For those unfamiliar with Lyme disease, it is caused by a bacteria (Borrelia Burgdorferi), which is carried by blacklegged tics. The ticks pick up the bacteria when they bite deer or mice that are infected with Lyme disease. The ticks are carriers of the disease into the human and domestic pet population.

Lyme Disease was first “discovered” in Connecticut in the late 1970’s. For decades incidents of the disease seemed to concentrate in the northeast US, but there is no question that Lyme disease is now well established in Canada, and flourishing here in Ontario.

Lyme disease needs to be understood in the three stages of its manifestation. Early localized Lyme disease begins days or weeks after infection.  There is often (but not always) a “bull’s eye rash” – a flat, red, slightly raised patch at the site of the tick bite, often with a clear center. Early stage symptoms can look like flu with chills, fever, itching, headache, muscle ache, stiffneck, and generally feeling poorly. Conventional treatment of Lyme disease in the early stage is 10-28 day course of antibiotics. As with many infections, this approach works for some sufferers, while others experience either side effects from the medication and, others, later stage complications. The alternative approach to treating early stage Lyme disease includes a combination of homeopathic protocols, herbal and/or Ayurvedic medicines, organ support supplements, dietary optimization, and vitamin and mineral support. This approach is likely to prevent the onset of late stage complications, but is best managed by a “Lyme-literate” practitioner.

Lyme disease has been notoriously difficult to diagnose, especially here in Canada where doctors have not seen many cases (until recently). Left untreated, early stage Lyme disease can spread to the brain, heart, joints, and central nervous system, causing symptoms of paralysis and weakness (especially in the muscles of the face), pain and swelling in the large joints, and heart problems such as palpitations and irregular heart beats. These are symptoms of the 2^nd stage of this disease.

Late disseminated Lyme disease–aka post-Lyme disease syndrome– (stage 3 of the disease) can occur months or years after the initial infection. These include more severe Central Nervous System symptoms (numbness, decreased ability to concentrate, memory disorders, sleep disorders, vision problems, paralysis of the facial muscles, and nerve damage – to name just a few of the many possible symptoms); chronic muscle and joint pain and inflammation (so-called Lyme arthritis); and heart problems.

An integrated alternative treatment protocol should be considered for late stage Lyme disease. Homeopathy is excellent for treating chronic diseases, including Lyme disease. As mentioned above, homeopathy should be combined with other supplements and natural medicines such as Pycnogenol (a powerful antioxidant from French maritime pine bark extract), Allicin (the active agent in garlic), vitamin therapy (especially B complex and high dose C), Colloidal Silver and Aloe Vera, herbal medicines and organ support remedies.

SO WHAT TO DO TO STAY SAFE THIS SUMMER?

Precautions: Take normal precautions to prevent yourself from getting bitten by ticks.

• Black ticks are mostly found in densely wooded areas.

• If possible, wear long pants with the legs tucked in when walking in the woods – avoid sandals in wooded areas.

• Use safe insect repellents such as lemon eucalyptus, catnip, citronella, etc. While repellents containing DEET are most effective, these should only be used in high risk situations.

• Carefully inspect yourself, your clothing, and your pets for ticks after being outside. The ticks can be quite small – so look carefully.

• If you find a tick, carefully remove it using a tweezer. Grasp the tick’s head and mouth as close to the skin as possible and pull slowly – do not twist or rotate the tick and try not to squish or crush the tick while removing it.

• After removing, wash the area and dress with Ledum tincture.

• Ticks removed within a few hours of contact are unlikely to cause any problems with Lyme disease. Generally, ticks need 24 hours of contact to pass disease on to humans

HOMEOPROPHYLAXIS

Homeoprophylaxis is the use of homeopathically prepared disease material (nosode) as disease prevention – similar to vaccination in theory, but much safer in practice. I have already been prescribing the nosode Lyme Borrelia for patients concerned about increased tick populations in their environment. I will be treating myself and my family (including my dog) with nosode remedies as a prophylactic against Lyme disease before and during our summer holiday in eastern USA. While there is not evidence of the effectiveness of using the Lyme nosode as a homeoprophylactic against Lyme disease, the effectiveness of other nosodes in similar situations leaves me quite confident in this case.

If you are concerned about Lyme disease this summer, contact me for instructions and remedies for Lyme homeoprophyaxis.

For additional information:

http://www.cindeegardner.com/articles/9545617127/treating-lyme-disease-naturally

http://www.healthherbsandnutrition.com/remedies/l/lymedisease.htm

Sugar cravings are a major problem for many people, even those who otherwise eat sensibly, exercise, and take care of their bodies in every other way. The average consumption of sugar in the Standard American/Canadian Diet (SAD) is in excess of 130 pounds per person, per year – think of that as more than one bag of sugar a month – SAD indeed!!

Make no mistake about it, sugar is a drug, albeit a legal and acceptable one, but one that can have severe, even deadly, health consequences. Sugar has absolutely no nutritional value. It compromises immune function, assists germ growth, causes inflammation, stimulates yeast overgrowth, and has a deleterious impact on virtually every organ in the body. We know that addiction to sugar is a contributory factor in degenerative diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, and obesity. Sugar increases the production of adrenaline, disrupting the normal function of the endocrine system. It saps the body of minerals and vitamins necessary for normal, healthy functioning. There are also mental and emotional symptoms associated with excessive sugar consumption such as mood swings, learning disorders, irritability and insomnia.

Unfortunately, an addiction to sugar can be as difficult to shake as an addiction to less socially acceptable drugs. Breaking the vicious cycle of consumption and craving takes consistent, focused determination. Below are 15 suggestions for helping to break your sugar addiction – some of which you’ve heard before, others that may be new to you.

1. CLEAR YOUR HOUSE OF SWEETS

Once you’ve made the decision to kick the sugar habit, get rid of all temptation. This seems obvious, but it falls into the “I know I’ll want it some day” category. Get rid of all of it – including cereals and drinks with sugar, any prepared sweet treats, snacks, cookies, candy, and all highly processed carbohydrates (white stuff).  White pasta, bread, crackers, bagels act like sugar in the body and need to be avoided if you want to regulate your cravings for sugar. If possible, don’t shop hungry – go after you eat when you will be able to exert more self-control. Once sugar is out of the house, keep it out.

2. DETOX YOURSELF

Having cleared your house of sugar, embark on clearing yourself. A detox is an excellent way to start the process of breaking your addiction to sugar.  Detoxing has the benefit of breaking the habit cold-turkey– pushing the “reset” button. After a 5-day detox you will find that your need for sugar is much reduced. The trick is to continue with healthy habits once you finish your detox.  A detox is not for everyone, but if this is something that appeals to you, go to a good natural health practitioner for help in selecting a healthy 5-day detox.

3. BECOME A SUGAR DETECTIVE

Start reading labels when you shop. You will be surprised when you look closely that most prepared foods, including products like peanut better and salad dressings have sugar in them. Look closely at any food labeled “low fat” – sugar is often used to replace the flavor that is lost when fat is removed. Glucose, sucrose, dextrose, fructose, high-fructose corn syrup, are some of the many other words for sugar in nutritional terms. Shop with caution.  If possible, avoid grocery stores and shop at farmer’s markets – buy unprocessed, fresh, unprepared foods and know that you are doing your body a huge and happy favor.

4. FRUIT AND OTHER NATURAL SWEET TREATS

Initially after stopping sugar you are likely to still crave something sweet at times. Go to the fruit bowl. The naturally occurring sugar in ripe fruit is a healthy and delicious alternative to processed white sugar. Dried fruits, especially dried dates, are extremely sweet. While you want to limit the quantity of dried dates that you eat, an occasional single date can be extremely satisfying. In a craving emergency (or once you have reasonable control over your cravings), a single square of extra dark chocolate (70% chocolate or more) can satisfy your craving for sweet at the same time as providing you with antioxidants and some extra Magnesium. Finally, some people find that eating spicy food replaces their need for sweets.

5. EAT SMALL AMOUNTS OF WHOLE FOODS FREQUENTLY

One of the common reasons people crave sugar is that their blood sugar levels drop if they do not ear regularly, and then, reaching for a sugary snack is the easiest and quickest way to satisfy hunger and raise blood sugar. This establishes a dangerous cycle of soaring and dipping blood sugar levels, constant hunger, excessive sugar intake, insulin peaks and troughs, and poor nutritional consumption. Aim for three small meals and two to three healthy snacks a day. Whole foods in their natural, least processed forms contain virtually no unhealthy sugars and maintain stable blood sugar levels. Favor foods that are high in fibre. The higher the fibre content, the slower the food metabolizes into sugar in the bloodstream. Whole-wheat pasta, brown rice, whole grain breads, lentils, beans, fruits with skin on, and raw vegetables are all high in fibre. Learn about the glycemic index and eat foods low on the glycemic index to increase satiety and stabilize blood sugar levels.

6. DO NOT SKIP BREAKFAST –  EAT A PROTEIN-RICH BREAKFAST

A good breakfast is essential to limit sugar cravings throughout the day. Many people start their day with a breakfast high in sugars and processed carbohydrates (which are essentially the same as sugar once in the blood stream). Protein is an essential part of any healthy breakfast – it gives your brain an amino acid burst which will help mental function throughout the day, helps curb sugar cravings by regulating blood sugar as well as filling your body with healthy building blocks for the remainder of your day.

7. CONSIDER ADDING WHEY PROTEIN TO YOUR BREAKFAST

Whey protein can help reduce carbohydrate and sugar cravings and is an excellent protein to consume at breakfast. Try a fruit smoothie with whey protein, yogurt, nuts, oats, fruits, even veggies. Whey protein is a byproduct of cheese production. While it comes from a dairy source, casein (the most common protein in milk and the one that is often the source of dairy intolerance) has been removed.  People with dairy sensitivities are often able to tolerate whey protein, although people with lactose sensitivity may want to moderate the amount of whey protein they consume. Whey protein offers a high degree of satiety that can help reduce over-eating during the day. 20-25 grams of whey protein a day can help to decrease carbohydrate cravings. Whey protein also contains high levels of tryptophan, a precursor to serotonin. Increased blood levels of serotonin and tryptophan bring about improvement in mood and memory for those who are mildly depressed, as well as decreased physiological responses to stress. Be sure to read the label carefully when purchasing your whey protein – sugar lurks in many inferior products.

8. TAKE YOUR SUPPLEMENTS

Nutritional deficiencies can make cravings worse. There are some nutrients that seem to be especially useful in controlling blood sugar levels. Chewable vitamin C tablets help control sugar cravings.  Magnesium is also helpful in regulating blood sugar levels, as are B vitamin. The best place to start in assuring appropriate nutrient levels is a good, food-based multi-vitamin. Our food, no matter how good our diet, is lacking certain nutrients (due to soil depletion) and a good multi can often go a long way to rectifying this problem. Your multi-vitamin must be food based, as opposed to synthetic, to get the nutrients in a bio-available form. Isolating supplemental nutrients at the expense of a multi-vitamin is not necessarily a good idea as nutrients work optimally in symbiotic cooperation with others.

9. TAKE SUPPLEMENTAL CHROMIUM PICOLINATE

Once you’ve got a good multi-vitamin going you may want to consider supplementing with Chromium Picolinate.  Chromium curbs excessive levels of insulin and makes insulin receptors cells more responsive to its effects.  By helping the body regulate insulin peaks and troughs as well as blood sugar levels, cravings for sugar and highly processed carbohydrates is reduced.  Try taking 200 mcg of Chromium Picolinate before your three major meals daily.

10. AVOID THESE SUGAR SUBSTITUTES

Sugar substitutes are touted by the food industry as healthy substitutes to sugar. While they may have fewer calories and carbohydrates, they are dangerous products and should be avoided completely.  Some of the most common sugar substitutes are Aspartame (aka Nutrasweet), Saccharin (aka SugarTwin or Sweet ‘N Low), Sucralose (aka Splenda), and Acesulfame Potassium (aka AceK). There is a long list of side effects that can be associated with these products including headaches, asthma, manic episodes, hallucinations, insomnia, diarrhea, depression, and cancer.  Look carefully for these products and their relatives in any prepared product that is labeled “sugar free” – and avoid them.

11. ACCEPTABLE SUGAR SUBSTITUTES

You will find that reducing your sugar intake will increase your sensitivity to sweet, and you will, over time, want less of it. However, there are times when something sweet is in order. The following sugar substitutes are acceptable, responsible ways to cater to your (hopefully diminishing) sweet tooth, and for those occasions (birthday cakes are fairly important things in life) when a bit of sweet is appropriate. Stevia is a natural sweeter with no side effects. It is extremely sweet and a small amount goes a long way to sweetening drinks or for use in baking.  10-15 drops of Stevia in a little water taken before a meal can help reduce sugar cravings – especially that need for dessert at the end of a meal. Stevia has the added benefit of lowering high blood pressure. It contains no calories and will help reduce your craving for sweets. Agave is another product useful for baking. Unprocessed honey is full of delicious nutrients and health benefits, but high in calories.  Maple syrup is likewise natural and delicious, but also high in calories. Other healthy natural alternatives to refined sugars are barley malt, rice syrup and coconut sugar.

12. EXERCISE REGULARLY

Regular exercise helps to boost energy and decreases the need for bursts of energy from sugar.  Exercise also has the obvious benefit of helping with weight loss. After exercise rehydrate thoroughly. Thirst can often feel like a need for sugar, especially for those inclined in that way.

13.  SLEEP

People often deal with their exhaustion with sugar and caffeine — not helpful approaches to regulating blood sugar levels. Sugar at the end of the day can impact sleep by overstimulating the adrenals. Be sure to get a solid night’s sleep every night.

14. BE AWARE OF YOUR PATTERNS OF EMOTIONAL EATING

This can be the hardest part of the sweet addiction to break – eating sweets for emotional gratification. From the first sweet breast milk of infancy, we learn that something sweet is a treat and a reward. Almost all parents reward children with sugary snacks, and we learn to associate a harmful substance with comfort.  Over time, we start to expect something sweet to feel satisfied, and self-dose ourselves with sugar to temporarily boost our mood or energy. The cycle starts to look like any drug addiction. As you feel your craving for something sweet, ask yourself if there is an emotional need that could be satisfied in some other way.

15. HOMEOPATHY CAN HELP

There are a number of homeopathic remedies that can be extremely beneficial in helping reduce sugar cravings. Because sugar cravings/addiction are a deep-seated disorder, it is not suggested that you self-medicate homeopathically. Call your favorite homeopath to discuss homeopathic remedies for this problem.

Homeoprophylaxis is an alternative to vaccination through the use of homeopathically prepared disease-based remedies, known as nosodes.  On a recent visit to Toronto, the guru of homeoprophylaxis, Dr. Isaac Golden, trained a group of Toronto homeopaths in his method of homeoprophylaxis. This program, which consists of nosode remedies taken over a series of four years, can represent a complete alternative to vaccination for parents looking for such an alternative.  Selective homeoprophylaxis program for specific vaccines (including travel vaccinations) are also possible.

No vaccination program is 100% effective. By the most optimistic claims, conventional vaccination is 95% effective for preventing illness. Dr Golden’s exhaustive research and extensive use of prophylaxis suggests a 90% efficacy for preventing illness. In other words, all vaccination methods fail at times. However, what is clear is that the general state of health of children who have undergone homeoprophylaxis is not compromised. There has been long-standing concern on the part of alternative practitioners and parents, and more recently, some mainstream physicians, that the intensive protocol of vaccinations that most children undergo undermines their general health, resulting in the increase in disorders like asthma, eczema and chronic ear infections.  Other disorders such as ADHD and autism are also implicated as vaccination-induced problems.

I clearly recall agonizing over the decision about vaccinating my own children many years ago. These are not easy choices for any parent to make. The stakes are high and the arguments tend to be virulent and compelling on both sides. I am fairly sure of one thing – doing nothing is not a choice I would recommend.  I am not advocating one choice over another for families, but am here to offer an alternative to vaccination for those families who have made a decision against mainstream vaccination.

Contact me today to discuss homeoprophylaxis for your family.

Food Allergies, Sensitivities, and Intolerances

Many people suffer, knowingly, or unknowingly, with the effects of food allergies and food sensitivities. This is a complicated issue, because the commonly held notion of food allergy covers only a narrow slice of the complex responses a body can make to foods that do not agree with its overall function and wellbeing. To make sense of this issue, it is important to understand that there are a number of different antibodies that the body produces in response to an allergen, or provoking substance. The symptoms the body creates in response to each of these antibodies are quite different, and the testing for the presence of each of these antibodies is also different.

The Classic Response – IgE Antibodies

There are at least 5 different types of antibodies that our immune systems produce in response to an allergen. The type of antibody that most people are familiar with is the IgE antibody. An IgE mediated food response looks like the classic allergic response – a histamine induced inflammatory reaction that cause rashes, sneezing, difficulty breathing, itching in the mouth, hives, perhaps even anaphylaxis. These tend to be severe, in some cases, life threatening, reactions, and usually occur within minutes of exposure to the offending allergen. Because IgE antibodies reside in the skin, the skin prick allergy test is the one that is used to test for these sort of allergic responses.

Conventional thought is that these sorts of allergies are life-long, and treatment for them is not possible. I have seen some people with severe nut allergies (for instance) recover almost completely with a treatment called BIE (Bioenergetic Intolerance Elimination). Look for a practitioner near you.

“I Don’t Have a Food Allergy”

I often have patients tell me that they have been to an allergist, been tested for food allergies, and they have none. And it may be that they do not have an IgE antibody response to foods, but that does not mean that they don’t have any food allergies.

IgG Antibody Responses

The most common antibodies produced in response to food allergens are IgG antibodies. These are much more common in the population than IgE responses, and generally are understood to be food intolerances – or more mild food allergies.  Many people have some IgG allergies, to a greater or lesser degree. And, many people who have such intolerances, or allergies, have them to a number of different foodstuffs.

The symptoms related to this sort of food allergy are more chronic and therefore, less obviously linked to food intake. There may not be an immediate worsening of symptoms immediately after eating the offending substance, but, a removal of this food substance from the diet will invariably bring about a noticeable, if not dramatic, improvement in certain chronic health issues. The symptoms that may flag the presence of an IgG antibody response include skin eruptions such as eczema, psoriasis, acne; chronic ear infections, frequent colds, sinusitis, rhinitis, mucous in the throat; unexplained fatigue; joint pain; migraine headaches; bloating and gas; diarrhea and constipation; and auto-immune disorders, and so on.

We know that this sort of food allergy can contribute to behavioral symptoms such as difficulty in concentrating, hyperactivity, irritability, sleep disturbances, tantrums, depression, and bed wetting in children.

Testing for IgG Allergies

There are two ways to test for IgG antibodies. Because these antibodies reside primarily in the blood stream, the most accurate assessment requires a blood test. However, there are naturopaths and specialty clinics that do electro-dermal testing which, in my experience, is fairly accurate, costs less, and doesn’t require the use of a needle – a definite benefit when it comes to testing some children. Whichever testing approach is used, the results provide a lengthy list of foods and the range of intolerances. I encourage people to completely eliminate any foods that score in the high range of antibody production for at least 6 weeks, and to then reintroduce foods one at a time, starting with the ones lowest in antibody production, never reintroducing those with the highest scores.  I have found that with the withdrawal of the offending substances, excellent nutritional practices, and good homeopathic treatment, many people are able, at some point, to return to eating all foods. In other words, these IgG antibody reactions are not necessarily permanent states of being.

Other Antibodies

There are other antibodies that the body produces in response to food allergens. Another one worth mentioning here is IgA – one of the antibodies that are at play in Celiac disease; an autoimmune disorder that has, as part of its pathological picture, an IgA mediated response to gluten, the protein found in wheat and other grains. Testing for celiac disease is more complicated and can require blood testing, intestinal biopsy, as well as testing for the genetic marker for the disorder. I include this information here because many people are familiar with Celiac disease, but confuse it with the other sort of antibody-mediated scenarios mentioned above.

Get Tested!

I urge anyone suffering with chronic health problems that don’t respond to normal treatment to get tested for food allergies. You may find that eliminating one or two foods from your diet will have long reaching impact on your overall state of wellbeing.

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:

• 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!

• 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 2^nd and 3^rd pours are my favorites – free of the slightly biting tannic taste that is found in some green teas.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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

• In a small bowl, mix together the filling. If your coconut is too coarse, run it through your spice/coffee grinder. Set aside

• Over low heat, melt together the coconut oil, honey, maca and cacao powder. You need this only warm enough that the goods melt together

• 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.

• Place in freezer for 5-10 minutes or until solid

• 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.

• At this point, you may need to reheat the chocolate mix, do so just until it is pourable again.

• Gently spoon chocolate into each compartment until hazelnut mix is covered fully.

• Return to freezer to allow chocolate to set.

• Indulge!

Again, all my wishes to my readers for a wonderful, healthy, happy Holiday Season!

In Health, and in Peace…..

Beth

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.

1. 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.
2. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, sugar, and chocolate 4-6 hours before going to bed
3. Do not engage in heavy exercise for at least 3 hours before going to bed
4. Do not eat a heavy meal within 3 hours of going to bed
5. Sleep in a room that is fully darkened – use an eye mask if there are light leaks into your bedroom
6. 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.
7. A warm bath with Epsom salts (a form of magnesium) before bed is soothing and relaxing.
8. Have a cup of warm chamomile tea before bed (although be warned that too much chamomile can cause sleep disturbances and anxiety)
9. 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

1. Eat foods high in tryptophan before bed – these include bananas, figs, dates, nuts, turkey, milk, yogurt
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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
5. 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.

1. Taking sleeping pills on a regular basis disrupts deeper levels of sleep, causing a dramatic worsening of insomnia over time
2. Taking sleeping pills leads to psychological and physiological dependency
3. 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
4. Sleeping pills have a long list of side effects including depression, anxiety, confusion, prostate enlargement, and as mentioned above, worsening of insomnia
5. 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 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:

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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:

• 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.

• This nasal spray is more expensive than the conventional vaccination and is not covered by most provincial health providers here in Canada.

• 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.

• The list of people contraindicated for this option is long and quite concerning:

  • Anyone with asthma or reactive airways

  • People over the age of 60 (the same population we are told are most at risk from complications of influenza

  • Anyone with history of bronchial allergic reactions

  • Anyone with suspected immune deficiency diseases

  • Pregnant and nursing mothers

  • Anyone with chronic diseases of the heart, lungs, metabolic disease (including diabetes), kidney dysfunction, neurological disease

  • Health care workers who work with any of the above

  • Surely this list makes one reconsider the intelligence of getting such a vaccine at all.

Why?

• I am not a conspiracy theorist by nature, but I do have to ask why these vaccines are so vigorously pushed onto the public.

  • $$$$$$: Sorry to be so predictable, but someone is making a lot of money off this business

  • 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.

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

• Eat lots of plants in a range of colors –12-15 portions of fruit and veg daily, use fresh herbs and spices liberally

• Eliminate refined carbohydrates – NO WHITE SUGARS OR CARBS!

  • Sugar dramatically reduces immune function

  • Eat at least 3 portions of wild, cold-water, mercury free fish weekly, or supplement with a fish based Omega 3 fatty acid.

  • Eat organic food whenever possible

  • Make sure all your meat is from grass-fed animal

  • Drink red wine in moderation

  • Limit caffeine

  • Avoid all artificial food flavors, colors, preservatives, additives

Supplementation:

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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:

• 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!

• Wash your hands frequently.

• 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/

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

1. 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.

2. Take one teaspoon of colloidal silver morning and night. This is a natural antibiotic that destroys bacteria, viruses, and fungal growth.

3. Vitamin C – 5000 mg daily (taken in divided doses of no more than 1000 mg).Vitamin C acidifies urine and thereby inhibits bacterial growth.

4. Celery, parsley, watermelon are natural diuretics – drink juice made with these fruits and vegetables.

5. The most important thing is to drink – lots! Pure water is good – try to drink a glass every hour.

6. Avoid orange juice and other citrus juices as they increase the alkalinity of the urine, encouraging bacterial growth.

7. 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:

• Intense burning with urination, as if urinating burning liquid or acid

• May have pains in bladder and urethra, temporarily improved right after urination

• Sensation that they cannot empty bladder, with strong desire to do so – bladder never feels empty

• Intense urging to urinate, driving them to the toilet every few minutes, with only a few drops produced

• 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:

• Frequent urging to urinate, without the extreme pain of cantharis

• Urge to urinate, but can’t – straining to urinate only small amounts

• 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:

• Urgent desires to urinate with no ability to hold urine back. This can result in spurting and involuntary urination.

• The urge to urinate becomes stronger every second it is delayed; urging becomes intense after only a drop is accumulated.

• Once on the toilet it can be difficult to pass urine.

• May have pains in kidney area

• 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:

• Intense pain as final drops are passed at the very end of urination

• Copious urine passed without pain, until the very end

• May have difficulty urinating while sitting, flow begins on standing

• 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.

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.

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

• An excellent remedy to use for children who find times of change difficult – this remedy can ease the way during such times.

• Children needing this remedy tend to be very sensitive, yielding, and highly emotional, needing lots of affection and support.

• Children display their anxiety by excessive clinginess and whining. Older children can become very quiet and moody.

• 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

• 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.

• I generally suggest giving this remedy the night before an event that is causing anxiety, and again the morning of the event.

Argentum Nitricum

• This remedy can look much like Gelsemium in that it has strong anticipatory anxiety with loose stools.

• Children needing this remedy are often overly emotional with vivid imaginations.

• Argentum Nitricum anxiety has to do with a dread of ordeals, and a strong lack of confidence about a new situation.

Calcaria Carbonicum

• 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.

• They are usually easily distracted from their worries, but when left with time to think, will start worrying anew.

• Children needing this remedy are often slow, a bit sluggish, and almost always very obstinate – this trait being especially visible when worried.

• Calcaria children tend to perspire at night, especially around the head.

Arsenicum Album

• One of the most anxious remedies, usually used for chronic anxiety, but it has a place in short term, situational anxiety.

• Suited to high-strung children.

• 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.

• The anxiety will be accompanied by a great degree of restlessness – pacing, thrashing around in bed, general inability to stay still.

• They are also likely to be chilly with a cold perspiration on the forehead.

• Children needing this remedy may experience disturbed sleep when anxious – waking between midnight and 2 or 3 in the morning with anxiety.

Coffea Cruda

• Children needing this remedy will be over-sensitive and over-excited.

• 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.