. Plastic Surgical Nursing [online], 17 (4), 212–216. Tlougan, B. E., Mancini, A. J., Mandell, J. A., Cohen, D. E., and Sanchez, M. R., 2011. Skin Conditions in Figure Skaters, Ice-Hockey Players and Speed Skaters. Sports Medicine [online], 41 (11), 967–984. Vermeulen, F., 2004. Prisma : the arcana of materia medica illuminated : similars and parallels between substance and remedy. Haarlem, Netherlands: Emryss. Wash.com, 2018. Washer Water Temperature Guide | WASH [online]. Wash.com. Zook, N., Hussmann, J., Brown, R., Russell, R., Kucan, J., Roth, A., and Suchy, H., 2021. Medscape: Medscape Access [online]. Medscape.com.  And, so it begins. The season of family, friends, food, festivities and, less desirably, the crud.
What follows is an account of one family suffering from the crud. I know this family well and often help them homeopathically through quick text exchanges. Knowing she has a good home kit of homeopathic remedies, I addressed her questions and their symptoms with common remedies. Note: sitting down and taking the full case is definitely a better way to approach any situation, but this is how things go sometimes. She didn’t request a “full” acute consultation, she just wanted to address her symptoms as they popped up. A friend called last week with her 1st grader suffering a nasty, yucky cough. She got over it pretty quickly, but she managed to share it with her little sisters. The littlest one wasn’t sleeping for a few nights and since little ones aren’t known for entertaining themselves quietly when they aren’t sleeping, her mom didn’t sleep either and she, too, succumbed to the crud. In an ideal world, the right remedy will take care of the whole enchilada all at once. But, with colds and flus you often have to chase the symptoms. One remedy takes care of the first problem and then the symptoms change and move and are looking for attention elsewhere. The mom texted with her symptoms: “What do I take for right sided nasal congestion that is also plugging my right ear? It’s a gross one. I tried to get on top of it before it fully took over and was unsuccessful.” My answer: homeopathic Sanguinaria canadensis. I knew from her oldest’s symptoms that an icky cough was part of this picture and Sanguinaria is a good cough remedy in general. It is highly indicated in a hacking cough, an irritable cough, a tickling cough and even whooping cough. Sanguinaria also is noted for ear pain and ear discharges and excessive mucus and/or tickling in the larynx, trachea or throat. The lungs may be filled with gunk and the discharges may be stringy or have an odor The headaches of Sanguinaria can be accompanied by nausea or have pain above the eyes and can be specifically associated with the right side. Gastric headaches, throbbing headaches and migraines can all be helped by homeopathic Sanguinaria. The Sanguinaria did its thing and she was feeling better than she had been earlier in the day, but her ear was still troubling her. It turns out her ear was hurting more than she mentioned at first and said that earlier in the day she found relief from resting her ear on a heating pad*. This made me think of Belladonna, another right-sided remedy that is indicated in ear pain that is better from warmth. Not long after, she texted that the crackling was much improved. * This is a very common occurrence, where what would be important symptoms are left off “the list” for one reason or another. Perhaps it is that another symptom is taking precedence or the symptom in question was worse and seemed to have disappeared and not worth mentioning, but then rears its head again. The next morning, the ear pain was gone but the congestion had shifted to her left nostril. Arsenicum album or Apis popped into my head and she texted that she had the Arsenicum album near by and “it seemed to do the trick.” I didn’t hear from her again and I just happened to text this afternoon to see how she was doing and she was not well. She now thought she had developed a sinus infection. In addition to that, her middle child was still sleeping poorly, coughing and “when she blows her nose it’s like she could blow it forever and never run out of snot.” Her daughter was also “fairly emotional” and “overly sensitive” about things that normally wouldn’t bother her. This was the first I had heard about this daughter and suggested Pulsatilla. Pulsatilla is well known for sadness, weeping easily and changeable moods. Children who can benefit from Pulsatilla are often in need of comforting and feel better for consolation. Pulsatilla is also known for discharges of all kinds from all over the body: ears, eyes, lungs, nose and more. A non-irritating, bland, discharge which may be thick or slimy or yellowish/greenish. Pulsatilla is not the only remedy that is known for a copious discharge, but when you add in the over-sensitivity, then Pulsatilla makes a lot of sense. Very soon after, another text arrived saying her daughter was already sounding less cruddy and was “snotting and coughing” less than before. As for the mom, she was suffering sinus pressure and a pretty bad headache. The mucus was no longer free flowing but it was sticking around causing the sinus pressure and the headache and causing pain at the base of her neck and down the shoulder blades. Kali bich is one of the best remedies for headaches from sinus pressure and also for sinus infections. Again, in very short order, another text arrived saying she was “feeling so much better.” A few minutes after that she phoned from her car (she felt well enough to go out and do what she needed to do!) and said she could “feel the tension leaving her body.” Her face pain was gone, her shoulders were relaxing and her voice continued to lighten as the conversation continued. Could all of the mom’s symptoms be addressed more cleanly straight off the bat? Perhaps. In hindsight, Kali bich may have been what she needed from the start, but as the symptoms presented themselves, it didn’t become clear until later. Homeopathy definitely isn’t an exact science and when the symptoms are being addressed in a piece-meal fashion via short, informal texts it’s easy to miss symptoms which could be more specifically targeted if more information had been available. Regardless, homeopathy was able to keep this busy mom going, despite her many and varied symptoms and is a good example of how symptoms can be addressed and responded to when you have a stash of common remedies at your disposal. At this point, the dad has not succumbed. He has been taking Cold Calm** as a preventative. So far, so good! Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical homeopath #wellnessawaits ** I have no affiliation with this company, I just like their product.  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 Allium cepa 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 |
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
October 2026
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed