Archive for November, 2007
As we saw in the earlier post, Perimenopause is the period in a woman’s life when hormonal changes start to happen before menopause (or the complete cessation of periods). Both Perimenopause and menopause can be extremely stressful if you are not prepared or do not know what is happening.
Changes that happen during Perimenopause & Menopause not only affect your physical health, but your emotional and mental health as well. Since Homeopathy treats a person as a whole, and not her disease symptoms alone, it is well-positioned to treat the woman holistically during this period. I will write more about using Homeopathy for this in later posts.
Common symptoms of Perimenopause & Menopause include:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Insomnia
- Palpitations of the heart
- Migraine headaches (see my earlier posts on Migraines too)
- Weight gain
- Aching and sore joints & muscles
- Tingling in hands and feet
- Dizziness or loss of balance
- Depression and mood swings
- Fuzziness, inability to focus or concentrate, disorientation
- Short-term memory loss
- Fatigue
- Increased sensitivity (for example, allergies)
- Cold hands and feet
- Changes in libido
- Mastitis (Breast swelling) and tenderness
- Heavy, irregular or erratic periods
- Fibroids
- Recurring urinary symptoms such as urinary tract infection
Bone loss, skin and nail problems
- Tinnitus, ringing in ears
Note: Not all symptoms will be seen in every woman. Some of these symptoms may also be signs of other disease conditions, such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and depression with other causes. If you suspect you may be suffering from any of these conditions, please see your healthcare professional or doctor immediately.
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Extracted from an article entitled “Perimenopause : the Beginning of Hormonal Change”, by Dr. Marcelle Pick, Obstetrician & Gynecologist [www.womentowomen.com].
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In integrative medical circles, there has long been recognition that a transitional period of time exists before menopause, which is different for each woman, when fluctuating hormones may cause her serious distress.
Thankfully, conventional medicine has caught up and we now have an official name for this passage in medical textbooks: perimenopause — defined as a transition period that precedes menopause, as in “pre-menopause,” which is symptomatic of hormonal imbalances and fluctuations in a woman’s body.
Symptoms of perimenopause can begin as early as 10–15 years before menses completely stop. Women in their late 30’s, 40’s and early 50’s may transition in and out of a perimenopausal state many times before they finally enter menopause. I
f you are currently experiencing symptoms such as irregular periods, heavy bleeding, hot flashes, sleep disruption, headaches, dry eyes, vaginal changes, hair loss, and weight gain, or extreme emotional distress, you may be relieved to know that these are all common signs of perimenopause.
Along with the more obvious changes listed above, many of my perimenopausal patients find their short-term memory impairment or a lack of focus to be very irksome. These cognitive effects of hormonal imbalance are frequently overlooked in mainstream discussions about perimenopause. Yet fuzzy thinking and an inability to multitask can definitely be traced to your physical state, as can increased anxiety, fatigue, depression and drastic mood swings.
These symptoms are actually signals being thrown up by your body to make you stop in your tracks and take notice. Women often remark on the brain fog that comes over them after childbirth, affording them only the attention span to focus on their new baby. A similar phenomenon occurs with the hormonal fluctuations leading up to menopause — only this time the miasma of your hormones is telling you to stop and pay attention to yourself!
It may be reassuring to remember that a woman’s body is always in flux, always changing, and never more so than in the years that characterize puberty and perimenopause. In the same way you can be “pubescent” you can also be “perimenopausal.” But these are just words, not a rigid definition of who you are, what your body is capable of, or who you are going to be.
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As stated in my last post, Homeopathy provides one of the safest solutions for Migraine. Besides your migraine, homeopathy will treat ALL of your symptoms by going to the root cause of the problem.
If your headaches are fairly infrequent or have started only recently, you may be able to treat yourself with any of the remedies suggested below. However, for chronic, recurrent headaches, please consult with a qualified homeopathic practitioner.
Some homeopathic remedies that have shown good results in treating Migraine are:-
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According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke,
A migraine is a very painful type of headache. People who get migraines often describe the pain as pulsing or throbbing in one area of the head. During migraines, people are very sensitive to light and sound. They may also become nauseated and vomit.
Migraine is three times more common in women than in men. Some people can tell when they are about to have a migraine because they see flashing lights or zigzag lines or they temporarily lose their vision.
Many things can trigger a migraine. These include:-
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Lack of food or sleep
- Exposure to light
- Hormonal changes (in women)
Doctors used to believe migraines were linked to the opening and narrowing of blood vessels in the head. Now they believe the cause is related to genes that control the activity of some brain cells. Medicines can help prevent migraine attacks or help relieve symptoms of attacks when they happen. For many people, treatments to relieve stress can also help.
Source: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/migraine.html
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If you are looking for safe, natural, effective, and drug-free solutions your migraines, you have come to the right place.
If your migraine is triggered off by anxiety or stress, it is important to deal with the cause rather than just pop painkillers. Bach Flower Remedies are excellent for managing stress and gaining emotional balance. You can get a free copy of my ebook “Stress Relief For Women, using Flower Remedies”, by signing up on the right side box.
Other natural simple do-at-home solutions are also available to you, and can help relieve (even completely cure) your migraines. Discover them for yourself by clicking here.
Homeopathy also provides drug-free solutions for Migraine. Not only is it free of side effects and safe for everyone, but it will treat all of your symptoms, not just your migraines.
If your headaches are fairly infrequent or have started only recently, you may be able to treat yourself. However, for chronic, recurrent headaches, please consult with a qualified homeopathic practitioner.
In the next post, I will write about some homeopathic remedies you can try for your migraine.
I wish you a “headache-free” life……
Vimala
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New Delhi, Oct 30 - India will promote homeopathy for bettering mother and child health in areas like anaemia, asthma and diarrhoea, a senior health ministry official said Tuesday.
‘Homeopathy is used by many people in India but the usage is very patchy. Through a concerted campaign, we are going to promote homeopathy across the country, especially for mother and child health promotion,’ joint secretary health V. Samuels said.
Under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), the government has decided to promote this form of medicine at the national, state and district level.
‘All the hospitals and homeopathy practitioners will be brought under a network to facilitate the success of the programme,’ Samuels said at a function.
Giving details about the initiative, Chaturbhuja Nayak, director of the Central Council for Research in Homeopathy (CCRH), said the effort would address the ‘unsatisfactory health status of women and children in the country and also the high morbidity and mortality of infants and young children’.
Currently, the infant mortality rate is 58 for every 1,000 childbirths, while maternal mortality is 301 for every 100,000 deliveries.
He said problems like anaemia, deficient secretion of milk, urinary tract infections, skin disorders, asthma, diarrhoea, chikungunya, respiratory problems, sleep disorder and many such health problems could be addressed effectively through homeopathy and with less expenditure.
‘We have over 3,000 hospitals catering to the traditional system of medicine. These hospitals along with smaller hospitals affiliated to the primary healthcare centres and district hospitals will be roped in to provide an option to people in general and rural folks in particular,’ Nayak told IANS.
‘Our focus is on preventive cure rather than hospitalisation of patients,’ he said.
Nayak said a national campaign would kick start from Delhi Nov 5 to propagate this initiative and go to all states subsequently.
‘There is a need for this campaign as currently we have limited awareness about the efficacy of the traditional system of medicine both among policy makers and people. The non-achievement of the World Health Organisation (WHO) goal of health for all by 2000 also is one of the reasons why we are going for this,’ he said.
Source: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/133241.html
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In the last post, we looked at some causes of hair thinning and hair loss. In this post, we look at how homeopathy can help with these problems. Through today’s post, I hope to inspire you to try homeopathic remedies for hair loss or hair thinning, and enjoy a full head of hair again.
Homeopathic treatment is aimed at not just medicating you for your ailment, but to treat you from within to remedy the root cause of the problem. Depending on your age, lifestyle, diet, cause of hair loss, nature and pattern of hair fall, Homeopathy can provide great solutions for hair thinning and hair loss.
If a clear external cause is found, such as excessive hair dyeing, excessive shampooing and blowdrying, unhealthy eating, wearing the hair too tight, recent childbirth, use of contraceptive pills, etc, removing/managing the cause itself will resolve the hair loss problem in most cases.
If the underlying cause is hormone-related such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism, polycystic ovarian syndrome, or a serious illness, Homeopathy can be used to treat the underlying condition and arrest further hair loss or even renew hair growth.
If the underlying cause of hair loss is emotional stress, Homeopathy can help balance your emotions, and arrest hair loss at the same time. Flower Remedies are also excellent for managing stress. [Get a copy of my free ebook on “Stress Relief for Women, using Flower Remedies” by signing up on the right hand side bar].
Homeopathic solutions for chronic hair loss will require consultation with a qualified practitioner. For short-term issues, you may be able to self-treat. Some Homeopathic remedies that can help treat hair loss are:
Fluoric acid - For brittle hair that falls out in small tufts.
Lycopodium - For premature balding and graying, or hair loss after childbirth. Eczema is often behind the ears.
Kali carbonicum - For dry, thinning hair. Scalp is very dry. Dandruff is also present.
Kali Sulphuricum - For yellow, flaking dandruff, which may be moist or sticky. Hair falls out, leaving bald spots.
Natrum Mur - When hair loss is accompanied by dandruff and white crusts on the scalp. Greasy around the hairline. Hair fall after childbirth.
Sepia - hair fall during pregnancy, after childbirth or during nursing.
Phosphorus - Hair falls out in handfuls. Bald spots on the head that are dry and scaly.
Phosphorum acidum - Hair fall stemming from depression or after a severe illness. Hair thins out, turns gray early and falls out.
Selenium - For hair loss on the body and scalp. The scalp feels painful when touched.
Calcarea Phos - hair falls in bunches upon combing
Vinca Minor - falling of hair with great itching of scalp.
Weisbaden - useful for most types of hair loss.
The chosen remedy can be taken in 30c potency, thrice daily for 2 weeks. For dosage, please see manufacturer’s instructions.
If there is good improvement, continue with the same remedy for another 2 weeks, but reduce to twice daily. You can stop treatment after 1 month when good results have been achieved.
If there is no improvement or if you have any long-term conditions, it is best to consult with a qualified practitioner. If you want to consult with me, please check out my online consultation service at www.AllswellHomeo.com.
I wish you health and happiness…….
Vimala
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Hello everyone
Hair is considered a woman’s crowning glory. Women spend thousands of dollars and large amounts of time getting their hair done just right.
When a woman suffers abnormal hair thinning or hair loss, it can be a very distressing or devastating experience for her.
Let’s take a look at the some causes of female hair loss……….
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Female Balding: The Causes and the Solutions by John Tulley
As a woman, you are very lucky as you have hormones that are naturally produced by your body that can protect your from hair loss. However, there are some women who are susceptible to hair loss because her hormonal pattern changes. You may not know it but today, there are quite a lot of women who experiences hair thinning even before they reach their menopausal age. You have to remember that there are underlying factors that can contribute to female balding that you have to know about in order for you to know how to prevent it from happening to you.
The most common types of female hair loss are temporary hair loss that is mainly caused by taking contraceptive pills. You have to remember that birth control or contraceptive pills can cause an imbalance in your hormones. So, if you are taking birth control pills, it is very likely that you will experience hair loss. Women who recently gave birth can also experience hair loss because it can also cause hormonal imbalance. If you experience hair loss because of these situations, then you don’t need to worry about anything. After a few months of giving birth and after you stop taking birth control pills, you will see that the volume of your hair will be restored to normal.
Hair loss can also occur because of illnesses, such as diabetes, and hyperthyroidism. By maintaining your glucose levels to normal and by eating the right kinds of food as well as getting your hyperthyroidism treated, you will see that your hair will be maintained to its original volume.
Women who wear their hair in a tight style are also susceptible to hair loss. Before it’s too late and before it leaves scars on your scalp, change the way you wear your hair. It is also recommended that you should never get your hair dyed often as this can damage the hair as well as the roots causing it to die.
Genetic factors can also cause hair loss. If you have parents and grandparents who suffers from hair loss, then it is very likely that you will also suffer from this condition.
Another cause of hair loss is a condition called alopecia areata. In this condition, the body’s autoimmune system will attack the hair follicles causing it to die. When this happens, you will have patches baldness or thin hair in different areas of your head. This happens because of a virus and in most cases the hair will recover after a year or so. There are rare cases where women experiences severe form of this condition that can cause permanent and total hair loss.
As you can see, there are quite a lot of causes of hair loss in women. If you are one of the many women who have thinning hair prematurely, you might want to consult your doctor or dermatologist about it. By doing this, you will be able to know the cause of hair loss and also know about what you can do about it.
Female balding is not really an entirely new condition. Always remember that maintaining a healthy diet and avoiding abusing your hair by ironing it and dyeing it often will be able to help in maintaining a normal and healthy hair. Remember these things and you can be sure that you will be able to know how you can prevent hair loss from happening to you.
About the author: John Tulley manages the Provillus Alpha7: natural hair regrowth web site. Our web site has more detailed information about male and female balding.
Article Source: http://www.positivearticles.com
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In the next post, we will look at Homeopathic solutions for Hair loss.
To your health……
Vimala
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For after
After childbirth or a caesarean section, one would first think of Arnica, which involves a sensation of being bruised from within. If Arnica fails to relieve the bruised soreness, think of Bellis perennis that like Ruta also aids stretched ligaments.
Staphysagria should always be considered as a remedy if a woman has had to have a caesar and had her heart set on having a natural birth. Staphysagria involves suffering from repressed anger and resentment from surgical cuts, and perceived injuries and injustices. This is different from the ‘baby blues’ that is a result of the drop of hormones after delivery and before the milk comes in. Sepia is the most indicated remedy to restore balance and harmony.
Phytolacca can help cracked sore nipples with pain radiating from the breast to other parts of the body while nursing. Urtica urens can help establish the flow of milk and help sore nipples.
As can be seen there is a vast body of homeopathic knowledge that will aid and strengthen pregnancy, labour and child rearing, turning it into a labour of love.
Further reading
1. Bloch R, Lewis B. Homoeopathy for the Home. Cape Town: Struik, 2003.
2. Idarius B. The Homeopathic Childbirth Manual. Oaklands, California: Idarius Press, 1996.
3. Geraghty B. Homeopathy for Midwives. London: Churchill Livingstone, 1997.
4. Castro M. Homoeopathy for Pregnancy, Birth and Your Baby’s First Year. New York: St Martins Press, 1993.
Dr Barbara Lewis, BSc, DHom, DHerb, MNIMH, is a registered herbalist and homeopath in practice for the past 24 years. She has taught homeopathy at the Durban Technicon, and has recently co-authored a self-help book on homeopathy. Dr Lewis practices at the Refuah Healing Centre in Sea Point and in Rondebosch, Cape Town.
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For labour
To prepare a woman for labour, Caulophyllum 6 CH (birthroot) taken daily helps to soften the cervix. Cimicifuga (black cohosh) also in a 6 CH potency helps to reduce the intensity of Braxton Hicks contractions, and a general level of anxiety and fear of the birth. It too can be taken in a 6 CH potency a month before her due date. A woman needing Cimicifuga to help her labour often goes on an ironing or cleaning nesting spree just before labour starts, earning Cimicifuga the title of ‘queen of the broom’! Women, who have a very lax musculature or have had a number of babies, can tone their uterine muscles with raspberry leaf tea. It is not indicated for first time pregnancies. Weak anaemic women with heavy muscular uterine pains during pregnancy find Aletris, ‘the Arnica of the womb’, very helpful.
In my experience, Nat mur is a particularly useful remedy to give just as labour starts, because it can help women having their first child achieve transition emotionally and in the labour proceed from one phase of their lives to a new phase. If failing to dilate, many women can be saved from needing to have a caesar done by taking a single dose of Nat mur of a high potency. Gelsemium in a high potency could also be given just as labour starts. A woman needing Gelsemium suffers anticipatory anxiety, feels weak, trembly and heavy, and labour pains can be weak, ineffectual and centred in her back. Gelsemium is especially indicated at the transition phase of labour when she feels she can no longer go on.
During labour Caulophyllum will help with pains that slow down and become weak. Belladonna is especially suited to women having their first baby in their late 30s or 40s. They become flushed in the face, quarrelsome and angry under the stress of labour. It is also useful for hot, throbbing, congested breasts as the milk comes in. Nux vomica and Chamomilla are other remedies to consider for excessive irritability.
To be continued……
Dr Barbara Lewis, BSc, DHom, DHerb, MNIMH, is a registered herbalist and homeopath in practice for the past 24 years. She has taught homeopathy at the Durban Technicon, and has recently co-authored a self-help book on homeopathy. Dr Lewis practices at the Refuah Healing Centre in Sea Point and in Rondebosch, Cape Town.
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The major benefit of homeopathy during pregnancy is that it is completely safe. Because homeopathic remedies are energetic substances, there are no iatrogenic (treatment-induced) effects on the mother or developing fetus.
For pregnancy
Often the first remedies that are required are for nausea in the early stages of pregnancy. The presence of nausea is a sign that the pregnancy is well established, with the corpus luteum producing sufficient progesterone to maintain the developing fetus. First-aid remedies for nausea include Ipecahuanha. Ipecac in material doses can induce vomiting, while in the diluted and potentised homeopathic form it is used for treating nausea and vomiting. This is an example of the ‘law of similars’. The nausea is aggravated by the thought or smell of food, motion and warmth, and is not alleviated by vomiting. There may be a lot of saliva in the mouth. The pregnant woman feels sleepy, irritable and bad-tempered, and is not sure what she wants (rather like the Chamomilla constitutional type). The Ipecac remedy can be taken in a 6 CH or 30 CH potency (healing strength) quite frequently every hour or two to reduce the intensity of the nausea.
Other frequently indicated nausea remedies include Nux vomica, (described in more detail in the previous issue of the Journal – Self-medication with homeopathy. 2005; 21: 77-79), where the nausea is worse in the morning after eating and she feels better after vomiting, although there is often more sour retching than vomiting. The region of the stomach is highly sensitive to pressure. The woman feels chilly, overly irritable and fussy that things should be ‘just so’.
Tabacum is indicated by incessant nausea with pallor, icy coldness, and giddiness on rising or looking upward with a faint sinking feeling in the pit of the stomach, and cold sweat. Uncovering her stomach strangely relieves her. Not surprisingly she feels despondent, anxious and weepy.
Phosphorus, a constitutional remedy, is indicated by nausea and vomiting with a decidedly characteristic pattern. She has a thirst for ice-cold water that is vomited up as soon as it gets warm in the stomach. Even putting her hands in warm water makes her want to vomit. She often craves ice cream and chocolate as well as salty and spicy food. There is an empty hollow sensation in the stomach and emotionally she wants to be petted, praised and reassured.
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