Home Remedy Month- homeopathics

First, some updates:

Today is Isaiah's 8th birthday! Seems like just yesterday....

We found out on Tuesday that our baby... is a girl. We are very excited, especially Rosemary. We are still duking it out over names.

And, in my last post, I said Ed's job will be ending here in the forest in a couple months, and that we will be heading back to the city, most likely. I didn't say WHICH city, for the good reason that we don't KNOW which city!!! We hope to be able to share our plan by the end of April... provided we actually have one by then. (And don't worry, we have plenty of options, we just haven't made any decisions.)

To wrap up Home Remedy Month, I want to share a bit about how we use homeopathics around here. The best thing about homeopathic remedies is that they produce zero side effects. If you take or give a dose of the wrong one...

Nothing happens.

A helpful saying for understanding how homeopathics work is "One lock, many keys." As far as I understand, it means that there's not just one homeopathic that will work in any given situation, and also that there are lots of homeopathics you could try that won't work in a given situation. In other words, it's a little confusing to sort it all out.

In Mexico and many European countries, homeopathic medicines are utilized by MD's just as often as allopathic (mainstream pharmeceuticals) medicines. Unfortunately, in the late 19th century, Big Business in the form of newly formed pharmeceutical giants, started sponsoring medical schools and overnite homeopathics disasppeared from the curriculum.

Since there are plenty of excellent books on homeopathic medicine in any library, I won't go into their history or chemistry any more than that.

I have a small handful of homeopathic remedies that I use regularly because I 'know' them well. Similar to herbs, it can be more helpful to build your stash around a few remedies versus buying a huge kit containing dozens of remedies you're not sure how to use. And remember that the more sure you are that a homeopathic is the 'right' one for your situation, the higher dosage you can use.

(The other thing to remember is that strong herbs, mint especially, and caffeine 'antidote' homeopathics. So don't store them near your herbs or your coffee canisters and don't take them within 15 minutes to an hour of consuming any caffeine or mint products.)

Arnica Montana is the first one I have around with wild kids and a rocky canyon. Arnica is used just like its herbal counterpart- for any bump, bruise, strain or sprain that doesn't break the skin.

Hypericum Perforatum is used for nerva pain, and I use it for any bump that does break the skin. (Yesterday while partying with his friends, Isaiah busted his knee on a rock and Rose punctured her hand on a fence. I gave them both Hypericum and coated their little woundlets in lavender oil.)

Chamomilla (homeopathic chamomile) is helpful for cranky or restless kids, anywhere herbal chamomile would help.

Ignatia Amara is good for grief or emotional upset (read temper tantrum).

Hyland's makes a line of wonderful homeopathics for little ones- teething, colic, slepplessness, etc. Their Hyland's Kids' Kit is a great and inexpensive way to get started.

If you want a book, Homeopathic Medicine for Children and Infants is excellent and thorough.

Many moms prefer homeopathics to herbs because, as I mentioned, there are zero side effects and there is no danger if the wrong one is accidentally administered. Also, homeopathics require little or no preparation (what, stewing tinctures for months at a time isn't your idea of fun?) and take up a lot less space in the kitchen cupboards. And they travel better, I have to admit.

Personally, I find herbs to work more powerfully, but the more gentle action of homeopathics is really a plus for small children. In any case, combining your herbal arsenal with homeopathics can really yield the best of both worlds.

Tomorrow I'm introducing a new giveaway, so check back!!!


"The power of love to change bodies is legendary, built into folklore, common sense, and everyday experience. Love moves the flesh, it pushes matter around.... Throughout history, "tender loving care" has uniformly been recognized as a valuable element in healing."
~Larry Dossey

"Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing."
~Redd Foxx