What’s in a homeopathic remedy?

I hear this question very often. Being unlike anything else on the market, there is mystery or uncertainty with what homeopathy is and how it works. As such, I wanted to take a few moments to address this common, yet fundamental question.

First, to start with understanding what’s in a homeopathic remedy, we need to have an understanding of what a homeopathic remedy aims to do. Like all truly natural therapies, homeopathic treatment seeks to stimulate the innate healing intelligence of an individual’s body so that all physiological systems function at their best. As a person moves toward his or her optimal level of general health, they feel better. Subsequently, specific symptoms improve as the strengthened body defenses become active. But, the homeopathic remedy in itself does not directly treat a symptom or condition. Instead, it simply helps to initiate the process by which the person heals himself or herself.

A homeopath views a person’s health as a condition of the entire individual rather than in terms of isolated symptoms from specific parts of the body. Homeopaths do not diagnose or treat disease. Instead, homeopathic remedies are selected that best correspond to the person’s total state of illness. Evaluation of the individual’s level of health and choice of the correct remedy depends in large part on a thorough understanding of all symptoms: mentally, emotionally, and physically. In addition, other important indicators of general health; such as the level of vitality the person experiences or their emotional well-being, demand close attention.

Now that there’s groundwork laid for what a homeopathic remedy aims to do and how, let’s get back to the original question I so often hear: “What’s in a homeopathic remedy?” 

Homeopathic remedies are usually made from plants and simple minerals. Examples of plants could be an aloe plant, or a marigold flower. Examples of simple minerals are the compounds calcium carbonate, or sodium chloride. At present we have over 5000 documented homeopathic remedies derived from something found in nature. These source substances are prepared by a process of repeated dilution and shaking which makes them capable of stimulating the healing process, whereby the whole body heals itself. This differs from herbs or regular drugs and medicines which are given to take away specific symptoms generally from isolated parts of the body.

Homeopathic remedies are made at special FDA-regulated and approved homeopathic pharmacies according to very high standards of purity.

To summarize, what’s in a homeopathic remedy? Based on your homeopath’s complete understanding of the totality of symptoms, they will carefully select a homeopathic remedy that is focused on helping the body heal itself. The remedy is derived from a source substance found in nature, generally from a plant or simple mineral. It then undergoes a serial dilution and shaking process.

Because of this special preparation process there is no toxicity, no side effects, and they are non-habit forming, and are therefore safe for all ages. And because homeopathy is focused on helping the individual heal themselves, and not focused on treating a specific disease or condition, anyone - regardless of diagnosis, can benefit from homeopathy!

I hope this sheds some light of what’s in a homeopathic remedy. As I mentioned at the start, homeopathy is truly unlike anything else in the world. The scope of homeopathy is so broad and deep, and the healing effects so lasting, it’s a wonder why more people don’t know about or use homeopathy for themselves or their families!
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Sincerely,
​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:

• Excruciating pain (crushing, throbbing, etc.) in the joints of the big toe, knees, feet, and/or ankles.
• The affected joint feels warm and appears red.
• Pain increases gradually, peaks after a few hours, then decreases gradually.
• Pain may be accompanied by low fever, chills, headache, and/or nausea.
• Usually occurs with kidney-related dysfunctions or renal calculi (kidney stones).

Homeopathy may be a long-term solution for people experiencing gout.  Homeopathic treatment is individualized to each person’s unique symptom expression.  In general, a homeopath views health as a condition of the entire individual rather than in terms of isolated symptoms from specific locations of the body.  That said, a homeopath will seek to understand, in detail, your physical symptoms along with your mental/emotional disposition and character.  Upon such an analysis, a homeopathic remedy will be selected that seeks to initiate the inherent healing response of your body.  This healing response will act simultaneously in all levels of your being: mentally, emotionally, and physically.  In this way, people who experience gout can be helped through homeopathic treatment.

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.

I live in Austin, Texas.  Environmental allergens are a huge issue here!  I wrote an article about this topic not long ago, but it warrants another take because of its severity.


Allergies are defined as a disorder of the immune system, specifically, an over-reaction of your body to certain substances (pollen, food products, insect bites, etc.).  This physiologic over-reaction results in an inflammatory process.  The results of the internal inflammation then result in the common symptoms of itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, hives, lethargy, etc.  It is your body doing its best to rid the toxic substance from within you.  


Such symptoms are not meant to be suppressed.  Conventional and more common treatments involve anti-histamines, cortisone (a steroid), or adrenaline (for severe anaphylaxis).  Common medications you may have heard of include Nasonex, Flonase, Singulair, or Zyrtec.  If you experience allergic reactions and have taken these medicines you are probably aware of the multitude of side effects that happen from usage.  Additionally, your allergies keep coming back - sometimes with a stronger vengeance than before!  That's because the symptoms are not meant to be suppressed.  You may experience relief for the time being, as long as you can stand the side effects, but the illness remains.  What is one to do?


Homeopathy is an alternative that seeks to work with your bodies healing intelligence and strengthen your immune system so you are less and less susceptible to the allergens.  This process is accomplished over time, but spells overall relief from your allergic symptoms, which may never come back.  There is help out there without the dependency on expensive medicines or the side effects from conventional treatments.


During homeopathic treatment it will be important to describe in detail the nature of your symptoms.  There is not one homeopathic remedy for allergies.  Rather, there are homeopathic remedies for YOU and your unique expression of all of your physical symptoms, as well as how it impacts you mentally and emotionally.  For example, some people experience great eye itchiness with agglutination (crusty eyes) in the morning, whereas some may have burning nasal discharge.  Others may have profuse nasal discharge with no burning or eye irritation at all.  It all depends on your unique symptoms.


To begin your healing journey, please contact me.  For research articles on this topic, please click here.


Many thanks for reading!
Noel

This Thursday evening I will be holding a class on Homeopathy for Sports and Fitness related purposes.  (Please visit my website to learn more).  All too often we can become discouraged when a nagging sprain or recurring injury sidelines us from doing what we love doing, or desire doing for a sense of balance in life.  Being able to remain physically active is of paramount importance to sustaining a healthy lifestyle and leading the life we want for ourselves.


How often have you had to live in pain from an injury you sustained awhile back that continues to prevent you from staying in the action?  If you're like me, physical activity is one of the staples of living the kind of healthy life I like to live.  Without it, and with recurring pains, I feel I'm at a loss!  


Yet, homeopathy can help!  Homeopathy is safe and heals in a gentle and rapid way.  There are no side effects from homeopathic treatment and you'll be on your road to recovery in a fairly short amount of time.  Ideally, you may never need to have to take a homeopathic remedy again after you recover from your injury or pain from homeopathy the first time.  Who wouldn't like that?!


Homeopathy is also affordable and can help alleviate dependence on expensive meds for your current pain management.  Please contact me to learn more and I'll see you in class this Thursday night!


Be well,
Noel

"No pain, no gain!"

Is that really true?  Does progess and growth really have to hurt?  In my prior career experience as a personal fitness trainer and health coach, I frequently found that to be the case.  Unless we struggled with dragging ourselves to the gym, or restricted our diet in some way, we thought we weren't doing something good for us.

In homeopathy, though, I find the gentle and rapid healing that occurs is just that - gentle and rapid.  Pain and struggle don't have to be a part of the equation.  Additionally, it may be surprising to know that homeopathy can help with weight management!

No, it won't give you muscles like the magazine cover models (who are also airbrushed tremendously), nor does it involve a diet plan.  Homeopathy is aimed at treating people.  If you desire managing your weight more effectively,  a homeopathic remedy will aid you in opening up channels previously unknown and uncover the path to eating well, exercising frequently, and managing stress more effectively.  

Despite that, there is no healing for those who continue participating in unhealthy lifestyle habits.  If one continues to eat fast food everyday, no homeopathic remedy will make a difference.  If one does no form of simple movement or exercises, no homeopathic remedy will increase the strength of your muscles.  You still have to be a part of the equation.  There is no substitute for your own free will to decide.

There are several homeopathic remedies aimed at strengthening the body to heal itself in the direction of alleviating obesity.  A few of them include: Antimonium Crudum, Calcarea-Carbonica, Capsicum, Graphites, Lycopodium, and Staphysagria.  There are many, many more but a simple list is offered here.  Please contact me for further information about them.

Homeopathic remedies are safe and gentle, and offer no side effects or dangerous dependencies.  They don't counteract any other medicine you may be on, but work with you and will eventually help relieve any dependencies you may have upon medicines used for weight management.

In my practice, with homeopathic treatment, I also apply my skills in personal fitness training and health coaching to help you with your weight management goals.  Please contact me for further information!  I look forward to working with you soon.

Be well,
Noel