HEADLINE homeopathy

  Tarantula  is, of course, made from the spider of the same name. As a remedy, Tarantula suits passionate, flamboyant types.  They usually love to dance, especially if there is a strong rhythm.  Rather like people needing Arsenicum Album, they are fidgety, anxious and restless.  They have an intense nervous energy.  This remedy can be helpful in conditions like chorea (where the limbs twitch and jerk), multiple sclerosis or gynaecological problems.

Helping the Difficult Child

A new report, published in the journal "Pediatrics" this spring, says that an increasing number of children are being prescribed tranquilisers  which have, so far, only been tested for adult use.  Sedatives are used for children with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), Autism and general behavioural problems. There are understandable worries that the use of these drugs in children could have serious side effects on young developing brains. The report says the biggest increase in prescriptions has occurred in the 7-12 age group.  Perhaps computers, television and the like are over-stimulating our children causing more of them to display restless, aggressive or agitated behaviour. Homeopaths have been long aware that the more holistic approach which they offer to such children is a safe and effective alternative to a drug regime.  Ritalin can make children seem almost doped - to such a degree that they lose the lovely energy and vitality of childhood.  Homeopathy considers the whole child as an individual and seeks to preserve and nurture positive energy so that each child can fulfil his or her true potential.  An excellent book on this important subject is "Ritalin Free Kids" by Judyth Reichenberg Ullman and Robert Ullman.

  Desert Island Remedies

In the last of our Desert Island Remedy series we have a royal contribution from H.M. the Queen.  O.K, she hasn't contacted this newsletter personally, but it is widely known that the regal handbag is rarely without the homeopathic remedy, Aconite.

The Queen is said to use Aconite at the first sign of a sniffle.  Taken promptly, Aconite can short-circuit the simple cold - especially if there's been a cold snap with a north wind.  On the desert island Elizabeth II might not be beset by chilly winds but Aconite would also come in useful if sudden fears or panic set in amongst the palm trees.  Useful until the Royal Navy tracks her on radar!

Names Writ on Water

Poet  John Keats died in 1821 having asked for the words "Here lies one whose name was writ on water" to be inscribed on his gravestone.  This metaphor for evanescence was chosen because he believed that he was destined not be remembered by posterity.  He was wrong, of course, about that.  But perhaps he was also wrong about the uselessness of water as a carrier of memory.  The most commonly cited theory concerning how homeopathic remedies work is that, somehow, water retains the imprint or "memory" of a substance which has been diluted in it, even when those  dilutions are infinitesimal. 

It is only a theory, but it is interesting that scientists who have no connection at all to homeopathy, have discovered that water  can do all sorts of surprising things.  Recent research on hydrogen bonds in water by a Swiss chemist, Louis Rey, found that these bonds look very different in homeopathic dilutions of salt solutions compared to hydrogen bonds in pure water.  And in South Korea scientists found that, as a solution was made more and more dilute, molecules clustered more, and in a more stable form, than they did in less concentrated solutions. Logically, one might have expected the opposite.  A team of chemists at Queen's University Belfast also did something interesting.  They sent four separate research centres some test tubes of pure water and some containing histamine in homeopathic dilution.  (Histamine is a substance produced by our immune system during inflammation). All four centres found that the homeopathic dilution of histamine had the same action as histamine itself  on white blood cells.  The professor of immuno-pharmacology at Belfast, Madeleine Ennis, who had always rubbished homeopathy subsequently stated: "Despite my fundamental reservations against the science of homeopathy, the results compel me to suspend my disbelief and start searching for a rational explanation for our findings".  Other scientists however have failed to reproduce the Belfast team's results.  Of course, if their findings are true, the effect on physics, chemistry and pharmacology will be immense.  And homeopaths and  patients everywhere will  say "we told you so" ...

Homeopathic Quotes  

"It is far more important to know what person the disease has than what disease the person has".   Hippocrates, the father of medicine, born 460BC - died 377BC

Lilium Tigrinum  is made from the beautiful tiger lily.  Those needing this remedy can have strong sexual feelings and yet they often feel guilty about them.  They are incredibly hurried and restless, complaining of a strange wild feeling which makes them want to scream. Not surprisingly, it can be used for manic depression.  It's another remedy which is useful for conditions affecting the womb or the heart.  Women needing it can feel a strong downward pressure in their abdomen.  It is one of our remedies for prolapse of the womb. 

Phosphorus is a remedy with a wide variety of uses from coughs to haemorrhages. Someone who needs Phosphorus constitutionally will tend to light up the room with their vivacious presence.  These are open and intensely sympathetic  people who attract people like a honey pot attracts bees. Sexual desire can be very strong in Phosphorus types. Spring is definitely their season!

Lachesis is made from snake venom. Those who benefit from this remedy can have a passionate, expressive nature, although sometimes they suppress it - often at the cost of their health.  Jealousy goes hand in hand with their passion - think Cleopatra! Lachesis has a wide range of uses from heart problems, hot flushes and sore throats.

Dosage guidance:: For chronic conditions and serious acute problems, always see your homeopath. In simple acute illnesses, use a 30c potency . Your homeopath will tell you how often to repeat the dose.