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This is your HOMEOPATHY CENTER E-NEWSLETTER for May, 2006. This edition of your HOMEOPATHY CENTER E-NEWSLETTER is available on-line at Here's the list of topics we'll cover in this issue:
Avian influenza – gauging the maybe-coming-epidemic and what you can do to protect yourself and your family Note: The 1918 pandemic killed 40 million humans worldwide according to some estimates. The viral components of the 1918 strain are not known but some researchers believe it, too, had avian components in its DNA. The H5N1 outbreaks have already proven that avian influenza virus is both virulent and can 'jump' to humans. But, so far only fowl-to-human transmission has occurred with no (or few) instances of human-to-human transmission. This is essential in order to become an epidemic. Without human-to-human transmission, avian influenza would remain a threatening viral illness with a high mortality rate but only for poultry workers and others in close contact with both wild and contained bird populations. Some medical researchers believe that human-to-human transmission is unlikely, but, as is often the case in medicine, there are some who believe it to be likely, very likely. I believe you should be ready for the worst-case scenario. If indeed avian influenza virus H5N1 does succeed in mutating to a human-to-human transmission strain, we need to be prepared so you can take care of yourselves and your families.
The most important preventive that you must have at hand is homeopathy's influenza remedies, Oscillococcinum and Influenzinum. Do we know with certainty that these remedies will prevent (and treat) the influenza virus, especially the feared avian H5N1 strain? No, we do not. Research, in the form of randomized clinical trials, has not been done. But, based on the very low mortality rates among 1918 pandemic influenza patients treated with these remedies (among others, please see Note below), homeopaths believe this to be your safest and surest preventive option today. We believe taking Oscillococcinum and Influenzinum will prove to be better than oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza), and possibly more effective than the influenza vaccine. Note: If indeed we find ourselves in another influenza pandemic, homeopaths will quickly determine the best specific homeopathic remedies to treat this particular strain of flu. These remedies are called 'genus epidemicus' remedies. But, these will be for treatment, not for prevention. Your best bet for prevention remains Oscillococcinum and Influenzinum. Why am I talking to you about influenza prevention now, in the Spring, rather than waiting until the Fall when influenza typically increases in prevalence? I want you to stock up on Oscillococcinum and Influenzinum for yourself and your family. Do it now, before the rush. If indeed we do find ourselves in a pandemic this fall, it is entirely likely that we may outrun our supply of these remedies. So, I recommend that you buy enough of both of them to prevent influenza in each and every member of your household throughout the influenza season, November through March. These remedies do not go out-of-date. Here are excerpts taken from my soon-to-be-published book, Essential Natural Alternatives for Self-Care about both these remedies, helping you to understand what they are and how to use them. Please print these pages for future reference.
When should you use it? It is the most commonly used treatment for influenza in France and is becoming more widely used in the United States during flu season. Oscillococcinum is both a preventative and a treatment for flu, especially when taken at the very first sign of flu. It may be used by homeopaths as an alternative to the influenza vaccine in persons who refuse to take vaccines. Boiron has collected the evidence-based data for Oscillococcinum, which proves that it is both safe and effective. As with all homeopathic remedies, there are no side effects. The FDA has not received any reports of adverse effects. It can be combined with all prescription medicines as well as with the flu vaccine. It is considered safe for elderly persons and pregnant and lactating women. Oscillococcinum is considered to be homeopathy's answer to 'bird flu' becoming an epidemic in humans. How should you use it? Oscillococcinum comes in tubes. The directions are to dissolve the entire contents of one tube in the mouth. For prevention, give one tube of Oscillococcinum every week during flu season, generally from November through March. This is a rationale for elderly people, especially those with heart or respiratory ailments. For treatment of flu, give one tube as early as possible after onset, then repeating every 6 hours as needed depending on severity of symptoms. When the patient has improved, you may stop.
When should you use it? The keynote symptom for using Influenzinum after infection with the flu virus is the patient's conviction that "She (or he) has never been well since coming down with the flu." Influenzinum is also used by homeopaths to prevent infection with the influenza virus. How should you use it? Give one dose of the pellets of Influenzinum 200C once a month during the flu season, generally from November through March to prevent flu infection. If you are treating yourself or a family member who complains of 'never been well since', use Influenzinum 200C once a week until symptoms are resolved. Then stop.
Remember, homeopathic remedies have no side effects and exert a gentle yet powerful action. They will not interfere with any pharmaceutical medication you may be taking. Arnica montana is homeopathy's sure-fire remedy for any traumatic injury. Any time you or someone in your family gets a bump, bruise, abrasion, or especially in this gardening season, an ache from sore muscles, think to give Arnica montana. And give it as quickly as you can because timely administration can save the bump or bruise from even forming. Please read the details about what it is and how to give it below. Apis mellifica is homeopathy's answer to bee stings, actually to stings from any insect. Any time you or someone in your family gets stung by a bee (no matter what kind), wasp, hornet, or any stinging insect, think to give Apis mellifica. Once again, time is of the essence. Read more below. Urtica urens is homeopathy's remedy for sunburn. If you give it as soon as you see reddening of the skin you will likely be able to prevent blistering. You may want to have the cream or ointment on hand as well as the oral forms. Here are excerpts taken from my soon-to-be-published book, Essential Natural Alternatives for Self-Care about these warm weather remedies, what they are and how to use them.
An extraction of the whole plant in flower is used to produce the remedy. The creams and gels are actually herbal remedies, meaning that an extract of the full-strength plant is used. The pellets and liquid are homeopathic remedies produced according to strict standards of dilution and potentization, rendering it a gentle yet powerful healing remedy. When should you use it? Ideally, Arnica should be taken as soon after an injury as possible in order to help with the healing process. In fact, giving Arnica immediately after a fall or a bruise could prevent bruising from developing. But, if ailments persist as a result of a traumatic injury, it can be taken at any time to relieve those ailments, even years later. Arnica helps injured people to cope, physically and emotionally, with the stress of the injury. Arnica is homeopathy's painkiller much as acetaminophen or ibuprofen is in Western medicine. The keynote symptom leading you to use Arnica is that the injured person denies that anything is wrong, saying, "Leave me alone, I'm okay." However, it is perfectly clear to those around him that he has been injured, perhaps severely, although he characteristically refuses to get help from a doctor. However, I strongly urge you to consider using Arnica whenever there is an injury from any cause, even without the characteristic keynote symptom. Arnica is useful when the injured patient awakens suddenly in the middle of the night from dreaming of the accident, one of the prominent symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. So think of Arnica whenever PTSD occurs, even long after the accident itself. Homeopathy is replete with reports in its medical literature on the benefits of using Arnica. Some reports in the literature do not show any benefit of using Arnica, but most do, and there are no reports of side effects when Arnica is used in homeopathic dilution. A recent report in the peer-reviewed medical journal Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine on the "Use of Arnica to Relieve Pain After Carpal-Tunnel Release Surgery" reported a greater decrease in the pain 2 weeks after surgery in the group using Arnica than in the placebo group. Using Arnica on yourself or on a family member who has been injured is a common way to be introduced to the striking abilities of homeopathic remedies. How should you use it? If you wish to purchase Arnica for your beginner's Homeopathic First Aid Remedy Kit, then I advise Arnica 30C in pellets (or granules) and liquid drops. You would give 3 - 5 pellets to an adolescent or adult and 3 - 5 drops to an infant or child, repeating the dose every ½ - 2 hours, as needed at first, then decreasing to 3 - 4 times daily. Decrease the frequency of giving the remedy when the injured person begins to feel better and stop using the remedy when complaints taper off considerably. You may always return to the remedy. It is next to impossible to overuse the remedy when there is an acute injury situation. Arnica is particularly useful before and during labor and delivery because of its effects on decreasing both the physical and emotional toll of trauma. Arnica may well be the first remedy with which you begin your homeopathic odyssey. It will not disappoint you. I recommend that you have it readily available to you to be at the ready whenever you or your family may experience an injury.
When should you use it? The keynote symptoms leading you to consider using Apis are burning, stinging pains that come on suddenly, along with puffiness or swelling (edema), blisters, and itch. The pains are made much worse from touch. Heat makes everything worse. This kind of pain can be found in bladder infections (cystitis) and eye infections (conjunctivitis), as well as in many skin ailments, such as stings, bites, and allergic hives (urticaria). Apis particularly fits people who tend to be busy all the time ('busy bees'). They may be restless, fidgety, and awkward. Apis is an indispensable remedy. How should you use it? You should have Apis mellifica 30C in pellets and liquid drops in your Homeopathic First Aid Remedy Kit. You would give 3 - 5 pellets to an adolescent or adult and 3 - 5 drops to an infant or child, repeating the dose every ½ - 2 hours, as needed at first, then decreasing to 3 - 4 times daily. Decrease the frequency of giving the remedy when the injured person begins to feel better and stop using the remedy when complaints taper off considerably. You may always return to the remedy. It is next to impossible to overuse the remedy when there is an acute injury situation. You may administer Apis along with Arnica for bee stings, if you wish, but in my experience, it is not necessary.
When should you use it? The keynote symptom leading you to give Urtica urens is stinging pains, very often along with itching, in skin that has suffered a burn but has not blistered. Urtica urens is best used for superficial burns such as scalds from hot water and sunburn. How should you use it? Give Urtica urens 30C pellets or liquid drops every ½ - 2 hours. When the burning pains and blistering have lessened you may decrease the frequency of administration. You may stop giving Urtica urens when there has been substantial relief. Urtica urens is also available in a cream. Apply Urtica urens cream, or ointment liberally to the skin every ½ - 2 hours as soon as the burned area is dried from the application of cold water. You may reapply Urtica urens as often as necessary.
Washington Homeopathic Products
Arrowroot Pharmacy
Your Rx 4 Health
Homeopathy Overnight
I do not recommend anything that's in that book. I don't trust the author, Kevin Trudeau. According to Dr. John Swartzberg, Editorial Board Chairperson of the University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter of November 2005, Mr. Trudeau "spent two years in jail for credit card fraud". You may recognize Mr. Trudeau from his many other infomercials, always selling peculiar products that have never panned out. Now he's selling 'natural cures' that have no basis in fact. If you have any questions about anything in this e-newsletter, please email me. Be sure to put 'e-newsletter' in the subject line.
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