Homeopathy offers safe and effective remedies for these common symptoms of the Fall season.**

1) Allium Cepa
The remedy is wonderful for the typical symptoms of hay fever; profuse, watery nasal discharge that is burning and irritating, profuse tearing of the eye(that is bland), sneezing with rawness and tingling, frontal headache, worse from the smell of flowers or worse in a warm room, and better in the open air.

2) Sabadilla
Top remedy when violent sneezing or fits of sneezing(many sneezes in a row) is the primary complaint. There is also itching and tingling in the nose, with profuse thin nasal discharge. The sneezing is worse in cold air and from odors and perfume.

3) Aconite
This remedy is wonderful for sudden and forceful onset of symptoms after exposure to dry, cold or windy weather. This remedy is to be used in the first 24 hours of symptoms. There is also marked restlessness, anxiety and fear present. There can be high fever, and a dry cough may be present, which is worse at night.

4) Oscillococcinum
A great remedy for the onset of flu-like symptoms: fever, chills, body aches and pain. This remedy is recommended by doctors around the world and is used by millions of people. It is one of the best selling homeopathic remedies.

5) Gelsemium
Gradual onset of symptoms of a cold; often during warm, humid weather. The patient needing this remedy will exhibit the 4 D’s: dizzy, drowsy, droopy and dumb (mental dullness). There is great weakness and a desire to lie still and be left alone. Face may be dusky red with drooping eyelids.

*Should you have any special medical conditions or be pregnant, consult with your physician before taking any homeopathic or medicinal substances. Also, in severe or emergency medical situations seek professional care immediately.
**In terms of a “potency” for the abovementioned remedies, 30C would be a good choice to have on hand. If you experience one of the symptoms listed above, take one dose of the indicated remedy every 30 minutes until relief is felt, then stop. Repeat the process if the discomfort recurs. If there is no improvement after taking a few doses of a remedy, discontinue and seek professional medical or homeopathic care.

A person ingests, or in certain cases can apply a topical form of, a homeopathic remedy and the vital force within the person is stimulated. This stimulation of the vital force within the person supports the organism to correct certain imbalances that are out of alignment.

How do we get out of balance or alignment? Through many ways: various forms of trauma, toxins in the food or environment, unhealthy habits, excessive stress, infectious agents, poor sanitation, etc. The body and mind can get overburdened over time and not be able to correct itself without support. Homeopathy is that support that can stimulate the re-balancing in a profound way.

The great thing about homeopathy is that it is holistic (whole person). It works on all levels of a person (physical, mental, emotional) to provide relief from suffering. It is mind-body medicine at its finest.

Homeopathy will do no harm under the care of a qualified practitioner. It is known as a gentle system of healing that can transform a person’s health and well-being.

There are 3 remedies for motion sickness that I want to highlight: Cocculus, Tabacum, and Petroleum. These are the best known homeopathic remedies for motion sickness, whether it be from sea-, air-, or carsickness. In homeopathy, we select a remedy based upon the symptoms that are presenting. Each remedy has its known characteristics, and we seek to match a person’s symptoms with a remedy that relieves those symptoms.

The first step is to assess what symptoms a person is experiencing. Here are some quick steps:
1) What exactly are you feeling? For example, nausea, vomiting, dizziness(vertigo), disorientation, etc.
2) Which symptom is the worse?
3) What makes you feel better?
4) Does any food or beverage appeal to you?
5) Any other symptoms along with the motion sickness?

Once you have a clearer picture of the symptoms, then you are ready to determine a remedy choice. The following are characteristic features of homeopathic remedies known to relieve motion sickness:

Cocculus
Severe nausea, vomiting with dizzyiness/vertigo (may also have headache). Desire to lie down. Nausea or dizzyness from looking at moving objects or watching things out of a moving vehicle. Also nausea from the sight or smell of food – aversion to food. Better lying on side. Remedy has been used in cases of travel between different time zones when the symptoms match.

Tabacum
Deathly nausea – feels wretched. Cold, clammy and pale with nausea. Motion sickness from the least motion. Symptoms relieved by cold, fresh air. Also improved by uncovering the abdomen. Salivation and spitting increased. Aggravated by cigarette smoke. Closing eyes relieves symptoms a bit. Remedy known for relieving the classic symptoms of seasickness.

Petroleum
Nausea and dizziness/disorientation. Empty, hungry feeling in the stomach relieved by eating – desire to eat. Increased salivation. Cold perspiration. Better with warm and dry air. Pain in the back of head or neck.

When selecting a remedy, assess the important symptoms and larger picture of the discomfort. Then, review the known characteristics of the remedies and make the best selection. These remedies can be invaluable in providing relief from the unpleasant feeling of motion sickness. If a remedy does not provide relief after a few doses, discontinue and try the next best choice.

The conventional medical view of health is lack of symptoms. Since the conventional medical model deals primarily with the physical body, lack of physical symptoms or problems would indicate good health. Yet, we know this is not complete. There is a mental and emotional component that is equally important.

In holistic (“whole person”) medicine, we view the non-physical as important as the physical. We are looking at the total person; the mental, emotional and physical states as an undivided whole. In order to achieve sustainable good health, the whole person needs to be addressed.

I would say that good health is about freedom: the freedom to live one’s life fully. The freedom to move comfortably without restriction on physical activity. The emotional freedom of happiness and balance. The freedom of clear thinking and unclouded awareness.

Homeopathy offers a holistic approach to enhancing health and well-being. Under good homeopathic care, a person’s well-being will be enhanced on all levels, resulting in a greater sense of ease. Homeopathy is a treasure for improving a person’s health.

Fortunately, homeopathy has a wonderful remedy for such acute pain situations: the remedy Hypericum. Hypericum is a remedy that is used in situations where there is pain or damage to an area rich in nerves. The mouth and gums are highly sensitive because of the extensive nerve network in that area of the body.

I suggested that she take a dose of Hypericum in the 30C potency and repeat as needed for the pain. She called me at 10 PM that evening in amazement, saying that she had taken one dose and the pain subsided, allowing her to feel completely comfortable for the visit with her relative. She had not needed to repeat the remedy since that first dose at 5 PM.

She did not need to take another dose for the pain. This experience sold her on the power and efficacy of homeopathy.

I had just gotten into bed to read before going to sleep. On the bedside table stood a tall and heavy metallic lamp. I moved the lamp to the edge of the table to provide more direct light, and lay down to read. As I was just getting into the first sentence, I was surprised with a whack on the face. At first I was shocked as to what had just happened. Then, as the fog of surprise lifted, I realized that the lamp had fallen over and landed squarely on my left cheekbone. I got up quickly and went to the mirror to see my face. A welt was quickly starting to rise. I quickly went to the freezer to get ice to manage the swelling. The ice stopped the swelling and began to reduce the size a bit. After about 20 minutes of applying ice to the area, I dried the area. Fortunately, the skin in the area was not cut or broken. I began to apply arnica ointment gently to the entire area. Every 20 minutes I applied another coating of the arnica to the area and went to sleep after about 3 applications.

When I awoke in the morning, I continued the arnica applications at least every hour. By midday, the swelling was barely noticeable and there was zero discoloration. I continued with the arnica ointment for the next few days with fewer and fewer applications each day. Within five days the slight swelling had completely gone and there was still no discoloration. Arnica had managed an injury that surely would have produced a swollen and discolored area around my eye socket that would have lingered for weeks.

Arnica helps the body to re-absorb the blood and discoloration from injuries resulting in swelling and bruising. It also helps with the emotional shock of an unexpected injury. While I knew of the tremendous value of arnica, this experience gave me a newfound appreciation for this incredible remedy. Please note that arnica ointment is not to be used on broken skin or open wounds.