Wednesday, December 15, 2010

HOMEOPATHY IN PREGNANCY – BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER.


Pregnancy – the joy of being a mother. With it comes change – physical and mental. Major physiological changes take place in the body and at certain times there are a few unpleasant conditions that come up. Medicines, especially allopathy, are to be used with caution since you have handle two lives and therefore keep in mind the effects of whatever you consume.

Homeopathy before pregnancy helps in improving immunity if the lady is susceptible to infections, allergies, and such conditions. Conditions like acidity, indigestion and constipation can be treated before they tend to get worse during pregnancy. Homeopathy works in helping the couple being physically and mentally fit before starting a family.

Homeopathy plays a very vital role in all the three phases of pregnancy – before, during, and after. During pregnancy, homeopathy can be used in all the three trimesters thus ensuring a safe and gentle method of treatment for whatever symptoms come up during this sensitive period in a woman’s life. “Homeopathy treats without side-effects” – this statement bears maximum importance in the field of obstetrics where even the obstetrician is not too pleased or not allowed to use the entire spectrum of allopathic medicines considering their side-effects unless forced to due to threat to life. Here homeopathy is a dear friend of the woman as well as the doctor in curing or palliating symptoms as the case may be.

Homeopathy covers the following pregnancy related conditions. The list is not complete, but made to just give you an idea of the scope of homeopathy. In certain conditions, it can palliate the case thus giving comfort to the lady.

Anemia
Nausea and vomiting
Acidity and indigestion
Constipation
Backache
Headache
Piles
Pains
Respiratory tract infections
Urinary tract infections
Sleeplessness
Anxiety and Fear
Postpartum mood disturbance (sleeplessness, anxiety, tendency to weep easily, depression, and irritability)

Homeopathy after pregnancy helps in early recovery and healing of surgical wounds, if operated. Post-delivery depression and such emotional issues can be safely dealt with homeopathy.

Apart from the above conditions, homeopathic medicines for chronic conditions which the lady may be suffering from can be continued during and after pregnancy without fear or concern. Homeopathy and nutrition works wonders for the mother and the child.

Homeopathy can be used for the child also for all pediatric related complaints.

Choose homeopathy. It is safe. It is effective.

Friday, November 26, 2010

TREATMENT OF DIABETES WITH HOMEOPATHY AND LIFESTYLE MODIFICATION.


Can homeopathy treat diabetes effectively? Can I stop my allopathic oral medicines and insulin after starting homeopathy? This is a very common question that comes up before starting homeopathic treatment.

According to WHO, diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Hyperglycemia, or raised blood sugar, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time leads to serious damage to many of the body's systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels.

If the pancreas has stopped producing insulin, taking insulin is the solution. Running after herbal formulae, diabetic teas, homeopathic formulae, drinking bitter-gourd juice or amla juice will not help much. But if the body is producing insulin and the problem is insulin resistance, then we can achieve a lot of things by proper management.

The management of diabetes mellitus is not managing intake of sweets and sugar. It is the management of your entire lifestyle. Moderation is the key. Treatment of diabetes is in the following order – First diet, then exercise, lastly medicines. Sadly enough, we only want to take medicine to eat everything and keep the sugar levels under control. This might work in the beginning, but it is a recipe for disaster.

The management of diabetes is not only in keeping the sugar levels under check for a few months, but it is to keep your body in optimum functioning for years to come. We need to treat the insulin resistance. Just forcing your body to produce more insulin or giving it readymade is not the solution; it is an adjustment. If the person is not ready to alter his lifestyle then that may be the only option left, I agree to that too.  

Before we see what homeopathy can do let us see the overall options –

DIET: Cutting on processed foods, sugar, saturated fats, and deep-fried foods is a good way to start with. Eat regular small meals. Drink 2-3 liters of water everyday. One fruit a day is allowed if sugar is under good control. Fruits are any day better than cakes and chocolates. Avoid juices since there is no fiber to release the fructose slowly in the system. Vegetables must be consumed. With all this your wheatgrass, aloe vera, amla, bitter gourd, cinnamon, etc. can be included. They do help, no joke. Keep one thing in mind, they are not a treatment, but they are a very good support, really good! Nature knows better than man. Do not do dieting if you are diabetic.

EXERCISE: The importance cannot be stressed enough; it is that urgent and important. Walking, cycling, visit to the gym – do whatever you want, but just do it. Exercise is one of the best methods to improve insulin resistance. Motion is life, therefore move!

YOGA, MEDITATION, AFFIRMATIONS, POSITIVE THINKING: Do it to manage stress. Think positively, it helps and more important, “it works.” Stress is a killer. We need to live with it, but at least manage it.

MEDICINES:
Allopathy required in severe cases. It is required if you are not going to exercise or manage eating habits. It can be totally avoided if you are just on the border – glucose intolerance. It can be given in the beginning in mild cases.

HOMEOPATHY: Practicing homeopathy does not mean only giving homeopathic medicine; it means giving homeopathic medicine along with guidance on diet, exercise, and lifestyle. Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, would have liked it that way.

People want to take homeopathy like allopathy thinking that at least there are no side effects and then do whatever you want to do. “Take this medicine and eat anything” may sound good but is not possible. It does not work that way. Homeopathy will show good results along with diet and exercise. Homeopathy will cover mind and body parameters of the person. Better healing, better energy levels, other complaints in association with diabetes also covered under treatment. A proper case taking with understanding of lifestyle, diet and exercise pattern is needed before starting treatment. A proper followup is required. Being regular with your treatment like taking medicines as directed, following instructions, giving timely feedback is essential.

Allopathic intervention needed where necessary. By allopathic intervention, we do not mean spoil the case by trial and error for few months and then refer to allopathy. It means according to the condition of the patient, what is best suitable is adopted. If allopathy is already going on, homeopathic treatment can help in keeping the person on the minimum dose of allopathy and with good patient compliance even discontinuing the medicines – both allopathic as well as homeopathic. That is a gold standard, not achievable in all cases in today’s times.

Laboratory investigations are required to monitor progress. Apart from fasting and post-prandial readings, HBA1c report is needed to assess sugar control in past 2-3 months. Other investigations like lipid profile, renal profile, ECG, etc. are done as per case requirement. The lab data also reflects treatment success along with clinical correlation.

So, with homeopathy don’t expect some magic potion will be given to you and all will be well. You play an equally important role in controlling your diabetes along with your physician. Homeopathy is an excellent option for controlling diabetes, but it too is a form of treatment which needs proper case handling and followup.

Wishing all good health!!!

Cheers to life!!! 

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Homeopathic Tidbits

CALENDULA

One of the best healing agents, applied locally.

Useful for burns, open wounds, cuts, lacerations, non-healing wounds. Prevents pus formation.

Helps in aborting an abscess, else favors maturing and ultimate healing.

Very useful for cradle-cap and nappy rash in babies.

It is very good for dry, irritated, sensitive skin.

According to Dr. James Tyler Kent, Calendula is all the dressing you will need for open wounds and severe lacerations. It takes away the local pain and suffering.
  
The articles discussed herein have not been evaluated by the FDA. The products discussed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Each individual is different and will react differently to various vitamin and mineral supplements as per his/her body requirements. This information is not meant to replace any physician’s consultation. This information should in no way replace your family physician’s advice.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Wheatgrass - More than just grass.....

WHAT HAS WHEATGRASS TO OFFER THE MODERN AGE?

Importance And Applications Of Wheatgrass

Wheatgrass is one of the super-foods given to man by Mother Earth. “Man cannot live on ‘wheat’ alone; he also needs the grass nowadays for a number of reasons.”

WHY SHOULD I INCLUDE IT IN MY DIET ROUTINE: The soil in which most of our food grains, cereals, vegetables and fruits are grown has been eroded and drained of much of its trace mineral content over the years. As modern farming techniques have developed, most farmers use nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous based fertilizers. These fertilizers are cheap, but dramatically increase crop yields. Adding other trace minerals like calcium, copper, selenium, zinc and over 60 more that are needed by the human body for optimum health is not cost effective and profitable for farmers to fertilize their crops so obviously they do not use them. The fruits and vegetables grown thus are of maximum quantity but minimum quality.

You do not need to be a scientist to understand that if something is detoxifying your body and at the same time nourishing it, it is only going to improve your natural healing mechanism. On top of that if this ‘something’ is a vegetable (grass) whose grain (wheat) you have been eating since centuries and generations, what more could one ask for? There are no known contraindications unless you are allergic to the wheat grass itself.

People allergic to wheat can consume wheatgrass without any allergic reactions or symptoms. Wheat allergies are usually a reaction to the gluten found in the wheat. Wheat grass is a vegetable, which is cut before the wheat plant transforms into the grain.

Wheat grass has many extraordinary properties; if you are thinking of taking one food supplement with your regular diet, wheat grass must be the first one to be included.

Wheatgrass basically neutralizes toxins and nourishes the body.

Wheatgrass contains enzyme systems and an abundance of alkaline minerals, which helps to stimulate metabolism. Wheatgrass benefits people in numerous ways: nourishing the liver and kidneys, removing toxic metals from the cells, cleansing the lymph system, enriching the blood, restoring balance in the body, and restoring vitality. It washes drug deposits from the body. 

Wheatgrass has antibacterial properties and can be used inside and outside the body as a healer.  It arrests growth and development of unfriendly bacteria and helps to destroy free radicals.  Wheatgrass: Improves digestion, provides easy assimilation of nutrients, improves blood sugar problems, helps prevent tooth decay, improves liver functions, reduces inflammation, helps in arthritis, removes necrotic debris from open wounds, strengthens immunity.

Wheatgrass also has chlorophyll, which in itself is nature’s boon to mankind and to which we all owe our existence. Chlorophyll has the ability to absorb the sun's energy and repack it into plants in such a way that we can use them as food. Chlorophyll has been described as ‘condensed sunlight’, ‘blood of plant kingdom’, ‘concentrated sun power’. Chlorophyll has the properties of nourishing, purifying and acting as an anti-inflammatory.

Wheat grass is one of the best sources of living chlorophyll available. Wheatgrass is 70% chlorophyll, chlorophyll being the basis of all plant life. Chlorophyll has a nearly identical chemical structure to hemoglobin which is present in red blood cells, which is the body's critical oxygen and iron-carrying blood protein. Hemoglobin contains iron whereas chlorophyll contains magnesium in the center of its chemical structure. The alignment of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen are otherwise similar in both. Clinically, chlorophyll is useful in healing wounds, neutralizing bad odors, reducing varicose veins and healing leg ulcers, eliminating impetigo and other types of skin eruptions.

There are many green plants in nature which have chlorophyll, but wheatgrass is superior to other green plants because it has been found to have over 100 elements needed by man.  

Wheatgrass has superoxide dismutase, which is an important antioxidant. Muco-polysaccharides, which are a combination of simple and complex carbohydrates (sugars) which stimulate the body's repair processes. They have a particular affinity to help repair damaged artery and heart tissue. Wheatgrass is a superior detoxification agent compared to carrot, beet, amla juice and other fruits and vegetables. Wheatgrass thus contains chlorophyll, enzymes, vitamins, minerals in a natural form which is easily digested and absorbed by the body.

ADVANTAGE OF POWDER: The wheatgrass powder has an added advantage over juice due to its fiber content, which is very beneficial for colon health.

IMPORTANCE OF ORGANIC WHEATGRASS: The wheat grass is grown without the use of artificial fertilizers and synthetic pesticides. Wheatgrass grown in organic soil can absorb 92 of the 108 minerals from the soil thereby giving maximum benefit.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE: Vitamin A, B, C, E. Proteins. Enzymes. Minerals: Calcium, boron, chromium, manganese, cobalt, iron, sodium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, selenium, silicon. Chlorophyll. Soluble and insoluble dietary fiber.

WHEATGRASS IS FOOD, NOT A MEDICINE. Wheatgrass is not an allopathic, ayurvedic, herbal, homoeopathic or any other medicine. It is a vegetable. Therefore do not expect dramatic effects from it. It gradually, but surely nourishes and strengthens your body thereby improving your health status. Every person’s need is different; therefore the dose of wheatgrass powder will be different. The conditions mentioned above are just some of the applications of wheatgrass. Its scope is much wider. It can be used in any disease condition for early recovery or palliation in incurable diseases and even in healthy individuals to maintain health.

DOSAGE:
One teaspoonful in a cup of water in morning, preferably on empty stomach x five days.
From sixth day, 1 teaspoonful twice a day. This is applicable for routine cases.
In some cases four to eight teaspoonful might be required as per the health status and requirement.


The articles discussed herein have not been evaluated by the FDA. The products discussed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Each individual is different and will react differently to various vitamin and mineral supplements as per his/her body requirements. This information is not meant to replace any physician’s consultation. This information should in no way replace your family physician’s advice.