Red Pearl Homeopathy

Spring is Finally Here!

2011-05-13T13:54:00.000-04:00

On May 13th, I feel I can finally say that spring is here. How do I know this? Well, thankfully there is no snow on the ground. It is raining quite a bit more. And, there have been some lovely days of warmth and sunshine. But, the real clue is that everywhere I go, I notice more people sneezing, sniffling and dealing with watery eyes. That's right- spring allergies have begun.

You might be inclined to run to the drug store to get an Over-The-Counter medication. But why not try Homeopathy? Homeopathy has a long track record successfully treating both chronic allergies as well as acute flare-ups of allergies.

Check out some clinical studies specifically on Homeopathy for seasonal allergies:

Treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis using homeopathic preparation of common allergens in the southwest region of the US: a randomized, controlled clinical trial.

Kim LS, Riedlinger JE, Baldwin CM, Hilli L, Khalsa SV, Messer SA, Waters RF.
Southwest College Research Institute, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences, Tempe, AZ 85282-1751, USA. l.kim@scnm.edu

BACKGROUND: Studies using homeopathy have reported beneficial effects from treating allergy-related conditions. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of a homeopathic drug prepared from common allergens (tree, grass, weed species) specific to the Southwest region of the US. METHODS: A 4-week, double-blind clinical trial comparing homeopathic preparations with placebo was conducted in the Phoenix metropolitan area during the regional allergy season from February to May. Participants included 40 men and women, 26-63 years of age, diagnosed with moderate to severe seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms. Study outcomes included allergy-specific symptoms using the rhinoconjunctivitis quality-of-life questionnaire (RQLQ), functional quality of life using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (MOS SF-36), and the work productivity and activity impairment (WPAI) questionnaire. RESULTS: Scales from the RQLQ, MOS SF-36, and WPAI questionnaire showed significant positive changes from baseline to 4 weeks in the homeopathic group compared with the placebo group (p < 0.05). Subjects reported no adverse effects during the intervention period. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary findings indicate potential benefits of the homeopathic intervention in reducing symptoms and improving quality of life in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis in the Southwestern US.

Homeopathic and conventional treatment for acute respiratory and ear complaints: A comparative study on outcome in the primary care setting

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2007, 7:7
The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/7/7

Background
The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of homeopathy compared to conventional treatment in acute respiratory and ear complaints in a primary care setting.

Methods
The study was designed as an international, multi-centre, comparative cohort study of non-randomised design. Patients, presenting themselves with at least one chief complaint: acute (= 7 days) runny nose, sore throat, ear pain, sinus pain or cough, were recruited at 57 primary care practices in Austria (8), Germany (8), the Netherlands (7), Russia (6), Spain (6), Ukraine (4), United Kingdom (10) and the USA (8) and given either homeopathic or conventional treatment. Therapy outcome was measured by using the response rate, defined as the proportion of patients experiencing 'complete recovery' or 'major improvement' in each treatment group. The primary outcome criterion was the response rate after 14 days of therapy.

Results
Data of 1,577 patients were evaluated in the full analysis set of which 857 received homeopathic (H) and 720 conventional (C) treatment. The majority of patients in both groups reported their outcome after 14 days of treatment as complete recovery or major improvement (H: 86.9%; C: 86.0%; p = 0.0003 for non-inferiority testing). In the per-protocol set (H: 576 and C: 540 patients) similar results were obtained (H: 87.7%; C: 86.9%; p = 0.0019). Further subgroup analysis of the full analysis set showed no differences of response rates after 14 days in children (H: 88.5%; C: 84.5%) and adults (H: 85.6%; C: 86.6%). The unadjusted odds ratio (OR) of the primary outcome criterion was 1.40 (0.89–2.22) in children and 0.92 (0.63–1.34) in adults. Adjustments for demographic differences at baseline did not significantly alter the OR. The response rates after 7 and 28 days also showed no significant differences between both treatment groups. However, onset of improvement within the first 7 days after treatment was significantly faster upon homeopathic treatment both in children (p = 0.0488) and adults (p = 0.0001). Adverse drug reactions occurred more frequently in adults of the conventional group than in the homeopathic group (C: 7.6%; H: 3.1%, p = 0.0032), whereas in children the occurrence of adverse drug reactions was not significantly different (H: 2.0%; C: 2.4%, p = 0.7838).

Conclusion
In primary care, homeopathic treatment for acute respiratory and ear complaints was not inferior to conventional treatment.

I am going to repost my article on seasonal allergies from last year.

http://redpearlhomeopathy.blogspot.com/2010/06/oh-those-springtime-allergies.html

Treating Childhood Ear Infections Naturally...

2011-02-22T13:54:00.000-05:00

Complaints of ear infections are very common in children under six years of age. In fact, it is one of the most common reasons for pediatrician visits in young children. Similarly, it is also one of the most commonly seen complaints in parents bringing their young children to see a Homeopath outside of eczema.

Otitis Media:

This is more commonly known as a middle ear infection. If your Pediatrician diagnoses your child with an ear infection, it is usually Otitis Media. This is diagnosed by using an otoscope so that the middle ear can be thoroughly examined. Otitis Media can be caused by either a virus or bacteria. It is most common in children under three years of age. Many children develop this condition along with a cold or another upper respiratory infection. Symptoms of a middle ear infection can include;

ear pain or discomfort often with hearing loss
fever
change in mood- increased irritability, crying or screaming
vomiting or nausea
diarrhea
difficulty sleeping

Below are a few pictures of what a middle ear infection can look like;

Otitis Externa:

This is the other most common type of ear condition in younger children. This time it is the ear canal itself that is impacted. Sometimes Otitis Externa is also called 'Swimmer's Ear'. As evidenced by this nickname, it is often bacterial in origin and can be caused by water/ bacteria being trapped in the ear canal after swimming. Symptoms of Otitis Externa include;

itching
pain
discharge
redness of the visible part of the ear
hearing loss due to fluid/discharge in the ear canal

Here is a photo of a case of Otitis Externa. You will notice the redness of the outer ear.

Conventional Medical Treatment:

You may not be aware that over 80% of cases of ear infections resolve themselves on their own. The typical treatment are mild pain relievers (analgesics) and antibiotics. Antibiotics are still often prescribed in many cases since they appear to help resolve hearing loss more quickly and many children find relief in 1-2 weeks. It is interesting to note that pediatric organizations are now recommending physicians proceed with more caution in prescribing antibiotics because of the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria.

In spite of the conventional medical treatment available, many children develop recurrent ear infections even with antibiotic treatment. Although the medical profession has asserted that antibiotic treatment for otitis media is effective, recent studies have emerged which contradict those claims. In one large study of children with acute otitis media, those treated with antibiotics actually recovered at a slightly lower rate than those who were not. (Froom, et al, 1990). Another found that children with chronic otitis on prophylactic (preventative) antibiotics were two to six times more likely to have recurrent acute infections than those on placebos (Catankin, et al, 1991). Recently, John Bailar, M.D., a Harvard professor and editorial board member at the New England Journal of Medicine, comprehensively reviewed the scientific literature on the treatment of otitis with antibiotics. He concluded that the available research, "... seems to demolish the conclusion that antibiotics improve the outcome [in otitis media]" (Bailar, 1995). (Exerpted from Homeopathic Medicines for Earaches by Dana Ullmann)

Homeopathy:

While it is very important to consult your pediatrician for a diagnosis and to make sure there is no perforated ear drum or anything more serious, your pediatrician may not be aware of how Homeopathic medicine can help your child get over an acute ear infection more quickly as well as to reduce their susceptibility to developing ear infections in the first place. Homeopathy can be used both acutely and chronically to treat any type of ear infection. In most acute cases, you will notice a huge improvement in your child and their symptoms ranging anywhere from a few hours to the next day. If you have a child that keeps getting an ear infection with each cold, I would recommend chronic treatment. By choosing the best medicine for your child and their symptoms, Homeopathy is capable of reducing your child's susceptibility to ear infections and other acute ailments.

Homeopathic Remedies:

We have all been influenced by conventional Western medicine's more mechanistic focus on our bodies. Because of this we all want to know if Homeopathy works for a particular pathology or condition. Homeopathy is the medicine of individualization. We are looking for a medicine that is the best match for you and everything that has changed in you since being unwell. This doesn't mean we don't take a diagnosis into account, it just means that we look at what is unique about you and your experience of illness. For example, if I treated 5 children with middle ear infections, they would most likely get different medicines. One child might be weepier and needing to be carried more where as another child develops a sudden fever of the head with discoloration of the outer ears and another child becomes very angry and irritable during the ear infection. Each of these children would get a different Homeopathic medicine because their experience of a middle ear infection is different.

This means there are no homeopathic remedies for ear infections but there are remedies for your child with an ear infection. That is why it is important to consult a well-trained Homeopath for treatment.

For those of you that like to see clinical trials as further evidence of a treatment's efficacy, please see below...

According to a recent study of 75 children with otitis media that was published in Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, parent's diary scores showed a significant decrease in symptoms at 24 and 64 hours after treatment in favor of those given a homeopathic medicine (P<.05). There were also 20% less "treatment failures" in children given a homeopathic medicine as compared with those given a placebo.

[Reference: J Jacobs, DA Springer, D Crothers, Homeopathic Treatment of Acute Otitis Media in Children: A Preliminary Randomized Placebo-controlled Trial, Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 20,2 (February 2001):177-183.]

For more information, please visit my website www.redpearlhomeopathy.com. I am also available to answer your questions via e-mail at redpearlhomeopathy@gmail.com or via telephone.

Scientific Studies Confirm Homeopathy's Efficacy in Treating Fibromyalgia

2011-02-17T17:45:00.000-05:00

Dana Ullmann, an American Homeopath, wrote an excellent article looking at fibromyalgia and Homeopathic medicine. He refers to the scientific studies with results that prove that the results are more than the placebo effect.

http://www.naturalnews.com/031353_fibromyalgia_homeopathy.html

Clinical Trials and Homeopathic Medicine

2011-02-03T16:12:00.000-05:00

Check out this recent article by American Homeopath Dana Ullmann. It discusses the recent article in which Dr. Luc Montagnier provides support for Homeopathy. Dr. Montagnier was one of the first scientists to discover the Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV.

Here is the link. http://blog.homeopathic.com/2011/02/nobel-laureate-montagnier-takes.html

I would love to hear your comments about this.

Rebecca Gower BA, MA, DSHM (hons)
Homeopath
Red Pearl Homeopathy
redpearlhomeopathy@gmail.com
www.redpearlhomeopathy.com

Coping With Life Changes

2011-02-01T14:54:00.000-05:00

Recently I have been thrown into the world of change. My partner and I need to find a new place to live. For me, the issue of needing a new home brings up lots of issues around safety and security. The challenge is always for me to honour the feelings change can bring up for me and to focus on why change is good. I like to think about what the new change will make space for in my life.

How are you with change? Are you one of those people that runs head first, embracing change? Or do you do everything possible to prevent change? My advisor would tell me when I was in Graduate School, "You Can Run But You Cannot Hide". No matter how hard we try to push against change, we cannot stop or avoid change.

The majority of us will have some difficulty with change regardless of your coping style. It is much easier to cope with change if we are making the choices and are, thus in the driver's seat. For example, think about the difference of between choosing to quit your job versus being fired.

There is no question that change can be really difficult. Since change is the one of the constants in life, it is important that we all have tools to help us to deal with all sorts of changes. I have found that change that comes from dealing with the death/illness of a loved one, hearing bad news or learning a diagnosis or suffering from an accident are some of the most difficult changes. Prevailing attitudes in Western culture in which emotions don't seem to be honoured don't help. I have found that we have to deal with these painful emotions in order for us to be able to move through feelings of sadness, anger and loss that can happen through any change.

Homeopathy can be incredibly useful in dealing with grief, recovering from an accident and anxiety associated with change. I have used homeopathic remedies personally and professionally to help people cope with life changes.

Dealing with Grief:
There is an excellent remedy that is useful for grief that can come from death or serious illness of your self or a loved one as well as hearing bad news. Ignatia Amara is especially indicated when you feel like you can't stop crying or you are alternating between crying and laughing. There also can be uncontrollable sighing, a sensation of a lump in the throat and difficulty sleeping at night (even though you may be sleepy during the day).

Many people never seem to recover from a life-changing event such as death of a loved one or losing a business. Homeopathy can be very helpful for this as well. Since Homeopathy is always individualized to each person, there are no specific remedies for this. It is important to see a trained Homeopath for a chronic consultation if you are suffering from either acute or chronic grief.

Other Tips:
1) It is important to give yourself space to go through the grieving process or to process feelings associated with change. Give yourself permission to have your feelings while you are going through change. If you do need more guidance, please consult a trained counsellor or psychotherapist.

2) Self-Care: The more you can connect with your own needs, the more able you will be figure out what you need to do to make it through change.

3) Find Support: This could mean accessing your support network for help or just to listen. Access body work or other energetic therapies which are not only good for relaxation but can also help you process your feelings. Some modalities that I like are Reiki and Shiatsu.

4) Keep making sure you are eating well, getting exercise and getting adequate sleep can be so helpful.

If you are struggling with dealing with change, consider coming in for homeopathic treatment to help boost your immune system and to help you to better cope with life transitions.

Rebecca Gower
Red Pearl Homeopathy
647-688-8290
redpearlhomeopathy@gmail.com
www.redpearlhomeopathy.com

The First Visit To A Homeopath

2011-01-25T12:32:00.000-05:00

So, you have finally made the decision to consult a Homeopath. Or, maybe you are thinking about it. Today, I wanted to share what an initial consultation is usually like.

Homeopathy is perhaps the most holistic form of medicine. I say this because a Homeopath like myself is looking for a medicine that not only is a good match for your main complaints but most importantly, fits you as a person. In order to find the best Homeopathic Medicine for you, a Homeopath wants and needs to find out all about you.

So, here is a breakdown of what an initial consultation can look like in my practice;

1) We start with an examination of your main complaints or as I like to say, "What health complaints bring you in to see me and are bothering you the most?" At this point, you will talk about what you have noticed about these complaints.

2) I will want to know what the complaint feels like. If there is pain, what does the pain feel like? If there is a pain is it sore, sharp, throbbing, stabbing etc?

3) What factors can change the complaint and make it better or worse. Homeopaths call these modalities. Some examples can be motion, sitting, touch, weather, time of day, being alone, foods and much more.

4) What else happens in your body with this complaint? I am especially looking for a symptom that wouldn't be logically related to your complaint. For example, experiencing diarrhea during a headache or heat in the face when your arthritic pain in you knee is bad.

5) Have you noticed that your complaint(s) have been worse since a certain event in your life? Another way to think about this is have you felt that you have never been well since an event or series of events. Some examples could be a physical trauma such as a car accident, a grief, loss of your business or even hearing bad news.

Homeopaths also want to know what is unique about you and if you have susceptibilities in the following areas;

1) Body Temperature: Do you tend to be more warm or more cold? How are you in the cold of the winter? What about the heat of the summer? How are you in the wind or with drafts? How about certain types of weather? Do you experience any symptoms when the weather changes or before a storm?

2) Digestion: What foods do you naturally crave? Which foods do you have a strong aversion to? Which foods do you feel unwell after eating? How is your appetite? What is your thirst like? Do you tend to get diarrhea, constipation, gas, abdominal pain/discomfort, bloating etc?

3) For Women: What is your menstrual cycle like? Is it regular or irregular? Is it heavy or light? What is the flow like? What symptoms do you experience that tells you your period is coming? Do you have/have you had cysts, fibroids etc?

4) Sleep: What is your sleep like? Do you have issues falling asleep or staying asleep? Do you wake refreshed from sleep? Have you been told you do anything while you sleep such as grinding your teeth, snoring, jerking etc? Do you need to fall asleep in a particular position?

5) Do you perspire? Is there anything unusual about your perspiration in terms of odour, smell etc?

6) Tell me about your cycle of energy in a day. When do you notice your energy is higher and when is it lower?

7) Finally, tell me what you are like as a person. Some remedies are more suited to certain personality types. What is your personality like? How are you with specific emotions such as anger, depression, anxiety, jealousy etc? Are you overly sympathetic? Do you tend to hold a grudge?

As you can see- a visit to a Homeopath is very thorough. Many of my patients report that they feel that I have listened to them and found it refreshing that a health professional was truly interested in learning all about them.

Homeopaths are thorough because we want to find out all about you in terms of your physical, mental and emotional health. We also need to get enough information to find a remedy that is the best match for you. One of the most exciting parts of being a Homeopath is that even with 10 patients coming in with the same complaints for arthritis or anxiety, each person will get a different remedy. Homeopathy is all about individualization. So, it is not about giving remedies based on a condition or pathology, it is giving you the best remedy for you as a person.

I hope this helps to explain the process of seeing a Homeopath. If you would like more information, feel free to visit my website at www.redpearlhomeopathy.com

Reflections on Exercise and Diet

2011-01-19T15:08:00.000-05:00

If you remember in my first post of 2011, I talked about the role of diet and exercise as tools to deal with fatigue this time of year.

As a health professional, I think it is important to acknowledge that I am, like all of you, a work in progress. Just like everyone else, I don't always follow the advice I give to my patients. But, I do value my health so I keep working at it. So, maybe you relate to what I am going to talk about today.

At the beginning of January, I felt totally exhausted. I wanted to sleep all of the time and to eat the biggest carbohydrates I could find-- potatoes and noodles especially.

I have made a few changes that have worked remarkably well for me. The first thing I did was to make a few key dietary changes. Let me start by saying, my diet was actually pretty good. I have been thinking more and more about how I don't do well on simple carbohydrates especially. I noticed I actually feel worse when I eat them. I started looking again at the Eat Right For Your Blood Type eating plan again. It really hit home for me. Peter D'Adamo said that Type Os (that's me) don't do well on carbs or dairy, need good quality, lean animal protein and need vigorous exercise. It was totally bang on. Since then I have been eating a lot of lean protein and vegetables, fruit, and limiting carbs. I feel really good. My carb cravings have really stopped.

I would really recommend taking a look at it. You can buy the book and Peter D'Adamo also has a website. Go and visit it at http://www.dadamo.com/ He has extensive dietary recommendations for each blood type. You don't have to follow each little recommendation, but even if you start with his main recommendations, you will probably start feeling better.

The second change is exercise. I do walk a lot--this is one of the realities of having a dog. My golden retriever loves to go to the off-leash area at the park near me. I started doing a combination of aerobic exercise and strength training. I actually use a program called EA Active for my Wii. I love it. I have found even greater changes from this exercise..my energy is amazing, my mood is great even though I have to get up even earlier to exercise and I feel stronger already even though it has only been approximately two weeks.

I have also become a huge fan of wheatgrass. Don't get me wrong, it tastes like crap. I have also found it to help with my energy. It is also generally good for you as it is loaded with nutrients. I buy frozen wheatgrass from my local health food store and use two cubes per morning in some juice high in Vitamin C that can mask some of the taste. I like the Vitamin C Boost by Bolthouse Farms.

The other point behind this blog today is to show that the recovery of health for most of us does involve looking at lifestyle factors (such as diet, exercise, stress, relationships etc) as well as finding the best Homeopathic remedy to stimulate your body to heal itself. I have found that when someone makes even small lifestyle changes, the Homeopathic remedy works even more effectively. And for those of you who have already made some changes in nutrition and you still find your symptoms haven't resolved themselves. Think about trying Homeopathy.

For more information about Homeopathy and my practice, visit my website at http://www.redpearlhomeopathy.com/

Great Loss to Homeopaths Everywhere!

2011-01-12T10:32:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I heard some very sad news...one of our most gifted Homeopaths died in the middle of December 2010. Dr. D.P. Rastogi was well-known around the world as a Master Homeopath, teacher, clinician, researcher and exemplary human being.

Dr. Rastogi led the first clinical trial looking at using Homeopathic medicine to treat people living with HIV or AIDS. This was the first time I ever heard of his name. At the time, I was still a student at the Toronto School of Homeopathic Medicine. I was doing research on using Homeopathic Medicine to Treat People Living with HIV/AIDS. I came across some of his research. Specifically, I noticed he was one of the investigators of an important study of the role of Homeopathy in HIV/AIDS. (D.P. Rastogi, V.P Singh, V. Singh, et al., "Evaluation of Homoeopathic Treatment in 129 Asymptomatic HIV Carriers," British Homoeopathic Journal, January 1993, 82:4-8.)

I had the priviledge to meet Dr. Rastogi in October 2008 while I was still working at the Toronto People with AIDS foundation as a Treatment Counsellor. Dr. Rastogi was gracious enough to include People Living with HIV/AIDS in Toronto in a study he was conducting comparing people with HIV who are just taking Anti-Retroviral medications with those on these medications as well as Homeopathy. So, for 5 days in October in both 2008 and 2009 I had the opportunity to sit with Dr. Rastogi taking the cases of HIV-positive people. We both donated our services. I would take the cases while Dr. Rastogi would be using his homeopathic software to come up with the best medicine for each patient.

After Dr. Rastogi left, I would conduct the follow-up appointments. I was hugely impressed by his prescribing skills. We saw good results in the areas of improving wellness (unique symptoms experienced by each patient), gradually increasing CD4 counts and reducing side effects of AIDS meds.

I have always realized how important this experience has been for me both personally and professionally. Dr. Rastogi and I both shared a desire to work with HIV-positive people and a firm belief that Homeopathic medicine can help with wellness. This opportunity really fell into my lap and I realize how rare this opportunity and how rare of an individual Dr. Rastogi was. He was generous, patient, kind and non-judgemental. I learnt so much from him.

This is a huge loss to the Homeopathic community and his work in treating people with HIV/AIDS. I am honoured to have met him and learnt from him. In his name, I will continue to blaze the trail of homeopathic treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS. I will think of him and thank him as I teach my first class on Homeopathy and HIV/AIDS in early February.

I am including an obituary from the World Homeopathic Community below;

http://www.homeopathyworldcommunity.com/profiles/blogs/an-obituary-dr-d-p-rastogi-a

Happy New Year!

2011-01-10T15:18:00.001-05:00

Happy 2011!

I hope it is starting to sink in that we are in 2011. How on earth did that happen?

I have been thinking a lot about how difficult January is especially for those of us who live in colder climates. The cold weather, lack of sunlight and the post-holiday let down all contribute to intense feelings of lethargy and fatigue. I know that I feel especially tired this time of year. I think my body wants to hibernate right now and sleep a lot. I have also noticed that I am really strongly craving carbohydrates especially noodles and potatoes.

And, you may be feeling sad this time of year. There is actually a term for this- it is called Seasonal Affected Disorder or SAD. This condition is thought to occur because of the lack of sunlight during the winter months. Here is some basic information about SAD according to the Canadian Mental Health Association at http://www.cmha.ca/;

What is SAD? How is it different from the winter blues?

Many people feel mildly “depressed” during the winter, but some people have more severe bouts of feeling down all the time, low energy, problems with sleep and appetite, loss of interest, and reduced concentration to the point where they have difficulty functioning at work or in the home. We say that these people have a clinical depression, to distinguish it from everyday ups and downs. Seasonal affective disorder (“affective” is a psychiatric term for mood), or SAD, describes people who have these clinical depressions only during the autumn and winter seasons. During the spring and summer, they feel well and “normal”.

Other common symptoms of SAD include oversleeping, extreme fatigue, increased appetite with carbohydrate craving, overeating, and weight gain. With more severe episodes, people may have suicidal thoughts.

How common is SAD?

Researchers believe that SAD results from the shorter daylength in winter. Recent studies estimate that SAD is more common in northern countries because the winter day gets shorter as you go farther north. Studies in Ontario suggest that 2% to 3% of the general population have SAD. This means that up to 100,000 people in B.C. may have difficulties in the winter due to significant clinical depression. Another 15% of people have the “winter blahs” – winter symptoms similar to SAD, but not to the point of having a clinical depression

What Can I Do About SAD?

1. In the last several decades, there has been a lot of research done in the importance of Vitamin D. Interestingly, the shorter daylength may be connected to the lack of sunlight. I highly recommend taking a Vitamin D supplement during the winter. A recommended dose would be 4000iu per day for adults and 300iu for children under the age of 10.

2. If you suspect you may have SAD- a more severe form of the winter blahs, please visit with your Medical Doctor. In Ontario, you can get a referral for light therapy which may be useful during the winter months.

3. Exercise! Whether or not you have a New Year's resolution or not. Exercise, especially cardiovascular exercise, produces adrenaline. There are also side benefits of increased energy, better sleep and better mood.

4. Diet! No, I am not telling you to necessarily go on a fad diet here. No matter how much your body tries to tell you to eat lots of sugar and carbs, try to resist these cravings as much as possible. Try to minimize sugar and dairy. Eat fruit, vegetables and lean sources of protein as much as possible.

5. Keep your immune system healthy! You can do this by eating a healthy diet, getting exercise, getting enough sleep. I like to have a shot of wheatgrass in a little bit of juice every morning as I find it gives me a boost and also is chock full of lots of vitamins and minerals. You can also take Homeopathic Flu Prevention to further protect yourself against Influenza. (See my previous post on this subject)

6. Finally, if you find you are suffering from fatigue that just doesn't go away. Visit your medical doctor to ascertain you are not deficient in Vitamin B12 or Iron. Also, you might want to consider visiting a Homeopath to help with chronic health issues such as low energy and fatigue.

For more information, visit my website at http://www.redpearlhomeopathy.com/. I do offer free mini-consultations over the telephone. This is an opportunity for you to find our more how Homeopathic Medicine can improve your health.

What Is It About This Time of Year?

2010-12-15T15:45:00.000-05:00

As you all know, it is the middle of December 2010. I keep hearing repeated stories from friends and patients about being sick right now. I wonder a little bit what is really going on. Is it the cold weather and the snow? I live in Toronto and we have just had our first really frigid temperatures and lots of snow.

Is it stress as well? This time of year is sure a stressful one especially if you celebrate Christmas. The pressure of repeated family gatherings, spending money on presents for loved ones and lots of get-togethers. Just a lot of pressure. I think a lot of issues in our families tend to bubble up during this time of year because there is even more pressure and greater expectations for all of us to get along--even if we don't get along very well.

So, this combination of stress and expectations, cold weather seems to lead to lots of acute illness.
And, let me say this...I hate being sick. I mean I really hate it. But sometimes our bodies have other plans.

The good news is that there are lot of things you can do to prevent and manage acute illness.

1. Get plenty of rest- Are you regularily getting at least 8 hours of sleep per night? Quanitity and quality of sleep are play such a huge role in your quality of life. We need this even more during times of stress and with less hours of light.

2. Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables with lean protein- It is really important to eat healthy foods during the winter and minimize your intake of sugar and dairy.

3. Take Vitamin D- Although some recent recommendations of the Institute of Medicine's Food and Nutrition Board recently changed their Vitamin D intake to 600iu per day. There is plenty of research to show that we need much more than this to prevent disease and maintain health. I usually recommend 4000iu per day. Check out the recent article by Dr. Mercola on this topic http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/12/11/vitamin-d-update-carole-baggerly-and-dr-cannell.aspx

4. Get fresh air and some exercise- In the winter, I want to get outside much less just because of the effort required in getting dressed. This is the time when we all need to get out even if it is just for a 30-minute walk. There are also so many great winter sports to discover.

5. Make a conscious intention to reduce stress-This is really such an important part of health. In addition to cardiovascular exercise, there are a variety of techniques to explore such as yoga, meditation and relaxation techniques ( progressive muscle scans, deep breathing). As a Reiki Practitioner, I also give myself a Reiki treatment when I get into bed at night which I find to be very soothing and relaxing. I usually fall asleep before even completing the whole treatment.

6. Homeopathic Flu Prevention- this is a natural medicine that I use myself to help prevent the development of influenza. I also use this with any interested patients. My patients are generally very pleased with it and people report not getting Influenza and experienced reduced and less severe acute illness.

7. Acute Homeopathic Treatment- If you do get ill, you can always consult a trained Homeopath to treat your cold, flu, strep throat etc. I personally love treating people for acute illness. When I find the correct remedy, it often works like magic. One patient calls Homeopathic Treatment "my little magic pills" because it works so wondrously and often, quickly.

For more information, please visit my website at http://www.redpearlhomeopathy.com/. I also offer Homeopathic Flu prevention throughout the winter for free to current patients and for $10 to the general public. This fee includes both the remedy and a mini-consultation.

If you check earlier blog posts, I have have written extensively about Homeopathic Flu Prevention and Homeopathy for the Treatment of Influenza.

Anxiety- It isn't Just in your Head!

2010-12-05T12:18:00.000-05:00

It seems that lately in my practice I have been seeing more and more people suffering from anxiety. In many ways, I think that anxiety (and stress of course) is the most common ailment in modern society, especially for those of us living in fast-paced urban centres.

Of course, a little anxiety is not only "normal", it is actually good for you. Our bodies naturally respond to situations of real or perceived danger. This is called the "fight or flight response". In such situations, our bodies produce hormones like adrenaline and cortisol which lead to changes in the autonomic nervous system like increasing heart rate, slowing digestive function and reducing blood flow. Once the period of danger or stress is over, the body's function return to normal. Imagine however, if you are chronically living in this state?

I am always struck about how debilitating chronic anxiety is and that most people who really suffer from it do so largely in silence. It is just not talked about very much. While it may not be associated with the same stigma of depression and other mood disorders, I think that many people think chronic anxiety sufferers can just snap out of it.

If it were only that easy.

I wanted to say that there is hope. I have treated many people suffering from various forms of anxiety including generalized anxiety, panic disorders and anxiety-induced insomnia.

Homeopathic medicine works by finding the best match for your type of anxiety in people like you. What does this really mean? It means that every person experiences their anxiety slightly differently. One person may notice that they have difficulty falling asleep because they cannot turn their minds off. Another person may experience anxiety that interrupts sleep during the night to the point they are driven out of bed because of restlessness. Other people may feel such anxiety in specific situations that can lead to actual panic attacks and even fainting. Each person is different. One person may feel anxiety when performing or doing public speaking. Other people may experience panic in social situations or in crowds. In Homeopathy, we are looking at the specifics of your type of anxiety and looking for that one medicine that is the best match for all of you including your anxiety.

I actually love treating people with anxiety. I have found that the correct homeopathic medicine has such an amazing impact on improving both a person's anxiety as well as their ability to better cope with it.
This means that over time, Homeopathy not only reduces the intensity and frequency of anxiety symptoms, it also increases a person's ability to better tolerate situations that tend to trigger the anxiety.

There is no better feeling as a health professional to help a patient regain their quality of life again.

If you want to learn more, please come and join me at my free upcoming workshop at the Big Carrot in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Thursday, December 9th, 2010
7-9 pm
The Carrot Common (next to Book City)
Room 212
http://thebigcarrot.ca/index.php?id=121

Hope to see you there!

It's World AIDS Day Today

2010-12-01T11:12:00.000-05:00

December 1st of each year brings with it a lot of contemplation for me. Today is World AIDS Day.

For me, today is the day I spend time reflecting about HIV/AIDS.

Today, I remember all of those people who died in the early years of the epidemic in North America. I also remember all the friends and colleagues I have personally lost to this disease. I also know that many people around the world are still dying and don't have access to any treatment.

I also honour those living with this disease. The medical advances in treatment and anti-retroviral treatment have been huge. In the West at least, a diagnosis of HIV or AIDS is not a death sentence. But, it is not easy. For many people, the side effects of medicine can really be difficult. Plus the stigma is still humungous for most people. It doesn't seem to matter which community you come from, there is still ostracization, misinformation and ignorance connected to having this disease. Plus, many people still have to give up their careers and financial security when they start treatment. Imagine paying a minimum of $1000 per month for the cocktail alone?

I wanted to contribute more than just being an ally and supporting HIV-positive friends. Several years ago, I thought about how best I can contribute to the AIDS movement. While I was in school for my Homeopathic training, I was working at the Toronto People with AIDS Foundation (PWA). I consistently had wonderful people in my office struggling with side effects of medication or health conditions caused by HIV itself. I really wanted to do something. I found out quickly that there were no other Homeopaths in Ontario actually treating people with HIV or AIDS. This saddened me and spurred me into action. So, I set out on my journey. I began treating a few HIV-positive people while in school under supervision. I noticed that Homeopathic treatment was capable of doing several things;

Improving wellness in HIV-positive people. This depends on each person and includes resolving complaints such as anxiety, headaches, heartburn, diarrhea, skin eruptions etc.
Rise in CD4 counts- this occurs over gradually over time. I have consistently observed an increase of approximately 80-100 points within 2-3 months
Reduction in side effects- HIV-positive people receiving chronic treatment experience less side effects
Reduction in tendency to get sick with colds, influenza etc

Since that time, I have been fortunate to work with Dr. Rastogi of New Delhi. Dr. Rastogi is a Homeopathic Doctor who conducted the first clinical trial measuring the impact of Homoepathy of people living with HIV or AIDS. We are currently in the final year of a 3-year study comparing the effect of people with HIV on Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) versus those on ART and Homeopathic Treatment.

I consistently see people with HIV improve their wellness under homeopathic treatment. While I cannot promise a cure, I know from clinical observation that I can promise increased wellness. I hope that one day that all HIV specialists would refer their patients to see a qualified Classical Homeopath.

I do treat people with HIV based on a sliding scale. I also offer free Homeopathic flu prevention to people with HIV. For more information, check out this article on the website Positive Lite at http://positivelite.com/content/blog/categories/health/item/treating-influenza-naturally-with-homeopathic-medicine

Boost Your Immune System: Natural Flu Prevention

2010-09-23T15:57:00.000-04:00

Are You Worried About Influenza This Winter?

• Do you tend to get sick during the winter months?

• Are you worried about Influenza again this winter.

• Are you looking for a natural way to boost your immune system?

Homeopathic Flu Prevention

If you are worried about Influenza, you are not alone. The good news is that a simple natural treatment is available for you and your family to help to boost your immune system and help you cope with the ailments that are more likely to happen during the fall and winter.

Homeopaths have been using Homeopathic Prophylaxis (or preventative treatment) to prevent the development of Influenza for over 150 years. The main remedy used for this is called Influenzinum. Homeopathic Prophylaxis is different from the ‘flu shot’ in that the ‘flu shot’ involves introducing crude doses of Influenza along with several chemicals into your body including thimerosol (mercury) and formaldehyde. On the other hand, homeopathic remedies including Influenzinum, have no extra chemicals in them and do not create side effects.

Homeopathy: An Effective Therapy for Acute Illness
If you do manage get sick this winter with influenza or another virus such as colds, sore throats, coughs and stomach viruses, Homeopathy offers an inexpensive, gentle and rapid treatment. Homeopathy gained its reputation by successfully treating many of infectious epidemics of the 18th and 19th century including the Spanish Flu of 1919.

Get Homeopathic Flu Prevention...
You can access this natural method of preventing Influenza starting in October 2010.
This treatment is offered for free to my patients and people living with HIV/AIDS. It costs $10 for the general public which includes a brief consultation as well as the homeopathic medicine.

By appointment only. For more information or to schedule your appoint, please contact;

Rebecca Gower
Homeopathic Physician
Transense Healing Arts
344 Bloor Street West
Suite 610
647-688-8290
redpearlhomeopathy@gmail.com
http://www.redpearlhomeopathy.com/

Oh Those Springtime Allergies!!!

2010-06-22T15:16:00.003-04:00

Tired of Sniffling, Sneezing from Seasonal Allergies?

We had an unbelievably mild winter this year. If you are like me, you are not a huge lover of the bitter cold. I was so happy to see the flowers blooming earlier than usual. Unfortunately, this means that all those lovely flowers and trees developed pollen earlier in the spring. Because of this, more people are experiencing more severe allergies than usual.

My Story
Lucky for all of us there is Homeopathic Medicine. I know I might sound a bit biased. But, just hear me out. Homeopathy has significantly improved my health in many areas including seasonal allergies. I developed a very intense allergy to Ragweed in the Fall of 1996 after living in Austin, Texas for approximately 2 years. My allergies seemed to get worse every year. And, they were awful. Imagine the worst head cold you have ever had, with constant burning, watery eyes and sneezing, and that was what I was like from the end of August to the first frost of each year. I tried everything from pharmaceutical medications, which stopped symptoms but never addressed my body’s sensitivity to develop allergies in the first place, herbs, acupuncture. You name it...I tried it. It wasn’t until I saw a Homeopath that I started to notice a huge improvement in my symptoms. Every year my allergies got better. Now, I may only have 1 or 2 bad days. This is a huge improvement in my quality of life.

What is Homeopathy anyway?
Homeopathy is an ideal form of treatment because it can lower your susceptibility to develop allergies through chronic treatment and treat acute symptoms of allergies as well. I have had two bad flare-ups of spring allergies this year—both times; homeopathic medicines cured the symptoms.

Homeopathy is a natural system of medicine that used remedies made from natural substances to stimulate your body to heal itself. The key to a successful prescription of a homeopathic medicine is based on individualization. If we use the example of acute symptoms of allergies, we are looking for a remedy that is the best match for your specific symptoms. Homeopaths will ask very specific questions about your allergies such as;

-Are you sneezing? What kind of discharge is there? When is the sneezing worse?
-Are you sniffling or is your nose running or is it blocked?
-What about your eyes? Are they itchy, watering, burning etc.?
-What else has changed since your allergies have gotten worse? This can include
changes in appetite, thirst, food cravings; feeling colder or hotter than
usual, changes in your mood and much more.

Some Remedies for Allergies:
Allium Cepa:
Have you ever experienced burning discharges from the eyes or nose and sneezing while cutting an onion? The Homeopathic remedy made from the red onion will work on similar symptoms in hayfever. So, if you have sneezing with a discharge that burns as well as watery eyes, Allium Cepa may be the remedy for your allergy symptoms. There can also be a dull headache located in the forehead, watering eyes, feeling hot and thirsty with a lack of appetite, generally feels worse inside and in the evening and is better outside in the fresh air. There can also be great sensitivity to the smell of flowers.

Euphrasia:
If the eyes are the problem, you might want to take a look at this remedy from the plant Eyebright. This remedy can cure allergic symptoms that are the opposite of Allium Cepa. In Euphrasia, there is a lot of watering of the eyes accompanied by a lot of burning while the sneezing is quite bland. Other symptoms can include a dull headache accompanied by profuse watering of the eyes, the eyes are very sensitive to light, frequent burning of the eyes that makes the patient wink frequently; redness of the eyes.

Sabadilla:
This remedy is also especially useful in the acute treatment of allergies. Its symptom picture includes burning red eyelids, with tears flowing worse during sneezing, yawning and coughing. There is violent or spasmodic sneezing along with a runny nose. The secretions are watery, worse from the odor of flowers, even from thinking about flowers. The patient picks at his nose because it feels dry and itchy. Cold air definitely makes the patient feel worse. The throat is painful especially on empty swallowing, is better from hot drinks and the pain can go from left to right.

Pulsatilla:
Pulsatilla is a remedy that is commonly prescribed in practice for a variety of chronic complaints, but it is also an excellent remedy for acutes such as coughs, colds and allergies. Symptoms that indicate its use include burning or itching of the eyes that causes rubbing, stuffed up nose inside but fluent outdoors. There is usually a strong desire for fresh air. There can also be discharges that are bland and yellow from the nose or eyes. In general, people who need Pulsatilla are gentle and weepy with their ailments. There will often be a desire for rich and creamy foods and thirstlessness.

Keep in mind that there may be a remedy that is a better match for your specific symptoms that the few that are listed here. If you don’t feel a significant improvement within 24 hours, please consult a trained Homeopath for a consultation.

Rebecca Gower, B.A, M.A., DSHM (hons), is a Homeopathic Physician. She runs her clinic, Red Pearl Homeopathy, in the Annex in Toronto. For more information, she can be reached at 647-688-8290 or redpearlhomeopathy@gmail.com. You can also check out her website at www.redpearlhomeopathy.com.

Red Pearl Homeopathy is Moving

2010-04-14T16:14:00.001-04:00

I am really happy to announce that I am joining Transense Healing Arts as of May 1st, 2010. Transense is a wonderful Wellness Centre, located at Bloor and Spadina that is owned by a Reiki Master. As many of you know, I have my Reiki Level One and have been giving and receiving Reiki treatments for many years. It feels like a really good fit. You can find out more info about Transense at www.transense.ca.

I will be there on Saturdays and Monday evenings. This will include workshops the 3rd Monday evening of each month. The first one will take place on May 17th and will focus on using Homeopathic Medicine to treat yourself for common injuries. More information will follow shortly.

I am also available for Home Visits on Mondays as of May 1st, 2010. Please contact me for more information.

My new website is also up and running. If you go to www.redpearlhomeopathy.com you can find out more information about my practice, homeopathy and why I love homeopathy so much.

Upcoming Homeopathy for First Aid Workshop

2010-04-14T16:09:00.003-04:00

Hi,

I wanted to let you know that I am hosting a workshop on using homeopathy to treat common first-aid ailments such as burns, cuts, stings, sprains and much more. Please join me...

Red Pearl Homeopathy presents:
Homeopathic Medicine: A Natural Solution for Common Injuries
There is a natural medicine that treats a wide range of ailments safely and gently

In this workshop you will learn;
 About the principles and history of Homeopathy
 How to treat yourself in first-aid situations
and
 Take home handouts and free remedy samples

Where: Transense Healing Arts
344 Bloor Street West, Suite 610 at Spadina
When: Monday May 17th and Monday June 21st
6:30 to 8:30 pm
Cost: $25 per workshop/$40 for both

To RSVP, please contact Rebecca at 647-688-8290 or redpearlhomeopathy@gmail.com
Learn more about homeopathy at www.redpearlhomeopathy.com

New Article in Vitality Magazine

2010-03-03T15:38:00.003-05:00

I am happy to share that I have an article on using Homeopathic Medicine to treat Candida. I am attaching the link here...

Red Pearl Homeopathy Check out my article in Vitality Magazine! It is an article on using Homeopathic Medicine to treat symptoms of Candida.

http://www.vitalitymagazine.com/mar10_homeopathy

Homeopathy For Autism Spectrum Disorder

2010-01-19T20:34:00.004-05:00

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological disorder that includes a spectrum of diagnoses varying from Autism to Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) It tends to afflict children under 3 years of age.A diagnosis of Autism is devastating for families because there is currently no cure available in Western Medicine.

How Can Homeopathic Medicine Help?

Homeopathic Medicine can play an important role in improving symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder ranging from improving a wide constellation of symptoms to cure. In most cases, better results can be expected when earlier homeopathic treatment is started. The recovery of health is a process. Even though treatment can take several months to several years, you should begin to see changes within a few weeks of the selection of the correct homeopathic remedy. Although homeopathy can achieve great results with many forms of Autism, it is known to be especially successful with Asperger’s Syndrome. This is because these children (or adults) are often obsessed with certain interests such as trains, or coins and they tend to have more verbal skills. Both of these attributes will help a Homeopath more easily find the characteristic symptoms in each case.

Further Reading: Check out these websites but especially Amy Lansky's book Impossible Cure

Homeopathy and Autism www.impossiblecure.com

Another homeopathy resource www.homeopathy4autism.com

Geneva Centre for Autism www.autism.net

Autism Canada Foundation www.autismcanada.org

Vaccine Risk Awareness Network (VRAN) www.vran.org

Also Check out a new film in the works about Homeopathy and Autism at this website;

http://www.blinddogfilms.com/within_without.html

Coping With Labour Naturally!

2009-12-02T07:46:00.002-05:00

Hi,

Check out my latest article which focuses on how homeopathic medicine can be used effectively for labour.

http://www.naturalmothering.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=117:coping-with-labour-naturally&catid=27:pregnancy-and-labour&Itemid=100024

Some Good Old Canadian Humour

2009-11-07T08:09:00.001-05:00

I think we all need a little humour in the midst of all of the constant media coverage on H1N1- so check this out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRu6OLle8YU

Frustrated with Candida?

2009-10-29T15:51:00.003-04:00

Using Homeopathy to Treat Candida

What is Candida?
Candidiasis is caused by the overgrowth of a common type of yeast called Candida Albicans that occurs naturally in the body. In most cases, a healthy immune system can keep the balance between ‘good’ bacteria and fungus like Candida in check. Candida can occur anywhere in the body, but it is most commonly found in areas where there are mucous membranes such as the vaginal tract, the rectum and the throat. Some causes of an imbalance of Candida can include prolonged use of antibiotics, use of the Birth Control Pill (BCP), eating a high amount of refined sugar and processed foods and immune suppression.

Diagnosis and Potential Symptoms
For many people, especially women, systemic Candidiasis can seriously impact your quality of life.
Because an overgrowth of Candida can lead to such a diverse group of chronic symptoms, it is very difficult to diagnose. Many conventional medical doctors may treat symptoms, such as yeast infections or thrush, but will not tend to view the connection between Candida and these symptoms. In addition, there is no accepted medical test available, outside of allergic antibody testing, to determine the existence of an overgrowth of Candida. A Candida infection is of concern because it can also become a systemic issue and lead to a variety of symptoms such as;

• Digestive symptoms (pain, gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea)
• Itching (skin, ears, vagina, rectum etc.)
• Skin problems (acne, eczema etc)
• Mood changes (anxiety, depression, mood swings, difficulty in thinking clearly, poor memory)
• Reproductive health ( PMS, painful menstruation, infertility, low sex drive)

How Homeopathy Can Help
My experience is that the Candida Diet can be very successful for cases of mild to moderate Candida. In fact, dietary changes are often a necessary part of decreasing and eliminating symptoms of Candida. However, I treat a lot of patients with Candida and repeatedly hear how the Candida diet did not alleviate or remove their symptoms of Candida. Certain diseases are hygienic in nature but there are also many conditions that can not be solved by dietary changes alone. For many people, systemic Candida infection cannot be resolved by diet alone. This is where homeopathy can be very useful.

Advantages of Homeopathic Treatment for Candida
Homeopathic medicine is totally holistic because it takes into consideration your unique experience of dis-ease on the mental, emotional and physical levels. As a Homeopath, I want to know whether you are prone to chronic yeast infections, oral Candida (thrush) as well as many of the other possible associated symptoms of Candida. In addition, I want to know very specific information. For example, if you get chronic yeast infections, I will want to know when you get them, what they feel like (do they itch, burn, sting?) and what does this discharge look like. Homeopaths are also fundamentally interested in you as a person. We ask questions about your body temperature; how weather affects you, patterns of perspiration, sleep, digestion and much more. In most cases, the selection of a homeopathic remedy for you will also help to address other chronic health issues that have been bothering you such as migraines or constipation or PMS or anxiety/depression.

Join me for a free workshop at the Big Carrot in Toronto.

Thursday November 5th at 7 p.m.
348 Danforth Avenue Rm 212
www.thebigcarrot.ca

Free Homeopathic Flu Prevention - Starting October 2009

2009-10-01T15:29:00.005-04:00

Worried About Swine Flu/Influenza this Winter?
You just might be worried about a possible Swine Flu/H1N1 pandemic this winter especially if you have been watching the media reports for the last several months. Whether or not H1N1 is as serious as many public health officials and epidemiologists are predicting, you can protect yourself and your family even if you decide to either get the regular flu shot or the H1N1 vaccine if and when it is ready.

The History of Homeopathy in Influenza

Homeopathy gained its reputation by successfully treating many of infectious epidemics of the 18^th and 19^th century including o the Spanish Flu of 1919. The Spanish Flu is particularly relevant to the current H1N1 outbreak because it was also a H1N1 type A influenza virus. Public health records indicate the amazing success in homeopathy in treating people during the Spanish Flu. The mortality rate of people treated with conventional medicine was 30 percent while those treated by Homeopathic physicians had mortality rate of 1.05 percent.

Homeopathic Influenza Prevention

Homeopaths have been using Homeopathic Prophylaxis (or preventative treatment) to prevent the development of Influenza for over 150 years. The main remedy used for this is called Influenzinum. Homeopathic Prophylaxis is different from the ‘flu shot’ in that the ‘flu shot’ involves introducing crude doses of Influenza along with several chemicals into your body including thimerosol (mercury) and formaldehyde. On the other hand, homeopathic remedies including Influenzinum, have no extra chemicals in them and do not create side effects.

Free Homeopathic Treatment for Influenza Prevention

Even if you decide to get the flu shot and/or are able to access theSwine Flu vaccine, I offer free Homeopathic Flu Prophylaxis in Toronto. This treatment will not interfere with any type of medical or pharmaceutical treatment.

Starting in October 2009, you can access this treatment by making a 15-20 minute appointment with me either in my clinic or via a home visit if you live in the neighbourhoods of High Park/Roncesvalles/Parkdale, the Annex and the Junction.

For More Information, I can be contacted at;

647-688-8290 or redpearlhomeopathy@gmail.com.

I practice out of Zen-Tai Wellness which is located at 120 Carlton Street (at Jarvis) (www.zen-tai.com)

If you do get sick this winter, consider using homeopathic medicine for acute treatment. In most cases, homeopathy can quickly resolve many types of acute ailments including influenza, colds, coughs, strep throat and stomach viruses.

Homeopathy and Pregnancy

2009-08-25T09:02:00.003-04:00

Check out my latest article on the Natural Mothering website. This time I focus on using homeopathic remedies to assist in pregnancy.

http://www.naturalmothering.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=88:homeopathy-and-pregnancy&catid=27:pregnancy-and-labour&Itemid=100024

What's The Difference- Homeopaths vs Naturopaths!

2009-08-08T14:17:00.005-04:00

Let's Try to Clear Up the Confusion!

So, you're interested in natural health. Maybe you even thought about seeing a practitioner. But, where to start? .And, besides what really is the difference between homeopathy and naturopathy?

Let's start this discussion by talking about what is and isn't homeopathy. Homeopathy is a complete medical system that has been around in a formal way for over 200 years. Homeopathy involves the prescription of one homeopathic medicine ( called remedies) based on the Law of Similars. This means we are looking to prescribe one remedy made from natural substances that through prior testing and clinical experience has a track record of curing the same pattern of symptoms in the sick that it can create in healthy subjects. This means a homeopath will prescribe one remedy at a time. Combination remedies, while containing homeopathic remedies, are not technically homeopathy because these remedies are not chosen based on their similarity to your pattern of symptoms.

Huh? I can hear the confusion over the web. Here is a simple way to think about it. If you have ever cut an onion, you may be familiar with the burning, watery discharge from your eyes. The Homeopathic remedy made from the red onion (called Allium Cepa) is often used for colds and allergies with symptoms of burning, watery nasal discharge with a more bland eye discharge.

So, a homeopath will prescribe one remedy that is the closest match to your pattern of symptoms.

Naturopaths:
Naturopaths receive a very intensive education in medical sciences. They also learn a wide variety of treatments varying from Traditional Chinese Medicine, botanical medicine, nutrition and homeopathy. I like to think of Naturopaths as 'green' general practitioners in that they practice a wide-range of modalities. However, they only get 250-300 hours of homeopathic instruction in Naturopathic College. That being said, there are some Naturopaths who go on to specialize in homeopathy by pursuing further post-graduate education.

Homeopaths:
Remember- homeopathy is a complete medical system in itself. A good homeopath should have attended a 3-4 year programme (ideally one that is certified by an independent educational body) and should be taking further post-graduate education of some sort. On average, homeopathic students receive 5000-7000 hours in homeopathy and the medical sciences. Homeopaths are equivalent to specialists in the conventional medical system. And just as in the case of any medical specialty, it takes many years of study and clinical practice to be able to master homeopathy.

Homeopathy involves the use of medicines that stimulate your body to heal itself. In my practice, I have found that combining homeopathy with dietary changes where necessary has been really effective. I don't tend to prescribe a lot of supplements except for situations such as a nutritional deficiency such as low iron, calcium intake etc.

Advantages of Homeopathic Treatment:

Effective Management of Many Chronic Health Issues: This can include minor aches and pains to more serious conditions. Some examples can include, headaches, digestive issues (gas, constipation, diarrhea), PMS, menopausal symptoms, painful periods; anxiety, grief and much more
Reduces the Susceptibility to Illness: Do you find that you keep catching every bug going around? Maybe you are sniffling all the time. Homeopathic treatment can reduce the frequency and severity of colds, flus and other acute ailments.
Effective Homeopathic Flu Prevention: Homeopaths have been using homeopathic prophylaxis for over 150 years. Many homeopaths offer this remedy for free.
It Works: There is over 200 years of clinical experience that demonstrates that it works. There have also been quite a few clinical studies and trials which show that homeopathy is either more effective than placebo and/or an appropriate pharmaceutical medicine in many conditions such as childhood diarrhea, acute otitis media, fibromyalgia, ADHD, etc.
Safe, gentle and Effective: Homeopathic remedies are safe for infants, children, pregnant women and the elderly because they are made by a specific protocol of dilution and succussion. They also do not produce side effects and will not interact with any pharmaceutical medications.
Inexpensive: Homeopathic remedies are not expensive. Although the initial visit to a homeopath may be expensive, it is a worthwhile investment in your health. Furthermore, remedies are usually included in the fee and in most cases, you will not have to spend a lot of money on expensive supplements.

So, hopefully you found this helpful. If you would like more information or to book a complimentary mini-consult, please contact me at 647-688-8290 or redpearlhomeopathy@gmail.com.

Help! I'm Really Worried About the Swine Flu/H1N1 Virus!

2009-07-29T12:08:00.004-04:00

It seems like everyday the news or radio is reporting about the Swine Flu or the H1N1 virus which is supposed to be the next pandemic. All of these reports can ramp up the fear and panic, especially for those of us with small children. First, let’s all take a deep breath and try to look at this whole situation with some perspective.

The Cause for Concern:
There are some good reasons why many public health officials are concerned about the H1N1 virus. The first reason is that it is a new virus- which means that it is a strain that we haven’t seen before and thus, we haven’t developed natural antibodies against it. Another possible cause of concern is that young, healthy adults appeared to have died from this virus especially in the early stages in Mexico. It is possible that there were other factors involved in these deaths. Another reason for encouragement is that there has been a milder form of H1N1 in North America.

Difficulty in Conventional Medical Treatment:
It looks as if this virus is sensitive to two anti-viral agents (Tamiflu and Relenza). There are a few pharmaceutical companies that are racing to produce a vaccine. One of the biggest problems is that it takes a lot of time to identify and make a vaccine capable of managing a severe outbreak of the flu. This is especially true if the virus mutates and is able to develop resistance to medication or a vaccine. We already know that the ‘flu shot’ is only approximately 40% effective partly because epidemiologists cannot accuarately predict all of the specific strains of influenza that change with each flu season.

Enter Homeopathy…
Homeopathy gained its reputation by successfully treating many of infectious epidemics of the 18th and 19th century including outbreaks of Cholera, Typhoid, Scarlet Fever and the Spanish Flu of 1918. The Spanish Flu is particularly relevant to the current H1N1 outbreak because it was also a H1N1 type A influenza virus. Public health records indicate the amazing success of homeopathy in treating people during the Spanish Flu. The mortality rate of people treated with conventional medicine was 30 percent while those treated by homeopathic physicians had mortality rate of 1.05 percent. Of the fifteen hundred cases reported at the Homeopathic Medical Society of the District of Columbia there were only fifteen deaths. Recoveries in the National Homeopathic Hospital were 100%. In Ohio, of 1,000 cases of influenza, Dr. T. A. McCann, MD, Dayton, Ohio reported NO DEATHS.

Using Homeopathy to Prevent and Treat Influenza
Homeopathy can assist in the treatment of Influenza in several ways;

Prevention:
Homeopaths have been using Homeopathic Prophylaxis (or preventative treatment) to prevent the development of Influenza for over 150 years. The main remedy used for this is called Influenzinum. Homeopathic Prophylaxis is different from the ‘flu shot’ in that the ‘flu shot’ involves introducing crude doses of Influenza along with several chemicals into your body including thimerosol (mercury) and formaldehyde. On the other hand, homeopathic remedies including Influenzinum, have no extra chemicals in them and do not create side effects.

Acute Treatment:
Homeopathy can be used very successfully to treat symptoms of influenza while you are sick. In most cases, this type of homeopathic treatment can cure and speed up recovery from even severe forms of influenza. The pattern of symptoms of most cases of Influenza match very closely to symptoms that several homeopathic remedies are known to cure.

Chronic Treatment:
One of the advantages of Homeopathic treatment is that it reduces susceptibility to illness. This means that it will lessen both the frequency and intensity of illness over time if you are someone that seems to come down with every cold or virus especially during the winter months. At the same time, it can improve many health complaints ranging from headaches, indigestion, skin conditions, PMS/menstrual discomfort and much more.

Rebecca Gower is a Homeopathic Physician in private practice in Toronto. She offers free homeopathic flu prevention starting in October 2009 or upon request. For more information, she can be reached at 647-688-8290 or at redpearlhomeopathy@gmail.com.

Homeopathy for Injuries

2009-07-15T12:11:00.005-04:00

I briefly discussed the potential for homeopathy in a whole range of injuries. Homeopathy can do some magical things here and it just isn't about Arnica. Yes, Arnica can be wonderful and is often the default remedy in lots of injuries especially those with a sudden manifestation. There are a whole bunch of other remedies including Hypericum, Bryonia, Symphytum and much more.

So many friends and acquaintances tell me about injuries from falls, broken bones, bruises etc. They rarely call me to see if there is anything homeopathy can do for them. I think the problem may be that people don't think Homeopathy or any other "natural medicine" can help. So, don't forget homeopathy in injuries or any other acute conditions. Here are some examples of where Homeopathy can help:

Whiplash
Injuries to areas rich in nerves- such as falls on the head, tailbone, crushed fingers or toes etc.
Injuries that have a sudden nature such as car accidents, bike accidents, concussions etc.
Broken bones ( homeopathy can play a role once the broken bones are set)
Sprains (ankles, knees etc)
To speed the healing of wounds, bruises etc.
Pre and post surgery protocols to speed healing, lower bruising etc.

I wanted to share a recent case of knee pain that really shows how Homeopathy shines by choosing a remedy that most closely matches a patient's symptom picture.

Patient came with a complaint of sudden, acute knee pain. Upon investigation, I found the following symptoms;

Worse initial motion, better continued motion
Cracking in the right knee
Feeling as if the knee is dislocated
Cracking and pain in the knee is worse from turning/pivoting
Patient has to walk with right leg straigtened to avoid pain.

Initially I was thinking about prescribing a remedy called Rhus Toxicodendron because of the worse initial motion and better continued motion. However, on further examination, the symptom that was more characteristic was the cracking in the knee and the pain was worse on changing direction or turning. The patient later indicated that she had to keep her leg straight when she walked in order to lower the pain. Based on these symptoms, I prescribed the remedy Calcarea Carbonica. If we look at Hering's Guiding Symptoms, we can find the following:

Weakness of knee as if sprained, gives way under him, has to straighten it before walking.

Calc-C is also known for the creaking/cracking sound in the knees. Patient received 2 doses. There was about 40% improvement after the first dose; the pain disappeared completely after the second dose.

As we can see, Homeopathy is not only useful for treatment of chronic conditions, but also for acutes and injuries. For more information, you can contact me at the clinic at 647-688-8290 or redpearlhomeopathy@gmail.com

Summary of Cuban Experiences with Leptosporidosis

2009-07-09T11:16:00.001-04:00

Here is the preliminary report by the authors of a Cuban Study that used homeopathy to prevent Leptospirosis in 2.5 million Cubans.

Homeoprophylaxis: Cuban Experiences on Leptospirosis

Dr. Concepción Campa, Dr. Luis E. Varela, Dr. Esperanza Gilling, MCs. Rolando Fernández, Tec. Bárbara Ordaz, Dr. Gustavo Bracho, Dr. Luis García, Dr. Jorge Menéndez, Lic. Natalia Marzoa, Dr. Rubén Martínez.

“The Finlay Institute is a centre dedicated to development and production of vaccines; we also bring our WHO qualified facilities for all homeopaths and homeopathic medicine. The Finlay Institute acts as supporting institution for research, production and development of high quality homeopathic products. However, according with the social objective addressing prevention of infectious diseases, we are focused on homeo- prophylaxis as strategy to attenuate the impact of preventable diseases on developing world, the ones that need it the most.

Thus, development and evaluation of nosodes, appears to be our main approach to fill up the breakthrough on current conventional strategies based on vaccination. Similarly with vaccination interventions, massive applications of prophylactic nosodes give rise to a greater impact on population health compared with individualized therapies. In addition, the easy administration and low economics resources needed, become this alternative really suitable and accessible for developing countries and almost the best for emergency situations comprising epidemic outbreaks and natural disasters. The Cuban experiences of massively administrated nosodes supports it use as promising solution to confront epidemiological dangerous situations.

On October November 2007, three provinces of the eastern region of Cuba were affected by strong rainfalls causing floods of big areas and several damages to sanitary and health systems. The risk of leptospirosis infection raised extremely dangerous levels with about 2 million of peoples exposed to potentially contaminated water.

Considering this situation, the Finlay Institute prepared a leptospira nosode 200 CH using 4 circulating strains and following international quality standards. A multidisciplinary team travelled to the affected regions to conduct the massive administration of the nosode. Coordinated action with public health system infrastructures allowed the administration of a preventive treatment consisting in two doses (7- 9 days apart) of the nosode to about 2,4 million of people (4,8 million of doses). The coverage of the intervention rose up to 95% percent of total population of the three provinces at risk.

The epidemiology surveillance after the intervention showed a dramatic decrease of morbidity two weeks after and a reduction to cero of mortality of hospitalized patient. The number of confirmed leptospirosis cases remains at low levels and below the expected levels according with the trends and rain regimens.

A reinforcing application was given after the hit of the hurricane IKE but using the nosode diluted up to 10 MC. Strict epidemiologic surveillance is carried out on this provinces. Up to date result will be presented.

The results supported the design of new strategies for leptospirosis control. This experience could be extended to other diseases and other countries. The Finlay Institute is offering our facilities and specialists to spread this alternative to all regions needing emergent alternatives for epidemic control and prevention”.

Homeopathic Sceptic Reluctantly Admits That There is Something to Homeopathy

2009-07-09T11:08:00.003-04:00

MADELEINE Ennis, a pharmacologist at Queen's University, Belfast, was the scourge of homeopathy. She railed against its claims that a chemical remedy could be diluted to the point where a sample was unlikely to contain a single molecule of anything but water, and yet still have a healing effect. Until, that is, she set out to prove once and for all that homeopathy was bunkum.

In her most recent paper, Ennis describes how her team looked at the effects of ultra-dilute solutions of histamine on human white blood cells involved in inflammation. These "basophils" release histamine when the cells are under attack. Once released, the histamine stops them releasing any more. The study, replicated in four different labs, found that homeopathic solutions - so dilute that they probably didn't contain a single histamine molecule - worked just like histamine. Ennis might not be happy with the homeopaths' claims, but she admits that an effect cannot be ruled out.

So how could it happen? Homeopaths prepare their remedies by dissolving things like charcoal, deadly nightshade or spider venom in ethanol, and then diluting this "mother tincture" in water again and again. No matter what the level of dilution, homeopaths claim, the original remedy leaves some kind of imprint on the water molecules. Thus, however dilute the solution becomes, it is still imbued with the properties of the remedy.

You can understand why Ennis remains sceptical. And it remains true that no homeopathic remedy has ever been shown to work in a large randomised placebo-controlled clinical trial. But the Belfast study (Inflammation Research, vol 53, p 181) suggests that something is going on. "We are," Ennis says in her paper, "unable to explain our findings and are reporting them to encourage others to investigate this phenomenon." If the results turn out to be real, she says, the implications are profound: we may have to rewrite physics and chemistry.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18524911.600-13-things-that-do-not-make-sense.html?page=2

Using Homeopathy for First-Aid in the Summer

2009-07-06T10:07:00.011-04:00

We're now into the full swing of summer which means for many of us, spending more time in the outdoors. This of course, can mean a whole spectrum of opportunities to use homeopathy for first-aid. Today I wanted to talk about insect bites, burns (including sun burn), and minor injuries such as falls, scrapes and sprains.

It is important to remember that a suitable homeopathic remedy is not chosen just based on a type of pathology/condition/injury, but rather we are looking for the pattern of your symptoms that are the closest match to those symptoms we know a particular remedy can cure. Also, the remedy you might need for an injury or another acute ailment may not be on the list. Please contact a homeopathic physician if your complaint doesn't improve within a few days when self-prescribing.

Insect Bites:
-Bee stings: The homeopathic remedy Apis Melifaca (made from the honey bee) can be useful for many types of insect bites, and especially bee stings, when there is a lot of swelling and the itching and pain feels better from cold applications or cold bathing.
-Mosquito bites: Ledum Pallustre is one of the top remedies for mosquito bites. Ledum is also a great remedy for puncture wounds, black eyes and much more. It's indications are often mottled or blueness of the skin (especially in abcessess or wounds) which is worse from heat and strongly improved by cold applications (similar to Apis)

Burns:
-Cantharis is a great remedy for burns, and especially 2nd and 3rd degrees burns where there are vesicles (eruptions filled with fluid) that burn and itch quite intensely. I have used it successfully for a severe sunburn as well as burning from cutting jalapenos peppers and touching my face without washing my hands.
-Urtica Urens is also a good burn remedy for less serious burns. It is also used for the agonizing stinging pains that come from close contact with the nettle plant.
-Don't forget Calendula for burns also. Calendula in tincture form works really well for healing of burns. You can take 10 drops in a little water a few times a day and also apply the tincture diluted in water directly on the burn.

Falls, Sprains, Scrapes:
-Arnica Montana is often the first-line treatment in injuries such as falls or injuries especially where there is a suddenness or unexpected aspect to them. Some specific indications of Arnica are a sore, bruised feeling; unable to find a comfortable position; a person with a sudden injury may not want to be touched or may say they are fine immediately after a serious accident.
-Hypericum (St. John's Wort) is especially known for injuries to areas rich in nerves such as fingers, toes and the head; it is also indicated for falls on the coccyx (tailbone)
-Rhus-Toxicodendron is often over prescribed for a variety of joint problems including sprains. It can work wonderfully if you have the following symptoms; worse for initial motion but better for continued motion; pain is usually worse at night with restlessness; pain is significantly ameliorated by heat.
-Also don't forget about Calendula (Marigold). It is wonderful to help speed healing of the skin from a whole bunch of injuries. Calendula works by increasing granulation of wounds, so it shouldn't be used if you have an infected cut or wound.

Figuring Out Potency/Dosage:
-For most adults in an acute situation, 200c is a good place to start. For children you could use a 30c.
-In an acute situation such as an injury, the general rule of thumb is that you should feel an improvement within 3 doses (2 pellets each). If you feel no improvement at this time, this means it is not the correct remedy.
-Do not keep taking the remedy- take only when you need it. This means if you feel your complaint get better and all your symptoms disappear, stop taking the remedy. If your complaint improved and slightly relapsed, take another dose as necessary.

If you have questions about how homeopathy can work for you, I offer complimentary 15-minute consultations in person or on the telephone. I can be reached at 647-688-8290 or by e-mail at redpearlhomeopathy@gmail.com