Plantago major - Homeopathy in Your Garden

Plantago major

The next time you step out of your house, keep an eye out for this plant. It is a very commonly seen plant. It grows just about everywhere as a weed, between the cracks in the sidewalk, in gravel, in grassy surfaces. It is Plantago major.

It is commonly called Plantain, and it has immense medicinal value. Poultices made from the leaves are used to promote wound healing, because the leaves contain anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial compounds. It also has astringent properties and it prevents loss of fluids from the body by contacting tissues. This makes it useful in diarrhea.

In homeopathy, the tincture of Plantago major is used to relieve toothache caused due to caries. The tincture, when applied with cotton wool, also relieves teeth that are sensitive to hot or cold. In other potencies, it is useful to relieve headache that is caused by toothache, diarrhea. It is especially useful for people with nicotine addiction by creating an aversion to tobacco, and by relieving the symptoms of insomnia and depression caused due to tobacco addiction.

Such a common little plant, and so many uses!

Photo credit: Frank Vincentz

Homeopathy for the Mind

October 10 is World Mental Health Day

Mental health is an important part of all round well being. In today's fast-paced lifestyle, in spite of all the advances in technology and modern-day conveniences, anxiety disorders, stress-related illnesses, panic attacks, PTSD, and depression are commonly seen in populations around the world.  

Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community. (Source - WHO). It is not merely the absence of mental disorder(s). Many factors contribute to mental health, including, but not limited to socio-economic, biological, work- or family-related stress, and unhealthy lifestyle.

Homeopathy has always given importance to mental health and homeopathic case taking requires inquiry into symptoms of the mind in all cases of chronic illness, and sometimes in acute illnesses too. The reason for this inquiry is the principles of homeopathy that say that the body, mind, and vital energy are all connected and affect one another. It is only recently that modern medicine has accepted the body-mind connection and opened up new departments for 'psychosomatic medicine' and 'integrated medicine'.

Let's look at some homeopathic remedies that are commonly used in maintaining mental health.

A woman came to me with great anxiety and palpitations of the heart. She had an intense liking for sugar and all things sweet. She was an impulsive person by nature. She was relieved of her anxiety after taking Argentum nitricum.  

Arsenicum album is recommended for persons who are extremely anxious about their health, and about maintaining order in their surroundings (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). The saying 'A place for every thing and everything in its place' might have been written for an Arsenicum person. 

Someone who needs Gelsimium experiences muscular weakness along with anxiety. The person is sensitive to sunlight and often has headaches. 

Children who are emotionally affected by life's transitions by becoming clingy and insecure may need Pulsatilla. They feel better by being comforted.

Someone who needs Aurum metallicum is depressed to the extent of having suicidal thoughts; while someone who has many fears, including fear of death, may need Aconite. 

Hyoscyamus and Stramonium are indicated in different forms of mania, as is Belladonna.

Natrum muriaticum and Ignatia may be indicated for women with hormonal disturbances and emotional issues. A woman who had become depressed and indifferent towards life felt better after taking Sepia.

A person who has had failures at work and losses in business may need Bryonia or Lycopodium. There was the case of a man who worked hard and partied harder, pushing himself and his body to do more and more until he became irritable and angry with everything in life. His need for alcohol and caffeine reduced and he felt less stressed after taking Nux vomica. 

A student who was very shy, nervous, and couldn't concentrate on his studies just before his exams was helped by Silicea. He became more confident and did not dread his work any more.

These are just a handful remedies that I have named to illustrate how homeopathic remedies are used for symptoms of the mind. Virtually any remedy from the homeopathic materia medica (the manual of homeopathic remedies) can be used, as long as it best suits the person who it is given to. I cannot name the whole list of remedies here since the materia medica contains more than 3000 remedies!

It is important to remember that homeopathic remedies are given based on the individuality of each person and not on the name of a disease. Each person is unique and even though two people may appear to be affected by the same kind of illness, their symptoms will always differ. 

For example, depression may present as excessive eating, increased sleep, and intolerance to cold in one person; whereas it may present as decreased appetite and sleep, and intolerance to heat/sunlight in another person. While modern medicine gives pertinence to the name of the disease (the diagnosis), homeopathy only considers the person presenting with signs and symptoms. Therefore, even though two people have the same disease diagnosis, their homeopathic remedies may be different based on their own unique symptoms. 

Research has concluded that homeopathy can immensely help people who are troubled with anxiety, depression, and other symptoms of mental illnesses. As is obvious, it is imperative that the practitioner recognize signs of psychosis or suicidal tendencies and integrate other methods of treatment along with homeopathy. 

For the management of daily stress and the mental symptoms that arise due to tough life situations, homeopathic remedies can greatly help!


 

Homeopathy in pregnancy and childbirth - Part 3

This is the last post in the series on Homeopathy in Pregnancy and Childbirth. We will see how homeopathy can be used in different conditions that may arise with the process of childbirth and the postpartum period.

Itching all over the body is a common and annoying symptom in the last stages of pregnancy. Using a heavy moisturizer or oil helps to some extent. Moisturizing is also important to prevent rashes from stretch marks. 

For itching without any other cause: Dolichos, Tabacum

Varicose veins: Calcarea flour, Acid flour, Carbo vegetabilis, Hamamelis, Vipera

Caulophyllum

If labor is:

Slow and delayed: Caulophyllum, Cimicifuga, Gelsimium
Violent and too fast: Aconite
Accompanied by severe back pain: Kali carb

Postpartum:

Hemorrhage: Secale corn, Phosphorus

Depression: Pulsatilla, Natrum mur, Sepia

Soreness: Arnica, Bellis perennis, Hypericum

Episiotomy: Calendula tincture can be applied externally. Mix 10 drops in 4 tablespoons water, soak a cotton gauze pad in the solution and apply to perineum. This can be repeated several times a day for up to a month.

After cesarean, to promote healing: Arnica, Staphysagria, Hypericum, Calendula tincture

Bach Rescue remedy is also recommended to take as often as needed, to relieve stress. 


It is always recommended that a woman take up a detailed consultation with a homeopath in the early stages of pregnancy or prior to conception so that her constitutional remedy can be evaluated. Constitutional remedies are customized to the individual's needs and it is the best kind of homeopathic therapy for many chronic illnesses. The remedies included in this post are just a guideline for what can be used. It is not recommended to take remedies on your own without the guidance of someone who is trained in homeopathy.

On a similar note, I would like to suggest to every woman to make informed choices about any and all medical interventions during her pregnancy. Use the services of a midwife or doula if one is available near you. Ask your doctor if external cephalic version is possible if the baby is not in a head-down position, before considering a cesarean section. This is not about whether medical interventions are good or bad, but whether a procedure is right for YOU. You are an unique individual, and what is right for someone else may not be right for you. Assess the risks and benefits of every procedure that is offered to you and make a decision based your judgment.

'The future depends on what we do in the present.' - Mahatma Gandhi 

Image courtesy H. Zell Creative Commons 

 

Homeopathy for Seasonal Affective Disorder

We're in the middle of winter, and even though Punxsutawney Phil has predicted an early spring, many of us are recovering from the effects of the recent snow storms. 

Cold weather, lack of light, and generally stressful conditions all contribute to a form of depression called Seasonal Affective Disorder. 

Symptoms of SAD are common in the months of January to March, in the peak of winter (and after all the festivities of the holiday season!). Symptoms vary in severity, and men, women, children, and pets are all affected.


The main symptoms of SAD are:

• Lethargy and fatigue, sometimes making it difficult to carry out normal routines

• Mood changes, irritability, restlessness, headaches.

• Cravings for sweet, salty, or 'comfort' food that is high in carbohydrates, leading to weight gain

• Feelings of despair and hopelessness, avoidance of social contact

The homeopathic treatment for SAD is through an individualized approach, by taking into consideration all the symptoms of the person at that point in time. This allows the practitioner to come up with a customized remedy which is more effective in providing relief than something that is all-purpose. There are thousands of remedies in homeopathy and any one of them may be the right fit for someone, but some remedies that are over-sensitive to cold weather are considered first. 

Remedies like Causticum, Phosphorus, Rhus tox, and Sepia are all worse from cold weather. While a Phosphorus person needs sunlight to feel lively and happy again, a Rhus tox faces rigidity at both physical and mental levels, leading to stiff joints and compulsive behavior.  Other remedies are Aurum metallicum, Phosphoric acid, Pulsatilla, etc. 

[The remedies described are just examples with some pointers, and they may or may not be the right ones for you. Do not attempt to use homeopathic remedies for chronic illnesses without the guidance of a homeopath.  A homeopath has the expertise to choose the correct remedy and dosage to suit your needs.]

Other ways to support healing from SAD are:

• Go for a walk in the middle of the day and get some sunlight. Open the curtains and blinds on your windows and let the sun come into your home.
• Exercise! If you can't go out of your home, exercise at home. Stretch, run, skip rope, dance - do whatever you enjoy to get your heart pumping a little harder. Exercise releases endorphins which are your body's natural mood enhancers.
• Bach flower essences are very useful for healing emotional issues. Mustard is used for depression.

Stay warm, and stay healthy!