Nov 19 0

How Homeopathy Works – Homeopathic Remedies and Dosages

Posted by Andrew J. Kaufmann, ND

Determining the dosage and potency (posology) of classical homeopathic remedies for any condition involves a thorough medical examination by a highly-trained homeopathic practitioner to determine which single remedy (simillimum) most closely fits the constellation of symptoms, and constitution of the individual. The patient’s physical and mental states are taken into consideration when determining the appropriate remedy and dosage, as are any possible miasmatic influences and tendencies, which are contributing to the diseased state.

In addition to assessing the condition of the mind and body of an individual, the practitioner will look at the potency of the remedy to determine proper dosage. The potency of a remedy refers to the dilution. A well-trained homeopathic practitioner will determine the appropriate dilution for a remedy based on the constitution, severity of the condition and the sensitivity of the individual to medicines in general . Counterintuitively, the higher the dilution, the more powerful the remedy. The practitioner will then provide instruction as to how frequently the remedy should be administered.

The most important thing to remember when determining a dosage for homeopathic treatments is that one should always consult a trained and licensed homeopathic practitioner, especially in cases of chronic conditions and behavioral disorders. A Certification in Classical Homeopathy (CCH) has emerged recently to identify those individuals who have received special training and case analysis in this area, however they may not have medical school training which would prevent them from making a formal diagnosis or ordering any laboratory tests. Self diagnosis and treatment are strongly discouraged, as proper diagnosis requires a complete understanding of the interconnectedness of mind and body. In addition, appropriate lab testing may be necessary with an extensive case-taking session to record all mental and physical symptoms in determining the ideal treatment plan. There are many homeopathic practitioners available to chose from however, board licensed Naturopathic Physicians are the only doctors who receive extensive homeopathic training as part of their medical school curriculum. Thoroughly researching the credentials and training of a homeopathic practitioner ensures that they have the knowledge and experience necessary to properly treat the condition in question.

Nov 16 0

Treat Asthma With Homeopathy For a Permanent Cure!

Posted by Andrew J. Kaufmann, ND

Asthma can be effectively treated naturally in Mesa, AZ Asthma is a difficult condition for anyone to deal with. Not being able to breathe properly is frightening and can be life threatening. Doctors may prescribe medication such as steroids or other types of inhalers, all of which may be used to reduce or slow down symptoms but not actually treat the condition. However, there are other options available, besides conventional prescription medicines. Homeopathy has the capability of treating asthma safely without the unwanted side effects often experienced with conventional medicines . Different treatment methods are available, based on symptoms, severity and when asthma occurs in the life of an individual. These conditions should not be self-diagnosed as it can lead to errors in the treatment process or even other more serious side effects. Instead, a licensed professional homeopath needs to diagnose the condition and prescribe the proper treatment based on the totality of symptoms present, including the mental/emotional state of the individual.

How to Find the Right Homeopathy Professional

So, how would someone find a homeopathic professional to treat asthma? They should not just go to a random individual who claims to treat asthma. Instead, they need to look for a licensed professional with experience, who has received the proper professional training. Naturopathic Physicians receive advanced training in the use of homeopathic medicines as part of their core curriculum in medical school. In addition, there are are a number of MD’s, DO’s and NP’s who have studied homeopathy outside of their formal medical training that are highly qualified and licensed to diagnose and treat medical conditions. Those homeopathic practitioners who do not have formal medical training (although some do) can apply for and receive a designation known as Certified in Classical Homeopathy (CCH) after intensive study and demonstration of detailed case management.

Available Treatments

One of the benefits of homeopathic treatment is the fact that each patient receives specialized treatments. It is not like prescription or over-the-counter medication where the same kind of drug is given to every patient. After all, each person is going to be unique and have a different medical history, symptoms and trigger points. Specialized homeopathic treatments is also why someone should never self-diagnose. Some treatments can prove more detrimental if not properly administered or used.

For anyone disappointed in traditional medication that has failed or produced unwanted, harmful side-effects and seeking a permanent cure for asthma, homeopathy may be the answer.

Aug 28 0

How To Ease Back To School Anxiety With Homeopathy

Posted by Andrew J. Kaufmann, ND

Back to school anxiety in children can be treated with homeopathy in Mesa, AZ It’s that time of the year – when children may experience back to school anxiety about starting a new grade. Some kids may even be starting a new school or beginning school for the first time. Parents or guardians may be looking for ways to help reduce that anxiety. Homeopathy treats back-to-school anxiety very effectively through nutrition, medicines, and talking.

Nutrition

First of all, it’s important a child has reduced sugar intake, especially during anxious times. Anxiety makes the adrenals work as it causes high production of adrenaline and cortisol. These glands also have to work hard with a high sugar intake, so frequent sources of protein are important in taking the load off adrenal glands and balancing blood sugar.

The following vitamins are also very helpful in treating anxiety:

Vitamin C – supports the adrenal glands.

B Vitamins – very important for the nervous system.

Magnesium – helps a child be calm at night for restful sleep and is important for many systems in the body.

Medicines

Homeopathic medicines can be very effective for back-to-school anxiety and they are also perfect to use with other types of anxiety that may be associated with going to a doctor or dentist appointment.

Aconite – Used when a child is very fearful and is restless. There may be a scared expression and trouble sitting still.

Argentum Nitricum – Used when a child has an anticipatory anxiety and feels very nervous. They are likely to have diarrhea and flatulence with the anxiety.

Arsenicum Album – Used when a child is very restless and insecure with their anxiety. They may show a degree of exhaustion but you know this fatigue has an emotional basis and is linked to anxiety.

Calcarea Carbonica – Used when a child is happy and easy-going for the most part, but can get very anxious and worry about small things when there is time to think.

Calcarea Phosphorica – Used when a child has headaches and/or tummy aches that prevent them from going. They may deny that there is anything wrong at school but they have the convenient ‘illness’ that allows them to stay at home. This is often times used for younger children.

Gelsemium – Used when a child feels weak and cowardly right before an event like a first day or exam because they feel the task ahead is too much to handle. Gelsemium should also be tried first before other homeopathic medicines when a child’s anxiety symptoms are hard to define.

Lycopodium – Used when a child is fearful about failing but covers it by looking overly confident on the outside. Performance is great but the child suffers extreme anxiety on the inside.

Pulsatilla – Used when a child tends to be very clingy, sensitive and highly emotional, needing lots of affection and support during times of change.

IMPORTANT: An experienced homeopath should be consulted for proper dosing.

Talking

A parent or guardian can help reduce a child’s anxiety by talking in the following ways:

Reassuring – Letting a child know that anxiety is normal will, in itself, help reduce anxiety.

Reflecting – This is done by observing a child and relaying the observations to open up conversation. A good way to do this is by saying something like “I could tell there was some anxiety when you were getting ready for school….is there anything in particular you are worried about?”

Validating – Explaining that anxiety is temporary and will get better will help a child realize that there is hope in overcoming the anxiety.

Showing Love – Making a child feel loved is the best provision a parent can provide that will help alleviate anxious feelings.

Aug 12 0

Factors In Determining The Length Of Homeopathic Treatment

Posted by Andrew J. Kaufmann, ND

Homeopathic treatment has been used for various types of ailments ever since it was discovered by the German physician Samuel Hahnemann in 1796. The subject of this article will be, specifically, some of the factors that determine how long a particular homeopathic procedure will typically be.

The seven factors

Even those who administer homeopathic treatment frequently have difficulty predicting the exact length of their procedures. However, homeopaths have developed a list of seven factors that can affect the length, and each of them is described in detail in the following subsections.

The patient’s level of vitality

Young people tend to be more physically responsive than older people are. The moods of children can shift greatly from one moment to the next, and their physical symptoms can appear and disappear just about as rapidly.

His or her nature and social background

Those who are poor or otherwise living in relatively simple conditions tend to respond to homeopathic treatment more rapidly than those whose ways of life are more affluent owing to the greater acuteness of the pathologies experienced by such people.

The type of physical pathology present and how severe it is

Severity alone has no bearing on the length of treatment required; it is not the physical pathology per se with which homeopaths deal. Some medical conditions that were considered to be irreversible, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and ulcerative colitis, may prove the contrary with homeopathy.

How long the signs and symptoms of that pathology have been manifesting themselves

Roughly, for every year that the disease has been present, a month of homeopathic treatment will be required. This, however, is just a “rule of thumb.”

Whether the condition is hereditary

Homeopaths speak of miasmatic influence (derived from the Greek word miainein, meaning pollution or taint), which is the sum of the negative energetic imprints transferred from parent to child, such as stresses experienced during pregnancy.

Interfering factors in the patient’s life

Such factors can include financial crises, quarrels with spouse and children and commutes to and from work that last for more than an hour. Those who live in rural areas and live quiet lives respond to homeopathy more rapidly.

The level of vitality that he or she is seeking

Some patients are interested in relieving symptoms only, while others want to be released from physical limitations. In the latter case, treatment may last for several years.

Jul 28 0

Treating Teens With Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) Using Homeopathy

Posted by Andrew J. Kaufmann, ND

The Use of Homeopathy

Homeopathy refers to the method of treating some form of ailment by intentionally producing some of the symptoms thereof. The German physician Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843) developed the idea on which modern homeopathy is based during the early 1800s, theorizing that a drug that produces certain disease symptoms in a healthy person will have the opposite effect on somebody who already has a disease of which such symptoms are characteristic. (The older school of medicine, based on the opposite principle, is known as allopathy.) In this article, we will look specifically at the use of homeopathic treatments for attention deficit disorder (ADD).

ADD-affected children

About 35 percent of all children in the United States are affected by this disorder. Traditionally, doctors have used central nervous system stimulants to treat ADD. One such drug is Ritalin and other brands of methylphenidate. This particular drug has been prescribed with increasing frequency since the 1990s, partly as a result of the more widespread acceptance of ADD as a valid diagnosis. If the use of this and other such drugs is monitored carefully, they can be effective at least some of the time; however, there is a risk of toxicity, and their effects on children under six has not yet been adequately tested, so these drugs should be considered off-limits to that age group.

That leaves homeopathy as a viable alternative for those who want to see their children treated for ADD as early as possible. Although objective evidence for its effectiveness has been lacking up to a point (see next section), clinicians have reported that homeopathy does have positive results when used properly.

Testing the effectiveness of homeopathy

A blind test was performed in 1997 on 43 ADD children. Each was selected for either a homeopathic remedy or a placebo, which was administered for ten days. Those in the first group improved more greatly than those in the placebo group. An article on this study appeared in the October issue of the British Homeopathic Journal that year.

Some individual homeopathic remedies

The number of homeopathic ADD medicines are great. A few of the medicines are listed below:

Agentum nitricum
Calcarea carbonica
Lycopodium clavatum
Natrum muriaticum
Hyoscyamus
Tuberculinum

Remember, when considering homeopathic treatments for you child you should never self diagnose or treat. Please seek advice and treatment from a highly trained and experienced homeopathic practitioner. Treatment should only be performed by an experienced homeopathic practitioner, after an extensive medical history as been performed to make sure the appropriate medicine is administered.

Jul 22 0

Treating Depression In Children Using Homeopathy

Posted by Andrew J. Kaufmann, ND

Depression in children and teens can be treated with homeopathy in Mesa, AZ Depression is a very common condition. So common that almost every person will experience it in their lives, even children. Depression can effectively be treated with homeopathy in children and teens.

Effects of School on Children

When children go to school, they are thrown into a much different world than the one they are used to at home. Being away from family and their comfort zone is not easy to begin with, and it is much harder when being subjected to stressful situations..

School also demands that children achieve certain standards of physical and mental performance in addition to pleasing the teachers and conforming to rules and regulations. The social and cultural environment is also completely new and often quite challenging for every child.

Depression Stemming from Stress

When children get depression, it does not mean they are not healthy and well-adjusted. It does not mean the parents didn’t do something right. Growing up is the hardest stage in our lives. Children are continually subjected to stress which can lead to depression.

During the growing and developing stage of childhood, there is a great deal of stress that can occur. Adaption to changes and stress is hard on a person mentally, especially a child. Stress can easily turn into depression and that is when we must get help.

How Homeopathy is the Right Approach to a Child’s Depression

Doctors who are trained in the medical field simply prescribe medications that mask the illness, instead of figuring out the underlying cause to truly cure it.

Homeopathy is the right approach to depression because it actually takes care of the problem instead of covering it up. Plus, we want the best for children so of course choosing natural medicine is the healthiest option.

Conclusion

Due to school and the stress of growing up, children can easily get depression. Homeopathy doesn’t just cover up the problem – it gets to the actual causes and treats it naturally. It is important not to self diagnose or self treat this illness. Only an experienced and trained homeopath should evaluate and treat children.

There are very few medical professionals with extensive training in homeopathy. Some homeopaths may have experience in homeopathy but not the medical training for the specific area of behavioral disorders. Choose a practitioner that is trained in classical homeopathy with experience treating behavioral disorders and has medical training.

Jul 20 0

Treating ADD and ADHD in Children Using Homeopathy

Posted by Andrew J. Kaufmann, ND

ADD and ADHD in Children

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and ADD are some of the most commonly diagnosed disorders among children in the US, with rates having increased by 42 percent between 2003 and 2011. Clearly, this is an issue that must be addressed, as a child diagnosed with ADD/ADHD is also at comparably high risk of other difficulties. He or she may:

exhibit behavior problems such as aggression or lashing out
experience difficulty learning
have issues maintaining peer relationships
be saddled with low self-esteem and anxiety

If left untreated, these difficulties can persist, leading to troubles later in life such as difficulty finding and maintaining a job, relationship issues, and in some cases even legal problems or incarceration.

Treatment

Roughly twenty percent of children treated with chemical prescriptions either experience negative side effects or show no improvement whatsoever in response to the first stimulant prescribed. By contrast, one key study found rapid and sustained in children with ADD receiving homeopathic treatment, noting that even after cessation of homeopathic treatment, 57 percent of the children continued to improve, while another 19 percent continued to improve while taking the prescribed homeopathic remedy. Some of the homeopathic remedies that the study found useful, especially in terms of cognitive and behavioral improvement were:

Stramonium
Cina
Hyoscyamus niger

Many other treatments are effective and available, though it is important to note that even in the case of this study, the remedies used were guided by an experienced and knowledgeable professional.

The Importance of Knowing Your Caregiver

Illnesses, particularly chronic ones, are sometimes unbearable– a truth that may lead many to self-diagnosis and self-medication. This can hold even truer when the person afflicted is one of your own children. But regardless of the case, it is crucial that a patient not only seek professional help, but also be informed about the background and qualifications of the health care professionals he or she chooses. Although many medical professionals are familiar with diagnosing and treating physical illness, a fraction of these practitioners are truly knowledgeable about mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders and how to effectively treat them. While many who seek to diagnose and treat illnesses are well-intentioned, they are not all qualified. Make sure you seek help from someone who is.

Jun 24 0

Common Miasm Treatments and Medicines

Posted by Andrew J. Kaufmann, ND

Now that we’ve covered “Miasms: The Foundation of Homeopathy” as well as “Miasms and Disease – Part 1” and “Miasms and Disease – Part 2” we’ll take a look at why you should care about miasms and what they mean to you and your health.

Miasm treatments are generally called nosodes. The word nosode comes from the Greek word NOSO, which means disease. Nosodes are created or prepared from products of diseases or diseased tissues of human beings, animals and plants.

We’ll cover each miasm briefly below as well as the most common nosode:

The Sycotic Miasm is the miasm of excess and extremes and the conditions which result from consistently living in these extremes. Examples of “extremes” are excessive eating and excessive consumption of alcohol or drugs. The primary remedy for this miasm is called Medorrhinum nosode.

The Syphilis Miasm involves conditions of “erosion” (destruction on all levels but not violent). It involves conditions of self-destruction, ulceration and auto-immune diseases. The person’s mental state is one of fear and anxiety. Often the fear is in the area of physical health issues. The primary remedy for the Syphilis Miasm is Syphilinum.

The Psora Miasm includes diseases of lack and deficiency. There is a poor defense mechanism and a tendency toward illness. They catch every cold rolling through town and take forever to recover. This miasm includes 85% of the illnesses and diseases (both physical and mental) according to Samuel Hahnemann, MD. Psorinum is the primary medicine for this miasm.

The Tuberculosis Miasm includes respiratory diseases, such as tuberculosis. This type of person is a “grass is always greener on the other side” type of person. They are constantly changing jobs, relationships, homes, cities, etc. There’s an extreme lack of contentment and peace. The primary nosode for this miasm is Tuberculinum.

The Cancer Miasm encompasses all disease with growths such as cancer. This person is a people pleaser and extremely insecure and self sacrificing. Individuals with a family history of cancer and diabetes often present with this miasm. Carcinosin is the remedy used to treat the Cancer Miasm.

The Lyme Miasm covers conditions such as Lyme Disease. Where the physical conditions change and evolve as the condition progresses. There can be fatigue, skin lesions, aches, pains and feeling like you don’t belong. The symptoms can come and go. It’s deep and comes out in various acute and chronic symptoms. The treatment nosode is the Lyme nosode.

Now that you’ve recognize yourself in one or many of these miasms, you may ask yourself why it matters. Think about it…we’ve already learned that chronic diseases do not develop overnight. They have to develop over time (sometimes years) and it only happens “if” the entire body is compromised. According to Hahnemann, miasms can be acquired throughout the individuals lifetime or inherited from previous generations. Seeking the diagnosis, treatment and medicine from an experienced Naturopathic doctor gives you the preventative tools you need to circumvent both acute and chronic illnesses. It is also important to note that miasms if they are present are not always treated with the indicated medicines above. The presenting symptoms must match the symptoms that the homeopathic medicine would produce in an otherwise healthy individual. This is the Law of Similars, mentioned previously in another article. It is also important to remember that there are well over 3,000 homeopathic medicines available today to treat just about any known disease or condition. This is why it is very important to seek out an experienced Naturopathic physician or homeopathic prescriber, especially for the treatment of chronic disease.

Jun 12 0

Miasms and Disease – Part 1

Posted by Andrew J. Kaufmann, ND

What are Miasms?

As we mentioned in our last blog, a miasm is defined as the fundamental cause of an erroneous or diseased state of the body. Chronic conditions are caused by chronic miasms, just as acute conditions are caused by acute miasms. Miasms cause a complete dynamic and physical change to the interior of the whole man…his whole being is altered. It is only after this complete change has occurred that symptoms of the disease or illness are demonstrated.

The original three foundational miasms identified by Samuel Hahnemann are Psora, Syphilitic and Sycotic. About 85% of the diseases are classified in the Psora miasm with the remaining 15% distributed between the Syphilitic and Sycotic miasms.

Starting with the miasms with the smaller percentage of diseases, we’ve listed each one below and their related diseases or areas of body where the disease might develop.

The Sycotic Miasm includes all conditions of excess of the mind and body. Any conditions with the prefix of “hyper”, such as “hyperactivity” and “hypertension” are included. It also includes conditions with inflammation and a suffix of “itis” such as “sinusitis”. It also includes the following types of disease:

sexual
urinary
joint issues
mucous membrane afflictions
arthritis and rheumatism
asthma
catarrhs
bronchitis
cystitis
warts (includes all warty excrescences and growths)

The Syphilis Miasm typically involves ulcerative conditions. All diseases with tissue destruction and degeneration are included in this miasm. All conditions with a pre Miasms are the foundation of homeopathy diagnosis and treatment in Mesa, AZ fix of “dys” are included such as “dystrophy”. It includes the following types of diseases:

nervous system
blood disorders
skeletal conditions
range of psychological disorders (including: alcoholism, depression, suicidal impulses, insanity, loss of smell and taste, blindness, deafness and ulcerations)
many heart conditions
some vesicular skin eruptions
diseases that have a definite nocturnal periodicity

The Psora Miasm is the largest and most encompassing miasm. Individuals with this classification typically have a “lack” of mentality and poverty consciousness. They are prone to anxiety and pessimism. The Psora miasm is a disease with deficiency at all levels – knowledge, thoughts/ideas and nutrition. Diseases in this miasm typically start with “hypo”, such as hypotension (low blood pressure). It includes diseases and afflictions such as:

all non venereal chronic diseases
all skin diseases
most mental illness other than syphilitic ones
allergies
varicose veins
hemorrhoids
most dysfunctional diseases of organs and systems
catarrhs
asthma
pleurisy
haemoptysis
hydrocephalus
stomach ulcers
scrotal swelling
jaundice
swollen glands
cataract
diabetes
tuberculosis
epilepsy
fevers

After the initial three primary miasms were identified by the father of Homeopathy, Samuel Hahnemann, MD in the late 1700’s, additional and more specific miasms where defined. Not all of them are widely accepted by Naturopathic doctors and other homeopathic prescribers. We will cover a few of these miasms in our next post.

Jun 03 2

Miasms – The Foundation of Homeopathy

Posted by Andrew J. Kaufmann, ND

What is the origin of Homeopathy?

The father of Homeopathy is Samuel Hahnemann, MD. Hahnemann, who was born in Germany, was a traditionally trained doctor in the late 1700’s and believed that the allopathic or conventional treatments for illnesses (both physical and mental) typically did the patient more harm than good. In his research Hahnemann discovered that “like cures like”; meaning that the best medicinal or herbal treatment for an illness was one which produced the same symptoms in a healthy person that the disease presented in the ill person.

Although the Law of Similars mentioned above, seemed to work in the majority of the patients Hahnemann treated, there were still exceptions to this “law” when dealing with chronic illness and disease. Initially, these chronic conditions seemed to respond to the indicated treatment but as time progressed the treatments ceased to work and the illness came back with increased vigor. This discrepancy lead Hahnemann to research further and develop the Theory of Miasms.

What are Miasms?

As Hahnemann described it, a miasm is defined as the fundamental cause of an erroneous or diseased state of the body. Chronic conditions are caused by chronic miasms, just as acute conditions are caused by acute miasms. Miasms cause a complete dynamic and physical change to the interior of the whole man…his whole being is altered. It is only after this complete change has occurred that symptoms of the disease or illness are demonstrated.

Chronic diseases slowly progress and symptoms result over the course of a lifetime, due to an inadequate constitutional response to a miasm. With respect to acute disease or illness, there is a rapid onset of symptoms progressing towards a crisis which ends in recovery or death without treatment. For example, cancer is typically a chronic disease that progresses slowly over years whereas the flu is an acute disease that progresses swiftly over a few days. In both conditions, the entire body has to be compromised or changed by the miasm before the symptoms are demonstrated by the patient.

In Hahnemann’s research, he observed that a patient with a chronic disease would initially improve once the appropriate homeopathic medicine was administered. But as time progressed and the disease progressed, the medicine would cease to improve the condition and new symptoms would present themselves.

The three miasms that Hahnemann identified after 9 years of research were Psora, Syphilitic and Sycotic. About 85% of the diseases known at that time, were classified in the Psora miasm with the remaining 15% distributed between the Syphilitic and Sycotic miasms. The Psora miasm was the original miasm and the one that Hahnemann spent the bulk of his research and efforts understanding.

Disclaimer: No statements on this website are intended to diagnose, prevent, treat or cure any condition or disease but rather are given for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of a licensed, trained health care provider when using any dietary supplements, herbal, homeopathic, over-the-counter medicines, prescription drugs or making any dietary or lifestyle changes.