Carmarthen Homeopath ~ Petra Wood RSHom

Homeopathic e-Newsletter No. 7

Welcome to the first edition of the homeopathic e-Newsletter in 2010. I am hoping that you will find some interesting information, tips and ideas in this edition. Please feel free to pass this e-Newsletter on to others who you think would be interested.

Women's problems - Hormones

The number of women suffering from hormonal imbalances is astonishing. For some girls it starts even before they are 10, with very early changes in their bodies and early menarche (the very first period). Many teenage girls suffer from severe period pains, with the prevailing medical solution being to put them on the ‘pill’. Many women have ongoing problems with pre-menstrual tension and/or painful, protracted and heavy periods. This might change after childbirth - getting better for some and worse for others. Finally there is the menopause, which again for some women can be a difficult time, with mood swings, hot flushes and other physical symptoms.

Endometriosis, uterine fibroids or cysts are additional problems or can be the cause of period pains and heavy periods.

The conventional medical answer to women's problems is primarily hormone treatment (with the pill, patches, hormone coil and HRT). For older women the options are removal of the ‘offending’ part (ranging from destroying the womb lining with heat to hysterectomy). The assumed solution is that there needs to be an artificial balancing of hormone levels.

However, there are many natural ways of bringing hormones back into balance. Herbalism has centuries worth of knowledge about plants that have been used to help women. Many of these remedies are also used within homeopathy, for example: Black Cohosh or Black Snakeroot is used under the name Cimicifuga; Blue Cohosh or Squawroot is used under the name of Caulophyllum (homeopathically especially important during labour).

When preparing a remedy homeopathically its action is moved from a mere chemical to an energetic way. This means that potential problems of side-effects, which are due to an overdosing of chemicals (equally true of conventional medicine and herbal remedies), are by-passed. This is the main reason why homeopathy is safe to use during pregnancy and on newborns, when other medication would potentially overburden the developing system.

Homeopathic remedies always work with the person and the body, in order to enable a return to a balanced system that does not need to produce symptoms. When hormonal disturbances are treated homeopathically then the woman returns to a natural state of balance where her body is making use of its own capabilities of producing hormones in sufficient amounts for what is needed.

Homeopathy can therefore help women of all ages to deal with hormonal imbalances. Homeopathic treatment promotes a gentle easing through all the main stages of a woman's development:

• From childhood to womanhood during puberty;
• From womanhood into motherhood during pregnancy, childbirth and the first few months after;
• From motherhood into grandmother-hood during the menopause.

Each stage is a natural step and, once returned to balance, our bodies have the abilities to cope with each step in a harmonious way.

Homeopathy can also help women who suffer from symptoms of endometriosis, uterine fibroids, cysts etc.

There are a number of remedies to address different symptom pictures that can be tried in self help. If symptoms persist then it will be necessary to contact a professionally trained homeopath who can look at the patient with greater detail and prescribe a remedy for the whole constitution or to unblock some underlying factors. All severe problems, like endometriosis for example, will need treatment by a professionally trained therapist.

Examples of Self-Help Remedies

Bryonia
For headaches and nosebleeds that are associated with periods. Sharp pains in the ovaries extending to the thighs, causing the woman to inhale deeply. She wants to be left in absolute peace and will usually be better for a quiet rest, drawing the knees up to press against the abdomen or lying on the painful side. She is usually very thirsty for large drinks of cold water. She will be worse for heat.

China
Weakness, dizziness, chilliness after heavy and/or prolonged periods. The symptoms are anaemia-like and this remedy will help to support blood iron levels after blood loss, e.g. from periods or after a difficult childbirth. The woman is always cold and needs to keep herself warm.

Colocynthis
These are sharp, stabbing period pains or waves of violent cutting pains which cause the woman to twist and bend and which can cause vomiting. The pain is relieved by hard pressure (e.g. bending double). She is very angry and easily vexed. She may be worse after the least food and better for gentle movements (e.g. rocking).

Graphites
Useful during the menopause when the vagina is very dry and can feel hot and burning. Often there is an aversion to sex. The uterus may feel as if it is falling out of the vagina. The external female organs may have eczema-like eruptions. Often the skin all over the body is dry and cracks easily. The woman may be depressed and irresolute. She may feel very anxious and weepy.

Lachesis
Pre-menstrual tension builds up from mid-cycle onwards, with volatile outbursts particularly of jealousy. This woman will be very talkative and may appear scheming and vindictive.

Headaches, breast tenderness (usually on the left) and mood swings get progressively worse until the menstrual flow has started. Then all symptoms disappear. Menstrual flow tends to be very heavy with dark clots.

Hot flushes especially upper chest and head, making it unbearable to wear anything around the neck.

Pulsatilla
The woman is very weepy. She feels much better in company and when being consoled. She feels worse in stuffy rooms and will be much better when outside in the open air, even if she is a little chilly.

Symptoms and pains are very changeable and wander between different parts or sides. There are gastrointestinal complaints with nausea and diarrhoea (or alternating with constipation), backache before menses.

There is no thirst, often despite a dry feeling in the mouth.

Sepia
The woman desires to be alone and appears to have lost all interest in her family or in other joys. She dislikes consolation and gets angry when contradicted. She has an aversion to sex.

She has a feeling of heaviness and feels exhausted easily. Any emotional demand is met with exhaustion and flatness - can't be bothered. However, vigorous physical activity, like going for a brisk walk or run, makes this woman feel much better in herself.

There may be prolapse of the uterus or the uterus may feel heavy as if it is going to fall out. Headaches during the days of heavy flow are common.

Typically the Sepia picture emerges when a woman has had several pregnancies close by and has small children to look after. Alternatively it is a great remedy for the menopause, with heavy periods, hot flushes and exhaustion.

For guidelines on how to take remedies please see the Self Help page.

Homeopathic remedies are available in most health food stores and pharmacies. I stock the whole range of high-quality homeopathic remedies (individual and kits) and creams made by Helios Homoeopathic Pharmacy which are availably locally through Aardvark in Carmarthen.

Disclaimer: Nothing contained in this e-Newsletter should be taken as individual medical advice or as a substitute for consulting a professional homeopath or healthcare practitioner.

Homeopathic e-Newsletter No. 8

This edition is dedicated to dental health - an issue that has come up more frequently in my practice recently. I hope you find it useful and please feel free to pass on to anybody you think might be interested.

Homeopathy and Dental Health

Our teeth form a vital part of our overall health. Not only are they important for the proper ’destruction‘ of food ready for digestion, but often enough teeth and gums reflect our general state of well-being.

Below are the most common dental ailments that can be supported with homeopathic self-help. Be sure to also seek advice of a dentist, especially in emergencies, and/or a professional homeopath if there is a tendency to any of these ailments.

Dental abscess
This can be excruciatingly painful, often with painkillers only being of mediocre help. Dentists will most commonly prescribe antibiotics and/or suggest extraction of the affected tooth. Dental abscesses can be related to sinus problems, with an overproduction of mucus in the lower sinuses ‘spreading’ into the jaw and near the roots of teeth. If this is the case, then constitutional treatment by a professional homeopath will help deal with the underlying problem.

The following remedies can be extremely useful for acute pain from an abscess:

• Belladonna: Where the pain is throbbing, with redness and heat of the inflamed area. More commonly indicated in the early stages of abscess formation.
• Hepar sulph: This is the Number One remedy to think of in dental abscesses. The pain is so bad that the person is foul tempered and easily angered. They are sensitive to anything cold and also to touch, even touching the tooth with the tongue might hurt. The pain is splinter-like, sharp and stabbing, and commonly gets worse at night. If you suffer from recurrent tooth abscesses and the description fits this remedy, then I can only recommend having it in the house! (Please see further down for where to get homeopathic remedies.)
• Mercurius: Where there is very smelly breath and excessive salivation. On inspection you may notice that the teeth leave an imprint on the tongue.

The correct homeopathic remedy will aid the body to reabsorb the pus that is causing pain along the root of the tooth. In rare cases it might be possible that a dental abscess may drain. This is another way of the body to relieve the pressure and should not cause a problem.

In some cases, after the acute phase is over and the pain is gone, some of the abscess might have solidified and a (pain free) swelling can be felt. If this is the case, then a few doses of Silica will help to dissolve this hardening.

Dental Treatment

• Arnica is the Number One remedy to take immediately after any dental treatment. It helps with any pain from bruising caused by the treatment, as well as with the general trauma of having your teeth ‘done’.

If the treatment had unforeseen complications and the patient feels (and looks) shocked and fearful afterwards, then Aconite will help.

• Hypericum is indicated where a nerve has been damaged (e.g. from injection with anaesthetics) and the pain is severe and shooting along the nerve.
• Ruta: If after a root canal filling the bone feels very sore and painful. This remedy is also very useful in cases of orthodontics (braces) causing discomfort.
• Staphisagria: After oral surgery when there is pain in the incision site.

Local Anaesthetics

If there is a general feeling of unwell-ness remaining after the anaesthetics, e.g. with nausea and a sense of being spaced out, Phosphorus can usually help the patient. If the patient is very irritable in this stage then Chamomilla might be the better choice. If there is a lot of nausea then Ipecacuanha might bring relief.

If there is pain remaining at the site of the injection then the following remedies can be useful:

• Apis: Where there is swelling and oedema, with heat and pain, better for cold application.
• Arnica: If there is bruising or a bruised feeling.
• Ledum: Where the whole area feels cold to the patient and/or is cold to touch; when there is stiffness of the jaw resulting from the injection.
• Ruta: Where the pain is felt in the bone, as if the needle has scraped the periosteum (the skin of the bone).

Mouth Ulcers

Often a mouthwash made up from salt and water, or Calendula lotion/herbal tincture and water will bring some relief. Obviously, if certain foods are causative, then these should be avoided.

The following remedies can bring relief:

• Kali bich: Where the ulcers have a yellow or greenish-yellow base. The mouth is dry and saliva is stringy. The patient might feel chilly.
• Mercurius: Where there is a foul breath and excessive salivation. On inspection you may notice that the teeth leave an imprint on the tongue.
• Nit-ac: Where there are sticking, splintering pains and the base of the ulcer bleeds easily.

Dental Trauma

Remember to take Arnica first where there is any physical trauma and bruising.

• Bryonia: The pain develops slowly and then peaks. The patient is very irritable and worse for any movement, any disruption or talking. Strong pressure might alleviate the pain and the patient might be seen pressing his hand against the jaw.
• Hypericum: Where there is injury to the nerve, e.g. in a fractured tooth, with severe, shooting pain.
• Ruta: Where a tooth has been severely knocked and therefore loosened by physical impact, this remedy will help to make it ‘stick’ in its socket again (take once or twice per day for five to ten days). Remember to take Arnica first to aid with any bruising.

Toothache

If you can't get an appointment to see the dentist soon, try these remedies and also check for any of the remedies above that might fit. Remember that you need to see a dentist to find out if there is caries or another problem.

• Belladonna: Where the pain is throbbing, with redness and heat of the inflamed area. This remedy is useful at the (often sudden) onset of a toothache.
• Bryonia: The pain develops slowly and then peaks. The patient is very irritable and worse for any movement, any disruption or talking. Strong pressure might alleviate the pain and the patient might be seen pressing his hand against the jaw.
• Coffea: This is a severe pain that is ameliorated as long as icy-cold water is held in the mouth.

If there is a lot of caries and decay, maybe from young age or starting suddenly, then it is advisable to arrange for a consultation with a professional homeopath in order to treat the underlying cause.

Anticipatory Fear and Anxiety

These remedies might be of help if you are very anxious about going for an appointment with the dentist:

• Arg nit: Very restless, hurried and anxious; with diarrhoea; desires and feels better for fresh air; craves sweets which cause diarrhoea.
• Gelsemium: Almost paralysed with fear; trembling; feels unable to move.
• Rescue Remedy: Universal remedy to help with fear and panic.

Any of these (as indicated) can be taken as soon as the anxiety sets in, even if that is many days in advance of the appointment. Then repeat as needed.

Potency and Dosage

As a general guide, 30c potencies are fine to use for most dental problems (also, this potency is commonly available over the counter). If pains are severe then a 200c might be useful. Take a dose every 1 to 2 hours (every 15-30 minutes if in extreme immediate pain from injury or treatment) for up to 3 doses. Stop if improvement occurs and only repeat if symptoms return. If there is no change after 3 doses then check if another remedy fits the symptoms better.

See also self-help.

Homeopathic remedies are available in most health food stores and pharmacies. I stock the whole range of high-quality homeopathic remedies (individual and kits) and creams made by Helios Homoeopathic Pharmacy. They are available for sale (on my behalf) in Aardvark in Carmarthen.

Disclaimer

Nothing contained in this e-Newsletter should be taken as individual medical advice or as a substitute for consulting a professional homeopath or healthcare practitioner.

Wishing you all the best
Petra

Homeopathic e-Newsletter No. 9

In this issue:

• Exam Stress
• Homeopathy Awareness Week
• Introductory Courses in Homeopathy

Exam time in schools – stress time at home

Tempers can become frayed around this time of year, with the kids getting stressed out from constant revising – and parents getting stressed out because the kids aren’t doing enough!

Some anxiety before exams is absolutely natural, as we all know. However, when anxiety takes over, performance suffers and overall health is at risk.

Common symptoms related to anticipatory anxiety are headaches, insomnia and digestive upsets. But more so, researchers have found (no surprise really) that stress reduces the function of the immune system, making the person more susceptible to colds and other bugs (source: Herbert T. and Cohen S. Stress and Immunity in Humans: a Meta-analytic Review. Psychosomatic Medicine 1993: 55 (4) 364-379). Ever so many teenagers succumb to glandular fever and/or ME, probably due to prolonged stress eroding their immune system.

And then there is the beginning of the hayfever season, too! Exam stress is easily compounded by the symptoms of hayfever, and the side-effects of some the common medications don’t help either. If you suffer from hayfever then please check out my e-Newsletter from June 2009.

Below are a number of remedies that can be used in self-help to deal with exam stress. These are not only useful for teenagers – anybody can use them, when they go for job interviews, driving tests, or having to perform as the Best Man… (You may recognise some remedies from my last e-Newsletter on dental health and the anticipatory anxiety and fear associated with the next dentist appointment.)

Obviously, if symptoms are severe then a professional homeopath or doctor needs to be contacted. Symptoms of glandular fever, ME and post-viral fatigue respond well to homeopathic remedies, but they will need to be prescribed for and monitored by a professional homeopath.

Arg nit
These are exhausted individuals who may tremble with their mental exhaustion. They will have worked very hard, yet feel (often quite rightly so) that they will forget everything they have learned. They are extremely restless, fidgety and hurried. They hate to queue and will often be found pacing around. They are hot and much worse for the heat of a stuffy (exam) room, but much better for fresh air. They crave sweets, which might make them sick with diarrhoea and lots of wind.

Arsenicum
These individuals are extremely fastidious and tidy – everything has to be “just so” and will be planned in minute detail. They can be terrible to be around – criticising everything and everybody. Yet they hate being on their own. They are very anxious and might wake just after midnight from their anxieties, being unable to go back to sleep whilst tossing and turning. Physically they may suffer from watery diarrhoea which leaves them quite weak. They worry a lot about their health.

Gelsemium
The person needing this remedy will be almost paralysed with anxiety and fear. Their whole body feels heavy and they can hardly lift an arm, keep their head up or even their eyes open. They can be trembling, or may feel as if they are trembling. They commonly feel dull and sluggish and just want to be left alone. And they may actually forget everything they learned.

Lycopodium
These individuals may make a show before exams, saying that they can’t do it, but they usually perform rather well. However, they may go down with a minor illness right after a big effort. They don’t take easy to undertaking new things, but may not necessary show that. Instead they keep up a façade of self-confidence that they will not feel inside. They can be quite bossy at home, which is a cover-up for the insecurity they feel outside of home. Physical symptoms are centred around the digestion with huge appetite but only being able to eat little amounts, abdominal bloating (needing to open the belt) and lots of wind. They may lay wake in the night, worrying about the future and how they are going to manage it all.

Nux vomica
This is the remedy for the workaholics who have to revise up to last minute. They are extremely irritable and impatient and driven to do well. They wake in the early hours of the morning with the urge to get up and do more work, having lists in their heads of what needs doing. They will indulge in stimulants (coffee) in order to stay alert, but then suffer from heartburn and indigestion.

Rescue Remedy
Not strictly speaking homeopathy but such a great and universal remedy to help with fear and anxiety. Add a few drops to a bottle of water and sip throughout the day (and the exam!) as needed. Calms the nerves, which aids concentration and memory.

Sulphur
These teenagers might come across as rather slovenly and lazy – driving the parents up the wall. They tend to have grand ideas, and usually do quite well in their work. They need a lot of praise (which may not come easily from an exasperated parent). They crave sugar and are generally very hungry. They need food at 11am as they cannot wait until lunchtime. They may wake very frequently, disrupting their sleep. They will feel hot and sweaty, and especially the feet seem to be burning hot. At night they will stick their feet out from under the covers, because they are too hot. In the morning they are driven out of bed with the need to go to the toilet for a stool. This may be diarrhoea and it is usually rather offensive.

Disclaimer
Nothing contained in this e-Newsletter should be taken as individual medical advice or as a substitute for consulting a professional homeopath or healthcare practitioner.

For information on how to take homeopathic remedies, please check the self-help page.

Homeopathic remedies are available in most health food stores and pharmacies. I stock the whole range of high-quality homeopathic remedies (individual and kits) and creams made by Helios Homoeopathic Pharmacy. They are available for sale (on my behalf) in Aardvark in Carmarthen.

Homeopathy Awareness Week June 14 - 21

This year’s theme: Women’s Health!

Women’s lives today are busier and more stressful than ever, with many juggling jobs, childcare and looking after the home.

Stress can increase the likelihood of illness (see above). And women are one-and-a-half times more likely to be affected by anxiety and low mood, according to the charity Mind.

Homeopathy can be used to help women at any stage of life, from period pain through to menopausal symptoms and the aching joints of older age. It can effectively deal with mental health issues related to anxiety and depression.

Problems suffered by women commonly seen by homeopaths in their clinics include acne, mental and emotional issues, menopausal symptoms such as mood swings and hot flushes, and hormonal problems such as PMT and heavy periods.

To celebrate Homeopathy Awareness Week I am offering additional free introductory consultations. Please contact me, or pass my contact details on to others.

Introductory Courses in Homeopathy

A one-day Introductory Course will be held at the Welsh School of Homoeopathy on Saturday 26th June. The School is located in Carmarthen on 17 Bridge Street (off Notts Square, behind the Angel’s Vault, by the castle). The course will be running from 10am to 5pm and costs £40 for the day (including refreshments but not lunch). Course facilitator is Bill Rumble RSHom, one of the directors and core teachers at the Welsh School of Homoeopathy. This course will cover basic homoeopathic philosophy and first aid treatment of common ailments. It is meant as a stand-alone course for anybody interested in the philosophy and principles of homeopathy. It also provides a great taster for the four-year professional course. If you are interested then please contact me and I will give you more information.

Starting in September I will again be running a ten-week evening class in homeopathy. In this course we will explore the depth of homeopathic philosophy. We discuss the principles underlying homeopathy in great detail as well as spending a lot of time on a wide variety of remedies. The principles of taking the case and of finding a remedy to match the symptoms are practised throughout to allow participants to be able to prescribe for themselves and their families in acute situations and for minor ailments. I will send more information about this course nearer the time but please feel free to let me know already if you are interested.

If you missed any of last years e-Newsletters you can find them in the archive. And please feel free to spread the word and pass on the links, e-Newsletters etc.

With best wishes
Petra

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Homeopathic e-Newsletter No. 10

In this issue:

• Holiday cover
• Alternative Help for menopause symptoms
• Homeopathy courses

Holiday cover

I will be on holiday for a few weeks this summer. For any homeopathic needs during that time, please contact the Homeopathic Helpline. This service has been going for many years now and is staffed by two very experienced homeopaths. They deal with anything from common cold to suicidal depression. The Helpline is used as a locum service by many homeopaths.

The Homeopathic Helpline is available 7 days a week from 9am to midnight. Please phone 09065 343404. Calls from a BT landline cost £1.50 per minute which will be added to your phone bill.

If you need some ideas of how you can support yourself naturally for minor holiday upsets, then please have a look at my e-Newsletter from last summer.

Homeopathic remedies are available in most health food stores and pharmacies. I stock the whole range of high-quality homeopathic remedies (individual and kits) and creams made by Helios Homoeopathic Pharmacy available for sale in Aardvark in Carmarthen. Helios sells a remedy kit that is designed specifically for those travelling abroad. It contains 36 remedies commonly indicated for travel-related illnesses and comes with a small booklet that helps as a guide to remedy choice. This Travel Kit is available in Aardvarks, Carmarthen, or from Helios direct.

Alternative Help for menopause symptoms

As a new study (Ward T, Scheid V, Tuffrey V. Women's mid-life health experiences in urban UK: an international comparison. Climacteric, 2010; 13 (3): 278-288) puts British women at the top of the list for suffering symptoms of menopause, we find that many are turning their backs on Hormone Replacement Therapy and turn to homeopathy for help.

The most common symptoms of menopause are hot flushes, night sweats, headaches and mood swings. Homeopathic treatment has been shown to be effective for hot flushes and sweats, tiredness, anxiety, sleeping difficulties, mood swings and headaches. In a study carried out at a NHS well-woman clinic in Sheffield, 81 per cent of 102 patients reported improvement of these menopause symptoms after homeopathic treatment. (Relton C, Weatherley-Jones E. Homeopathy Service in a National Health Service community menopause clinic: audit of clinical outcomes. Menopause Int, 2005; 11(2): 72-3)

Two large studies have demonstrated the dangers of HRT and led to significant changes in the way it is prescribed:

• A major US research project involving over 16,000 women looked at the effects of the most commonly used form of HRT – pills known as 'combined HRT'. In 2002 this trial had to be stopped early because of the health risks to the women involved. The researchers concluded that although this form of HRT gives protection against osteoporosis and bowel cancer, these benefits are outweighed by an increased risk of breast and uterine cancer, heart attack and stroke. (Writing Group for the Women's Health Initiative Investigators. Risks and benefits of estrogen plus progestin in healthy postmenopausal women: principal results from the WHI randomized controlled trial. JAMA, 2002; 288: 321–333)
• In 2005 results of the NHS-led 'Million Women Study' confirmed the link between breast cancer and combined HRT, with researchers estimating that 20,000 cases of breast cancer over the last decade have been due to HRT use. It was also found that oestrogen-only HRT carries a significant risk of endometrial cancer. (Million Women Study Collaborators. Endometrial cancer and hormone-replacement therapy in the Million Women Study. Lancet, 2005; 365: 1543-51)

For some self-help ideas to alleviate minor menopausal symptoms please check my self-help page. You will also find information on how to take homeopathic remedies. If symptoms persist or are of a more severe nature, then please contact your local homeopath.

Disclaimer: Nothing contained in this e-Newsletter should be taken as individual medical advice or as a substitute for consulting a professional homeopath or healthcare practitioner.

Introductory Courses in Homeopathy

After the successful day in June, the Welsh School of Homoeopathy will be running a second one-day Introductory Course on Saturday 4th September at 17 Bridge Street (just off the pedestrian area by Notts Square). The day will be running from 10am to 5pm and costs £40 for the day (including refreshments but not lunch). Course facilitator will be Linda Gwillim RSHom, one of the directors and core teachers at the Welsh School of Homoeopathy. This course will cover basic homoeopathic philosophy and first aid treatment of common ailments. It is meant as a stand-alone course for anybody interested in the philosophy and principles of homeopathy. It also provides a great taster for the four-year professional course. If you are interested then please contact me and I will give you more information.

Starting later in September I will be running a ten-week evening class in homeopathy on a Thursday night. I will post more detailed information about this later in August or early September.

The advanced learners Homeopathy Forum will resume after the summer break. The Forum is held monthly on a Monday evening. Please contact me if you are interested in joining us (basic knowledge of homeopathic philosophy and principles is required).

Enjoy the summer!

Please feel free to forward this e-Newsletter to anybody who might be interested.

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