Change is constant; it is all around us, from natural seasonal weather to the cells in our bodies. Reflecting upon the many changes in my own life over the years, out of curiosity I looked around me and recognise that many people I have met have re-invented themselves at least once. Their reasons are varied; either their circumstances trigger their change of country or career or with time and maturity they re-assess and if able to, they follow their passions.
As humans we should be adaptable, making use of our experiences to enrich us. Our health should not suffer as a result of those changes, even though they can often be triggered because of serious health issues.
As a homeopath, my thoughts go to how those who do not cope well with change. They see change as frightening and can be resistant, even sub-consciously. The unknown, the different, the challenge of being outside ones’ comfort zone is perceived as alarming. For example, a young child going to nursery for the first time, not being in a place or with people she knows and where she feels secure brings up distress symptoms, such as crying and clinginess, sleep disturbances, regression in other behaviours.
In adults symptoms of resistance or fear of change can range from slight nervousness to full blown panic attacks. For some the slightest deviation from the daily routine triggers unpleasant reactions, such as the irritable bowel symptoms suffered by an otherwise seemingly calm woman I treated some years ago. Her remedy enabled her to deal with her trigger as well as eliminating her physical symptoms.
My approach is to honour a person’s feelings and with homeopathic remedies help them to cope better with all aspects.
Change is natural. Does it feel that way to you? Book a short call if not.
I hope you, your family and friends are safe and well during these incredibly difficult times.
Stay S.A.F.E.
These uncertain times that are impacting upon all our lives. Uncertainty is one of the biggest stressors. ‘Not knowing’ can make us feel like we are in a vacuum. And being in lockdown/is an additional stress to our systems.
Uncertainty causes a complex cascade of feelings: confusion, worry, fear, frustration, anger, and powerlessness. Helplessness may be particularly difficult to endure. We respond to uncertainty according to our natures: stoical types tend to take it in their stride, bossy types make plans, some become frightened that something dreadful is going to happen while others worry themselves silly. Fear is in and of itself a virus.
One of the remedies below may be helpful if you find that anxiety or fear are affecting your health. If uncertain which remedy to take, I am offering consultations online.
Argentum nitricum: Frank panic attacks. Anxious and churning/hurried inside. Feels out of control and hates it. Worried & frightened about what may happen.
Arsenicum album: Relentless anxiety about the future, about getting sick, about the family. Worries about security, especially financial security.
Gelsemium: Anticipates the worst. Dreads any upcoming ordeal. Hearing bad news makes everything worse. Feels anxious about being out of control. Which Potency?
The potency doesn’t matter – whatever you have at hand – a 6C or 30C is fine. Take just a few doses – 3 spread over a day. If it helps DON’T keep taking it. If it doesn’t help DON’T keep taking it.
Stay S.A.F.E.Keep your immune system—and your spirits—strong. Here are 4 vital building blocks of health and well-being. All 4 are energising and healing in different ways. Sleep and rest … sleep is deeply healing for every system and organ and cell in your body. Activities … those that are fun/creative/relaxing … a distraction Food as nourishing as possible. Exercise every day – if at all possible twice a day.
Personally, I am trying to keep calm and balanced. It helps to reach out to friends and family via the many platforms available. Restricting the news to once daily works for me, as the constant repetition of sad news affects me negatively.
Exercising also helps, even when it’s hard to self-motivate, it raises the good endorphins. Our neighbourhood has been surprisingly active with opportunities to help others, like cooking for NHS staff. I now have the time to organise the many photos into albums, a long term project. Also, I am still practising, seeing patients online, which gives me purpose.
With sincere wishes for a continued healthy and peaceful time.
I wanted to reach out to you and say, first of all, that I hope you, your family and friends are safe and well during these incredibly difficult times.
These uncertain times are impacting upon all our lives. Uncertainty is one of the biggest stressors. ‘Not knowing’ can make us feel we are in a vacuum and coupled with being in lockdown is an additional cause of stress.
Uncertainty causes a complex cascade of feelings: confusion, worry, fear, frustration, anger, and powerlessness. Helplessness may be particularly difficult to endure. We respond to uncertainty according to our natures: stoical types tend to take it in their stride, bossy types make plans, some become frightened that something dreadful is going to happen while others worry themselves silly. Fear is in and of itself a virus.
One of the remedies below may be helpful if you find that anxiety or fear are affecting your health. If uncertain which remedy to take,I am offering online consultations.
Argentum nitricum Frank panic attacks. Anxious and churning/hurried inside. Feels out of control and hates it. Worried & frightened about what may happen.
Arsenicum album Relentless anxiety about the future, about getting sick, about the family. Worries about security, especially financial security.
Gelsemium Anticipates the worst. Dreads any upcoming ordeal. Hearing bad news makes everything worse. Feels anxious about being out of control.
Which Potency?
The potency doesn’t matter – whatever you have at hand – a 6C or 30C is fine. Take just a few doses – 3 spread over a day.
If it helps DON’T keep taking it.
If it doesn’t help DON’T keep taking it.
Stay S.A.F.E. Keep your immune system—and your spirits—strong. These are 4 vital building blocks of health and well-being. All 4 are energizing and healing in different ways. Sleep and rest … sleep is deeply healing for every system and organ and cell in your body. Activities … those that are fun/creative/relaxing … a distraction Food as nourishing as possible. Exercise every day – if at all possible twice a day. Try to get outdoors to replenish your Vitamin D (even leaning out of the window for 10 minutes daily helps!)
Personally, I am trying to keep calm and balanced. It helps to reach out to friends and family via the many platforms available. Restricting the news to once daily works for me, as the constant repetition of sad news affects me negatively. Exercising also helps, even when it’s hard to self-motivate, it raises the good endorphins. Our neighbourhood has been surprisingly active with opportunities to help others, like cooking for NHS staff. I now have the time to organise our many photos into albums, a long-term project. Also, I am still practising, seeing patients online, which gives me purpose.
With sincere wishes for a continued healthy and peaceful time.
We are currently overwhelmingly pre-occupied with Coronavirus. Coping with the psychological effects of physical distancing and self-isolation can be difficult. I would encourage you to do everything the government and health authorities are recommending to stay as well as you can. In addition, here are a few homeopathic remedies that could help.
If you are experiencing a lot of anxiety, are restless, getting fussier and worried about germs, ARSENICUM ALBUM would be a good remedy to take.
Are you very anxious about upcoming engagements or commitments and feel anxiety in the pit of your stomach, then ARGENTUM NITRICUM could allay those feelings.
If you are feeling shaky, weak and lethargic, you could try GELSEMIUM.
Whilst these particular remedies are likely to be helpful, it is best to have a homeopath work out the one that best suits your symptoms.
If you’re feeling unsettled or overwhelmed, you’re not alone. I offer online consultations to support you from the comfort of your home – get in touch if you’d like help with your symptoms.
Just a reminder that in homeopathy we treat the person, not the named disease. Homeopathy helps you to heal yourself.
Are you feeling low, even depressed? Let homeopathy lift
your mood.
Did you know ‘feeling blue’ is not just an expression – the image of a depressed person’s brain scan is mainly blue as shown below in the right image.
What is depression?
Depression can be a temporary
passing experience or a deeply disturbing condition that may lead to suicide. Experiencing
severe
despondency and dejection, accompanied by feelings of hopelessness and
inadequacy, as well as a condition of mental disturbance, typically with lack
of energy and difficulty in maintaining concentration or interest in life
Except in cases of
minor depressive states, professional attention is generally recommended to
help a person go through this emotional experience in a conscious manner.
Symptoms of Depression:
Psychiatrists classify cases as Depression if they have been
continually depressed for a period of at least two years and in addition
display any three of the following symptoms:
Low self-esteem or lack of confidence
Pessimism, hopelessness or despair
Lack of interest in ordinary pleasures and activities
Withdrawal from social activities
Fatigue or Lethargy
Guilt or ruminating about the past
Irritability or excessive anger
Lessened productivity
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Whatever the reasons for suffering, such as not recovering
from grief or loss, chemical imbalances, post-natal depression or SAD (Seasonal
Affective Disorder), homeopathy can reduce the severity of the symptoms in
conjunction with lifestyle and dietary changes.
Homeopaths, like modern-day physiologists,
understand that symptoms of illness represent the body’s defences in its
efforts to adapt to and respond against infection, environmental assault, or
stress of some kind. As discomforting as symptoms can be, they still represent
the living organism’s best efforts at the time to try to defend and heal him or
herself. Such defences are an innate part of our evolutionary efforts to
survive.
Why
Homeopathy Makes Sense for Depression:
Homeopathic
medicines are not prescribed based on the person’s diagnosed disease but on the
unique way the person experiences his or her disease. In other
words, homeopathic medicines are prescribed based on the totality of
various physical and psychological symptoms, not just a single symptom or
disease label. Although the selection of the correct homeopathic prescribing is
more complex than the use of conventional drugs or even many herbal
preparations, the system of prescribing that is individualized to the whole
person is intellectually sound… and its results are often significant if not
substantial.
Numerous studies have shown benefits in using the herb St. Johns’ wort to treat mild to moderate depression. However, homeopaths generally find that it is preferable to prescribe individualised homeopathic remedies to attain better long-term sustained results without having to take continual doses of any medicine. In fact, a recent study in a medical journal published by Oxford University Press found that individualized homeopathic treatment is as effective and is safer than Prozac in the treatment of people with moderate or severe depression. (Adler UC, Paiva NMP, Cesar AT, Adler MS, Molina A, Padula AE, Calil HM. Homeopathic individualized Q-potencies versus fluoxetine for moderate to severe depression: double-blind, randomized non-inferiority trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2009 Aug 17 ) http://ecam.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/nep114v1)
Testimonial:
“I am so thankful to Danielle and her homeopathic magic! I was
particularly skeptical about homeopathic remedies but after feeling
particularly low and depressed for some time and at my wits end as to how to
pull myself out of it I turned to Danielle to see if there is any way that she
could help me. Our first session was a tearful one but I was already
feeling a little more optimistic after leaving her and waited patiently for my
remedies. It’s hard to pin point exactly when things began to improve but
they certainly did and rapidly! After our 3rd session I was feeling miles
better and together we made the decision that I could try and stop taking the
remedy and see if I could keep my mood and optimism high.
As much as it would have been lovely to see her regularly, there really
was no need and I was back to my old self again. For anyone that is
skeptical like me I strongly advise just giving it a go as it could be the
perfect natural solution. I’ve heard of homeopathic remedies working for
more physical symptoms such as hay fever but really wasn’t sure it could help
with something such as depression but I was wrong! Danielle is such a
lovely lady and a wonderful homeopath to see especially if you are feeling very
down. Big thanks Danielle for getting me back smiling again! ;)” CC
A word or two of caution:
There
are so many homeopathic medicines that can be used to treat the numerous
symptoms of depression and anxiety that it can be difficult to know where to
start. It is important to make sure that your symptoms are not due to another
illness such as an underactive thyroid or a stomach ulcer, so please talk to
your GP first to make sure of the diagnosis before starting homeopathic
treatment.
Cases of bipolar,
manic-depression, risk of suicide or schizophrenia, require long-term
counselling/therapy and psychiatric referral with homeopathy as an adjunctive
therapy.
Disclaimer:
As a homeopath I do not diagnose, treat or prescribe for any
particular symptom, disease or condition. Instead, I work on increasing the
general vitality and constitutional strength of those who seek my advice. I am
a professional homeopath and not a medical doctor, and therefore those who work
with me must retain the services of a primary care physician for appropriate
evaluations and check-ups for themselves and/or their children.
Do you tend to worry about what might happen in the future, shake or panic before or during a public engagement, or cancel plans at the last minute because you cannot face them?
Too many people are affected by anxiety or panic attacks at various stages in their life.
With the right homeopathic treatment, those living with nervousness, severe anxiety, phobias or panic disorders can attain relief and enjoy worry free lives.
Some common remedies to calm the mind are listed below, however, chronic anxiety disorders will need a supervised course of treatment, so for the best results, do make an appointment.
Aconite:
Is best known for its intensity of symptoms – fear or panic with a sudden onset, often following on from after seeing or experiencing a trauma or accident. The person is restless, fearful and think they are about to die. They might have a pounding heart, dry mouth and be thirsty.
Aconite can also treat symptoms from a past traumatic event.
Argenticum nit:
Apprehension when unsure of what is going to happen and the more they dwell on it, the worse they feel. They feel worse for heat and crowds and are nervous and hurried.
They crave sweets and sugar which give them digestive upsets. Anxiety will trigger diarrhoea and flatulence. Strange compulsions and ‘what if’ thoughts are typical of this remedy.
Arsenicum Alb:
Arsenicums tend to worry about the future, financial security and safety, are worse at night and when alone. To cope with their anxiety, they become perfectionistic, overly fastidious and selfish and can develop OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder). They become controlling and critical of others. They are usually chilly and feel better for being warm.
Gelsemium:
Weakness and trembling from any exertion that is allied with anxiety, such as performance anxiety with weakness of the knees and muscles, trembling of the hands and shaking voice. At the same time they feel paralysed by fear as well as helpless, wanting to hide away but unable to move. Fear of open spaces and the flu have been helped with Gelsemium.
Kali phosphoricum:
A remedy for mental overwhelm, brain fog, they are overstressed and delicate. They have a fear of something bad happening or having a nervous breakdown.
Physical symptoms from overwork, excitement or worry.
Lycopodium:
Suffer from lack of confidence and has anticipation anxiety and stage fright, with flatulence and griping colic, though once they get going they relax and do well. Their anxiety occurs in new situations or with new people and they can overcompensate over talking and bravado. They crave sweets and have right sided physical complaints.
The above are only a small sample of remedies for anxiety and panic attacks, if none of them match your symptoms, contact me for assistance.
If you find that after several doses of one of the above remedies you have very little or no improvement, contact me for a more appropriate remedy.
For best results, recurring or chronic problems should be treated with the assistance of a professional homeopath.
You’ve tried all the usual tips for sleeping soundly, yet sleep still eludes you, or you wake up un-refreshed or, even more frustrating, you are wide awake much too early and cannot get back to sleep.
Try a homeopathic remedy: Homeopathy is a form of holistic medicine that works on the principle of treating ‘like with like’ and is administered in minute doses. It is gentle, non-addictive, side effect free and can be used safely and effectively at any life stage.
Each human being is unique and homeopathic remedies are prescribed according to each individual’s symptoms.
Thus when treating chronic insomnia, it is recommended to treat the whole person, rather than just the specific symptom of sleeplessness. These are the most commonly used remedies and their indications: Arsenicum album (Ars): sleeplessness from worry and anxiety (especially about one’s health) with a fear of dying. Wakefulness after midnight, especially 1-2 A.M. Restless, gets out of bed. Can only sleep with head raised. Hard to fall asleep after waking. Coffea cruda (Coff): Coffee is well known for producing sleeplessness but because of homeopathy’s ‘like treats like’ effect, it will relieve insomnia when given in crude, or especially homeopathic form. The types of symptoms it relieves are those produced by coffee. Wide eyed at 3 A.M. with overactive mind, excessive joy, feeling excited. Worse for suprises; strong emotions; narcotics. Ignatia Amara (Ign): Sleeplessness from a recent disappointment or grief. Waking easily from sleep. Waking from the jerking of a limb. Itching of arms with yawning. Child wakes from sleep with screaming and trembling after being reprimanded before bedtime. Worse for: Coffee. Kali Phos (Kali p.): Sleepless after worry, excitement or from nervous causes. Constant dreaming of fire, robbers, ghosts, falling. Twitching of muscles on falling asleep. Awakens with a fright. Nux Vomica (Nux-v): insomnia from worries about business, too much stress. Irritability from loss of sleep. Falling asleep before normal bedtime and then waking at 3–4am. Waking at 3-4am with alert and active mind and then falling asleep as daylight approaches only to then wake with difficulty, feeling tired, weak, and not wanting to get up. Worse for: stimulants and narcotics Passiflora Incarnata (Pass): A very useful remedy for sleeplessness, but it should be given in mother tincture, i.e. 10 to 30 drops a dose. Restlessness, exhaustion, and sleeplessness. Sulphur (Sulph): Waking between 2 – 5am and unable to go back to sleep. Difficulty in falling asleep from itchiness of skin or perspiration. Drowsy by day and sleepless at night. Worse for: becoming hot; atmospheric changes. Method: About 1 hour before going to bed, take 1 pill of the remedy in a 30c potency (strength) that most closely resembles your individual symptoms by letting it dissolve under the tongue. Homeopathic remedies are highly sensitive so avoid handling the pills and store them in a cool place and away from strong smelling substances.
If you are experiencing other (un)related symptoms and the remedy matching your particular symptoms does not alleviate your sleep problem, please consult a professional homeopath who will take your case history and treat you holistically.
Do you tend to worry about what might happen in the future, shake or panic before or during a public engagement, or cancel plans at the last minute because you cannot face them?
Is best known for its intensity of symptoms – fear or panic with a sudden onset, often following on from after seeing or experiencing a trauma or accident. The person is restless, fearful and think they are about to die. They might have a pounding heart, dry mouth and be thirsty.
Arsenicum Alb:
Suffer from lack of confidence and has anticipation anxiety and stage fright, with flatulence and griping colic, though once they get going they relax and do well. Their anxiety occurs in new situations or with new people and they can overcompensate over talking and bravado. They crave sweets and have right sided physical complaints.
Each human being is unique and homeopathic remedies are prescribed according to each individual’s symptoms.