Homeopathy for Injuries & Accidents

Homeopathic remedies can be used for a variety of first aid health complaints, including injuries. Whether the injury is from an accident, playing sports, physical strain or another type of vigorous physical activity, it’s time to reach for your Homeopathic First Aid Kit.

Cuts and Scrapes

Apply direct pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding, then wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water. Apply Calendula Cream before covering the wound with a bandage. Repeat application with the Calendula Cream 3-4 times per day.

Additionally, homeopathic Calendula 30C can also be taken 2-3 times per day.

See an MD if there is much redness, swelling or pus buildup around the wound, if there are red streaks extending from around the wound, or if fever has occurred.

Bruises

Apply ice packs to the injured part for 30 minutes to reduce swelling.

Arnica 30C or 200C is the main remedy for bruising. For minor bruising, take 2-3 times per day. For more severe bruising, take every hour the first day, then 3 times per day on subsequent days. Discontinue dosing after bruising improves.

Take Ledum 30C if the bruise feels cold and numb, or if Arnica has stopped helping. Ledum 30C is also the remedy of choice for a black eye. Take 3 times per day.

For bruising of the bones, take Ruta 30C. This remedy is indicated for bruising of the shin, kneecap, or elbow. Take 3 times per day.

Puncture Wounds

After being wounded by a sharp, foreign object, clean the wound with soap and water. Then, soak the wounded part in warm water for 15 minutes three times per day to speed healing. Cover the wound with a bandage if there is an opening in the skin. Apply Calendula Cream before covering the wound with a bandage. Repeat application with the Calendula Cream 3-4 times per day.

Ledum 30c is the most common remedy for puncture wounds.

Give Apis 30C instead of Ledum if there is a lot of heat and swelling.

Hypericum 30C should instead be given if there are sharp, shooting pains.

For knife wounds, given Staphysagria 30C, along with seeking medical attention.

For puncture wounds, give one of the above remedies 3-4 times per day.

Strains and Sprains: Injuries to the Muscles, Ligaments and Tendons

Rest the injured part, apply an ice pack to the injured area, wrap a bandage around the injured part, and keep the injured part elevated.

Apply Arnica Gel to the injured part twice per day. Additionally, the following homeopathic remedies can be taken internally:

Arnica 30C or 200C is usually the first remedy to take after a strain or sprain. This remedy is indicated if there is bruising, swelling and inflammation.

Once the swelling and bruising has improved, you may want to switch to another indicated remedy, listed below:

Rhus Tox 30c is one of the most frequently indicated remedies after a strain or sprain. The pain and stiffness are worse on first motion, and are better upon continued movement. This remedy is commonly indicated after overlifting or physical overexertion.

Bryonia 30C if motion makes the injury worse, and the only way to relieve the pain is to keep the injured part very still.

Try Ruta 6C or 30C if the injury is close to the bone. This remedy is useful for injuries to the wrists or ankles, and for tennis elbow.

Strontium Carbonicum 6C is a good remedy to try for ankle sprains that have not responded to other remedies, or for recurrent ankle sprains.

Give one of the above indicated remedies 3 times per day for up to 3 weeks.

Fractures (Broken Bones)

After medical attention has been sought, the following remedies can speed healing:

Arnica 30C or 200C should be the first remedy given after a fracture. It will help with bruising, swelling and tenderness.

Eupatorium Perfoliatum 30C should be given instead of Arnica if there is not much bruising or swelling, or it can be given after Arnica.

Give the above remedies 3X per day.

After the initial pain and swelling have diminished, give Symphytum 6C, 3 times per day for 2-3 weeks.

Bryonia 30C is a useful remedy for broken ribs. Give a dose or two of Arnica first, then give Bryonia 3X per day.

Nerve Injuries

For injuries to the nerves, such as fingers and toes, give Hypericum 30C three times per day. Also apply Arnica Gel to the injured area.

Rest, elevate, and ice the injured part.

Head Injuries & Whiplash

Arnica 30C or 200C should be the first remedy given if there is bleeding, bruising, pain and shock. Give a dose every hour for 5-6 doses.

Hypericum 12C or 30C is the most useful remedy for whiplash. Give one dose daily for up to three weeks.

Natrum Sulphuricum 200C is useful for head injuries that have not responded completely to Arnica, or for people who have never been well since a head injury. Give 3 doses only, spaced 8 hours apart.

Precautions

Those who are experiencing chronic pain, or have never been well since an injury, require constitutional homeopathic treatment. Contact the clinic to book an appointment.

Effective Cancer Treatment with Popular Cuban Homeopathic Drug Vidatox

What is Vidatox?

Vidatox is a drug produced from five protein peptides extracted from the venom of the blue scorpion (Rophalorus junceus), which is endemic to Cuba and which has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic effect in more than 15 different cancer cell lines. The result of 15 years of research, by October 2010 Vidatox had been tested on more than 10,000 cancer patients, some 3,500 of them foreigners, with positive results both in improving quality of life and stopping tumour growth.

Labiofam, a Cuban pharmaceutical laboratory, is set to release a new homeopathic cancer drug to the international market. Marketed as Vidatox, it is the result of work by Cuban biologist, Misael Bordier with the venom of the blue scorpion.

The medication was produced from over 5,000 scorpions of the Rhopalurus junceus variety, native to eastern Cuba. According to the company, it has no contraindications and is compatible with any other oncological treatment.

The company presented the results of its Vidatox research in its first international congress in late September in Havana before some 500 delegates from all parts of the world. Vidatox International Congress: Results of Scientific Research

The Company is all set to register its homeopathic version in coming days and go for its commercial production. The medication, and Labiofam says that its homeopathic version should be registered in the coming days and could be commercially produced immediately. González added that the company would continue research to produce synthetic or biotechnological versions of the compound.

Report on the Current Situation Regarding Vidatox 30 CH (Translated from Spanish)

The use of natural products in traditional and alternative medicine is widely practiced today. In particular, the Poison Scorpion have been little studied and a few years ago began their potential pharmacological evidence.

In Cuba there are 32 species and subspecies of scorpions, including 28 endemic among the most common being the scorpion Rhopalurus junceus the which has been used in traditional medicine to apply under the Cuban stomach in case of urinary retention and improvement of some diseases.

The 30 CH VIDATOX ® is the registered trademark for the drug homeopathic and natural (health record: H-11 – 038 – NO2) obtained from junceus Rhopalurus scorpion venom, endemic to Cuba, indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of symptoms caused by effects of cancer and pain relief. The decision to produce is the result over 15 years of a research project aimed at characterization of the poison, and evaluating their potential as antitumor agent, analgesic, antiinflammatory, and toxicological safety.

Based on the evidence of safety and efficacy provided by the preclinical research, VIDATOX 30 CH was applied in a controlled study of 174 cancer patients of both sexes with histopathological diagnosis confirmed, which was administered 5 sublingual drops every 12 hours during the period 3/12/2007 to 2/2/2010.

Samples were grouped by location, neoplastic families, stage evolution of the disease, treatment received and the presence of cancer neoplasia. At the conclusion of the study period (2 years) lung, prostate, colon, breast and uterus were the most sensitive effect of the product. Similarly, it is demonstrated that administration of medication in 96% of patients, led to a life of greater than 12 months regardless of the location and stage of disease, especially in those patients for whom there were no treatment options available in conventional medicine.

As another important clinical outcome may be mentioned that 90% of patients who received VIDATOX ® 30 CH in the dose given, reported improvement of clinical symptoms based on consultation, and in 62% of them initial pain evolved into a mild form that did not require treatment necessarily to their relief, while 27% said absence of pain.

This latter aspect of his enormous influence on the quality of life of patients, is important to detail that 62% of patients with presence of severe pain with continuing need for medication (level 2), after treatment passed to the condition of minimal or moderate pain without medication (level 1).

Generally in patients comprising the sample are referred to herein has been:

• Improvement in pain
• Improvement of inflammation
• Improvement in hematologic parameters
• Improvement of appetite
• Improvement of general health
• Improved function in organs and systems affected
• Weight gain
• Reduction of cough
• Desire to live

We conclude that the use of 30 CH VIDATOX ®, can improve the quality of life, increase survival and slow tumor growth without the appearance of patients today cause undesirable symptoms and cytostatics radiation to which we subject our patients.

In this context, one should not ignore the massive consumption of the product for more of 26,000 people, from October 1 to April 10 of 2010 without reported adverse effects to date of application, confirming the preclinical experimental results.

MSC: Fabio De J. Linares Pazoz
Production manager Laboratories Homeopathic Products
LABIOFAM-CUBA

References

www.labiofam.cu
www.pharmamatrix.net
www.vidatoxonline.com

Homeopathy for Cystitis (Bladder Infections)

Some of the most common symptoms of a  bladder infection are the constant urge to urinate as well as a constant feeling of fullness in the bladder, pain during urination, foul smelling urine, as well as other signs of inflammation such as fever.

The most well-known natural remedy for bladder infections is unsweetened cranberry juice, which may not be effective in all cases.

People with interstitial cystitis or chronic bladder infections should seek out treatment from a classical homeopath. Contact the clinic or a classical homeopath in your local area.

In acute cases of bladder infection, the following homeopathic remedies are the most commonly used and effective:

Cantharis: The #1 remedy for bladder infections. People needing this remedy have burning pains during urination, with a frequent, strong urge to urinate.

Aconite: Useful at the beginning of a bladder infection, when the symptoms come on very suddenly.

Sarsaparilla: Severe pain at the end of urination; can urinate only in dribbles.

Nux Vomica: Symptoms come on after overindulgence, drugs or alcohol. There is pain before or during urination.

Apis: Severe, hot burning pains. Use if Cantharis seems indicated but does not help.

Dosage: Give a 30C potency (strength) of the indicated homeopathic remedy, every 6 to 8 hours for up to 3 days. Switch to another remedy if there is no relief after 24 hours.

2011 Consumer Choice Award Winner

I am very pleased to announce that Little Mountain Homeopathy won the 2011 Consumer Choice Award in the category of Homeopathy. Thank you so much to the Vancouver community for your help in making Little Mountain Homeopathy #1.

About the Consumer Choice Award

Each year across Canada, Consumer Choice Award gathers the opinions, perceptions and expectations through the responses of thousands of consumers and businesses. Established in 1987, the selection process has been perfected with a third party research firm to ensure that only the most outstanding service providers are the winners within an industry. This is the only organization in North America to recognize business excellence by conducting a research that surveys both the consumer & business community with statistical accuracy. The research method determines all service providers, ultimately selects the top ranked companies, and establishes the winner within each industry.

Homoeopathic Immunisation Against Leptospirosis in Cuba

by Dr. Isaac Golden and Dr. Gustavo Bracho

Originally published in Hpathy.com

Hahnemann first used a homoeopathic potency of Belladonna, selected using the Law of Similars, to prevent Scarlet Fever in 1798. Since then homoeopathic immunisation, or homoeoprophylaxis, has been used by tens of thousands of homoeopaths. Results have been described in our literature, but there has been relatively little formal statistical analysis of results. Further, most interventions have been by individual practitioners with relatively few people. This paper provides a graphical description of the use of homoeoprophylaxis by a government’s medical institute to protect literally millions of people. This experience has the potential to change the way homoeoprophylaxis is viewed by parents, practitioners and governments around the world.

Introduction:

The use of homoeoprophylaxis (HP), or homoeopathic immunisation, has been debated in this journal. Some homoeopaths oppose it on philosophical grounds (see the debate between Professor Vithoulkas and Dr Golden), some on more technical/political grounds (see the views of Dr Fisher which have been contested by Dr Golden). However HP has considerable support internationally being, as it is, part of Hahnemann’s “classical” method based squarely on the Law of Similars, and first used by him in 1798.

Irrespective of conceptual issues, the principal question is whether HP is effective and safe. Both aspects have been thoroughly researched and the evidence published. The question of safety is relatively easy given the absence of toxic materials in potentised remedies; however the question of effectiveness and efficacy remains hotly contested by orthodox scientists. They say that homoeopathy in general is “implausible” because “nothing is there” and therefore both treatment and prevention cannot work irrespective of the evidence. Whilst this is a very unscientific response, it remains the responsibility of advocates of HP to show convincing evidence that it does work.

Due to the recent massive HP interventions in Cuba, we can now offer four main types of evidence to support the effectiveness of both short-term and long-term HP, being:

1. The historical use of HP from Hahnemann in 1798 to the present day, widely evidenced throughout the homoeopathic literature, and used by many “masters” of homoeopathy
2. Short-term use of HP in epidemic situations. One of the most thorough of such studies has been by Morinski and colleagues in 1998. A review of such research points to an effectiveness of around 90%.
3. Long-term use of HP in non-epidemic situations. Golden showed an effectiveness of 90.4% in his research from 1986 to 2004.
4. The massive and highly successful HP interventions in Cuba involving millions of people from 2007 to 2010.

It is this latter piece of evidence that we will now examine further.

Leptospirosis in Cuba

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease which is endemic in Cuba. It usually worsens during the hurricane and high rainfall seasons from October to December each year when the infection is spread via infected water, although rodent urine will also carry the disease.

The three eastern regions of Cuba, Las Tunas, Holguin and Granma (IR = Intervened Region) usually have a much greater incidence of the disease per head of population than the rest of the country (RC) as is clear from Figure 1 which shows the average weekly incidence of leptospirosis for 2003-2006 in IR (2.4 million people) and RC (8.8 million people), weighted per head of population figure for both regions (Average x population in Cuba/population in region).

Figure 1: Leptospirosis, IR and RC, 2003-2006 weekly average weighted per head of population

In both 2007 and 2008 the RC was hit by severe hurricanes. In 2007 the Cuban Government, through the Finlay Institute which manufactures most vaccines used in Cuba, decided to homeopathically immunise the bulk of the population in IR due to a severe spike in the incidence of the disease.

Figure 2 shows the Incidence of the disease in 2007, and the impact of the two-dose HP program which was conducted in Week 45. Once again a weighted per head of population figure is shown, which illustrates the impact of the intervention even more clearly.

2007 was already a worse than average year for residents of IR, and became dramatically so following the hurricanes. However the outbreak “broke” in IR in Week 47, 2 weeks following the HP intervention, although it continued in RC where there was no intervention.

Figure 2: Leptospirosis in IR and RC, 2007, weekly, weighted per head of population

A second two-dose round of HP was administered in 2008 to the residents of IR, this time using a higher potency of the remedy (200C in 2007, 10,000C in 2008 – 2 doses a week apart). Figure 3 shows that the disease remained contained in IR (once again, the most at risk region), but continued as expected in RC apart from a significant single incident in Week 42.

Figure 3: Leptospirosis in IR and RC, 2008, weekly, weighted per head of population

The impact of the HP intervention is clear from the above Figures, but was also demonstrated when comparing the actual progression of the disease in IR in 2007 with the expected number of cases derived using a predictive model based on rainfall experience over time, plus other factors. Figure 4 has been reproduced in other studies of the intervention,,.

Figure 4: Leptospirosis in 2007, actual and predicted incidence

One issue regarding this diagram was the reliability of the predictive model used. Further examination revealed that the model used was quite reliable in IR, but less so in RC.

One final examination of the leptospirosis data from 2004 to 2008 is presented in Figure 5, showing the incidence of the disease for both regions. It shows clearly the seasonal peaks and troughs over the years, with a breaking of the seasonal trend in IR in late 2007, and the substantial reduction of the disease in IR in 2008 despite IR remaining the region most at risk due to severe hurricanes in IR in 2008. It also shows the 2007 prediction for IR shown in Figure 4 (without the HP intervention factored in), but this time shown in monthly figures rather than weekly as in Figure 4.

At this time a predictive trend for 2008 excluding the influence of the HP interventions is not available, but it certainly would show a higher incidence of the disease than that which occurred in RC. However the data which is available clearly shows the positive impact of the interventions. (See Fig. 5 below)

Figure 5: Leptospirosis cases in IR and RC from 2004 to 2008

Concluding Comments

The HP intervention against leptospirosis in IR in 2007 and 2008 has been an unqualified success. The details of the effective intervention were mentioned in the Cuban Assembly. Following on this experience a decision was made to undertake a massive HP immunisation of the total population against Swine Flu in 2009/10 involving over 9.8 million people. The results of this intervention will not be known until 2011 when data can be assembled and analysed.

It is clear that the Cuban initiative in safe, effective, and low cost infectious disease prevention, making the Cubans world leaders in this area of immunisation, will be followed with great interest by both practitioners and public health scientists around the world.

i. George Vithoulkas and Isaac Golden, in hpathy.com, April – September, 2007.
ii. As evidenced in the debate between Dr Fisher and Ben Goldacre. Natural History Museum. http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/nature-live/video-archive/videos/homeopathic-medicine/
iii. Golden I. A Respectful Challenge to Dr Peter Fisher Regarding Vaccination. J. Hom Med Assn. May, 2009.
iv. Hahnemann S. The Cure and Prevention of Scarlet Fever. Lesser Writings. B.Jain Publishers.
v. Golden I Vaccination & Homoeoprophylaxis? A Review of Risks and Alternatives. 7th edition 2010. Isaac Golden Publications, Cherokee, Victoria, Australia.
vi. For a summary of some major references see Golden I, Homoeoprophylaxis, A Practical and Philosophical Review. Isaac Golden Publications, Cherokee, Victoria, Australia.
vii. Mroninski C, Adriano E, Mattos G. Meningococcinum: Its protective effect against meningococcal disease. Homoeopathic Links Winter, 2001. Vol 14(4); pp. 230-4.
viii.Golden I. Homoeoprophylaxis: A Fifteen year Clinical Study. Isaac Golden Publications, Cherokee, Victoria, Australia. 2004.
ix. Campa C, Bracho G, Cruz R, Menendez J, Martinez R, Gilling E, Wella R. Homoeoprophylaxis: Cuban Experiences on Leptospirosis. Nosodes 2008, International Meeting on Homoeoprophylaxis, Homoeopathic Immunisation and Nosodes Against Epidemics. Havana, Cuba. 10-12h December, 2008.
x. Bracho G, Varela E, Fernández R, Ordaz B, Marzoa N, Menéndez J, García L, Gilling E, Leyva R,Rufín R, de la Torre R, Solis R, Batista N, Borrero R ,Campa C. Massive Application of Highly Diluted Bacteria as Homeoprophylactic Formulation for Leptospirosis Epidemic Control. Homeopathy. 2010. 99, 156-166.
xi. Golden I, Bracho G. The Homoeopathic Prevention of Leptospirosis in Cuba. J.Am. Institute of Homeopathy. Summer. 2010.

Dr Isaac Golden is Business Manager Academic Operations at Endeavour College of Natural Health. He has been in homeopathic practice since 1984, and has conducted the world’s largest long-term trial of homoeoprophylaxis, which formed the basis for his Doctorate in 2004, the first time a mainstream Australian University awarded a PhD in a homeopathic topic. He has authored 10 books on homoeopathy and many articles in Australia and internationally.

Dr Gustavo Bracho is Advisor to the President and General Director of Finlay Institute, Havana, Cuba, and head of the Homeopathy and Biotherapic Projects at the Institute. He is an experienced researcher in molecular and cellular biology, and has headed the Adjuvant Group within the Immunology Department of Finlay. In 2005-2006 he was a researcher in a Collaboration Project with the Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, Australia, examining vaccine production methods. He has pioneered the use of homoeoprophylaxis in Cuba as both an adjunct to or an alternative for orthodox vaccination. He is widely published in his area.

Constipation and Failure to Thrive: A Homeopathic Success Story

Originally published in Fitness Goop

Aaron was only 10 months old when he visited the clinic, accompanied by his parents. Rhonda, (Aaron’s mother) made the appointment because of her son’s battle with constipation practically since birth. She is also concerned because though Aaron has a healthy appetite, he is losing instead of gaining weight. I assure Rhonda that homeopathic treatment can help her son’s health problems.

Aaron had colic as a newborn baby. He was gassy as a newborn baby, his stomach constantly gurgling. As a newborn he always needed to be held because he wasn’t comfortable. He would always arch his back in pain because though his belly was full of gas, most of the time he was unable to fart or burp to release it.

Now, at 10 months old, Aaron is now mostly on solid food and eats like a glutton, yet he is losing instead of gaining weight, since the age of 7 months. I tell Rhonda that perhaps Aaron is failing to absorb the nutrients in the food he eats due to an absorption problem.

After the introduction of solid food at 6 months, Aaron has had constipation. Rhonda has tried changing Aaron’s diet, adding more fruits and vegetables, experimenting with cutting out dairy and wheat, but dietary changes haven’t helped. The only thing that has helped are frequent servings of prunes. Rhonda recognizes that prunes are not a permanent solution to Aaron’s problem, and I explain to Rhonda that the administration of the correct homeopathic constitutional remedy will fix his constipation and weight problem.

What is a Constitutional Homeopathic Remedy?

Constitutional homeopathic remedies are prescribed by classical homeopaths. Although Naturopaths have some limited training in prescribing homeopathic remedies, only classical homeopaths have enough training (a full 4 years) to prescribe constitutionally. Constitutional homeopathic prescribing for chronic health complaints is extremely powerful and complex and must be regarded with the utmost respect. Homeopathic remedies are made from something in the natural world such as a plant, mineral or animal. Constitutional homeopathic remedies are given one at a time and never in combination. The remedies are prepared in such a way that they are non-toxic and gentle on the body. They stimulate the body to heal itself. Remedy selection is based on the homeopathic principle that “like cures like” – that is, a substance that would cause symptoms in a healthy person is used to cure those same symptoms in illness. For example, one homeopathic remedy which might be used in a person suffering from insomnia is coffea, a remedy made from coffee.

The Follow-up Consultations

6 weeks after the administration of the homeopathic constitutional remedy, noticeable improvement had taken place. Despite cutting down on the prunes, Aaron’s stool softened and he had much less straining during bowel movements. He has also stopped losing weight.

2 months after the first follow-up, Aaron continues to do well on his constitutional homeopathic remedy. His digestion and bowel movements are normal, and his body has filled out. He looks chubbier and he is gaining weight. Also, because constitutional homeopathy addresses the whole person, the remedy also got rid of Aaron’s patches of eczema. This result was obtained using only the correct constitutional homeopathic remedy without any dietary changes.

C4 Trituration Workshop with authors Anneke Hogeland and Judy Schriebman

 Little Mountain Homeopathy is pleased to invite you to a very special event:

EXPERIENCE RESONANCE HOMEOPATHY
TRITURATION WORKSHOP

C4 Homeopathy and Practitioner Development
Date: August 26-28, 2011

Location: Little Mountain Homeopathy, 351 E. 39th Ave., Vancouver, BC

 With Anneke Hogeland, MS, MFT, CHom
And Judy Schriebman, CCH, RSHom(NA)
Authors of The Trituration Handbook

 Trituration of the Ghost Tree: Sequoia Sempervirens Albino Redwood

Triturations are a vital part of homeopathy. Every homeopath benefits from knowing the process well, and from being able to create remedies from raw substances. Like good provings, triturations provide a direct, experiential, body-based knowledge of a substance. They promote and enhance the development of the homeopath, furthering personal and professional growth. This results in greater satisfaction and better results in all facets of practice, from reading and understanding Materia Medica to case taking, remedy and potency selection, case analysis and case management. 

To Hahnemann’s “Aude sapere” (Dare to Think)

we respectfully add, “Aude facere” (Dare to Do)

Our workshop begins Friday evening where we introduce students to the process and answer general questions. Friday evening we will also triturate one single round to get the trituration process started. On Saturday beginning at 10 a.m., we triturate 2 or 3 rounds, with breaks for discussion and food, expecting to end around 6 or 7 p.m. Sunday we begin at 9 a.m., triturating as many rounds as needed, and finishing with potentizing the remedy for students to take home. As time permits, there will be discussions and exercises in Family Constellation work and the philosophy of C4 Homeopathy. Students should bring their own mortar and pestle, journals and/or art materials. We will provide extras as needed.

Organon §265

It should be a matter of conscience with him [the physician] to be thoroughly convinced in every case that the patient takes the right medicine, and therefore he must give the patient the correctly chosen medicine prepared, moreover, by himself (emphasis ours).      

              –Samuel Hahnemann, 18??

Fee: $150

A Certificate of Attendance will be provided upon completion of this workshop. This workshop is recognized by the Canadian Society of Homeopaths and the BC Society of Homeopaths for a total of 15 hours of Professional Development Credits.

Space is limited. To reserve your spot, please RSVP as soon as possible to Sonya by email: info@littlemountainhomeopathy.com or phone 604-677-7742. Cheques in the amount of $150 are payable to Sonya McLeod and should be sent to this address:

Sonya McLeod
Little Mountain Homeopathy
351 E. 39^th Ave.
Vancouver,BC
V5W 1K3

Homeopathic Cell Salts Basics

What are the homeopathic cell salts?

Other terms for homeopathic cell salts are biochemic remedies, Schuessler Tissue Salts and Schuessler Cell Salts. They are a therapeutic system introduced by William Heinrich Shuessler, MD, in 1873. Dr. Schuessler contended that disease is fundamentally caused by insufficiencies of mineral salts in the tissue cells of the body and that supplying these salts corrects the deficiencies and thereby ameliorates disease. Cell salts are important for daily functioning, maintaining, rebuilding, and detoxifying the cells. They harmonize the bodily functions and improve the absorption of nutrients from food.

What conditions can the homeopathic cell salts be used for?

There are 12 homeopathic cell salts and they can be used for almost any condition. I have found them to be the most useful with people who are relatively healthy. They are most useful with fixing nutritional deficiencies and children react well to them.

What potency should I use?

The cell salts usually only come in one potency (strength), 6X. I only recommend the 6X potency when using cell salts.

Are the cell salts safe to take during pregnancy?

Yes, they are safe, and are also recommended during pregnancy to correct nutritional deficiencies in the mother and unborn baby. Taking the cell salts will result in an easier pregnancy & labour, and healthier newborn. Learn more about: The Pregnancy Cell Salt Program

Is the dosage different for children?

Yes, when taking a dose, children should take half the dose that adults take.

What cell salts build strong teeth?

The two main cell salts recommended for children and adults who are prone to difficult teething, cavities and have decaying or weak teeth:

Calcarea Fluorica and Calcarea Phosphorica. These two cell salts should be taken twice daily to strengthen the teeth.

What cell salt brings down a fever?

Ferrum Phosphoricum will often bring down a mild or moderate fever. Give as often as every 15 minutes.

What cell salts are useful for coughs are colds?

Use Ferrum Phosphoricum at the beginning of a cough or cold. Natrum Muriaticum is indicated if the mucus is runny and watery. Kalium Muriaticum is indicated at the later stages of a cold when the mucus is thick and white. Give 3X per day, or as often as every 15 minutes for more serious colds or coughs.

What cell salts are useful for muscle aches and cramps?

I have found Magnesium Phosphoricum to be very useful for muscle pains, including growing pains. It can also help with period pain and digestive pain.

What cell salt can be used for heartburn?

Natrum Phosphoricum neutralizes acidity, and thus it’s a good cell salt to use for heartburn. Take as often as 3X per day before meals.

What cell salt benefits the nails and hair?

Silicea will strengthen the nails and hair.

Homeopathy for Period Pain

Many women suffer from pain during their periods. Homeopathy can provide effective relief from period pain without putting a stress on the liver. Women with other hormonal symptoms such as irregular periods or  women who experience intense pain every month should see a classical homeopath for constitutional treatment.

For occasional or moderate period pains, the following homeopathic remedies are commonly indicated:

Belladonna: Useful when the pain comes on very suddenly. Throbbing pain with a sensation of heaviness, sometimes accompanied by headaches.

Magnesium Phosphoricum: Cramping pains that are relieved by pressure or warmth.

Colocynthis: This remedy can look similar to Mag Phos (pains better from pressure or warmth). A woman needing this remedy would also be in an irritable, angry mood.

Pulsatilla: This woman is very weepy and craves affection. She has no thirst and feels worse in a warm room.

Potency and Repetition: Give a 30C potency (strength) of the indicated homeopathic remedy up to every 4 hours. If there is no relief after 6-8 hours, try a different remedy.

If the remedy choice isn’t clear, try Magnesium Phosphoricum 6X Homeopathic Cell Salts. This is a great remedy for all types of cramping pains. It can be used for leg cramps or any type of muscle pain.

Homeopathic Remedies for Radiation Therapy & Nuclear Crisis

All of the remedies listed below are powerful remedies that should only taken under the supervision of a professional classical homeopath.

Homeopathic Remedies for Radiation Therapy

Cadmium Sulphuricum: This is the leading remedy for the side effects of radiation therapy. There is a lot of exhaustion, prostration and icy coldness. There is nausea and vomiting, anorexia, weight loss, and hair loss.

Sol: Hair loss and emaciation. Try this remedy if Cadmium Sulphuricum seems indicated but has no effect.

Radium Bromatum: Use for burned skin after radiation therapy.

X-Ray: Another common remedy for burns caused by radiation therapy.

Topical Aloe Vera: For radiation burns, apply aloe vera directly from the leaf onto the wound. Calendula cream is also effective for topical treatment for radiation burns.

Dosage: Give 2 doses of the indicated remedy, one at 4 hours and one at 2 hours before the radiation therapy. Give one dose immediately after the radiation therapy and then give one at 2 hours and one at 4 hours after. On the two days following the radiation therapy give 3 doses of the indicated remedy approximately 6 hours apart. Use a 30C potency (strength) of the indicated remedy.

Homeopathic Remedies for a Nuclear Crisis & Radioactive Fallout

First, try to determine what radioactive substances you are dealing with. The recommendations below are for people who are in close vicinity to a nuclear disaster. Homeopathic experts Ravi Roy and Carol Lage-Roy helped thousands of people after the Chernobyl disaster. Homeopath Susan Curtis also gives recommendations in her book “Surviving with Natural Remedies.” For the current disaster in Fukushima, Curtis and the Roys recommend the following protocol:

Homeopathic Remedies For Protection (Prophylaxis) from Radiation

Take a combination of remedies specific to the radioactive particles that one is exposed to. For the crisis in Fukushima, take Radium Bromatum, Plutonium Nitricum, Strontium Carbonicum and Caesium Muriaticum. For people with weak thyroids (e.g. Hashimotos), use Radium Iodatum instead of Radium Bromatum. Order a custom made combination remedy to be made up from all four indicated remedies from the homeopathic pharmacy. 

Potency: Use a 30C potency (strength) of the indicated remedy.

Dosage for General Protection: Take one dose once per week of the homeopathic combination remedy (e.g. Radium/Plutonium Nitricum/Strontium Carbonicum/Caesium Muriaticum). Repeat for several weeks until danger of exposure has passed.

Dosage During Danger of Exposure: The combination remedy (Radium/Plutonium/Strontium/Caesium) can be taken as often as twice daily. The greater the danger, the more protection the body needs.

Homeopathic Protection from Radioactive Iodine

Kali Iodatum 3X should be taken during exposure to radioiodine. 1 dose should be taken 3 times per day. This method of protection should be considered for those who are in danger of heavy exposure to radioiodine and have no access to Potassium Iodide tablets. It is also the preferred method for those who have minimal exposure to radioactive iodine but who would still like protection (e.g. people in the United States and Canada). Kelp tablets and sea vegetables also protect the thyroid from radioiodine, and can be consumed instead of or along with kali iodatum 3X.

Treatment of Acute Radiation Poisoning

Dr. Grimmer at the height of the cold war recommended carrying Arnica 30C and Phosphorus 30C.

Give Arnica for the immediate effects such as shock and bruising. Wait a half hour then give a dose of Phosphorus. Then follow up with a regular dose of one of the following indicated remedies:

Arsenicum: Nausea, retching and vomiting after eating and drinking. Utter prostration. Extremely anxious and fearful. Restless.

Nux Vomica: Violent vomiting. Intense nausea slightly relieved after vomiting.

Phosphorus: high fever with much vomiting. It is a burning heat as if the internal body is being burnt. Desire for very cold drinks in large quantities. Empty feeling in the stomach with nausea. Anxious and melancholic.

Rhus Venenata: extreme itching, especially if large blisters form.

Refer to the beginning of the article, “Homeopathic Remedies for Radiation Therapy,” as these remedies may also be indicated for acute radiation sickness.

Dosage: Give a 30C potency (strength) of the indicated remedy 2-3 times per day.

References

Curtis, Susan “Surviving with Natural Remedies,” Winter Press, Kent, 2003.

Roy, Ravi and Carola Lage-Roy. “Homeopathic Protection and Treatment of Radioactivity.” www.lage-roy.de

The Holistic and Homeopathic Resource Center, Cairo “Holistic Treatment of Cancer: A Brief Protocol Sheet for Prescribing Homeopathic Remedies”

(Swine) flu vaccine and treatment is not safe or effective

I have been following swine flu in the news since the first outbreak in Mexico in the spring of 2009. There was and is what I perceive to be a lot of media hype around a disease that has so far killed far less people than regular influenza. The regular flu kills approx. 250,000 – 500,000 people each year worldwide. So far, the swine flu has only killed less than 2000 people since April.

Although the swine flu is a relatively mild disease that for the most part only kills immunocompromised people, the press is now arguing that the virus could mutate into a more deadly disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) says that it *could* mutate into a deadlier strain, which has to be the only reason why they declared swine flu to be a pandemic, since it kills less people than the regular flu, yet WHO does not seem to be particularly worried about the regular flu. So far, the swine flu has been around for months, and there is no sign of it mutating into a deadlier disease. In fact, just as I thought, there is now evidence that it will not mutate into something deadlier: http://www.miamiherald.com/living/health/healthAP/story/1212356.html There goes their justification for declaring the swine flu a pandemic! But, they say, it spreads more easily than the regular flu.  Since swine flu a mild disease, most people that get it recover from it, so there is still nothing to worry about.

Since there is no actual hard evidence that the swine flu is deadlier than the regular flu, my only guess about why it has been hyped so much in the media is the motivation of greed. The pharmaceutical companies that manufacture the flu vaccine stand to make billions of dollars from the swine vaccine alone. Scaremongering also increases the use of antiviral drugs once swine flu is diagnosed, since people have been led to think that the swine flu is a deadly and serious disease.

One very good reason not to get the swine flu vaccine is that the disease is relatively benign, so there is really nothing to worry about anyway. Another very good reason, and a more worrying one, is that the swine flu vaccine is very likely going to be a lot more dangerous than getting the disease. Because WHO declared the swine flu to be a pandemic, the pharmaceutical companies have been allowed to rush through the testing of the vaccine in order to prepare for the 2009 flu season. There is no long-term data about the side effects of this vaccine, therefore we really have no idea whether it is safe: http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090815/vaccine_safety_090816/20090816/

Another worry in terms of the vaccine’s safety is the use of adjuvants in some batches of the swine flu vaccine. Adjuvants are sometimes put into vaccines to make the vaccine’s effect more powerful. One adjuvant is squalene, an ingredient used in the Anthrax vaccine in the early 90′s. Squalene has been linked to Gulf War syndrome, a multi-symptom rheumatic disorder experienced by veterans of the Gulf War after receiving the Anthrax vaccine: http://www.autoimmune.com/GWSGen.html Unfortunately, squalene is also an ingredient in some batches of the swine flu vaccine.

As if all this information is not disturbing enough, very recently a letter from the Health Protection Agency, intended for neurologists, was leaked to the press warning practitioners to be on the alert for an increase in Guillain Barre syndrome after the swine flu vaccine has been administered to the public. Guillain Barre syndrome is a severe neurological disorder that was caused by the 1976 swine flu vaccine during the last swine flu pandemic. During the 1976 swine flu pandemic, more people died from the swine flu vaccine than the actual disease: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1206807/Swine-flu-jab-link-killer-nerve-disease-Leaked-letter-reveals-concern-neurologists-25-deaths-America.html

Not only is the safety of the swine flu vaccine questionable, but so is its efficacy. As I mentioned before, no long term studies of the effectiveness of the swine flu have been done because it’s such a new disease. We can only guess how effective the swine flu vaccine will be by comparing it to the effectiveness of the regular flu vaccine, since these vaccines are made in a similar manner (though there are no adjuvants in the regular flu vaccine which probably makes it a lot safer). A comprehensive review of the studies on the regular flu vaccine efficacy concludes that the vaccine is no more effective than administering a placebo: http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/333/7574/912

Not only is the swine flu vaccine on very shaky ground, but the traditional antiviral drugs used to treat it are also dangerous and ineffective. A recent CNN article questions the safety and efficacy of Tamiflu and Relenza, two antiviral drugs that are used by doctors to treat the swine flu: http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/08/11/influenza.children.tamiflu.relenza/index.html The article summarizes some studies on antiviral drugs in the treatment of the flu virus, and what they found was that they did not reduce the risk of flu-related complications. Side effects of antivirals include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The article concludes that giving antivirals to children for the flu does more harm than good.

If you are concerned about the swine flu, or even the regular flu, which is more deadly, there are safe, effective alternative options available. Homeopathy is a safe and effective prevention and treatment option for the flu. Click here to read my article about homeopathic treatment of the flu in the Georgia Straight newspaper. Click here to learn more about homeopathic flu immunizations.

Ways to Naturally Boost Your Immunity

It’s that time of year again. People are now getting colds and flus and are wondering how to boost their immunity.

Many people opt for the flu shot, but since the flu shot is not effective, this is not the best decision. For example, with young children, the flu vaccine does not decrease influenza-related hospital visits, as published in the October 2008 Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. A study in a 2008 issue of the Lancet as well as study published in a 2008 issue of American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine show that risk of pneumonia in the elderly is not affected by flu vaccination. And this should also tell you something: 60% of health care workers in the US refuse the flu shot every year!

Once you get a cold or flu, traditional pharmacies carry various cold and flu medications. These medications only suppress your symptoms, they don’t actually strengthen the immunity in any way. A recent article in the BBC deemed many cough and cold medications ineffective and unsafe for children. Though I’m not against giving the recommended dose of Tylenol to a sick child so that they can sleep through the night. Never underestimate the healing power of sleep!

Most healthy people get a couple colds a year. It is the body’s natural way to rid itself of toxins, and since we live in such a toxic environment, it makes sense that most people would get colds. For those of you who get many colds and/or flus per year, you need a bit of help to strengthen your immunity.

When I say “natural ways to increase immunity” most people think of things like Vitamin C, echinacea, oregano oil and garlic. None of these things are harmful, but I have not found them to be particularly helpful either. The smell and taste of oregano oil and garlic are a bit of a turn-off as well.

For people with low immunity, the #1 thing that I recommend is constitutional homeopathic treatment. The constitutional remedy strengthens your immunity naturally so that you don’t get as many flus and colds. There are other things that help, but constitutional treatment is the foundation for building a strong immunity. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about constitutional homeopathic treatment.

Lately there has been a lot of talk about the health benefits of Vitamin D. People do have a lot less colds and flus in the summer months, so I think there is some truth to this. A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine links Vitamin D deficiency with an increased risk for upper respiratory tract infections. The best way to get Vitamin D is moderate exposure to sunlight (without sunscreen), and in the winter months use a sun lamp.

A cold or flu is nature’s way of cleansing the body of toxins. Why not help nature along by cleansing your body yourself so that a cold or flu doesn’t have to? There are a few different cleanse kits on the market. At some point I would like to write up a review of them on this blog.

The cleanse that I have found to be the cheapest and most effective is fasting. They say that the best time to fast is spring and summer months. Part of the reason for this is practical: your body temperature decreases when you are fasting. The only exception to this rule is when you actually get a cold or flu. I find that my recovery time from a cold or flu is a lot quicker when I am fasting. The body is able to heal itself quicker because the digestive organs are resting, they don’t have to digest food. Make sure that you drink plenty of water so that you stay hydrated! The science of fasting is called Natural Hygiene. Stay tuned for upcoming blog posts about this simple cheap way to rid the body of toxins and extra weight.

I have also found the Schussler Cell Salts, also referred to as Tissue Salts, to be helpful with colds and flus, especially with my kids. Unlike herbal formulas, the cell salts taste great, kids will be begging you for more.  In Canada, Hyland’s sells the cheapest brand. At the first stage of inflammation, use the Ferrum Phosphoricum cell salt. When the mucus becomes clear and profuse, use the Natrum Muriaticum cell salt. After the mucus becomes thicker and white, the Kali Muriaticum cell salt will help break up the secretions.

Something else that has been most helpful for myself and my family during cold and flu season have been the homeopathic colour remedies, first potentized by American homeopath Ambika Wauters in  1990. You guessed it, I will be writing more about these amazing remedies in the future. Basically it’s like colour therapy but in sugar pill form. It’s a great way to cleanse the chakras, and is yet another way to rid the body of toxins.

Feel free to comment if you feel that I have left anything out that has worked for you. I am always open to new methods of healing.

A Safe, Effective Alternative to the Flu Vaccine

About a month and a half ago, I wrote about and gave evidence as to why the (swine) flu vaccine and treatment is not safe or effective. The mainstream media continues to hype the swine (H1N1) flu even though there have only been a total 79 deaths reported in Canada according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

The current cover story in The Atlantic Magazine, “Does the Vaccine Matter?” goes over in detail the problems with the flu and swine flu vaccine, as well as the antiviral drugs used by doctors as standard treatment. They interview some experts who say that the flu and the swine flu vaccine are potentially useless. Some scientists reviewed the flu vaccine studies and found that they were biased by the “healthy user effect.” Healthy people are more likely to get the flu shot because they are more mobile, whereas the unhealthy people did not tend to get the flu shot. Most of the studies that have been published on the efficacy of the flu vaccine are flawed and riddled with bias. The cover story also talks about a few of the vocal, brave scientists who have spoken out against the flu vaccine, and have subsequently been snubbed and ignored by their peers and the scientific journals because they failed to tow the line.

Here’s the good news: there are alternatives that work. People with low immunity should get constitutional homeopathic treatment, it’s an absolute must for people with low immunity. There are also other natural ways to boost your immunity.

But, let’s say you have a strong immune system but still don’t want to risk getting the H1N1 or regular flu. Others are in high risk groups for the (swine) flu, such as pregnant women, the elderly, asthmatics, people with compromised immune systems, or young children. These people will all benefit from homeopathic flu immunizations.

To immunize against the flu, we use the homeopathic remedy Influenzinum. Influenzinum is a remedy made from flu viruses, rendered completely safe and non-toxic by a homeopathic pharmacist.

In 1998 the French Society of Homeopathy conducted a survey of 23 homeopathic doctors concerning their use of Influenzinum as a flu preventative. The survey included use of Influenzinum over a 10 year period (1987-1998) in 458 patients. Results of the survey were remarkable. In approximately 90 percent of the cases no instances of the flu occurred when Influenzinum was used preventively.

I offer homeopathic immunizations for the flu at my clinic, and they are now available for purchase online. I use a high potency of Influenzinum 1M obtained from Helios Pharmacy in England. The immunization remedy must be taken once per month until the end of the flu season. It is taken by mouth and comes in the form of sugar pellets. It is safe and effective for pregnant women and children of any age, including babies.

People may have seen the Boiron product Influenzinum 9C in Canadian health food stores. Homeocan also carries Influenzinum. I have heard that the Homeocan and Boiron Influenzinum is not very effective because it is sourced from the regular influenza vaccine, whereas the Helios Influenzinum is sourced from actual influenza viruses. Plus the Boiron 9C is such a low potency that you would have to take it once a week for 6 months, which would be very time-consuming and costly.

However, Boiron does have an immune-boosting product called Thymuline. I have heard that this product actually does boost the immune system so it might be worth a try.

Feel free to contact the clinic if you have any questions about homeopathic flu immunizations.

Swine flu vaccine ingredients are not safe for pregnant women and children

Update for Pregnant Women: Swine Flu Vaccine Without Adjuvant is Unsafe

Right now, the swine flu vaccine is being distributed to the Canadian and US population. Of first priority to receive the shot are pregnant women and young children, both considered to be high risk groups for the H1N1 flu. I strongly believe that the swine flu vaccine is not safe or effective for anyone, but it is especially dangerous for young children and unborn fetuses.

There are many reasons for extreme caution. The testing of the vaccine was fast-tracked, so there are absolutely no long-term studies done on its safety. Also most disturbing are the list of toxic ingredients in the vaccine: squalene, thimerosal, and aluminum salts.

Squalene is an adjuvant added to the swine flu vaccine in order to enhance its immune-stimulating properties. A study done on rats in 2000 published in the American Journal of Pathology shows that squalene can induce rheumatoid arthritis. Another study published 2000 in Experimental and Molecular Pathology shows a clear link between Gulf War Syndrome and exposure to squalene. A later study published 2002 in Experimental and Molecular Pathology shows that those military personnel who did have adverse reactions to the anthrax vaccine were all exposed to the batches of the vaccine which contained squalene.

In Canada pregnant women and children will be given the option to use an unadjuvanted vaccine that does not contain squalene. But why give them a choice? It’s like asking whether or not you’d like rat poison in your coffee.

Thimerosal is  a mercury-containing preservative in the swine flu vaccine. A few weeks ago Washington state issued a press release stating that they would be temporarily suspending Washington’s limit on the amount of mercury (thimerosal) allowed in H1N1 vaccine given to pregnant women and children under three. Mercury-free vaccine will be available, but if the mercury-free vaccine runs out, under this new law, pregnant women and children will be allowed to be injected with an amount of mercury that would normally be illegal.

Doctors, pharmacists, and the mainstream press assure us that thimerosal is not harmful but one recent study begs to differ. A study done by UBC professor Dr. Chris Shaw published in the June 2009 edition of Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry found that thimerosal is toxic to the cells of an unborn fetus. Pregnant women are told not to eat tuna because it contains high levels of mercury, yet it is perfectly acceptable to inject mercury directly into a pregnant woman?! The US and Canadian governments assure us that thimerosal is not harmful, yet they have systematically removed thimerosal from every single childhood vaccine except for the (swine) flu vaccine. Russia, Denmark, Austria, Japan, Great Britain, and all the Scandinavian countries have banned thimerosal from being used in any of their vaccines.

Lastly there is yet another heavy metal in the swine flu vaccine: aluminum hydroxide. Most people have stopped using aluminum pots and pans because it is well known that aluminum is linked to brain damage. In April 2009 a study was published in the Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry linking aluminum hydroxide injections to motor deficits and motor neuron degeneration. A 2007 study published in Neuromolecular Medicine showed “Aluminum adjuvant linked to Gulf War illness induces motor neuron death in mice” (M.S. Petrik, et al, Vol. 1, No. 9, pp. 83-100).

There is a lot of hype surrounding the swine flu, fueled by the mainstream media, doctors and the medical establishment. The motivation for this hype is profits, since pharmaceutical companies and doctors make money from swine flu immunizations. They are not concerned about pregnant women and children, they’re only concerned with their own pocketbooks.

There are a few options. If you have strong immunity, you have nothing to fear. Don’t take the swine flu shot, which will only damage your health, and you have nothing to worry about.

If you have low resistance to any flu, cough, or cold that comes along, I recommend that you consult a professional homeopath for constitutional treatment. Feel free to contact me for more information.

You can also boost your immunity naturally or get a homeopathic flu immunization. There are many safe, effective options available that will help strengthen you and your family’s immunity to swine flu.

Six Swine Flu Vaccine Deaths and Hundreds of Debilitating H1N1 Vaccine Side Effects

Little is known about the side effects of the brand new swine flu vaccine. Here in North America, vaccinations have only recently gotten underway. Many Europeans, however, have already received the vaccine, because the approval process for the vaccine was speedier in many European countries compared to Canada and the US. So one must look to the Europeans to see what potential side effects one can expect if one is considering the vaccination.

There have been 6 deaths so far linked to the swine flu vaccine. On October 20 The Budapest Times reported that a 64-year-old Hungarian woman died 2 days after receiving the H1N1 vaccine. She had chronic but mild heart disease.

There have been 5 deaths linked to the swine flu vaccine in Sweden, according to the Swedish paper The Local. The first deaths were first reported by Swedish paper the Aftonbladet on October 22nd: a 50-year old man with serious heart problems and a 65-year-old woman died shortly after receiving the swine flu vaccination. Further deaths were reported by a few Swedish news sources, including DN.se, last Friday October 24th: A 74-year old woman died 4 days after receiving the swine flu vaccination and a 90-year old woman also died a few days after receiving the vaccine. Edit: On October 27th another death  was reported in the Aftonbladet. I will post more information once I can find an English translation.  It is worth noting that more Swedish people have been killed by the swine flu vaccine than by the actual swine flu, since only 2 swine flu deaths have been confirmed so far in Sweden compared with 5 deaths in Sweden from the vaccine.

There have been over 190 reports of vaccine side effects reported to the Swedish government. It is reported by DN.se that side effects are more common with the swine flu vaccine compared to the regular flu vaccine. Edit: As of October 27th Swedish news website SvD reports that 350 Swedes have now reported side effects.

The Swedish newspaper Expressen gives personal accounts of some of the side effects that the Swedes are experiencing. Lotta Lindstrom, age 49, still feels bad a week after taking the vaccine. She had a high fever and a headache after taking the vaccine, and was forced to take a day off work. Maria Strindlund, age 27, got a severe fever and chills and was forced to take sick leave after getting vaccinated. Rebecka Anderson, 32, became “decrepit” for 2 full days following the vaccination. Five of Rebecka’s classmates also got sick from the vaccination. Jennely Ottosson, 26, was healthy before receiving the swine flu jab. Immediately after receiving the vaccination, she got a high fever that lasted 3 days and was so exhausted that she could barely walk 5 feet. At least 10 of Jennely’s co-workers also got a fever after getting vaccinated.

Canadians may be thinking “that’s unfortunate for the Swedes but our swine flu vaccine is safe.” Wrong. GlaxoSmithKline is the manufacturer of both the Swedish and the Canadian swine flu vaccines. The Swedish swine flu vaccine is called Pandemrix and the Canadian one is called Arepanrix, but they are actually the same vaccine with different names. Pandemrix aka Arepanrix contains squalene, thimerosal (mercury) and aluminum salts (among other goodies). As far as I know, the vaccine in Hungary, made by drug company Omnivest, is not being distributed outside of Hungary.

All of the people who have died from the swine flu vaccine so far have underlying health conditions. Wait a minute, aren’t these the same people that the mainstream press and government are urging to rush out to get the vaccine?! I think this vaccine is extremely dangerous for anybody with chronic health problems.

One thing that I find curious is that the press has said that seniors have more immunity to H1N1 than younger people because they were probably exposed to similar viruses in their lifetimes. Younger people are the ones who have less immunity to H1N1, so why are they vaccinating seniors at all? And it is mostly the seniors who are dying from the vaccine!

People should be aware that there are safe, effective non-toxic options to combat swine flu and to increase their immunity. Constitutional homeopathic treatment is key (Contact me or contact a classical homeopath in your area). I also offer a homeopathic flu immunization for only $20 per person, now available for online purchase. Additionally, I have written a blog post about how to boost your immunity naturally.

Update: Swine Flu Vaccine Without Adjuvant is Unsafe

Oct 28, 2009: About a week ago I reported that swine flu vaccine ingredients are not safe for pregnant women and children. Yesterday I learned that the government will order 200,000 doses of non-adjuvanted swine flu vaccine called Panvax from Australian drug company CSL.

Panvax is licensed for use in Australia and the United States but is unlicensed here in Canada, according to The Canadian Press. The Health Minister had to sign an interim order to allow the vaccine into the country. Panvax does not contain the adjuvant squalene, but does contain thimerosal (mercury).

Other ingredients in Panvax that could harm an unborn baby other than thimerosal include neomycin, polymyxin B sulfate and beta-propiolactone.

Neomycin is an antibiotic that can cause damage to the kidneys and/or nerves.  Side effects are decreased urination, hearing loss, ringing in the ears, feeling of fullness in the ears, dizziness, numbness, skin tingling, muscle twitching, or seizures which may be signs of kidney or nerve damage. Neomycin is in pregnancy category D which means it may be harmful to an unborn baby.

Polymyxin B Sulfate is also an antibiotic. It can cause serious side effects, including kidney failure. Other side effects include  irritability, weakness, drowsiness, numbness in the arms or legs, or blurred vision. The safety of Polymyxin B Sulfate  has not been established for use during pregnancy.

Beta-Propiolactone is a disinfectant. The CDC labels beta-propiolactone as a potential human carcinogen. In rats, acute oral administration or intraperitoneal injection of beta-propiolactone caused muscular spasms, respiratory difficulty, convulsions, and death. Acute intravenous injection caused kidney tubule and liver damage. Subcutaneous injection of beta-propiolactone  in rats and mice produced cancer at the sites of administration. Single intraperitoneal injections in suckling mice produced lymphatic tumors and liver cancer. A study in 1984 in the Journal of Neurological Sciences showed that some neurological complications in young adults was caused by antirabies vaccines containing beta-propiolactone.

There are non-toxic options for strengthening the immunity during pregnancy. Constitutional homeopathy is the best way to strengthen the immunity. Homeopathy is also useful for morning sickness, lower back pain, urinary tract infections, depression, mood swings, constipation, indigestion, insomnia, yeast infections and more. Contact the clinic to find out how homeopathy can alleviate your health complaints during pregnancy safely and naturally.

We also offer homeopathic flu immunizations at our clinic. This is a safe, effective, non toxic alternative to the regular flu vaccine. It is completely safe for pregnant or nursing women and children.

December Update
H1N1 Vaccine Miscarriages: Exclusive Interview with Connie Adams and More Reports Worldwide

Polish Health Minister Rejects H1N1 Vaccine

Polish Health Minister in Polish Parliament regarding swine flu vaccines 5^th November 2009

I would like to say that my priority during my 20 odd years of my GP practice was “First of all do not harm,” I took that rule with me to my Health Minister Office.

In situations when I was to recommend a medicine to anybody, I believe just like any other practitioner, I would think: would I give it to my elderly mother, my child?

And exactly such thoughts make me very cautious about double checking the information regarding a medicine that the Health Ministry is to recommend to every Pole – to millions of Poles that have no medical education that a Minister has, that an expert, professor Brydak has, an expert that has been working on the flu for over 40 years. He works in one of 189 flu research centers that are in the world, one is in Poland. Can we today be accused of lack of knowledge about the flu? Can one question an opinion of a professor that has been working on the flu for over 40 years, and not just on one type of flu, that has published hundreds of articles on the subject?

I have just one fundamental question: do we want to fight the flu pandemic?

Today we have knowledge about enclosures in agreements that other governments of wealthier countries have signed with vaccine producers.

Also we know what was proposed to Poland. Due to negotiations being in progress I can’t tell you everything today, but I can tell you one thing: our Law Department found at least 20 points of doubt in the agreement.

So what is the Health Minister’s duty? To sign agreements that are in the best interests of the Polish people, or to sign agreements that are in the best interests of the pharmaceutical companies?

I know that there are 3 vaccines available on the market today, of 3 different producers. Each has a different amount of active substance and yet strangely they are all treated the same. Therefore isn’t it fair enough for the Health Minister and health experts to have doubts about it? Maybe the one with trace amounts of active substances is just a “holy water” that we are supposed to think can cure flu? Are we supposed to pay for that?

We have an example of Germany that bought 50 million jabs, only 10% have been applied so far. Only 13% of Germans want to take this “miraculous cure” today. But it’s peculiar because the Germans have a very high percentage of vaccine takers, so when in Poland for 1000 people only 52 will take a seasonal flu jab, in Germany there will be 238 per 1000 (23%). So what is happening when only 13% of Germans want to take the swine flu vaccine and not 23% of the population as usual with the seasonal flu vaccine? Their government bought the vaccines and offered them for free and they don’t want it. What happened?

Can those facts make us have second thoughts about buying the vaccines or not? Second thoughts about introducing a medicine that is kind of secret?

There are websites on which vaccine producers have an obligation to publish so-called post-vaccine unwanted side effects. The vaccinations in Europe started on 1^st October 2009. I would like you to visit any of these websites and find any unwanted side effects. The slightest thing, at least one, like allergic skin rash. That can happen even when using the safest medicine. There are none on those websites. A “perfect” medicine?! And since this is so miraculous, then why don’t the producing companies want to introduce their medicines to the free market and take responsibility for them? Why wouldn’t they say: “Wonderful, safe medicine, therefore I will take responsibility for it, I will introduce it to the market and everything is clear and transparent,” instead of dropping the weight on us, the buyers.

We do not have clinical test results, no detailed ingredients and no information about side effects. The vaccines are now in the 4^th stage of very short tests and we still do not have this information. Also the sample size has been very little, one kind of vaccine was tested only on 160 volunteers aged 20-60, all healthy. Another kind of vaccine tested on 600 volunteers aged 18-60, all healthy. Is this good enough, especially for us doctors present in the room? It is not good enough for me.

I want to be sure enough to recommend this vaccine. We are not out of the line for the vaccine, during the negotiations we want to take that time and use it to find out as much as we can about the vaccine. Then if the pandemic committee will accept this vaccine, we will buy it.

Also there are 1 billion people with seasonal flu worldwide every year. 1 million people die of seasonal flu worldwide every year. And this hasn’t been going happening for a year or two, but for a very long time. Has anybody anywhere announced a pandemic because of seasonal flu? And the seasonal flu is much more dangerous than swine flu, there are many deaths and severe complications. Was there any pandemic announced? Those who are pushing me to buy the vaccines, I ask you: Why didn’t you scream and shout last year, 2 years ago and in 2003? In 2003 there were 1,200,000 Poles who had seasonal flu! Did anybody shout, here in this room: “Let’s buy vaccines for everybody!” I can’t recall such a thing.

And finally I would like to say only one thing: The Polish nation is very wise, Poles can tell the truth from lies very precisely. They can also tell what is an objective situation and what is just a game.

Canadians: Have you experienced side effects from the H1N1 Vaccine?

Then I would like to interview you! Looking for anybody who has experienced severe side effects after taking the swine flu vaccine. Particularly looking for people living in the Vancouver area. Please post here or email info@littlemountainhomeopathy.com so we can set up an interview via email, Skype or MSN. Preferably I want to post real names and pictures so people know this is for real.

Homeopathic Remedies for Flu

In September of 2009 I wrote an introductory article in the Georgia Straight newspaper about the homeopathic treatment and prevention of the flu. Homeopathy has a long, successful history in the treatment and prevention of the flu.

Homeopathic Flu Prevention

Read more about Homeopathic Influenzinum: A Safe, Effective Alternative to the Flu Vaccine

Homeopathic Flu Treatment

Homeopaths treat their patients successfully with homeopathic remedies. Some of the remedies that have been used successfully are:

Oscillococcinum by Boiron: Particularly useful at the beginning stages of the flu. When in doubt about what homeopathic remedy to use for flu, try this remedy. This is the #1 selling remedy for the flu in Europe. The Homeocan version is called Homeocoksinum.

Gelsemium: The most common remedy for the flu. People needing this remedy are weak, achy and tired. There is constant chilliness and the cough is hard and painful. Gelsemium was the genus epidemicus (the most commonly used) remedy for the Spanish flu of 1918.

Bryonia Alba: The second most used remedy for the flu after Gelsemium. Bryonia flus come on slowly and people needing this remedy are worse from any kind of motion. People needing this remedy may also have a very painful cough. They are thirsty, hot, and desire cool fresh air.

Eupatorium Perfoliatum: Another common flu remedy. There is a lot of soreness and aching of the entire body. There is so much aching in the bones that it feels like the bones could break. People needing this remedy are thirsty, whereas people needing Gelsemium are not.

Belladonna: Usually most useful at the beginning of a flu. A Belladonna flu has a rapid onset with a very high fever. The person may be fearful and delirious with the fever. People needing this remedy usually have a red, flushed face and have throbbing pains in the head or throat.

Rhus Toxicodendron: Someone needing this remedy is restless, with aches and pains that are worse lying still and better with continued motion. They are chilly, thirsty for sips of water, with a dry mouth and dry sore throat.

Nux Vomica: A person with a Nux Vomica flu is very chilly and always wants to be covered with a blanket; they are irritable and may have a queasy stomach.

Arsenicum Album: Useful for treatment of the flu when the virus affects the upper respiratory tract with copious watery secretions from the nose and eye inflammation. There is a lot of lethargy and prostration, nausea, vomiting, and chilliness.

Baptisia Tinctoria: Like Belladonna flus, the Baptisia flu comes on suddenly with a high fever. People needing this remedy have offensive smelling sweat, breath, and stool. Offensive diarrhea is very characteristic of people needing this remedy.

There are many more possible remedies that could be indicated for the flu. I have just tried to list the most frequently indicated ones.

Dosage: Give the indicated remedy every half hour for three doses. If there is no change in the patient’s condition, you have picked the wrong remedy. Once the patient’s condition improves, decrease dosage to 3 times per day until recovery. Use a 30C potency. For serious cases of the flu, consult a classical homeopath in your area.

I have also found that Hyland’s brand Ferrum Phosphoricum cell salts are useful to bring down a fever. For high fevers, give once every 15 minutes to half hour until the fever starts going down. Thereafter, give 3-4 times per day until the fever dissipates. To get rid of runny mucus, give Natrum Muriaticum cell salts. For tougher, thicker mucus, give Kali Muriaticum cell salts. The Nat Mur and Kali Mur cell salts can be taken 3-4 times per day.

People with low immunity should consult a classical homeopath to inquire about constitutional treatment. Constitutional treatment is the most effective way to boost your immunity. Contact the clinic to find out more about constitutional treatment.

Deaths from Flu in Young Healthy People Linked to MRSA Infection

This flu season there has been lots of talk in the mainstream press about how deadly the (H1N1) flu is, and therefore we must all get the (H1N1) flu vaccine(s). What a lot of people don’t know is that it is not always the swine flu itself that is killing people. The vast majority of the people who die from swine flu have high risk medical conditions. A small minority who die are young and healthy, but are these people actually dying from H1N1 or from something else?

As of September 2009, The CDC reported that 67% of the 36 children who died of swine flu in the US also had high risk medical conditions.  Among 23 children with culture or pathology results reported, laboratory-confirmed bacterial coinfections were identified in 10 (43%), including all six children who were over 5 years old and had no recognized high-risk condition. In other words, all six of these healthy children died from bacterial pneumonia, not from the swine flu itself. Among the seven children aged under 5 years who died, two had a laboratory-confirmed bacterial coinfection; neither child had a high-risk medical condition. Three out of the 8 healthy children (37%) died from pneumonia caused by an MRSA coinfection.

What is MRSA?
MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The term is used to describe a number of strains of the bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, that are resistant to a number of antibiotics, including methicillin. Drug resistant forms of bacteria are also known as “superbugs.”

A 2008 article in Infection Control Today reports that “MRSA Caused Pneumonia Deaths During 2006-2007 in Young, Healthy People.” A high number of cases of pneumonia caused by staph infections resulted in death among young, otherwise healthy patients during the 2006-2007 flu season, with more than three-quarters caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

A meta-analysis of seventy-six studies published by the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy concludes that previous antibiotic exposure increases the risk of getting an MRSA infection. As of 2008, 85 percent of MRSA infections are healthcare associated. That means that 85 percent of MRSA infections are acquired in hospitals or healthcare facilities. An article in Dermatology Nursing links the spread of MRSA with inadequate hospital hygiene practices. For example, a 2006 study published in The Journal of Hospital Infection reveals that 38% of the research sample of health professionals failed to wash their hands after contact with MRSA patients.

To help determine the role of bacterial coinfection in the current influenza pandemic, CDC examined postmortem lung specimens from patients with fatal cases of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) for bacterial causes of pneumonia. During May 1–August 20, 2009, specimens were admitted to CDC from 77 U.S. patients with fatal cases of confirmed 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1). Bacterial coinfections were found in 30% of the patients. 9% of the patients examined had MRSA. Most recently, the Journal of Infection reports that a healthy male with H1N1 died from an MRSA coinfection.

MRSA is much more deadly than H1N1, but considering how serious it is, it is largely ignored by the mainstream media. In the UK in 2008, 1,230 people died from MRSA, compared to under 200 deaths from H1N1 this season. MRSA is even deadlier than AIDS! A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), linked MRSA infection to over 18,000 deaths in the US in 2005, compared to the 16,000 AIDS-related deaths recorded by the World Health Organization in the same year. Compare those figures with the 1,200 US swine flu deaths that have occurred this season. In Canada in 2006, MRSA was responsible for 2600 deaths, compared to only 198 deaths caused by swine flu this season.

Antibiotic resistant superbugs such as MRSA, VRE, and e. coli are on the rise.  The culprit: overuse of antibiotics. Like all living things, bacteria adapt to the environment. Faced with an antibiotic, a few hearty bugs survive. Those superbugs then multiply, creating a new strain that the old antibiotic can’t touch. The more antibiotics used, the more the bacteria evolve.

Luckily, there are alternatives to antibiotics. Homeopathy is a complete system of medicine that can be used for coughs, colds, flus and fevers. If you have a weak immune system, consult a classical homeopath for constitutional treatment, which will strengthen your immune system naturally. Contact the clinic for more information about constitutional treatment.

To find out how flus can be treated effectively with homeopathy, read my recent blog post: Homeopathic Remedies for Flu

Homeopathic Remedies for Teething

Like many parents I’ve talked to, my first introduction to homeopathy was when my youngest daughter started having teething troubles. She would wake up screaming in pain. Tylenol didn’t seem to help with the pain; she and I would be up most of the night. All I wanted was to see her (and I) get some much needed relief and sleep. I then decided to try Boiron’s Camilia. One dose didn’t seem to do much, but by the third dose she had calmed down and was able to get back to sleep. The next night, she woke up screaming again. This time, armed with Camilia, I was again able to get her back to sleep within 45 minutes instead of the usual hellish night of no sleep.

Camilia works, but most mothers who have used it agree that it is expensive. Soon after my experience with Camilia, I started seeing a classical homeopath for constitutional treatment. I bought the book Homeopathy for Children at my homeopath’s clinic. It is a very useful and basic book about how to use homeopathy for everyday health complaints. It had a very good, comprehensive section about treating teething with homeopathic remedies.

After reading the children’s book, I discovered that my baby fit the remedy picture of a Chamomilla baby while she was teething. Babies needing Chamomilla are extremely irritable when they are teething. The pain can be so unbearable that they can get extremely angry and strike out. They can be extremely whiny and nothing will satisfy them. One characteristic thing about my child that made me know that she needed Chamomilla was that Chamomilla babies are quiet as long as they are being carried. My husband and I spent many nights pacing the floor carrying our daughter in our arms! Other characteristics which would make one think of giving Chamomilla are the pains are worse at night, there may be loose stools, and the cheek that the tooth is coming in on can be hot and red while the other cheek will be pale.

Chamomilla is by far the most common teething remedy, but it does not work for all children. Aconite, for example, is another common teething remedy. Teething babies who need Aconite have extreme pain with a lot of anxiety and restlessness, and often have inflamed gums. It’s a good second choice if Chamomilla seems indicated but doesn’t work.

Ignatia is another common homeopathic teething remedy. Unlike angry Chamomilla children, the Ignatia children are more weepy and sympathetic when teething. The Ignatia child may sigh, tremble, single body parts may quiver or jerk, and they may wake from sleep with piercing cries.

Kreosote is the indicated remedy if your baby’s gums are severely inflamed and red with a spongy consistency. Teething for these babies is extremely painful, and they will be extremely agitated and wakeful.

Mercurius Vivus is indicated for teething babies who are drooling excessively accompanied by offensive bad breath. The pain is worse at night.

Podophyllum is indicated when the baby’s teething troubles are accompanied by noisy, explosive diarrhea.

Dosage for single homeopathic remedies: One dose can be enough if the teething isn’t too severe. For more severe teething, one dose can be given every half hour for up to 3 doses. If 3 doses doesn’t bring relief, you have chosen the wrong remedy.

Using single homeopathic remedies as opposed to combination remedies (such as Camilia) will save you money. I also find that single remedies can be more effective because in general, single remedy potencies are stronger than the potency of combination remedies, plus you are being more exact with your prescribing by just giving one remedy. Combination remedies contain many different homeopathic remedies in a low potency. Most combination remedies contain enough different types of low potency remedies that the odds are good that one of the the ingredients will help your child.

For those of you who find single remedy selection confusing, I recommend Hyland’s Teething Tablets. I have talked to many satisfied parents who have used Hyland’s Teething Tablets for their children. When using these tablets with very young babies, it is best to put a few of the tablets in a dropper bottle filled with filtered or spring water, then put a few drops of the watery solution into the baby’s mouth.

Some children have a lot of trouble with teething. If your child’s teeth are very slow to come in or are decaying soon after coming in, it is best to consult your local classical homeopath so that your baby can have constitutional homeopathic treatment. Contact the clinic for more information about constitutional homeopathic treatment.

H1N1 Vaccine Miscarriages: Exclusive Interview with Connie Adams and More Reports Worldwide

December 6, 2009: About 6 weeks ago, when mass vaccinations were getting underway in North America, I warned pregnant women that the unadjuvanted H1N1 vaccine for pregnant women is not safe. I am very sad to report that pregnant women have been miscarrying after receiving the H1N1 injection.

The press in Europe has reported that nine European women have miscarried after getting the swine flu jab. On November 17, Portuguese news website Diario reported that 2 women in their 30s miscarried soon after being vaccinated. One day later, Portuguese radio station Radiohertz reported that yet another woman had miscarried after having her H1N1 shot. Then a few days later, news website Le Parisien reported that a French lady lost her baby two days after getting her Pandemrix H1N1 jab.

Today Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet reports the 5th miscarriage that has happened in Sweden after a woman has received her H1N1 shot. 28-year-old Zahra was in her final month of pregnancy. She was due on November 24th. Inside her stomach she felt regular, strong kicks. On November 19th she went for her last check at the health centre. Everything looked good and she heard the baby’s heartbeat.

Zahra had previously declined to be vaccinated against swine flu, but was persuaded by her doctor to take the syringe.  “Two days later I felt something was wrong in my stomach. The child did not move. He was not breathing.” Three days before scheduled delivery, Zahra gave birth to her dead son. “I just cried and cried. He weighed 4.5 kilograms and had all his fingers, all his toes, all his body parts. But he was not breathing. I think that the vaccine killed my child. Before I got the syringe everything was good.  I do not know how to live with this. But I must talk about it so that other women will not be subjected to the same thing. I want them to investigate this and make sure it does not happen again.”

Recently I had the privilege of interviewing 34-year old Connie Adams of Columbus, Ohio, USA. She miscarried soon after getting the H1N1 vaccine and would like other pregnant women to hear her story before making the decision to get vaccinated.

I was 16.5 weeks pregnant. It was my 3^rd pregnancy. I have a 17 and 12 year old. In Ohio they are promoting the vaccine for pregnant women. I went for my H1N1 shot on October 22, and I began to feel bad on the 24^th and on the 25th I was bent over on the couch. My doctor said it was probably round ligament pain. For the next few days I continued feeling bad and at night I could not sleep. On the 27th my water broke and on the 29th I miscarried. The week before I got the shot, I went for my doctor’s appointment. Everything was fine, no pain or anything. But after I had that shot I felt bad.

Did you ask your doctor if they thought the vaccine caused it?

I asked her if there’s a possibility that the vaccine had something to do with it. She said I can guarantee you on my life that it was not the vaccination. But I never had problems with my other pregnancies. It’s weird.

Have you talked to other women who also miscarried after getting the H1N1 shot?

I’ve had women who have contacted me after I posted my email address on the About.com website who said my friend had that shot and miscarried. They were always 20 something weeks and under, in their 1^st and 2^nd trimester. I have heard from about 7-8 women.

So you think the vaccine caused the miscarriage?

The baby was growing fine. It was a perfectly healthy pregnancy. My doctor said everything was fine. I was taking vitamins even before I was pregnant. I had the vaccination then everything just went downhill. I feel like something triggered my labour.

Why aren’t these miscarriages being more thoroughly investigated?

They say that more pregnant women are benefiting from the vaccine than miscarrying. That’s how my doctor put it.

And you disagree?

I was injected with the Sanofi H1N1 vaccine. After I miscarried I did some research and found out that it contains fermaldehyde, mercury, etc. You put that into my body and you tell me everything is fine?! I did not know what was in the vaccine. If I would’ve known what was in it I would never have received the shot. Also I found out later that the vaccine manufacturer says that pregnant women should not take the H1N1 shot unless they have to.

This must be so hard for you…

It’s been a month and a half, and it’s still hard for me. Nobody is talking about the side effects or the risks. They are constantly promoting this for pregnant women and we’re their guinea pigs.

How Homeopathic Medicines Work: Nanopharmacology at its Best

by Dana Ullman
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dana-ullman/how-homeopathic-medicines_b_389146.html

It is commonly assumed that homeopathic medicines are composed of extremely small doses of medicinal substances. And yet, does anyone refer to an atomic bomb as an extremely small dose of a bomb? In actual fact, there is a power, a very real power, in having atoms smash against each other.

Homeopathic medicines are made through a specific pharmacological process of dilution and vigorous shaking. However, when skeptics say that there is nothing but water in homeopathic medicine, they are proving their ignorance, despite the incredible arrogance in which they make these assertions. Dr. Martin Chaplin, a respected British professor who is one of the world’s experts on water, has verified that “homeopathic water” and “regular water” are not the same, and his review of almost 2,000 references to the scientific literature on water (!) confirm this fact (Chaplin, 2009).

It should be noted that a large number of homeopathic medicines sold in health food stores and pharmacies are made in doses with known physiological doses. In fact, there are several thousand (!) studies in conventional scientific journals showing a wide variety of biological effects from extremely small doses of various substances on specific systems.

Homeopathic medicines can and should be considered to be a type of “nanopharmacology” (Ullman, 2006). Although the word “nano” also means one-billionth of a size, that is not its only definition. In fact, “nano” derives from the word “dwarf,” and “nano” is the only word in the English language that is used on common parlance as denoting extremely small AND yet extremely powerful. Homeopathic medicines are both extremely small in dose and yet extremely powerful in their therapeutic effect.

For 200 years now, millions of physicians and hundreds of millions of homeopathic patients have observed and experienced the power and effectiveness of homeopathic medicines

The Power of Nano-doses

Precisely how homeopathic medicines work remains a mystery, and yet, nature is replete with mysteries and with numerous striking examples of the power of extremely small doses.

For instance, it is commonly known that a certain species of moth can smell pheromones of its own species up to two miles away. It is no simple coincidence that species only sense pheromones from those in the same species who emit them (akin to the homeopathic principle of similars), as though they have developed exquisite and specific receptor sites for what they need to propagate their species. Likewise, sharks are known to sense blood in the water at distances, and when one considers the volume of water in the ocean, it becomes obvious that sharks, like all living creatures, develop extreme hypersensitivity for whatever will help ensure their survival.

That living organisms have some truly remarkable sensitivities is no controversy. The challenging question that remains is: How does the medicine become imprinted into the water and how does the homeopathic process of dilution with succussion increase the medicine’s power? Although we do not know precisely the answer to this question, some new research may help point the way.

The newest and most intriguing way to explain how homeopathic medicines may work derives from some sophisticated modern technology. Scientists at several universities and hospitals in France and Belgium have discovered that the vigorous shaking of the water in glass bottles causes extremely small amounts of silica fragments or chips to fall into the water (Demangeat, et al., 2004). Perhaps these silica chips may help to store the information in the water, with each medicine that is initially placed in the water creating its own pharmacological effect. In any case, each medicinal substance will interact with the silica fragments in its own idiosyncratic way, thereby changing the nature and structure of water accordingly.

Further, the micro-bubbles and the nano-bubbles that are caused by the shaking may burst and thereby produce microenvironments of higher temperature and pressure. Several studies by chemists and physicists have revealed increased release of heat from water in which homeopathic medicines are prepared, even when the repeated process of dilutions should suggest that there are no molecules remaining of the original medicinal substance (Elia and Niccoli, 1999; Elia, et al., 2004; Rey, 2003).

Also, a group of highly respected scientists have confirmed that the vigorous shaking involved with making homeopathic medicines changes the pressure in the water, akin to water being at 10,000 feet in altitude (Roy, et al., 2005). These scientists have shown how the homeopathic process of using double-distilled water and then diluting and shaking the medicine in a sequential fashion changes the structure of water.

One metaphor that may help us understand how and why extremely small doses of medicinal agents may work derives from present knowledge of modern submarine radio communications. Normal radio waves simply do not penetrate water, so submarines must use an extremely low-frequency radio wave. The radio waves used by submarines to penetrate water are so low that a single wavelength is typically several miles long!

If one considers that the human body is 70-80 percent water, perhaps the best way to provide pharmacological information to the body and into intercellular fluids is with nanodoses. Like the extremely low-frequency radio waves, it may be necessary to use extremely low (and activated) doses for a person to receive the medicinal effect.

It is important to understand that nanopharmacological doses will not have any effect unless the person is hypersensitive to the specific medicinal substance. Hypersensitivity is created when there is some type of resonance between the medicine and the person. Because the system of homeopathy bases its selection of the medicine on its ability to cause in overdose the similar symptoms that the sick person is experiencing, homeopathy’s principle of similars is simply a practical method of finding the substance to which a person is hypersensitive.

The homeopathic principle of similars makes further sense when one considers that modern physiologists and pathologists recognize that disease is not simply the result of breakdown or surrender of the body but that symptoms are instead representative of the body’s efforts to fight infection or adapt to stress.

Using a nanodose that is able to penetrate deeply into the body and that is specifically chosen for its ability to mimic the symptoms helps to initiate a profound healing process. It is also important to highlight the fact that a homeopathic medicine is not simply chosen for its ability to cause a similar disease but for its ability to cause a similar syndrome of symptoms of disease, of which the specific localized disease is a part. By understanding that the human body is a complex organism that creates a wide variety of physical and psychological symptoms, homeopaths acknowledge biological complexity and have a system of treatment to address it effectively.

Although no one knows precisely how homeopathic medicines initiate the healing process, we have more than 200 years of evidence from hundreds of thousands of clinicians and tens of millions of patients that these medicines have powerful effects. One cannot help but anticipate the veritable treasure trove of knowledge that further research in homeopathy and nanopharmacology will bring.

Nobel Prize-winning Scientist on Homeopathy…

Brian Josephson, Ph.D., (1940-) is a British physicist who won a Nobel Prize in Physics in 1973 for work he completed when he was only 22 years old. He is currently a professor at the University of Cambridge where he is the head of the mind-matter unification project in the Theory of Condensed Matter research group.

Responding to an article in the New Scientist (October 18, 1997) that expressed skepticism about homeopathy, Josephson wrote:

Regarding your comments on claims made for homeopathy: criticisms centered around the vanishingly small number of solute molecules present in a solution after it has been repeatedly diluted are beside the point, since advocates of homeopathic remedies attribute their effects not to molecules present in the water, but to modifications of the water’s structure. Simple-minded analysis may suggest that water, being a fluid, cannot have a structure of the kind that such a picture would demand. But cases such as that of liquid crystals, which while flowing like an ordinary fluid can maintain an ordered structure over macroscopic distances, show the limitations of such ways of thinking. There have not, to the best of my knowledge, been any refutations of homeopathy that remain valid after this particular point is taken into account.

A related topic is the phenomenon, claimed by Jacques Benveniste’s colleague Yolène Thomas and by others to be well established experimentally, known as “memory of water”. If valid, this would be of greater significance than homeopathy itself, and it attests to the limited vision of the modern scientific community that, far from hastening to test such claims, the only response has been to dismiss them out of hand. (Josephson, 1997)

Later, when Josephson was interviewed by the New Scientist (December 9, 2006), he chose to emphasize that many scientists today suffer from “pathological disbelief”; that is, they maintain an unscientific attitude that is embodied by the statement “even if it were true I wouldn’t believe it.” Sadly, such scientists are simply showing evidence of an unscientific attitude.

Quantum Medicine

Quantum physics does not disprove Newtonian physics; quantum physics simply extends our understanding of extremely small and extremely large systems. Likewise, homeopathy does not disprove conventional pharmacology; instead, it extends our understanding of extremely small doses of medicinal agents. It is time that physicians and scientists began incorporating both Newtonian and quantum physics into a better understanding of what healing is and how to best augment it.

The founder of homeopathic medicine, Samuel Hahnemann, MD, rewrote and updated his seminal work on the subject five times in his lifetime, each time refining his observations. Homeopaths continue to refine this system of nanopharmacology. While there is not always agreement on the best ways to select the correct remedy or the best nanopharmacological dose to use, the system of homeopathic medicine provides a solid foundation from which clinicians and researchers exploring nanopharmacologies can and should explore.

Dana Ullman, MPH, is America’s leading spokesperson for homeopathy and is the founder of www.homeopathic.com. He is the author of 10 books, including his bestseller, Everybody’s Guide to Homeopathic Medicines. His most recent book is, The Homeopathic Revolution: Why Famous People and Cultural Heroes Choose Homeopathy. Dana lives, practices, and writes from Berkeley, California.

References:

Chaplin, Martin. 2009 (updated regularly) http://www1.lsbu.ac.uk/water/index2.html

Demangeat, J.-L., Gries, P., Poitevin, B., Droesbeke J.-J., Zahaf, T., Maton, F., Pierart, C., and Muller, R. N. Low-Field NMR Water Proton Longitudinal Relaxation in Ultrahighly Diluted Aqueous Solutions of Silica-Lactose Prepared in Glass Material for Pharmaceutical Use, Applied Magnetic Resonance, 2004, 26:465-481.

Elia, V. and Niccoli, M. Thermodynamics of Extremely Diluted Aqueous Solutions, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1999, 879:241-248.

Elia, V., Baiano, S., Duro, I., Napoli, E., Niccoli, M., and Nonatelli, L. Permanent Physio-chemical Properties of Extremely Diluted Aqueous Solutions of Homeopathic Medicines, Homeopathy, 2004, 93:144-150.

Josephson, B. D., Letter, New Scientist, November 1, 1997.

Rey, L. Thermoluminescence of Ultra-High Dilutions of Lithium Chloride and Sodium Chloride. Physica A, 2003, 323:67-74.

Roy, R., Tiller, W. A., Bell, I., and Hoover, M. R. The Structure of Liquid Water: Novel Insights from Materials Research; Potential Relevance to Homeopathy, Materials Research Innovations, December 2005, 9(4):577-608..

Ullman, Dana. “Let’s have a serious discussion of nanopharmacology and homeopathy”. FASEB. 2006;20:2661.

Homeopathy for Adverse Reactions to Vaccinations

Classical homeopaths have been treating adverse reactions to vaccines for over 100 years.

In the late 1800s, British homeopath Dr. James Compton Burnett was among the first to discover that vaccines trigger chronic disease.

The homeopathic term for chronic adverse vaccine reactions is “vaccinosis.”

Back in the late 1800s, the homeopathic remedy Thuja was often used to successfully treat adverse reactions to the smallpox vaccine.

Still today, Thuja is touted as the #1 homeopathic remedy to use for adverse vaccine reactions. However, though Thuja was an effective treatment for vaccinosis back in Burnett’s day, in modern times it is largely ineffective for treating the adverse effects of vaccines.

To find out what works for vaccinosis in modern times, we must turn to the work of modern Dutch homeopath Dr. Tinus Smits. Dr.  Smits is both a medical doctor and homeopath who has been practicing homeopathy for over 20 years. He is also a seasoned expert in treating what he calls PVS: Post-Vaccination Syndrome.

Definition of Post-Vaccination Syndrome

Post-vaccination syndrome is defined as any symptoms that manifest after vaccination. PVS can be divided into an acute and chronic syndrome.

Main Symptoms of Acute PVS

Fever, convulsions, absent-mindedness, encephalitis and/or meningitis, limbs swollen around the point of inoculation, whooping-type cough, bronchitis, diarrhea, excessive drowsiness, frequent and inconsolable crying, penetrating and heart-rending shrieking (cri encéphalique), fainting/shock, pneumonia, death, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Main Symptoms of Chronic PVS

Colds with amber or green phlegm, inflamed eyes, loss of eye contact, squinting, inflammation of the middle ear, bronchitis, expectoration, coughing, asthma, eczema, allergies, inflamed joints, tiredness and lack of vigour, excessive thirst, diabetes, diarrhea, constipation, headaches, disturbed sleep with periods of waking and crying, epilepsy, rigidity of the back, muscle cramps, light-headedness, lack of concentration, loss of memory, growth disturbances, lack of coordination, disturbed development, behavioural problems such as fidgeting, aggressiveness, irritation, moodiness, emotional imbalance, confusion, loss of will-power, and mental torpidity.

Which Vaccines are the Most Problematic?

According to Dr. Smits, the most problematic vaccines are:

DTaP-IPV vaccine: For diptheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (whooping cough), and polio. This is a combination vaccine given in Canada. In other countries the name of this vaccine may be slightly different. Vaccinations with this vaccine in Canada start at 2 months of age and are repeated at 4 months, 6 months, 18 months, and 4-6 years old.

HiB vaccine: For Haemophilis influenzae type b. This vaccine is given at the same times as the DTaP-IPV vaccine except that there is no dose at 4-6 years.

MMR vaccine: For measles, mumps, and rubella. This vaccine is first given when the child is a year old and is repeated either at 18 months of age or at 4-6 years of age.

(HB) Hepatitis B: 3 doses are now recommended at infancy in Canada. Usually at the 2 month, 4 month, and 6 month mark.

Influenza vaccine (including H1N1): Recommended for children 6-23 months of age and seniors over 65. The H1N1 vaccine is recommended for everybody.

Another potentially problematic vaccine:

(Var) Varicella vaccine: For chicken pox. Given at the age of 1 year.

The Diagnosis of Post-Vaccination Syndrome

Post-vaccination syndrome should always be considered whenever the person’s health complaints started at the time of, or the period following, vaccination. The fact that the person has displayed no direct or acute reaction to a vaccination does not necessarily exclude the possibility of the vaccine being the cause of chronic complaints. These complaints usually become clear only after one, two or even more weeks have passed. Also, in some cases it is often only after the second, third or fourth administration of the vaccine that problems suddenly occur.

Homeopathic Treatment of PVS

Homeopathic treatment of PVS must only be attempted by a properly trained classical homeopath. Once the homeopath has identified the offending vaccine, s/he must give the person the homeopathic version of the offending vaccine in order to neutralize the vaccine’s harmful effects. The homeopathic form of the vaccine is completely safe and non-toxic, as it has been strongly diluted and potentised.

I am now offering a homeopathic protocol for the prevention of vaccine damage at the clinic. Contact the clinic to book an appointment.

For a more detailed explanation of Dr. Tinus Smit’s PVS Protocol, download his free booklet: “The Post-Vaccination Syndrome.” The booklet also goes over in much detail a large number of Dr. Smit’s cured cases of PVS.

Interested in a safe, effective alternative to vaccinations?
Homeopathic Immunizations: A Proven Alternative to Vaccinations

How to Prevent Vaccine Injury

Many parents who know the risks of vaccines still choose to vaccinate because they feel that the benefits of protection from the disease outweigh the risks of vaccinating. Here are some possibilities to consider for those parents who are concerned about the risks but still want to at least partially vaccinate their children:

1. Homeopath Dr. Tinus Smits is an expert in treating vaccine damaged children. He suggests giving a homeopathic potency of the vaccine before and immediately after the child gets their jab. This is an effective method of preventing vaccine damage, although it is not always effective 100% of the time. Contact the clinic or a classical homeopath in your area to find out more about how homeopathy can be used to prevent vaccine injury.

2. Delay vaccinations until the baby has built up its cellular defenses sufficiently. Dr. Donald Miller recommends delaying vaccination until the child is 2 years old. If you are not willing to wait until your child is 2, consider delaying as long as possible. Dr. Smits recommends waiting until the child is at least 1.5 years old.

3. Administer vaccines separately when possible. Canadians can ask for the DTaP-IPV vaccine to be administered separately from the Hib vaccine, for example.

4. Reduce the total number of vaccinations to three from four for the DTaP-IPV and HIB, the first two with an interval of two months and the third after six months. Other countries follow this protocol.

5. Leave out the vaccines that are not absolutely necessary. If your child is healthy you should consider leaving out the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), Varicella (chicken pox), Hep B vaccine and (H1N1) Influenza vaccine. Measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox and influenza are relatively mild diseases in healthy children. Most babies and young children in Canada are not at risk for Hep B, though parents may want to consider the vaccination when the child is older or when traveling overseas.

6. If you suspect that your child’s health has been compromised by vaccinations, seek homeopathic help before vaccinating further.

I am now offering a homeopathic protocol for the prevention of vaccine damage at the clinic. Contact the clinic to book an appointment. To read more about the homeopathic prevention of post-vaccination syndrome, read this blog post: Homeopathy for Adverse Reactions to Vaccines.

Read about the research in support of homeopathic immunizations:
Homeopathic Immunizations: A Proven Alternative to Vaccinations

Natural Eczema Creams and Treatments: A Review

I have treated many cases of eczema successfully using classical homeopathy. Classical homeopaths, such as myself, use only one homeopathic remedy at a time to treat the whole person. We treat the root cause of the eczema, rather than using topical applications. Natural creams only soothe the eczema, and steroid creams suppress the eczema.

The use of steroid cream, for example, is an example of suppression. Although the steroid cream may temporarily alleviate the eczema, the skin problem will usually come back if the steroid cream is discontinued. Homeopaths believe that the use of steroid creams drives the disturbance/imbalance away from the skin and into the internal organs. A classical example of this is using steroid cream on a young child’s eczema, resulting in the disappearance of the eczema and the appearance of asthma. What happened in this example is that the child’s eczema was suppressed by the steroid cream, driving the disturbance inwards to the lungs.

Chronic cases of eczema can be treated effectively with classical homeopathy. Contact the clinic or a classical homeopath in your area.

Homeopathic remedies help the body heal itself. For some people, especially those who have had eczema for many years, the healing process can be slow. While undergoing homeopathic treatment, there are a number of creams and ointments that can soothe and moisturize itchy, dry and/or cracked skin:

Olive Oil and Coconut Oil
The cheapest and simplest option, though using oils tends to be messier than using a cream. Of the two, I prefer coconut oil, although some of my clients prefer using olive oil. Coconut oil has excellent wound healing abilities – apply it to cracks in the skin and they will heal in no time (if the cracks are deep also apply a bandage over the wound). Another good thing about using oils is that even the most sensitive skin will tolerate them, even a newborn baby’s. Try to use organic, cold-pressed if you can.

Weleda Creams
Completely safe and natural products available in most health food stores and natural pharmacies. This company makes good quality products that smell great. Adults can use “Skin Food,” for dry and rough skin. They have a number of good products for babies. My favourite is “Calendula Baby Cream.” Other options for childhood eczema are “Calendula Diaper Care,” “Calendula Lotion,” and “Calendula Oil.” These products aren’t cheap but I think they’re worth their price tag.

Rescue Cream
Many people are familiar with Bach’s Rescue Remedy. It is also available as a topical cream. I have found this cream to be very effective in alleviating intense itching. The only problem is the price tag. If you are on a budget, you could buy the regular Rescue Remedy tincture, a base cream, and make your own Rescue Cream.

Calendula Cream
You can buy plain Calendula creams if you don’t want to spend your money on the high-priced Weleda brand, though you will sacrifice attractiveness and quality. Calendula cream will soothe dry skin and hasten wound healing. Personally, I haven’t found it to be any more effective than applying plain coconut oil. Common brands sold in Canada include Thompson’s, Boiron, Nelsons, and Homeocan.

Ingredients to Avoid
Always look at the list of ingredients! Many companies claim that their products are completely natural, but their ingredients are actually harmful. Be on the lookout for these ingredients:

Parabens: can disrupt your endocrine (hormonal) system
Propylene Glycol: a known carcinogen and skin irritant. Linked to kidney and liver problems.
Mineral Oil, Paraffin, and Petrolatum: comes from crude oil and does not allow the skin to breathe
Phenol Carbolic Acid: Can cause circulatory collapse, paralysis, convulsions, coma, and even death.
Toluene: Chronic exposure linked to anemia, lowered blood cell count, liver or kidney damage.

For a more detailed discussion of problematic skincare ingredients, go to Dr. Mercola’s site: http://www.mercolahealthyskin.com/organic-skin-care.aspx

What Causes Autism?

Many scientists and MD’s relate autism to genetics. Genetics do play a role, of course, but all alternative practitioners along with a growing number of mainstream practitioners also relate autism to environmental factors. The mainstream medical community says that there is no relation between autism and vaccination, yet many parents have observed that the onset of their child’s autism coincided exactly with their child’s vaccine jab.

In December 2009, the CDC released its autism figures for the 2006 surveillance year. These figures showed that autism increased by a shocking 60% between the years 2002 and 2006 with almost 1% of all US kids affected. The rate of autism in the United States is now somewhere between 1 and 91 to 1 and 110 children, with the majority being boys.

Genetics alone cannot explain these numbers. Environmental toxicity must play a large role. Consider that autism was a very rare disease in the 1980′s. Also consider there has been a 260% increase in vaccines administered between 1983 and 2007. It is commonly believed by many alternative health practitioners that the culprit is thimerosal (mercury), an ingredient in many childhood vaccines. A study done in 2006 (Walker et al) suggests that thimerosal exposure may be a triggering mechanism for autism in susceptible children. I don’t think that mercury is the only culprit, although I’m sure it does play some role, since it can cause brain damage. There are many toxic ingredients in childhood vaccines, including but not limited to aluminum salts, ammonium sulfate, formaldehyde, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen peroxide, neomycin, MSG, 2-phenoxyethanol, phosphate buffers, polysorbate 80, sodium chloride, sodium hydroxide, and sorbitol. For a more detailed analysis of toxic ingredients in vaccines, including thimerosal, see my blog articles: Swine Flu Vaccine Without Adjuvant is Unsafe and Swine flu vaccine ingredients are not safe for pregnant women and children.

Any one of the toxic ingredients in childhood vaccines could be the cause of autism. Most likely, what happens is that the baby’s body is not able to handle the sheer volume of vaccines injected into him/her, resulting in various types of chronic health problems and sometimes resulting in autism if the baby is genetically susceptible. Other likely causes of autism include pollution, toxins in our food/water supply and pharmaceutical drugs. Any type of toxin in the environment could contribute to autism.

An excellently well-referenced article in The American Chronicle discusses the potential causes of autism. Phthalates, PCB’s and other chemicals (Booker, 2001), have increased at the same rate as autism has. Metal concentrations in the air may also be linked to autism (Windham, 2006).

Read about the gentlest, most effective way to treat autism: Natural Treatment of Autism with Homeopathy

References

Booker, S (2001). NIEHS investigates links between children, the environment, and neurotoxicity. Environmental Health Perspectives. 109:6, A258-A261.

Walker, SJ, Segal, J, & Aschner, M (2006). Cultured lymphocytes from autistic children and non-autistic siblings up-regulate heat shock protein RNA in response to thimerosal challenge. Neurotoxicology. 27:5, 685-692.

Windham, GC, Zhang, L, Gunier, R, Croen, LA, & Grether, JK (2006). Autism spectrum disorder in relation to distribution of hazardous air pollutants in the San Francisco bay area. Environmental Health Perspectives. 114:9, 1438-1444.

Natural Treatment of Autism with Homeopathy

For an overview of the probable causes of autism: What Causes Autism?

Why Treat Autism Naturally?

There is no cure for autism in the conventional medical world. Pharmaceuticals can only be used to treat the symptoms of autism. Pharmaceutical treatments always have harmful side effects because they contain toxic chemicals. However, some children with severe autism may have to use natural treatments alongside conventional treatments. Natural treatments do not interfere with the actions of pharmaceutical drugs.

Homeopathy: The #1 Choice for Autism Treatment

Classical homeopathy is the most popular form of alternative medicine in the world, though there is not much awareness about it in Canada or the United States. Treatment is safe, gentle, and effective. Homeopathic remedies, given one at a time and spaced out appropriately, stimulate the child’s body to heal itself. They will also stimulate the child’s body to detox in a gentle way.

Who is Qualified to Treat Your Autistic Child with Homeopathy?

Only classical homeopaths are qualified to treat your autistic child homeopathically. Naturopaths and other types of health practitioners do not have enough training in homeopathy to treat your child using advanced classical homeopathic methods of prescribing. It takes years of intense study to learn how to use homeopathy effectively. Do not attempt to self-prescribe! Also keep in mind that classical homeopaths only use one remedy at a time; they never use homeopathic combination remedies. Contact the clinic or contact a local classical homeopath to find out more about treating autism with homeopathy.

Case Studies Proving the Efficacy of Homeopathy with Autism

Indian homeopath Dr. M.A. Rajalakshm has written two papers on the successful treatment of autism with homeopathy:
Role of Homoeopathy in the Management of Autism: Study of Effects of Homoeopathic Treatment on the Autism Triad
New Dimensions in the Treatment of Autism with Homeopathy

A Drug-Free Approach to Autism Spectrum Disorder by Ian R. Luepker

Cured cases  are discussed on the website Homeopathy for Autism: Reversing Autism (Part 1)

On hpathy.com Dr. Paful M. Barvalia discusses A Case of Autism and homeopath David Johnson also discusses A Case of Autism

Dutch homeopath Dr. Tinus Smits discusses a number of his successfully cured cases of autism: Autism – Successful Cases

Homeopathy and Autism Success Stories

Amy Lansky is the author of the bestselling book Impossible Cure: The Promise of Homeopathy. Homeopathy cured Amy’s son Max: Max’s Story – A Carcinosin Cure. There are also an impressive number of success stories on Lansky’s website: Impossible Cure Story Database

The Ullmans, both naturopathic doctors, list two homeopathic success stories with autism: Success Stories – Noah and Success Stories – Connor

Kaiden’s recovery from autism is discussed on the website recoveredfromautism.com: Homeopathy – Kaiden’s Treatment

A number of success stories can be found on the web page of the Homeopathy Centre of Houston: Homeopathy for Autism Testimonials

Little Mountain Homeopathy (Vancouver, BC) Homeopathy for Autism Testimonial

Books about Homeopathy and Autism

Lansky, Amy, The Impossible Cure: The Promise of Homeopathy. R L Ranch Pr, 2003.

Ullman, Judyth Reichenberg, Robert Ullman and Ian Luepker, A Drug-Free Approach to Asperger Syndrome and Autism: Homeopathic Care for Exceptional Kids. Picnic Point Press, 2005.

Articles about Homeopathy and Autism

The Homeopathic Treatment of Autism by Amy Rothenberg, ND

Homeopathy and Autism: A Unique Opportunity for Transformation by Amy Lansky

Learn more about the homeopathic treatment of autism in Vancouver

Homeopathic Immunizations: A Proven Alternative to Vaccinations

Homeoprophylaxis – A Proven Alternative to Vaccination

By Dr Isaac Golden

I prepared my first formal program of homeopathic remedies to prevent infectious diseases in 1986. In the following 20+ years, tens of thousands of Australian children have been immunized homeopathically – a method called homeoprophylaxis (HP) – using programs from myself as well as other practitioners across the country. The method itself is over 200 years old, and has considerable clinical and research experience to support its claims.

In 2004, I integrated 18 years of data collection from parents of children using my program with 4 years of doctoral research at Swinburne University in Melbourne. The purpose of this article is to share with you the findings of this and other research into the effectiveness and safety of HP.

Background

The use of HP was first described by Dr Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, in 1801. He used the remedy Belladonna 30 to successfully treat patients with the disease Scarlet Fever, but fortuitously found that the remedy also helped to prevent the disease. He then used HP to prevent such diseases as Cholera and Typhoid. In the decades following, many leading homeopaths used HP to prevent a variety of infectious diseases, mainly in acute epidemic situations.

The largest trial of the short-term use of HP was against an outbreak of Meningococcal disease in Brazil. The researchers gave 65,826 children the homeopathic remedy Meningococcinum. Another 23,539 were not protected. The effectiveness of HP after 6 months was 95%, and after a 12 months follow-up was 91%.

Whilst many homeopaths also use HP for long-term prevention (mainly in Australia and the Indian subcontinent), there had been very little formal statistical research into the long-term use of HP prior to 1985. The data I have collected since that time provides a useful guide as to the effectiveness and safety of long-term HP. It confirms that the findings regarding epidemic use also extend to long-term use, with an average effectiveness of around 90%, and a very high level of safety. These findings are presented below.

The Effectiveness of Homeoprophylaxis

As mentioned above, we have a considerable amount of clinical evidence showing that HP provides a high level of protection against targeted infectious diseases. This is supported by a small number of statistical trials which are summarized in Table 1 below. These show an average effectiveness of around 90%, which certainly is comparable to measures of vaccine effectiveness, which range from 70% to 99%, depending on the individual vaccine, and the type of trial used to measure efficacy (real-world experiences show lower rates than clinical trials).

These figures confirm that no method of disease prevention is ever 100% effective.

No statistical study is ever perfect, and of course the reliability of my data is open to question. So as part of my Swinburne research, I applied seven statistical tests to validate the long-term data I have been collecting since 1985. These are described in detail elsewhere, and they did show a high level of reliability. For example, my single figure measure of long-term HP effectiveness was 90.4%, with 95% confidence limits of 87.6% – 93.2% (i.e. it can be stated with 95% confidence that the efficacy lies between 87.6% AND 93.2%), a very strong result.

Table 1: The Effectiveness of HP – Statistical Trials in Humans

Year	Researcher*	Numbers of Participants	Length of Survey		Effectiveness %
1907	Eaton	2,806	< 1 year		97.5
1950	Taylor-Smith	82 (12 definitely exposed)	< 1 year		100.0
1963	Gutman	385	< 1 year		86.0
1974	Castro &Nogeira	HP 18,000 Not HP 6,340	3 months		86.1
1987	English	694	2 years		87.0 – 91.5
1987	Fox	61	5 years		82.0 – 95.0
1998	Mroninski et al	HP 65,826 Not HP 23,539	6 months 12 months		95.0 – 91.0
1997	Golden	593 children  1,305 questionnaires	10 years		88.8
2004	Golden	1,159 children 2,342 questionnaires	15 years		90.4

* References for these studies may be found in Vaccination and Homeoprophylaxis – A Review of Risks and Alternatives, 6th edition

So those in pharmaceutical medicine who state that there is no evidence supporting the effectiveness of HP are clearly wrong. It is not essential to rely only on randomized clinical trials (RCTs) to provide evidence, and in fact the findings of many RCTs are shown to be questionable over time (e.g. drugs such as Vioxx that were tested in RCTs, then later withdrawn from use because of side-effects not discovered or acknowledged during the RCTs).

Thus homeopaths can confidently say that HP provides a definite level of protection against targeted infectious diseases, which is not 100%, but which is comparable to that of vaccines.

The Safety of Homoeoprophylaxis

Homeopathic medicines are usually prepared using a series of dilutions and succussions (firm striking of the container holding the liquid remedy against a firm surface). The remedies are called “potencies” because at each stage they become energetically stronger. After the 12c potency, no molecules of the original substance remain, yet the remedy is energetically stronger. Pharmaceutical advocates cannot understand this, because their paradigm forces them to believe that as the number of molecules of a substance decreases in a medicine, the medicine becomes weaker. This is true if the kinetic energy of the succussion is not correctly applied, and a simple dilution only is prepared. But we are making much more than a simple dilution.

Doctors agree that homoeopathic potencies cannot be toxic, and so physical safety is not an issue. However, some homeopaths have expressed concerns over the years as to whether the long-term use of the remedies in my HP program is energetically safe. Many people who are not bound to the pharmaceutical paradigm understand that energy can produce real and tangible effects, and if misused can cause problems. One important part of my research at Swinburne was to check the long-term safety of HP.

This was done by examining 5 markers of overall wellbeing in children aged between 4 and 12 years of age – asthma, eczema, ear/hearing problems, allergies and behavioural problems. These were compared to a range of early childhood markers, including breastfeeding status, birthweight, APGAR scores, as well as to 4 possible immunization methods – vaccination, HP, general/constitutional prevention, and no prevention at all. That gave 20 (5 x 4) possible combinations of health conditions and immunization methods. The data was processed using Odds Ratios and Chi Squared Probability tests.

Once again, the full results are reported in detail elsewhere, but the main findings are as follows:

1. In 19 of the 20 possible measures of health, vaccinated children were less healthy than other children, usually by a significant amount (the 1 measure favouring vaccination was not statistically significant). The most dramatic single finding was that vaccinated children have a 15 times greater chance of becoming asthmatic than children using HP, with P>99%, a highly statistically significant finding.
2. Children using HP were generally at least as healthy (and often more healthy) as children who used constitutional/general immunization or no immunization at all. The HP group were not exclusively from people who were extremely health conscious. Regularly, parents using my HP program say that it is their first introduction to homeopathy and to natural medicine in general.
3. Parental estimates of general well-being were very high in the HP group – at least as high as in other groups.
4. Not all HP programs give consistent results. When comparing children using my HP program to those using other HP programs, the levels of both effectiveness and safety were lower in the group using other programs. So it is advisable to check the basis of a HP program before committing to it. Programs using daily doses of low potencies provide less effective long-term prevention than programs using infrequent doses of (appropriately selected) high potencies.

We may conclude from the parts of my data which were statistically significant (P?95%), that HP is associated with an improvement in general health, compared to other immunization methods (as well as no immunization at all), and that this figure is significantly better when compared to vaccinated children. Therefore we may conclude that the evidence suggests that the use of an appropriate long-term HP program does not lessen the health of children, and evidence suggests that it may in fact assist the maturation of the immune system by gently challenging the system in the first 5-6 years of life.

Concluding Comments

What began as a limited study 20 years ago has grown, for me, into an ongoing attempt to make parents, as well as health professionals, aware of the wonderful opportunity that homoeoprophylaxis offers to provide protection against target infectious diseases, without risking the long-term health of their children. It may be safely used by adults.

Not every infectious disease is a dire threat to a healthy infant. I personally don’t believe that immunization against every infectious disease is essential. But I do believe that the right to choose which diseases should be prevented should belong to the parents of each child. We can confidently say to parents that they can provide a high (but not complete) level of protection against targeted diseases, without risk, by using an appropriate HP program.

We can also say to those within the pharmaceutical industry who disparage HP as being untested and uncertain – take the time to study the facts available. Criticism without facts is the antithesis of the true scientific method, yet it is the response we continually get from pharmaceutical medicine when it comes to HP.

I concluded my doctoral thesis by saying that “a national immunization system, where both vaccination and HP were available to parents, would increase the national coverage against targeted infectious diseases, and reduce the incidence of some chronic health conditions, especially asthma”. The data is unambiguous, and it is time that those who run the health services of this country get serious about long-term health, and fully support the use of the best of what natural medicine in general, and homeopathic medicine in particular, has to offer.

Vaccines offer a level of protection against targeted infectious diseases, but involve a long-term risk that has never been adequately measured. Evidence shows that vaccination is a factor in the increase in asthma (and other chronic diseases) shown earlier. We can achieve a comparable level of protection, without this risk, by using an appropriate long-term HP program. It’s time that those parents who search for facts to inform themselves before vaccinating are encouraged, and not attacked by agents of the pharmaceutical industry. It’s time that parents are supported in their choice of immunization method, for the benefit of their own children and of the entire community.

For a more thorough review of the history, statistics, science and research of Homeopathic Immunizations, visit the Little Mountain Homeopathy Homeopathic Immunizations Info Page

References

Golden I. Homoeoprophylaxis – A Fifteen Year Clinical Study. 2004. Isaac Golden Publications. Daylesford.

Golden I. Homœoprophylaxis – A Practical and Philosophical Review. 2001. Isaac Golden Publications, Daylesford, Australia. 3rd edition.

Golden I. The Potential Value of Homœoprophylaxis in the Prevention of Infectious Diseases, and the Maintenance of General Health in Recipients. 2005. Swinburne University Press, Melbourne.

Golden I. Vaccination – A Homoeopathic Perspective. Nature & Health. Vol 7. No.3. Sept 1986, pages 67-70.

Golden I. Vaccination and Homoeoprophylaxis – A Review of Risks and Alternatives, 6th edition. 2005. Isaac Golden Publications. Daylesford.

Hahnemann S. The Cure and Prevention of Scarlet Fever. 1801. Republished in Lesser Writings. B Jain Publishers, New Delhi; pp. 369-385.

Mroninski C, Adriano E, Mattos G. Meningococcinum: Its protective effect against meningococcal disease. Homoeopathic Links Winter, 2001. Vol 14(4); pp. 230-4.

National Health and Medical Research Council (NH&MRC). The Australian Immunisation Handbook, 8th Edition. 2003. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.

About the Author…

Dr Isaac Golden has been in homeopathic practice since 1984. He has written 8 books on homeopathic topics and currently consults in Gisborne, Victoria. Since 1990, he has been Principal of the A.C.H.H., a correspondence college teaching homeopathy and has recently been appointed as Adjunct Professor of Homeopathy at the Australian College of Natural Medicine. He is a world authority on the use of homeoprophylaxis, and has completed the world’s largest long term trial of the method. He was awarded a PhD from Swinburne University in 2004 as a result of the research on HP he has undertaken over the last 20 years. Click here for further information about Dr Golden and his publications.

Events around Vancouver, March 2010

Inspired in the City, Richmond, BC. March 6, 2010, 11am-4pm.

Thompson Community Centre: Location on Google Maps

Homeopathy for Children: Asthma, Allergies and Eczema
Hip Baby, Vancouver, BC. March 16, 2010, 7pm-8:30pm

Introducing Homeopathic Practitioner Sonya McLeod BA, DCH as she presents her first workshop at Hip Baby: Homeopathy for Children: Asthma, Allergies and Eczema. Learn about this amazing form of natural healing, and most popular alternative method in the world, that can be used safely and effectively alongside traditional medicine. Sonya will introduce Homeopathy and discuss how she discovered the method for herself and how she successfully treats her own family and clients for asthma, allergies and eczema. Q&A to follow.

$10 per person and receive a 15% discount card to Hip Baby. For more information or to book, please come to the store or call 604 736 8020.

Hip Baby is located on Arbutus and 4th Avenue in the Kitsilano area of Vancouver.

Homeopathy for Children: Asthma, Allergies and Eczema
Lilli Q Cafe, Vancouver, BC. March 24, 2010, 11am-12pm

Classical homeopathy is a complete system of medicine that is over 200 years old and is one of the most popular form of alternative medicine in the world, yet it is virtually unknown in North America. Classical homeopath Sonya McLeod first discovered homeopathy after it cured her of food allergies and debilitating fatigue. She will talk about how she has used homeopathy to successfully treat her family and her clients for eczema, asthma and allergies. Learn about this amazing form of natural healing that can be used safely and effectively alongside traditional medicine. There will also be an introductory lecture about classical homeopathy, a discussion of natural eczema creams, and a question and answer period.

Lilli Q Cafe, 1268 Pacific Blvd. in Yaletown, downtown Vancouver, BC.

Events around Vancouver, April 2010

FOURTH ANNUAL BIRTH FEST
APRIL 10TH, 2010
10AM-3PM

BRITANNIA COMMUNITY CENTRE, GYM D
VANCOUVER, BC

Enjoy shopping & services from over 50 vendors at this year’s Birth Fest. We’ve gathered together some of the finest our community has to offer.

Great Shopping

Whether you are pregnant, have a new baby, or a family of 5, Birth Fest offers you some fabulous, local, creative shopping options.

DISCOVER fabulous shopping for baby gear, clothing, slings, cloth diapers, natural toys and more! Much of what is offered at Birth Fest is handcrafted and made of organic & natural materials.

Quality Support

Birth Fest features some of the finest service providers in the Lower Mainland.
LEARN more about childbirth preparation, midwifery care, massage therapy, birth supply and fitness options in pregnancy.
TALK with experts in classical homeopathy, perinatal & pediatric acupuncture, naturopathy, herbal medicine, chiropractic, and doula care.
ENJOY mini-workshops throughout the day, including Back Health & Carrying your Child and a mini-yoga class for children!
NURTURE yourself with free chair massages!

Community Resources

This is a wonderful place to have children, and a host of great community resources support us through the changes.

ENGAGE with unique support services available to support your growing family, from breastfeeding support to play groups to childcare.

Live Music

Over 50 incredible vendors and community groups, live music, a festive and funky vibe, a truly community-centred festival in celebration of bellies, birth and babies.

10 – 11 Navaro Franco on Mbira – www.onewithdrum.com

11:15 – 12:15 Zox of the Forest – www.zoxoftheforest.com

12:30 – 1:30 Jim Meyer on Chapman Stick – www.jimmeyer.ca

1:45 – 2:45 Christine Gaspar with Elephunk Safari
_______________________________________________________________________

ANNOUNCING THE GRAND OPENING OF VANCOUVER’S FIRST ECO-DAYCARE!
APRIL 10-11, 2011, 12pm – 5pm
Grow Childcare
www.growchildcare.ca

Spring Detox With Fresh Dandelions

Dandelions are so common here in BC during springtime. Its Latin name is taraxacum officinale. Before I got involved in the natural health field I would weed dandelions out of my garden and throw them away. Now I treat every dandelion plant in my garden like the treasure that it is. Dandelions are completely edible, plus most importantly, consuming them will detoxify your liver and kidneys. It is a powerful diuretic which, unlike pharmaceutical diuretics, does not drain the body of potassium because it is also rich in potassium. Dandelions also contain vitamin A, calcium, and iron. Remember to avoid eating dandelions that have been sprayed with pesticides.

How to add dandelion to your diet

1. Add fresh dandelion leaves to your salads

2. Make fresh or dried dandelion roots or leaves into an herbal tea. The roots have anti-rheumatic properties.

Dandelion Herbal Tea Recipe
4 cups pure water
6 tablespoons dried dandelion root (1 year old minimum)
6 tablespoons dried dandelion leaf (double amount if fresh)

3. Make a root tincture. Put 2 to 3 teaspoons of root into 1 cup of water, bring to a boil, simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Drink 3-5 ml 3 times per day.

4. Pick the flower stems and eat just the stems whole. The stems have powerful detoxifying properties.

5. Make dandelion wine.
Here is a fairly simple recipe from The Herb Companion -
How to Make Herbal Wine: Dandelion Wine

6. Dandelion green water. A very simple recipe that doesn`t require much effort. Other greens can be substituted for the dandelion to stimulate the body`s ability to detox.

Dandelion green water recipe
Place a handful of dandelion leaves into a blender. Fill the blender with 3 cups of filtered water. Blend and pour the liquid through a strainer. Makes about 2 servings.

Looking for an effective liver supplement that contains dandelion root? I recommend Liver Milk Thistle

References

The Home Apothecary by Jessica Houdret
Medical Herbalism by David Hoffman
The Seasonal Detox Diet, Remedies from the Ancient Cookfire, by Carrie L’Esperance

Fear the MMR Vaccine, Not the Measles

The Propaganda

At the end of March 2010 the mainstream media loudly announces an outbreak of measles in BC. As of April 16 there have been 44 cases of measles reported around the Vancouver Lower Mainland, the BC Interior and Northern BC. No serious complications have been reported thus far though the media is using its usual scare tactics to urge the unvaccinated population to run out to get the MMR vaccine. Some schools are actually sending unvaccinated children home because they feel that measles is such a serious threat.

Simple Solution
Poverty and Malnutrition  are the Problem, Not the Measles

The press gives the impression that measles can only be kept under control by vaccination, but there is another side to the story. According to figures published in International Mortality Statistics, from 1915 to 1958 the measles death rate in the U.S. and U.K. declined by 98% (Miller). A chart illustrating the decline was published in a Public Health Report: “Mortality in the United States, 1900-1950.” The measles vaccine was introduced a few years after the decline, in 1963. The decline was not due to the vaccine, so most likely it was due to better sanitation, nutrition, and standards of living in the U.S. and U.K. Today, measles is a mild disease in first world countries but can be more severe in third world countries and in impoverished populations in the first world (Fisher). According to several studies, Vitamin A deficiency plays a big role in complication rates and chances of dying from measles (Sommer; Barclay; Keusch; Frieden). A simple solution to the measles problem is to improve hygiene and nutrition in impoverished populations.

Questionable Statistics

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates the rate of measles-induced encephalitis at 1 in every 1000 infected. Dr. Robert Mendelsohn, renowned pediatrician and vaccine researcher, questions the CDC’s numbers. He says those numbers may be accurate for people living in impoverished conditions, but for those with adequate nutrition and living conditions, the true incidence of measles-induced encephalitis is more like 1 in 10,000 or 1 in 100,000. In his bestselling book The Vaccine Guide, homeopathic pediatrician Dr. Neustaedter asserts that only 25 percent of measles induced encephalitis cases show evidence of brain damage.

Vaccine Failure

Vaccine manufacturers would like you to believe that the MMR vaccine is 100% effective, but this is not always the case. In 1988, the CDC reports that in the U.S. a whopping 45% of those who contracted the measles were fully vaccinated. The next year, in 1989 in the U.S., the CDC reports that a surprising 40% of those who got the measles were fully vaccinated. In 1996 in the U.S., the CDC reports that only 64% of those who got the measles were unvaccinated and the rest were fully vaccinated. Studies done in Ethiopia and India reported varying vaccine efficacy rates of between 53%-100% (Talley; Puri). Dr. Neustaedter estimates that approximately 60% of all children infected with the measles will have been previously vaccinated. Measles outbreaks have been reported in schools where the entire school population was fully vaccinated (Gustafson; Poland; Edmonson). Edmonson concludes that as measles immunization rates rise to high levels in a population, measles becomes a disease of immunized persons.

Vaccination Shifts Infection Risk to More Vulnerable Populations

The measles vaccine alters distribution of the disease by shifting incidence rates from age-groups unlikely to experience problems (children aged 5-9) to age-groups most likely to suffer from severe complications (infants, teenagers, and adults). According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, the risk of death from measles is higher for infants and adults than for children. Before the vaccine was introduced it was rare for an infant to contract measles, but by the 1990s more than 25% of all measles cases were occurring in babies under a year of age (Miller). This can be attributed to the growing number of mothers who were vaccinated in the 60s, 70s, and 80s (Haney). Before the vaccine, mothers were able to pass protective maternal antibodies to their babies, but now babies of vaccinated mothers are more vulnerable to measles (Papania). Before the introduction of the vaccine, measles was acquired in childhood before reaching adulthood. Now, since the introduction of the vaccine, measles incidence in the adult population in Canada and the U.S. is steadily increasing (Duclos).

Studies Suggest a Link Between MMR Vaccine and
Autism, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Ulcerative Colitis

There are studies that link the MMR vaccine with some serious health disorders. One study links MMR vaccination with irritable bowel syndrome (Thompson). Scientific papers have been published reporting a likely link between the MMR vaccine and autism (Taranger; Rutter). These studies done by Taranger and Rutter linked the onset of the studied children’s autism with immunization. A controversial scientific paper by Andrew Wakefield published in the Lancet also states that the parents of the autistic children linked the onset of symptoms with the administration of the MMR vaccine. Another study has been done that confirms Wakefield’s findings (O’Leary). In 2000, a study was done confirming the existence of the vaccine strain of the measles virus in the guts of patients with autism and ulcerative colitis (Kawashima). Two studies done by Singh et al.  in 2002 and 2003 confirmed the presence of MMR antibodies in autistic children, again suggesting a link between the MMR vaccine and autism. Singh concludes that the autistic children he studied had a hyper immune response to the vaccine strain of the measles in the MMR vaccine. In a paper published in 2004,  measles virus was found in the spinal fluid of the autistic children studied and the authors conclude that it was very likely the vaccine strain of the virus (Bradstreet). Geier & Geier were able to measure a correlation between mercury doses from thimerosal- containing vaccines and the prevalence of autism in the 1980s and 90s. Although thimerosal has now been removed from the MMR vaccine in Canada, Geier & Geier were also able to find some correlation between measles-containing vaccines and the prevalence of autism in the 1980s.

MMR Vaccine Banned in Japan

The MMR vaccine was banned in Japan in 1993. Soon after introducing the vaccine, a record number of children developed non-viral meningitis and and other adverse reactions. An analysis of vaccinations over a three-month period showed one in every 900 children was experiencing problems. This was over 2,000 times higher than the expected rate of one child in every 100,000 to 200,000.

Homeopathic Measles Immunizations

Although measles is a mild disease in healthy children, safe protection can be offered to those who would like it. To learn more about homeopathic immunizations, read my blog post – Homeopathic Immunizations: A Proven Alternative to Vaccinations and you are also welcome to visit the Homeopathic Immunizations section of my website. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have about homeopathic immunizations.

References

Barclay, A.J.G., et al. “Vitamin A supplements and mortality related to measles: a randomised clinical trial.” British Medical Journal (January 31, 1987) pp. 294-96.
Bradstreet, J.J., et al. “Detection of measles virus genomic RNA in cerebrospinal fluid of children with regressive autism: a report of three cases.” J Am Phys Surg. 2004:9(2):38-45.
Duclos, P., et al. “Measles in adults in Canada and the United States: implications for measles elimination and eradication.” Int J Epidemiol. 1999 Feb;28(1):141-6.
Edmonson, M. B., et al. (1990). “Mild Measles and Secondary Vaccine Failure During a Sustained Outbreak in a Highly Vaccinated Population.” JAMA 263: 2467-2471
Fisher, B.L., The Consumer’s Guide to Childhood Vaccines (Vienna, VA: National Vaccine Information Center, 1997), p. 18.
Frieden, T.R., et al. “Vitamin A levels and severity of measles: New York City.” Am J Dis Child 1992; 146: 182-86
Geier M.R., and Geier D.A. “A comparative evaluation of the effects of MMR immunization and mercury doses from thimerosal-containing childhood vaccines on the population prevalence of autism..” Med Sci Monit. 2004 Mar;10(3):PI33-9. Epub 2004 Mar 1.
Gustafson, T.L., “Measles Outbreak in a Fully Immunized School Population.” N Engl J Med 1987;316:771-4.
Haney, Daniel Q., “Wave of Infant Measles Stems from ’60s Vaccinations,” Albuquerque Journal, (November 23, 1992), p. B3
Kawashima, T., et al. “Detection and Sequencing of Measles Virus from Peripheral Mononuclear Cells from Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Autism” Dig Dis Sci. 2000 Apr;45(4):723-9.
Keusch, G.T. “Vitamin A supplements–too good to not be true.” New England Journal of Medicine (October 4, 1990), p. 986.
Mendelsohn, Robert. How to Raise a Healthy Child . . . In Spite of Your Doctor (Ballantine Books, 1984), pp. 231 and 251.
Miller, Neil Z., Vaccines: Are They Really Safe and Effective? New Atlantean Press, 2002.
Neustaedter, R. The Vaccine Guide. (Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books, 1996), pp.107-108.
O’Leary JJ, et al. Measles virus and autism. Lancet. 2000 Aug 26;356(9231):772.
Papania, Mark et al., “Increased Susceptibility to Measles in Infants in the United States.” Pediatrics Vol. 104 No. 5 November 1999, p. e59
Poland, G. A., Jacobson, R. M. (1994). “Failure to Reach the Goal of Measles Elimination: Apparent Paradox of Measles Infections in Immunized Persons.” Arch Intern Med 154: 1815-1820
Puri, A. et al. “Measles Vaccine Efficacy Evaluated by Case Reference Technique.” Indian Pediatr. 2002 Jun;39(6):556-60.s,
Roberts, R.J. et al. “Reasons for non-uptake of measles, mumps and rubella catch up immunisation in a measles epidemic and side effects of the vaccine.” BMJ 1995;310:1629-1639 (24 June)
Rutter, M. et al. “Autism and known medical conditions: myth and substance.” Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 1994;35:311-322.
Singh, V.K., et al. “Abnormal measles-mumps-rubella antibodies and CNS autoimmunity in Children with Autism.” J Biomed Sci. 2002 Jul-Aug;9(4):359-64.
Singh, V.K., Jensen R.L. “Elevated levels of measles antibodies in children with autism.” Pediatr Neurol. 2003 Apr;28(4):292-4.
Sommer, A., et al. “Increased risk of respiratory disease and diarrhea in children with pre-existing mild vitamin A deficiency.” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1984; 40: 1090-1095.
Sommer, A., et al. “Impact of vitamin A supplementation on childhood mortality: a randomized controlled community trial.” Lancet 1986; 1:1169-73.
Talley, L. and P. Salama. “Short report: assessing field efficacy for measles in famine-affected rural Ethiopia. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2003 May;68(5):545-6.
Taranger J, Wiholm BE. Litet antal biverkninger rapporterade efter vaccination mot massling-passguka-roda hund. Lakartidningen. 1987;84:958-950.
Thompson, N.P. Wakefield et al. “Is measles vaccination a risk factor for inflammatory bowel disease?” Lancet 1995; 345: 1071-1074.
Wakefield et al. “Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children.” Lancet. 1998 Feb 28;351(9103):637-41.

Wave of Infant Measles Stems From ’60s Vaccinations

Homeopathy: My Cure for Allergies

Originally published in babyvibe: “Allergies and Homeopathy”

My journey with homeopathy began soon after giving birth to my second child. The labour went fairly smoothly. I was fortunate to have a water birth at home under the care of a midwife. But when my baby was only a few months old my troubles began.

One morning I awoke to discover an outbreak of hives up and down my arms accompanied by puffy red eyes. My eyes and arms were extremely itchy and red. I also felt so completely drained of energy that I could barely move. I was soon able to piece together that these allergic symptoms were reactions to food. I had never had allergic reactions to foods before, so it all came as a shock to me, but I knew the flare-ups always occurred after eating.

My allergic reactions became so extreme and my energy was so low that I was frantic to find a solution so that I could care for my new baby. I tried seeing medical and naturopathic doctors, but found that I was not significantly improving. I felt hopeless and depressed about my condition. I was also running out of money.

That was until a friend of my mother’s had heard about my condition. She contacted me and told tell me about her 10 years of experience with homeopathic treatment. She used to have allergies to cat hair, but after she consulted with her homeopath, the homeopath was able to prescribe a homeopathic medicine for her that alleviated her allergic symptoms permanently. It sounded like homeopathy was worth a try so I made an appointment with a homeopath.

Homeopathic consultations are a strange and wonderful thing. The homeopath asked me all sorts of questions about my life and the consultation lasted almost a full three hours. She explained to me that in order to prescribe a homeopathic medicine for me as an individual, it was important for her to ask questions that would help her understand not only what was unique about my symptoms but also what was unique about me as an individual. When I walked out of that consultation room I felt like the homeopath possibly knew me better in some ways than my close friends and family.

A few days later I picked my homeopathic medicine up from my homeopath’s office. Inside the letter envelope they gave me were only a couple of doses of my homeopathic medication in sugar pellet form. Later I was to learn that homeopathic medications are made from anything in our natural world such as a plant, mineral or animal. Homeopaths get their remedies from homeopathic pharmacies. The homeopathic pharmacy grinds the original substance (plant, mineral or animal) with milk sugar and a mortar and pestle, then dilutes a small amount of the mixture with water and alcohol. The preparation then goes through a long repeated series of shakings (succussions) and dilutions, then is finally medicated onto sugar pellets. Homeopathic remedies stimulate the body to heal itself. Unlike standard pharmaceutical medications, one single dose of a homeopathic medication has an action that can last sometimes weeks, months, or even years.

A couple of weeks after taking only a couple of doses of my homeopathic medicine my symptoms started to subside. I came out of my depression and started my studies in homeopathy. I also found homeopathy affordable because the follow-ups are spaced six to eight weeks apart, then became much less frequent as I got better.

I believe that homeopathy works well as it always aims to address the root cause of the problem. It prevents disease rather than just treating the symptoms in the moment. It is also gentle because of how the medicines are prepared, and it is truly holistic because only one remedy is given to address all of a person’s health complaints at once.

Now, years later, I can eat any food without having an allergic reaction. The hay fever I have struggled on and off with my whole life has also completely subsided thanks to regular homeopathic treatment. I now use homeopathy to treat all of my family’s health complaints because homeopathy is a complete system of medicine.

Mercury & Heavy Metal Detox Dangers & Solutions

Those of you who are familiar with naturopathic doctors are very likely also familiar with the concept of detoxing one’s body of heavy metals. The process of detoxing heavy metals is commonly known as chelation.

What is Chelation Therapy?

Chelation therapy is the use of chelating agents (e.g. DMSA, EDTA, DMPS) to detoxify poisonous metal agents such as mercury, arsenic, and lead by converting them to a chemically inert form that can be excreted without further interaction with the body, and was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1991.

I will be the first to admit that we live in a polluted world that is filled with toxins. We breathe polluted air, drink polluted water, and eat polluted food. Pregnant women are warned not to eat tuna fish because they are filled with mercury (as well as other toxins), absorbed from the polluted waters of the ocean. Like the ocean, our atmosphere is also polluted with mercury. Add mercury-containing vaccines and amalgam dental fillings into the mix, and you can be sure that your body does contain some undesireable amount of mercury.

Could we all benefit at least a bit from detoxing our body of heavy metals? Most certainly. However, many alternative health practitioners and alternative health companies seem to be cashing in on the concept of heavy metal toxicity by saying it is responsible for a variety of ills including cancer, autism, chronic fatigue, and almost everything under the sun.

First I will be examining dangerous ways of detoxing heavy metals. Shockingly enough, these supplements are routinely prescribed by many naturopaths and DAN! (Defeat Autism Now) Doctors. I will then be looking at some safer ways of detoxing, and of treating disease in general.

DMSA

Even as early as 10 years ago, alternative health expert Dr. Mercola was writing about the dangers of using DMSA for mercury detoxification of autistic children.

Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), is the organosulfur compound with the formula HO₂CCH(SH)CH(SH)CO₂H. It is an FDA approved synthetic drug, used by some naturopaths and DAN! Doctors to chelate (excrete) heavy metals from the body. DMSA has also been used by traditional MDs in cases of lead poisoning. It is not a natural supplement.

The side effects of DMSA include seizures, increased self-stimming, compromised central nervous system function, ataxia, convulsions, nausea, diarrhea, anorexia, headache, dizziness, sensorimotor neuropathy, decreased urination, arrhythmia, and infection. These side effects are probably due to the inability of the liver and kidneys to detox the mercury in the tissues adequately. Thus, the mercury circulates in the blood, taxing the brain, lungs, muscles, heart, kidney and liver.

EDTA

EDTA is a widely used initialism for the organic compound ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. Like DMSA, EDTA is FDA approved, has traditionally been used to treat lead poisoning, and is not a natural supplement. Unlike DMSA, EDTA is a weak chelator of mercury.

Taking EDTA can be dangerous because it will chelate calcium and other essential minerals out of the body, along with the undesireable heavy metals.

Treatment is commonly administered via IV. Not only is treatment typically expensive, but potential side effects are kidney failure, convulsions, respiratory arrest, cardiac arrythmias, allergic reactions, respiratory arrest, and even death.

DMPS

Dr. Mercola and other alternative practitioners believe this is a safe alternative to DMSA, but I’m not convinced.

Dimercapto-propane sulfonate (DMPS) is an experimental drug used for chelation, not approved by the FDA.

Drs. Levy and Huggins are experts in the field of toxicity due to mercury amalgam fillings. In their book Uninformed Consent, they talk about the dangers of using synthetic chelators: “Heavy metal chelators almost always overaccelerate the detoxification of the post-TDR (total dental revision) patient. DMSA, DMPS, and EDTA can all do this. DMPS is consistently the greatest offender here. Immune declines and clinical illness can result for weeks and sometimes even months after only one injection of DMPS.”

DMPS side effects include shivering, fever, mild to severe skin reactions, nausea, dizziness, and weakness. Long term use of DMPS can influence the mineral balance, especially for elements zinc and copper. Administration of DMPS causes mobilization of mercury taken up in the body. In isolated cases therefore, clinical symptoms of mercury poisoning may be produced.

Chlorella

Chlorella is a variety of algae found in fresh water such as lakes or ponds. It is commonly used as a natural chelation supplement.

Chlorella has a great affinity for mercury and heavy metals. However, Dr. Mercola points out that chlorella also readily extracts mercury from the water it is grown in. Analysis of at least one specimen of commercially available chlorella has shown high levels of mercury.

Buy Uncontaminated Chlorella

Safe, Effective Heavy Metal Detox

I wholeheartedly believe that the safest and most effective way of detoxing heavy metals is to use methods that detoxify the body gently and slowly.

Assuming that heavy metals are the root cause of the problem, the last thing one should do with a toxic individual is to use strong chelating agents. Most likely their body will not be able to handle these aggressive methods because their organs of excretion aren’t working as well as other peoples’, which is why they are so toxic in the first place.

Classical Homeopathy

Even the most sensitive, reactive person is able to handle classical homeopathic treatment. Classical homeopathy gently detoxes the body naturally, without any dangerous side effects. One of the great things about homeopathy is that the dose can always be adjusted downwards to accommodate even the most sensitive individual. Homeopathic treatment is never dangerous and is very effective. Contact the clinic or a qualified classical homeopath in your area to inquire about homeopathic treatment.

Classical homeopathy, combined with vitamin therapy (see below), is the most gentle and effective way to detox heavy metals.

Vitamin C

Almost anybody can benefit from Vitamin C supplementation. Many people suffering from heavy metal toxicity see amazing results just from using Vitamin C supplementation alone.

Two types of Vitamin C are recommended, to be taken together: Calcium Ascorbate and Ascorbyl Palmitate.

Dosage: Both forms of Vitamin C (Calcium Ascorbate and Ascorbyl Palmitate) are taken 3 times per day. The general rule is not more than 1000 mg per year of age. So a child of 4 years can be given approx. 4000 mg a day divided over three doses a day. This means 3 times Calcium Ascorbate 1000 mg and 3 times Ascorbyl Palmitate of 500 mg. This makes 3600 mg per day. Children 6 years and older, and adults, should take a maximum of 6 grams per day.

Diarrhea: The only serious side effect of taking too much Vitamin C is diarrhea. If diarrhea occurs, decrease the dosage.

Zinc

Toxic heavy metals rob the body of zinc.

Give 10 mg for children under 4, 20 mg to children 4 to 8, and 30 mg to children 9 years and older and adults.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

A good-quality, uncontaminated fish oil is the best source of Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Omega-3 Fatty Acid supplementation helps with autism, all types of cognitive impairment, as well as skin problems such as eczema or psoriasis. Take up to 500 mg per day.

Bentonite Clay

Clay therapy has been used for thousands of years by indigenous peoples. When taken internally, clay has the ability to absorb harmful, toxic substances from within the body, binding with them and carrying them out of the body. Unlike synthetic chelating agents such as DMSA, clay does not cause the release of toxins into the bloodstream/ instead, it actually absorbs the toxins before they enter the bloodstream. Clay cannot be digested. It simply passes through the digestive system, absorbing toxins as it passes through, then the toxins are eliminated when the clay is eliminated through the bowel.

Those who cannot or will not drink clay can still experience its benefits by taking clay baths. Clay has the ability to pull toxins through the pores of the skin.

Buy Bentonite Clay

Fasting & Restricted Diets

Water fasting is a cheap, easy way of detoxing the body. When the body is free from the process of digestion, energy is freed so that the body can heal itself. Those who don’t like the idea of fasting can also benefit from a detox diet: try cutting out wheat, dairy, sugar, alcohol and caffeine. Fasting is not recommended for children. However, many people, especially autistic children, do benefit tremendously from a gluten and casein (dairy) free diet.

Sweating

Sweating is a great way to release toxins from the body. Try saunas, steam rooms, or vigorous exercise.

Research

Aaseth, J, Ribarov,S, Bacher,P;  “The Interaction of copper (Cu++) with the erythrocyte membrane and 2,3-dimercaptopropane-sulfonate in vitro: a source of activated oxygen species.” Pharmacol Toxicol 1987 Oct.; 61(4): 250-3.

Brown MJ, Willis T, Omalu B, Leiker R (2006). “Deaths resulting from hypocalcemia after administration of edetate disodium: 2003–2005“. Pediatrics 118 (2): e534-6. doi:10.1542/peds.2006-0858. PMID 16882789.

Further Reading

Knishinsky, Ran, The Clay Cure: Natural Healing from the Earth, Inner Tradition, Rochester, Vermont, 2000.

Smits, Tinus. Autism: Beyond Despair, Emryss Publishers, Haarlem, Netherlands, 2010.

Accutane for Acne: The Devastating Side Effects

Accutane is a prescription medication for severe acne produced and distributed by Roche Pharmaceuticals. Since 1982 when it was approved by the FDA, 5 million Americans and 8 million people in other countries have been prescribed Accutane.

No Longer Available in the United States

Roche was making up to $1.2 billion annually from this popular acne drug until June 2009 when they voluntarily withdrew it from the US market. Over 1000 pending federal lawsuits along with $56 million awarded in compensation to victims of the drug’s serious side effects have been contributing factors to Roche’s decision to withdraw the drug from the US market.

Isotretinoin, the generic form of Accutane, is still available in the United States. Other Accutane generics are sold under the names Claravis, Sotret, and Amnesteen. Accutane has also been withdrawn from the market in 11 other countries including France, Denmark, Austria, Germany, Portugal, Norway and Spain. Roche continues to sell Accutane in Canada, and in other parts of the world where it is known as Roaccutane.

Suicide, Depression & Psychosis

As of 2002, the US FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) contained 3,104 reports (US and foreign) of adverse psychiatric effects after using Accutane. The FDA was aware of 173 reports of suicide (both US and foreign) in association with accutane as of 2002. Compared with all drugs in the FDA’s AERS database to June 2000, accutane ranked within the top 10 for number of reports of depression and suicide attempts.

Scientific Studies Link Accutane to Suicide, Depression & Psychosis

Those who would like to review the scientific literature that links accutane to depression, suicide and psychosis can examine the references section at the end of this article. Worth noting are the studies done by Barak et al, Robusto, Ng, and Byrne.

Of special note is “Overview of Existing Research and Information Linking Isotretinoin (Accutane), Depression, Psychosis and Suicide” by researcher J. O’Donnell. He concludes, “There is no contesting that this drug is effective at clearing up the most severe forms of acne, but the public must be informed of the proper limited indication for its use, because depression and suicide can follow in patients with no prior history of psychiatric symptoms or suicide attempts.”

Scientific Animal & Human Studies
Explain How Accutane Causes Depression

In one study, mice who were fed 13-cis-retinoic acid (the active ingredient in accutane) showed an increase in depression-related behaviors (O’Reilly et al). Another study done on mice showed that 13-cis-retinoic acid results in a significant decrease in cell proliferation in the hippocampus and severely disrupts capacity to learn a spatial radial maze task. Crandall et al conclude: “The results demonstrate that the regions of the adult brain where cell proliferation is ongoing are highly sensitive to disruption by a clinical dose of 13-cis-RA.”

Recent human studies also explain the correlation between Accutane and depression. In one study, brain imaging was used to measure changes in the brain after patients took Accutane for a 4 month period. Bremner et al. conclude that Accutane treatment is associated with decreased brain metabolism in the orbitofrontal cortex, a brain area known to mediate symptoms of depression.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Ulcerative Colitis

In February 2010 Roche was ordered to pay $25 million to a man suffering from ulcerative colitis after taking Accutane. His symptoms were so severe that he had to have his colon removed. In 2008, a court awarded a woman $10.5 million after Accutane gave her ulcerative colitis; she also needed to get her colon removed. In 2007, a man was awarded $7 million and a woman was awarded $2.6 million; both suffered from inflammatory bowel disease after taking Accutane.

Accutane Goes Hollywood

Trial will soon be  underway for Hollywood actor James Marshall. He is alleging that Accutane caused his inflammatory bowel disorder, leading to the end of his acting career as well as the removal of his colon. Martin Sheen, Brian Dennehy and  Rob Reiner will testify.

Scientific Proof that Accutane Causes Inflammatory Bowel Disease

In 2009, the Los Angeles Times reports that researchers from the University of North Carolina presented evidence showing a higher rate of bowel disorders in isotretinoin (Accutane) users.

Accutane Linked to Severe Skin Disorders

Yes, Accutane may cure your severe acne, but it may also cause an even more severe skin condition. Health Canada warns that Accutane could cause severe skin reactions that could lead to hospitalization, disability, and death.

Taking Accutane can lead to Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, in which the outer layer of skin becomes separated from the dermis, or underlying skin layers. It has also been associated toxic epidermal necrolysis, a more severe form of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.

Birth Defects and Miscarriage

Roche openly admits to Accutane’s dangers to women of childbearing age. Women of childbearing age who take Accutane must use two forms of birth control to prevent pregnancy. Unfortunately, pregnancies do still occur. Congressman Bart Stupak states that according to a 1990 report by the FDA: “the magnitude of fetal injury and death has been great and permanent, with 11,000 to 13,000 Accutane-related abortions and 900 to 1,100 Accutane birth defects.” It is widely known and openly admitted by Roche that Accutane can cause birth defects and miscarriages.

High Cholesterol

In a 2006 study by Zane et al., it was found that Accutane causes an elevation in cholesterol, triglycerides and liver enzymes.

Erectile Dysfunction & Sexual Side Effects

A 2005 study by Sanchez & Dorantes links Accutane to erectile dysfunction.

Kevin Pezzi MD dedicates part of his website to the sexual side effects of accutane. Dr. Pezzi has heard of hundreds of cases linking Accutane to long-term sexual dysfunction.

SAFE, EFFECTIVE TREATMENT OF ACNE AND ACCUTANE SIDE EFFECTS

Classical homeopathy treats acne effectively and naturally with no side effects. Homeopathy can also effectively treat the side effects of Accutane. Visit my website to learn more about the homeopathic treatment of acne or contact the clinic to make an appointment.

References

Barak, Y et al. “Affective Psychosis following Accutane (Isotretinoin) Treatment,” Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2005 May;20(3):182.

Bremner, JD et al. “Functional Brain Imaging Alterations in Acne Patients Treated with Isotretinoin.” Am J Psychiatry. 2005 May;162(5):983-91.

Byrne, A. “Isotretinoin Therapy and Depression – Evidence for an Association.”Int J Psych Med 1998; 15(2):58-60.

Crandall, J. “13-cis-retinoic acid suppresses hippocampal cell division and hippocampal-dependent learning in mice,” Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004 Apr 6;101(14):5111-6. Epub 2004 Mar 29.

Feeley, Jef and Sophia Pearson, “Roche Pulls Accutane off Market after Jury Verdicts,” Bloomberg, Jun 26, 2009.

Feeley, Jef. “Roche to Face Hollywood Stars in Accutane Trial,” Bloomberg, July 30, 2010.

Fresco, Adam, “Call for Ban on Acne Drug Linked to Suicide,” The Sunday Times, September 21, 2005.

Hull, PR and C D’Arcy “Isotretinoin use and Subsequent Depression and Suicide: Presenting the Evidence,” Am J Clin Dermatol. 2003;4(7):493-505.

Ng, CH. “Acne, Isotretinoin Treatment and Acute Depression,” World J Biol Psychiatry. 2001 Jul;2(3):159-61.

O’Donnell, J, “Overview of Existing Research and Information Linking Isotretinoin (Accutane), Depression, Psychosis and Suicide,” Am J Ther. 2003 Mar-Apr;10(2):148-59.

O’Reilly et al. “Chronic Administration of 13-cis-retinoic acid increases depression-related behavior in mice.” Neuropsychopharmacology. 2006 Sep;31(9):1919-27. Epub 2006 Jan 4.

Ro/Accutane Action Group www.accutaneaction.com

Robusto, O. “Depression Caused by an Anti-Acne Agent,” Acta Med Port. 2002 Jul-Aug;15(4):325-6.

Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. “Accutane Lawsuits” Aboutlawsuits.com, May 2010.

Sanchez, A Tirado and Dorantes, Leon. “Erectile Dysfunction and Isotretinoin Therapy.” Actas Urol Esp. 2005 Nov-Dec;29(10):974-6.

Tesoriero, Heather Won, “Jury Awards 10.5 Million Over Accutane,” Wall Street Journal. April 23, 2008.

Voreacos, David  and John Martin. “Roche Ordered to Pay $25 Million to Accutane User.” Bloomberg. February 16, 2010.

Wysowski et al. “An Analysis of Reports of Depression and Suicide in Patients Treated with Isotretinoin.” J Am Acad Dermatol. October 2001: 515-519.

Zane, Lee T et al. “A Population-Based Analysis of Laboratory Abnormalities During Isotretinoin Therapy for Acne Vulgaris.” Arch Dermatol. 2006;142:1016-1022.

Postpartum Homeopathy

Originally published in the Autumn 2010 Childbearing Society Newsletter

Common Postpartum Conditions and Remedies

Here is a list of some of the most common conditions as well as the most commonly indicated remedies. If self prescribing does not help, do not hesitate to consult a professional classical homeopath. It is also always best to consult with a professional homeopath and a medical doctor when dealing with serious postpartum conditions.

After Delivery (For the New Mother)

After Labour

A few doses of Arnica 200C given before, during and immediately after labour will often prevent afterpains and postpartum hemorrhage. Arnica is especially useful after a traumatic birth. The dose can be repeated if needed. Also give Arnica to the baby if the head is bruised.

After a Caesarean Section, Tearing, or Episiotomy

The best remedy to take for these conditions is Staphysagria 30C repeated 3 times per day until the pain subsides. Also apply calendula tincture in a topical pump spray or calendula cream to the injured area.

Postpartum Retention of Urine

Causticum 30C is the most common remedy for this condition. Try a few doses spaced 15-30 minutes apart.

Phlebitis (Swelling of the veins of the leg)

Hamamelis 30C is the most common remedy for phlebitis due to injury or trauma to the veins during childbirth. Try a few doses spaced 15-30 minutes apart, then continue taking it up to 3 times per day until the condition improves.

Postpartum Depression

This condition can be treated successfully by a professional homeopath. It is best not to self prescribe for postpartum depression.

After Delivery (For the Newborn)

After a Traumatic Labour

Give Arnica 200C if the baby‘s head is bruised or swollen spaced. Repeat a few times a day for a few days until injuries improve.

Conjunctivitis (Inflammation of the Eye)

Give Aconite 30C a few times per day for a few days, until symptoms subside.

Jaundice

A few doses of Aconite 30C used along with standard treatments should hasten the disappearance of this condition.

Nursing Difficulties

Insufficient Milk Flow

There are a few frequently indicated remedies for insufficient or absent milk flow. Give a 30C potency of the indicated remedy a few times per day until flow is restored:

Chamomilla: Loss of milk flow and anger in the mother.
Urtica Urens: Nonappearance of milk with few other symptoms
Lac Caninum: The flow diminishes in one breast, then the other
Lactuca Virosa: Use if the above remedies don‘t seem indicated.

Mastitis

Frequently indicated remedies for this condition include the following. Give a 30C potency of the indicated remedy a few times per day until the problem resolves.

Phytolacca: the most frequently indicated remedy for mastitis. the breasts are often lumpy and will be caked with hard knots and nodules.
Bryonia: the breast pain is worse after any kind of movement.
Belladonna: mastitis with sudden onset, high fever and throbbing pain
Lac Caninum: the breasts are so sensitive that even the touch of clothing against the breasts is excruciatingly painful
Hepar Sulphuris: the breast is extremely painful and worse if exposed to drafts.
Silica: the breasts have painful cracks in the nipples

Also the topical application of calendula cream will help unblock the milk ducts.

Chickenpox Parties Need to Make a Comeback

I remember getting chickenpox as a child in the early ’80s. Due to the highly infectious nature of chickenpox, all the kids in the neighbourhood got it. None of our parents blinked an eyelash because they knew that chickenpox was a harmless disease if acquired during childhood with a very low risk of complications.

Before the introduction of the chickenpox vaccine in 1999 here in Canada, it was fairly common for parents to hold “chickenpox parties.” A chickenpox party involves the deliberate exposure of children infected with the chickenpox virus to other children who have not yet been exposed to the disease. Parents willingly expose their children to the disease in order to grant their children life-long immunity to chickenpox. These “chickenpox party” parents know that chickenpox is a mild disease if acquired during childhood, but infection is riskier when acquired by teens or adults.

What Changed?

Before the introduction of the vaccine, chickenpox (varicella) was considered by almost everyone to be a mild disease, and parents were not concerned if their children were infected with it. Now, most parents are horrified by the idea of chickenpox parties. So what’s changed?

Relatively Benign Disease in Childhood Becomes Risky in Adulthood

In general, complications as well as fatalities from chickenpox are more commonly observed in adults than in children. Case-fatality ratios (deaths per 100 000 cases) in healthy adults are 30-40 times higher than among children aged 5-9 (WHO). Each year from 1990 to 1994, prior to the availability of varicella vaccine, about 4 million cases of chickenpox occurred in the United States. Of these cases approximately 10,000 required hospitalization and 100 died. After the introduction of the vaccine in 1995, overall US chickenpox deaths plummeted to 66 per year in 2001 and hospitalizations declined significantly. However, death rates from chickenpox did not decline for those aged 50 or older (NEJM).

A Decrease in Chickenpox Infection Leads to an Increase in Shingles

Shingles (herpes zoster) is a debilitating, painful skin rash acquired in adulthood. After a child has been exposed to the chickenpox virus, the virus remains latent in the body. The varicella virus can later be reactivated as shingles later in life. If the varicella virus infects the nerve cells, it can cause an extremely painful condition called postherpetic neuralgia. Nerve pain caused by postherpetic neuralgia can last for months and in some cases even years. Approximately 200,000 adult Americans are afflicted with postherpetic neuralgia every year.

There is  scientific evidence that adults who are regularly exposed to children infected with the chickenpox virus have increased protection against the shingles (Thomas). Thus, natural exposure to the chickenpox virus boosts adults’ immunity against shingles, acting like a natural shingles vaccine. Since chickenpox infection rates are now so low in Canada and the US, chances of adult exposure to the virus is also low, thus scientists expect an eventual shingles epidemic to emerge in the coming years (Brisson).

Since the beginning of the mass chickenpox vaccination campaign in the US, deaths and hospitalizations did decrease, but studies also showed that shingles increased over that same time period (Yih; Mullooly). A recent MacLeans article quotes several scientists who admit that more varicella vaccine coverage has already sparked an increase in shingles in Canada and the US, plus it is shifting shingles incidence to a younger population.

Introducing the Shingles Vaccine

Merck, the manufacturer of the varicella vaccine, is forcing a shingles epidemic on the American (and Canadian) population. But they cleverly “fixed” the problem that they created when they invented a vaccine for shingles in 2007. Now they are trying to push the shingles vaccine on the elderly population of North America.

What Next?

The chickenpox vaccine is  decreasing the incidence of a mild disease, and in exchange is increasing the incidence of a more debilitating disease: shingles. Now what? Once the entire elderly population starts vaccinating against shingles, what new problem will that create?

Time to Bring Back Pox Parties

Big Pharma companies like Merck have profits, not your health, in mind. It’s time to take your family’s health into your own hands. Have a pox party. Build your child’s immunity naturally instead of relying on vaccines. Adults should attend these parties as well because natural exposure to the chickenpox virus boosts their immunity to shingles.

Organize a Chickenpox Party in Vancouver

Join this yahoo group to find other like-minded parents to organize pox parties with: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/chickenpoxinvancouverbc/

Still concerned about the chickenpox? Read about a safe, effective alternative to vaccinations: Homeopathic Immunizations

Enjoy this article? You might enjoy this one as well: Fear the MMR Vaccine, Not the Measles

References

Belluz, Julia. “Why are ever-younger adults contracting shingles? No longer just a disease of the elderly.” MacLeans. August 16, 2010.

Brisson M, Gay NJ, Edmunds WJ, Andrews NJ. Exposure to varicella boosts immunity to herpes-zoster: implications for mass vaccination against chickenpox. Vaccine. 2002 Jun 7;20(19-20):2500-7.

Health Protection Agency. “Latest HPA modelling reveals chickenpox vaccination would lead to more shingles among elderly despite introduction of shingles vaccination” September 17, 2008.

Mullooly JP, Riedlinger K, Chun C, et al. Incidence of herpes zoster, 1997–2002.Epidemiol Infect 2005;133:245–53.

Pollack, Andrew “Chickenpox Vaccine Cuts Deaths but Raises Question on Shingles.” New York Times, February 3, 2005.

Thomas SL, Wheeler JG, Hall AJ. “Contacts with varicella or with children and protection against herpes zoster in adults: a case controlled study” Lancet. 2002 Aug 31;360(9334):678-82.

Yih WK, Brooks DR, Lett SM, et al. “The incidence of varicella and herpes zoster in Massachusetts as measured by the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) during a period of increasing varicella vaccine coverage,” 1998–2003. BMC Public Health2005;5:68.

Use the Neti Pot to Clear Nasal & Sinus Congestion

I first found out about the neti pot a few years ago, and ever since then I have recommended it religiously to everyone I talk to. Anyone who gets nasal congestion due to colds or allergies, sinus congestion, or sinus infections can benefit. There are so many advantages to using a neti pot. It’s inexpensive, fairly easy to find, easy to use once you get the hang of it, and very healthy.

What is a Neti Pot?

A neti pot is a container with a spout on the end of it, used to irrigate (clean) the nasal and sinus passages.

Where to Find a Neti Pot?

Neti pots are sold at most health food stores and yoga stores. They have become increasingly popular in the last few years.

How to Use a Neti Pot?

Put 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt into the neti pot (any good sea salt will do, it does not have to be special neti pot salt). Then fill the neti pot with warm water (filtered or spring water is best). Mix the water with a spoon until the salt is fully dissolved.

Tip your head forward and to the side. Put the spout gently into your nostril so that an airtight seal is formed. Tip the neti pot up and tilt your head further to the side until the water starts pouring out from the opposite nostril.

Keep pouring until the neti pot is empty. Remove the spout and blow forcefully out from both nostrils. Then repeat the process with the other nostril.

Watch this video for a thorough step by step demonstration of the procedure:

How to Get Your Children to Use the Neti Pot

My 6 and 7 year old both use a neti pot. Eventually, once your children have watched you use the neti pot a number of times, they will be curious about trying it themselves. Make it fun for them by letting them measure out the salt into the neti pot. Make sure to emphasize to them the correct head position (forward and to the side). Eventually they will become curious enough that they will allow you to pour the water into their nostrils. Kids become fascinated when they see the water pouring from one nostril and out the other. It’s like a mini science experiment!

Showing your kids this technique is invaluable if they have nasal congestion at bedtime. The neti pot will help both children and parents to get a restful, congestion-free sleep.

Why is Using a Neti Pot Healthy?

The saline (salt) solution helps remove mucus, bacteria, pollutants, and other irritants from the nasal and sinus cavities. And in contrast to using Nasonex and other pharmaceutical products, using the neti pot is completely safe and has no side effects.

History of the Neti Pot

Neti Pot usage first originated in India and South East Asia, and was part of the ancient yoga tradition. These Eastern cultures have used the neti pot routinely for centuries.

Chronic Allergies, Chronic Sinus Congestion & Low Immunity

People with chronic health complaints should see a professional homeopath in their area. Homeopathic treatment will strengthen the immunity and reduce the susceptibility to colds, allergies, congestion and infections. Visit our website to find out more about constitutional homeopathic treatment.

Homeopathy for Constipation, Hemorrhoids & Varicose Veins During Pregnancy

Constipation, hemorrhoids and varicose veins during pregnancy can be helped with homeopathy. Chronic constipation, hemorrhoids and varicose veins (starting before pregnancy or lasting well beyond pregnancy) should be treated by a classical homeopath. These are the most common homeopathic remedies that are useful for these conditions:

Sepia: The first remedy to try for women who have never had constipation before pregnancy. The constipation was brought on by hormonal changes (pregnancy). She may feel drained, worn-out, and may experience a bearing down feeling in the rectum.

Lycopodium: Another common constipation remedy for women with sluggish liver function. She craves sweets and has yellowish or whitish stools. These women also have heartburn, belching, bloating and flatulence.

Pulsatilla: Symptoms are changeable with these women. She may be constipated or have hemorrhoids one day and be fine the next. She may have varicose veins of the feet and groin. She is susceptible to mood swings and is aggravated by heat.

Nux Vomica: This remedy is usually for sedentary women who have a history of heavy drug and/or coffee consumption, and consume a diet of rich, heavy foods. There is usually distention and severe flatulence. There is a constant desire to move the bowels but when she sits on the toilet, nothing happens. These women are irritable and critical.

Sulphur: Like Pulsatilla, these women are aggravated from heat. These women are usually heavy-set and flush easily. She passes foul gas and her bowel movements are offensive smelling. There is redness and a lot of itching around the anus.

Hamamelis: Hemorrhoids and varicose veins that are very sore to the touch. Hemorrhoids with copious bleeding. These women retain fluid and their ankles swell.

Dosage

Take a 12C or 30C potency (strength) of the remedy a few times per day. After 3 doses of the remedy, symptoms should improve, even slightly. If there is no improvement after taking 3 doses, the wrong remedy has probably been selected.

Other remedies may be indicated for your condition. The above-listed remedies are the most common remedies for these conditions, but are not the only remedies that can help these conditions.

Homeopathy for Morning Sickness

A longer version of this article was published in Natural News

These are some of the most common homeopathic remedies for morning sickness:

Colchicum: This woman’s morning sickness is worse after smelling food, especially cooking food. She vomits even at the thought of food. Her nausea is also worse from even the slightest movement.

Ipecacuanha: This woman has constant, persistent nausea. Even vomiting doesn’t relieve the nausea and she feels worse when lying down.

Nux Vomica: Nausea is worse in the morning and from eating. The stomach is very sensitive to pressure. If necessary, Nux Vomica can be taken in alternation with Ipecacuanha.

Lacticum Acidum: Nausea is better after eating and worse from the smell of tobacco smoke. Her appetite is not affected, or she may have increased appetite.

Sepia: Nausea is worse in the morning. She is sensitive to odours and craves sour foods. She may be depressed and may regret the pregnancy.

Symphoricarpus: This is a good non-specific remedy for morning sickness if other remedies fail to give results. The nausea is worse after any motion with aversion to all food.

Potency and Repetition

Use either a 12C or 30C potency (strength) of the indicated remedy a few times per day, as needed. If a few doses bring no relief, try a different remedy.

Please note that this is not a complete list of homeopathic remedies for morning sickness. If symptoms persist or worsen, consult with a classical homeopath in your area.

The Pregnancy Cell Salt Program

This program is endorsed by leading obstetrician Dr. Gowri Matha. It helps both mother and baby maintain optimum nutrition and balances the mineral content of the body.

During pregnancy, the baby requires certain salts which it gets at the expense of the mother. This program will help to replenish any salt deficiencies in the mother and help the baby with its salt requirement. The remedies (salts) are prepared in a very dilute form, making them non-toxic and completely safe to use during pregnancy.

Program

Take one tablet of each of the following in a 6x potency twice a day (morning and evening):

Months 2 and 6: Calc Fluor, Mag Phos, Ferrum Phos
Months 3 and 7: Calc Fluor, Mag Phos, Nat Mur
Months 4 and 8: Calc Fluor, Nat Mur, Silica
Months 5 and 9: Calc Fluor, Ferrum Phos, Silica

Homeopathic cell salts can be purchased from a good health food store or natural pharmacy. Common brands found in Canada are Hyland’s, Boiron and Homeocan.

About the individual salts

Calc Fluor is excellent for bone development and is an important component of connective tissue improving its elasticity. This quality makes it helpful in the prevention of stretch marks. It also supports the circulatory system, therefore helping to prevent varicose veins and hemorrhoids.

Mag Phos is known as the ‘homeopathic aspirin’ due to its affinity for the nerves and muscles. It can greatly reduce the chance of heartburn and cramps.

Ferrum Phos aids the oxygenation of the blood and helps prevent the need for extra iron especially towards the end of a pregnancy when many women become anemic. Prescription iron tablets commonly lead to uncomfortable constipation, so if you can keep your iron levels up naturally, you can hopefully avoid the need for them.

Nat Mur influences the water balance of the body. Using this cell salt helps to balance all the fluids in the body lessening the likelihood of swollen ankles and fingers. It also helps to maintain even blood pressure and supports the nerves and muscles.

Silica is a vital constituent of hair, nails, teeth and skin. It contributes to overall strength of both mother and baby.

Homeopathy for Heartburn

The following homeopathic remedies can help with occasional heartburn or with heartburn during pregnancy. Chronic heartburn should be treated by a professional homeopath.

Pulsatilla: Heartburn that is worse after eating rich, fatty foods. These people feel worse in a warm room and better in cool, fresh air.

Natrum Carbonicum: Heartburn accompanied by problems with digesting food. These people have a lot of problems digesting milk and dairy products.

Phosphorus: Heartburn accompanied by burning pain in the stomach relieved by drinking cold liquids.

Nux Vomica: Heartburn brought on by stress, alcohol or spicy foods. These people are chilly, oversensitive to stimuli and are very irritable.

Arsenicum: Heartburn characterized by a burning in the esophagus or stomach, relieved by milk or warm liquids.

Carbo Vegetabilis: Heartburn accompanied by bloating, gas and belching.

Dosage and Repetition: Take a 12C or 30C potency (strength) of the remedy, 2-3 times per day. If a few doses of the remedy brings no relief, try another remedy, or consult a professional homeopath.

Also try Natrum Phosphoricum 6X homeopathic cell salts, taken 2-3 times per day. This cell salt neutralizes the acidity in the digestive system.

Homeopathic Remedies for Fever

A fever is the body’s way of fighting an infection. All healthy people will occasionally have fevers. The body will naturally heal itself of a fever, without any sort of intervention. Homeopathic remedies can speed healing and will aid the body’s natural process of healing itself.

All remedies listed in this article can be used for adults as well as children.

Childhood Fevers: When to Seek Professional Help

• If your child is 6 weeks old or younger and has a fever of 101 or higher: Go to the doctor or hospital immediately
• If your child is 7 weeks to three months with a fever of 101 or higher: See your doctor within a few hours
• Has signs of meningitis infection: Stiff neck or neck pain, vomiting, headache, bright lights hurt the eyes.

See your doctor if your child has a fever of 104 or more and does not respond to the following treatment:

Belladonna: The first remedy to try in cases of high fevers. This person will have a flushed, red face. The fever has a quick, rapid onset. The skin is burning hot and the eyes are red and pupils are dilated. They may also have a throbbing headache.

Aconite: These fevers look similar to Belladonna fevers. This person may be thirstier and is extremely fearful and anxious. Whereas someone needing Belladonna will be more irritable, a person needing Aconite will be more fearful and may even believe they are going to die.

Dosage: Give the above homeopathic remedies in a 12C or 30C potency (strength) every 15-30 minutes. As the fever starts to improve, dose less frequently. If there is no noticeable change within an hour, try another remedy.

If your child’s high fever of 104 or more has not responded to homeopathic remedies, try acetaminophen or ibuprofen before seeing your doctor.

With medium to low fevers, try Ferrum Phosphoricum 6X Homeopathic Cell Salts. This remedy is a good specific remedy for moderate fevers. Give every 15-30 minutes for a few doses, then space apart doses less frequently as the fever improves.

Other Homeopathic Remedies for Fever

Nux Vomica: This person is extremely chilly and needs to be covered with a lot of blankets. The fever will often begin after overeating, going without sleep, or using too much alcohol or drugs. This person may also have digestive symptoms and there is irritability. Their symptoms are worse in the morning.

Pulsatilla: This person is clingy, weepy, and craves affection. They are worse when warmly covered or in a warm room. The fever often begins after eating too much rich or fatty food. There is no thirst.

Dosage: Give the above homeopathic remedies in a 12C or 30C potency (strength) every 15-30 minutes. As the fever starts to improve, dose less frequently. If there is no noticeable change within an hour, try another remedy.

See Homeopathic Remedies for Flu to learn about other homeopathic remedies that may be useful for a fever.

References

Feldman, Murray and Gabrielle Pinto. “Homeopathy for Children,” C.W. Daniel, Saffron Walden, UK, 2000.

Dr. Sears Website “Childhood Illnesses: Fever”

Homeopathic Remedies for Cough

These remedies are useful for coughs due to an acute infection and for bronchitis, croup, and whooping cough. In cases of chronic coughs and/or low immunity, it is best to consult a professional homeopath for constitutional treatment.

Aconite: Useful at the beginning stages of a cough. A dry cough with sudden onset due to exposure to dry, cold wind.

Belladonna: Useful at the beginning stages. This person is extremely hot with a flushed face.

Ferrum Phosphoricum: Also useful at the beginning stages, but more gradual onset with less intensity. A short, tickling cough with few other symptoms.

Bryonia: A hard dry cough that may hurt the chest. There is thirst for cold drinks and the person’s symptoms are worse from movement. This person may be irritable and may want to be alone.

Rumex: Dry, short cough set off by a tickling in the throat. The cough is worse from the inhalation of cold air.

Arsenicum: Anxious, restless person who is weak and chilly. The cough is worse at night, and from cold air and drinks.

Phosphorus: This person has thirst for cold drinks. They are chilly, crave company and have a fear of the dark.

Pulsatilla: A cough that is dry at night and loose in the daytime. They feel worse in a warm room and better with fresh air. They can be weepy, affectionate and want company.

Hepar Sulphuris: The person is very chilly and worse for anything cold. They are irritable, oversensitive and prefer warm drinks.

Ipecacuanha: Spasmodic coughing sometimes with nausea and/or retching. The chest is full of rattling mucus and there is wheezing.

Antimonium Tartaricum: The chest is full of rattling mucus. Usually indicated toward the end stages of a cough. This person is drowsy, pale and sweaty.

Drosera: A frequently indicated remedy in croup and whooping cough. A dry, barking cough. The cough is worse when lying down and it may end in vomiting. It is worse from eating or drinking.

Spongia: A dry, harsh, hoarse cough. The cough sounds like a saw going through wood. The person may wake from sleep feeling suffocated.

Rhus Toxicodendron: A dry cough with a tickling behind the breastbone. There is restlessness and the cough may be better from motion. Exposure t cold damp aggravates the cough.

Potency and Repetition
Give a 12C or 30C potency (strength) of the indicated remedy every four hours for four to six doses. Stop, or increase the time between doses upon improvement of the cough. If there is no improvement after a few doses of the indicated remedy, try selecting a different remedy.

The remedies listed above are the most commonly indicated cough remedies. Another remedy not listed in the article may be needed.

Homeopathic Remedies for Colds

Homeopathic remedies can help you and your family recover faster from the common cold. In cases of fever, try Homeopathic Remedies for Fever. In cases of flu, try Homeopathic Remedies for Flu.

Along with homeopathic remedies, remember to Use the Neti Pot to Clear Sinus and Nasal Congestion

These are the most common homeopathic remedies to treat a simple head cold:

Allium Cepa: The most common remedy for a simple head cold. The eyes and nose run. There is burning discharge from the nose, making the upper lip red and sore. This person feels better in the open air.

Euphrasia: Nonirritating discharge from the nose with burning tears. There may also be a cough that is worse in the daytime.

Arsenicum: Like allium cepa, the nasal discharge burns and reddens the skin. These people are very chilly and restless.

Nux Vomica: This person is very chilly and irritable. The nose is stuffy at night and runny during the day.

Pulsatilla: This person is weepy and craves company. The mucus is thick yellow-green and the person craves the open air.

Dulcamara: This person gets a cold after exposure to cold damp weather. These colds are more common in autumn when the seasons change from warm to cool.

Natrum Muriaticum: Nasal flow with mucus that looks like raw egg whites. There may be blisters around the mouth or nose.

Kali Bichromicum: Usually at the later stages of a cold, when the mucus is thick, yellow, ropey and difficult to expel.

Dosage and Repetition: Give a 12C or 30C potency (strength) of the indicated remedy every one or two hours, depending on the severity of symptoms. If a few doses of a remedy has brought no relief, try a different remedy.

If the cold develops into a cough, try Homeopathic Remedies for Cough

Homeopathic Treatment for Thrush

Thrush is the result of a Candida yeast overgrowth in a baby’s mouth. It shows up as white or creamy coloured patches in the mouth. The tongue and the insides of the mouth may swell.

Homeopathic remedies can be very effective for the treatment of thrush. The following are some of the most common homeopathic remedies for this condition:

Borax: The most frequently indicated remedy for thrush. There are raw sores on the mouth and tongue. There is a strong fear of downward motion. Eating is very painful.

Mercurius: The baby’s breath is very offensive and there is lots of drooling. Swollen, spongy gums that bleed easily. The tongue is puffy and flabby.

Sulphur: Try this remedy if Mercurius seems indicated but does not help. The gums are not as spongy and the tongue is not as flabby as a baby needing Mercury.

Chamomilla: A very irritable baby; nothing satisfies. Accompanied by loose stool.

Antimonium Crudum: Useful when the baby has a thick, milky white coating on the tongue.

Kali Muriaticum: Use this remedy if there are no other symptoms to guide you to another remedy. The tongue may be patchy with a grey or white coating on the base.

Dosage: Use a 12C or 30C potency (strength) of the indicated homeopathic remedy every 3 hours for 4-6 doses. Increase the length of time between doses once symptoms start to improve. If there is no improvement after a few doses of the seemingly indicated remedy, try a different remedy.

Mothers of babies who are susceptible to frequent thrush infections should consult a professional classical homeopath in their area.

Detox & Protection from Radiation & Nuclear Fallout

Potassium Iodide Tablets

Protects the thyroid gland from absorbing radioactive iodine. The thyroid becomes saturated with the iodine from the tablets, thus blocking absorption of radioactive iodine. Growing children are at the most risk for radioactive iodine exposure, so ensure that they take potassium iodide tablets if they are in danger of exposure. Radioactive iodine exposure has been linked to thyroid cancers.

Potassium iodide tablets only protect the thyroid gland and not other parts of the body. They should only be taken in a radiation emergency that involves the release of radioactive iodine, such as an accident at a nuclear power plant or an explosion of a nuclear bomb.

Dosage: Take 1 dose (130 mg adults, 65 mg children) every 24 hours after there has been an official announcement of risk of radioactive iodine exposure. Do not take potassium iodide tablets for longer than 10 days.

Buy Potassium Iodide in Canada

Radiation Detox Baths

Salt Baths

Salt Baths detox the body from general radiation exposure, such as from Cobalt-60 irradiated food, X-rays, or air flights where you are subject to high levels of ionizing radiation.

Dissolve 1 pound of sea salt or rock salt and 1 pound of baking soda in a hot bath — as hot as can be tolerated — and soak into the water until the bath becomes cool. This usually takes about 20-25 minutes. Afterwards, do not shower or rinse the salt off your body for 4-8 hours.

Baking Soda Baths

If you’ve been exposed to low-grade radioactive materials from the atmosphere, you can dissolve 2 pounds of baking soda in a tub of hot water, and follow the previous instructions by staying in the water until it cools.

With radioactive fallout, a specially prepared warm drink must be sipped during the bath. Drink an 8-ounce glass of warm water containing ¼-teaspoon natural sea salt and ¼-teaspoon baking soda. Each  glass is to be taken with 3 tablets of calcium lactate, which is a very easy to absorb form of calcium.

The baths should be taken at night and only one bath should be taken per day.

Spirulina

Spirulina, a type of algae, has been shown to be very effective in treating the damage caused by radiation poisoning, and especially has a protective effect on the kidneys. There have been a number of scientific studies verifying its protective effect from radiation.

Buy Spirulina

Sea Vegetables

Scientific studies show that sea vegetables, such as kelp, contain sodium alginate, which has the ability to bind to radioactive strontium. Eating sea vegetables such as kelp will detox and protect from radiation.

Kombu, a member of the kelp family, is one of the most radioprotective sea vegetables because it is high in fucoidan, a potent radioactive detoxifier. Bladderwrack, another type of sea vegetable, is also rich in fucoidan and can protect and detox from radiation.

Sea vegetables are also rich in iodine, which has a protective effect on the thyroid in the event of a nuclear disaster (see information on potassium iodide tablets above). They also bind to and detox heavy metals.

The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission recommends that we consume two to three ounces (wet weight) of sea vegetables per week, or two tablespoons daily to protect from radiation toxicity. This should be increased fourfold during or after direct exposure to radiation.

Remember to consume sea vegetables that have been tested to be free of heavy metals.

Buy Kelp Tablets

Chlorella

Scientific studies have also shown that chlorella has a protective effect against radiation. Chlorella is rich in chlorophyll, and it has been shown in scientific experiments that animals on a chlorophyll rich diet have an increased survival rate from high doses of radiation.

Buy Chlorella

Bentonite Clay Baths

Clay has a long history of being used successfully to remove and contain nuclear waste from the environment and from the human body. Clay absorbs and binds to radioactive toxins.

Use a a pure bentonite clay that has been tested to be low in aluminum. New Roots Bentonite Clay, for example, has been fully tested to be free of heavy metals.

Clay can be taken internally, but clay baths are preferable for radiation exposure.

Instructions on How to Take a Clay Bath

Constitutional Homeopathic Treatment

Studies have shown that homeopathy is effective for the treatment of radiation exposure. Examples of homeopathic remedies used by professional homeopaths to treat and detox radiation are radium bromatum, uranium nitricum, plutonium nitricum, x-ray and plumbum.

Constitutional homeopathic remedies for radiation exposure are very powerful and should be prescribed and progress should supervised by a professional homeopath. Contact the clinic or a local classical homeopath in your area.

References & Further Reading

Bodri, Bill. “How to Help Support the Body’s Healing after Intense Radioactive or Radiation Exposure: The Medical, Naturopathic, Nutritional, Herbal, Commonsense External and Internal Approaches” e-book

Food and Drug Administration Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) “Guidance: Potassium Iodide as a Thyroid Blocking Agent in Radiation Emergencies” December 2001.

Kumar S et al. Inhibition of radiation-induced DNA damage in plasmid pBR322 by chlorophyllin and possible mechanism(s) of action. Mutation Research. March 1999; 425(1):71-9.

Loseva L.P. and I.V. Dardynskaya “Spirulina- natural sorbent of radionucleides.” Sep 1993. Research Institute of Radiation Medicine, Minsk, Belarus. 6th Int’l Congress of Applied Algology, Czech Republic. Belarus.

Qishen P, Guo B, Kolman A. Radioprotective effect of extract from Spirulina platensis in mouse bone marrow cells studied by using the micronucleus test. Toxicology Letters. August 1989; 48(2):165-9.

Paul, T. M., Stanley C. Skoryna, and Deirdre Waldron-Edward.

Studies on the Inhibition of Intestinal Absorption of Radioactive Strontium: The Effect of Administration of Calcium Alginate Can Med Assoc J. 1966 November 5; 95(19): 957–960.

Rotkovska D, Vacek A, Bartonickova A. The radioprotective effects of aqueous extract from chlorococcal freshwater algae (Chlorella kessieri) in mice and rats. Strahlenther Onkologie. November 1989; 165(11):813-6.

Sarma L, Tiku A, Kesavan P, Ogaki M. Evaluation of radioprotective action of a mutant (E25) form of Chlorella vulgaris in mice. Journal of Radiation Research (Tokyo). December 1993; 34(4):277-84.

Singh S, Tiku A, Kesavan P. Post-exposure radioprotection by Chlorella vulgaris (E-25) in mice. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology. August 1995; 33(8):612-5.

Sutton A, et al. Medical Research Council, Haswell, England. Reduction in the absorption of dietary strontium in children by an alginate derivation, Intl Jor Rad Biology, 1971, 19: 79-85.

Unsworth EF, Pearce J, McMurray CH, Moss BW, Gordon FJ, Rice D.Investigations of the use of clay minerals and prussian blue in reducing the transfer of dietary radiocaesium to milk. Sci Total Environ. 1989 Sep;85:339-47.

Potassium Iodide Only Necessary During a Nuclear Crisis

A few days ago I wrote a blog article about various ways to protect and detox from radiation and nuclear fallout. Although potassium iodide (KI) does not detox the body from radiation, it can protect the thyroid from being damaged by radioactive iodine (iodine-131). Iodine-131 is rapidly absorbed by the thyroid gland and, especially in children, increases the risk of thyroid cancer.

News sources including National Geographic report that radioactive iodine was one radioactive chemical released into the atmosphere in Fukushima. Radioactive iodine (iodine-131) vaporizes easily and can disperse over long distances. There is a possibility, though I’m not sure how probable it is, that the West Coast of North America could be negatively affected by the radioactive plume coming from Japan.

There is a very small possibility that people on the North American West Coast will need to take potassium iodide tablets when the plume does reach us. Numerous news sources are telling us not to stock up on potassium iodide because the nuclear accident at Fukushima does not pose a health threat to us. Indeed, today the radioactive plume was reported to have reached Northern California, but officials say that the amount of radiation is so tiny that it poses no health risk.

Potassium Iodide Should Only be Taken during an Emergency Nuclear Crisis

You will be given ample warning and will notified by the press and/or the government whether it is necessary or not to take potassium iodide. In those situations, the government will distribute potassium iodide to its citizens. However, it is best to keep a couple bottles on your shelves in case there is a real emergency where you would need to act quickly. (This is not the case with the Japan situation because we are actively monitoring the radiation levels in Western North America).

Potassium iodide is a synthetic drug. It should not be taken unless there is an actual threat of exposure to radioactive iodine.

Keep Potassium Iodide on your Shelves in Case of Emergency

KI pills are now sold out in the US. Instead of panicking and buying them during a crisis, stock up on some in advance and store them on your shelves. It is a good idea for everyone to keep a bottle or two of potassium iodide on their shelves at all times in the case of a nuclear emergency. It should be added to your emergency first aid kit.

Potassium Iodide Poisoning

Yesterday there were reports from US poison control centres of potassium iodide poisoning. Fearful of radiation poisoning, people were taking potassium iodide pills without any real threat of harm from radiation.

Panic could spark a “mini-epidemic” of potassium iodide ingestion and overdoses, predicted Dr. Leonard Wartofsky, spokesman for the Endocrine Society and a thyroid expert.

There are also very serious consequences from taking potassium iodide for more than 10 days. After that period of time, the drug can induce severe hypothyroidism, a condition that essentially shuts down thyroid function.

Potassium Iodide Alternatives

There really are no other alternatives to potassium iodide. However, KI should only be taken during a real emergency. Kelp, spirulina and chlorella have been proven to detox and protect the body from other forms of radiation. These green food supplements should certainly be taken along with potassium iodide after dangerous exposure to radiation. Kelp, spirulina and chlorella are completely non-toxic and can be taken as part of a daily regimen to protect and detox from all types of radiation. Homeopathic remedies should also be taken for optimal health and detox, as prescribed by a classical homeopath.

Homeopathy for Breast & Nipple Pain during Breastfeeding

Prevent Breast & Nipple Pain

Use calendula cream on the nipples several weeks before birth and after nursing begins. Wash the calendula cream off the breast before nursing begins.
Take Hyland’s Silica 6C Homeopathic Cell Salts. Take 3-4 times per day at the beginning of the nursing experience to strengthen the nipples. Discontinue as soon as the nipples are well conditioned.

Treat Breast & Nipple Pain

The following homeopathic remedies help ease the pain of sore, painful breasts and/or nipples in nursing women:

Castor Equorum: The first remedy to try for sore, cracked, ulcerated nipples. The breasts are very tender and the nipples are swollen.

Phytolacca: Intense pain as soon as the baby begins to nurse. The pain starts at the nipple and radiates under the arm or over the whole body. There may be hard knots or nodules in the breasts (also a major remedy for mastitis).

Croton Tiglium: Excruciating pain from the nipple to the back, with pain felt in the shoulder blade. The breasts are inflamed, swollen, and hard and the nipples may be cracked.

Chamomilla: The mother is so hypersensitive to the pain of breastfeeding that she feels she cannot endure. She will be extremely irritable.

Pulsatilla: The mother cries pitifully whenever she must nurse her baby. These women have also had sore breasts and nipples throughout their pregnancy.

Remedies for sore breasts due to mastitis are listed here: Homeopathic Treatment of Mastitis

Dosage: Usually only a few doses of the 30C potency (strength) are enough to bring relief. Repeat 2-3 times per day in cases that are more severe.

Homeopathic Treatment of Mastitis

Homeopathic treatment can be very effective for the treatment of mastitis. The following are the most frequently indicated remedies for this condition:

Phytolacca: The most frequently indicated remedy for mastitis. The breasts are often lumpy and will be caked with hard knots and nodules.

Bryonia: Also a frequently indicated remedy for mastitis. The breast pain is worse after any kind of movement.

Belladonna: Mastitis with sudden onset, high fever and throbbing pain.

Lac Caninum: The breasts are so sensitive that even the touch of clothing against the breasts is excruciatingly painful

Hepar Sulphuris: The breast is extremely painful and worse if exposed to the least draft.

Silica: The breasts have painful cracks in the nipples. A major remedy for women with inverted nipples.

Dosage: Use a 30C potency (strength) of the indicated homeopathic remedy 2-3 times per day. After 24 hours, choose another remedy if there is no improvement. If the condition worsens, consult a health professional.

External Measures: Also the topical application of calendula cream will help unblock the milk ducts and heal the breast tissue.