BACK-TO-SCHOOL BASICS (part 2) VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS

Aug 31 2011

 

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:

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

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BACK-TO-SCHOOL BASICS part 1: NUTRITION

Aug 24 2011

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:

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

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SUMMER COLDS

Aug 01 2011



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:

  1. 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.

  2. Stay hydrated. Heat, sun, air-conditioning all dry out our mucous membranes, leaving us more susceptible to colds and other viruses.

  3. 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:

  • chilliness

  • restlessness

  • may be anxious

  • hot watery nasal discharge that burns – sometimes blood-streaked

  • dry, cracked lips

  • frequent sneezing

  • 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:

  • eye inflammation with the cold, as if the cold has settled in the eye

  • copious, thick, yellow nasal discharge

  • extreme sensitivity to cold and damp

  • 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:

  • heavy droopy eyelids

  • absence of thirst, even in the heat

  • marked heaviness, weariness, flu-like malaise

  • headache with the cold

  • improvement of symptoms when outside

 

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HOMEOPATHIC PLANTS IN YOUR GARDEN

Jul 21 2011

Over the years I have been trying to introduce as many homeopathic plants into my garden as possible. Homeopathic remedies are made from a wide variety of natural materials – plants being among the oldest and most well known source of remedies. Much of our understanding of the effect of plant remedies comes from the wisdom of ancient herbalists and healers. I do not use my homeopathic plants for anything other than the beauty they bring to my garden, but I never fail to marvel at the healing power hidden within these backyard beauties.

Here are a few of the many homeopathic flowering plants that readily grow in an Ontario garden.

 

Pulsatilla Nigricans


One of my favorite garden plants, this perennial flowers in early spring. It has beautiful grey-green leaves and stems covered with soft, downy hairs. The petals are deeply cut, bell-shaped, dark purple flowers that dangle. This plant is known as the small pasque flower, the meadow anemone, and the shame-faced maiden.

One of the most useful of all homeopathic remedies, this lovely plant is indicated for a wide range of pathology including allergies, colds and sinus conditions, ear and eye infections and menstrual disorders. People who need this remedy tend to be sweet-natured, gentle; the children, clingy. Their moods, like their symptoms, change readily. They are worse in stuffy rooms and better in fresh air. Their discharges tend to be copious and bland.

 

Aconite (Aconitum Napellus)


Aconite, familiarly known as Monk’s Hood, or Wolf’s Bane, has beautiful hooded violet flowers that appear in mid-summer. The plant is known for its poisonous alkaloids found in the highest degree of concentration in the roots. Historically the poisons from this plant were used as an arrow toxin.

This plant was first used as a homeopathic remedy in 1805 by the founder of homeopathy, Samuel Hahnemann. This remedy is especially useful for symptoms that come on suddenly after a fright or exposure to cold. Physical symptoms that develop as a result of shock, especially coughs, colds and fevers, respond well to this remedy. Aconite is a staple in any homeopathic first aid kit. It is useful for extreme fear and anxiety that comes on suddenly.

 

 

Bellis Perennis

This flowering plant is one of the most common garden flowers – the daisy.  There are many “daisies”, this one is known as the Common Lawn Daisy, or English Daisy. Its flowers open up only in the day, the petals close at night, showing their pink-tipped underside.  Traditionally, this plant is used as a cure for fresh wounds as well as various aches and pains.

Homepathically, this plant is used for illnesses  (especially chills and fevers) that come on after a plunge into extreme cold when overheated. It is also an important remedy for injuries to soft tissue – especially breasts.  Bellis Perennis is used after childbirth or surgery for internal wounds that continue to cause a sensation of bruised soreness.

 

Cimicifuga (also known as Actea Racemosa)


This is a hardy perennial that grows in the wild (as well as in my garden) throughout Canada and the northern US. It is a tall plant with deeply cut purple leaves and long, feathery white blossoms. Cimicifuga is known familiarly as Black Cohash, or Bugbane – due to its mildly medicinal smell that supposedly deters insects.

Herbally, a tincture made from the root of this plant has been used by First Nations tribes for a range of disorders including whooping cough, slow labors, diarrhea, and rheumatism.  It is said to be an antidote to the poison of the rattle snake, thus called Rattle Root as well.

Homeopathically, this is a wonderful remedy for women’s health issues. It is used in pregnancy and in labor for pains that fly around the body, and then stop. It is a wonderful remedy for menstrual cramps when the specific symptoms match correctly.

Echinacea (Purple Cone Flower)


My Echinacea is just starting to come into flower – resulting in a stunning perennial clump of purple-pink flowers with large, spiky chaffs in the center. Echinacea has been used for centuries by First Nations People to treat various ailments such as coughs, colds, toothaches, and snake bites. Recently, it has gained popularity as a herbal medication for boosting immune function and helping to prevent infectious disorders such as the common cold.

This ancient herbal medicinal plant is not as well known as a homeopathic remedy. Echincacea Angustifolia  is used in blood and immune disorders, as well as in septic conditions such as poisonous bites.  The patient needing this remedy tends to feel weak and tired in the muscles as well as sensitive to cold.

 

Ruta Graveolens


Also known as common rue, this is a strongly scented evergreen plant that thrives in poor soil and hot sun. It has bluish-green stems and yellow flowers. It as another ancient herbal medicine – used for coughs, colic, headaches, indigestion, and as an antidote to poisoning from mushrooms, wasps, poisonous spiders. Houses were sprinkled with water in which rue was soaked to rid them of fleas. Monks and painters would eat rue to relieve eye strain and weakness from overwork.

Homeopathically, we use this remedy primarily for strains and spains – often ones that are caused by repetitive stress and overuse.

 

These are only a few of the wonderful plants you can grow in your garden for beauty as well as reminders of the magic of homeopathy!

Happy gardening!!

 

 

 

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Homeopathy for Bites and Stings!

Jun 13 2011

 

It’s insect time! In particular, mosquito season has come with a vengeance! There are a number of natural remedies that you can use to prevent mosquito bites, as well as remedies you can take if you are bitten by mosquitoes or other insects.  

BITE PREVENTION:
I am not a big fan of DEET sprays (although they do work!), so I prefer using more natural deterrents whenever possible:
•    Vitamin B1 – mosquitoes appear to be repelled by this vitamin (Thiamine) when it is excreted through the skin. A daily dose of 50-100 mg daily of B1 will offer you a high degree of natural repellent (and you won’t repel anything besides bugs!). I used this method for my family when traveling in India with amazing success. I highly recommend increasing your vitamin B intake throughout the mosquito season.
•    Foods rich in Vitamin B1 include brewer’s yeast, blackstrap molasses, wheat germ, fish, brown rice
•    A diet rich in garlic also helps deter mosquitoes
•    Herbally, calendula ointment, tea tree oil, goldenseal, cedar, eucalyptus and pennyroyal extract can be used as a repellants
*do not use pennyroyal during pregnancy
•    Citronella candles repel mosquitoes
•    Chlorine bleach (as found in chlorinated pools) deters mosquitoes, although you are likely to want to get the chlorine off your skin soon after swimming.
•    Don’t walk barefoot, and of course, covering yourself at dusk is helpful.
•    Cosmetics that smell such as perfume attract mosquitoes.

MEASURES TO TAKE IF BITTEN:

•    Be sure to seek help if bite becomes unbearably swollen, painful, or itchy; if red streaks begin to travel from the site of the infection; if there is a continuous fever after the bite; if the skin around the bite fails to heal and becomes necrotic; if tongue swells; if swelling spreads rapidly; if there is any difficulty in breathing, or any faintness or confusion.
•    Bromelain and Quercitin are excellent supplements for decreasing the inflammation that often results in allergic responses of any kind. (Dosages for Bromelain and Quercitin are 400 mg 3 times daily; half as much for children age 6-12, one quarter as much for children under 6).
•    Vitamin C helps to relieve the toxicity and inflammation of bites (up to 5000 mg daily for adults, ½ for children 6-12, one quarter as much for children under 6).
•    If victim is allergic to the kind of sting they have received, give the homeopathic remedy Apis in the highest potency you have on your way to the hospital.
•    Make a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water and apply topically to a sting for immediate relief. Mud works as well.
•    Topical use of homeopathic tinctures or creams are very useful in stings, bites. Try ledum first, followed by calendula, hypericum, cedron, urtica urens, or arnica. Dab a couple of drops of tincture directly onto the wound, or apply cream. Repeat as often as needed.
•    I suggest all parents carry a tube of Apis cream in their daily bag of tricks – this works wonders topically for almost any bite.

HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES FOR BITES:
*probably most useful for bites other than mosquito bites, unless reaction is severe

APIS MELLIFICA 30
•    Burning, stinging pains –skin sore, sensitive
•    Rapid swelling, shiny
•    Intolerable itching
•    Rosy red, puffy swellings
•    bite feels worse for heat or in a warm room
•    worse for touch
•    bite feels better with cold pack or other application
•    after bite patient has fatigue, apathetic, drowsy sensibility
•    marked thirstlessness after bite
•    redness and swelling of mucous membranes

LEDUM 30
•    first remedy to use for simple stings and insect bites
•    sensation of coldness of affected part, but no interest in warm compresses or coverings
•    in spite of bite area feeling cold, patient wants cold applications on the bite
•    patient feels chilly
•    twitching of muscles near site of wound
•    Ledum prevents a septic state from developing after any puncture wound (along with hypericum). Should be used routinely for any animal bite on the way to the hospital.
•    Excellent used topically in tincture on any stings

HYPERICUM 30
•    bites or stings on nerve rich areas with pains that extend along nerve pathways
•    shooting pains
•    bites inflamed and exceptionally painful
•    tearing, shooting sensations

DOSING:
As with all acute homeopathic situations I suggest you use the 30th potency, repeating the remedy every 15 minutes for 4 doses. You should see a marked improvement in that time if you have chosen the right remedy. If no improvement, discontinue remedy and call your homeopath. If there is an initial improvement, you can repeat the remedy in single doses as symptoms return. As always, do not repeat a homeopathic remedy once the indicating symptoms have disappeared.

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Suggestions for battle-free healthy eating.

Jun 10 2011


I am troubled by the diets of many of my clients, but none so deeply as the children I treat for ADHD. Lack of proper nutrition is one of most important contributory factors to ADHD, yet I see many of the children I treat eating poorly. I think there are two factors that explain this – 1. lack of information, and 2. unwillingness on the part of parents to insist on healthy eating.

I want to rant a bit about the second of these reasons. I hear often that children only eat a small selection of foods and won’t try anything else. In too many families food becomes a battle-ground on which children assert their rebellious natures, but ultimately, it is within parental control to determine what their children eat. Battling over foods is unhealthy in many ways but, with a bit of ingenuity, determination, and rethinking, can be avoided.

What follows are a few practical suggestions for improving your child’s nutrition and helping you get your head around insisting on healthier eating:

• Your job is to offer your child the food you want to offer, at the time you want him or her to eat. The child’s job is to decide what and how much of it to eat. (this is the advice of Dr Ellyn Sattyr, a food therapist)
•    Don’t give in to your child’s demands to eat food that you know is unhealthy on the grounds that it’s better to eat something than nothing at all. If a child skips a meal his blood sugar will be low, but not as low as the crash that occurs after eating a high glycemic, sugary, preservative rich meal.
•    Offering a choice of healthy options may be a good way to coerce a child into eating as it gives him the power to make a choice. Offering choices can reduce stress. It’s unhealthy for everyone involved when meals become a battle ground, so don’t battle, be firm, consistent, and generous with the range of healthy options on offer.
•    Get rid of unhealthy foods you don’t want your child to eat – this means a change for everyone. Healthy eating needs to be a family choice.
•    Sneak vegetables into foods — chopped sautéed greens in pasta sauce; peppers, tomatoes, sautéed greens on pizza; chopped celery, fennel, and cucumber, peas in tuna or chicken salad; powdered greens and carrot juice in smoothies, etc.
•    Put out crudities, nuts, raisins, sliced fruits, cheese to nibble while doing homework. Peas in the pod, edamame, mozzerella-filled cherry tomatoes, ants-on-the-log (celery sticks with almond butter and raisin ants) are just a few suggestions of fun snacks.
•    Make food art; play with food – children love eating their creations.
•    Do not offer alternative meals that require additional cooking – although a healthy substitute such as hard-boiled eggs, sliced smoked tofu, toasted tempeh, whole-wheat bread with nut butter can be put out on the table for additional options.
•    Get your children involved in shopping, cooking, even gardening. Get some good children’s cookbooks – these can be inspirational. Let your children cook for you on occasion, using any of the healthy ingredients you’ve stocked your house with.
•    Experiment with unfamiliar cuisines – many “ethnic” cuisines feature vegetables and rely on healthy spices for delicious taste. South-Asian food has a particularly rich vegetarian tradition – you may discover something wonderful that you never thought you and your children would love.
•    A family meal is important for more than nutritional reasons – do not discuss learning, grades, and behavioral issues (or any other contentious subjects) over meals.
•    Pack your child’s school lunch – school cafeterias can be a mine-field of unhealthy foods.
•    Do not suggest that the change to healthier eating is a short-term experiment.
•    Vitamins and supplements are important and fall within the category of “no-real choice”. However, they are supplements, not replacements for food and should not be offered as an alternative to healthy eating.
•    Finally – keep smiling! No begging, bribing, guilt-tripping – “this is what’s on offer, and the choice is yours”.
•   Remember, you offer, and they decide what and whether to eat.

Happy Dining!

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Homeopathy for Hayfever and Seasonal Allergies

May 10 2011



May, 2011

The long-awaited spring weather has finally arrived (well—as of this writing spring seems to be hesitating!), and with it, suffering for people who are effected by seasonal allergies.

Hayfever (the commonly used generic term for seasonal allergy) is an allergy to proteins in the pollen of trees, grasses and plants. It effects the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, throat, and air passages, causing itching, watery secretions, irritability of membranes, fatigue, and in some, asthma and allergic skin rashes. There are three distinct hayfever seasons distinguished by the pollen present. Tree pollens appear first in early spring. The season that impacts most people is the time in late spring – early summer when trees, weeds, grass, flower pollens are all coming out at once. Fall is ragweed pollen season.  In a spring like the one we’re having this year, with everything late to bloom and then coming out suddenly, the incidents and severity of hayfever suffering is greater than usual.

Luckily, there are numerous natural medicine approaches that are effective in helping sufferers feel more comfortable.

The classical homeopathic approach is one that requires addressing the problem in the winter months – one of preparing the body to be less sensitive to allergens. This works well. In my experience people have less severe symptoms each year that they go through the homeopathic protocol in winter – until they have resolved their allergies altogether. Some people only need one winter of treatment to feel free of allergies.  If you have not had this sort of treatment, mark your calendars now – make an appointment to see your homeopath soon after the New Year to start a process of homeopathic allergy treatment. And then, read on, because there’s still lots you can do to ease your discomfort this season.

I suggest that people who suffer with seasonal allergies use both nutritional supplements as well as homeopathic remedies.

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS, ETC
For many people, these approaches listed below will offer sufficient respite from symptoms.

·      Bromelain – reduces inflammation associated with hayfever. Take 200 mg 3 times daily between meals. Bromelain is a protease enzyme in pineapple.
·      Quercitin – a bioflavonoid that stabilizes the membranes of cells that release histamine which, in turn, triggers allergic symptoms. Take 500 mg three times daily before meals. Quercitin is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant flavonoid found in fruits, leaves, vegetables.
·      Vitamin C with bioflavonoids– 3000 – 6000 mg daily, spread out throughout the day. A good anti-inflammatory. Take Vitamin C in small doses frequently (no more than 500 mg) for optimal absorption.
·      Honey – get raw, unpasteurized local honey. This is truly ‘homeopathic’ as the bees that made the honey have feasted on the very same pollen that is torturing you. You will probably need to go to a farmer’s market to find raw local honey. Do not heat the honey. Take a teaspoon daily – yumm!!
·      Stinging Nettle Tea –3-4 cups daily, or 2 capsules 3 times daily.
·      Daily cleansing of nasal passages with a saline solution using a netti-pot can reduce many symptoms of allergy.

HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES
As with most disorders, there are hundreds of homeopathic remedies that address the symptoms of seasonal allergy. Generally, I make a combination of remedies for my clients that is tailored to their particular, unique pattern of symptoms. There are commercially available combination remedies, but many of them have number of remedies that are completely inappropriate for any given individual, so I do not often recommend these products. However, Helio’s Pharmacy makes a Hayfever 30 remedy as well as a Mixed Pollens and Grasses remedy – both of which I think are good products. You can order these through Riverdale Homeopathic Resources (416-778-0085).

Below are three of the homeopathic remedies most commonly useful for seasonal allergies. If one of these remedies fits your symptom picture, give it a try, but if you see no improvement in a few days, discontinue use. It may be that you’ll need help from a professional to find a remedy (or combination) that is useful for you –but the results are worth it – it’s a terrible time of year not to feel full of the hope and joy of the season  — and being able to breathe helps!!

Sabadilla – hayfever marked by sneezing

  • Terrible violent paroxysms of sneezing with tearing of eyes  Itching and tingling inside the nose
  • Tearing, burning, and redness of the eyes, eyelids
  • Nasal discharge watery, copious, with plugged up nose
  • Itching of soft palate in mouth
  • Severe headache in forehead
  • Particularly sensitive to flower pollen

Euphrasia – hayfever that is centered in the eyes

  • Extreme irritation, burning, and itching of eyes – burning discharge from eyes leaves them red and sore and  very sensitive to light
  • Constant watering of eyes, sore eyes
  • Need to rub eyes, can be sensation of grain of sand in eye
  • Eyes stuck together in morning on waking
  • Lots of bland, watery, discharge from nose
  • Euphrasia Tincture can also be used as a local eyebath by diluting 5 to 10 drops in about ½ cup of cooled boiled water. It is very soothing for sore eyes at any time – even if using a different remedy internally. Apply using soaked cotton wool balls, throwing out after every swipe of the eye. If solution burns, reduce the ratio of tincture to water

Allium Cepa – hayfever with miserable running/stuffed nose

  • Nose dripping like a faucet – watery, profuse discharge that leaves nose and upper lip red, raw, and sore
  • Much tearing of eyes, but discharge is not burning as in euphrasia – does not leave eyes red and crusty
  • Nose completely obstructed – impossible to breath through nose
  • Violent sneezing, especially on entering a warm room
  • Hoarse voice often with hacking cough
  • Symptoms worse in spring and late summer
  • Often effects left nostril or eye first or with greater intensity

Dosing: I suggest you put 4 pellets of the remedy you select into 8 oz of spring water. Stir a few times and take one teaspoons 3-4 times daily, stirring a few times before each dose. Your water solution can be kept covered on the kitchen counter for up to a week.

HAPPY SPRING!!!

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ADHD and Nutrition: 3 Steps for Starters

Apr 11 2011

 

This year I have had the pleasure of working with a number of young patients diagnosed with ADHD in a clinical study on homeopathy and ADHD. (Please see the sidebar if you are interested in enrolling your child in this study.) And what a pleasure it has been! Those of us involved in the study have been thrilled with the results thus far.  I am limited by the confines of confidentiality in what I can tell you in this newsletter, but I will say that homeopathy seems to have a truly beneficial impact on ADHD, even with children who are medicated. 

As this study is designed to examine the impact of homeopathy on ADHD, I am not able to offer the study clients nutritional advice, but I do offer such advice to my private clients. Frustrating, as many people notice a huge improvement in their child’s ADHD symptoms on dietary changes alone.

I offer here 3 simple nutritional steps to help support your child with ADHD. Nutrition refers to the nutrients you take into the body – both in the form of food and supplements – and impacts, among other things, the way the body and mind are regulated and coordinated. I also include in “nutritional support” the elimination of foods that are detrimental to your child’s functioning.

So, here are 3 easy things you can do, and why you should….

1.    START THE DAY WITH A HIGH PROTEIN, LOW CARBOHYDRATE MEAL
•    Serve 2/3 protein (eggs, fish, grass-fed organic meat, protein supplements in a shake), 1/3 complex carbohydrates, fruits, veggies
•    A low glycemic meal such as this will provide your child with a steady source of energy, avoiding glycemic spikes, and stabilizing peaks and troughs of insulin and glucose that can effect attention, energy, focus, self-control
•    Many ADHD kids are protein deficient – protein helps make neuro-transmitters and can improve attention and focus
•    Blood sugar levels are related to stress hormone levels – a low glycemic/ high protein diet will stabilize blood sugar levels, minimizing spikes in stress hormone activity
•    Many ADHD kids are hypoglycemic. A high protein diet helps reduce symptoms of hypoglycemia, some of which are similar to symptoms of ADHD
•    A morning meal high in protein raises tyrosine levels in the blood and brain – causing neurons to manufacture norepinephrine and dopamine, two neurotransmitters that promote alertness and mental activity.
•    Children on stimulant medication often complain of appetite loss during the peak hours of medication, meaning they often don’t eat lunch at school. Starting them with a protein rich, low glycemic meal is your best bet for getting them through the day.

2.    OPTIMIZE OMEGA 3 FATTY ACIDS
•    Omega 3 fatty acids, or long-chain polyunsaturated fats, are essential for supporting optimal cognitive function by promoting neuron function. The omega 3’s in fish are DHA and EPA; deficiency in these is linked with behavioral disorders, especially aggressive behaviors, mental stress, and depression.
•    Optimal levels of these healthy fats may improve the cellular membrane, assisting cellular fluidity and neurotransmission, allowing the cells in the brain to work more effectively, making it easier to concentrate, promoting focus, calmness, and facilitating learning.
•    Studies have shown that most children with ADHD (up to 82% in fact) are deficient in plasma levels of DHA
•    Consuming cold-water fish at least 3 times weekly or supplementing with a good fish-based oil, free of contaminants and heavy metals is essential for all children with ADHD. Aim for about 500 mg of DHA daily.
•    The only problem is that our fish is seriously contaminated, with mercury in particular. Krill oil, made from a subspecies of crustaceans found in the Antarctic, may be the optimal source of non-dietary Omega 3 DHA. There are a number of advantages to krill: there is no mercury risk with krill; it has superior neurological absorption to fish oil, meaning that a smaller amount is needed; and delightfully, it is environmentally sustainable in a way that fish oil is not.
•    There are also vegetable based Omega 3’s. These contain a long-chain ALA fat, a precursor of Omega 3 fats. There are a number of reasons that these plant-based Omegas are inferior to the fish alternative. The body needs to convert the vegetable based ALA to a usable Omega 3, something that is difficult if insulin levels are elevated. Moreover, ALA is not equivalent in its biological effects to the long-chain omega-3 fats found in marine oils and not as effective in its impact on brain function.
•    Flax is one of the most common of the plant based Omega 3’s. Because of the structure of its ALA, this vegetarian Omega 3s is prone to rancidity, and therefore must be freshly ground each time it is taken.
•    A preferable vegan Omega 3 choice is Chia seeds – also an ALA fat, but more concentrated than Flax. Chia is a new superfood, with claims for all sorts of health benefits. I have not been able to find any studies that specifically support the use of Chia seeds for ADHD, but have found anectodal evidence of its efficacy in addressing the symptoms of ADHD. I have some clients who have found this to be the only form of Omega 3 that their children are happy to take – a definite benefit!

3.    ELIMINATE FOODS THAT CAUSE INFLAMMATION, TOXICITY, ALLERGIC REACTIONS, ARE HIGH ON THE GLYCEMIC INDEX, OR HAVE NO NUTRITIONAL VALUE
•    Wow! That’s a long list! Remember that you are what you eat, and every cell in your body is affected by what you put into your mouth. Given the wealth of wonderful, delicious, nutritious, powerfully healthy foods at our disposal, why ‘gunk up the engine’ with garbage?
•    So, no white stuff – in particular, no white sugar, no white flour.  Carbohydrates must be complex, which means full of nature’s brown goodness, and limited in how much they have been processed. The more processed the grain, the higher it is on the glycemic index, the less the nutritional value.
•    Never allow your child to eat/drink anything with nutrasweet or aspertame – check all “sugar free” products for these ingredients.
•    Limit dairy products if you notice any change in your child’s behavior after they are consumed, or if s/he craves them excessively. The same goes for wheat and yeast.
•    Reduce or eliminate fried foods if possible
•    Do not serve your child any foods with preservatives, artificial colors or flavors, MSG (monosodium glutimate), processed or manufactured foods.  This includes luncheon meats, most hot dogs, margarine, candy, ketchup, soda pop, instant noodles, popsicles, and lots of other things.
•    Notice any food sensitivities your child displays and remove the offending food. Many ADHD children are sensitive to foods containing salicylates. These are found in a huge range of fruits, vegetables, spices, herbs. If you are concerned about your child’s sensitivity to this category of food you may need help determining the degree of sensitivity and which foods should be eliminated.
•    For some people, this list of eliminated foods seems overwhelmingly limiting and may require an entirely new way of thinking about food shopping, cooking, eating. Stick to farmer’s markets and the fresh food aisles in the grocery store. Think like your grandmother did – cook like it’s the 1940s. Luckily, there’s a lot of help out there in the form of nutritionists, food blogs, professionals to help you if you need it.

In a perfect world, I would like to see families with ADHD engaging in an integrated model of care that includes homeopathy, nutritional advice, supplemental support, counseling, and a program of behavioral expectations and rewards that addresses the needs and issues of all members of the family, not just the child diagnosed with ADHD. Indeed, ADHD is a family matter and the stresses of such a diagnosis can impact harmony within the family as a whole.

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Answer to Homeopathic Skeptics

Feb 11 2011

It’s freezing cold out there!!

 

It has been a hard long winter for homeopathy. There seems to be a growingly assertive and nasty attack on this 200 year-old system of medicine, funded, the cynics among us believe, by a pharmaceutical industry that does not want an inexpensive and effective form of medicine to continue. I’m not sure I buy the conspiracy theory entirely, but I do know that homeopathy seems to be battling the malignant forces of naysayers, skeptics, and hawkers of falsehood and misinformation.

The recent “exposé” on CBC Marketplace is just such an example of misinformed half-truths that distort the facts and cast homeopathy in the light of new-age witchcraft, throwing both those who practice homeopathy and those who are stupid enough to seek homeopathic treatment into the same category – that of foolish, deluded, risk-taking stooges.

Part of me is inclined to shrug this off – certainly homeopathy has had its seasons of deep freeze before, yet it persists, indeed, flourishes. It is used by tens of millions of people worldwide and is provided through the national health care systems of countries in Europe, South America and Asia.  Surely, this would not be the case if people did not find homeopathy to be effective. People are not stupid and will doggedly continue to pursue methods that work for them (and reject ones that don’t) in spite of pressure to do otherwise.

My email overflowed with patients who responded in angry dismay at the negative portrayal of homeopathy on CBC Marketplace – “…the only thing that has helped me after years of looking for relief…”; “…how can they suggest that the reversal of my symptoms are just in my head?…”; “….what a stupid, biased, unscientific look – this is the only kind of medicine I want my family to have….”; etc, etc. These comments warmed the chill in my homeopathic office; however, I have noticed a definite reduction of new client calls, as have my colleagues, and this is alarming.

What follows are some of the most disturbing confusions and accusations people have about homeopathy and the answers to those concerns.

1.  Homeopathic remedies are blanks, void of any actual medication, placebo at best.

This concern is based on the idea that homeopathic medicines are highly diluted. In addition to dilution, homeopathic remedies are succussed – this is a process of vigorous shaking that happens at each stage of dilution. We know that at a point there is no chemical trace of the original substance in the dilution, but the effect of remedies, unlike conventional or herbal medicine, is determined by molecular structure, not chemical composition. The work of scientists studying this approach supports the scientific understanding that these dilutions contain stable and unique molecular structures with recognizable properties, and, in addition, that the molecular structures resulting from the process of succussion and dilution allow for the transfer of information from the original substance to water. In other words, there’s a physical change that is measurable, but not necessarily a chemical change, in the making of homeopathic remedies.

Homeopathic medicine is energy medicine, not chemical medicine. This is confusing to new patients who need to be supported in understanding that more is not better. As Homeopaths we’ve understood for a long time that in administering an appropriately chosen remedy we encourage the body to make its own adjustments in the direction of healing. The science behind this energetic shift toward wellness is now being understood more fully.

2. Homeopathic remedies and homeopathic treatment are dangerous.

I have always been dismayed by this accusation as it is often offered by the same people who claim that remedies are placebo – surely you can’t have it both ways!! As I understand it, one aspect of this concern regards the toxicity of many substances that are used in the preparation of our homeopathic medicines (e.g. arsenic, deadly nightshade, animal toxins, even disease material). As explained above, the remedies contain no chemical trace of the original material, just a molecular map – it is for this reason that homeopathy IS so safe – there are no unwanted side-effects or accidental over-doses in homeopathy.

The other aspect to this concern is that a homeopath may overlook serious pathology that needs a more aggressive treatment approach. I would say that any practitioner, of any stripe, that claims to be the one and only person to treat all your health needs is one to be wary of. Integrative medicine is the model I aspire to, but even without it as a formal structure, patients should research their options and be encouraged by all their health practitioners to pursue methods of their own choice. There are many ways to approach almost all pathologies and the right one is the one that the patient embraces for him/herself, based on both professional advice as well as personal wishes, needs, history, and so on.

3. There are no quality studies that support the science behind homeopathy or its effectiveness as a medicine.

This is blatantly untrue. There are hundreds upon hundreds of published research studies that support the effectiveness of homeopathy for a wide range of disorders – acute, chronic, and epidemic. Please go to http://www.extraordinarymedicine.org/ for comprehensive coverage of recent homeopathic research.
The primary concern in conventional medical circles about homeopathic research is the holy grail of the RCT – the randomized control trial – a research paradigm used by pharmaceutical companies in bringing new drugs to market. This approach is too limited for homeopathy, or, for that matter, any other holistic approach to medicine, as it tries to isolate a single element without regard to the complexity of the mind-body connection and its dynamic role in a complicated whole-body system. There is an emerging emphasis on “whole-systems” research that focuses on clinical outcomes, patients’ sense of well-being, and comparative effectiveness to understand the healing impact of homeopathy and other holistic methods of medicine. Here in Canada, In-Cam (The Canadian Interdisciplinary Network of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research) has a wide network of researchers doing this kind of work specifically. My friend and colleague, David Brule, a Toronto homeopath, is the Coordinator of the Homeopathic Research Network of Canada (HomeoNet), an In-Cam affiliate.

4. Homeopathy relies on the beliefs of the patient to work. This is closely linked to the idea that Homeopathy is unscientific and therefore cannot be effective medicine.

My first exposure to homeopathy was during my pregnancy with my third child. At 20 weeks I had been prescribed bed-rest for the remainder of my pregnancy – difficult with 2 toddlers in the house and no help. A friend sent me to see a homeopath. I found the consultation perplexing, being the daughter of a doctor, the emotional probing in the consultation felt irrelevant and intrusive. Wasn’t I surprised when a condition that my doctors had assured me could NEVER clear up before delivering my baby, just quietly, subtly disappeared. Certainly, I was no “believer”, but became very curious. Belief in this system is a silly notion – hard to imagine a young baby with diarrhea having such a belief, or my dog for that matter – homeopathy is the medicine that has cured her ulcerative colitis.

Doctors often refer to homeopaths TEETH patients (tried everything else, try homeopathy). In many instances, these patients respond to homeopathy when nothing else has worked, invariably to the surprise of the prescribing doctor. It is true that most homeopaths cannot tell you how homeopathy works, but know that it does work. Likewise, many medicines used in mainstream medicine are still inexplicable – as aspirin was for many, many decades. “Homeopaths have shown that homeopathy works. Millions of patients have experienced these deep cures, it is now the duty of the “science”, (the physicist and bio-chemist and cellular biologist, immunologist and geneticist to show “how” it works. Homeopaths have done their part.”
Dr Shahram Ayoubzadeh (taken from extraordinarymedicine.org)

As I was finishing writing the above, notice of this article on The Huffington Post came to my attention from a supporter of homeopathy: CHECK IT OUT!!
Luc Montagnier, Nobel Prize Winner, Takes Homeopathy Seriously
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dana-ullman/luc-montagnier-homeopathy-taken-seriously_b_814619.html

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Homeopathy for Flu

Jan 11 2011

It’s January and the flu is here – with record numbers of people falling ill, according to news reports. There’s lots you can do to protect you and your family from getting sick this season.

 

PREVENTION
1.    EAT WELL — The best way to keep your immune function healthy is through diet.
•    eliminate all white sugar — This is probably the most important thing you can to for your immune system.
•    eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables – the phytochemicals and vitamins in fruit and vegetables act as excellent antioxidants – helping your immune cells fight toxins in your body.  In particular, use lots of garlic – it is a powerful immune booster that stimulates white blood cell multiplication, boosts natural killer cell activity, and increases the efficiency of antibody production. .
•    eliminate caffeine and alcohol  (or at the very least, reduce it dramatically). Green Tea is a fabulously healthy alternative to coffee and black tea – and will give you a gentle energy lift as well. Drink lots of water, with lemon juice preferably.
2.    SLEEP LOTS — Be kind to your body and listen to it – excessive tiredness may be your body’s way of alerting you to the fact that illness may be on the way. You need more sleep in the winter, you need more caloric intake to stay warm, and you probably need a generally gentler schedule
3.    WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY
4.    TAKE YOUR VITAMINS –  These are your daily essentials and will go a long way in keeping you from getting sick in the first place:
•    vitamin D — If you haven’t had your 25 Hydroxy D levels checked, ask your doctor to do so next time you have some blood work done. In the meantime, 4000 IU daily for adults and 2000 IU daily for children is a reasonable daily amount.
•     Vitamin C is crucially important in winter– I suggest at least 1000 mg daily for children, 2000 for adults, increasing that up to 4 fold during times of illness.
•    daily multi-vitamin (be sure Selenium is included as well as a good range of vitamin Bs),
•    Omega 3 fish-oil
•    Daily probiotic
5.    STAY HOME IF YOU DON’T FEEL WELL — I believe that we all need a bit of hibernation to get through these short, cold, harsh days. Be kind to yourself, and those around you.

HOMEOPATHIC FLU PREVENTION PROTOCOL:
•    Influenzinum 30 can be taken as a prophylactic three times weekly during the peak of flu season/ flu epidemic

AT THE FIRST SIGN OF ILLNESS:
start taking an immune boosting supplement – there are  ones to keep your body’s response vital.
•    “KI” Immune Defense consists of astragalus, shitake mushrooms, and olive leaf – a good combination. You can use products that have these ingredients, also Echinacea and Bee Propolis
•    Reishi mushrooms are especially potent immune boosters
•    Oregano oil is an excellent anti-infectious agent, one I recommend during times of suspected incipient illness, or during illness, but should not be used as a daily supplement over a long period of time. If you are taking Oregano oil, be sure you are also taking a probiotic or acidophyllus.
•    Finally, if you start to feel ill, increase your vitamin C levels and start taking supplemental vitamin E and Zinc to further boost immune activity.

HOMEOPATHIC REMEDY FOR FIRST SIGN OF FLU:
Oscillococcinum 200: This remedy is sold as a cure-all for flu, but doesn’t work once the illness is established. Use during the prodromal stage (the time between the first appearance of symptoms and the development of fever or full blown illness) – once every 12 hours.  

IF YOU ACTUALLY CONTRACT FULL-BLOWN FLU:
Continue with accelerated supplement program, and sleep and drink fluids copiously. In addition, there are a number of homeopathic remedies that can be useful in helping you get through your illness quickly, with no long-lingering effects:
•    Gelsemium 30 – useful for flu with slow onset. Marked symptoms are extreme weariness and heaviness, chills up and down the spine, and general aching and soreness. Face looks dull, sleepy. Usually has an intense throbbing headache, with feeling of engorged, teary eyes. This remedy is also useful for weariness that lingers long after the flu is done.
•   Eupatorium 30 – useful for flu marked with violent aching, bone-breaking pains all over the body. This flu has a rapid onset, patient is very chilly with violent shivering and extreme sensitivity to draughts.
•    Rhus Tox 30 – slow-onset flu with generalized aching in bones and joints with extreme restlessness and inability to find a place of comfort. There is usually profuse sweating all over the body (except the head). Patients needing this remedy are usually better after some slow, gentle movement such as a walk. A bright red tip of the tongue is often seen in people needing this remedy.
•    Bryonia 30 – slow onset flu with generalized, aching pains. Any movement hurts – patients are irritable, hard to please, worried, and tend to grunt their responses. They often have a hard painful cough and intense headaches. They are extremely thirsty patients who want large quantities of cold drinks.
•    Baptisia 30—extreme flu symptoms with fast onset. Rapid prostration and general foulness. Every movement is agonizing. Patient appears scattered and confused. There is heavy, foul-smelling sweat and a deep thirst, although drinking water causes nausea.
•    Arsenicum 30 – Flu with gastroenteritis, vomiting, diarrhea. Marked chilliness and restlessness alternating with extreme weakness and collapse. Patient is generally terribly anxious about their condition. They are thirsty for small sips of water. Patient has a hot face and chilly body, craving warmth and fresh air all at once.

DOSING:
My suggested pattern of dosing is as follows: take one pellet of the indicated remedy every 15 minutes for 4 doses. Assuming there is an improvement, repeat a single dose of the remedy once the symptoms worsen – probably about every 4 hours. If there is no improvement in 24 hours, you may have the wrong remedy. Do not continue taking a remedy that is having no positive benefit for more than 48 hours.

Call your friendly local homeopath for help if you are not getting benefit from your own attempts at prescribing.  It can be rewarding to care for your own, but frustrating if you have not found the correct remedy.

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