San Francisco Pandemic 1918

A little background: I’m now writing a book which is a somewhat fictionalized account of an actual person, Florence Nightingale Ward, M.D. In 1918 she is is 58 years old and is a homeopath, surgeon, gynecologist, and obstetrician, and operates a woman-run hospital in downtown San Francisco. She is a leader in the homeopathic profession nationally and locally and is also respected in the regular medical profession because of her articles on hygiene and sterilization during surgery.
I’m posting this because of the relevance and similarity of the 1918 Pandemic and the pandemic we’re currently dealing with. Florence Ward and her colleagues are concerned about the sudden spread of a new kind of illness, that strikes with a kind of virulence they have not seen before. It has just begun to afflict people in California after moving across the country with soldiers and people traveling from the East…

It is late Summer of the year 1918, when we start hearing about the soldiers at the front dying, not so much from their wounds, but from an especially virulent influenza that has spread quickly through the trenches. We also read in the newspapers that many young men are dying suddenly and quickly of some mysterious disease in the army camps before they go to fight in Europe at the front. Last week, my dear nurse Dar’s nephew Oscar was stationed at Fort Pendleton in California, training as a soldier, when a large number of the young men there were stricken with the high fever, exhaustion and deep muscle aches that are the first signs of this illness. Thank goodness he called us and we were able to tell him which homeopathic remedy to take from the small kit Dar had given him and he recovered quickly.

 By October a few of my patients are very ill with what at first seems like the flu, but if they are not treated with homeopathic medicine at the arrival of the first symptoms, it often will suddenly go into their lungs and a virulent form of pneumonia takes over. The usual fluids and rest do not help most of them, and homeopathic remedies are called for. My colleagues are also seeing more and more people suffering from this new illness, and soon reports of people dying of it are in the newspapers.

 My sister Irene, and Dar, my nurse of 30 years, who we’ve invited to have dinner with us, and I come home exhausted and hungry from the hospital one evening, after we’d been administering to quite a few patients with pneumonia and had performed two surgeries. On top of that I gave a lecture at the medical college this morning.

 As we walk in the entryway and take off our jackets and hats, Dar picks up the newspaper on the hall table, and looks up worriedly.

 “Dar! You look so worried. Whatever is wrong?” I ask her.

 Dar anxiously replies, “What a terrible thing this influenza is! They’re calling it the Spanish Lady because so many people have it in Spain. The headlines in the paper say that we must all go into quarantine. And no more large groups can meet. So many people are falling ill, and they think it’s because of exposing each other so easily.”

 I hurry to the telephone in order to call Dorothy.

 As I pick up the phone, Rose comes out from the kitchen and lets us know that dinner will be on the table soon.

 “Thank you Rose, let us know when we should come into the dining room.”

I call out to Dar and Irene, “I’m just going to give Dorothy a call right away, I’ve been worried about her all day. One of my clinic patients mentioned her neighbor who was pregnant and caught the influenza, she got very ill and miscarried within hours. I don’t want to alarm Dorothy, but this really is dangerous for her and her baby.”

 While I wait for her to pick up the telephone, I think about how suddenly this illness has arrived and how quickly it could spread through the city. I must mobilize our profession to prepare for this new and frightening sickness.

 “Hello Dorothy, dear. Have been hearing about this awful influenza? I’m so worried about you and the baby.”

 “Oh Mother, I’m glad you called! Yes, I did read about it in The Call today. Please don’t worry about us, I know it’s bad, but I can’t believe I’ll get it, I’m so healthy. But if you think it’s best, I’ll stay indoors as much as I can.”

 “Yes, I’m sure you’re being careful, but I want you to stay in and not go out for a few weeks. We don’t know what is causing this to attack so many people and what makes it spread, so in the meantime, will you stay home for me? Can you have Morse do the errands?”

 “Alright Mother, but I was just out at the stores, I’m glad I got a few things in I guess!”

 “Oh, dear, well I hope you were careful! Now you be sure to ring me if you start to feel badly, will you promise me?”

 “Of course, Mother, thank you, I will let you know, now I have to finish making dinner for Morse and me.”

 After my call with Dorothy, I join Dar and Irene in the parlor.

 “I’ve called a meeting with my colleagues soon to discuss what best we can do. Our patients who turn to us are getting relieved of their symptoms much more quickly than the allopaths’ patients, so we must treat as many people as we can.”

 Dar says, “I hope we can treat a lot of people, already people are dying here in San Francisco! I hope none of us catch it! It seems to attack the younger, healthier people the hardest, like my poor Oscar.”

 “Yes, I must telephone Lillian and Jean and make certain they’re being careful and not going out if possible. Especially Dorothy, with her pregnancy, I would hate for her to fall ill.”

 Irene asks, “Did Dorothy take it seriously when you asked her to stay home?”

 “I’m afraid she thinks I’m being over cautious. She was just out at the shops today, which worries me. I don’t think people realize how bad this can get. I hope Lillian and Jean will understand.”

 “Of course they will, it’s hard to realize when you don’t see it yourself, the pneumonia cases today came on so quickly and forcefully, and people were so frightened,” Irene says as she takes off her shoes and puts her feet on the overstuffed ottoman and lets out a big sigh.

 From behind the paper, Dar says, “It is so frightening! The newspaper has stories of the tram drivers pulling off dead bodies at the ends of the lines, people who were well enough to go to work, just die suddenly, without warning.”

Irene goes to Dar and hugs her and says, “Well, luckily, we have the best doctor in town here with us, and she’ll know what to do. And let’s see if we can sew some masks.”

I add, “I’m sure we all should wash our hands after we go out, as soon as we come into the house.”  

A special meeting of the homeopathic group in San Francisco on October 12, 1918

 I preside over the meeting. My speech opens up the discussion:

“There are so many questions about what we should and can do in the face of this terrible epidemic, but one of them is to stay in contact with each other so we know what homeopathic remedies and palliative care are working the best for our patients. The great Samuel Hahnemann was an expert at treating populations in epidemics and we must now look to his example of courage and fortitude to help us in this crisis.

May we have a report from each of us here today as to what symptoms we are seeing and what remedies are helping?

Dr. Boericke may we start with you?”

 “Yes, thank you Dr. Ward, I am grateful to you for arranging this meeting at such an important time for us and for our patients.

 I agree, it is very good for us to compare our cases and find a pattern to this virulent illness. This is what Hahnemann did and he had very good success in the cholera, scarlet fever, and yellow fever epidemics of his day. We also may be able to find a remedy or small group of remedies that could act prophylactically.

 On the other hand, we must remember to take our clients’ cases individually and find the best remedy for them, not just assume that there is one magical pill for this. I have seen this present in a few differing ways, so I think we need to look at a group of remedies and even be open minded to the more unusual remedies for some of these cases, especially when it has progressed beyond the basic flu stage. So far in the milder cases of fever, exhaustion, and pain in the bones I have given Gelsemium, Bryonia, and Eupatorium perfoliatum with good results. For those who wait to come to me and have progressed to more fulminant pneumonia, Antimonium Tartaricum and Lauroceracus have been the two most helpful. But they must be repeated quite often and for many days, or we see a relapse.”

“Thank you Dr. Boericke. Would Dr. Goss please give us her report?”

“Yes, thank you Dr. Ward. I would agree with Dr. Boericke, I have given many of my patients Gelsemium early on, and have seen them get better within twenty-four hours from the chills, exhaustion and dullness they feel. I have also had a few patients who present with anxiety and fear, with the typical restlessness, chills, and burning pains. I would add Phosphorus for the later stage also, it is such a good pneumonia remedy.”

“Thank you, Dr. Goss, Dr. Chamberlain, are you seeing any cases of this influenza in the East Bay?”

 “Unfortunately, yes I am. I have a number of families who have come down with this and I want to add, it seems to be the healthy young adults who get hit the hardest. I have given Gelsemium and Bryonia for many of my cases, but when there are complications such as pneumonia, or more unusual symptoms, I have used other remedies. When the fever goes particularly high, I will use Belladonna, but if the patient starts to go into sepsis, Baptisia and Pyrogen are life savers.

From what I understand, the allopaths are having a much harder time keeping their patients from dying than we are, so let’s keep up the good work!

I also must warn you all, this new medicine, this aspirin, that all the regular doctors are prescribing like candy, may be making matters worse for them. It does bring down the fever, but it seems to make the whole thing worse, and people are quickly going into pneumonia situations.”

 “I agree,” says Dr. Tomlinson, “I have been hearing of people who were told to take large doses of aspirin, then take even more because they are so desperate, and dying within hours, coughing up blood from the lungs. I wish we could do more to stop this, when our homeopathic medicines are so curative and gentle.

We should be seeing homeopathy hailed from the rooftops right now, with our success at treating this terrible influenza. I will be speaking with the mayor tomorrow, so perhaps he can put out a statement that we have better answers for this and are happy to see more patients before the numbers of dead get out of hand, as they have in other cities.”

 I add, “Yes Dr. Tomlinson, that is wonderful that you will meet with Mayor Rolph. Does anyone know Dr. Hassler? As the head of the public health department, he needs to hear from us. In fact, we should propose a meeting with city and health officials and business owners in order to strategize ways of keeping this very contagious malady under control. We must get masks out to the public and make it mandatory to wear them. Perhaps the Red Cross can make and distribute them. And because it is so contagious, we must limit how much people gather or go on with their daily lives. If we can treat the illness early enough, we can stop it from getting bad enough to go to hospital, is that what others are finding?”

 Everyone nods their heads in agreement.

 I add, “I’m concerned that our hospitals will be overwhelmed with patients as we are hearing about in other cities. Because homeopathy can help so quickly in the home, I’ve been making certain that as many of my patients as possible have a small group of remedies and instructions, so they can begin the treatment as soon as they see symptoms. This seems to be the best way, and Dr. Boericke and his pharmacy have been quick to put these particular remedies together for us. Many people already have remedies at home and most of them are already in these family kits, so that is making our work much easier.

It seems from what we’ve heard from today, that Gelsemium, Bryonia, Eupatorium perfoliatum and Arsenicum album are effective in the early stages and Phosphorus, Laurocerasus, and Antimonium Tartaricum are helping when it gets into the lungs.

Of course, there are a few other remedies that work well, but these are the main ones in the earlier stages, with the most cases recovering. But yes, we must take our patients’ cases and see what remedy fits their symptoms the best, especially if they have progressed to the pneumonia stage.

Would anyone else like to add anything? No? Alright, thank you, Dr. Adams, for typing up the notes which I hope we can distribute to those colleagues who weren’t able to meet with us today. I think we will all be working hard for the next few weeks. We must take great care of ourselves and our families in the midst of this. Please protect yourselves, especially when seeing patients, with a mask and gloves. With that, I end the meeting. Thank you all for coming at such short notice.”

Staying Healthy in the Midst of the Coronavirus

Homeopathic Support for This Time

For the past two hundred years, homeopathy has been a remarkably effective response to epidemics. When an epidemic hits, homeopaths work together to define its physical and emotional symptoms so they can come up with remedies that are effective against it.

One of the main remedies homeopaths are suggesting for any flu-like illness is Bryonia alba. Bryonia is usually given for a combination of perspiration-free fever, cough, and lung inflammation, in situations where the symptoms start slowly after exposure. It’s also a great remedy for our present general anxiety about work and money.

I suggest you order the 30c and 200c from Hahnemann Labs. Take the 30c if you have these symptoms and the 200c if you know you’ve been exposed to someone who tested positive and has symptoms. Also, please keep in touch with your homeopath and your primary care support people.

The other remedies you might want to have on hand are Sulphur, Lycopodium, Phosphorus, Arsenicum album, Kali carbonicum, and Mercurius vivus. This comprehensive article by Dr. Manish Bhatia describes these remedies and why he recommends using them for the virus. All of them are in the homeopathic acute care kits that Hahnemann Labs and Helios Pharmacy sell. I highly recommend having a kit so that if you need one of these remedies when we have an acute care phone call, you’ve already got it!

Eating Well is Super Important

A nutrient dense, whole foods diet is the best way to keep healthy and well in general, but now it's even more vital. 

And don't forget to include these as part of your weekly diet:

• If you're a meat-eater, chicken and beef liver are great for the immune-building zinc and Vitamin A; it's best to eat these once or twice a week. 

• Coronavirus has an affinity for the lungs, and the lungs require lots of saturated fats—so eat plenty of butter and avoid all industrial fats and oils.

• Raw whole milk, butter, cream, and yogurt from pastured cows contain many compounds that strengthen the immune system. (A shout out to our rancher and farmer heroes, who are continuing to provide for us!)

• The coronavirus is a lipid-coated virus that dies out in the presence of medium-chain triglycerides–and coconut oil is our best source of these healthy fats.

• Garlic and ginger have antimicrobial and antiviral qualities

• All fruits and vegetables contain Vitamin C and individually they contain
  other vitamins and minerals such as B vitamins, magnesium,
  potassium, phosphorous, folic acid etc. Apples are easy to store, and
  keep for long periods as do citrus fruits. Juices on the other hand are
  empty calories – one glass of orange or apple juice will put your
  glucose and insulin levels through the roof.

• Fermented foods—like sauerkraut, other fermented veggies, and kombucha—are important to keep your good gut flora up, which is an essential part of the immune system 

• Add more turmeric to your diet for its antiviral, anti-inflammatory properties.

• Mushrooms, like reishi, maitake, shiitake have immune boosting powers.

• Omega 3 Foods: essential for our brain, nerves and immune system to
  work efficiently. Under stress, systems become inflamed
  Canned tuna, salmon, sardines , mackerel, anchovies (high in
  EPA/DHA). Walnuts, flax seeds, hemp seeds, chia seeds, seaweed
  snacks, edamame, kidney beans.

Sally Fallon Morell has a good post about the coronavirus here.

Supplements

• Black elderberry in syrup or tincture form is a wonderful antiviral, and is great for lung congestion and coughs. Take daily for the cold and flu season months.

• Extra Vitamin A from cod liver oil and beef or chicken liver improves immune function and increases lactobacilli in the gut. If you feel you’re catching something, you can take up to 50,000 IU twice a day for up to 5-7 days, but don't forget to take Vitamin D with it to protect against the potential toxicity.

• Vitamin C to your bowel tolerance limit, here's a recipe for that: 4 parts Vitamin C powder (Sodium Ascorbate or Ascorbic acid) to 1 part baking soda combined in 8 ounces of water.  If it tastes sweet, sip until it tastes sour and stop.  

• Zinc lozenges are proven to block viruses from multiplying in the throat and naso-pharynx—it's best to lie down and let them dissolve in the back of your throat. You can take a few times a day. 

• Bee propolis spray for the throat.

• Colloidal silver nasal spray at least 3 times a day.

• Medicinal mushrooms are great to have in your regimen, I like the capsules and tinctures from Host Defense, especially the MyCommunity Comprehensive Immune Support.   

Here are a few of the products I recommend for strengthening your immune system (and Herbal Expec is a great expectorant, if you need one):                                                                               

Stress Management
                          
Please try to stay calm! We're in the midst of so much fear, anxiety, and stress related to the easy spread of the disease and the incompetence of the government agencies to contain and test for it. Not to mention the lost pay for hourly workers and revenue for small businesses! And the schools being closed and the impact on families. Also, the elderly family members and friends we're concerned about, who would be more likely to get very sick. And of course the hospital workers who are being called on to work longer hours without time off while being exposed to the virus. So, it's supremely important to manage your stress and anxiety. Make sure you exercise, meditate, do yoga, walk outside, laugh, be with small groups of people (maybe online!), sit in the sun (which kills the virus) and gives you a lot of immune-boosting Vitamin D. Get your 7-8 hours of sleep every night and get into nature as much as possible. Maybe get to those creative projects you haven't had time for. 

Now, take some deep breaths and go do something good for yourself! 

Homeopathic Remedies for Colds and Flus

The first remedy my clients can take to strengthen their immune system for any viral epidemic, is their constitutional remedy. So please, if you haven't done so, or it's been years since we met, make an appointment with me here for constitutional care. Also, with all the viruses flying around these days, I strongly suggest you stock up on homeopathic flu and cold remedies to have on-hand in the 30c strength, which you can easily find in your local health food store.

Here are the main ones I suggest with their basic symptoms for colds and flus:

• Arsenicum album: high fever, burning pain, very anxious

• Belladonna: high fever, redness of face, dilated pupils, sensitive to light and noise

• Bryonia: aching pains are aggravated by any movement, irritable, want to be left alone

• Eupatorium perfoliatum: aching pains down to the bones as if broken, chills with fever

• Gelsemium: feel like hit by a truck, exhausted and sleepy, chills in back,  

• Mercurius virus: sensitive to temperature, both hot and cold easily, thick yellow mucus 

• Nux vomica: deep chills - can't get warm, very irritable, sick after a lot of stress and working too hard

• Oscillococcinum: take at first sign of flu symptoms, may stop it from progressing

• Pulsatilla: yellow-green discharges, flushes of heat, thirstless, feel weepy

• Rhus toxicodendron: aching muscles and joints, restless moving to get comfortable but can't, sensitive to chills

When you have an acute care consultation with me, it's so convenient to already have these remedies, rather than going out to buy them when you or your child is sick.
And even better than buying them individually, I have Acute Care kits for sale— a selection of 18 or 35 remedies at a very discounted price. The kits come with a small guidebook, which makes it possible to choose a remedy if a consultation is not possible immediately. 

And of course, wash your hands and your children's hands frequently and for at least 30 seconds, and eat your nutrient dense, immune supportive foods with lots of vitamins, and take supplements, like cod liver oil and black elderberry syrup.

New Monthly Holistic Parents Meetups At My Office!

I'm so excited! I’ve taken the plunge and started a free Meetup group for parents who want to share about what it means to raise a child holistically. I plan to host the Meetups at my office once a month on a Friday morning. Tea and snacks will be provided.

The first Meetup will be on Friday, September 27th at 10- 11am. We’ll talk about the basics of health and what we do (or would like to do) to keep our kids healthy. Here’s the link:

https://www.meetup.com/Oakland-Holistic-Parents-Circle-Meetup/events/

Please let anyone you know that might be interested, I look forward to enjoying this time together. We’ll be meeting in my small office to start with, so please only parents or parents with babes in arms and firm RSVP’s.

Flower power: flower essences for the emotional ups and downs of travel

What are flower essences?

Native Columbine

I use flower essences as part of my repertoire of therapies, especially when emotional issues are at the forefront and need to be addressed quickly. These essences were originally developed by a Welsh physician, Dr. Edward Bach. He soaked the flowers from thirty-eight species of wildflowers in water, preserved the resulting liquids, and found that each of the resulting essences could be used to work on specific emotional issues, making them a useful adjunct to his homeopathic prescriptions.

Since the creation of the original essences, many sets of flower essences have been developed from all over the world. I mainly use the set made from flowers grown in the foothills and Sierra mountains of California and the Bach English essences.

Helping kids with difficult transitions
I often give flower essences to children for the emotional strain of travel, because they can help them be more flexible, which makes it easier for them to tolerate new situations.

Flower essences can really help the following:

• Difficulty sleeping

• Jet lag and time change

• Difficulty adapting to different routines, foods, customs

• Anxiety in new places and situations

• Overwhelm and tension

• Anger and tears when unable to process new things

• Homesickness

Here's an example of how flower essences helped one family about to go on a trip.

A new client of mine is a four-year-old girl who already has a hard time relaxing and going to sleep at night. Her parents have a very specific routine they follow which helps her, but on nights when the routine is broken, it can take more than an hour for her to get to sleep. She also has a short list of foods she eats, and can be very anxious and shy in new situations—her parents think her stomach aches are a somatic sign of this.

The parents are planning a trip to see their extended family on the East Coast, and are concerned she will have a hard time adjusting to all the changes. When we meet for her first follow-up visit, her health issues are better, thanks to the constitutional remedy she started a month ago, but I think adding some flower essences will help all of them enjoy their trip more.

I take a look in my Flower Essence Repertory book, and find a short list of specific essences that I can put together in a single bottle for her.

• Lavender: To soothe and regulate her psychic/spiritual energy and allow her to sleep more easily.

• Walnut: To smooth transitions and help her be calm in the face of change.

• Dill: For the overwhelm she may feel from overstimulation, to lessen her sensitivity to new impressions.

• Rock Water: To give her more flexibility and tolerance in terms of her diet, routines, and new experiences.

• Chamomile: To help her release tension in the stomach and psyche, which builds up until bedtime, so she can more easily sleep.

In this case, I made a one ounce combination bottle, instructing her parents to give her four drops a few times a day as needed, starting a few days before their trip began. I told them to give it until she didn’t seem to need it anymore.

They reported back that their trip was much easier this time; their daughter was able to get to sleep more quickly (after some initial jet lag) and was much more relaxed in general. She was more curious than withdrawn and enjoyed a lot of new activities. She even tried some new foods at her grandparents’ house!

I told her parents to give her the flower essence combination if any of these issues reappear since she's been home, but so far, she’s doing great.

I have a complete set of flower essences, and make the combination bottles with a few drops from the stock bottles. Lots of health food stores carry the complete sets— you can buy them individually and make up your own combinations or use them individually.

A set of FES Quintessentials at Rainbow Grocery in San Francisco.

Or you can order them from Flower Essence Services.
You can download this basic guidebook for using and choosing the flower essences here.

Let me know if you’d like me to make up a combination bottle for you, I charge $25 for the combination, but mention this article and I’ll give you a 20% discount!

Suddenly it's Summer: Be Careful Out There!

Having just come out of a pretty extreme heatwave in the Bay Area, I've been thinking about ways to avoid the symptoms of too much heat or sun. We know to stay hydrated, right? We also know that we should only be exposed to direct sunlight for short periods, preferably with a hat on, and that it's not healthy to exercise too vigorously or for too long in high heat, or fall asleep in the sun. But sometimes, we are so happy to be on the beach, or lying on a comfortable seat, or running in the waves at the beach—sometimes, we forget all these things.
 
Too much sun—especially on a hot day—is no joke! If heatstroke comes on from too much exposure to the sun, the first thing to do is to get out of the sun and cool down—quickly! You or someone with you may feel faint. Or they may actually faint, feel confused, and have a terrible headache. Sunstroke is a medical emergency, so if this happens, call 911 or take them to the nearest ER. While you wait for the ambulance or while you're driving to the hospital, cool them down as much as you can. Try to get them into a pool or bathtub, apply ice packs, spray or sponge their skin with cool water, and continuously fan them. If you have homeopathic remedies on hand, Belladonna or Glonoinum 30c or 200c can lessen the symptoms while they're on their way to the hospital. After they recover from heatstroke, they should avoid hot temperatures for some time.

And have them drink lots of water and other hydrating liquids! 

Traveling Soon? Must Haves for a Great Trip

A Few Tips to Stay Healthy and Energized Even When Overdoing It

I took a trip to New York City a few weeks ago, mainly to see an art exhibit at the Guggenheim of Hilma af Klint's work (see above), but also to meet with my homeopath in person and be inspired by the art and energy of the city. One of my goals was to feel as great as possible while I was there, since I knew I’d be walking miles every day, not sleeping enough, and eating foods I usually avoid.
When I travel, I want to keep my immune system strong, and minimize the effects from my travel and any overindulgence I might fall into. If you find yourself in a similar situation, here are some of the things you can bring with you, and a short description of their benefits:

• Magnesium citrate supplement for calming nerves and helping with sleep

• Cod liver oil for the Vitamin A and D benefits for immune system support

• Your personalized Homeopathic remedy kit with a guidebook that helps you choose the best remedy for any given acute condition.

• Activated charcoal to help detox your body after flying, suspected food poisoning, overeating, over drinking. Take 2 capsules as a dose daily when traveling, 2 more later in the day if you need extra detoxing.

• Therapy balls (or any small ball, like tennis or kids’ bouncy ball) for massaging out the feet and legs after a long day of walking.

• Calendula salve to help heal cuts and prevent infections.

• The homeopathic remedy Arnica Montana 30c, which is great for jet lag, but also any fall or accident with bruising and swelling. Should be in your remedy kit, but if you choose only to bring one remedy, this would be the one.

We all want to have a great time when we travel! As your homeopath, I have tools that can help you have a great time, stay well, and take care of any acute issues that arise.
If you have any plans to travel in the next few weeks or months, give me a call and we can talk about the specifics of using some of these items.
If you happen to be going anywhere tropical or where vaccines are suggested, I can offer Homeoprophylaxis to strengthen your immune system.
I’m also offering a Travel Kit and guide that includes many of the above items in an all-inclusive package. Let me know if you'd like to find out more before your next trip!
And if you get to New York, enjoy the Highline for me! The doors below are painted by the artist Lubaina Himid, one of the amazing installations you'll see as you walk above the city streets.

Why Choose Homeopathy?

Many of us in the Bay Area are fortunate to have multiple choices for our health care needs. Including whether to seek help from conventional medical practitioners, or alternative / complementary practitioners. Most of my clients seek help from both at various times. Many of my clients have tried a few forms of health care and may use a combination of healing techniques. Below is a list of what makes homeopathy unique as a form of healing and specifically what the benefits of choosing homeopathy are: 

• Homeopathy gets to the heart of what ails you, rather than suppressing symptoms or causing side effects

• Homeopaths have developed remedies from over 5000 substances, we look for one of those that matches your unique symptoms in a similar way 

• Homeopathy helps you to heal deeply—traumas or emotional issues that might be holding you back fade away

• Homeopathy can be effective for many diseases that regular medicine finds difficult to cure

• A curative homeopathic remedy often works in subtle ways, yet shifts can be profound

• Homeopathic remedies are easy to take and can be tailored to your sensitivities

• Kids enjoy the sweet flavor of remedies so it’s easy to give them

• Your unique symptoms and individuality are what homeopaths take into account in order to find a homeopathic remedy for you, rather than a more general diagnosis

• Homeopathy gives you the power to find peace of mind in the face of the toxicity and stress of the world

• Homeopathy restores health and lessens limitations

Gelsemium, an Amazing Acute Care Remedy

Gelsemium sempervirens, commonly called false jasmine, is an evergreen twining vine that is native from Virginia to Florida west to Texas and Central America. It is typically found in open woods, thickets and along roads. Bright, fragrant, funnel-shaped, yellow flowers (to 1.5” long) appear either solitary or in clusters in late winter to early spring.

As a homeopathic remedy, it is especially useful for acute illnesses that begin slowly and gradually with a headache, backache, chills, and a dull and drowsy feeling. The person can feel so tired that they can’t keep their eyes open and may be so sore that it’s as if they’ve been hit be a truck. There may be a chills or a fever without thirst. They just want to be left alone to sleep.
This remedy can be given for many illnesses, if the above symptoms stand out. It was one of the most helpful remedies used by homeopaths successfully during the 1918 flu. (Homeopaths had much lower percentages of patients dying from the disease than did regular doctors with that epidemic.) It is also helpful for measles, chicken pox, bad colds, tension headaches, and even mononucleosis.

This is one of many remedies that are great to have on hand in case of an illness. It is included in all acute care remedy kits, which I also highly recommend to have in your home along with your first aid kit.

Why Are We So Afraid of the Measles?

Once again, I feel so fortunate that I’m old enough to have gotten the measles (and German measles, and chicken pox) as a young child. My two sisters and I had it all around the same time and I’m sure it was hard on my mom, but it was just an expected part of childhood back in the early ‘60’s. We were all fine afterward, including my youngest sister, who couldn’t have been more than a year or so old at the time. I remember the rash all over my body, the itchiness of it, and just lying around feeling ill in my darkened bedroom for a few days. Then we started to get restless and bored, but weren’t quite able to go back to school. That was the hardest part for my mom, I’m sure! Anyway, none of us will ever get it again—lifetime immunity is one advantage of having a childhood illness. If you’d like to read an article published in The Foreign Policy Journal about the history of the measles and vaccines, click here.
 
I’m dismayed by the overzealous behavior of politicians and health workers who declare states of emergency and even friends who go on FaceBook rampages about unvaccinated people spreading killer diseases. I’m sorry, but even though measles is a serious disease, it's one that can be dealt with in the home.

Unless you aren’t given the facts about nutrition, like eating decent amounts of animal sourced Vitamin A and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables for Vitamin C in your regular diet, letting your child be outside for at least a few minutes without sunscreen daily for their dose of Vitamin D, only giving them sugar on special occasions once in awhile, and maybe even taking cod liver oil as a supplement for Vitamins A and D. Oh! I forgot, mainstream America isn’t told these things anymore! Instead, the government mandates we give our children vaccine after vaccine in multiple doses, our “nutrition” is coming more and more from fast foods, we’re being told to stay out of the sun, we’re being exposed to more and more chemicals—including cancer-causing glyphosates—and then being told that the ever increasing percentages of children with auto-immune diseases has nothing to do with this.
 
Having just read Thomas Cowan M.D.’s new book, Vaccines, Autoimmunity, and the Changing Nature of Childhood Illness, I feel especially and righteously angry. He asks the question I’ve been asking: “What are we doing to our children’s immune systems in the long-term?” His answer to this question is complex and frightening, but luckily, he has a lot of experience treating people with autoimmune diseases. He includes some tried and true methods that have helped many of his patients, including gut-healing diets and specific medication protocols.

Here are my suggestions for people who are concerned about the measles and aren't fully vaccinated:

• Take cod liver oil or Vitamin A and D supplements

• Take Vitamin C supplements and eat more fresh fruit and vegetables

• Cut out sugar

• Seek constitutional homeopathic, osteopathic, or acupuncture care to be as healthy as you can be

If you or your child does get measles, supplement even more with the above vitamins and call a homeopath for acute care. NEVER give aspirin if you suspect the measles. There are many remedies that help with the symptoms and shorten the course of the illness. Follow the guidelines of the generations of parents who have dealt with the measles: keep your child quiet in a cool  darkened room; increase fluid intake; cool wash cloths for the fever and homeopathic fever reducers are helpful. And know your child will be healthier in the long run!
 
As you may know, I have some powerful therapies in my practice that can help families cope with our brave new world:

• Homeoprophylaxis to educate the immune system gently and deeply to handle the illnesses that we evolved with—and should still be getting to strengthen our bodies in the long term

• CEASE therapy to detox clients when they have had a bad reaction to a vaccine or medication

• Nutrition information to help my clients understand about the nutrient dense foods our bodies need to stay healthy

• And of course, my thirty years of experience using homeopathy to strengthen the immune system and fortify our bodies so that we can be as healthy and happy as possible

The Camp Fire Aftermath

A few of my clients who suffered more chronically with the smoke were helped with homeopathic remedies. Please let me know if you’re still having any respiratory issues and would like some help. And, since this may be the new normal, please know that you can call me during the smoky time and we can find a helpful remedy for you.
My colleague, Marci Mearns, lives and practices in Chico. Many of her clients were residents of Paradise and they’ve lost everything, including their homeopathic kits, books and remedies. Marci has lost her income base and is working tirelessly with people who have nothing to pay her. If you’re thinking of contributing to fire victims, for the emotional shock and physical issues they’re dealing with, or you have friends or family who are from the area, please read on:

The Camp Fire

No/low cost Homeopathic Care for Survivors
Thanks to generous support from many sectors of the homeopathic community, Chico Homeopathy is currently offering emergency intervention and follow-up care to all current and past clients, their families and pets, at no charge. Appointments are available by phone and/or in the office. In addition, if you know a Survivor who is new to homeopathy, please feel free to refer that person for no/low-cost care.

Also, please note that I'll be participating in the Free Community Wellness Clinic this coming Saturday, December 15th, 11:00 - 4:00.

If you'd like to make a donation to help cover the costs of treatment for Fire Survivors, you may
a) send a donation via PayPal using the "Send Money to Friends & Family" option. PayPal email is marci @ marcim.com, or
b) Send via Venmo. @Marci-Mearns

Tips for Holiday Overindulging

We’ve now had our practice run on a holiday focused on overeating, drinking, and lots of family/social exposure, we know what we’re in for over the next month. How did you do? Have you gained a few pounds already? Do you feel sluggish and slightly more irritable than usual? These are clues that you may need to watch yourself in the coming weeks, if you want to get through the holidays with your usual energy and positive spirits. You might want to focus on some detoxing soon, and reset your body for the next binge. And of course, these tips are helpful when the inevitable delicious and not so healthy food and drinks tempt us this month! Enjoy!

Here are some suggestions:

• Take 2 capsules of activated charcoal daily

• Eat lots of fermented foods and fresh fruit and vegetables

• Make and eat soups with good vegetable or bone broth

• Get to the sauna to sweat out the toxins

• Take Epsom Salts baths a few times a week.

• Do some sweat exercise—Vinyassa yoga, walking, running, Zumba, dancing, etc…..

If you’re not on a constitutional remedy already, the remedy Nux-vomica is great for detoxing from overindulgence of rich food and alcohol. Take the 30c potency for five days once a day for more general detoxing. If you’ve just had a night of overeating and/or drinking, take this remedy every 3 hours for 12 hours.
 
And if your liver is still suffering, with feeling sluggish, digestion off, and a weakened immune system, come see me for a homeopathic consultation.

Enjoy Halloween and Have Your Kids Give Their Candy to the Switch Witch!

I don’t know about you, but I’m very concerned about the price we’re paying worldwide for eating so much sugar. It starts with commercial infant formula (first ingredient in many: high fructose corn syrup!), goes onto sugary cereals, sugary snacks and bars, sweets to celebrate every holiday, juice drinks, candy and sweet baked goods sold at school bake sales, sweetened syrupy coffee and tea drinks, sodas sold in school and hospital vending machines, muffins and Danish for breakfast, etc., etc. The sugar industry’s strategy has worked very well. Eventually, when people eat this way over a lifetime, diabetes is a very real possibility, as well as obesity and metabolic syndrome. Even though sugar isn’t as overtly and immediately bad for us as opioids, alcohol, or nicotine, it is addictive, and does lead to many chronic and dire health issues.

Over the last one hundred years, we’ve seen a corporate and cultural takeover of our eating patterns. I’m reading The Case Against Sugar, by Gary Taubes, in which he writes about the history of sugar and the consequences of our addiction to it. People, and now corporations, have made a huge amount of money from it. Slavery in the U.S. and the Caribbean Islands was “necessary” in the 1600’s through 1800’s because sugar was (and still is) such a back breaking and horrible thing to harvest. Children still work for little to nothing on chocolate plantations for big corporate chocolate companies. So many reasons to pay more attention to what we support.

And then we have the ultimate sweet holiday coming up. Where children collect as much candy as they can and gorge on it for days, or have a few pieces doled out for weeks, encouraging that sugar addiction. And, just as the colder, wetter winter is coming, all that sugar has suppressed our immune systems, so we're more likely to get all the colds and flus circulating in schools and offices. 

Don’t get me wrong; I like many aspects of Halloween! It’s one of the few nights in the year that kids get to be outside and walk around in their neighborhoods, perhaps meeting neighbors for that one night in the year. The costumes and decorations are fun, spookiness is the theme, and it’s a marker of the harvest season, and winter coming soon.

If you'd like to minimize the emphasis on candy this Halloween, I have some recommendations:

• Rather than giving out candy, give out stickers or temporary tattoos, pencils, a friend even gives out toothbrushes!

• Find healthier sweets, like organic, fair trade chocolates, raisins, fruit leather, etc.

• Tell your kids about the Switch Witch, and let them know she needs their candy more than they do, and that she will give them a fun toy in trade for it.

• Many dentists will pay by the pound for candy after Halloween, check with yours.

Flu Remedies and Prophylaxis

My daughter and I experienced an upper respiratory flu this year already! My clients are asking for help—flu season has officially begun! It’s time to gear up your immune system support with healthy foods, herb teas, supplements, decent sleep, and lessening stress as much as possible!
 
My colleague Marci Mearns and I are offering our flu prophylaxis program again this year, here’s the signup info for new participants. If you've done the program already, you can sign up directly through this link. 
 
if you want to stock up on homeopathic flu remedies to have on-hand, here are the main ones:

Oscillococcinum
Gelsemium
Bryonia
Ipecacuanha
Eupatorium perfoliatum
Belladonna
Rhus toxicodendron
Arsenicum album
Nux vomica
Rumex crispus

And if you'd like, rather than buying individual remedies, I also have Acute Care kits for sale— a selection of 36 remedies at a discounted price

When you have an acute care consultation with me, it's so convenient to already have these remedies, rather than going out to buy them when you or your child is sick. 

Homeopathy for Back to School Anxiety

Everyone is settling into the first weeks of school by now, but if your child is still anxious to the point of being unable to concentrate and do their best, I recommend homeopathy to help reduce anxiety. Because reduced anxiety gives your kids a greater chance of succeeding, both academically and socially. I also recommend paying attention to your child’s fears, to make certain they aren't experiencing bullying or other traumatic situations. If they are, it may be best to change classrooms or schools, and perhaps even to seek counseling for them.

Here are a few examples of homeopathic remedies and the specific traits a child may show if they need one of these remedies. If you think your child needs help, please bring them in so I can take a thorough case and choose the best remedy for their specific needs, kids deserve to relax and enjoy learning.

Sepia 
Irritable, overly sensitive, cries a lot, feels better when alone. Indifference to family. Feels much better with vigorous exercise. May be sarcastic and mean.

Arsenicum album
Feels vulnerable and defenseless and restless with anxiety and a great fear of being alone. Panic attacks, most often in the early hours of the morning.

Silicea
Feels weak, and very sensitive to the stimulation and chaos of school life. They want to control their environment and find it hard to leave their parents and/or stick like glue to their teacher.

Pulsatilla
Their fear of abandonment can be triggered by going to school. They are very needy and clingy and crave attention.

Baryta carbonica
This is for the person who seems immature for their age. They have a hard time making choices and want desperately to fit in, so go along with the crowd as well as they can. They can be focused on details to the point of missing the important things, and be quite rigid.

Taking Care of Elderly Parents—While Practicing Self-Care

Recently, I had the personal experience of both of my parents, who are in their late 80's, having big life transitions to deal with at the same time. My sisters and I were unprepared for this, and were suddenly called on to help. We had to drop everything at various points from January through March. As is usual in this situation, we lost wages and income as well as sleep and time and commitment for our own self-care. I'd like to share some of the insights I have after my experience, now that things have calmed down. 

1. Try to stay ahead of changes that can happen suddenly. Talk with your aging parents, find out if they have legal documents you should know about. Talk with them about becoming a co-trustee and/or power of attorney "just in case."

2. Make sure you have your self-care in place. Take walks every chance you get. Meditate, exercise as often as possible, breath deeply, drink water, eat as healthfully as possible.

3. Talk with other family members, friends, colleagues, therapists...it's so important to have a community of people you can reach out to for support and guidance.

4. Get support from your homeopath—a constitutional remedy can be very helpful during stressful times. 

Fire—The New Normal

Fire—The New Normal

The fire season started earlier than ever this year, with more devastation than we’ve ever seen in California. In fact, it almost seems like the whole west side of North America is burning right now!

This photo was taken from my daughter's driveway in Durango, Colorado, in early June. A wildfire had just started eight miles from her home, burning so strongly that the state closed down the entire national forest in that area. The smoke would travel down the valley during the night and we’d wake up to a barbecue-like smell and intense dryness—and we could barely see anything!

Although we in the Bay Area aren’t experiencing the levels of smoke inhalation that many others are facing, some of the more sensitive among us may need help. We also may have friends in the affected areas or know firefighters who are in the direct lines. If so, please suggest some homeopathic help.

This is when homeopathic remedies for smoke inhalation are helpful! Here are a few:

Euphrasia
For simple smoke exposure with irritation to eyes and possibly nose and no other symptoms. Eyes stream and burn—lids are red, swollen, and sensitive. Nose streams but does not burn. There may be a little daytime cough. The eyes stream when coughing.

Carbo Vegetabilis
Wheezing and/or cough with burning in chest. Shortness of breath. Oxygen starvation. Must be fanned. Hoarseness. Cough with itching in larynx. Sore and raw chest. Rattling of mucus in chest. Exhausted, weak. Cold clammy skin, cold breath. Better: cool air. Worse: evenings, open air, warm damp weather.

Calcarea carbonica
Tickling cough, troublesome at night. Painless hoarseness; worse in the morning. Suffocating spells; tightness, burning and soreness in chest. Chest sensitive to touch or pressure. Longing for fresh air.

Arsenicum album
For smoke exposure with anxiety. Eyes burn and stream. Nose burns and streams. Cough is dry and worse at night. Tremendous anxiety with restlessness, especially about what is going to happen.
 

Take 6c, 12c, or 30c (the potency you have on hand is always the best potency), three times a day, stopping on improvement and repeating as needed (if your symptoms return). If you’ve taken a remedy for two days and had no response, select a different remedy or call your homeopath.

Homeopathy for Travel Tummy Troubles

First of all, always have activated charcoal with you! It's great for pushing through any toxins you may have ingested. It can settle your stomach quickly if you've eaten something that disagrees with you—or if you've just had too much of a good thing.

Here are some homeopathic remedies you can take with you—and they are good to have at home too! I suggest the 30c potency—take every 2-3 hours until you notice improvement. If not better after 24 hours, try a different remedy or contact your homeopath. 

Podophyllum
The first remedy to consider for acute diarrhea.

Symptoms that point to the need for this remedy are:

• Sudden, explosive diarrhea
• Gurgling through bowels, then profuse, putrid stools gush out painlessly
• Stools light, like water; foaming; with meal like sediment; then weakness
• Diarrhea better lying on abdomen; worse while being bathed or washed (children)

Arsenicum album
This remedy has the typical symptoms of food poisoning and turista with terrible pain and restlessness.

Symptoms that point to the need for this remedy are:

• Diarrhea and vomiting at same time
• Violent pains in abdomen, with anguish and restlessness
• Has no rest anywhere, rolls about on floor or bed and feels like they’re going to die
• Stools may be like rice water, foul, small, involuntary, acrid, burning, black
• Feel generally worse if drinking cold drinks, with much prostration

Nux vomica
People that might need this remedy tend to overeat and over-drink—and suffer the consequences.

Symptoms that point to the need for this remedy are:

• Nausea; wants to vomit but can't
• Violent vomiting with spasms and cramping
• Food lies like a heavy knot in stomach
• Hiccup: From over eating; from cold or hot drinks
• Craves piquant food; beer; fatty food; chalk; stimulants
• Tends to overeat and drink and feels worse for it
• Bowels cramp here and there

Again, if not better after 24 hours, try a different remedy or contact your homeopath. 

Will We Continue to Have the Choice to Use Homeopathic Medicine?

Did you know that the law the FDA uses to oversee the safety of food and drugs was written by homeopathic physician Dr. Royal Copeland?

The FDA is attempting to repeal protections for homeopathic medications that Dr. Copeland included in the FDA law that was passed in 1938 and is still used to oversee the safety of food and drugs.

This law is a testament to how diligent and concerned Dr. Copeland was in safeguarding the public from dangerous drugs.

It’s no accident that Dr. Copeland had a deep knowledge and desire to keep us safe from toxic drugs and treatments. As a homeopath Dr. Copeland was acutely aware that drugs and food could be dangerous, and his law established the standard practice of approving new pharmaceutical drugs as we know it today.

He was one of the most esteemed legislators of the early 20th century and served as United States senator from New York from 1923 until 1938. Franklin D. Roosevelt was his first campaign manager.

The existing law provides clear guidance regarding the creation and distribution of homeopathic remedies. The new guidelines the FDA is proposing, attempt to classify safe homeopathic remedies as unapproved pharmaceutical drugs.

We in the homeopathic community see this as yet another hostile act engineered by the powerful pharmaceutical drug lobby to force all health and wellness practitioners to use their toxic chemical drugs.

In response, the homeopathic industry group the National Health Freedom Action (NHFA) has built relationships with key politicians to make sure the FDA considers all sides when issuing its new guidelines.

The North American Society of Homeopaths has issued a detailed response to the FDA, which can be read here:

https://homeopathy.org/nash-news/overview-fda-draft-guidance/

A key section of our response:

There is awareness among Americans that personal choice in health care directly impacts how, and whether, a person will gain a full sense of health and wellness.  In addition, Americans are deeply concerned about infringements on their ability to make choices caused by regulatory systems that do not adequately protect a person’s health care options and personal liberties.

Why is this important?

Homeopathy has a history of relieving illness for millions of people worldwide.

In fact many of the profits drug companies would make by selling powerful chemicals for routine and non serious illnesses stands to go up substantially if safe homeopathic remedies are forbidden.

We homeopaths have a commitment to making sure our patients have access to the safest most effective remedies for their illnesses.

How we do this:

1. The Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States—HPUS—has been in continuous publication since 1897, is updated regularly by homeopathic pharmacists, and contains the knowledge developed by our profession over decades. Modern homeopathic pharmacies have up-to-date stainless steel equipment and hygienic methods of production and are regularly inspected by the FDA.

2. Using Homeopathy Law of Infinitesimals we use the active ingredient of the natural disease, diluted in safe, infinitesimal doses.

3. Using the HPUS and the Law of Infinitesimals we show your body how to safely develop resistance and to cure the disease without exacerbating the symptoms.

In fact many of the downsides of pharmaceutical drugs like: 

·       The opioid crisis

·       Antibiotics overuse

·       Polypharmacy toxicity (the use of many drugs concurrently)

·       Dangerous prescription drug side effects

·       The monopoly prices of pharmaceutical companies

are challenged by the use of homeopathic remedies. This is a huge reason that the pharmaceutical industry has lobbied our medical evaluation regulations to improve their profits.

There are many pro-homeopathy organizations coming together to deal with this latest assault on homeopathy. Besides the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the U.S, the National Center for Homeopathy, North American Society of Homeopathy, California Homeopathic Medical Society, Bay Area Homeopathic Association, etc., there is an organization specifically for families who use homeopathy and want to increase awareness and support for the profession. Americans for Homeopathy Choice is a Facebook group—they post great articles and suggestions for consumers of homeopathy to support homeopathy, so they can continue to purchase and use remedies and have access to practitioners.

The comment period for the FDA’s new proposed guidelines was over on May 23. Hopefully, the agency and policymakers will realize that what Royal Copeland wrote into law 80 years ago, with its most recent revision in 1995, is perfectly valid now.

Homeopathy for Spring Allergies

Spring Pollen Allergy Help 

Are you sneezing, coughing, have swollen sinuses, runny nose and/or eyes? With all the rain, then the lovely sunshine, the trees and bushes are flowering like crazy! And all that pollen is driving us crazy!

Homeopathic remedies can help for the acute condition as you experience the symptoms. Or, even better, a constitutional remedy chosen by a homeopath (me!) to mitigate the symptoms the next allergy season can give you a deep and long lasting cure. In other words you might never have the symptoms again!

If you're a DIY'er and you'd like to try using homeopathy for your acute allergy symptoms, here are a few examples of remedies used specifically for symptoms of spring pollen allergies:
Sabadilla: The main symptom is loud and hard sneezing, over and over again. Made worse by smelling flowers, perfumes, and strong fragrances.
Allium cepa: Profuse watery eyes and nasal discharge, like a faucet, often causing red, painful skin under the nose. Headache which is made worse when in a stuffy room and when closing the eyes.
Euphrasia: Acrid, painful, profuse watery discharge from the eyes. Eyes are burning and irritated, and hurt more when looking at light. Also, can have copious nasal discharge, which is bland. 
Pulsatilla: Terrible itching eyes with copious watery discharge. Cold applications are very helpful. Being outside in the sun and exposed to pollens makes the symptoms more intense. Inside with cool air helps the symptoms. 

I recommend the 30c strength when using homeopathic medications for acute conditions, you can take 2-3 pellets a few times a day when the symptoms are present. 

Call me if you're ready to stop suffering from your allergies, homeopathic remedies help both during the season and as a preventive for years to come.