Winter 2009

Prophylactic treatment of Leptospirosis in Cuba
An interesting report came up on my homoeopathic group forum. I thought it would be interesting to give a short synopsis.
Cuba goes through a yearly cycle of Leptospirosis epidemic, especially after the hurricanes flood the countryside and water pollution reaches its height. (Leptospirosis: infectious disease caused by the spirochaete Leptospira transmitted to humans from rats, giving jaundice and kidney damage. Can cause death).
Until Aug 2007, the Finlay Institute (a part of the Ministry of Public Health, Cuba) had been distributing its own allopathic Lepto vaccination.
The usual expectancy of infection, even with allopathic vaccination, would have been around a few thousands, with some deaths included.
Part of the reason for this is that the high cost of vaccination prevents putting all but the most at-risk populations (i.e. children, pregnant women, elderly) on vaccination. The cost of such limited vaccination is about US$3,000.000.
But in Aug 2007, Finlay put approximately 5,000,000 people (yes! 5 million!) in 2 provinces on homoeopathic nosode prophylaxis at the cost of about only US$ 200,000. The prophylaxis consisted of 2 single doses about 2 weeks apart. Included in the dose was the Lepto nosode + some Bach flower remedies to address the mental distress of the disaster situation. Each year the numbers infected have edged higher and higher towards the year-end, reaching into the thousands.
But this time, within 2 weeks after Aug 2007, the numbers infected dropped drastically to ten infections only! Near-zero infections, zero deaths from Leptospirosis after Aug 2007. And in 2008, no deaths, infections less than 10 a month.
Text taken from a report by Didi Ananda Ruchira

DEPRESSION

At times all of us have experienced sadness or feeling fed-up and miserable. Usually these feelings pass and we manage to pick ourselves up again.

Depression can be caused by a physical illness -either long term illness or illnesses with a poor prognosis like cancer but also from heart problems and thyroid imbalance or chronic pain as in arthritis. Younger people can become depressed after a viral infection or glandular fever. Depression can also run in families. If you have one parent who has become severely depressed you are eight times more likely to become depressed yourself.

Some ways to help yourself include. Talk your problems through with good friends. Get outside, go for walks go and visit people. Plan your day. Eat well even if your appetite is poor. Spend time preparing your food and eat a well balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Avoid drinking excessive alcohol - this can make matters a lot worse. Try and remain hopeful. This is something that can be overcome.

Treatments

Antidepressants
The most common treatment for depression is antidepressants and more and more people are being prescribed them. The problem with this form of treatment is that the medications have side effects and some people experience difficulties coming off certain anti-depressants.

St John’s Wort
This is a herbal remedy widely available. It has been used to treat mild depression successfully for generations. It is popular and has few side effects compared to anti-depressants. It can however interfere with the way other medications work so if you are on medication you should check with your GP if your medication is compatible before taking it.
Here are some forms of medication that may be incompatible:-
Antidepressants
Birth control pills
Cyclosporine
Digoxin
Indinavir
Irinotecan
Warfarin and related anticoagulants


HOMOEOPATHY
Like conventional antidepressants, homoeopathic remedies can help people recover from depression. Progress is now being made in the area of clinical trials of homoeopathic treatment of depression by the University of Boston in the United States.
Like all homoeopathic treatments remedies are prescribed according to a picture built up by the practitioner taking a detailed history of the symptoms.
The remedies prescribed are individually selected and the long consultation that is customary in homoeopathy (around 1 hour) allows the person to talk through their problems in detail.
Many patients find this part of the treatment very helpful. It allows people to become involved in their treatment and helps them to take back control over their lives.
Homoeopathic remedies have no harmful side effects and are compatible with all medications.

FIRST AID REMEDIES

Part 2. The first aid remedies for this part I have chosen 4 remedies that would be useful to help deal with the various viruses going around at the moment.
Aconite was mentioned last time. This would be a useful remedy to use on onset of any viral infection as well as the ones below.

Belladonna (deadly night shade) is another great remedy for flu-like symptoms especially if the symptoms include sore throat, throbbing headache, temperature with cold extremities. Other symptoms include coated tongue, red flushed face, symptoms worse in the afternoon around 3pm or 3am. Better for lying still in a quiet, darkened room. Symptoms will come on suddenly.

Bryonia (wild hops) Bryonia’s main leading symptom is that all conditions are worse for movement. Symptoms get gradually worse over a few days so are not sudden. Bryonia is very useful in dry, painful, stubborn racking coughs when the chest is sore, the abdomen may be sore as well from straining with the cough. There will be general dryness of mouth, lips, tongue, chest and eyes. They will be thirsty and drink large quantities, but infrequently as they will not want to move. The cough may be worse for eating and drinking and any movement.

Drosera (sundew) Drosera is another very good cough remedy. The main indicating symptoms for this are that the cough is always worse for lying down and generally at night. The cough is barking, deep, dry at night, in fits hacking, suffocative, and tormenting. The cough often starts with a tickling in the larynx or the back of the throat and may be accompanied by retching and even nose bleeds.

Gelsemium (yellow Jasmine) Gelsemium is the main flu remedy. It has all the symptoms of full blown flu with temperature, aching limbs, headache, aching eyes with exhaustion shivering, feeling cold, not able to get warm. Head is very heavy needing support, and feels as if it were in a vice. Gelsemium symptoms come on slowly and generally there is no thirst.

I also have some combination remedies available at the clinic for colds, flu or sinusitis. Please feel free to inquire.

Karen Whitehead. Homoeopath and Qualified Nurse.
Elm Cottage Clinic, 1a Elm Cottages, Woolton Hill, Newbury RG20 9 TH Tel 01635 254874
Email karenawhitehead@onetel.com www.Elmcottageclinic.com










Autumn 2008






Welcome to the new newsletter formula. I will be sending these out as before quarterly. You can now choose whether to have a paper copy or to opt for an email copy.


Take a look at my new website, ElmCottageClinic.com
I set this up during the summer hols. It is a project still in progress but there is already lots of information there and links to other useful organisations connected with homoeopathy. You should soon be able to download copies of the new format newsletters also.


CONSTITUTIONAL TREATMENT

Often homoeopaths will recommend constitutional treatment.
What exactly is constitutional treatment?
In homoeopathy there are two basic forms of treatments acute and constitutional Acute treatments will take into consideration all symptoms physical, mental and emotional that are connected with the presenting illness, and come up with a single
remedy that would be expected to work over a few hours or days to resolve the symptoms. Continued……. page 2






If this illness a recurring theme then we will need to take a deeper look into not just the affected area, but the whole body. Some of the things we will take into account are:
• Immediate symptoms
• Aetiology i.e. a possible cause
• The organ that is involved
• Environmental influences i.e. temperature, weather, pollution, diet, etc.
• Emotional state i.e. stress, depression, excitability, etc
• Symptoms preceding the illness
• Other related or non- related symptoms
• Sleep patterns
• All other body systems i.e. alimentary tract, respiratory tract hormonal system, etc.
• Family history

We take this information and make a prescription for a single remedy, mixed remedies or a series of remedies that will help the whole system deal with any underlying issues that may have led to the weakness or susceptibility leading to the chronic problem that is being treated. Constitutional treatment will usually need follow on prescriptions that will be written up according to the progress made. The same remedies may be given again, but often the remedies will change as the symptoms change. Constitutional treatment is always needed for non- acute problems i.e. problems that the body is unable to heal with out help.


Sore Throats

There is a virus going around at the moment with a sore throat or tonsillitis as the main symptom. A sore throat is a general term for inflammation or infection involving the adenoids, tonsils, pharynx, larynx and vocal cords. This is usually caused by a virus but can be caused by bacteria such as streptococcus or fungus as in oral thrush. If you are suffering from recurring sore throats homoeopathic constitutional treatment would be advisable. Check with your G.P. first if you are worried about severe symptoms.
I personally have found a combination of remedies called Narayani throat mix very effective in dealing with everything from sore throat to infected tonsillitis
Here are a few homoeopathic remedies to consider for acute cases of sore throat.

Aconite ; Sore throat with redness, dryness and a feeling of constriction. Painful with burning and stinging, Aconite is a useful remedy for many acute viral conditions when the symptoms come on suddenly. It would be indicated if coming on at night after having been out in cold windy weather the day before.
Belladonna ; Hot, dry sore throat with enlarged tonsils that are red and inflamed. Can be worse on the right side. Pains can be severe.
Belladonna is another very useful remedy for acute conditions coming on suddenly. Belladonna is especially indicated if the above symptoms come on after getting chilled.
Hepar –sulph ; This is an excellent remedy for infected tonsillitis/ pharyngitis when there is a feeling of splinter in throat, with stitches in the throat extending to the ear when swallowing.

SOME OTHER USEFUL TIPS FOR SORE THROATS
Taking Vit C will help boost your immune system. Take 1 gm a day until symptoms are clear.
Gargle with bicarbonate of soda, add some lemon and honey if your throat is very sore.
NHD DIRECT ADVICE ON TONSILLITUS As most cases of tonsillitis are caused by a virus, they do not respond to antibiotics. They will usually go away on their own… Antibiotics can be used to treat bacterial tonsillitis, such as that caused by streptococcal bacteria. However, research has shown that the effects of using antibiotics to treat the symptoms of a sore throat are limited. The results of a clinical study showed that the maximum benefit was seen by day three, and that, on average, the illness time was only reduced by about one day.


On this page over the next 10 issues I will be covering 42 homoeopathic remedies for you to use at home. All the remedies covered are found in the Ainsworths first aid box. Whether you want to build up a first aid kit or invest in a ready prepared kit such as the aforementioned Ainsworths kit or replenish an existing kit I hope this will be of help. All remedies and kits can be purchased either from my clinic or Helios.

Aconite : Common names are monk’s hood, wolf’s bane, and common aconite. This plant is poisonous, especially the root, and was said to have been used on arrowheads that were used to hunt wolves hence wolf’s bane.
This is a great remedy for acute illnesses, useful for children and adults alike. The complaints come on suddenly, mostly at night, and possibly after a shock or exposure to cold dry wind. People needing this remedy will often be fine during the day but then wake up around 12 midnight with possibly a high temperature, headache, toothache, sore throat, or earache and they will be restless and anxious. Aconite is a useful remedy for panic attacks, fear of flying and generally anxiety. It a one of the main remedies for croup, symptoms will be accompanied by a great thirst for cold drinks.

Allium Cepa :Common name is the common red onion.
This is a cold and hay fever remedy where you get similar symptoms as if you were to cut up an onion. Useful in treating the common cold, hay fever with nasal catarrh with burning discharges (red nose sore under the nose). Profuse watery eyes with inflammation. Cough hacking irritating painful tickling in larynx with hoarse voice. Generally worse for cold air and better for being in a warm room.

Arnica :Common names are Leopards bane, mountain tobacco, and sneezewort.
Arnica is a perennial herb that grows in the cool upland meadows throughout Europe. Arnica is possibly the most used homoeopathic remedy and is used mostly for all cases of injury where there is bruising. Useful for injuries, strains, pre and post surgery, pre and post dental work, fractures, concussion, all types of bruising, and aching muscles after exercise. Arnica can also be useful in Post traumatic conditions, that develop after and accident or injury such as arthritis.


Karen Whitehead. Homoeopath and Qualified Nurse. Elm Cottage Clinic, 1a Elm Cottages, Woolton Hill, Newbury RG20 9 TH Tel 01635 254874 Email karenawhitehead@onetel.com