A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS! A Holiday List for Health and Wellness
It is holiday season and list making seems to be one of those things that one just can’t get away from!
I hope my list is a bit different from the endless “ideas for gifts” lists that are everywhere this month!
I present below some fabulous things to give for good health – services and products that I think are unique and wonderful, ones that you will not find in most health-food stores, health blogs or magazines.
It’s somewhat cliché to suggest giving the gift of health, but there’s something to it! What a wonderful way of letting someone you love know that you care for them so much that you want to give them enhanced physical, emotional, and mental wellness – ultimately the best gift of all!
My wish for all of you is a happy, HEALTHY holiday – with joy and peace for all!
1. homeopathic kit
Helios pharmacy in the UK makes perhaps the best homeopathic remedies in the world. They also make a fabulous series of homeopathic kits. I got my first Helios kit 20+ years ago, and still carry it with me whenever and wherever I travel. It is looking much the worse for wear, but allows me access to 36 of the most commonly used homeopathic remedies. There are few travel emergencies or acute illnesses that don’t respond to something in that kit! I have bought one for each of my children to bring to university and recommend that every mother of young children has one in her travel bag. There have been many occasions when I have prescribed over-the-phone-in-the-middle-of-the-night according to what’s in the kit, as it becomes many families’ home pharmacy. This little kit comes with a mini booklet for self-prescribing. You can get them from the pharmacy itself (www.helios.co.uk) or, here in Toronto, at Riverdale Homeopathic Resources (1331 Danforth Ave).
2. Books
I am often asked for book recommendations by people interested in learning more about homeopathy. There are thousands of books on the subject for the lay reader, including how-to manuals, philosophy books, homeopathic psychology, and homeopathic theory. Go to www.wholehealthnow.com for an excellent selection of homeopathic books. Many people new to homeopathy are taken by the idea of homeopathic psychology and find it fascinating to read about the psychological profiles of different remedies. There is a newly published book on the psychological profiles of animals for homeopathic prescribing. This is sure to be an unusual and stimulating read for any homeopathically-inclined animal lover. (Homeopathic Remedy Pictures for Animals, by Vicki Mathison). This book is available only at www.narayanapublishers.com. They also have on their list for this holiday season another fabulous looking book explaining homeopathy to children: LISA and the Mystery of the Little White Globules. Happy reading!
3. Janice Skinner
Janice is one of the gems of Toronto. She is a warm, wise, and wonderful woman who specializes in using breath, yoga, shiatsu, and her extensive wisdom and experience to guide you to a state of relaxation and internal peace that is truly extraordinary. More than any other professional I refer people to, Janice has made a huge impact on every person I have sent her way. I can think of few better gifts than a private session with Janice, a place on one of her retreats, or registration for one of her courses. Contact Janice Skinner – BodyMind Therapy at: janiceskinner@sympatico.ca
4. colloidal silver – This is my newest favorite supplement/ first aid item. Silver, suspended in water makes a brilliant anti-infectious agent. If there’s one thing you carry in your bag at all times (especially when travelling), this is it! I have used it topically for acne, infected ear piercings, eye infections, and cuts. The spray top is perfect for spraying directly on sore tonsils, and even better, spraying on your face periodically during airplane flights to protect your dried mucosa from the free-floating infections circulating in airplane air. I use it as a gargle for severe sore throats (even in a case of strep once), and it’s great taken orally (1 tsp twice a day) for food poisoning, as well as any internal infections (gastric, respiratory, sinus, etc). A few drops in an infected ear works miracles. Warning: do not use this every day or you might turn grey!. There are scary stories on the internet of people who have drunk bottles of the stuff and then turned a weird shade of silver-grey. Use it when and as needed, for just a few days at a time, and you will be fine. This little gem is a lovely little extra gift!
5. Body Blitz
I love the female-only Body Blitz spa in Toronto. I’ve done nothing other than “take the waters” here – a series of warm baths, cold plunges, hot steams, and so on. An afternoon here is about the most luxurious, relaxing, and detoxifying way to spend a couple of hours. It’s a lovely mix of old world baths and contemporary spa. You can soak in the hot green tea pool while sipping on a soya/carob smoothie. This is a wonderful way to spend time with your sisters, girlfriends, daughters, mother – the special women in your life. A truly wonderful gift for you and your guests is a group visit to this unusual spa. For more details: http://bodyblitzspa.com.
6. Healthy Food Basket
The season for indulgence is upon us! Delicious treats are not necessarily contrary to good health. While a basket full of sugar-rich, fat-heavy, processed goodies seems to be a seasonal favorite, it doesn’t strike me as the kindest gift to give foods that cause ill-health as well as excess weight that needs to be shed once the holidays are over. You can put together a basket of yummy goodness that offers health benefits as well as deliciousness. Consider including the following:
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Dark chocolate – at least 70% chocolate solids – fairly traded and organic. Good dark chocolate is full of Magnesium – the calming mineral. A small piece of dark chocolate is rich and satisfying, and gives the body a magnesium boost. Fairly traded organic chocolate is free of pesticides and other chemicals that abound in commercially grown chocolates; it’s also respectful to the environment and those who have grown and harvested it. My current favorite is Camino brand dark chocolate – rich, nutty, complex!
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Green Tea – green tea is rich in ECGC – a powerful antioxidant useful for inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, reducing cholesterol levels, destroying bacteria, and preventing unhealthy blood clotting. Try to get loose tea (preferably fairly-traded) and make it using water that has cooled slightly after boiling. A good green tea can tolerate a number of “pours” – use the same leaves up to 4 times. I find that the 2nd and 3rd pours are my favorites – free of the slightly biting tannic taste that is found in some green teas.
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Honey—locally grown, unpasteurized, non heat-treated honey is a delight to the taste as well as your body. Honey that has been made locally is truly homeopathic – the bees have feasted on local pollens – often the same pollens that make you sneeze in spring and fall. A daily teaspoon of raw, local honey is a fabulous way of treating seasonal allergies. The honey is also full of antiviral agents that help with virtually any virus. However, as soon as you heat that honey, the nutritional/medicinal value is destroyed. So, spread your local honey on toast, eat it off the spoon, drizzle it on pancakes and hot cereal. I have also used honey topically for infant eczema (especially under a diaper) – messy, but effective. You should be able to find this sort of honey at your local farmer’s market. Here in Toronto you can find a range of raw local honeys at Golden Orchard in St Lawrence Market.
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Pomegranates – There are few fruits more stunning in appearance than this gem. The Pomegranate has mythical and symbolic significance within many cultures, and since ancient times. This delicious and festive fruit is high in antioxidants, thereby buffering the effects of free radical damage to cells. Pomegranate also has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-hypertensive qualities and may be especially useful for prostate problems. In any case, the seeds of this yummy fruit are delicious in yogurt, on salads, on ice cream, in sauces for poultry, and just plain on their own.
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Raw food bonbons– Homemade goodies are always the best addition to any food basket. I am a huge fan of Meghan Telpner’s healthy, rawfood blog, “Making Love in the Kitchen”. This recipe is courtesy of Meghan Telpner – check her out for some raw food inspiration: http://meghantelpnerblog.com
Super Food Chocolate Cups, by Meghan Telpner
Chocolate
1/3 cup raw cacao powder
1/3 cup coconut oil
2 Tbs Cacao Butter
2 tsp maca
2 Tbs coconut syrup
Filling
1/4 cup hazelnut butter or ground hazelnuts mixed with a little coconut oil to make it creamy
2 Tbs finely ground coconut
1 Tbs raw honey
pinch of sea salt
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In a small bowl, mix together the filling. If your coconut is too coarse, run it through your spice/coffee grinder. Set aside
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Over low heat, melt together the coconut oil, honey, maca and cacao powder. You need this only warm enough that the goods melt together
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Using a small silicone muffin form, or even an ice cube tray that has the pop-out bottoms, pour a small amount of chocolate into each spot. You need just enough chocolate to cover the bottom.
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Place in freezer for 5-10 minutes or until solid
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Remove from freezer and form small little patties of the hazelnut mixture and gently place over first layer of chocolate in the muffin/ice tray.
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At this point, you may need to reheat the chocolate mix, do so just until it is pourable again.
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Gently spoon chocolate into each compartment until hazelnut mix is covered fully.
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Return to freezer to allow chocolate to set.
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Indulge!
Again, all my wishes to my readers for a wonderful, healthy, happy Holiday Season!
In Health, and in Peace…..
Beth
INSOMNIA!!
Sleep is essential for our psychological and physiological well–being, but many people suffer with sleep deprivation, insufficient sleep, and even chronic insomnia. There are few conditions that are more frustrating. We all crave a good night sleep, and the inability to achieve one can feel like torture, impacting mood, relationships, and the ability to function at work/school.
The range of potential sleep problems is enormous. Insomnia can mean difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, waking too early, and unrefreshing, or poor quality sleep. There are a host of causes and cures for each of these scenarios, making insomnia a fairly complicated disorder to address. Most people can cope with one or two nights of sleeplessness, but continued sleep problems can compromise productivity, create stress at work and home, impact immune function, and contribute to other health problems. Chronic insomnia must be treated by a health professional.
However, for most people, insomnia is either intermittent, or a temporary disruption of normal sleep patterns. In such cases, there are a number of safe, natural approaches to addressing sleep problems.
Read below for:
- best practices for good sleep
- Supplements and nutrition for healthy sleep
- reasons why you should never taking sleeping tablets
- homeopathic remedies for insomnia and other sleep problems.
Best Practices for Good Sleep
These tips are especially useful for “sensitive” sleepers – those for whom a good night sleep is a challenge and good habits around sleep are especially significant.
- Establish a routine time for going to sleep and waking up and adhere to this every day, not just on the days that your schedule demands. A consistent sleep-wake cycle is perhaps the most important things you can do for good sleep.
- Avoid caffeine, alcohol, sugar, and chocolate 4-6 hours before going to bed
- Do not engage in heavy exercise for at least 3 hours before going to bed
- Do not eat a heavy meal within 3 hours of going to bed
- Sleep in a room that is fully darkened – use an eye mask if there are light leaks into your bedroom
- Keep your bedroom at a good temperature – rooms that are too cold or too warm can interfere with sleep. Most people sleep best in a slightly cool room (around 65° F or 18° C) with adequate ventilation.
- A warm bath with Epsom salts (a form of magnesium) before bed is soothing and relaxing.
- Have a cup of warm chamomile tea before bed (although be warned that too much chamomile can cause sleep disturbances and anxiety)
- A foot massage before bed can help with falling asleep
10. If you should wake up and have trouble falling back asleep, get out of bed, go to another room and do something quiet and relaxing until you feel sleepy. Do not turn on electronic gadgets if possible.
11. Remember that relaxation is your goal, not sleep – relaxing rest is restorative.
12. Learn relaxation techniques such as visualization, progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing, and meditation. Use these techniques before bed, and if you wake up at night.
13. Try to reduce busy-brain activity. Keep a pen and paper by the bed if you are likely to wake with brainstorms, solutions to the crossword puzzle, or lists of groceries to buy. Write them down, get them out of your head, and go back to sleep.
14. Too much light before bed can interfere with your natural melatonin production. Keep lights low in your bedroom starting ½ hour before you want to go to sleep. Do not watch television or work on the computer right until you go to sleep. Back-lit readers can be problematic in this regard, but probably slightly less so than bright reading lights.
Related, but not quite-the-same:
Do not keep your cell-phone by your bed – the radiation it emits is dangerous! Keep your cell-phone in a different room, or at least 10 feet from your head!!
Supplements and Nutrition for Healthy Sleep
- Eat foods high in tryptophan before bed – these include bananas, figs, dates, nuts, turkey, milk, yogurt
- Melatonin is an excellent supplement for occasional sleeplessness, especially when caused by jet lag. Take 3-5 mg one hour before bedtime. Use a time-released version for difficulties with staying asleep. Do not use melatonin on an on-going basis as it can stop the body’s production of this very important regulatory (and cancer preventing) hormone.
- 5HTP is a substance created from the amino acid tryptophan, and in turn, helps in the production of serotonin. It is a useful supplement for depression and insomnia for some people. 5HTP should not be used by people taking anti-depressant medications. Start with 100 mg before bed and increase gradually to 500 mg if needed. As it is a precursor, 5HTP is less likely to cause issues of dependency than melatonin.
- GABA is an amino acid that acts as a neurotransmitter for the central nervous system. It works like a mild anti-stress tranquilizer. Take 500-2000 mg before bed on an empty stomach – start low and work up to optimal dosage. There is a chewable low dose form (100 mg each) that is useful for those with anxieties about falling asleep. Make sure you are also taking supplemental Magnesium with GABA
- Magnesium – the wonder mineral! This calming mineral is necessary for all sorts of functions, including restful sleep. It is essential for those who have leg cramps at night, and helps with restless leg syndrome. Magnesium is best taken to bowel tolerance, but an initial starting dose of 200 mg before bed can improve sleep dramatically.
Reasons Why You Should Avoid Sleeping Pills
The desperate need for sleep drives many people who would otherwise never take pharmaceutical medications to the resort to taking sleeping pills. There are many reasons why this is a bad practice.
- Taking sleeping pills on a regular basis disrupts deeper levels of sleep, causing a dramatic worsening of insomnia over time
- Taking sleeping pills leads to psychological and physiological dependency
- People who take sleeping pills suffer with drowsiness during the day – statistically those who take these drugs are 50% more likely to die in accidents due to their drowsiness, especially in the early morning hours
- Sleeping pills have a long list of side effects including depression, anxiety, confusion, prostate enlargement, and as mentioned above, worsening of insomnia
- Sleeping pills, if used at all, should be used only as temporary solutions in acute, short-lived situations
Homeopathic Remedies for Insomnia
There are hundreds of homeopathic remedies that can be used for insomnia. Remember that homeopathic medicine is holistic medicine, so that every person suffering with insomnia will be treated individually, with consideration of all physical, mental, and emotional symptoms. Due to the complexity of this sort of prescribing, chronic insomnia must be treated by a professional. However, occasional, intermittent, situational insomnia can be treated as an acute symptom. Some remedies that may be useful are listed below.
COFFEA CRUDA
- Good for people who are excitable and over-sensitive
- Made from coffee, the person needing this remedy looks like someone who has had too much coffee to drink – tense, exhilarated, lively, on high-speed
- Insomnia from over-active minds, over-excitement
- Sleeplessness from excitement, good news – literally over-joyed
- For example, highly wired children the night before Christmas!
- Waking with thoughts, ideas, from the slightest noise
- Sleepless at night, sleepy during the day
COCCULUS INDICUS
- Good remedy for people who are completely worn out, exhausted – insomnia from exhaustion
- Exhaustion from lack of sleep, disturbance of sleep schedule, excessive stress
- Excellent for mothers of sick children, or nursing babies who are up all night long taking care of their little ones
- Also good for workers on night shifts or with irregular schedules
- When sleep comes it tends to be restless with anxious dreams and nightmares
NUX VOMICA
- Indicated for driven, high-strung people, self-indulgent A-type personalities
- Losing sleep effects this remedy type severely
- Loss of sleep may be from excessive eating, drinking, partying
- Can generally fall asleep (which may look more like passing out), but wake in the early hours, unable to fall back asleep, often with anxious thoughts
- Often fall into deep sleep close to waking time, then have terrible time waking up
- Insomnia from overwork, over-active mental activity
NATRUM MURIATICUM
- Indicated for reserved, closed people
- Excellent remedy for insomnia due to grief
- Difficulty getting to sleep after a loss, disappointment, or from reflecting on past disagreeable occurrences
- Waking at night with thoughts of their grief and inability to get back to sleep
- Dreams tend to be vivid, anxious
PULSATILLA
- People needing this remedy tend to be gentle, yielding and mild mannered
- Insomnia with over-active minds, repetition of same thoughts – with frequent wakings
- When sleeping, the sleep is restless with anxious dreams and nightmares
- Sleep is better in a cool room with open windows
- Good insomnia remedy for children when indicated
The Annual Flu Vaccine Drive is On!
The pressure is on! The annual push to get people to “roll up their sleeves” for the flu vaccine is making its seasonal reappearance.
I am not a fan of the flu vaccine, and discourage my clients from getting the vaccine. However, I do not believe that the alternative to getting the vaccine is to do nothing. Making the wise choice to avoid the unnecessary vaccine means making even wiser choices about your health.
Why I think the vaccine is a bad idea:
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At best the vaccine is largely ineffective. Studies indicate that in children under 2 years old inactivated vaccines have the same efficacy as placebo, and in healthy people under the age of 65, the vaccine does not effect hospital stays, time off work, or death from influenza or its complications.
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The fact that vaccines “wear off”, requiring annual re-vaccination, often with the exact same strain of flu serum, is admission that the vaccines do not actually work. Human immunity is life-long. Real immunity from the disease itself offers life-long immunity against that same strain of disease. It is questionable if the vaccine offers any true immunity at all.
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Every vaccine (like any medicine) has risks associated with it. The neurological risks associated with the flu vaccine are severe. In 1976 there were more cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (a crippling neurological disorder) reported after vaccination than there were cases of the swine flu that the same vaccine was supposed to prevent.
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In December 2010 the flu vaccine specifically designed for young children from age 6 months to 5 years was blamed for unusually high incidence of febrile seizures in the same age population immediately after vaccination. While the manufacturer of the vaccine admitted to the higher than normal incidents of febrile seizures, they were not willing to admit to a causative link to the vaccine.
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I am concerned about a disease-prevention strategy that involves toxic chemicals and virus strains that are grown on living tissue and/or genetically modified in laboratories, then inserted into the human body.
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Flu shots contain some or all of the following vaccine constituents, none of which I believe belong in a healthy human being: ethylene glycol (antifreeze), phenol (aka carbolic acid – a disinfectant, die), formaldehyde (known carcinogen), aluminum (associated with Alzheimer’s disease and seizures), thimerosal (an mercury based preservative that is associated with brain injury and autoimmune disease), neomycin and streptomycin (antibiotics). Vaccines are often grown and strained through animal or human tissue such as monkey tissue, chicken embryos, embryonic guinea pig cells, calf serum – another ethical and emotional quagmire to get over in thinking about vaccine.
Why the FluMist is an even worse idea:
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This is an alternative flu vaccine that is supposed to be for those who resist the vaccine due to needle-anxiety. It is being widely touted as a good choice for children in particular.
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This nasal spray is more expensive than the conventional vaccination and is not covered by most provincial health providers here in Canada.
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The nasal flu mist is a live vaccine, and those who have been “immunized” in this way are carriers of live virus for up to 3 weeks after the “vaccination”, making them likely transmitters of disease.
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The list of people contraindicated for this option is long and quite concerning:
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Anyone with asthma or reactive airways
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People over the age of 60 (the same population we are told are most at risk from complications of influenza
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Anyone with history of bronchial allergic reactions
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Anyone with suspected immune deficiency diseases
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Pregnant and nursing mothers
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Anyone with chronic diseases of the heart, lungs, metabolic disease (including diabetes), kidney dysfunction, neurological disease
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Health care workers who work with any of the above
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Surely this list makes one reconsider the intelligence of getting such a vaccine at all.
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Why?
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I am not a conspiracy theorist by nature, but I do have to ask why these vaccines are so vigorously pushed onto the public.
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$$$$$$: Sorry to be so predictable, but someone is making a lot of money off this business
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FEAR: Mainstream medicine does not have a suitable model for addressing influenza outside the vaccination program. Witness films like the new blockbuster “Contagion” as an expression of the collective anxiety about a pandemic of influenza or some other infectious disease that mainstream medicine is ill-equipped for treating.
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So, What’s the Alternative?
Optimal health, of course!
Infectious disorders affect the weak and the susceptible. Susceptibility is reduced not through a vaccination that weakens the immune system, but through healthy living – nutritious eating, regular exercise, sufficient sleep, supplementation that optimizes essential vitamins and minerals, stress reduction, and good hygiene. Pretty simple!!
You know most of this – but here’s a quick review of some of the essentials:
Nutritious Eating
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Eat lots of plants in a range of colors –12-15 portions of fruit and veg daily, use fresh herbs and spices liberally
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Eliminate refined carbohydrates – NO WHITE SUGARS OR CARBS!
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Sugar dramatically reduces immune function
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Eat at least 3 portions of wild, cold-water, mercury free fish weekly, or supplement with a fish based Omega 3 fatty acid.
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Eat organic food whenever possible
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Make sure all your meat is from grass-fed animal
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Drink red wine in moderation
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Limit caffeine
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Avoid all artificial food flavors, colors, preservatives, additives
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Supplementation:
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Vitamin D—the sunshine vitamin! Necessary for all of us who live in northern climates. Get your 25HydroxyD levels checked next time you get blood work done. In the meantime – supplement throughout the winter – 4000-6000 IU daily for adults, 2000 for children, 800 for toddlers and infants.
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Probiotic – an excellent way to keep your immune system operating optimally is to take a daily probiotic, especially through the winter months. You will find that you will have many fewer viral infections if you take regular probiotics.
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Multi-Vitamin and Mineral supplement – get one from a reputable manufacturer, preferably one that is food-based. Do not buy inexpensive synthetic vitamins from big box stores – they are probably worse than taking nothing.
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Vitamin C – increase your vitamin C intake through-out the winter. 2000 mg daily (taken in 4-500 mg doses) is a good maintenance regime, but you can increase that 3-4 fold if you are feeling under the weather. Vitamin C works miracles when it comes to keeping you virus-free.
Common Sense:
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Allow yourself lots of sleep. Excessive tiredness is often your body’s way of alerting you to the fact that – big surprise – you need more sleep!! Tired bodies get sick more easily. Moreover, you need more sleep during the cold winter months – the weather acts as a physiological stressor and sleep is your time for recovery. Allow yourself a gentler, kinder schedule!
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Wash your hands frequently.
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Stay home if you don’t feel well. This alone could change the entire conversation around vaccination. Sick people belong at home – not at school, not in the work place, not on the subways and streetcars. Do this for yourself, and for those around you.
And if you should start to feel sick:
There are a number of natural health protocols for addressing acute illnesses such as the flu. Rather than repeat myself here I refer you to my blog on natural support and homeopathic remedies for the flu. However, if you take good care of yourself, chances are you will not need this advice, and certainly do not need the flu vaccine!
http://www.blh-homeopath.com/tag/flu/
Natural Cures for Urinary Tract Infections
There are a few disorders that I receive calls for with remarkable frequency — cystitis (also known as UTI –urinary tract infection, or bladder infection) – being one of them. One reason I am frequently contacted about UTIs is that the typical treatment of antibiotics does not seem to hold; invariably one UTI is followed by another. The cyclical return of UTIs is the primary reason I see so many cases of this very common disorder. Luckily, this is not a difficult disorder to address and one that seems to respond well to natural healing methods.
The most common symptoms of a UTI are frequency of urination; burning pain during, before, or after urination; blood in urine; and lower abdominal or lower back pain. UTIs in children are often the result of fecal contamination – girls need to be taught to wipe themselves from the front to the back after toileting. In women, UTIs often occur after sexual intercourse – urinating after sex is a good practice to prevent UTIs in those prone to them.
However, there are also plenty of instances of UTIs occurring for no obvious reason. Remember that this is a bacterial infection, one that will opportunistically flourish in an environment that welcomes it. The factors that keep us healthy – good nutrition, absence of stress, a regime of vitamins and supplements, sufficient sleep and exercise – need to be optimized to keep immune function working, helping us prevent UTIs as well as other infections.
For the most part, UTIs are not serious disorders, but frequent UTIs can point to more serious health issues and should be seen by a health professional. As always, if you have been prescribed a course of antibiotics for a UTI, be sure to take probiotics – both during the course of antibiotics (spaced as far from the dose of antibiotics as possible), and for at least one month afterwards. Antibiotics clear the body of both the offending bacteria strain, as well as all strains of healthy bacteria that are necessary for health bowel and immune function, leaving the patient unprotected against other bacteria in their environment.
Finally, if you have a UTI, be sure to treat yourself with the same gentle care you would with any other infection. For some reason, women with UTIs seem to feel they need to carry on as usual.
NATURAL APPROACHES TO UTIs
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Cranberry Juice produces hippuric acid in the urine. This acidifies urine and inhibits bacterial growth. Try to drink 1 liter of UNSWEETENED cranberry juice daily. I suggest adding a few drops of Stevia to make it more palatable. Alternatively, you can try cranberry capsules — available at Health Food Stores.
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Take one teaspoon of colloidal silver morning and night. This is a natural antibiotic that destroys bacteria, viruses, and fungal growth.
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Vitamin C – 5000 mg daily (taken in divided doses of no more than 1000 mg).Vitamin C acidifies urine and thereby inhibits bacterial growth.
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Celery, parsley, watermelon are natural diuretics – drink juice made with these fruits and vegetables.
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The most important thing is to drink – lots! Pure water is good – try to drink a glass every hour.
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Avoid orange juice and other citrus juices as they increase the alkalinity of the urine, encouraging bacterial growth.
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Stay away from coffee, alcohol, all sweetened drinks, sugar, and processed foods.
HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES FOR UTIs
Homeopathic treatment of UTIs is highly successful. I suggest combining the natural therapies listed above with an appropriate homeopathic remedy. Listed below are some of the remedies most commonly indicated in UTIs. If you are unsure of the correct remedy, or do not have a curative response after trying one of these, contact your homeopath. There are many other remedies that may work for you.
CANTHARIS (Spanish Fly)
People needing this remedy tend to have a great degree of restlessness and burning pains. Their symptoms tend to come on quickly and violently. They are likely to have a strong, unquenchable thirst, and tend to moan and complain loudly. Cystitis requiring this remedy is extremely painful. Symptoms are:
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Intense burning with urination, as if urinating burning liquid or acid
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May have pains in bladder and urethra, temporarily improved right after urination
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Sensation that they cannot empty bladder, with strong desire to do so – bladder never feels empty
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Intense urging to urinate, driving them to the toilet every few minutes, with only a few drops produced
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Blood in urine
NUX VOMICA (Poison Nut)
This remedy is indicated for chilly people who tend to be competitive, driven, workaholics. They often get sick after overindulging in food, alcohol, coffee. This emotional picture is not always present in cystitis cases, but may be one that directs you to this remedy. Symptoms of cystitis that need this remedy are:
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Frequent urging to urinate, without the extreme pain of cantharis
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Urge to urinate, but can’t – straining to urinate only small amounts
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May be some burning pain, but not extreme
PULSATILLA (Pasque Flower)
Pulsatilla is a remedy that is often needed for children. It is indicated for sweet, affectionate people who are adverse to changes in their lives. They tend to be mild, but can be whiny and clingy when not feeling well. Symptoms of cystitis that call for this remedy are:
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Urgent desires to urinate with no ability to hold urine back. This can result in spurting and involuntary urination.
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The urge to urinate becomes stronger every second it is delayed; urging becomes intense after only a drop is accumulated.
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Once on the toilet it can be difficult to pass urine.
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May have pains in kidney area
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Differentiate from Nux Vomica symptoms in that the pain is irregular and spasmodic, and there is almost always spurting of urine.
SARSPARILLA (Wild Licorice)
This small remedy is useful mostly as a cystitis remedy with very particular symptoms:
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Intense pain as final drops are passed at the very end of urination
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Copious urine passed without pain, until the very end
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May have difficulty urinating while sitting, flow begins on standing
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Urinary tract infections during menstrual periods
If one of these remedies looks like the right remedy for you, try taking one tablet of 30 potency every 15 minutes for 4 doses. The symptoms should settle down by then. Thereafter, repeat the remedy when/if the symptoms start to return – this could be as often as every 30 minutes, or perhaps not at all. Do not continue taking a homeopathic remedy after the symptoms have disappeared, or if, after 24 hours, there has been no improvement.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL-BASICS part 4 — CHRONIC ILL-HEALTH
Chronic Ill Health in Children
Once your child is accustomed to his/her new teacher, class, and daily routine it is a good time to take a look at last year’s attendance record. Does your child miss school more often than most? Do you have the feeling that s/he is always sick, coming down with something, or recovering? Do you feel as though your child’s immune function is not working as well as you would like? If you have answered “yes” to these questions, your child probably suffers from a chronic ill-health disorder. Recurring ear infections, repeated coughs and colds, frequent sore throats and tonsillitis, regular headaches or stomach aches, asthma – these are some of the more common chronic disorders in children. Invariably children with chronic ill-health have been to their doctor for repeated visits – in some cases receiving repeated prescriptions for antibiotics, in other cases leaving the doctor with little help for these recurring disorders.
There are many causes for chronic ill-health in children. In some instances children are needing better nutrition (please see http://www.blh-homeopath.com/category/nutrition/), in other instances children are under excessive emotional stress than is finding its somatic expression in physical symptoms. In other cases children’s immune function has been diminished by repeated antibiotic use, vaccination, or other environmental factors. And others have been born with weak immune function – for a variety of reasons.
In all cases, homeopathy can be highly effective in addressing chronic ill-health in children. Rather than just trying to remove the troubling symptom itself, homeopathy looks at the total picture and addresses the body’s pattern of health – hoping to reduced both the causes of chronic ill-health as well as the severity and frequency of illness.
Over the years I have been practicing I have been amazed at the effectiveness of this gentle art in helping children overcome patterns of chronic ill-health. I recall one mother telling me that she had no life as she was in and out of the hospital with her three severely asthmatic children. All three children are totally free of asthma now, and never required another hospitalization after starting homeopathic treatment. I recall another child who was brought to me as a last resort before surgery to put tubes in for repeated ear-infections. After three months of treatment surgery was cancelled, and the child is free of ear infections as of this writing. Another young client with repeated episodes of pneumonia has been “cured” by homeopathy. There are so many more stories to tell – I present these to provide a sense of the efficacy and reach of homeopathy.
So, as my last Back-to-School-Basics entry, I want to suggest that NOW is the time to address your child’s chronic health issues. Start homeopathic treatment to prevent another school year marred by chronic absenteeism and ill health.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL BASICS, Part 3: ANXIETY
The return to school after a long summer holiday is a time of anxiety for children (and adults) of all ages. Low-grade nervousness and excitement at this time of year is normal, but for many children the anxiety is extreme, and for some, it doesn’t dissipate as the pattern of the school year falls into place.
Children express their anxiety in various ways. Tummy aches are among the most common expressions of anxiousness, but so are headaches, bed-wetting, inability to sleep, nightmares, hyperactive or aggressive behavior, tantrums, and excessive clinginess – to name just a few. The ability to articulate anxiety is difficult for many children and we need to learn to read their symptoms as expressions of their emotional state. Investigating the situation they find themselves in and the pressures they are experiencing is important. It can be helpful to talk through strategies for managing these situations and pressures, and at times, involve the school in discussion.
Talking doesn’t resolve all problems, and children with chronic anxiety issues, or chronic symptoms of anxiety such as those listed above need to be seen by a professional homeopath. Because homeopathy is holistic medicine – medicine that understands the link between emotional and physical states – it is particularly good for treating anxiety, especially in children.
However, “acute”, or temporary states of anxiety can be treated at home. Here are a few remedies that you might want to consider if your child is expressing nervous excitement or anxiety at the start of the new school year. Again, if these are common or recurring symptoms for your child, they should not be treated with acute remedies; a visit to a professional homeopath is strongly advised.
Pulsatilla
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An excellent remedy to use for children who find times of change difficult – this remedy can ease the way during such times.
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Children needing this remedy tend to be very sensitive, yielding, and highly emotional, needing lots of affection and support.
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Children display their anxiety by excessive clinginess and whining. Older children can become very quiet and moody.
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They may lie in bed with overactive minds, thinking the same thoughts over and over, especially at times of change in their lives. Once asleep, they tend to have anxious dreams with twitching of limbs.
Gelsemium
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This is a superb remedy for acute anticipatory anxiety in which the child seizes up with fear – trembling, stuttering, unable to think correctly. Very useful before the first day of school (or camp), before exams, public speeches, performances, etc.
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I generally suggest giving this remedy the night before an event that is causing anxiety, and again the morning of the event.
Argentum Nitricum
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This remedy can look much like Gelsemium in that it has strong anticipatory anxiety with loose stools.
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Children needing this remedy are often overly emotional with vivid imaginations.
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Argentum Nitricum anxiety has to do with a dread of ordeals, and a strong lack of confidence about a new situation.
Calcaria Carbonicum
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Children needing this remedy tend to be happy and easy-going for the most part, but can get very anxious with worries about small things.
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They are usually easily distracted from their worries, but when left with time to think, will start worrying anew.
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Children needing this remedy are often slow, a bit sluggish, and almost always very obstinate – this trait being especially visible when worried.
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Calcaria children tend to perspire at night, especially around the head.
Arsenicum Album
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One of the most anxious remedies, usually used for chronic anxiety, but it has a place in short term, situational anxiety.
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Suited to high-strung children.
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Children needing this remedy will make lots of plans and organize themselves carefully to reduce their anxiety. They are likely to organize themselves, their clothes, their school supplies, their schedule impeccably – to assure that nothing goes wrong, nothing is out of their control.
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The anxiety will be accompanied by a great degree of restlessness – pacing, thrashing around in bed, general inability to stay still.
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They are also likely to be chilly with a cold perspiration on the forehead.
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Children needing this remedy may experience disturbed sleep when anxious – waking between midnight and 2 or 3 in the morning with anxiety.
Coffea Cruda
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Children needing this remedy will be over-sensitive and over-excited.
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Their sleep is likely to be effected by this state – children who are wildly happy and over-excited, with minds full of excitement and plans and therefore unable to sleep will benefit from taking this remedy before bed.
Unless otherwise directed, these remedies should be used in the 30ch potency. Suggested dosing is as follows: take a single pellet before bed, another the following morning on waking. Can be repeated for up to 3 days. If symptoms do not improved, do not continue dosing, but get professional advice. Stop the remedy as soon as symptoms disappear. If symptoms are especially severe, put 4 pellets into 8 oz of spring water and sip hourly for up to 6 hours. This is a good back-to-school regimen — a few pellets in a child’s water bottle can make the transition of that first day back to school much easier.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL BASICS (part 2) VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS
As mentioned in Part 1 of this newsletter (August 24 blog post), the cycle of a return to school offers families an opportunity to establish new patterns. As the long days of summer wane, it is a golden time for thinking about the steps you can take to assure a healthy school year for your child.
I am asked about vitamins and supplements frequently. I want to be clear that vitamins are in no way a replacement or substitute for healthy eating and most of your nutritional value should come from the food you eat. There is considerable question about the value of vitamins isolated from the complex food environment in which they are found naturally. Also, essential nutrients work in harmony with others – isolating these nutrients is only partially effective. However, it is undeniable that the soil our food is grown in has been depleted and it can be difficult to get a full complement of vitamins and minerals from even the healthiest diet. In addition, the stresses of modern living (not to mention most pharmaceutical medications) deplete our body of essential nutrients. For that reason, I do recommend a multi-vitamin/mineral for most of my clients.
The combination of a good multi-vitamin/mineral and a few select supplements are an excellent way to assure a baseline level of good health. You will find that your family succumbs to many fewer viruses and illnesses once you have established a regular vitamin and supplement regime.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A MULTI-VITAMIN:
Be sure that the vitamins in your multi are derived from whole foods. It is important that the multi-vitamin you choose comes from whole foods source, is free of additives and synthetic vitamins, and is made by a reputable manufacturer. Do your homework, or go to a good health food store staffed by knowledgeable people. For the most part, vitamins sold in grocery stores and box pharmacies are not worth paying for. Some synthetic vitamins are actually dangerous if taken over time. Synthetic forms of vitamin A can contain accutane – a dangerous substance. Dr Mercola (a naturopathic researcher and blogger) singles out sodium selinate, magnesium stearate, and titanium dioxide as especially dangerous elements found in many inexpensive multi-vitamins.
Make sure your vitamin has a full complex of minerals, some of which must be chelated. Chelated means that the mineral is attached to an amino acid or other organic compound which allows the two to remain bonded in the digestive system. Calcium and Magnesium do not necessarily benefit from chelation, but it is essential that selenium is chelated. Look for forms like selenomethionine, selenoglutathione in your multi. Look for a full range of minerals – the presence of minerals such as molybdenum suggest that a comprehensive range of minerals is included.
A full spectrum of B vitamins should be included. B vitamins are water soluble which means they need to be taken daily; they are easily depleted by stress, exercise, high carbohydrate diets, and many drugs. Look for at least 25 mg of vitamin B6 for adults, 10-15 mg of B6 for children. This is a relatively reliable benchmark for assuring that the other B vitamins are at an adequate level. Women of childbearing age should be taking at least 5 mg of folic acid (B9).
RDAs (Recommended Daily Allowances) are not the same as optimal levels. The RDAs for most vitamins is extremely low, and generally insufficient. Once you have found a reliable manufacturer, trust the levels they include in their product. I like to change my multi when I finish a bottle, alternating between 3 or 4 options. Every manufacturer has a different balance of vitamins and minerals, and it’s a good idea to get a full range.
Liquid vitamins/minerals are more easily absorbed, and more readily swallowed by children in particular. You may want to look for this option.
ADDITIONAL VITAMINS/SUPPLEMENTS:
There are three supplements I think all people should take daily, in addition to a multi:
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Vitamin D – The health benefits of this “sunshine” vitamin are too extensive to list. Suffice it to say that there is ample evidence that those of us who live in cold, dark climates are virtually all vitamin D deficient and the impact on our health is extensive. Darker skinned people are likely to have more severe vitamin D deficiency. If you allow yourself exposure to the sun in the summer months WITHOUT SUNSCREEN you will probably have stored up vitamin D adequate for a few months. Sunscreen prevents the synthesis of vitamin D which happens on the surface of the skin, so if you or your child use sunscreen, vitamin D supplementation should happen year-round. Optimally, you should test for your 25 Hydroxy D levels to assure that you are taking enough vitamin D (as opposed to too much). It is a good practice to ask for this test when you do blood work. In the meantime, I have no concerns recommending 2000 IU of vitamin D for children, (800 for infants), and 5000 IU for adults daily.
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Probiotics – Probiotics are live organisms that improve the balance of good and bad microorganisms in the digestive tract. They are essential for good bowel health and for immune system function. Buy live, refrigerated probiotics and take them daily – the benefits are enormous.
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Omega 3 fatty acids – This is one of the “good fats” – an essential unsaturated fatty acid necessary for many functions, including brain health, and cardiovascular health. Most people are seriously deficient in Omega 3s, necessary for balancing the impact of the more problematic Omega 6s which are heavily present in western diets. We know that an excess of Omega 6 can have disastrous impact on our health, and supplementation with Omega 3s is necessary. Children with hyperactivity and learning disorders need Omega 3s for brain function. Diabetes, some cancers, hypertension, heart disease, obesity, and premature aging are all due, in some part, to Omega 3 deficiency. Fish is an excellent source of Omega 3s, but much fish contains excessive levels of mercury and eating fish like tuna should be limited. Grass-fed beef has Omega 3 levels higher than that of salmon – so be sure that if you eat beef, you are getting grass fed beef. (Grain fed beef is rich in Omega 6s and should be avoided.) An Omega 3 supplement is the easiest way to assure adequate levels of this essential, healthy fat. Not all Omega 3 fish oils are the same. I prefer krill oil for both nutritional and environmental reasons. In any case, look for a fish oil in which provides approximately 750 mg of EPA and 500 mg of DHA daily for adults, half that for children under 12. Vegetarian sources of Omega 3s such as flax and chia seeds are less effective (but better than nothing) as not all bodies are able to manage the conversion from a long-chain ALA to a useable short chain.
Getting into a pattern of taking daily vitamins takes some initial effort, but should then become as simple and regular as teeth-brushing. I suggest that you teach your children to take responsibility for this themselves – it’s a good way to initiate a life-long habit that will serve them well. Use colored stickers on the top of the bottles to help children know what to take.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL BASICS part 1: NUTRITION
It’s that time in the summer when the nights are getting cooler, the days shorter, and the stores full of back-to-school paraphernalia. It’s hard to believe that the long lazy days of summer are winding down.
The cycle of a return to school offers families an opportunity to establish new patterns and break some old habits. This is a golden time for thinking about the steps you can take to assure a healthy school year for your child.
Back to School Basics: Part I
Nutrition
Your child’s health – mental as well as physical – is intricately bound to the foods s/he eats. As the pace and intensity of the school year increases, it becomes more difficult to avoid the pitfalls of ready-made meals and quick snacks. Now is a great time to get organized with a healthy larder and some firm resolutions. You will be amazed at how well your child will feel, look, perform in school on a natural, healthy, sugar and additive-free diet.
Try some of these resolutions/suggestions for improving your family’s nutrition:
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Stock your refrigerator and cupboard now with healthy snacks – nuts, dried fruit, carrots and celery, cheese, apples, honey, rice cakes, whole wheat crackers, hummus, yogurts, salsa, home-made trail mix etc.
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At the same time, get rid of all foods with transfats and hydrogenated fats – these are commonly found in cookies, crackers, fried snacks, and prepared baked goods. Also rid your cupboards of candy, cereal/energy bars full of sugar and additives, all foods with food coloring or preservatives, all fried snacks, as well as sugary snacks and drinks. Replace soda drinks with fresh milk, soy (or almond) milk, juice, flavored waters. Sparkling water with a splash of juice is refreshing and delicious. Get rid of margarine and vegetable oils and replace with butter and olive oil.
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Make a family commitment to eating breakfast – together if possible. Make this a meal event. Starting the day with a low glycemic meal will benefit everyone. Lots of protein, fruit, and small amount of whole grains will give everyone energy to get through school, work, chores. Eggs, home-made oatmeal, fruit smoothies, unsweetened yogurt with fruit and home-made granola, healthy pancakes or muffins full of fruit and grains (and low in sugar) – these are some of the many ideas for a healthy start to your day.
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Make a list of lunches your child will like – compose this list together. Stay away from processed meats, white bread, sugary snacks. Think about roll-ups in whole wheat tortilla shells, soups and salads, pita triangles with vegetables and dips, hard-boiled eggs, stuffed celery sticks, etc. A wide mouth thermos is a great purchase – the previous night’s leftovers can be heated up and sent to school this way.
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Swear off all preservatives, and white flour and sugar as much as possible. Use whole-wheat flour when you bake (or at least ½ whole wheat flour), reduce the amount of sugar in recipes by at least ½. Make your own granola, granola bars, muffins, cookies, using whole grains, lots of nuts, coconut, dried fruit, and honey wherever possible. Try replacing brown for white – in rice, pasta, cereals, crackers, bagels. You will be surprised at how quickly your family will get used to this change.
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Keep bowls of cut-up fruit and vegetables in the refrigerator for a quick and healthy afterschool snack. Strategically places bowls of healthy munchies will disappear over homework.
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If age appropriate, engage your child in the adventure of eating more healthfully this school year. Get some good recipe books, bring them shopping, get them chopping and mixing. They are more likely to eat things that are new and strange if they’ve been involved in the creation and preparation.
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Changing eating patterns is a family project. Everyone must participate. It is likely to change things like your shopping and cooking patterns as well. It is difficult to go down familiar grocery aisles and select differently. Try going to the farmer’s markets this fall and stock your house with fresh fruits and vegetables. Use these as the basis for your meals. Think about Sunday cooking projects – preparing baked goods and snacks for the week. Eating healthfully requires more thought, planning, and preparation – start now to change your habits. You will be amazed at your family’s improved health and energy.
SUMMER COLDS
The idea of being sick with a cold in the midst of the summer seems like a cruel contradiction in terms. However, it happens, and judging by the patient calls I have been getting, it is happening with considerable frequency this summer.
Logically, there is no reason why viral germs should not flourish in the heat of the summer just as they do in the winter, and in so doing, making those who are susceptible to them, sick. There are a few reasons why people are especially likely to get sick with colds in summer, and some simple things you can do to prevent them:
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airplanes (people travel more in the summer) as well as air-conditioning tend to recirculate old air, often recirculating air-born germs with it. I suggest that when you travel, carry a spray bottle of Colloidal Silver and spray your face, especially your nose, every couple of hours during flight. This product is a brilliant anti-infectious agent and is especially effective in this way. Limit home air-conditioning if possible, and air out your house on the days the weather permits.
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Stay hydrated. Heat, sun, air-conditioning all dry out our mucous membranes, leaving us more susceptible to colds and other viruses.
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Are you sure you are getting your daily dose of Vitamin D? This sunshine vitamin is essential for good health in countless ways, among them, by keeping your immune function lively – fighting off those germs. People assume that they are getting vitamin D in the summer, but if you use sunscreen you are not synthesizing vitamin D – a process that happens on the surface of the skin. Moreover, if your shadow is larger than yourself, the conditions are not optimal for vitamin D synthesis. Be sure you are taking vitamin D supplements if you are not allowing your naked skin exposure to the sun.
Are they really colds?
It can be difficult to ascertain the difference between a cold and a summer allergy. Generally, fevers are absent with colds, and the color of the nasal discharge is unlikely to be yellow or green if the problem is allergy. Moreover, itching in the ears, palette, throat, eyes, nose are symptoms that invariably accompany allergies and are much less common with colds. If you think you are suffering with allergies, read: www.blh-homeopath.com/tag/allergy/ for hints for relief.
Some Natural Cures for Summer Colds:
Vitamin C
As with any cold, reach for the Vitamin C bottle first when you start to feel a cold coming on. Vitamin C is an important anti-oxidant that is not manufactured by the body, and therefore must be obtained through foods and/or supplements. I recommend fairly high doses of vitamin C for the duration of the cold only – up to 2500 mg for children and 5000 mg for adults, taken in doses of no more than 500 mg through-out the day.
Zinc Lozenzes
Great for colds that start with sore throats – take them until they taste disgusting – the change in taste will let you know that you’ve reached your physiological level of zinc.
Gargle!
Gargle with Turmeric and water – about 1 tsp of turmeric stirred into a glass of water. Gargle and spit until you’ve finished the glass. Turmeric has powerful anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, the gargle moisturizes dry mucous membranes that contribute to summer colds.
Immune Boost
Reishi mushrooms and Echinacea are wonderful immune boosters. Use a product with one of these ingredients to boost your immune function if you get a summer cold.
Homeopathic Remedies for Summer Colds
Finding the right homeopathic remedy for a cold can be difficult as the symptoms of different colds are very similar, and selecting a remedy from the hundreds that could be useful is a daunting task. However, because summer colds are less common than winter colds, there are a few remedies that are particularly noteworthy:
Arsenicum Album
This remedy is especially suited for summer colds that come on after suddenly getting chilled after being overheated. Examples of this could be plunging into a cold pool or lake, eating cold or frozen food, or going into an overly air-conditioned environment after being over-heated. People needing this remedy for colds are likely to have these symptoms:
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chilliness
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restlessness
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may be anxious
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hot watery nasal discharge that burns – sometimes blood-streaked
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dry, cracked lips
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frequent sneezing
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desire for hot drinks even in warm weather
Dulcamara
This remedy is particularly suitable for people who catch colds easily, especially in damp or humid weather. There is often diarrhea associated with the cold. Other symptoms include:
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eye inflammation with the cold, as if the cold has settled in the eye
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copious, thick, yellow nasal discharge
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extreme sensitivity to cold and damp
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moist, juicy cough with the cold
Gelsemium
This remedy is useful for colds that come on after being overheated. A summer cold needing this remedy is likely to come on in oppressive, hot, humid weather. Other symptoms may be:
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heavy droopy eyelids
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absence of thirst, even in the heat
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marked heaviness, weariness, flu-like malaise
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headache with the cold
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improvement of symptoms when outside
