Autumn 2008 Homeopathic Newsletter

The Autumn Blues

Contents:
The Autumn Blues
The Colds Among Us
Three Remedies Useful for Colds
Home Remedy Kits
You, Wonderful You
New to Homeopathy?

The Autumn Blues

Welcome to autumn! Foreshadowed by the appropriately named Labor Day, suddenly it’s back to school, back to work, earlier mornings, darker evenings, cooler temperatures, and don’t forget about the rain – what a shock to the system, after the long, lazy days of summer! No surprise it seems everyone is coming down with viruses or once again feeling trapped in an over-full schedule of commitments.

If this rings a bell or if you have you been too busy to even notice the faint ache over summer’s loss until this moment, I’m with you! But autumn blues don’t have to turn into winter’s blacks. Now is the time to reach for the support available through Homeopathy. In this Newsletter you will find some tips on home prescribing and other tools available to keep you and your family healthy and inspired through the coming season.

The Colds Among Us

Homeopathy is a system that attempts to stimulate the body to heal itself, and coming down with a common cold is no exception. All symptoms, no matter how uncomfortable, represent the body’s best attempt to restore itself to health. So instead of trying to dry up the runny nose with antihistamines or suppress a cough with codeine, we look for a remedy that matches the symptoms being expressed, in order to stimulate the body’s own healing powers to move those symptoms up and out!

Because each of us suffers a cold in our unique way, homeopathy looks at the individual response and not at the virus itself. Recently within one week, three of us in my family came down with colds (including me, even homeopaths get sick!), all with slightly different presentations and all requiring different remedies to help ease symptoms and stimulate a faster recovery. While nothing seems to stop a cold completely in its tracks, you may find one or more of these remedies helpful this season:

Allium Cepa – Ever cut up an onion? Most of us who have are familiar with the sharp, burning sensation in our nose, the tearing eyes, the feeling that the faucet in our mucous membranes has just opened up. This remedy, made from the common onion, is very helpful to colds with those kinds of acute symptoms. There will be lots of bland tearing from the eyes while the profuse discharge from the nose may be very irritating and the tip of the nose or skin underneath may be red and sore. The throat may feel raw and sore with possible hoarseness. In general, they feel better in open air and worse in warm, stuffy rooms.

Silica – This is the remedy for symptoms that are about being “stuck” – whether in the ear (fullness, hearing loss, pain and inflammation) or the nose (inability to breathe, smell, sinusitis) or throat (enlarged glands, clogged, pain), or eyes (sties, blocked ducts). People needing this remedy feel all stuffed up and can’t move things out, and the discharges they do have may be thick, yellow or green. While they may feel worse in warm rooms, they won’t like drafts or cold weather either. They may perspire and it may smell sour. In general, they will feel weak and tired. This remedy will give them the stimulus to get things moving out - as my daughter said, “I know I’m better because this morning I couldn’t smell this flower, but tonight I can!”

Natrum Muriaticum – this cold may begin with lots of sneezing and mucous will often be like an egg white in consistency and color. Cold sores are common, there can be a feeling of a lump in the throat and they may get a bad headache which is worse from light, sun, reading and noise. They may feel better in a cool, dark room, want to be left alone, and are also better with perspiration. They may seem more serious than usual and may be putting extra salt on their food!

Home Remedy Kits

If you are looking for a great homeopathic home remedy kit that will meet most acute illness or injury situations, I am particularly fond of a compact 42-remedy kit with explanatory booklet created by Ainsworth Homeopathic Pharmacy in England. I have these kits available for sale, call me at 604-671-7863 if interested.

And Back to You, Wonderful You

If an acute illness is dragging you down and you are not finding the right remedy to speed your recovery, I am available for acute consultations in person or over the phone. After-hours and weekend consultations are also possible in acute situations.

If this season is bringing up a recurrence of chronic physical, emotional or mental issues or symptoms, this is the time to schedule a homeopathic appointment to address more deep-seated issues. If you are already under homeopathic supervision, this is a good opportunity to revisit how you are feeling in your life and assess whether a new remedy is in order or a higher potency of your current remedy is needed to stimulate you to a higher level of health and well-being.

We are complex beings, and for the best results, homeopathic treatment should be on-going; as old concerns are dealt with, new layers may come up for healing. Don’t let yourself stay stuck in old symptoms or patterns!

New to Homeopathy?

For people who have not worked with a homeopath before, this is the time to make a commitment to yourself and address issues which continue to keep you from feeling your best. Homeopathy excels in treating all sorts of conditions, including those which stump conventional medicine. Call 604-671-7863 today for free information and to discuss whether homeopathic treatment could make a positive difference for you!

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Susan Drury, RSHom (NA), CCH, RSCHom is a registered member of the North American Society of Homeopaths, the Canadian Society of Homeopaths and the Council for Homeopathic Certification. She regularly publishes homeopathic articles and newsletters and through her private practice and educational outreach, is dedicated to supporting people in their journey to improved health and well-being. Susan provides homeopathic services to North Vancouver, West Vancouver, and the rest of the Lower Mainland, BC. She can be reached at 604-671-7863 or druryperry@shaw.ca.