Homeopathy For Menstrual Cramps & Pain

Over the years I have tried EVERYTHING for severe menstrual pain - both conventional and naturopathic.  I can't even begin to count how many times I 'googled' the terms "natural cure for menstrual cramps." And, I can't even begin to count the numerous times where I felt disappointed and discouraged that nothing was working.

After many years of frustration and despair (and many days/nights of laying on the couch curled up in a ball), I finally found something that really works for me. Homeopathy is an incredible medicine that helps so many people with stubborn conditions, including dysmenorrhea (AKA menstrual cramps).

As a Homeopath, I know by experience that the BEST remedy for you to take for menstrual cramps is your constitutional remedy. The only way of finding your constitutional remedy is to see a classical homeopath who takes your case and prescribes you one remedy (which is what I do with my clients- contact me if you are interested in an appointment to relieve your menstrual cramps). This constitutional remedy will help you on all levels: mental, emotional, physical and spiritual. It will give you lasting effects.

But, until you decide to see a homeopath, here are a few acute remedies to try out. Make sure you match your menstrual experience with the remedies. If the symptoms do not match yours, then the remedy will probably not work for you.

Magnesia Phos. (Mag. Phos.)
Indicated for cramps and spasms which are better in heat and better from pressure.

Colocynthis (Coloc.)
Severe cramps. Sharp stabbing pains which are better from heat and pressing hard into the area. Wants to be left alone. Sensitive face distorted from pain. Pain comes and goes fast. Better bending forward -doubling up. Pain associated with anger.

Dioscorea (Dios.)
Better bending backwards, the opposite of Colocynthis. Cramps in the fingers and toes.

Belladonna (Bell.)
Cramps, spasms, and bearing down pains come and go suddenly. There is heat and congestion. She is better sitting up and better from pressing on the genitals or abdomen. Worse from motion of any kind.

Borax (Bor.)
Profuse early menses with griping pains and nausea. Pain in the stomach extends to the back. In the menstrual flow large membranes are passed. There may be nausea.

Cactus (Cact.)
The whole uterus feels like a wire wrapped around it and tightened, or as if squeezed by hand. The pains are constricting.

Caulophyllum (Caul.)
Cramps in the uterus before menses, with pains in the lower back. There are bearing down spasmodic pains, with drawing pains in the legs. She feels weak and trembling inside. The uterus feels heavy and congested.

Cimicifuga Racemosa (Cimic.)
There are severe labor-like pains. Bearing down cramps and spasms. The pains travel from right to left to right, going back and forth. She bends over double and is restless, better from heat.

Sabina (Sabin.)
Sharp pains travel from the back (sacrum) to the front (pubic area). The flow is red with clots. She desires fresh air and is warm blooded.

Lachesis (Lach.)
Pains in the left ovary. There is sensitivity to any clothing where it binds at the neck or waist. The blackish menstrual flow relieves the symptoms.

Of course, this is only a partial list of all remedies that can help with menstrual pain. These remedies are also good for endometriosis symptoms (that match the remedy), ovarian cysts, and other painful female complaints.  

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Svea Lynn is a traditional Naturopath, classical homeopath and holistic doula. Her private doula practice can be found here. Her Montreal Natural Fertility site can be found here. 

5 Common Health Misconceptions

Myth: In order to lose weight, I have to count calories.
Truth: Not all calories are the same. If you are eating fast food three times per day and watching your calories, you are less likely to lose weight than someone who eats a lot more substance, but eats mostly raw fruits and vegetables. A diet that consists of 80% raw produce is best for weight loss (and health in general). It will not only help you lose excess pounds, but it will also give you more energy throughout the day. And, with 80% fruits/veggies, you do not need to count your calories (as long as the other 20% isn't ALL dessert foods). Plus, changing your lifestyle choices will help you KEEP weight OFF. This is so important for lasting weight loss.

Myth: Vaccines are safe.
Truth: Vaccines have never been proven to be safe through a TRUE safety study, which would compare a vaccine to an inert substance. Instead, vaccines have only been compared to other vaccines. On top of that, pharmaceutical companies are the ones doing the research on their vaccines... can you say CONFLICT OF INTEREST?! Vaccines HAVE been proven to be linked to autism, autoimmune disorders, and other serious illnesses. If a vaccine is considered safe, shouldn't the ingredients also be considered safe? Vaccines contain the following ingredients: mercury, aluminum, formaldehyde, polysorbate 80, African green monkey kidney cells, aspartame, and monosodium glutamate (MSG) - just to name a few. NONE of these ingredients are considered to be safe. Doesn't this, in and of itself, make the claim "Vaccines are safe" to be false?

Myth: Stay away from fats. They are unhealthy and will cause heart disease.
Truth: This is one of the biggest myths of all time! Not all fats are bad. Our bodies actually need fats to produce hormones, build cell walls, and perform many other vital functions. Fats do not cause heart disease! In order for cholesterol to clog arteries, the arteries must be damaged first. Cigarette smoke, chlorinated water, pollution, unhealthy food, and many other environmental toxins damage arteries. The best fats are high quality fish oils, flax oil, coconut oil, and some animal oils. Some healthy people eat coconut oil by the tablespoon!

Myth: All herbal supplements are good for you.
Truth: I know many Naturopaths who are similar to your conventional doctor. You go to them with a condition and they recommend a few (or many) supplements to help you with your problem. As a Naturopath, we take an oath to "treat the fundamental causes of illness." This does NOT include giving a supplement for every condition that you list. I have shadowed Naturopaths who give a nervine herb for the nervous system, an herb for the digestive system, an herb for the brain, an herb for the liver, an herb for the pancreas...etc (you get my drift). THIS IS NOT GOOD NATUROPATHY! An herbal substances, in some cases, will act like a pharmaceutical drug... just with less side effects. You might have to be on the supplement for a long time. I believe in minimal supplements and a good constitutional homeopathic remedy. In many cases people are burdening their bodies with a huge list of supplements, thinking they are supporting their bodies. They begin to have stubborn rashes that won't go away. The truth is, they are overburdening their bodies and need to stop all supplements. I am a Homeopath 100% of the time and believe that the constitutional remedy is one of the best medicine for any condition.

Myth: I need to go to the doctor every time I have a cold or flu. I need medicine to help me feel better.
Truth: In most cases, a cold/flu is NOT a bacteria infection. Your doctor will most likely give you antibiotics and send you on your way. If you take antibiotics for something that is not a bacterial infection, then you are doing damage to the healthy bacteria in your body, especially in your digestive system. On top of that, you are not going to heal any faster. Your doctor will admit this if you ask them (believe me, I have asked before). Also, many people run out to get a decongestant or other medicines that will "knock them out". This is bad practice. You are further suppressing an illness that is trying to express itself. Let it run its course. The human body is incredible and will fight off the disease without the help of a pharmaceutical drug (unless of course you are in a very poor state of health to begin with). The best medicine? REST and lots of water! Go back to the "old" days where there wasn't a quick fix to everything. Take a break from work, school, or whatever else is wearing you down. If you continue to suppress a cold or flu, it will pop up later. You will be surprised - let it run its course and you are less likely to be sick in the future.

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Svea Lynn is a traditional Naturopath, classical homeopath and holistic doula. Her private doula practice can be found here. Her Montreal Natural Fertility site can be found here. 

Chamomilla: Natural Remedy for Teething, Colic, Earaches, Cold, and Inconsolable Babies

If you have young children, especially a baby, then you need to stock your first aid kit with the homeopathic remedy Chamomilla (Chamomile).

Let me start out by giving you a short story of how this remedy works:

A couple weeks ago a parent brought in a 5 month old baby. The baby was very fussy, and had been since the previous day. I took out my homeopathic first aid kit and found Chamomilla. I mixed two small white pellets in a small glass of water. At that point the mother was at her wit's end, so I had the baby in my arms. He was still fussy as I gave him a small spoonful of the homeopathic water. To my surprise, within 5 seconds, the baby was fast asleep!

The mother couldn't believe her eyes (and to be honest, neither could I). The mother called me the next day and said that her baby slept all night and woke up happy. She was absolutely thrilled and amazed at the healing power of homeopathy!

Chamomilla (homeopathic Chamomile) is one of my favorite remedies for babies. It is indicated for pain, including teething and colic in babies. When a child is in a 'chamomilla state', they are obviously unhappy and uncomfortable. They are angry, irritable, impatient, and inconsolable. They are crying, screaming, and arching his/her back. They ask for something, but then refuse it. Their head can be sweaty, one cheek red and the other pale, thirsty, and with green diarrhea. Their symptoms improve when they are rocked or carried. Worse at night.

Earaches: sensitive to cold and noise (feels better with warmth); pain that makes the child frantic.

Colds: water, hot, runny nose that is also stuffed; difficulty sleeping.

Fevers: alternates between feeling chilled and overheated.

Cough: dry, tickling cough, hoarseness; worse from 9pm-midnight.

This is one of the best remedies for teething, colic, and earaches--especially when their symptoms match the above 'symptom picture'.


**Homeopathy is such a diverse field of practice. There are thousands of different remedies and sometimes it can be difficult to find the exact remedy. Consult a homeopath or Naturopath skilled in homeopathy. **

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Svea is a traditional Naturopath, classical homeopath and holistic doula. Her private doula practice can be found here. Her Montreal Natural Fertility site can be found here. 

Mark Your Calendar!

Hello everybody! I am pleased to announce that we have started our free online class series.

Our first online class was a success: Outward signs of inward problems. This class outlined the ways in which you can look in the mirror and determine where your weaknesses lie through tongue, face, fingernail, and iris analysis.

Our next free online class will be on Wednesday, January 26, 2011 (whoa, it's 2011 already!!!) from 7:00-8:00pm EST. This class will be on Homeopathy for the home, teaching you how to use remedies for acute ailments--from cold/flu to earaches and colic.

Homeopathy is truly an amazing healing art, and has been one of the only natural medicines that have worked during serious pandemics like the Spanish flu of 1918-1919. Did you know that homeopaths at the time were losing only 0-3% of their patients while physicians were losing up to 50% of their patients?? In this one hour class you will learn how effective homeopathy is during epidemics and pandemics, and what you can do to stay healthy!

You can find our online classroom by clicking here or following this link:


http://www.psychehealing.com/Wellness/freeonlineclasses.html

See you all in January!

The Truth About the Flu Shot

Now is the time of year where we see "Flu Shots Here" all over the place. It is the time of changing seasons, and also the time of "catching" the flu. Many people live in fear of the flu and get a shot to protect against the virus, but are they doing anything else to protect themselves?

Since this is my blog, I am going to express myself openly and freely about vaccines, specifically the flu vaccine. If you know me, then you know that I am against all vaccines.  I believe in your body's innate ability to fight these diseases and also to be protected against them (as well as the healing power of nature medicine).

First, in my experience with this specific vaccine, I have noticed that although people get the vaccine, they still get the flu. Doesn't this seem ironic? They get a vaccine to protect against the virus and then get the virus anyway. We also see this with many other vaccines, including the chickenpox vaccine. The vaccine companies never claim to protect against all strains of flu virus.  In fact, they state that their vaccine doesn't protect against all strains of the virus, but instead only a select few they think might be popular that year.

In 2009, we experienced the H1N1 flu "outbreak" hype. In Michigan (and I'm sure other states too), many schools were closed because so many children were infected with a flu virus. Many people were weary of getting the vaccine since it was such a "new" thing and they didn't know what it would do for their health (the vaccine). Many other people lined up in herds to get the vaccine. I, on the other hand, did not get the vaccine. Local health departments experienced shortages and some people were even turned away.  I'm sure you all remember this experience.  So what happened with the H1N1 hype?

Well... nothing, really. Some people died, yes.  But, less people died from this flu than the regular seasonal flu.  I also saw a tremendous amount of people that were affected or injured by the flu vaccine. People developed neurological disorders over night and some pregnant women lost their babies. To me, the injury from the flu vaccine was worse than the actual flu.  And, drug companies made WAY more vaccine than what was actually used, so they had to deal with the excess vaccine. Guess what folks.... THEY ARE PUTTING THESE EXCESS H1N1 VACCINES IN THE SEASONAL FLU VACCINE.

Also, vaccines are very toxic substances.  There are many different ingredients, including egg proteins, polysorbate 80 (carcinogenic), formaldehyde, Triton X100 ( a strong detergent ), sucrose, gentamycin (an antibiotic), and thimerosol.

Thimerosol is the ingredient that contains high amounts of mercury. If you know anything about health, then you know that mercury is toxic to your system... this is one reason why they no longer have mercury thermometers, or other products with mercury. The mercury in one vaccine is enough to shut down a 10 acre lake (if found in the water). This mercury is also a huge culprit in the cause of autism, and other neurological disorders that children are developing.

Essentially, autism was unheard of 20 years ago, even 10 years ago.  When I was in school, I didn't know one student who had autism.  If you go into a public school now, many children have autism and the numbers are growing. The beautiful thing about the human body is that it can regenerate. Most doctors tell you that autism is not reversible, however, I know that it is. If you are a parent of a child with autism, remember, there is hope. I see many parents who think there is no hope, but by fixing the diet and doing simple cleanses, their children begin to speak, begin to interact, and begin to heal.

The flu is a virus that is contagious.  We all know that.  But, why do some people get the flu and others do not? If your immune system is strong enough, it will fight the flu virus right away. You might have the virus on you or inside of you, but the body will destroy it immediately.  If your immune system is worn down, the virus might have more time to incubate in your body and replicate.  After a few days the body will recruit its helpers to get rid of the foreign pathogen.  It is at this time that you will begin to feel sick...when the body is in full attack mode. This is a common misunderstanding about the flu, most people think it is the virus that is causing you to feel so bad, but, it is the body's immune system attacking the virus and killing it. 

This process requires a strong immune system, and unless you are eating healthy, exercising, and stress-free, then you probably have a weakened immune system.  The immune system can become weakened from many different things, including: stress, environmental toxins, heavy metals (like mercury in the flu vaccine), prescription medications, poor mental attitude, fear, unhealthy food, and many more.

There are natural things that you can do to prevent the flu!

 First and foremost, do not live in a state of fear.  Do not fear the flu! Incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your diet (raw and local preferably) and exercise daily. Echinacea is a big immune system herb and will help to protect you in this season of the flu. Astragalus is also great for an immune boost, as well as wheatgrass juice.  If you do start feeling ill, you can take goldenseal to help your body get rid of the virus immediately. If you are in the midst of the flu virus, you can turn to homeopathy for quick relief.  Homeopathy is another topic for another time, but is available.  It was the only treatment that provided relief during the time of the 1918-1919 Spanish flu (many homeopaths did not lose any of their patients during this very deadly flu!).

And, always remember, if you take care of your body, it will take care of you!

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Svea is a traditional Naturopath, classical homeopath and holistic doula. Her private doula practice can be found here.