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Develop just one healthy habit this year–and stick to it
If you’re going to make just one resolution to put bounce back into your step, make it an easy one and you’ll feel good about yourself. People often don’t make changes because they think it’s too hard or it won’t really make a difference. From a homeopath’s perspective, beauty and energy come from the inside, so building good habits are a basic necessity—and they really don’t have to be difficult. For example, if you eat an apple a day, EVERY day, you are doing something incredibly good for your body. Here’s why:
Apples keep you youthful
Anti-oxidants are a buzz word in the natural health field because they prevent free radical damage to cells, the kind of damage that leads to early aging and the worst kinds of disease, like cancer and heart disease. For the highest anti-oxidant activity, choose the most colourful type, whether it’s yellow, green or red. Apples are also packed with nutritional value—and not just vitamins and minerals either, but enzymes! Enzymes are thought to be the key to maintaining youth—and raw apples are an excellent source. More about enzymes another day…
Fibre protects against disease
Besides the anti-oxidant value, apples contain a particularly healthy type of fibre called pectin. Pectin helps keep cholesterol and blood pressure in check. It’s also a preventative for colon cancer. Another bonus of course it that the fibre helps keep you regular, but pectin is unique in that it also binds water when your stools are loose. Grated apple is a great home remedy for mild diarrhea or constipation, and it’s particularly good for young children because it’s yummy, totally safe and easy to digest.
You may think apples are high in sugar, but studies show that the pectin in apples helps with both the prevention and treatment of diabetes too. An added benefit is that the fibre also binds heavy metals such as lead and mercury, so next time you have that double order of tuna sushi—or tuna salad—have an apple too.
Whiten your teeth
Who doesn’t want a winning smile? The mild acidity of apples—even sweet ones—clean and whiten the teeth. I drink a lot of tea, so eating an apple helps prevent staining and I love how clean my teeth feel afterwards.
Choose pesticide free or organic
Apples need to be organic if you want the full benefit. Conventional apples sprayed with pesticides are so high in residues, they are first on the list of the dirty dozen—foods you should only eat organic because of high toxicity of pesticide residues. If you think you can get away with peeling the apples, think again: a lot of the benefits of apples are in—or just under—the skin.
Local varieties are better
I encourage everyone to choose local varieties. Not only are you supporting farmers in your neighbourhood, you’re reducing your personal impact on the environment. In Vancouver, local varieties are available throughout the winter and really only become hard to find in the summer, when other delicious fruits, like peaches, cherries and berries are available anyway.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away!
Of course, everyone knows that apples are good for you. And incorporating this one is so easy—even if you’re a busy student, mom, or an executive always on the run. We often think that small changes don’t make a difference, but if you do it every day—make it a habit—the benefit multiplies. Now instead of reaching for that snack bar, eat an apple—and feel great!
Restore beautiful, smooth skin in minutes a day
Why not incorporate a few techniques that take very little time, almost no money and support your body’s beauty and health?
Skin reflects inner health!
Everyone knows the importance of skin. It’s not just our armour, our protection, our first line of defense. Healthy skin retains its youth and reflects inner health. And skin helps us detox, which is so timely with the holiday celebrations fast approaching.
Dry brushing supports all the skin’s functions, restores glow and youth to lifeless skin, smooths dry patches and helps the body exfoliate and detoxify. And possibly the best part is it only takes 2-5 minutes a day and is practically free, with only the one time cost of a brush.
Exfoliate:
When you use dry brushing, you do exfoliate, which means you rub off the dead skin cells. Every person loses an average of 30,000-40,000 skin cells every living minute—and that actually makes up a lot of dust in your home and your bed, so there’s an added advantage to exfoliating regularly. The brushing not only cleans the skin of its dead cells, it stimulates circulation and warms the body.
Purchasing the Brush:
The brush is an important part of dry brushing and you can purchase one through a health food store, although many grocery, pharmacy and department stores also have them. You want one with natural bristles or natural weaving. Loofah brushes (see image above) are often used and these have natural weaving, but make sure it contours nicely around your skin, so it covers ample surface area and gives you a light scratch with pressure (the skin will redden slightly but should not leave scratches). Avoid plastic brushes, as these can damage skin. Natural materials also feel nicer on the skin–and they’re better for the planet.
Sweep towards the Heart:
As dry brushing suggests, you want to keep the brush DRY or the bristles will be too soft to do anything but wash your body. When you brush, you want to use very brief short sweeping strokes. You start at the feet and work your way up the leg, brushing the front and back sides. In dry brushing you always work towards the heart. When you get to round places, such as knees and abdomen, you make circular sweeping motions clockwise around the knee joint/navel. Of course you never want to use dry brushing on broken skin or a sun burn.
Reduce swelling:
The other system that benefits greatly from dry brushing is the lymphatic system because lymph vessels lie just beneath the skin. The job of the lymphatic system is to pick up fluids which are continually released into the tissues as your blood circulates. When your lymphatic system is sluggish, your arms and legs swell, which can occur when sitting on a long flight or if you’re on your feet all day.
When you dry brush you always start at the toes and fingers and work toward the heart because the lymphatic system picks up and cleans this tissue fluid before returning it into the blood circulatory system in the region of the heart.
The lymphatic system is also part of your immune system and has a major cleansing function, so by stimulating both the skin and the lymph, you are supporting your health and resilience in a very big way!
The technique
Start with your toes, moving upward
Make circular motions around the knees
Continue upward to the hips
Now other side
At the abdomen, make circular sweeps around the navel
At the breasts, make circular sweeps again around the nipple
Now start at the hands moving upwards again.
When you’ve finished both arms
Continue from the neck down to the heart
Notice we miss the face because the skin on the face is too sensitive for dry brushing.
Viola, you’re done.
Happy brushing!
Dry brushing is a great technique to use when your skin feels dry and lifeless. It brings energy and youth back, and will soften the rough patches along the elbows. Like anything, if you can incorporate it into your daily routine, like brushing your teeth, it will have the most benefit. But even if you do it only once a year, you’ll find it refreshing and a treat for your skin.
Quick, easy tips
Practically every second kid in BC is anxious about going back to school next week, according to the latest CBC news release. Having a couple of kids myself—and with a clear memory of what that sinking feeling feels like—I can relate. So this is what I remind myself every year as the kids go back:
It’s normal
Reminding yourself and your kids that back to school jitters are normal actually helps you—and your kids—feel better. The fact that 47% of all BC kids experience some anxiety about getting back into the groove of everyday life at school is proof. The main reasons cited were new teachers and new schedules, which makes sense. We all know that new situations cause most everyone to feel unsettled, so getting back into the routine before that dreaded day helps.
Start the routine early
Start getting the kids up and off to bed early NOW. If you’ve slipped up on bedtime routines due to summer fun, get back into reading fairy tales before bed, sneaking an early bath in, brewing a warm chamomile tea and whatever else works for your family (and it better not be TV or video games). My personal trick is to set the clocks at least 10-15 minutes ahead of schedule, which only works for little awhile, but helps with the change in routines. No telling!
Take some of the “newness” out
Another trick is to make a trip out to school before school actually starts. Let the kids play in the playground, wander the halls, and even talk to the teachers if they can. Including the kids in their back to school shopping, allowing them to choose a few (healthy) treats in their recess snacks and make lunch choices brings the routine back in a fun way and gets them prepared.
It’s okay to be scared
Parents often feel uncomfortable when their kids are hurting, or worried, and rightly so. It’s our job to protect them from harm. But we have to be okay with our children experiencing fears with the knowledge that overcoming them builds confidence. Talking about fears and anxieties allows children to cope better, even when we can’t fix it for them (and with back to school anxiety, there is nothing to fix). Just being a conduit for your child to express him or herself regularly is crucial, not only for their mental health now, but to maintain that bond for those times when s/he may really need it, like–heaven forbid–bullying, failing tests or having some kind of accident. If your child doesn’t like to share, it may work to share a story of your own—not in lecture-style, but in short story form. For more resources on how to connect and work with your kids, check out the BC Ministry of Education website.
Be happy and give love
Easier said than done, I know, but the child is the barometer of the parents. If we can be relaxed and happy in the last few days of their holidays, then our kids are more likely to be that way too. If you can, take it easy, enjoy life and give them lots of love (not toys, not chocolates, just love). Love provides comfort and resilience to stress.
When all else fails
Okay, you’ve done all that and your child is still freaking out? I don’t like to recommend remedies, however natural, for life’s ups and downs, but when emotions get extreme or stick, then homeopathy can work wonders. Two remedies for anticipatory anxiety are Argentum nitritum and Gelsemium. Give Gelsemium 30 c if your child is feeling so anxious that she feels weak, spaced out or gets sick. Choose Argentum nitricum 30c if your child feels wired or jittery instead. Give 3-5 pills on the tongue once or twice daily for a few days before school, or just use it as needed when feeling anxious. It is not recommended to repeat the remedies indefinitely, so if the problem does not pass or keeps appearing, you need to seek the advice of a homeopath.
The first day of school…
On the first day of school, I plan to have my kids as prepared as they can possibly be: I’ll wake them up early enough for a calm morning routine, give them a good, healthy breakfast and send them off a little early—with lots and lots of love. Of course, that’s no guarantee it will go glitch-free, but then that’s the fun of being a parent. Otherwise, we’d never have any stories to tell. For more back to school tips, you can also link to the BC Mental Health funded Here to Help website.
Small Changes: Big Impact
I believe that small changes practiced every day can impact health in a very positive way—keeping you healthier longer. What’s amazing about water therapy is that it’s free, you can do it in the comfort of your own bathroom and you can take as little or as much time as you need. Water can relax or stimulate you—and it is the perfect example of infinite ways to be healthier without it impacting your pocketbook.
Water as Therapy
Of course you’ve taken a hot bath or shower to wash away the ills of a stressful day—which means you’ve used water therapeutically. That’s because warm water relaxes tense muscles, relieves nervous energy and helps you get a better night’s sleep.
But if you’d like more energy, better circulation, then you must try cold water too—and if you’ve never tried it, it’s not as painful as it sounds! Just seconds of cold water is invigorating, enlivens cells and builds the immune system. If you’ve ever washed your face with cold water in the morning to wake up, then you know how wonderful it can be.
Spas in Europe
In Europe and especially Germany, old traditional methods such as water therapy are used alongside conventional medical treatments in spas as a preventative and recovery from heart attacks, strokes and nervous system disorders. Medical insurance companies actually pay for these 2-4 week long spa visits because they believe that long term and preventative health actually costs less in the long run.
Water Treatments at Home
Luckily, you don’t have to go all the way to Europe to benefit—anyone can incorporate water treatments into their daily routine. And summer is the best time to start cold water treatments because high temperatures often cause circulation and energy to suffer. Just seconds of cold water stimulate, invigorate and enliven, and if you use this every day, it actually builds your internal resistance to infections, makes you stronger and healthier.
Water Stepping
Are you suffering from sore aching and swollen feet after a long hike or just after being on your feel all day? Or do you have cold feet, swollen legs, varicose veins? Use water stepping and you’ll marvel at the difference.
You can begin by filling your bathtub ankle deep with cold water. Secure a bathmat in place, so there’s no danger of slipping. Now step into the cold water and walk on one spot, lifting your feet high up and out of the water. You won’t be able to do this for long because soon your feet will hurt from the cold water, but once you step out and dry off, you’ll find your feet warm quickly (even if they were initially cold) and your legs and whole body feel refreshed.
Water stepping is an excellent way to venture into the world of cold water treatments. Just remember that whenever you use cold water, be sure you are warm to begin with. Never apply cold water when you’re already feeling chilled.
Next time you’re out on the beach in the hot sun, feeling sluggish and tired, try water stepping in the cool ocean or lake water. You’ll find this invigorating too.
Hot/Cold Foot Baths Relieve Headaches
If the thought of freezing cold water doesn’t appeal, a gentler way to go is alternating hot and cold foot baths. It’s comforting and still stimulates circulation. Hot/cold foot baths also relieve headaches. If you’ve been over-thinking, feeling overwhelmed and confused, try the hot/cold foot bath technique. By stimulating circulation in the lower part of the body, excess energy is drawn from the head. It’s relaxing and invigorating at the same time.
In one basin, add comfortably hot water to ankle depth, in the other add cold. Start soaking in the hot water for 5 minutes; then switch to cold for 30 seconds (if you only have one container, you can improvise with running cold water). Repeat the procedure 3 times, but be sure to end with cold water because it is the cold water that stimulates circulation.
Cold Water Rinse
Another quick and easy way to incorporate water therapy in your daily routine is ending your bath or shower with a 5-10 second cold rinse. Cold water can be shocking, so start slow (and very slow if you have any heart complaints)—once you turn the hot water off, just put your feet in. Next time or at your own pace, you can go a little further—to the knees, the thighs—and lastly, the whole body. You can do as little or much as you like, but ending with cold water after every morning shower adds a jump start to your day, prevents circulatory problems and builds resistance to disease. You’ll find that you get sick less often and you’ll have more energy in the morning.
A Little Every Day
Water therapy is a simple method to give you energy, treat circulatory problems and combat everyday stress. A little every day can help keep you healthy and balanced–and best of all, it’s free!
Image credit: Michal Marcol
Simple tips to manage pain during times of stress
Headaches tend to appear when you least need it, when there is already too much going on—usually too little time and far too much to do. But from a natural standpoint, a headache could well be telling your body to slow down and pay attention. So listen—slow down—and follow the instructions below.
Headache Remedies
Even Dr. Oz and Oprah are on to homeopathic remedies, since Dr. Oz recommends homeopathy along with acupuncture as adjunct treatments in his article on headaches on Oprah’s website.
5 simple remedies
To keep it simple, only 5 common headache remedies are listed below. In homeopathy, the closer the symptoms match the remedy, the better the remedy will work, so always select the remedy according to the characteristics you experience. Since homeopathic remedies are without side effects and the results are impressive when the symptoms fit, you can experiment safely with any of the remedies below.
- Belladonna: Dr. Blackie, who was the Queen’s MD back in 1968, calls Belladonna “a wonderful acute remedy for a headache following either exposure to heat or cold,” which means that if your headache develops after going outside on a cold day with wet hair—or if you’ve been out in the sun too long—Belladonna is likely your remedy. You’ll find it useful for those kinds of maddeningly throbbing, pulsing, congested headaches that come on fairly quickly and are made worse by bending over or moving around and better with hard pressure, applying cold, sitting up or lying very still.
- Bryonia is another great acute headache remedy. Choose it when any movement aggravates the pain, even just moving the eyes. Similar to Belladonna, Bryonia works when pressure and cold applications feel good, but unlike Belladonna, typically the pain comes on slowly and builds over time to a dull, heavy or sharp ache. If you’re not sure, another difference is that Belladonna works better for right sided—Bryonia for left sided—pain. The person may feel irritable or just want to be left alone, and may be stuffed up with a cold.
- Colubrina—also known as Nux vomica—is excellent in times of stress, when overwork, lack of sleep or too much alcohol have caused a headache—and the person may find themselves exceedingly irritable and sensitive to everything: noise, light—and conversation. The pain may begin in the morning on waking. It is the main remedy for a hang over, but it’s even good when too little sleep, too much work and even overindulging in food is the cause.
- Cocculus is another remedy for stress headaches due to loss of sleep, but in this case excess worry and lack of sleep combine to cause a nervous type of headache, with weakness, even dizziness. If you’ve been caring for a sick family member and your nerves are strained, Cocculus will relieve.
- Choose Gelsemium instead when sleepiness is the overwhelming characteristic associated with your headache. The pain typically feels tight, begins at the back of the head and may continue around to the forehead. Gelsemium is useful for a headache that builds slowly—when exhaustion and tiredness stand in the forefront. In fact, you may feel like a flu coming on, with chills down the back. As in the other headache remedies, motion aggravates, but sleep helps.
If none of the above fit your symptoms, other remedies for headaches are Natrum muriaticum for bursting morning headaches in serious types, Lachesis for intense left sided headaches often associated with hormones and Pulsatilla for hormonally related headaches with ever changing symptoms—to name a few. I recommend you consult a homeopath to find the most suitable fit.
Self Help Dosages
Take the remedy in a 30c potency, 3-5 pills on the tongue, every 1-2 hours depending on the severity for 3-4 times altogether. As the pain improves, stop the remedy and only continue if the pain returns; if there is no change after 3 or 4 doses, switch to a more suitable remedy.
3 simple home tips with or without the remedy
- Drink water: drink one or more glasses of water. Many times, water alone will help relieve the headache, so why not try it? If you’re not used to gulping down a tall glass of water, try heating it up—drinking a glass of hot water works better for some people.
- Water therapy in the form of foot baths can relieve congestion and heat in the head by bringing energy down to the feet. Simply soak your feet in comfortably hot water for 5 minutes, then after a deep breath place one leg in cold water for 20-30 seconds, then switch to the other. Repeat the procedure by soaking again in warm water for 5 minutes and ending with the 20 second cold rinse. Dry the feet well and put on warm socks. For headaches due to tense shoulders and neck, apply a hot compress to the neck area for a few minutes, covering with a towel to keep the area warm.
- Sleep: if you can, just lie down and rest. At the very least, plan for an extra hour or two of sleep tonight so you can fully recover. Pain is exhausting!
A word of caution
If headaches are unusually severe, accompany a fever and stiff neck or persist for days despite self treatment measures, do have a medical professional check out more serious causes—just in case.
For recurring headaches
For recurring headaches, seek the care of a homeopath. Studies show that homeopathic remedies as constitutional treatment reduce the frequency, length and severity of recurring headaches naturally and without side effects. For instance, one scientific study published in 1991 in the Berlin Journal on Research in Homeopathy by Brigo and Serpelloni showed that patients receiving remedies such as Belladonna, Gelsemium and Natrum muriaticum had less frequent headaches that resolved more quickly compared to a group who only believed they were given remedies. Besides choosing remedies more accurately for when you’re sick, homeopaths can help you achieve long term health goals, keeping you healthier longer—and pain free.
If you’re filled with dread when you make your dentist appointment, I have some tips for you. Remedies offer a totally safe, natural treatment that is easy to administer and effectively helps ease the pain and discomfort that often goes along with dental work. Whether you are having a tooth pulled or just have sensitive teeth, this is–in my opinion–where homeopathy shines. The added bonus is that you will find there aren’t any side effects and it won’t interfere with other medications you may be taking.
Tooth extraction:
Arnica montana is an excellent remedy for any type of surgery, including dental surgery, as it not only speeds healing of soft tissue, but helps prevent excessive bleeding. Whenever nerves have been injured or you have sharp, zinging pains, choose Hypericum. If you prefer, you can take both remedies by taking them alternately. A 1986 study in France revealed that 76% of patients treated with these remedies experienced pain relief. In my own experience, Arnica and Hypericum are so amazing that you will hardly need painkillers even for wisdom teeth–depending on the extent of the surgery, of course. For those interested in more studies on homeopathy, I highly recommend the book by Bill Gray, Homeopathy, Science or Myth. The additional benefit of homeopathic remedies is that healing is promoted and problems are prevented. You can safely continue taking these remedies 3-4 times daily for 3 days.
Ouch! Sensitive teeth:
If soft tissue damage and sore gums leave your mouth aching, Arnica again is the best remedy. In homeopathy, your symptoms will guide you to the correct selection of remedy, so if you are feeling sharp, zinging pains or your teeth feel oversensitive, Hypericum is the better choice. Also use Hypericum when your nerves are on edge and everything hurts more than it should.
While there are other remedies for tooth pain, I find it best to keep it simple when you’re beginning to use homeopathy and these remedies will work in most cases. However, if you’d like to read more, Dana Ullman has written a chapter on homeopathy and dentistry in his first book, Discovering Homeopathy, Medicine for the 21st Century. Or if you are looking for more in depth information on homeopathy and dentistry, including remedies for middle of the night toothaches, Robert Ullman and Judith Reichenberg-Ullman have written a comprehensive article in the Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients which you may find useful.
Anxiety
On different note, many people fear the dentist–even to the point where they avoid going at all. My recommendation is to find a dentist who is compassionate about your fears and make an appointment, taking the remedy before you go. Children do best with Aconite, which has intense fears with fear of death, but for most adults do best with either Argentum nitricum or Gelsemium. Take Argentum nitricum if you feel hyper, nervous and agitated with your fears, Gelsemium if you feel rather too tired to cope and weak in the knees. Start taking it if you feel anxious even the day or two before, but usually taking it a couple of times before your appointment will be enough.
I encourage everyone to test the restorative powers of homeopathy. It really works! You’ll find a 30c strength is widely available and safest to use, taking 3-5 pills as needed on the tongue for a maximum of four times daily for not more than 3 days. If you find you need more, do seek the advice of a homeopath to guide you.
Comments on a highly sensationalized CBC marketplace episode
Normally fond of the CBC’s coverage of news, this time I was disappointed with the sensationalist and biased coverage of CBC’s look at homeopathy on “Homeopathy Cure or Con?” which first aired Friday, January 14, 2011 and can be viewed online. Skepticism is healthy whenever looking at so called alternative medicines, however, having a group of people take a whole vial of remedies to test homeopathy is analogous with sticking rows of acupuncture needles into a group of people and concluding that acupuncture does not work. And by the way, how does acupuncture work?
Homeopathy supported in scientific studies
The studies discussed by the CBC were solely focused on how homeopathy works and while even I admit that the science is still somewhat murky on the how, there are many studies that show homeopathy does work, in childhood diarrhea, in allergies, influenza, arthritis and the list goes on. Physics is an evolving science and it is a mistake to focus on the how, rather than look at the evidence of does it work or does it not. For a more informative article on homeopathy, physics and scientific evidence, I encourage everyone to read “Nobel Prize Winner Luc Montagnier Supports Science of Homeopathy,” by Dana Ullman.
Homeopathy as a complementary rather than alternative form of medicine
Finally, in my experience most homeopaths see homeopathy as a complementary rather than alternative form of medicine. This CBC program chose the most controversial subject of vaccination and then threw in cancer—finding homeopaths who promised successful outcomes. Most homeopaths don’t practice that way, in fact, homeopaths I know work with the medical profession and treat illnesses that are unsuccessfully treated by conventional drugs, such as allergies, influenza, recurring colds, autoimmune problems, nausea during pregnancy and so on. If some homeopaths are promising cures for incurable diseases, then perhaps the profession needs a regulating body, which I believe is the whole point of legislation in Ontario.
CBC disappoints
If any good has come of the CBC program, it has been that there is a discussion about homeopathy. Personally, I am going to be a lot more skeptical about CBC programming than I used to be, especially when shrouded as news coverage. And for all those homeopathy skeptics out there, have another look at the scientific evidence and better yet, try it for yourself–it’s not harmful or expensive–before you come to a false conclusion. For more articles and scientific studies about homeopathy, the National Centre for Homeopathy is a great resource.
I happen to be one of those people who likes New Year’s resolutions—not the kind of resolutions where you decide you’re going to run a marathon by March, or plan to never eat chocolate again. I like the more practical sort of resolutions, the ones that make me think about what lies ahead for the year. To me, goals keep me healthier, help me lead a more balanced life and keep me energized, which I could definitely use a little more of these days.
1. Eat an apple a day. I love apples and this year I am making a goal to eat even more. They’re local, they’re available practically year round and they’re soooo good for you. Apples are mini multivitamins, full of anti-oxidants, all important fibre and packed with nutritional value. Checking cholesterol, protecting against cancer and keeping you fit, an apple a day really does keep the doctor away.
2. Exercise more. I know, this can be a tough one, but worth the effort! While it’s unlikely I’ll ever get to the marathon level, I know that anything more than what I’m doing now is going to help reduce stress, improve quality of sleep, mood and energy, and just make me feel a whole lot more balanced. Experts recommend a minimum of 30 minutes of vigorous activity three times a week, and while some recommend more, they all agree that anything is better than nothing!
3. Enjoy nature. There’s something magically relaxing about being out in nature. It’s a wonderful stress reliever and the fresh air does wonders for health. On top of that, we are so lucky in Canada to have so much of our natural environment available to us. So besides puttering around a little more in my garden, the next time I’ve got the so-much-to-do-so-little-time bug, I’m going to plan to spend a day in some breathtaking natural environment.
4. Laugh more. Coming from a relatively strict European upbringing, I have something to blame when I take things a little too seriously. But since I don’t necessarily want to pass this trait onto my kids, I have to find ways to get over it. Norman Cousins laughed his way back to health in his book Anatomy of an Illness, and with all the research about the healing powers of laughter, why wait until I’m sick? I plan on renting a few more funny videos this year, taking the time to be with great company more often and if all else fails, checking out some of those great laughing websites out there. Oh are they hilarious!
5. Eat omega 3 rich foods. Omega 3 is the most neglected essential oil in the North American diet and it’s essential because our body needs it but can’t make it. Omega 3 fatty acids are necessary for our immune system and brain function, prevent inflammation and cardiovascular disease, and even help in weight loss. Need I say more? The best ways to get omega 3 fatty acids is flax seed oil and fish. But beware of sources of either, as flax seed oil sold in large bottles and/or kept out of the fridge quickly becomes bitter and rancid, and some fish can contain high levels of heavy metals and may not even be that rich in omega 3, so do your homework or ask your local fisherman/store. And while I probably do get enough Omega 3 in my diet, my goal this year is to make sure my kids do too!
6. Read labels. I am always aghast when I take on this task. Even though I’m a fairly radical health freak compared to most people, I do indulge in packages or prepared food for convenience now and again, especially when pressed for time. I had no idea I was eating soy in my mayonnaise, for instance and the more I look the list goes on, modified milk ingredients—what is that supposed to be anyway? Reading food labels encourages me to go back to eating food in its more natural state, which keeps me healthier. So from now on, I’m reading labels.
7. Learn to like broccoli. I’ll never forget hearing Dr. Andrew Weil say those words a few years ago and I’ve been increasing my uptake of this vegetable ever since. Broccoli is super green and a cruciferous vegetable, so besides being packed with essential goodness for the body, it works to detoxify and prevent disease, including cancer. I found a way of sautéing broccoli with garlic that even my kids love. Of course, besides broccoli, there are an endless list of good foods to eat more of, including tomato paste (lycopenes), green tea (antioxidants), turmeric spice and berries…all so good for you—and me.
Happy 2011!
Love it or hate it, Olympic fever has hit Vancouver—Canada—and the globe. As I’ve been watching, I wonder what the athletes are taking for their pain and injuries as I see hockey players slam into the boards, figure skaters miss their footing and land hard on the ice, and skiers lose their balance to fly full speed down the mountain on their bodies instead of their skies. Ouch!
Many well known athletes already know about homeopathy. Soccer star David Beckham, along with tennis greats Martina Navratilova and Boris Becker use homeopathy for their injuries because it’s fast and effective as well as drug free with no side effects.
Arnica is by far the most common and successfully used remedy for sports injuries. It’s easy to use and should be considered first to ease the aching, tenderness and inflammation of any injury. Arnica also helps the body recover from the shock of an injury. There are countless stories about the successes of this remedy, especially for severe injuries (however, always be sure to check into emergency when injuries are really serious!). Besides swiftly healing dark bruises, bad sprains and bumps to the head, Arnica is excellent for that tender exhaustion that comes from pushing your body a little too far.
One word of warning: it works great, but don’t use it all the time. Homeopathic remedies are medicines to be used only when needed. For those smaller bumps and bruises, use the cream instead.
Hypericum is Arnica of the nerves, so it heals crushed, pierced or torn fingertips, toes and nails. This remedy will also heal and reduce the pain of tailbone injuries, common from slipping backwards on the ice. Whenever pain is severe due to a lot of nerve endings in the area, take Hypericum.
Ruta: an excellent remedy for shin injuries because it heals kicks and bruises to the periosteum, which is the outer lining of the bone. It is also useful for repetitive strain injuries, such as tennis elbow, but try it in a low potency 6c repeated daily for about 3 weeks.
For broken bones though, use Arnica first to help the initial pain and inflammation and follow up with Symphytum in low potency, such as a 6c taken daily for about 3 weeks. Symphytum is known as “bone set” because it helps the bone knit together and heal properly.
Bryonia is the remedy for broken ribs because it is most useful for those injuries when the pain is worse with the slightest motion. This makes it ideal for the pain and healing of broken ribs, but also sprains that are excruciating. Use it after a dose of two of Arnica.
Rhus tox is the other remedy to consider for sprains. It is often necessary after Arnica when the symptoms fit. Give Rhus tox if the sprain seems stiff and painful during or after rest—typically in the morning or at night. If the pain causes restlessness, especially in the evening and at night and seems better during the day while moving about, then Rhus tox will ease it.
Finally, Calendula is a fantastic topical remedy for cuts and scrapes. Use Calendula cream or tincture (10 drops to ½ cup of water) instead of Arnica when it’s not a bruise, but a cut. Calendula has remarkable healing properties on the skin, preventing infection and scarring. Although you can find this remedy in homeopathic form, it usually is enough and works wonders as a cream or tincture.
Dosage: In homeopathy, always let the symptoms guide you to the correct remedy and the correct dosage. Choose the most suitable remedy in a 30c potency (strength), 2-5 pills on the tongue 2-3 times daily, unless otherwise recommended. Stop as symptoms improve or within a few days.
Now you have a small group of remedies on hand for sports injuries, great for kids and adults alike. You can often buy them together as a first aid kit or buy them one at a time, as you need them. Remember that homeopathic remedies work well and do not interfere with conventional treatment.
Homeopathy Trio
The cold, wet factor is back in Vancouver with a vengeance and along with it comes colds, coughs and croup. As a parent, I’m grateful for the quick relief remedies often provide and I’ve converted many a parent on homeopathy’s benefits for croup alone!
What is Croup anyway?
One of the most frightening respiratory infections for parents and children alike, croup causes an unusual barking cough and wheezing due to an inflammation and swelling of the vocal chords. Because it typically develops during sleep, the child wakes up coughing and struggling to breathe at night, much to the shock of a parent. If this happens to you, remember to stay calm and reassure your child before all else.
If you don’t have remedies on hand, you may have heard of these tricks: turn on a hot shower and allow your child to breathe the steam in the bathroom; or take your bundle out into the cold night air. While these may help in the moment, be sure to try out the remedies below anyway. Not only do they put an end to the attack within minutes, but also they also help prevent attacks recurring the next night and the night after that, a common problem.
Remedy Trio:
In the world of homeopathy and croup, you need only remember 3 remedies in the emergency for lasting results: Aconite, Spongia and Hepar sulph.
Aconite is your first choice. Aconite works for those attacks that appear out of the blue with little or no forewarning. Typically the croup comes on before midnight and is scary enough to frighten both the child and the parent! Many children won’t need any additional remedies after a dose or two of Aconite.
Spongia is for that dry barking cough, which sounds almost like a saw going through wood or a dry seal’s bark. It is the second remedy to be given after Aconite or use it first if there was already a dry cough developing. Spongia is your second choice if Aconite does not seem to be working or holding.
Hepar sulph is the opposite of Spongia: loose and rattling! Give it as your third choice, for instance if the cough is loosening up, which can typically occur towards morning. Hepar sulph is a great cough remedy which is useful later, not usually the first day.
Since the 30c potency is most popular, I would recommend giving 3-5 pills in the moment, repeating every 15 minutes if necessary or every time the child awakens up to 3-4 times that night. In homeopathy, less is better, so stop as symptoms improve.
Some children have a susceptibility to croup, meaning that each time the toddler gets a cold, he or she develops croup. If this is often, constitutional remedies will help your child, but require the expert advice of a homeopath. For more information on homeopathy and constitutional treatment, check out the Treatment FAQ page under Homeopathy on my website at www.vancouverhomeopath.com.
Finally, for those who would like to buy a good book on homeopathy for remedies at home, there are many on the market. My personal favorites are by Panos and Heimlich: Homeopathic Medicine at Home for its charts and stories. If you’re looking for something on just kids, I also like the book Homeopathy for Children by Feldman and Pinto for it’s practical, easy to use style.
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