January 2009 Homeopathic Newsletter

Homeopathic Help for SAD

Contents:
Does winter darkness get you down? Homeopathic help for SAD
A few remedies that can’t wait for spring

Help for SAD, or Seasonally Affected Disorder

You don’t have to be diagnosed with SAD (Seasonally Affected Disorder) to feel down or depressed during the darkest (and wettest!) days of the year. Whether you find it harder to drag yourself out of bed in the dark morning or are wistfully looking at ads for tropical beach vacations, this is the time when most people find themselves longing for sunshine, warmth and light. For people who are more susceptible to illness in the winter or whose mood is negatively affected by dark and wet, who experience prolonged fatigue, irritability, difficulty concentrating or who find their chronic symptoms always flare up during this time of year, homeopathy is a medical system that can bolster your spirits as well as help keep you healthy. Just because three months in Hawaii or Mexico isn’t in your future right now, doesn’t mean your life is a write-off until April!

Treating someone who is truly affected by the dark and cold of winter, means finding a remedy that matches the whole person. A homeopathic practitioner is trained to identify personal symptom patterns and individual personalities and match them to a remedy which will best stimulate the body's own natural healing response. Therefore someone with SAD symptoms who is normally light-hearted, enthusiastic and bubbly will need a different remedy than someone who is determined, industrious and serious-natured. There are many remedies for people who suffer from SAD or feel worse in dark, wet weather. While you may recognize aspects of yourself in the small selection of remedies below, it is usually necessary to work with a homeopath to find the specific remedy that will truly make a difference to you. To discuss whether homeopathy can help you this winter, call Susan Drury at 604-671-7863.

A few remedies that can’t wait for spring

Rhus-toxicodendrum – this is a remedy that has a main characteristic of all symptoms being aggravated by cold temperatures and wet, foggy weather, and ameliorated by warmth. This remedy is frequently used for injuries (sprains, strains) or joint and rheumatic complaints where the parts feel sore, bruised and stiff. Everything is aggravated from the cold and the person feels better from warmth – whether it’s a hot compress or soaking in a hot bath or being cuddled in a blanket by the fire. The other key characteristic of this remedy is restlessness, and feeling better from movement. Whatever the discomfort they experience (headache, muscle pain, stiffness, rheumatism), it drives them to move about and the moving “limbers them up.” Rhus-t can also be helpful for those who have itchy, herpetic or weeping eruptions and the itching will be better for hot water applications. Mentally those benefiting from Rhus-t may also exhibit restlessness, and may feel particularly fearful, down or depressed at night.

Aurum Metallicum – This remedy is metallic gold, a substance traditionally associated with the sun – bright, shining, high in the sky, pure and warm. In wintertime, people who may benefit from this remedy may find themselves at the opposite end of this spectrum, feeling dark, sometimes deeply depressed, and as if they are unable to achieve the high expectations they have of themselves. This is a classic remedy for many of the symptoms associated with seasonal affective disorder, and is often prescribed for bouts of depression associated with a lack of sunlight. It may be specifically helpful for stress, tension and sadness. People in authority and those with a strong sense of duty are good candidates for Aurum Metallicum.

Nux-vomica – People who can be helped constitutionally by Nux-v are chilly in general and aggravated by drafts or cold air blowing. They don’t mind wet weather, but do need to get warm, which helps them feel better. They are intense people, often workaholics, who are ambitious, competitive, fastidious, and like to be the boss! They will tend to overdo regularly in matters of diet, and may use coffee or other stimulants to keep up their intense pace, ultimately unbalancing their system. Disturbed sleep (waking at 3 a.m. and thinking about business) and digestive symptoms are common (gas, stomach pains, ulcers, belching), often with much urge to stool, but no results. Over-sensitivity to smells, noise, light, draft of air and a general high level of irritability will be noticed by their loved ones. If someone in your family needs Nux-v this winter, the sooner they get it, the better for everyone!

Calcarea carbonica – another remedy for chilly people who feel worse in cold, wet weather and better from warmth. Calc-c is a good remedy for conscientious, responsible people who are family-oriented and practical, solid good citizens. While they may have many fears (about their health, poverty, danger) and are very affected by sad stories on the news, they tend to keep these to themselves and try not to let others see their inner feelings. Although chilly, they tend to sweat (especially on their head at night) and both the perspiration as well as other discharges may smell sour. They may put on weight easily and are prone to swollen glands, frequent colds, itching, cracking skin or eczema. This is a common remedy for those babies and small children with big heads who are slow moving, sometimes late in development, sweaty, constipated and often aggravated by milk but love eggs.

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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.