Homeopathy UK are a registered charity working primarily in support of the Faculty of Homeopathy (the medical doctors who are also qualified in homeopathic medicine). But they also work closely with the Society of Homeopaths, my registration body. The also run a number of charitable clinics in various parts of the UK (the nearest to here being in Winchester).

Celebration

Homeopathy has a long history. When the NHS was established in 1947 the homeopathy and the homeopathic hospitals were recognised and incorporated into the Service. Homeopathic practise has had a long and honourable history in the UK and long supported by the Royal Family. King Charles is Patron of the Faculty, for example.

Here is a short video shown at the event: From Ancient Wisdom to Modern Practice.

There have always been critics. As I have covered in previous articles, this stems from the domination of the western scientific model. None doubt the validity of, and scientific advances in medicine. But there is more than one way of looking at a problem.

Former MP David Tredinnick and supporter of homeopathic medicine was an attendee. In the past he has rightly said that – as in India – homeopathy has a valid role to play working alongside conventional medicine. Each can play to its strengths.

It was Indian drummers who welcomed guests – what a volume but a great start to the evening!

Artifacts

Away from the hustle and bustle, interesting artifacts from the early years of homeopathy were displayed

Homeopathy Inspired High Tea

The High Tea tool inspiration from three countries. Germany, the birthplace of Dr Samuel Hahnemann who in his Organon of Medicine first set down the principles of Homeopathic Medicine. India, a country of 1.5 billion citizens and 300,000 homeopaths. And lastly the UK with its long contribution to homeopathic medicine.

Congratulations

Congratulations and thanks are certainly due to Homeopathy – UK CEO Monica Price and her team for organising this most remarkable event.

Homeopathy deserves to be recognised. It is a medical system with a strong heritage which has done good work in the past and will continue to do going forward.

***

No single system of medicine has all the answers to the complexities of the human mind and body. Should you wish to explore how homeopathy might help you or your loved ones, please book a free Discovery Call and we can have a chat.

The post Homeopathy UK – Celebration appeared first on Allan Pollock.

Conventional medicine, sometimes known as Western Scientific or Allopathic Medicine has seen a century and a half of progress.  Medicine cast off its shadow of blood letting, and purgatives that did more harm than good. Germ theory, and drug treatments from the humble Aspirin to 20th century antibiotics, and now the latest biologics are lauded today.   

You might then think that the homeopathic approach to medicine is ‘old hat’, in comparison.

10th April marks the 271st anniversary of the birth of Dr Samuel Hahnemann. He set out the principles of homeopathic treatment in a book titled The Organon of Medicine, still in print.  This was also a scientific endeavour. Notably, he perceived the human organism in more subtle ways that the biochemical model of current orthodoxy.   

Yet, in the last 25 years, there has been downward pressure on homeopathy from the medical establishment.  Primarily, this arises from judging homeopathy solely through the lens of the dominant orthodox model. 

Yet, globally talented people continue to advance Hahnemann’s thesis.  As a consequence, the database of homeopathic remedies has expanded greatly.

So too the understanding of who we are, our purpose, and relationship with the world around. 

In contrast, if we look eastwards – notably to India – we find a better balance between different medical models. Importantly, not just in the street, but also at government level. There is respect, even where there is disagreement.

That homeopathy survives in a climate where investment is so biased towards the western scientific model, spotlights its value.   It can be ‘alternative’ or ‘complementary’ or neither (no single system can have all the answers).  Moreover, it is about choice. 

Diagnosis

During my studies a decade back, I gave a talk to a ladies group at my local Church. At question time, I was asked about the role of diagnosis in homeopathy.   A good question, which I suspect I failed to answer well. 

On reflection, ‘diagnosis’ is a point of differentiation between homeopathy and orthodox medicine.

Now, the value of a ‘diagnosis’ is not to be derided .  It sets down the likely disease trajectory.  Is it self-limiting, or chronic or even life threatening?   It is a central tenet of modern medicine, and the domain of the medical professional.  Yet, making a accurate diagnosis is not always easy. Hence, in medical literature there is much about differential diagnosis, that is to say making judgment between this or that.  

However, diagnosis is not central to the homeopathic method.  Why so?

The answer is that from the homeopathic perspective the pathological process behind any disease is different. And behind each pathology is a different person. 

For example, your arthritis could be due to a genetic pre-disposition, some traumatic event (physical or mental) or the nature of your work.   Or any combination of these and more. This highlights the importance of the (w)holistic concept.

It is worth saying that very few consult a homeopath without having already had a medical diagnosis.  

Explaining Homeopathy – Homeopathic Laws

Jeremy Sherr is a notable current day homeopath. Now based in Tanzania, his focus is patients with HIV / AIDS.  He continues to teach homeopathy globally.

He writes this:

“There are four basic laws in Homeopathy. These are: the laws of similars, totality, individuality, and minimum dose. These laws do not function as separate entities, but as complementary forces that together create a whole. Each influences the other in a complementary way. Using less than all four does not constitute true homoeopathy.  

“Thus, the remedies one buys in pharmacies which are labelled homeopathic are not really homeopathic. Rather, they are prepared according to a homeopathic pharmaceutical procedure (known as potentisation). Taking them cannot be called homoeopathy. Likewise, homoeopathy is not herbalism (though many remedies are of plant origin). 

“Consequently, it is not what you use that makes a medicine homeopathic. It is why you use it that makes it so.”

Law of Similars

Sherr, notes that there are two ways to cure: by opposites or similars. 

He goes on to make an analogy with the martial arts.  “if we examine the martial arts, we find that while some systems go against the oncoming force (Karate), others go in the direction of the flow, using the opponent’s force to overcome him (Tai chi, Aikido). These martial arts are much more profound, gentle, and powerful. Like homoeopathy, they go in the direction of the disease force rather than against it.”

Homeopathic remedies (medicines) are ‘proven’ (tested) on a group of healthy individuals.  The  patterns of symptoms arising in the healthy (supplemented with toxicological data and clinical experience) will stimulate the healing process in patients suffering similar symptoms. 

In short this  is the Law of Similars.  

Totality of Symptoms (Holistic)

The concept of ‘totality’ acknowledges that each of the trillions of cells in your body is connected. 

Modern medicine is increasingly divided into specialities (cardiologists, rheumatologists etc.), but to the homeopath it is illogical to divorce, say, a skin symptom from other symptoms elsewhere in the body .   

Sherr’s prose is again illuminating:

 “To understand what totality of symptoms means, we must first discuss their nature. There are two ways of understanding a symptom. Conventional medicine sees each symptom as the whole disease, a random, isolated and unfortunate event that happened to the patient.

Essentially, it views the symptom as a local accident. The logical extension of this thinking is that the symptom should be destroyed by chemicals, or cut out. This is similar to riding in a car and seeing a little red light go on in the dashboard. The red light is irritating, we don’t know what it means, and we become anxious. Therefore, we respond by cutting the wire! The red light vanishes, and we can breathe a sigh of relief until the engine blows. 

“From a homeopathic perspective, the red light is only a signal that something is wrong with the interior of the engine. We cannot see the engine, but the light is a message that there is something wrong with it. 

“We need to fix the engine, and that is going to need a more thorough approach, because the engine is a complex mechanism in which each part affects the other. Human beings are much more complex than an engine. They certainly cannot be cured by destroying red lights or symptoms. 

“The second way of understanding a symptom is as an intelligent attempt of the organism to defend itself. This is an extension of the well-known principle of Homeostasis, the body’s ability to maintain a constant internal environment by adjusting its physiological processes.

Homeostasis is the function of a complex and intelligent system, which is able to regulate its equilibrium by means of multiple dynamic adjustments.”

Individuality

Homeopathy recognises individuality.  This is not so surprising as we all react differently to different stimuli.  One of my teachers (Dr Banerjea) taught that you can split the long list of homeopathic remedies almost down the middle according to the reaction of the patient to temperature.  Some wear a pullover in summer and others a T-shirt and shorts in winter!   Some remedies are characteristically chilly and some hot.

Minimum Dose

On this topic it is best to read my earlier blog on the nature of homeopathic medicines.  Suffice to say, that nearly two centuries of experience by thousands of homeopaths shows that homeopathic remedies work energetically and not biochemically.  They are quite distinct from modern pharmaceutical drugs.  

Society of Homeopaths (SoH) and The Professional Standards Authority (PSA)

I wish to conclude this article reference to a disagreement which led to a parting of ways between the above organisations back in 2021 as it is pertinent to the theme of this article. 

For the sake of brevity, I only cover the essence.  The Directors of the Society committed many hours to resolving the issues and ‘explaining homeopathy’ was a core issue (in my view).

Overview

The PSA is a regulatory oversight body. It sets general standards for those working in healthcare that are not otherwise regulated by law.  One largest membership body is those offering counselling therapy. A range of other therapy groups from Reiki to massage are also listed. 

The PSA does not profess expertise in any therapy, that is for the individual therapy groups. Its focus is in areas of common interest, such as patient safety etc.

The Society joined this body back in 2014, but chose to end their affiliation in 2021. The unresolved issue was a disagreement over what homeopaths could and could not say on their websites.  The PSA was resistant to any indication of homeopaths offering treatment for  conditions requiring – to quote just one phrase –  ‘medical supervision such as depression, autism, hyperthyroidism and arthritis’.   

Explaining Homeopathy

From what I have written above it should be clear that homeopathic approach disease is different.  Homeopaths do not treat according to diagnostic labels, though of course they take cognisance of the diagnosis.  As already said, it is rare indeed for a patient to consult a homeopath without having received a diagnosis from their practitioner or specialist.  

It is also worth saying that it is unethical to alter medication prescribed by a patients GP or specialist – that is a matter solely between the prescriber and patient.  

Homeopaths, be they medically qualified or lay, undertake many years of study and understand their limitations. 

They will direct the patient back to their medical practitioner if required.  It may be that homeopathic treatment is inappropriate (which is one reason for the ‘discovery call’). 

Nonetheless, homeopathy is a comprehensive system of medicine. Consequently it can treat many conditions including those mentioned above, typically in a complementary manner.

Simply put, homeopathy treats the person not a diagnostic label.

One long experienced Society member, expressing dismay at the PSA position at the time, wrote “Our beautiful, dynamic art / science is too precious to be chained down by external regulation”.  

Simply put, the demands of the PSA felt like a straightjacket.

It was not a happy time.  Today, the Society of Homeopaths is part of the Integrated Healthcare Collaborative, an body better aligned to the values of the Society.

Challenge

Now, websites are written in language which those reading can understand. Inevitably, diagnostic labels are used, as that is the language of currency.   When prospective patients make that ‘Discovery call’ this is the opportunity to explain homeopathy.  

In my experience, they pick up the phone with clear understanding of their situation including diagnostics.  But as succinctly put by a colleague, they either seek a solution or the solution given falls short in some regard. 

By way of closing example, I worked with patient on long term prescribed thyroid medication.  This was neither the main presenting issue nor my focus, but over an extended period of homeopathic treatment, her medication was reduced by her medical practitioner. 

It wasn’t something I expected, but reflects a general improvement in health. This is what holistic homeopathy is about.

In general, the homeopath cannot say with certainty what the outcome of treatment will be.   It is not quick fix medicine, but neither is it superficial.   

It is a voyage of discovery – a return to homeostasis as best possible – which takes time and patience.

***

If care to explore whether homeopathy can help with your health, please book a free 30 minute Discovery Call via this button.

Should you be in an organisation that would be interested a short talk (usually free) – tailored to your needs – please email me

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Dr Aseem Malhotra – Global Health Award

Dr Aseem Malhotra is a consultant cariologist working in London. He has spoken out about the lack of transparency regarding the safety of the mRNA vaccines. Though a ‘believer’ during the early days of the pandemic, he now concludes that commercial and not health interests were dominant.

Through his cardiology networks he is now all too aware of the increase in heart disease since the wide spread introduction of novel mRNA techology. He is certainly not alone and a year ago posted a blog about a group of physicians making representations to the ongoing enquiry into the pandemic.

Needless to say some bricks come his way, as a quick Google search shows. But he has not been cowed and the broadsheets are now taking note

He has recently received a Global Health Award at an event hosted by the House of Commons. His speech to 100 healthcare leaders, politicians and clinician attending the event is on his website and linked here.

Following his award, Malhorta gave an interview on YouTube which is worth a watch.

Psychological Warfare

He observes how fear is an impediment to critical thinking. And how governments globally played the psychological card.

If you have not read investigtive journalist Laura Dodsworth’s book A State of Fear, I recommend that you do. I found it shocking how the UK government used a team of behavioural scientists to influence public behavior.

The pharmaceutical industry saw an opportunity, and had the wherewithall to influence governments globally. Emergency legislation permitted early introduction of the vaccines, shortcutting the usual testing programmes.

Malhotra refers to a 2022 reappraisal of the safety data in a paper from a team led by Dr Joseph Fraiman in the USA which indicated serious adverse effects from mRNA vaccines.

Evidence

But speaking truth to power is no easy matter. Very little has changed. Mainstream media continues to report that the vaccines saved thousands of lives. But with questionable evidence, Malhotra notes.

Your local pharmacy will happily give you another booster jab today. Incidentally, I was surprised to see a booster roll-out in May at a local care home. Given the seasonality of Covid, surely the time for any booster jab is in the autumn?

I agree with Malhotra’s view on evidence. During the pandemic, I pulled information from Our World in Data to create the chart below.

The initial significant wave (early 2020 – left hand side) is not clearly shown as there was limited data collection. The 2020/21 wave is clear. Then, on the right (end of 2021) is the Omicron wave, which substantially marked the end of the pandemic. By this time the virus had attenuated (reducing serious illness and death).

The vertical lines are shown to pose two questions:

• First, the questionable efficacy of masks in preventing transmission (which is substatially by aerosol not droplets)
• Second, the questionable efficacy of the vaccines – the third (Omicron) wave was unhindered

You may recall that unvaccinated tennis star Djokovic, was barred entry from Australia at the end of 2021. Meanwhild the Omicron wave breached the ‘cordon sanitaire’ of the vaccine mandated population regardless!

Health or Wealth?

Towards the end of the interview Malhotra expresses concern at the latest health initiative from big pharma, namely weight reduction using the new GLP-1 class of drugs. Coincidentally, I penned a blog on this subject back in June. Clearly, I do not have the privileged view of Dr Malhotra, but I suspect he is fully justified in his concerns.

Whence Medicine

Dr Malhotra says there is a huge crisis of trust in the medical profession. In his speech he states, “Trust cannot and will not be restored until there is an honest discussion on how the pandemic could have been handled better, almost certainly through a focused protection policy for high risk and elderly, not by destroying livelihoods and shutting down the economy and stifling children’s education; a legacy effect that will be felt for decades.

But even more immediate and pressing is for the medical establishment to admit they made a terrible mistake with the roll out and mass coercion of the covid vaccine especially for those at low risk, acknowledging a pandemic of the vaccine injured, many of them, perhaps some In this room unaware they are a ticking bomb of premature death from heart disease and cancer”

For all its successes the pharmacological approach to health now completely dominates government policy, medical training and delivery of services. It is a sort of cartel, yet health remains elusive.

The resolution is complex. Big pharma may be one factor, but so is ‘big food’ and wider complex social issues such as poverty, education etc.

The NHS Prevention Programme is the current initiative. Of course digitisation and AI will doubtless mark the new dawn, but whether high tech is slave or master remains to be seen.

On which note, I will end with some light relief in the form of a very funny sketch from Bremner, Bird and Fortune from 2004. Plus ça change, plus le meme chose?!

Do enjoy the last weeks of summer.

***

There are many medical models, be it herbal / naturopathic, traditional Chinese or Indian, and indeed homeopathic. None have sole rights to ‘the’ answer but all have a role to play.

Should you care to explore whether homeopathy can help with your health please book a free 30 minute Discovery Call via this button.

The post Big Pharma and Covid appeared first on Allan Pollock.

Defining Acute and Chronic

The terms Acute and Chronic have specific meanings in Homeopathy.

Acute illnesses typically self resolve, which is to say the life force expressed through the immune system is capable of overcoming the infection in a moderate period of time.

We can all think of simple examples from the common cold, to stomach bugs, ‘flu epidemics and so on.

However, if our immunity is suppressed for whatever reason then acute infections can even kill. This may be a function of environmental factors (malnutrition for example) or simply old age.

So for acutes, you could in short say, ‘kill or cure’!

In contrast, Chronic refers to conditions where life force is unable to restore the natural equilibrium towards a state of health harmony. Compromise is necessary and over time the chronic disease pattern will decline in function.

In aphorism §72 of The Organon of Medicine Dr Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843) defines this dual nature of disease. His written style – even in translation – is a little convoluted. But worthy of a read (it is quite short) nonetheless.

Homeopathy and Hay Fever

Many conditions have both Chronic and Acute aspects. Homeopaths speak of the “acute of the chronic”. Stiff joints during damp weather in someone with arthritis might be an example.

The allergic response to high pollen levels is another good example of an acute flare-up of underlying chronic complaint. The trigger – of course – is the acute is the allergic reaction to high pollen count.

But what is the is this underlying chronic condition, you might ask?

After deep study of many cases, Hahnemann’s view was that there was a inherited disposition stemming from the long term consequences of past epidemic diseases.

These he called Miasms about which I have written before.

Since his time other epidemic diseases such as Tuberculosis have left their mark on the constitution of humanity.

Here we are not talking about the active disease form which today is typically treated with anti-bacterial agents (TB is still around), but a genetic taint which finds expression in general health.

A few months back I also wrote a blog on the TB Miasm. It is predominantly this Miasm that sits at the base of Hay Fever.

I have been told that Hahnemann’s case notes (from the late 18th to early 19th century) show little mention of hay fever (allergic rhinitis).

Whilst it is true that tuberculosis has existed for many centuries, it only reached epidemic proportions during the later part 19th century and the pre-antibiotic era of the 20th century. (Antibiotics are a post WW2 therapy).

Thus, it is the long term influence of this epidemic we see today.

Other lifestyle factors likely have a part to play. For one, we are mostly town and city dwellers, and not agrarians. Countryside dwellers suffer less.

Treating Hay Fever with Homeopathy

In my earlier blog, I focused on specific homeopathic remedies that can help with the acute symptoms that appear during the pollen season, though I did mention the importance of consitutional treatment also.

And it is the constitutional treatment that will over several seasons make the longer term difference.

Ideally, the constitutional treatment is during the winter months when the acute symptoms are less troublesome because the allergen levels are low.

Conventional Medications

Most hay fever sufferers take anti-histamines of some sort (Cetirizine, Piriteze etc.). It is not appropriate to abandon these and suffer. The goal is to gradually strengthen the consititution and see if it is possible to gradually reduce reliance on medications.

Homeopathy is individualised medicine – not one size fits all. So unfortunately there is an element of experimentation to see what works best. It takes time, which is challenging in an impatient world.

To get a deeper understanding of your case an in-depth consultation is suggested and if you would care to discuss this further please book a free 30 minute discovery call from my website.

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Previously I wrote about the nature of the homeopathic consultation and I am now going to consider the next step.

The Homeopathic Remedy

I shall not go into to much detail here but every homeopathic remedy or medicine has a ‘picture’. This comes from various sources. One source is the ‘proving’ where a group of people take the remedy and note how it affects them. The resultant data is analysed and collated. Clinical experience adds to this ‘picture’ as does toxicological data from literature (as Agatha Christie can tell us, poisoning by arsenic has definite characteristics!). Please note that homeopathic remedies are potentised ultra dilutions and such as arsenic are not used in material doses.

From these sources every homeopathic remedy ‘picture’ comprises physical, general, and mental / emotional symptoms.

Remedies or medicines have certain affinities, sometimes described as keynotes. For example a remedy may have a particular affinity for a certain system (respiratory or digestion) or organ, or have particular mental or emotional characteristics.

To make matters a little difficult remedies overlap to a greater or lesser extent, leading to a constellation of possibilities. An example from my last blog might be the possible remedies to help with fever. One ‘right’ remedy is an oversimplification.

The remedy ‘pictures’ are compiled into books generally termed ‘Materia Medica’ (from the Latin). There are several – old and new – and practitioners tend to have their ‘favourites’.

The Homeopathic Principle

The word – homeopathy – comes from the Greek meaning ‘similar suffering’. Simply stated the principle is that ‘like cures like’; what is termed the law of similars. This contrasts the dominant medical model which tends to follow the principle of opposites (hence the prefix ‘anti-‘ before many medicines, for example antibiotic). Simply different approaches – that is all.

Following the ‘like cures like’ principle, the general approach is to find the remedy that best matches the ‘picture’ of the patient or client to the ‘picture’ of the remedy.

The Consultation Outcome

From the consultation which can take an hour, the homeopath collects a holistic picture of the client. Obviously this includes the main symptoms that the individual wishes to resolve. These may be clear – let’s say a skin complaint or recurrent headaches or whatever – or more vague (say low energy). This is what needs to be resolved, so must be part of the remedy picture.

However there is more. If the complaint is of a physical nature, there will be a also be a mental / emotional picture. This may relate to the physical complaint (so the physical has impacted the emotional) or it may just be the general nature of the person.

It has long been recognised that people can be grouped into ‘types’. Tall, short, chubby, slim and so on. One of my teachers notes that the entire Materia Medica can be divided between those who are chilly or hot by nature. Hot types wear shorts in winter and chilly a pullover in summer! Sulphur is an example of the former and Arsenic the latter. That is not to say that you cannot have a chilly Sulphur but simply that the probability is lower.

Finding The Right Homeopathic Remedy – Repertorisation

If you are lucky, this may be fairly obvious, more likely unravelling the information received from the consultation presents a challenge. Older age often brings a long history and maybe too much information; youth sometimes the opposite.

The moustachioed gentleman in the photo is Dr James Tyler Kent (1849-1916) who worked in Chicago. In particular, he is remembered for his Repertory of Homeopathic Medicines.

In modern parlance he created a database linking symptoms to charactistics. Below is just one ‘rubric’ of a list of remedies associated with anger. For example, ‘Cham‘ is Chamomilla well known to console teething babies who metaphorically and literally throw their ‘toys out the pram’. Bold print indicates a strong link to the headline MIND – ANGER.

You get the idea.

Rubric example: MIND – ANGER, violent – Acon., Anac., apis., ars., Aur., bar-c., bell., bry., cahin., calc., carb-s., carb-v., Cham., coff., ferr-p., ferr., graph., grat., Hep., hyos., ign., kali-i., lyc., nat-m., Nit-ac., Nux-v., pall., petr., phos., sep., Staph., sulph., Tarent., verat., zinc.

Kent’s Repertory remained ‘the‘ reference work up until the 1970s and remains the foundation for subsequent repertories.

Enter the Computer Age

It should come as no surprise that computers and databases go together like the proverbial horse and carraige. And so today there are several computer packages that should – at least in theory – speed things up. That may be somewhat illusionary as more data can lead to ‘analysis paralysis’. But at any rate they can be useful tools. Here is an example (split in two for legibility).

Input:

Output:

Critically, these programs never provide ‘The’ answer. Just possibilities that become probabilities based on the quality of the symptom picture gathered. The homeopath must then go back to the Materia Medica and make a judgement.

When it comes to computerisation the old adage ‘garbage in, garbage out’ applies equally to the repertorisation process.

So how do I find the right homeopathic remedy, or anyone else for that matter. The answer is that it remains as much an art as a science. Like all things experience counts and that takes time and practice.

If you would like to explore whether homeopathy could help with your health please book a free 30 minute Discovery Call via this button.

The post How Do I Find the Right Homeopathic Remedy? appeared first on Allan Pollock.

In this blog I wish to share general self-help measures useful for every parent. This article continues my series on Family Care with Homeopathy

I am assuredly not an expert on this matter (my son is now in his 30s!) and so I draw on texts such as Dr Andrew Lockie’s Family Guide to Homeopathy (available second hand from such as Abebooks), pamphlets available from Dr Jayne Donegan and The Waldorf Guide to Childrens Health (Kindle edition).

What is Fever?

Fever (high temperature above 37 deg.C) is not a disease but a reaction to an infection. It is a normal defence response. You can find some good general guidance on fever in children from the NHS. It has become commonplace to give paracetamol containing products like Calpol but this is of questionable necessity. The elevated temperature aids the immune system fight off infection, reducing that temperature is clearly counter productive to some degree.

Dr Donegan in her downloadble guide defines fever in this way:

“Fever – the chemical reactions required for the clean-out process work more efficiently at a higher temperature, as do the white cells in the immune system that help to scavenge and clean out rubbish”

In the Waldorf Guide pictured below, the authors write:

“Fever is a decisive aid to processing and overcoming the bodily challenges that occur during many illnesses. Other functions and activities, such as eating, digestion, sensory perception, interest in one’s surroundings, play and so forth, take second place to the body’s efforts to produce a fever.”

Dr Lockie writes much in a similar vein, noting that there are fevers without a rash mostly of the respiratory sort or ear infections, and those with. Chicken pox comes in the latter category, and such as measles (now rarely seen due to vaccination).

Medical Help

Clearly, there are circimstances when you should contact your doctor, call 111 or go to A&E. In the Waldorf Guide they advise that you do so…

For any fever that significantly impacts your child’s state of health. That is to say accompanied by:

• significant drowsiness;
• headache, stiff neck, other diffuse or severe pains;
• significantly laboured breathing;
• considerable fluid loss through diarrhoea or vomiting or if your baby does not want to drink anything;
• the fever rises above 40°C but your baby’s skin still feels cool;
• Any fever that varies up and down by more than 1.5°C (without chemical fever-reducing medication);
• Your child continues to seem severely affected in spite of effective fever-reducing measures.

The same source notes that febrile seizures (obviously alarming) are not serious if of short duration (<15 minutes). These result from immaturity of the immune system. But, should they last for greater than 15 minutes or repeat, then seek medical assistance.

Seeking advice in an unfamiliar situation (typical for new parents) is no failure, and it is better to err on the safe side.

But children don’t always fall unwell at convenient times or in convenient places (e.g. you are on holiday) so some first aid measures are worth knowing.

Sensible Supportive Measures

Dr Donegan, offers some good simple advice.

If memory does not fail me! – her advice aligns with my recollection of my late mother’s care for me.

In an age of screens it may seem passé but given that the Mk1 human being has not changed that much, her advice assuredly still holds true:

1 – Plenty Fresh air and Fluids

• Fresh air – open the window; during mild weather, nurse outside – at night, open the window even if only a little
• Loose clothing – made of soft, natural fibres
• Plenty of clear fluids – for example:
  • water;
  • half diluted apple juice;
  • ginger, honey & lemon tea* (children seem to prefer it cooled) or stock.
  • avoid artificial sweetners – and Dr Donegan doesn’t favour orange juice
  • small frequent sips are more useful than occasional large gulps , especially in gastric upsets
  • But, breast milk must be continued and babies on formula milk need to restart by 24 hours if they are not weaned
  • No dairy produce – no milk (save breast), including soya, yoghurt, cheese, eggs until well on the mend – as dairy increases mucus, upsets stomachs and may increase fever.

2 – Minimal food

• No food unless hungry and no fever – this is VERY important. Children naturally fast when ill, do not attempt to feed them when they don’t want to eat.
• When the fever is down, if they are hungry feed them a light diet – starch, minimal fat ,to be chewed well, for example:
  • peeled slices of apple;
  • wholemeal toast scraped with Marmite or honey, with no crusts, cut into squares about the size of a postage stamp – give half a slice at a time;
  • mashed potato made with cooked potato, boiling water and a pinch of salt (my favourite as a child was potato mashed with tomato, I recall);
  • vegetable soup, home made;
  • fruit or cooked vegetables; all in very small quantities
  • After diarrhoea and vomiting, no meat, fish, fatty food or dairy up to a week after better. If dairy or normal diet is introduced and symptoms start again go back to fasting or light diet until symptom free
• Honey on a teaspoon is very good for sore throats and stops harmful bacteria from multiplying (not advised in babies less than 1 year)

3 – Rest

• REST is extremely important; if symptoms are minimal then it a child may run around and then rest when tired, otherwise they must rest and sleep in order to get well. Have the child in the room you are in helps, so that they do not feel ‘abandoned’.
• No TV/ computer/ books – audio material or being read to are fine.
• Room temperature cool – between 15.C and 18.C

Children don’t have time to be sick these days, which is a pity as it is an important part of buidling immunity for the rest of our lives.

Dr Donegan says much more, and I do recommend downloading her pdf booklet ‘Nursing children safely through acute illness – Safe Management of Fever’. It costs but £3.50.

Homeopathy for Fever in Children

Here is a list of common homeopathic medicines available in first aid kits.

It is worth stating that no medicine – homeopathic or otherwise – makes you or your child instantly well! Well selected, what it will do is shorten the duration of the illness, and help prevent complications such as a deeper chest infection. Children, in particular, have to get sick sometimes, this is now the immune system learns and resilience builds.

Choosing a homeopathic remedy is like finding the right key for a lock. If you don’t see any improvement in an hour or so (give the remedy every 15 minutes), then reconsider the case and try another remedy. Armed with Andrew Lockies book, I well recall my son at about 4 years old with some infection. There was no response to the initial remedies given (aconite likely and then something else). I then decided to try Gelsemium before calling the doctor. His demeanour changed in a matter of minutes – beginner’s luck!

Alas it is not always that quick. I recall a conversation with a homeopathic vet who told me how he gave his feverish child Belladonna through the night and observed the rapid breathing gradually subside. You are looking for gradual improvement.

• Aconite
  • sudden onset; high fever; dry burning skin; one cheek red; child anxious; dry cough
  • worse in the evening / night; worse in a warm room (uncovers himself)
  • first remedy to give; aconite is a remedy for the first 36 hours only
• Arsenicum
  • restless; very shivery; thirsty for small sips; skin burns
  • worse from cold; better from heat; warm drinks;
  • better from company; from sitting up
  • a remedy for asthma worse at midnight; (also for vomiting and diarrhoea from food poisoning)
• Belladonna
  • another sudden onset high fever remedy; Belladonna has rage and delirium rather than anxiety; red face; pupils dilated; burning hot; worse around 3pm; not thirsty
  • worst for noise; jar
  • better from bed rest; being in a dark room
  • Aconite and Belladonna are the first remedies to think of when a child gets sick
• Bryonia
  • slow onset – over a few days; hot / cold alternates; irritable
  • painful cough; frontal headaches; Bryonia = ‘dry-onia‘ – very thirsy
  • worse for any motion must lie down
  • better for quiet
• Chamomilla
  • whining restlessness; thirsty; hot and numb
  • another one cheek red – one cheek pale remedy; can be associated with teething or earache
  • pains are unendurable; toys thrown! – frantic (mental calmness is not Chamomilla)
  • worse from being uncovered; at night (9pm to midnight)
  • better being carried; rocked
• Ferrum phos
  • fevers with unclear symptoms; slow onset; early stage remedy
  • worse in open air and from touch; worse early morning
  • better for cold applications
• Gelsemium
  • classic ‘flu-like fever; dullness, droopy and drowsy are the three keywords
  • generally not thirsty; trembling
  • worse from motion; bad news; mid morning
  • better after urination; with warmth
• Pulsatilla
  • children like fuss and caresses; very weepy
  • remedy for fevers of childhood illnesses (no1 for measles in the past)
  • chilly even in a warm room (averse to heat); thirstless
  • better in the open air; gentle motion; cold applications

The practical realities of my time availabilty mean that mostly work with longer term conditions rather that ‘acutes’. However, I would be happy – with appropriate notice – to give a talk to any small group who might be interested in the use of homeopathy for first aid at home. Please, email me at allan@allanpollock.co.uk if you wish to enquire.

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In this blog I will try and explain what homeopathic medicines are, how they are made, and how they act.

Whilst, old texts do use the term drug, homeopathic medicines are not what we understand as drugs today, and for this reason the synonym ‘remedy’ is often used.

In the picture below taken from the Helios Homeopathy website, some typical remedy forms are shown. In fact these are all just carriers for the homeopathic medicine.

The medicine itself is absorbed onto tablets made of mixed sugar & sugar of milk (sucrose / lactose) or pills made of sugar. You may also find medicated sucrose / lactose powders rather similar in style to the Beechams Powders (basically Aspirin)of old.

How Homeopathic Medicines are made

My source for some of what follows is a little pocket book titled Homeopathic Prescribing published by Saltire Books. The authors are the owners of Freemans Homeopathic Pharmacy

Homeopathic medicines are prepared according to various pharmacopoeias (i.e. standards) adopted by the regulatory authorities in different countries. In short there is a great deal of quality control.

The souce materials vary. About 70% are of plant origin. Most of the remaining 30% come from the mineral (e.g. Sulphur) and animal kingdoms (e.g. Sepia from the ink of the cuttlefish).

Sticking with the world of plants, it is important to understand that Homeopathy is not herbal medicine. The first steps in remedy preparation are similar, however. In that regard, the whole plant, or its root, or leaves (as appropriate) is macerated in a water / alcohol solution and duly processed to produce a herbal tincture. Typically this is a 1:3 concentration in water/alcohol. However it is 1:9 for the usual homeopathic mother tincture, symbolised ø.

How Homeopathic Medicines are Made – Potentisation

This is where homeopathy deviates from herbal practice. Starting with the mother tincture ø, one drop of this is added to 99 drops of water/alcohol and vigorously shaken – the term is succussed – to create the first centissimal potency designated 1c. One drop of this added to another 99 drops of water alcohol and succussed makes 2c and so on.

The common lower potencies in use are 6c, 12c, 30c and 200c. These are often made traditionally by hand. There are also higher potencies, such as 1M (1000c) and above. These by necessity are machine made.

A few drops of the liquid of the desired potency are added to a bottle or vial containing the chosen remedy form – be it tablets, pills or granules – where it is absorbed.

You could just use the liquid, but the solid form is often more convenient to carry round.

Incidentally you can put the tablet or pill into a tumbler of water and with a quick stir go back to a liquid form (useful for babies).

Do not equate potency with strength, but instead something more akin to frequency (aka octaves on a piano). As a very broad guidline lower potencies have greater affinity with the physical and higher with the metal emotional.

Potencies of 30c and below are safe for home use. Home remedy kits mentioned in my previous blogs are typically 30c.

The process of potentisation of mineral remedies is similar but modified to accommodate the fact that many minerals are insoluble. Helios have a nice little video on potentisation.

There are other scales of dilution but the centissimal is the most common.

Controversy

The eternal joke is that there is nothing in homeopathic medicine, there for it is placebo (from the latin meaning ‘to please’).

According to rules set down by the Italian scientist Avogadro (1776 to 1856) beyond the 12c potency there is no molecule of the original substance left. And indeed this is accepted.

Whether Dr Samuel Hahnemann (1755 to 1843), who set down the tenents of homeopathy, was aware of this is unknown. The two men were near contemporaries, but their time was not one of instant communications.

Hahnemann’s objective was simply to find the minimum dose of medicine required to cure a patient, and he clearly got results at potencies above 12c. Subsequent generations of homeopaths concur.

It would appear that Hahnemann unknowingly entered the non-matierial world. Possibly the domain of quantum physics. Be that as it may, for the most part homeopathic medicines are not chemical. Nor are they micro-dosing (a subject of interest in current medical circles).

Energy Medicine

For this reason Homeopathy is described as energy medicine or vibrational medicine etc. My preference is information medicine.

To get biblical for a minute, the opening words of John’s Gospel are ‘In the beginning was the Word…’. We live in an informed albeit mysterious cosmos. In a sense everything is information. And this is an information age after all.

Developing this hypothesis, the act of potentisation tranfers some essence of the original substance into a medicinal form. By analogy, the remedy then acts as a ‘download’; information or an instruction to the body.

Side Effects

We are familiar with the leaflet inside medicine packages that warn of the possible side effects associated with the medicine. The good news is that there are no side effects in homeopathy, and here is why.

When you take a biochemical medicine (say paracetamol), there are two effects. First the desired action of the drug (blocking chemical messengers in the brain that relate pain). And secondly, the rebound ‘side effect’ from the body that sees the drug as a foreign entity.

In contrast the homeopathic remedy can have no direct chemical effect (it is not a chemical). But it does stimulate a response. In a way then, the desired effect in homeopathy, is that which is secondary in conventional medicine.

Thus, the secondary effect becomes primary.

Needless to say, the practitioner selects the homeopathic medicine to give a desired response not an undesired.

What can occur in homeopathy is a slight intensification of symptoms. This should be transient and pass in a couple of days.

If you accept that your symptoms – however inconvenient – are the attempt of the body to cure, you can see why there might be this slight aggravation. It is a stimulus to cure.

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If you would like to explore whether homeopathy can help with your health please book a free 30 minute Discovery Call via this button.

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As we reach the summer solstice, I now realise that I should have written this blog a little earlier (sorry!) as the exam season is almost over. It will come around again.

In any case stressful events are always with us, so the topic of this blog extends well beyond the classroom.

Homeopathic First Aid

Continuing with the series on homeopathic remedies in a typical home first aid kit, in this blog I focus on kit remedies that have a particular affinity to exam stress.

For more on the benefits of purchasing a first aid kit of basic homeopathic remedies see my earlier blog Family Care with Homeopathy

Exam time is often marked with anxiety that can impact on performance. Anticipatory fears can cause both emotional and physical symptoms. Homeopathy offers remedies for stress and anxiety that are tailored to the needs (emotional and physical) of the student.

Classical homeopathic prescribing considers the following:

1. Causation (pre-exam fear and worry; loss of confidence)
2. Location (headache, eyes, tummy)
3. Modalities (anything that helps e.g. warm drinks)
4. Sensation (maybe a pain somewhere?)
5. Concomitants (characteristics that may seem unrelated – e.g. how you feel generally)

Consider homeopathic treatment like finding the right key for a lock, if after a taking the remedy for a short while (say one pill morning and night for 1-4 days) there is no response, then try another.

Remember that homeopathic medicines are absorbed through the mucous membranes of the mouth – not the gut – so you let the tablet or pill dissolve under the tongue.

A useful tactic on the day of the exam is to dissolve one pill in a water bottle (shake well) and sip during the course of the exam day.

Homeopathy for Stress and Anxiety – Key Remedies

Aconite (origin – plant)

The Aconite picture is always one of sudden onset. Consequently, Aconite is useful when the student has a panic attack that comes out of the blue, helping to stabilise the emotional upheaval quickly.

Argentum Nitricum (origin – mineral Silver Nitrate)

The keywords for Arg. Nit. are anticipation and uncertainty. Well, what else at exam time! It helps those who feel hurried and fearful of failure despite being well-prepared.

Arsenicum Album (origin – mineral, and yes, Arsenic*)

(* Homeopathic Medicines are ultra-dilutions and energetic not material. No molecule of arsenic present!)

The Arsenicum picture is one of anxiety with restlessness and a compulsive concern for order. The student cannot settle and needs to check and recheck they have all the bits and bobs they need on the day.

It is by the way, the No1 remedy for sickness and diarrhoea after eating something that disagreed – so one to have with you on holiday.

Gelsemium (origin – plant)

Gelsemium is better known as an influenza remedy. The sufferer is weak, shaky and apathetic. A sort of paralysis results – a type of fear, that is characterised by ‘why bother’. There can also be diarrhoea from emotional excitement. It is a remedy for courage.

Lycopodium (origin – plant)

Here the keynote is lack of self-confidence and apprehension, although the student may outwardly show bravado. This student may over-prepare because they’re worried about their performance. Lycopodium is well known generally for gastric symptoms, especially bloating.

Kali Phosphoricum (origin – mineral, Potassium Phosphate)

Although a homeopathic remedy in its own right, this is better known as a Schleussler tissue salt. It is a nerve nutrient, beneficial for students who are exhausted mentally from overstudying. It helps relieve feelings of stress and helps in restoring the brain’s energy levels.

Lifestyle Tips for Stress and Anxiety

While homeopathy is helpful in addressing exam stress and anxiety, don’t forget the basics. Maintaining a balanced lifestyle is key.

Sleep

Fatigue exacerbates anxiety; 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night is crucial. Avoid late-night cram sessions and setting a consistent sleep schedule supports the body’s ability to manage stress.

Diet

Fuel the body and mind with ‘clean’ food. Eat nutrient-dense whole foods like vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, nuts and seeds. Staying hydrated and limit stimulants like caffeine. This also helps regulate anxiety levels.

Study Breaks

Constant studying leads to burnout. Take short 10-15 minute breaks every 90 minutes to recharge. Get some fresh air, meditate, or go for a walk to clear the mind before diving back in.

And a curiosity..

I recently listened to a Medical Doctor who suggested this:

Put your right hand between the thumb and forefinger of your left hand. Then gently place your right thumb in the middle of your left palm, and your middle finger on the outside of the left hand. Now join the tips of your left thumb and left middle finger together.

• Why do this? This position of the hands both stimulates sensitive nerves, but also closes an ‘Energetic’ loop
• The effect is a dramatic improvement in your ability to focus and concentrate. If you do it while learning something, it may improve your retention quite considerably

Why not give it a try!

Chronic Anxiety

We have looked at some homeopathic remedies that can help with the sort of short term anxiety that it typical of exam time.

Howevere, Homeopathy also plays a crucial role in the treatment of deeper seated anxiety states. Here constitutional treatment, involving a deeper assessment of the individual’s overall health, temperament and symptoms. Whilst anti-depressant medications has its place, the homeopathic approach (which takes time – there is no magic bullet) should yield long term benefits and restore harmony.

If you have a deeper seated anxiety problem and wish to explore the homeopathic approach, please book a Free Discovery Call via my website.

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Homeopathic Principles – a quick recap

Classical homeopathy prescribing follows the natural law of similars.  

This means that you select the remedy by matching its picture to the symptoms of the patient.

Every homeopathic remedy has both mental / emotional and physical characteristics.

The patient will not exhibit every characteristic of the remedy.  Just capture the general theme.

Three Legged Stool

Try to establish three out of the following four:

• the underlying cause
• the nature of the presenting symptoms
• things that make the symptoms better or worse (e.g. hot drinks or cold)
• any wider change in the symptoms of the patient, even if apparently unrelated

Apis – Homeopathic Remedy

First Aid Uses:

This is a remedy for any condition where the classic features of the bee sting are seen. The key symptoms are burning, stinging, redness and swelling. So it is a remedy for bee and other stings (but think also of Ledum). Swellings can occur anywhere, skin, mouth and throat, around the eyes, neck or abdomen. Think of apis when there is an allergic reaction, urinary infection (cystitis) with burning (also consider Cantharis ), tonsilitis and so forth. There may be numbness or paralysis of the affected part.

Picture:

• stinging pain with swelling and oedema (fluid retention – anywhere but often about the eyelids)
• inflammation of the mucous and serous membranes (linings of organs and cavities)
• a dry fever yet often not thirsty
• numbness resulting in a certain clumsiness or lack of coordination
• great irritability – a ‘queen bee’ manner
• by nature industrious / busy people (busy bee)
• persons with a strong family focus (protect the hive) or business oriented (workaholic)
• illness may be denied because the person is too busy, yet they put up with pain poorly

Better or worse:

• Better for cold applications (so generally worse for heat)
• Better for exercise
• Worse mid afternoon

Other points

Where the general picture fits, this remedy can help with more demanding complaints such as shingles (burning pains), kidney disease (leading to oedema), ovarian pain (burning), and asthma (cannot get another breath)

A Small Aside

Local marketing consultants Honeybee capture some of the mental characteristics of bees on their website. Busy bees indeed…

The post Apis – Homeopathic Remedy appeared first on Allan Pollock.

Homeopathic Principles – a quick recap

Classical homeopathy prescribing follows the natural law of similars.  

This means that you select the remedy by matching its picture to the symptoms of the patient.

Every homeopathic remedy has both mental / emotional and physical characteristics.

The patient will not exhibit every characteristic of the remedy.  Just capture the general theme.

Three Legged Stool

Try to establish three out of the following four:

• the underlying cause
• the nature of the presenting symptoms
• things that make the symptoms better or worse (e.g. hot drinks or cold)
• any wider change in the symptoms of the patient, even if apparently unrelated

ALLIUM CEPA HOMEOPATHY DESCRIBED

This remedy is of plant origin.  It is, as I have said, the common onion. 

Allium Cepa Homeopathy First Aid Uses:

This is a remedy for upper respiratory tract infections or allergies which primarily affect the eyes and nose, but can extend into the ears and throat.  It is also a remedy of value in seasonal hay fever (Roger Morrison MD – Doctor / Homeopath in the USA – says it cures up to 30% of cases for a season, but permanent cure requires deeper acting remedies)

The Picture:

• discharge from the nose which is profuse, acrid and profuse
• discharge from the eyes which is profuse and watery but bland (smarts as if from smoke)
• there is sneezing
• possibly headache
• possibly cough with pain in the larynx
• conjunctivitis

Better or worse:

• Better in the open air and worse in stuffy rooms
• Worse on the left side
• Worse in the late afternoon or evening

Other points:

The patient may desire onions and – curiously – be averse to cucumber

Injudicious use of this remedy to suppress an inconvenient runny nose in the common cold risks driving the infection deeper (remember discharge is an aspect of the attempt of the body to cure).  So use this remedy when the symptoms are more severe

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