HEADLINE homeopathy

 Not all remedies used in homeopathic practice are subject to great dilution. Sometimes, homeopaths will prescribe a herbal tincture which is a simple solution  in alcohol. These tinctures are used to help and support particular organs if it is felt that, for example, the liver or the kidneys are struggling. These tinctures usually need to be taken more regularly and for a longer time than our normal remedies.  Here are just some of those you may encounter.

Chelidonium is a much used tincture which is made from the celandine.  It has a great affinity for the liver and is used as a tonic for that particular organ. It may be prescribed on its own or alongside other remedies in cases of biliousness, hepatitis or  jaundice.  People with diseased livers can look decidedly yellow, rather like the celandine itself.  They may complain of a characteristic sharp and persistent pain under the right scapula. Liver complaints also produce a marked lethargy, especially in the mornings. Chelidonium helps clear the liver of its toxic state and facilitates the action of other remedies.

  Berberis  is a tincture which helps the kidneys and the bladder. Because they are our main organs for eliminating waste, the kidneys play a big part in helping the body flush out toxins. Kidney problems may be indicated if there are tearing, digging or sticking pains in the lower back. The pains radiate out. This tincture may well be prescribed in cases of kidney stones, kidney infections or cystitis. Some homeopaths think that Berberis, prescribed alongside other remedies, can help limit homeopathic aggravations  in tricky cases of eczema. 

Bring it On!

A major new government study, carried out in Northern Ireland, has concluded that homeopathy and a range of other alternative therapies like acupuncture should be provided by the NHS.  This message comes as a breath of fresh air in the current climate where homeopathy is being dropped by many Primary Care Trusts.  The study found that there would be a range of benefits to patients in providing access to complementary and alternative medicine and that the treatments could even save the health service money.  As many as 81% of patients receiving the treatments on referral from their GP reported improvements in their physical health and 79% in their mental health. GPs reported that they were prescribing less frequent medication during the course of the trial and also needed less frequent referral to hospital. Dr Anne McCloskey, a GP in Londonderry said that the scheme had been "brilliant" for patients but should have gone on for longer.  This study clearly shows that alternative medicine can be integrated into the health service effectively.  Even the GPs saw the benefits.  All we homeopaths can say is - bring it on!

   Flying Pigs

If you enjoy the eccentricities of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple you should enjoy reading about the homeopathic detection work and everyday miracles of Dr Dorothy Shepherd, a world famous homeopath and straight-talking lady of the early 20th century. Dorothy worked both in Harley Street and in clinics in the poorer areas of London. 

In one of her books, "The Magic of the Minimum Dose" she talks about the homeopathic cures that astounded her fellow medics at a time when there were no antibiotics and simple infections often led to death.  Not only does her book contain a wealth of practical homeopathic knowledge, it is also amusing in the way it shows up her character. She did not suffer fools gladly - especially medical fools and she does not hesitate to say so. After she had  quickly cured a nurse of a serious ear infection using  Belladonna, a baffled ear  surgeon proclaimed to the patient, "Astonishing! You must have a wonderful constitution!"  Dorothy is  amusingly pithy about her disbelieving colleague. "Poor man", she writes "he could do with some homeopathy himself."  Her books are available online from Amazon.

Shaken not Stirred

The scientific establishment often scoffs at homeopathy because of the way our remedies are usually diluted to a very great degree.  However, the first principle of homeopathy is that of "like cures like" - namely that a substance that can provoke a set of symptoms in a healthy person can cure those same symptoms when they arise in a sick person.  The tinctures described on the left work in this simple way. Indeed, when Samuel Hahnemann pioneered homeopathy over two centuries ago, he and his followers worked using just the 'like cures like' principle for eight years before they ever started to experiment with dilutions. 

Hahnemann knew that although he had discovered why  substances like aconite, belladonna and cinchona could bring about cures, there was still a practical problem - that of toxicity.  Many of the remedies he was testing were poisons and even using small doses of them brought about horrible side effects.  Given that he was trying to develop an humane system of medicine, this was not, in any way, ideal.  He started experimenting with diluting the remedies and found that, if they were diluted to too great a degree, they had no effect at all on the human body. 

He did not give up.  For some reason, which is now lost in the mists of time, he decided to try diluting the remedies in steps and gave the liquids some hefty bangs on a heavy book in between each dilution.  Whereas  dilutions which had not been agitated  in this way had no effect as medicines, he was surprised to find that the "succussed" remedies seemed to gain in strength as the dilution increased.  Hahnemann was so surprised and also rather taken aback by how powerful his remedies could become that he warned people against using liquid dilutions if they had had to travel any distance by horse, coach or sea.  He was quite fearful of the power that shaking could produce and was worried that remedies could become so potent that they would be too strong for some people. At the outset of his experiments he insisted that no more than two bangs should be given between dilutions.  Gradually he gained confidence in using these powerful remedies and, later in his career, he recommended up to twenty-five "succussions".  (By the way, he also discovered that undiluted remedies could be shaken and banged for all they were worth and no increase in potency would occur).  Proper dilution and succussion have to go together to make a viable homeopathic remedy.

Homeopathy's method of  extreme dilution has remained one of those counter intuitive mysteries that pepper the history of science - and it has shaken and stirred the orthodox scientific establishment to this day.  No doubt scientists will one day catch up - and discover why our all-shook-up infinitesimal doses are quite as potent as they are. 

  Healing Quotes  
  "Healing, Papa would tell me, is not a science, but the intuitive art of wooing nature". W.H. Auden, poet.

Fraxinus Americana

has been found to be very effective, if given as a tincture, to treat uterine fibroids. It is extracted from the White Ash tree The treatment takes time - you have to think of months rather than weeks but it has been shown to control, reduce or eliminate fibroids in the womb. It is also useful, alongside other remedies to treat prolapsed womb where there is a feeling of great heaviness in the pelvis or  the sensation of a internal weight dragging down.

Crataegus is a tincture made from hawthorn berries. It has long been known to have a specific action on the muscle of the heart. It can be very useful in treating cases of high blood pressure but, again, as a tincture it needs to be taken for a sustained time. Angina and heart failure are other conditions where crataegus can help especially if used as an adjunct to constitutional treatment.

Sabal Serrulata tincture is made from the fresh berries of the Saw Palmetto plant. It has a profound effect on the prostate gland and is useful in prostatic enlargement, prostatic cancer or inflammation of the gland. Many men discover homeopathy through the use of this remedy.

Avena Sativa is made from simple oats.  As a tincture, Avena is useful to stimulate the appetite.  It also has a general detoxifying effect and is often used to help alcoholics wean themselves off drink or to act as a general purifying tonic for those who are addicted to drugs and are trying to break the habit.  Alfalfa tincture has a similar action.

Dosage guidance for tinctures.  You will always be told by your homeopath how to take your tincture.  A usual dose would be anything between five and thirty drops in water, daily, for as long as is necessary. Some tinctures should not be taken alongside certain prescribed medicines but your homeopath will guide you on this.