Aconite: a plant – Aconitum Napellus (monks hood)
This remedy should be given if the patient’s symptoms have arisen after exposure to a cold, dry wind. It can be very helpful when asthma attacks are aggravated by this type of weather.
It is also a great remedy for shock – the patient may have witnessed a shocking event such as a car crash, heard some bad news or been involved in a frightening event.
It is the Number One remedy for the fear created by anticipating something like an examination or driving test, and people who suffer anxiety attacks or claustrophobia should carry Aconite about their person so they can take some to prevent panic.
It is useful for people who sleepwalk and have anxious dreams, and for pregnant women who are anxious about giving birth.
Its keynote is ‘intensity’ and it may be helpful for attacks of croup which fit the following description:
Violent onset with anxious appearance and fear in the patient. Attacks often begin at midnight and the patient sits up to obtain relief. There may be a watery discharge.
Saturday, 18 January 2014
Monday, 13 January 2014
Using Homeopathic Remedies in Childbirth
ADVICE for Use of Homeopathic Remedies During Childbirth
TELEPHONE HELPLINE: for urgent homeopathic advice: 0906 533404 (in UK)
The Homeopathic Helpline is staffed by experienced homeopaths from 9.00am till midnight - it does cost £1.50 a minute but they keep the calls under ten minutes or less.
GENERAL ADVICE:
Bach Rescue Remedy - have a glass of water with 6 drops added available at all times: sip as often as liked. Birth attendants might like some too!
NOTES FOR BIRTH:
In labour, remedies are often needed frequently. One option is to crush two or three pills between two clean teaspoons, dissolve in a tumbler of water and sip as needed. They will dissolve quicker in hot water, and don't need to be fully dissolved to be effective - just give them two minutes and you can start using the water.
Remedy Outcomes:
If there is complete relief then you repeat the remedy ONLY IF the same symptoms return.
If there is some improvement which stalls, repeat the remedy every time there is a stall.
If there is very little or no improvement after you have tried the same remedy twice, it's the wrong remedy and you need to think again.
IN AN EMERGENCY the remedy needs to be taken every 5-10 minutes for several doses: the more acute the situation, the more frequently the remedy is needed. If the situation is potentially dangerous, and you aren't sure which is the right remedy, give both or all of them at the same time - one of them will work and it doesn't matter which!
You can continue treating with homeopathy alongside conventional medication or whilst waiting for medical attendants - just don't put pills under the tongue of an unconscious person or they could choke. In this situation, dissolve the pills as quickly as you can and rub the water on to an area where the skin is thin - inside of the wrist or inside of the thigh.
The picture can change from one remedy to another. Keep observing and tracking changes. You can prescribe on emotional or physical symptoms, or both.
USEFUL REMEDIES
Aconite, Arnica, Bellis Perennis, Calendula, Carbo Veg, Caulophyllum, Chamomilla, Cimicifuga, Gelsemium, Hypericum, Ipecac, Kali Carb, Kali Phos, Phytolacca, Pulsatilla, Secale, Sepia, Staphisagria
Aconite
Labour is fast and violent. Great fear or anxiety, thinks she is going to die. Pains are severe, she goes from being afraid of dying to saying "I want to die". A remedy for shock and fright. If there has been an emergency, give to Mum and everyone else. Is also good when there is fear of the upcoming event. Restless sleep during labour. Is extremely distressed, anxious and fearful.
Arnica
Take throughout to prevent bruising, every couple of hours or whenever you remember. Continue daily for a few days afterwards. Can give "second wind" if labour long, slow, painful where tiredness weakens the contractions.
Bellis Perennis (for afterwards)
"Refreshes the parts Arnica cannot reach." Heals injuries to deep tissue. Reduces pain of overstretched uterine ligaments. Especially useful after Caesarian or forceps. One daily if needed.
Calendula (for afterwards)
For use afterwards to heal cuts and tears. Take one a day.
Carbo Veg
Mainly emergency use. Collapse due to oxygen starvation. Body cold, limp, pale or blue. Use in conjunction with emergency measures. Hold one pill inside the lower lip of the patient - including newborns - until symptoms alleviate. If there is fetal distress due to oxygen starvation, give to mother, it will help baby.
Can use it when not so urgent - especially if craving air, especially cold air, with little or no vitality and a pinched, pale or blue face. Great for pain of trapped wind after Caesarian.
Caulophyllum
If induction is threatened because you are late for dates: one every hour for three hours (do this daily). If it doesn't work, either you or the baby isn't ready.
In labour, contractions are ineffective or stop before they become very painful, labour is slow. There can be exhaustion and shaking, and neuralgic (twinge-ing) pains. Usually used in the first stage of labour to establish strong productive contractions. Use with caution. Do not repeat unless you have to.
Also for sharp and painful contractions which are short, ineffective, spasmodic and unstable, moving around the bladder, groin or thighs. Contractions slow or stop completely, due to exhaustion. Cervix fails to dilate. May be thirsty.
If she is not thirsty and Caulophyllum doesn't work, try Gelsemium.
Also see Cimicifuga - they are similar.
Chamomilla
Over sensitive, violent bad temper. Labour exceedingly painful, pain unbearable. Backache labour. The mood is quite obnoxious, angry, impossible to please - she asks for things then doesn't want them. Feels and looks too hot.
Cimicifuga
Like Caulophyllum, the contractions are in the lower half of the uterus, painful, sharp and spasmodic. Cervix remains rigidly closed or fails to dilate. But with Cimic, contractions move from side to side, or down into the hips or thighs. She becomes very disjointed - physical symptoms alternating with intense mental or emotional symptoms. She has dreadful fear, foreboding. She truly feels she can't carry on.
Gelsemium
Try it if Caulophyllum fails to produce good strong contractions.
Back-ache labour. Lethargic, lifeless, dazed. No thirst.
Slow, sluggish labour. Droopy, appears stupefied, but is mentally alert. There can be chilliness and shivering. Might feel better alone.
Hypericum (most useful after birth)
Useful if pain in coccyx after birth esp after forceps. Pains shoot along nerves with intensity. Particularly after Caesarian, epidural, episiotomy. Alternate with other post-birth remedies like Arnica and Calendula.
Ipecac
Can help labour pains. Can feel nauseous, has dark rings under eyes, blue tinge to face. Bright red haemorrhaging with constant violent nausea.
Kali Carb
This is an extremely useful remedy and probably the most used from the kit prior to the actual labour, because it helps lower back ache. Backache labour. Irritable AND anxious and bossy. But she needs company. Posterior presentations where labour gets stuck. Backache is greatly relieved by firm pressure. Headache during labour. Chilliness after contraction.
Use afterwards if there is any pelvic instability, lower back pain, pain in hip joints etc.
Kali-Phos
Exhaustion. Very helpful for simple tiredness in labour with no other symptoms. Take between contractions. Can be used often throughout labour whenever energy is low. Useful for attendants too if they are fading.
Phytolacca (for afterwards)
Breast feeding problems. Cracked nipples; blocked duct; breast lumpy; abscess/mastitis.
Pulsatilla
Can be used from 36th week to encourage transverse/breech baby to turn.
Easy to spot in labour: gives up during labour, weepy, clingy, pathetic, loses courage, thirstless, hot and craves fresh air or is better for fresh air - hates a stuffy room. She pleads for help. Contractions short, weak or stop entirely.
Also good for afterpains, esp if weepy.
Secale
Like Pulsatilla she is intolerant of stuffy rooms, but emotionally more stupefied, with much longer contractions. If these stop, trembling may begin. Most often used to antidote ill effects of Syntometrine, which is often routinely injected to speed up expulsion of placenta. Take immediately after injection if possible. Can be used to encourage a retained placenta to be pushed out naturally, if contractions are too weak.
Sepia
Gives up in labour, very exhausted - sags on every level. Pains severe with dragging down sensation. Feels irritable or indifferent to loved ones, responds badly to sympathy. Sluggish and weepy. Uterine prolapse with strong bearing down sensation.
Later, for worn out, dragged down feeling when woman is careworn from childcare.
Staphisagria (usually after the birth)
Pains after the birth, with resentment, anger or humiliation. Feeling of assault, esp if invasive procedures have been needed. She does not want to be touched. Give daily for three days if the birth involved any of these: intrusive or painful internal examinations; insertion of a catheter; an enema; forceps delivery; episiotomy, stiches; use of stirrups. Might be weepy. A cystitis remedy. Also good after D&C.
BY SYMPTOM:
Placenta, Retained
With bearing down sensation, Secale or Sepia or both
After long exhausting labour, Arnica
Contractions weak or non-existent, Pulsatilla
With bleeding, Ipecac
With shaking, Caulophyllum or Cimic
Bleeding during labour
Bright red, hot, profuse, constant, Ipecac
With nausea or gasping for breath, Ipecac
Alternates with contractions, Pulsatilla
Dark - Gels, Ipecac, Secale
Dark and fluid - Secale
Use Arnica to help prevent
Cervix
Fails to dilate, Caul or Cimic or Puls
Half open or hard, Sepia
Rigid, Gels, Cham, Cimic, Caul
Remains tightly closed, Cimic
Wide open but contractions stop, Gels
Contractions
Atonic (flabby), weak - Caul or Gels
Slow or stop - Caul or Gels
Alternate with bleeding - Puls
Extend to back, buttocks - Kali Carb or Cimic
Extend to thighs, Caul or Cimic
Move up the back - Gels
Move side to side - Cimic
Finish at the throat with choking sensation - Gels
Push the baby upwards - Gels
Prolonged tonic contractions - Secale
Lacks expulsive power, esp second stage - Puls
Fine, needle like up from cervix - Sepia
"Hour glass" contractions - Cham, Secale, Sepia
Cease and bleeding starts - Cimic, Puls, Secale
Painless - Gels
Strength weakened by fruitless efforts - Secale
Exhaustion
With no other symptoms - Kali Phos
During long or difficult labours - Arnica
Causes contractions to stop - Caul
With backache labour - Kali Carb
With unbearable pains - Cham
With weepiness - Puls
With long contractions - Secale
Better from moving around - Sepia
After Pains
Groin area, intense - Cimic
Long-lasting - Secale
Extending to hips, buttocks, legs - Kali Carb
Worse if baby feeds - Arnica, Cham, Puls, Secale
With sore bruised feeling - Arnica
With weepiness - Puls
With disappointment/resentment about the birth - Staph
Unbearable - Cham or Cimic
The Homeopathic Helpline is staffed by experienced homeopaths from 9.00am till midnight - it does cost £1.50 a minute but they keep the calls under ten minutes or less.
GENERAL ADVICE:
Bach Rescue Remedy - have a glass of water with 6 drops added available at all times: sip as often as liked. Birth attendants might like some too!
NOTES FOR BIRTH:
In labour, remedies are often needed frequently. One option is to crush two or three pills between two clean teaspoons, dissolve in a tumbler of water and sip as needed. They will dissolve quicker in hot water, and don't need to be fully dissolved to be effective - just give them two minutes and you can start using the water.
Remedy Outcomes:
If there is complete relief then you repeat the remedy ONLY IF the same symptoms return.
If there is some improvement which stalls, repeat the remedy every time there is a stall.
If there is very little or no improvement after you have tried the same remedy twice, it's the wrong remedy and you need to think again.
IN AN EMERGENCY the remedy needs to be taken every 5-10 minutes for several doses: the more acute the situation, the more frequently the remedy is needed. If the situation is potentially dangerous, and you aren't sure which is the right remedy, give both or all of them at the same time - one of them will work and it doesn't matter which!
You can continue treating with homeopathy alongside conventional medication or whilst waiting for medical attendants - just don't put pills under the tongue of an unconscious person or they could choke. In this situation, dissolve the pills as quickly as you can and rub the water on to an area where the skin is thin - inside of the wrist or inside of the thigh.
The picture can change from one remedy to another. Keep observing and tracking changes. You can prescribe on emotional or physical symptoms, or both.
USEFUL REMEDIES
Aconite, Arnica, Bellis Perennis, Calendula, Carbo Veg, Caulophyllum, Chamomilla, Cimicifuga, Gelsemium, Hypericum, Ipecac, Kali Carb, Kali Phos, Phytolacca, Pulsatilla, Secale, Sepia, Staphisagria
Aconite
Labour is fast and violent. Great fear or anxiety, thinks she is going to die. Pains are severe, she goes from being afraid of dying to saying "I want to die". A remedy for shock and fright. If there has been an emergency, give to Mum and everyone else. Is also good when there is fear of the upcoming event. Restless sleep during labour. Is extremely distressed, anxious and fearful.
Arnica
Take throughout to prevent bruising, every couple of hours or whenever you remember. Continue daily for a few days afterwards. Can give "second wind" if labour long, slow, painful where tiredness weakens the contractions.
Bellis Perennis (for afterwards)
"Refreshes the parts Arnica cannot reach." Heals injuries to deep tissue. Reduces pain of overstretched uterine ligaments. Especially useful after Caesarian or forceps. One daily if needed.
Calendula (for afterwards)
For use afterwards to heal cuts and tears. Take one a day.
Carbo Veg
Mainly emergency use. Collapse due to oxygen starvation. Body cold, limp, pale or blue. Use in conjunction with emergency measures. Hold one pill inside the lower lip of the patient - including newborns - until symptoms alleviate. If there is fetal distress due to oxygen starvation, give to mother, it will help baby.
Can use it when not so urgent - especially if craving air, especially cold air, with little or no vitality and a pinched, pale or blue face. Great for pain of trapped wind after Caesarian.
Caulophyllum
If induction is threatened because you are late for dates: one every hour for three hours (do this daily). If it doesn't work, either you or the baby isn't ready.
In labour, contractions are ineffective or stop before they become very painful, labour is slow. There can be exhaustion and shaking, and neuralgic (twinge-ing) pains. Usually used in the first stage of labour to establish strong productive contractions. Use with caution. Do not repeat unless you have to.
Also for sharp and painful contractions which are short, ineffective, spasmodic and unstable, moving around the bladder, groin or thighs. Contractions slow or stop completely, due to exhaustion. Cervix fails to dilate. May be thirsty.
If she is not thirsty and Caulophyllum doesn't work, try Gelsemium.
Also see Cimicifuga - they are similar.
Chamomilla
Over sensitive, violent bad temper. Labour exceedingly painful, pain unbearable. Backache labour. The mood is quite obnoxious, angry, impossible to please - she asks for things then doesn't want them. Feels and looks too hot.
Cimicifuga
Like Caulophyllum, the contractions are in the lower half of the uterus, painful, sharp and spasmodic. Cervix remains rigidly closed or fails to dilate. But with Cimic, contractions move from side to side, or down into the hips or thighs. She becomes very disjointed - physical symptoms alternating with intense mental or emotional symptoms. She has dreadful fear, foreboding. She truly feels she can't carry on.
Gelsemium
Try it if Caulophyllum fails to produce good strong contractions.
Back-ache labour. Lethargic, lifeless, dazed. No thirst.
Slow, sluggish labour. Droopy, appears stupefied, but is mentally alert. There can be chilliness and shivering. Might feel better alone.
Hypericum (most useful after birth)
Useful if pain in coccyx after birth esp after forceps. Pains shoot along nerves with intensity. Particularly after Caesarian, epidural, episiotomy. Alternate with other post-birth remedies like Arnica and Calendula.
Ipecac
Can help labour pains. Can feel nauseous, has dark rings under eyes, blue tinge to face. Bright red haemorrhaging with constant violent nausea.
Kali Carb
This is an extremely useful remedy and probably the most used from the kit prior to the actual labour, because it helps lower back ache. Backache labour. Irritable AND anxious and bossy. But she needs company. Posterior presentations where labour gets stuck. Backache is greatly relieved by firm pressure. Headache during labour. Chilliness after contraction.
Use afterwards if there is any pelvic instability, lower back pain, pain in hip joints etc.
Kali-Phos
Exhaustion. Very helpful for simple tiredness in labour with no other symptoms. Take between contractions. Can be used often throughout labour whenever energy is low. Useful for attendants too if they are fading.
Phytolacca (for afterwards)
Breast feeding problems. Cracked nipples; blocked duct; breast lumpy; abscess/mastitis.
Pulsatilla
Can be used from 36th week to encourage transverse/breech baby to turn.
Easy to spot in labour: gives up during labour, weepy, clingy, pathetic, loses courage, thirstless, hot and craves fresh air or is better for fresh air - hates a stuffy room. She pleads for help. Contractions short, weak or stop entirely.
Also good for afterpains, esp if weepy.
Secale
Like Pulsatilla she is intolerant of stuffy rooms, but emotionally more stupefied, with much longer contractions. If these stop, trembling may begin. Most often used to antidote ill effects of Syntometrine, which is often routinely injected to speed up expulsion of placenta. Take immediately after injection if possible. Can be used to encourage a retained placenta to be pushed out naturally, if contractions are too weak.
Sepia
Gives up in labour, very exhausted - sags on every level. Pains severe with dragging down sensation. Feels irritable or indifferent to loved ones, responds badly to sympathy. Sluggish and weepy. Uterine prolapse with strong bearing down sensation.
Later, for worn out, dragged down feeling when woman is careworn from childcare.
Staphisagria (usually after the birth)
Pains after the birth, with resentment, anger or humiliation. Feeling of assault, esp if invasive procedures have been needed. She does not want to be touched. Give daily for three days if the birth involved any of these: intrusive or painful internal examinations; insertion of a catheter; an enema; forceps delivery; episiotomy, stiches; use of stirrups. Might be weepy. A cystitis remedy. Also good after D&C.
BY SYMPTOM:
Placenta, Retained
With bearing down sensation, Secale or Sepia or both
After long exhausting labour, Arnica
Contractions weak or non-existent, Pulsatilla
With bleeding, Ipecac
With shaking, Caulophyllum or Cimic
Bleeding during labour
Bright red, hot, profuse, constant, Ipecac
With nausea or gasping for breath, Ipecac
Alternates with contractions, Pulsatilla
Dark - Gels, Ipecac, Secale
Dark and fluid - Secale
Use Arnica to help prevent
Cervix
Fails to dilate, Caul or Cimic or Puls
Half open or hard, Sepia
Rigid, Gels, Cham, Cimic, Caul
Remains tightly closed, Cimic
Wide open but contractions stop, Gels
Contractions
Atonic (flabby), weak - Caul or Gels
Slow or stop - Caul or Gels
Alternate with bleeding - Puls
Extend to back, buttocks - Kali Carb or Cimic
Extend to thighs, Caul or Cimic
Move up the back - Gels
Move side to side - Cimic
Finish at the throat with choking sensation - Gels
Push the baby upwards - Gels
Prolonged tonic contractions - Secale
Lacks expulsive power, esp second stage - Puls
Fine, needle like up from cervix - Sepia
"Hour glass" contractions - Cham, Secale, Sepia
Cease and bleeding starts - Cimic, Puls, Secale
Painless - Gels
Strength weakened by fruitless efforts - Secale
Exhaustion
With no other symptoms - Kali Phos
During long or difficult labours - Arnica
Causes contractions to stop - Caul
With backache labour - Kali Carb
With unbearable pains - Cham
With weepiness - Puls
With long contractions - Secale
Better from moving around - Sepia
After Pains
Groin area, intense - Cimic
Long-lasting - Secale
Extending to hips, buttocks, legs - Kali Carb
Worse if baby feeds - Arnica, Cham, Puls, Secale
With sore bruised feeling - Arnica
With weepiness - Puls
With disappointment/resentment about the birth - Staph
Unbearable - Cham or Cimic
Thursday, 14 January 2010
Positive Response from Boots the Chemist
Thank you for taking the time to contact us about the sale of Homeopathic products in our stores.
At Boots we take our responsibilities as the leading Pharmacy-led Health & Beauty retailer in the UK very seriously and as part of this we pride ourselves on being able to offer all of our customers a choice of products that support them in their day-to-day lives. We know that many people believe in the benefits of complementary medicines and we aim to offer the products we know our customers want.
I?m delighted to hear that you want us to continue to sell these items and you?ll be pleased to know that you can still find these in our stores. Additionally, our Pharmacists are trained healthcare professionals and they?re on hand to offer advice on the safe use of complementary medicines in line with guidance offered by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.
Thank you once again for your positive feedback and, of course, for your valued custom.
Yours sincerely
Boots Customer Care
At Boots we take our responsibilities as the leading Pharmacy-led Health & Beauty retailer in the UK very seriously and as part of this we pride ourselves on being able to offer all of our customers a choice of products that support them in their day-to-day lives. We know that many people believe in the benefits of complementary medicines and we aim to offer the products we know our customers want.
I?m delighted to hear that you want us to continue to sell these items and you?ll be pleased to know that you can still find these in our stores. Additionally, our Pharmacists are trained healthcare professionals and they?re on hand to offer advice on the safe use of complementary medicines in line with guidance offered by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.
Thank you once again for your positive feedback and, of course, for your valued custom.
Yours sincerely
Boots Customer Care
Sunday, 10 January 2010
Letter to Alliance Boots re stocking homeopathic remedies
Dear Sir,
Hopefully you are aware that the above campaign, directed at the sale of
homeopathic remedies in Boots the Chemist, is just another wheeze invented by
some self-appointed and extremely biased arbiters of the public good.
As a practising homeopath, I frequently advise people to obtain remedies from
Boots and find it admirable that they are stocked. I and my colleagues would
very much appreciate the continuance of this availability.
In a letter published in The Independent on 3 June 2006, I wrote:
"The placebo response is extremely complex, but is estimated to account for
about 30 per cent of perceived improvement, and this figure is the same for the
GPs. It is certainly not something we can rely on to do our work for us in every
case. No doubt we also see a percentage of people who were going to get better
without intervention, as do the GPs. There remains a percentage for whom we must
assume that the drug given was effective, whether homeopathic or orthodox, and
whether it took six minutes or 90 to prescribe it.
In the present climate, where iatrogenic death and injury are rife, the issue at
stake is patient choice."
I received an email from a GP who thanked me for "lighting a candle instead of
adding to the darkness". By stocking homeopathic remedies, Boots keeps patient
choice alive and is to be commended for so doing.
I would also like to bring the following to your attention. Meantime, I do
trust that common sense will prevail.
Health minister: NHS spend on homeopathy is justified
1 December 2009
The Health Minister, the Rt Hon Mike O'Brien QC MP, has told the Science and
Technology select committee that cutting the NHS spend on homeopathy is not
justified and that a body of reputable people, including doctors, believe in it.
Mr O'Brien said cutting the funding would be "illiberal" and "a denial of
personal choice". He also said there were a range of opinions amongst clinicians
and scientists which could not be ignored and he told the committee that there
was "justification for more research" in homeopathy.
He reiterated that it is up to individual clinicians to decide on the best
treatment for their patients and that it was not his job to tell GPs whether or
not to prescribe homeopathy. He also clarified that the NHS spend on homeopathic
medicines is only £152,000, from a total NHS annual drugs budget of £11 billion.
Mr O'Brien was speaking during the second session of an evidence check on
homeopathy. Both sessions (25 November and 30 November) can be viewed on the
parliament website.
Sincerely,
Linda Lloyd, MLCHom, DipHEAR
Hopefully you are aware that the above campaign, directed at the sale of
homeopathic remedies in Boots the Chemist, is just another wheeze invented by
some self-appointed and extremely biased arbiters of the public good.
As a practising homeopath, I frequently advise people to obtain remedies from
Boots and find it admirable that they are stocked. I and my colleagues would
very much appreciate the continuance of this availability.
In a letter published in The Independent on 3 June 2006, I wrote:
"The placebo response is extremely complex, but is estimated to account for
about 30 per cent of perceived improvement, and this figure is the same for the
GPs. It is certainly not something we can rely on to do our work for us in every
case. No doubt we also see a percentage of people who were going to get better
without intervention, as do the GPs. There remains a percentage for whom we must
assume that the drug given was effective, whether homeopathic or orthodox, and
whether it took six minutes or 90 to prescribe it.
In the present climate, where iatrogenic death and injury are rife, the issue at
stake is patient choice."
I received an email from a GP who thanked me for "lighting a candle instead of
adding to the darkness". By stocking homeopathic remedies, Boots keeps patient
choice alive and is to be commended for so doing.
I would also like to bring the following to your attention. Meantime, I do
trust that common sense will prevail.
Health minister: NHS spend on homeopathy is justified
1 December 2009
The Health Minister, the Rt Hon Mike O'Brien QC MP, has told the Science and
Technology select committee that cutting the NHS spend on homeopathy is not
justified and that a body of reputable people, including doctors, believe in it.
Mr O'Brien said cutting the funding would be "illiberal" and "a denial of
personal choice". He also said there were a range of opinions amongst clinicians
and scientists which could not be ignored and he told the committee that there
was "justification for more research" in homeopathy.
He reiterated that it is up to individual clinicians to decide on the best
treatment for their patients and that it was not his job to tell GPs whether or
not to prescribe homeopathy. He also clarified that the NHS spend on homeopathic
medicines is only £152,000, from a total NHS annual drugs budget of £11 billion.
Mr O'Brien was speaking during the second session of an evidence check on
homeopathy. Both sessions (25 November and 30 November) can be viewed on the
parliament website.
Sincerely,
Linda Lloyd, MLCHom, DipHEAR
Monday, 29 June 2009
SUMMER HOLIDAY AND TRAVEL TIPS
This is why I love my travel aid kit so much!
36 remedies all in one place
ideal for first aid and health problems on your travels
neatly packaged in a small sturdy box - no breakages or spills
handy prescribing guide lets you prescribe with confidence
not just for holidays - invaluable for home and family use
twice as many remedies as a Basic 18 kit = fantastic value
Complete list of 36 remedies and all their travel applications
Saturday, 14 February 2009
Complementary Medicine DOES help Patients
Professor Karol Sikora, Professor of Cancer Medicine at the Imperial College School of Medicine based at Hammersmith Hospital, spoke out in the Sunday Times (UK) in no uncertain terms in response to a letter from Professor Colquhoun et al. As usual, Colquhoun and his chums were crowing about the removal of complementary medicine courses at the University of Salford.
In his scathing letter, Professor Sikora said: "Complementary medicine does help patients. Those of us who are faced daily by real human suffering use the best evidence available to help our patients. At the same time, patients do their best to help themselves. The ill-thought-through arguments of those who are not doctors - and so have no experience of the practice of medicine - are ridiculous. According to the Department of Health, about one in five adults uses complementary therapies. That means we need more education for practitioners, not less. And we certainly need better research, not the Stalinist repression that Professor Colquhoun and his colleagues demand. Armchair physicians are welcome to their views, but clearly patients know better."
Read the rest ...
In his scathing letter, Professor Sikora said: "Complementary medicine does help patients. Those of us who are faced daily by real human suffering use the best evidence available to help our patients. At the same time, patients do their best to help themselves. The ill-thought-through arguments of those who are not doctors - and so have no experience of the practice of medicine - are ridiculous. According to the Department of Health, about one in five adults uses complementary therapies. That means we need more education for practitioners, not less. And we certainly need better research, not the Stalinist repression that Professor Colquhoun and his colleagues demand. Armchair physicians are welcome to their views, but clearly patients know better."
Read the rest ...
Does Codex Alimentarius Threaten Your Freedom to buy Vitamins?
I have received several emails asking me to sign a petition (below).
I've done a swift bit of Googling into the issues.
The controversy seems to have been raging for some years. The search results tend to be either very official looking and a bit impenetrable, or people saying it's all about Big Pharma trying to remove our freedom of choice and pocket the profits on vitamins.
Whoever wrote the Wikipedia article on it sounded a bit defensive and was definitely trying to discredit the opposition, making it sound like a raggle-taggle band of fringe lunatics and people who want to profiteer from vitamins loosely tied together in the 'health freedom movement'. It even states: "Some health freedom campaigners would like adults to be free to choose marijuana for personal or medical use without criminal penalty." Blimey, what's that got to do with it? The neutrality of that article is under dispute anyway.
So do I sign the petition or not?
Thinks out loud ...
Well, the Code is important in that it seems to be about regulating food safety and quality, for example what goes into babies' formula milks and salt levels. Herbs, vitamins, minerals and food supplements are only one of its concerns. But presumably those are already regulated or you'd have an uproar over people getting ill and dying from taking Sanatogen (for example).
Besides which, there are Recommended Daily Amounts (RDAs) and therapeutic doses and dangerous doses of just about anything - you can die from drinking too much water. The active ingredients in these products are clearly labelled and controlled so probably the worst that could happen is paying a lot of money for something that doesn't help your health.
The distinction seems to arise over whether herbs, vitamins, minerals and food supplements are really foods if you use them therapeutically - eg, taking extra Vitamin C when you have a cold or Valerian to help you sleep.
But if they're not foods, do they then become drugs and therefore should they only be available on prescription from someone medically qualified? And how much would he or she actually know about nutrition as medicine or the therapeutic qualities and dosages of herbs? Would you have to be tested to see if you were actually deficient in something before you could get it on prescription?
On the other hand (assuming they're safe to consume and can't do any harm), why shouldn't we just be allowed to buy them if we think we need them or taking them helps our health by supplementing nutrients we don't get in our daily diets or need more of under certain circumstances like illness, convalescence, pregnancy, menopause?
People self-medicate with lots of things and some of those are a bit dodgy healthwise if you over-consume: alcohol and cigarettes spring to mind. We're free to buy those and read the health warnings and take responsibility for that choice.
I think I've talked myself into signing it. Thought I'd post it here for your consideration.
Dear Friend
Here is a petition to the Prime Minister to oppose the adoption of the Codex Alimentarius (WHO/UN) proposals for restriction of the presently freely available herb/vitamin/mineral food supplements.
Margaret Rothwell, the petition creator, adds:
"The principle of self medication with herbal/vitamin/mineral food supplements would be restricted to 'prescription only' status, if the Codex Alimentarius is applied in this country.
Since the NHS priorities are ill health diagnosis and treatment, the good health preservation that supplements provide will be inaccessible to the majority of our population and the cost to the NHS will increase, and the health of the population will decline."
If you feel inclined to sign the petition, please go to:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Vitamins/
Sign up for my free newsletter!
I've done a swift bit of Googling into the issues.
The controversy seems to have been raging for some years. The search results tend to be either very official looking and a bit impenetrable, or people saying it's all about Big Pharma trying to remove our freedom of choice and pocket the profits on vitamins.
Whoever wrote the Wikipedia article on it sounded a bit defensive and was definitely trying to discredit the opposition, making it sound like a raggle-taggle band of fringe lunatics and people who want to profiteer from vitamins loosely tied together in the 'health freedom movement'. It even states: "Some health freedom campaigners would like adults to be free to choose marijuana for personal or medical use without criminal penalty." Blimey, what's that got to do with it? The neutrality of that article is under dispute anyway.
So do I sign the petition or not?
Thinks out loud ...
Well, the Code is important in that it seems to be about regulating food safety and quality, for example what goes into babies' formula milks and salt levels. Herbs, vitamins, minerals and food supplements are only one of its concerns. But presumably those are already regulated or you'd have an uproar over people getting ill and dying from taking Sanatogen (for example).
Besides which, there are Recommended Daily Amounts (RDAs) and therapeutic doses and dangerous doses of just about anything - you can die from drinking too much water. The active ingredients in these products are clearly labelled and controlled so probably the worst that could happen is paying a lot of money for something that doesn't help your health.
The distinction seems to arise over whether herbs, vitamins, minerals and food supplements are really foods if you use them therapeutically - eg, taking extra Vitamin C when you have a cold or Valerian to help you sleep.
But if they're not foods, do they then become drugs and therefore should they only be available on prescription from someone medically qualified? And how much would he or she actually know about nutrition as medicine or the therapeutic qualities and dosages of herbs? Would you have to be tested to see if you were actually deficient in something before you could get it on prescription?
On the other hand (assuming they're safe to consume and can't do any harm), why shouldn't we just be allowed to buy them if we think we need them or taking them helps our health by supplementing nutrients we don't get in our daily diets or need more of under certain circumstances like illness, convalescence, pregnancy, menopause?
People self-medicate with lots of things and some of those are a bit dodgy healthwise if you over-consume: alcohol and cigarettes spring to mind. We're free to buy those and read the health warnings and take responsibility for that choice.
I think I've talked myself into signing it. Thought I'd post it here for your consideration.
Dear Friend
Here is a petition to the Prime Minister to oppose the adoption of the Codex Alimentarius (WHO/UN) proposals for restriction of the presently freely available herb/vitamin/mineral food supplements.
Margaret Rothwell, the petition creator, adds:
"The principle of self medication with herbal/vitamin/mineral food supplements would be restricted to 'prescription only' status, if the Codex Alimentarius is applied in this country.
Since the NHS priorities are ill health diagnosis and treatment, the good health preservation that supplements provide will be inaccessible to the majority of our population and the cost to the NHS will increase, and the health of the population will decline."
If you feel inclined to sign the petition, please go to:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Vitamins/
Sign up for my free newsletter!
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