A blog on homeopathy -- Ruminating on Remedies

Feel the Fear

5/14/2023

“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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Out of the Blue Blues

4/22/2023

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Do you ever get sad but aren’t sure why? It’s a miserable and perplexing thing. You’re fine, and, then … you’re not.

The blues when there is no rhyme or reason for feeling the way you do. Nothing bad has happened. You’re caught up on your work. The kids are doing fine and dandy. But you have a cloud over your head making you feel miserable … the blues when they come out of the blue.

The person who may benefit from Bach Mustard Flower Essence is very unhappy but they cannot find a reason. A Mustard depression never has a cause. It shows up one day and hangs around for days, weeks or even months when it suddenly goes away as quickly as it arrived.

Mustard belongs to Bach’s “lack of interest in present circumstances” group of remedies. Cornelia Richardson-Boedler (2015) describes Mustard thusly:

The mind is overshadowed by darkness and gloom.
There may be a sensation of a weight or a downward pull that depresses the person as a whole.
The mind actually appears to receive less light, and the person cheers up in the warm, bright rays of the sun. People who crave light and sunshine are often in need of this remedy.

She goes on to say that “the depressive character of this state makes the person turn inward, as if locked within, and the connection to the outside world is weakened.”

A field of Mustard plants is a rather joyful thing to see. The mustard stands taller than other grasses, appearing lighter and brighter than its neighbors. Mustard seeds can lie dormant for many years and spring forth when conditions are ripe — kind of like how the blues can pop up — when conditions are ripe, even if those conditions are long forgotten and presently unknown to you.

"In all things cheerfulness should be encouraged, and we should refuse to be oppressed by doubt and depression, but remember that such are not of ourselves, for our souls know only joy and happiness." -- Julian Barnard

The best way to take Bach Flower Essences is to put them in your water bottle and sip throughout the day — like a little tap on the shoulder, reminding you everything is OK.

If you or a loved one is suffering from depression, working with a professional homeopath, alongside your therapist, can often turn things around.

The Bach Flower Essence Mustard is a little ray of sunshine in an otherwise dark existence.

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

Reference list
Barnard, J., 2010. Bach flower remedies : the essence within : an illustrated guide to the bach flower remedies. West Wickham, Kent England: Winter Press.

Richardson-Boedler, C., 2015. Applying Bach flower therapy to the healing profession of homoeopathy : psychology, psychiatry, psychosomatic medicine. New Delhi: B. Jain.

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Let It Go

12/31/2022

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Woulda. Shoulda. Coulda.

Regret. Guilt. Excessive apologizing.

In keeping with the Yuletide theme, let’s turn our attention to the Christmas tree which may be standing in the corner of your room. If you have one, there’s a good chance it’s pine.

The Bach Flower Essence Pine can help address all these icky guilt-like feelings. Whether lingering from something long past or whether they are brand new; whether it’s over something big or just a small thing — anything for which one cannot forgive themselves.

In the words of Dr. Edward Bach: “Even when successful they think they could have done better and are never content with their efforts or the results.”

Holding on to these thoughts do you no favors. Let them go.

With the new year arriving tomorrow (finally!), keep your Bach Pine handy, leave the old yuckiness behind and I’ll see you in 2023!

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

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Gobble Gobble

11/23/2022

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It’s turkey time!

If it were only the turkey, overeating probably wouldn’t be much of a thing. Add in the mashed potatoes and the stuffing (the name alone says it all!), the sweet potatoes covered in marshmallows (I’ve never tried it, but it doesn’t sound like my thing) and all the pies… now, we’re getting somewhere that ends up in overeating!

There’s not much sense in suggesting to go easy at the Thanksgiving table, but let’s see what we can do to mitigate the damage, shall we?

Before we get to homeopathy, let’s start with some Bach Flowers and see what we can do to pre-empt the debauch.

Cherry Plum to help control your behavior (both food-wise AND inter-relationally!)

Elm, especially if you’re the one cooking and preparing and hosting the big day -- there's a lot to do!

Honeysuckle if you find yourself stuck in memories of the past and having a hard time being present.

Olive if you’ve been over-doing it in the pie-making department and need a little more oomph to get you through.

OK, we’ve made it through the meal prep and the food itself and you didn’t have your Cherry Plum handy to help keep your appetite in check. What now?

Nux vomica for too much. Too much food. Too much football. Too much familial politics. All that too much has left you irritable!

Carbo veg is full of gas. Lots of burping, and that helps but, it’s not enough. Stepping outside for some fresh air helps, too.

Pulsatilla if you’re overdoing it was focused on ice cream, whipped cream, dairy and fats.

Nat phos for indigestion.

Arsenicum album if the indulgence has left you with burning pains. Or, if you find yourself suffering from food poisoning.

Lycopodium for bloating and gas. Better out than in!

Let’s take these last two remedies one step further and use the Banerji protocol of Lyco/Ars. Lycopodium 200c mixed with Arsenicum album 3c. It does wonders!

I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

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I'm dreaming of some White Chestnut

9/30/2022

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There’s a reason that “haunting” is a word that often accompanies the word “dream.”

It’s always those disturbing dreams — the dark and icky dreams — that get stuck in the internal playback loop and haunt you [insert shudder here] the next day or, if you’re unlucky, many days.

Why can’t the enjoyable, funny dreams ever get stuck on replay?

You could try a dream catcher* (as pictured above). Dream catchers are meant to let the nice dreams go into the universe and catch the bad dreams so they can be destroyed in the light of day.

Or, you could try the Bach Flower Remedy, White Chestnut.

White Chestnut is not just for dreams…

White Chestnut is for whenever the mind is tormented by worrying or repetitive and unwanted thoughts.

White Chestnut is for the circling thoughts — the thoughts that go nowhere. The unproductive thoughts.

White Chestnut is for thoughts that keep you from being present in the moment. You can’t be present in the moment because you’re stuck in your head.

As Dr. Bach said, “those who cannot prevent thoughts, ideas, arguments which they do not desire from entering their minds.”

“Thoughts which worry and will remain, or if for a time thrown out, will return. They seem to circle round and round and cause mental torture.”

If you find yourself fixated on certain thoughts. Or, you find you’re having persistent, disagreeable or even tormenting thoughts. Or, you find yourself dwelling on past, generally disagreeable events — pick up a little bottle of White Chestnut** and see if that can help you find a little peace of mind.

Unlike homeopathic remedies, Bach Flowers are intended to be used repeatedly and frequently. The best description I have heard is that it's like a little tap on the shoulder to remind you that everything is OK.

A few weeks ago, I had yet another song stuck in my head. I decided to try White Chestnut. It worked. It worked so well, I decided that the words to a famous song need to be changed.

Sung to the tune of “White Christmas”:

I’m dreaming of some White Chestnut.
Just so this song can leave my head.
When your thoughts go wonky and won't stop spinning
White Chestnut can send them on their way.

Close enough.

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

* For more information: dreamcatchers
** Bach Flower Remedies are available in most health food stores.

If you are interested in a Bach consultation, click here and scroll down the page.

Photo by Andreas Wagner on Unsplash

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A Remedy to the Rescue!

12/23/2021

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It’s December 23rd and if you are still scrambling for some last minute gift ideas, I have the perfect answer for both everybody on your list -- man, woman and child as well as 4-legged creatures -- AND for you.

Bach Rescue Remedy* fits perfectly in everybody’s stocking (and, once the gift has been received, it fits perfectly in a purse or a pocket). I literally do not know one person who would not benefit from receiving this gift. (I doknow people who would claim they wouldn’t benefit, but they are kidding themselves.)

Rescue Remedy® was developed nearly 100 years ago by Dr. Edward Bach. Dr. Bach was a successful bacteriologist, as well as a homeopath, and was one of the prime founders of the homeopathic bowel nosodes. While working in the bacteriology department of University College Hospital London in 1912, he came to realize that a number of the bacteria he was studying actually had a close connection with chronic disease in general. The bowel nosodes are a really interesting arm of homeopathy that I will write about one day, but now… back to flowers!

Following his own severe illness where he was given just 3 months to live, Dr. Bach returned to work and credits his sense of purpose to saving him (he lived 19 years longer). He moved to the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital where he continued his work in bacteriology. Through his own experience he became convinced of the importance of the mind in the processes of disease (Saxton 2020).

He devoted the last six years of his life "to the search for a simpler, more natural method of treatment that did not ‘require anything to be destroyed or altered’” (Scheffer 1988).

The Bach Flower Remedies system is based on 38 remedies which balance emotions and treat negative mental states (Ball 2005). “At the switch-points of our personalities where vital energies are channelled the wrong way or blocked, the remedies re-establish contact and harmony with our wholeness, the true source of our energy” (Scheffer 1988).

Dr. Robin Murphy spoke highly of the benefits of Rescue Remedy, a mixture of 5 of Dr. Bach's flower remedies, and said it should be the first medicine administered on arrival at an accident.

What is in it and what do they address?
Here is the answer, according to Dr. Murphy:

Star of Bethlehem (see! It even has a Christmas connection mixed right in it!) reduces shock, trauma and sadness and prevents the trauma’s possible long-lasting effects on the mind, emotions and body from imprinting.

Rock Rose counteracts terror and panic.

Impatiens counteracts inner turmoil, tension and impatience.

Cherry Plum is for desperation and balances intense tension and the fear that events and one’s own life, including one’s mental power is out of control.

Clematis addresses the out-of-the-body state which precedes fainting or loss of consciousness. (Murphy n.d.)

Each of these remedies could be taken individually, but the combination is amazing and powerful -- not only for emergencies as Dr. Murphy suggests but also for every day stresses as well as bigger emotional upsets like panic attacks.

A bit of research has been done into Bach Flower Remedies (BFR):

Resende (et al. 2014) found it may reduce risk factors for cardiovascular disease in rats.

Dixit and Jasani (2020) found “significantly better behavior” in children given the flower remedy treatment to contend with their dental anxiety.

Rivas-Suárez (et al. 2017) found the BFR cream to be an effective intervention for mild and moderate carpal tunnel syndrome.

Siegler (et al. 2017) found BFR helpful for menopausal symptoms.

Fusco (et al. 2021) found anxiety symptoms, binge eating and resting heart rates decreased and sleep improved when compared with placebo in a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial of anxiety in overweight/obese adults.

Are Bach Flower Remedies the same thing as Homeopathy?

Yes and no.

• Both Homeopathy and Bach Remedies focus on treating the person, not the disease.

• The flower remedies and homeopathic remedies are both diluted, but the flower remedies are less diluted and they are not “potentized” or shaken between dilutions.

• Homeopathic remedies can be made from any substance and BFR are made only from flowers and spring water.

• There are 6,000+ homeopathic remedies and Dr. Bach closed his system at 38 remedies.

• Both focus on mental and emotional symptoms, but homeopathy also includes physical symptoms.

Rescue Remedy comes as: a liquid dropper, a spray, tasty pastilles, “Pearls” (similar to homeopathic pellets) and a topical cream.

One does not need to be in a terrible accident to benefit from Rescue Remedy. One needs only be scrambling and stressing about filling stockings, wrapping gifts, baking cookies and decorating and cleaning the house prior to the grand festivities. I told you it was a remedy for both your loved ones on your gift list AND for you.

Wishing you a peaceful, relaxing, restorative and fun Christmas!

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

* I have no affiliation with this company, I just like their products.

References and Resources

Reference list
Bach Centre, n.d. The history of Dr. Bach [online]. The Bach Centre.

Ball, S., 2005. The Bach remedies workbook. London: Vermilion.

Dixit, U. B. and Jasani, R. R., 2020. Comparison of the effectiveness of Bach flower therapy and music therapy on dental anxiety in pediatric patients: A randomized controlled study. Journal of the Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry [online], 38 (1), 71–78.

Fusco, S. de F. B., Pancieri, A. P., Amancio, S. C. P., Fusco, D. R., Padovani, C. R., Minicucci, M. F., Spiri, W. C., and Braga, E. M., 2021. Efficacy of Flower Therapy for Anxiety in Overweight or Obese Adults: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (New York, N.Y.)[online], 27 (5), 416–422.

Homeopathy Plus, 2021. Are Bach Flowers Homeopathic? [online]. Homeopathy Plus.

Insight Homeopathy, 2021. Homeopathy vs. Bach Flower Therapy [online]. Insight Homeopathy & Wellness.

Murphy, R., n.d. Homeopathic Remedy Guide. accessed through Radar Opus software.

RescueRemedy.com, 2021. Homepage [online]. Rescue.

Resende, M. M. de C., Costa, F. E. de C., Gardona, R. G. B., Araújo, R. G., Mundim, F. G. L., and Costa, M. J. de C., 2014. Preventive use of Bach flower Rescue Remedy in the control of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in rats. Complementary Therapies in Medicine [online], 22 (4), 719–723.

Rivas-Suárez, S. R., Águila-Vázquez, J., Suárez-Rodríguez, B., Vázquez-León, L., Casanova-Giral, M., Morales-Morales, R., and Rodríguez-Martín, B. C., 2017. Exploring the Effectiveness of External Use of Bach Flower Remedies on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Pilot Study. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine [online], 22 (1), 18–24.

Saxton, J., 2020. Bowel Nosodes In Homeopathic Practice. S.L.: Saltire Books.

Scheffer, M., 1988. Bach flower therapy : theory and practice. Rochester, Vt.: Healing Arts Press.

Siegler, M., Frange, C., Andersen, M. L., Tufik, S., and Hachul, H., 2017. Effects of Bach Flower Remedies on Menopausal Symptoms and Sleep Pattern: A Case Report. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine [online], 23 (2), 44–48.

Vermeersch, T., 2021. What is the difference with homeopathy? [online]. bachbloesemadvies.
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Feel the Fear

Out of the Blue Blues

Let It Go

Gobble Gobble

I'm dreaming of some White Chestnut

A Remedy to the Rescue!

Julia Coyte, CHom

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