What do symptoms have to do with healing? Aren’t you busy enough that they’re just simply in the way?
There are many businesses and industries that would have you believe this. They make a lot of money from offering you drugs that suppress or mask your symptoms for the sake of not inconveniencing your life. You can carry on and just take that pill, or pills, and continue on...until you need another pill to deal with the side effects from those pills. So long as the drugs and symptoms don’t interfere with the convenience of your life, it continues on and on, with more and more drugs being added. Yet, your symptoms are your body’s natural feedback loop that tell you something is wrong in the body. The symptoms are not the problem. We need to look deeper than that for true healing. Your body has a natural healing ability. Take, for example, a cut on your finger. Over time, it will heal itself. There is relatively little you need to do to help it. Such a healing intelligence not only occurs on the physical level, but also on the mental and emotional levels of who we are, as well. This natural tendency of the body/mind/emotions to heal is referred to, in homeopathy, as the Vital Force. The Vital Force is a non-physical, in-animate, healing intelligence. So far, modern science has yet to measure where or how it works. Much of the scrutiny homeopathy receives resides in this feature. I don’t get too hung up on that, though. Can scientific instruments measure how much you love something or someone? Physical instruments can measure what physical parts of the brain are involved when someone loves, but the experience itself cannot be quantified or measured. Such mysteries open up our minds and our hearts to the workings of the universe that cannot be explained, yet remain completely relevant to our life. In homeopathy, disease originates as a mis-tunement of the Vital Force. This is in energetic terms, not in biochemical pathways or physiological processes. Such an energetic disturbance manifests its effects as the physiological/biochemical symptoms that we all experience. The symptoms can be mental or emotional or physical, or more commonly - all at the same time. More specifically, this is when we have allergies, or cultivate addictions, or have chronic physical pains, or feel emotionally unstable or depressed, etc. Because disease originates pre-physically, our symptoms are meant to be worked with, rather than against. Suppressing them or masking them only makes the Vital Force express the mis-tunement in a different way. This is one reason why drugs have so many side effects. Not only is the drug toxic and thus creates several adverse reactions in the body, but it also prevents the Vital Force from expressing the natural disease of the individual. The mis-tunement of the Vital Force has to go somewhere. Typically, the natural, pre-physical disease of the person worsens as a result of suppressed symptoms. Perhaps this could be one of the reasons why, despite great advances in technology, our state of health has declined, new deadly viruses continue to spring up, and cancer rates have increased. To summarize, in our culture we’ve been miseducated about the role of symptoms. Rather than suppress them, they are meant to be worked with. Symptoms are the end result of an inner, energetic mis-tunement of the Vital Force. When we understand the true nature of symptoms, we can better rely upon methods of healing, like homeopathy, that honor them and seek to strengthen the Vital Force’s ability to help heal ourselves. In my practice, I’m ready to work with you and your unique, individual totality of symptoms. No matter your disease, condition, or illness, homeopathy can help you. Contact me today to get started. In great health and healing, Noel
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What’s the number #1 health problem in America?
Stress! Just the word conjures tension and discomfort. Accumulated, chronic stress impacts just about every major organ system in the body. Some estimates indicate 75% - 90% of all visits to the doctor are stress-related. Being under chronic stress can impact the following:
What if there was a healing modality that can help you not only with the effects of stress, but act in such a way as to help you develop the strength and vitality to make the necessary changes in your life? If there was such a modality, would you do it? There is no magic pill to the challenges and frustrations of life. Yet, there is a healing process that can dramatically help you in your life. It is called homeopathy. In my practice, I’m passionate about helping people find relief from the pains, illnesses, and conditions from the effects of stress. I’m also passionate about helping people cultivate a healthier sense of self. This can manifest in increased energy or vitality, effective resiliency to life’s stressors, and experiences of greater happiness and joy. It’s a remarkable process; one I invite you to partake in. In health and wellness, Noel What can homeopathy provide for you in your life?
For starters, homeopathy can provide you an opportunity. Opportunity for what, you might ask? Homeopathy provides you an opportunity to meet your true self. What does that mean? Perhaps there's an area of your life your fearful of. It causes anxiety for you when you think about it. For example, you really want to confront your boss for the mistreatment you're receiving, but shirk at the possibility for fear of losing your job. Or, you really want to introduce yourself to someone you're attracted to, but avoid doing so time after time. If so, you're not alone. All of us at one point or another fall victim to our own fears. Yet, when we do that we're not living in accordance to an inner knowing that this can be different. We're, in effect, living inauthentically to ourselves. If this becomes perpetual, fear will beget more fear, and it may become a major barrier in your life. In pathological terms, we may have a propensity to feel depressed, become overly anxious, or even experience panic attacks. There is help, however. Homeopathy provides you an opportunity to live more authentically to your true self. In essence, through homeopathic treatment, you learn to live in accordance with an inner knowing and sense about what is real and fulfilling in your life - and to act on it! It's a beautiful process and one that renders each of us happier, living with more peace, and experiencing the kind of life we wish for ourselves. Take advantage of your opportunity today! Blessings, Noel I’ve had a lot of inquiry about Homeopathic weight loss products lately.
Perhaps you’ve heard of it? The product is called hCG and is made from the hormone human Chorionic Gonadotropin, which is extracted from a woman’s urine during her pregnancy. For the diet protocol, synthetic hormones are typically used. Additionally, a strict food regimen is implemented and your physical activity levels are restricted. Given my prior career experience as a personal fitness trainer, health coach and now as a homeopathic practitioner, I have had thousands of opportunities to say what I’m going to say here: there is no such thing as a magic weight loss pill! Thankfully, in homeopathy we aren’t in the business of dispensing pills. But, to have “homeopathic” on this product is somewhat misleading. Indeed, the hormone is prepared in a way that homeopathic remedies are: through dilution and succussion (shaking). But, this happens to a very low degree in hCG. In classical homeopathy, the kind of homeopathy I specialize in, a homeopathic remedy is selected for you based on the totality of your unique and detailed symptoms. No two people are alike. Therefore, the best route for your weight loss is not the same as me, or your neighbor, your co-worker, or your family member. Also, we are whole beings, and not just the sum of our parts. Someone who comes to my clinic desiring help with weight loss will receive their own personalized attention. Such individualization is discerned by understanding the person’s mental state, emotional disposition, and physical symptoms. Duly noted, it may be found that something else in their life, emotionally or mentally, may need to be addressed before the desired physical weight loss is even an option. It’s also important to mention here that there is no substitute for eating healthy, getting adequate physical activity, and managing your stress effectively for proper weight management. The diet protocol of hCG is one more plan that diverts attention away from your own personal accountability of living well, and giving that power away to something outside of you. Just like diet pills, plans, and regimens of the past, hCG falls into this category. I’ve helped hundreds of people lose weight in my career. The key is in sustaining it long-term. If we don’t learn anything along the way about how to maintain a healthy lifestyle, then we’ll be back in this same spot of desiring weight loss, not liking how we look or how we feel. We’ll then wait around for the next “magic pill,” even if it says ‘homeopathic‘ on it. It is possible for you to lose weight, AND keep it off! We just have to inspect all the dimensions of who we are; what makes us unique individuals; and what’s personally holding each of us back from what we want. Then, we can talk about “losing the weight” from your life. Classical homeopathy can do just that. For your FREE 15-minute consultation, contact me here or call me at (512) 382-5060. Thanks for reading! Noel With so many choices available to you for bettering your health in Austin and central Texas, what makes homeopathy a viable solution for you? The goal of this blog is to describe four major benefits of homeopathic treatment for you in your life. This is to arm you with knowledge about this profound and effective healing modality as you consider various options for your health care needs. First, homeopathy is safe, gentle, and a reliable method of healing. It was formally established as its own system of healing in 1796 by Samuel Hahnemann. Dr. Hahnemann was a German physician who had become very discouraged about the medical practices of his time, namely blood letting, and the use of terribly invasive procedures. He sought a much gentler and safer way to help his patients. Not only did he succeed in that goal, but he also found a form of true healing that provides lasting relief. Through homeopathic treatment, the end goal is the complete annihilation to that person's susceptibility for their current illness. In this way, Dr. Hahnemann formulated a true medical healing art. Second, homeopathy is non-toxic, non-habit forming, and is a much more affordable alternative than conventional methods. Additionally, homeopathy will not interfere with current medications you may be on. In fact, throughout homeopathic treatment, your constitution becomes stronger and your vitality increased, such that you are less and less dependent on the medications over time. After full homeopathic treatment, patients frequently find themselves having no co-pays for a medication they once thought they may have had to always take. There are no side effects to taking homeopathic remedies. Nor are there any invasive procedures or expensive exams during homeopathic treatment, which cuts way back on its cost. Even though it is a fee-for-service profession, it is a far more economical selection of healing than any other conventional treatment for health and wellness purposes. Third, during homeopathic treatment, you will receive homeopathic remedies, which are made mostly from plants and simple minerals. The homeopathic remedies seek to initiate the inherent healing response your body naturally has. Take, for example, a cut on your finger. Over time, your body will naturally heal that cut without any intervention on your part. That same healing intelligence of the body (we call it the Vital Force) is what homeopathy works with - not against. In conventional treatments, your symptoms get suppressed in the name of offering you immediate relief. Yet, those very symptoms, even though they are uncomfortable, are not meant to be suppressed. They are your body's natural and intelligent response to let you know something is wrong. In homeopathy, the remedies work with your body's attempt to heal, and do so in safe, gentle, and reliable ways. Fourth, the scope of homeopathy is profound - it is useful for most mental, emotional, and physical complaints, both acute and chronic (long-standing). This means homeopathy is useful for you if you have any commonly understood pain, illness, and/or condition. The real benefit in this is that it's individualized to your unique symptom picture: mentally, emotionally, and physically. In this way, homeopathy does not treat, prevent, or cure diseases, as conventionally understood. Rather, it works to restore balance and optimal health for your individual nature. There is not one homeopathic remedy to take for gout, or allergies, or depression, for example. Rather, there is a homeopathic remedy that is selected for YOU, as you are experiencing your unique symptoms related to the disease you have, as well as how it impacts you mentally and emotionally. Considering all of that, homeopathy is one of the most complete systems of healing available in the world today. Because homeopathy is safe, works with your body's ability to heal itself, is economical, and comprehensive, it is a viable and useful modality for your healing needs. People commonly see a homeopath for the following: anxiety/depression, ADD/ADHD, PMS/menstrual irregularities, menopause, prostate health/ED, allergies/asthma, ear infections, coughs, the flu, headaches, joint pains/arthritis, fibromyalgia, constipation/diarrhea, bladder infections, plus much more. In this article, I outlined four main benefits to undergoing homeopathic treatment. My intent is to provide information to you so you make educated choices regarding your natural health needs. For more information or to schedule your FREE 15-minute consultation, click here. Thanks for your reading and be well! Noel What a beautiful time of the year! Summer is here, family vacations are abound, and hours of fun are spent outdoors. Yet, summertime has such a great capacity to impact our health, too. Heat exhaustion is a common condition that can easily happen for residents of Austin. As temperatures spike and humidity thickens, it’s important you take heed to the important warning signs of heat exhaustion.
First of all, here are some of the common symptoms for heat exhaustion:
What can you do to prevent heat exhaustion this summer? First of all, stay hydrated! Try your best to drink half your weight in ounces of water per day. In other words, if you weigh 200 pounds, you should be drinking 100 ounces of water, or 12.5 cups (8 fluid ounces equals one cup) each day. That may seem like a lot, but it may surprise you how fast your body loses water while in the heat. Also consider the cooling effects of water in other ways than just drinking it.
Be sure you stay safe while you go out to have all your fun this summer! Keep this article with you and enjoy! Sincerely, Noel This is the fifth and final blog I've written in a series about homeopathy and musculoskeletal disorders. My previous articles were on rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative arthritis, gout, and finally tendinitis and bursitis.
This blog will cover the topic of back pain, sciatica, and how homeopathy can help people experiencing it. I’ll first document the nature of back pain and suggest lifestyle changes one can implement to relieve their pain. I will also describe the etiology and signs of sciatica. Then I’ll cover how homeopathy works with people experiencing this condition. This will be followed by recommendations of a few homeopathic remedies that may help. Back pain can occur in the upper back, mid-back, and low back. It affects approximately 80% of Americans at some point in their lives. This staggering number also makes back pain one of the leading causes of absenteeism from work and disability claims. What makes back pain so common in our culture? There are several risk factors associated with having low back pain that are common circumstances in our culture. Some risk factors you can do something about include:
Sciatica is a form of back pain that refers to a narrowing of the spinal canal, which compresses the spinal cord and sciatic spinal nerve roots together. This extremely painful condition is brought on by some form of trauma, degeneration (arthritis or bone spurs), or rupture (herniated disc) in the back. Signs and symptoms of sciatica include:
Belladonna: Sudden onset of severe low back pain or sciatica. Pain is so severe that it prevents any movement. Pain is worse from motion, being jarred, misstepping, from the direct pressure of laying on it, and from long sitting. Generally affects the right side more than the left. Calcarea Carbonica: Low back pain from the slightest exertion, especially lifting. Back feels weak; person easily slumps in the chair. Worse from the cold, damp weather; from lifting; exerting; or ascending (stairs). Kali Carbonicum: Low back pain that drives them out of bed at night. Worse at night, often at 2 or 3 am; also from the cold or drafts. Usually affects the right side. Pains that extend into the buttocks or into the sole of the foot. Nux Vomica: Severe sciatica down either leg with great sensitivity and is often accompanied with anger. Worse in the morning that worsens the longer they stay in bed; from the cold; from turning in the bed. Better from heat. Tellurium: Severe pains that travel down the sacrum and into the sciatic nerve and thigh. Worse from coughing; laughing; sneezing; when pressing during stool; anything that induces the valsalva maneuver (forcible exhalation against a closed airway). In this fifth and final blog on homeopathy and musculoskeletal disorders, I covered the topic of back pain and sciatica. I covered important lifestyle changes one can make to relieve low back pain, I described the etiology and symptoms for sciatica, and suggested several homeopathic remedies that may help people who experience this condition. Thanks for reading! Noel This article marks the fourth entry in a series I’ve written on musculoskeletal disorders and how homeopathy can help people experiencing them. Recently, I’ve written articles on Homeopathy and Rheumatoid Arthritis, Degenerative Arthritis, and Gout. This article will cover the topics of tendinitis and bursitis. In it, I will define these conditions, discuss they’re etiology (where they come from), describe basic signs and symptoms of them, and then suggest homeopathic remedies that may help people experiencing these two conditions.
Bursitis is defined as inflammation of the bursae, which are fluid-filled sacs found between muscles and tendons. A bursa sac’s function is to reduce friction between surfaces of the body, and aid in facilitating movement. Bursa sacs are typically found in areas of the body where large joints are located, such as the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees. These sacs of fluid can become inflamed, infected, or traumatized from overuse of the joint, continued or excessive friction of the joint, and from having systemic diseases such as gout and rheumatoid arthritis, which can lead to an infection of the bursa sac. Tendinitis is simply defined as an inflammation of a tendon. Tendons are connective tissues between muscles and bones in the body. Tendons, muscles, and bones all work together to create movement in your body. Tendinitis usually occurs after prolonged use of using the tendon inappropriately. Usually, tendinitis is accompanied by bursitis in the joint. The joints typically affected by tendinitis are the shoulder, elbow (“tennis elbow”), wrist, and knee (“housemaid’s knee”), but can happen in any tendon in the body. Tendinitis and Bursitis have similar signs and symptoms:
Homeopathy is very effective for people experiencing acute (short-term, sudden onset) tendinitis and bursitis, as well as chronic (long-standing). There are several homeopathic remedies that may be useful for these situations. They are listed below: Bryonia: Pain accompanying the inflammation that is sharp or stitching, in nature. Every slight motion causes pain. Feels better from applying pressure to the joint and from heat. Phytolacca: Pain and inflammation that exists at the site of attachment for the tendon to the bone. This pain feels worse from heat, and better from cold applications. Rhus Toxicodendron: Pain and stiffness that arises from overuse. The pain is better from continued motion, from hot bathing, or from heat. When the person gets moving, they feel compelled to keep moving and desire stretching the joint. Affects the left sided joints of the body more than the right. Please note this list is not comprehensive. For specific and individualized care, please contact me for further information. In this article I described the nature of bursitis and tendinitis, their etiology, their signs and symptoms, and homeopathic remedies that can help people experiencing these conditions. Thanks for reading! Sincerely, Noel Peterson Noel Peterson is classical homeopathic practitioner located in Austin, Texas. He specializes his practice in helping men, women, and children find sustainable relief from their pains, illnesses, and conditions using a method of healing that works safely, gently, and reliably. Making a change in how you eat can be likened to a major life saving operation in that it takes careful consideration, preparation, and action. Like an operation, it can truly be one of the most important and life-altering decisions you make in your life. So, how do you eat healthy?
I’d like to outline a 3-step process you can adopt to adequately prepare you to make healthy eating a sustainable lifestyle habit. Then, a list of 10 tips is offered to assist you with what to eat, when you’re ready! The first step is to recognize that a change is needed. If knowledge is power and awareness is wisdom, both will help point you in the direction of change with great velocity! How do you know if a change is needed? It usually has to do with your body’s signals. Ask yourself, are you low in energy? Do you wake up feeling drowsy, sluggish, or irritable? Do you experience the effects related to obesity, such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, or other chronic conditions? If so, it could be your body’s signal telling you it’s time to make a change. The second step is to tip the scales in the direction of change. Maybe you’re aware a change is needed, but you’re not sure what steps to take, or changing just seems too difficult. One thing you can do to tip the scales in the direction of change is to list the benefits and consequences of eating healthy. For example, one benefit of changing could be to help you lose weight. A possible consequence of it could be the perception that healthy foods don’t taste good. Additionally, consider the benefits and consequences of not making a change. For example, one potential benefit of not changing could be that you get to stay within your comfort zones and continue to eat what you always have. Conversely, one consequence of not changing could be the fact that you’ll never lose the weight you’d like. Such an analysis helps you weigh both the pros and cons of changing, as well as not changing. This strategy will help you become more aware of the barriers that may be holding you back and how you can begin overcoming them. The third step is to prepare for change and create a plan of action. Here, you know it’s time to change but you need to have the appropriate plan before taking action. This may mean you need to arm yourself with correct information about what eating healthy involves. You can visit the websites www.thenutritionsource.org or www.mypyramid.gov for great educational resources on eating healthy. When you’re convinced it’s time to change and you’re ready to create a realistic eating plan, consider these 10 tips on various components of healthy eating: 1. Limit the intake of processed foods that contain ingredients such as high fructose corn syrup and/or partially hydrogenated oils. 2. Use 100% whole grains rather than white flour or white pasta. 3. Eliminate white sugar as much as possible. 4. Eat a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables and fill ½ your plate with them at each meal. 5. Use olive oil instead of butter 6. Choose lean meats like chicken, turkey, or fish, versus red meat 7. Shop the periphery of the grocery store and avoid shopping when you’re hungry 8. Eat until you are 80% full 9. Drink at least 8 cups of water per day 10. Eat slowly and savor each bite. When you can adequately prepare yourself for change, and then adopt these tips; you are well on your way to making healthy eating a sustainable lifestyle habit. Congratulations! In my practice I carefully consider your lifestyle habits, especially regarding your nutrition. Please contact me to get started on your own homeopathic treatments or to learn more about me and my practice. Thanks for reading and be well! Noel This blog will cover the condition of gout. Gout will be identified through a listing of its signs and symptoms, and etiology. Then, lifestyle recommendations will be offered to help combat the effects of gout. Lastly, homeopathic remedies will be suggested, with their corresponding indications, which may help people experiencing gout.
Gout is one form of an arthritic inflammation wherein deposits of uric acid form hard nodules in tissues. This is a result of an overproduction of uric acid in the blood or decreased excretion of it through urination. The most common site for gout is in the first metatarsal of the big toe, but it can also affect the joints of the feet, ankles, and knees. Gout can either be acute (affecting one joint) or chronic (long-standing, recurring episodes of pain and inflammation that may affect more than one joint). This condition is present more in men than women, and generally appears after age 30. For women, gout appears more often after menopause. It is uncommon in children. Gout is thought to be caused by an inherited abnormality to properly metabolize foods that contain purines. Purines are found in certain meat and meat products like anchovies, sardines, liver, beef kidneys, meat extracts, herring, mackerel, scallops, game meats, and gravies made from any of these. Excessive weight gain may also contribute to gout susceptibility. Because gout is a deficiency of uric acid metabolism, close monitoring of one’s dietary habits is paramount. It is generally recommended to avoid high fat foods (salad dressings, ice cream, and fried foods), eat a vegetarian diet, avoid alcohol, drink plenty of water (at least 8 cups daily) and partake in healthy lifestyle habits of proper nutrition for an optimal weight loss regimen (no more than 2 lbs of weight loss per week). Signs and symptoms of gout include:
Below is a brief list of homeopathic remedies, and their corresponding indications, for people experiencing gout. Benzoic Acid: Very helpful for arthritis, gout, and the deformity of joints. The person feels relieved when discharging sediment through the urine. Affects especially the knees, ankles, toes, and hands. Marked cracking of the joints upon motion. Colchicum: This is one of the most important homeopathic remedies for people experiencing gout. The joint becomes hot, red, swollen, and exquisitely sensitive to being touched or moved. Worse at night, from the slightest motion, and from cold, damp weather. Ledum: Pains that feel better from the cold (soaking, compresses, weather, etc.). Useful for acute gout of the knee or ankle. Worse at night in bed, and from heat. Ascending pains (first affects the toes, then knees, later hips, and hands). Berberis: Gouty pain as if a nail was in the ball of the foot upon standing. Gout that occurs in the knee, especially the left one. Pain that comes on from arising from a seat. Causticum: Gout with a deformity of the toes. Calcification and advanced deterioration of the joints. These are just a few of the many homeopathic remedies that can help people experiencing gout. Please note this list is not comprehensive. For your best results, please contact me. In this article I outlined the definition of gout; its signs, symptoms, and etiology. Healthy lifestyle recommendations were added, specifically related to the diet. Lastly, homeopathic remedies were offered, with their corresponding indications for people experiencing gout. Thank you very much for your time in reading! Please contact me to get started on your own homeopathy treatments or to learn more about my practice. Sincerely, Noel Peterson Disclaimer: This blog is intended for educational purposes only and is not meant to treat, prevent, or cure disease. For questions about your health, please see a medical doctor. |
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