STANNUM.

 

This remedy is derived from Tin.

This remedy is useful for those who feel weak and faint when going downwards, but can go up well enough.  It also suits women who are sad and despondent, and feel like crying all the time, but crying makes them worse.  It is also useful in person with extreme exhaustion of the mind and body and has to sit down several times while dressing in the morning with great weakness in the chest.  This remedy suits subjects who are sad and anxious, easily discouraged and who have a dread of seeing or inter-acting with people.

 This remedy has its action centered round the nervous system and the respiratory organs.  It is suited for debility and in chronic bronchitis and chronic pulmonary conditions.  It is useful whenever there is a profuse muco-purulent discharge in an underlying tuberculous condition.  This remedy suits subjects who have an adhesive mucous in the throat, which is difficult to detach.  This remedy suits subjects who have a hoarse cough, where the mucous is expelled by forcible cough and the cough is excited by laughing, singing, talking, which is worse by lying on the right side.  The cough is copious green with a sweetish expectoration and more in the daytime.  The chest feels weak and the subject can hardly talk.

THE KEYNOTE SYMPTOM OF STANNUM IS THE PECULIAR FACT THAT ALL PAINS COME AND GO GRADUALLY.

This remedy is useful in subjects who have pain in the head, which is worse from motion, gradually increasing and decreasing, as if constricted by a band.

This remedy suits subjects, where the smell of cooking causes nausea and the colic is relieved by hard pressure.

The remedy suits subjects who sleep with one leg drawn up and the other stretched out.  This remedy suits subjects who have a paralytic weakness in the extremities; drops things and ankles are swollen.  This remedy suits subjects who find that the limbs suddenly give out when attempting to sit down.  This remedy is useful whenever there is a spasmodic twitching of the muscles of the forearm and arm and the fingers jerk when holding the pen.  This remedy is useful in subjects with Neuritis associated with Typewriter’s paralysis.

This remedy suits subjects who are worse after using the voice, while laughing, talking, singing, lying on the right side and after warm drinks.

This remedy suits subjects who are better while coughing, expectoration and with hard pressure.

PULSATILLA is a remedy that follows STANNUM in respiratory conditions.

 TIPS FROM THE MASTERS…

 I have been astonished at its power over the prolapsed uterus.  It seems to strengthen the uterine ligaments.

Dr. Hughes, L.R.C.P.

 Do not forget STANNUM in frontal sinus conditions when the pain rises slowly to a peak and falls gradually.

Dr. Woodbury.

 Introduction:

 Hundreds of medical practitioners in the West are trying Chelation therapy for the prevention and treatment of degenerative circulatory diseases. Proponents of this therapy assert that it is useful in Coronary Artery disease, hypertension, Atherosclerosis, peripheral circulatory disease, premature senility and many age related diseases.

What is EDTA?

 

EDTA is the most commonly used agent for Chelation.  EDTA is a synthetic amino acid it expands as Ethylene-diamine-tetra-acetic acid. It is administered into the body as a series of intravenous infusions. Initially, EDTA gained its reputation for removing toxic metal poisoning from the body and was used in a rare condition where the Calcium levels in the blood are high in the body. It was an accidental finding that EDTA also helps restore the impaired circulation, which has lead to its widespread use in Alternative Medicine.

How does EDTA work?

To put it in a simple way, EDTA acts as a scavenger and binds to atheromatous concretions in the blood vessels, thus cleansing the blood vessels, and helps making them supple, less hard and reduces their narrowing.

So, in chronic circulatory dysfunction, where the coronary arteries may be blocked, EDTA opens up narrow and blocked coronary artery and reduces the angina pain.   If there is a circulatory deficiency in the legs, EDTA helps by improving the circulation by removing the obstructing plaques in the lower limb blood vessels.  It works similarly on the kidney and the brain and improves their function.

 Is Chelation alone enough?

 If elderly patients have a crippling disease and are bed-ridden, then Chelation should be tried in isolation.  But, if the patient is able to comply, then Chelation must be tried with Diet modification and Graded exercise programmes as a part of a comprehensive approach, which will help improve the normality of circulation in the entire body.

Conclusion:

 Despite its wide spread use in Degenerative conditions, Chelation therapy has remained controversial; it has been much misunderstood and grossly under-investigated by mainstream medical professionals.

It is unfortunate that today, Cardiology has become extremely invasive and millions of patients are undergoing Angioplasty or Coronary Arterial Bypass Grafting.  The recurrence rate of Coronary Artery disease despite these procedures is high.  Many patients have to undergo repeat bypass operations or repeat Angioplasty, procedures which are extremely expensive, risky and emotionally painful.

A more open-minded search for a painless and a non-invasive option for these diseases should be made and perhaps, Chelation therapy may be the answer to the crippling and potentially fatal vascular diseases.

SPONGIA TOSTA.

 

THIS REMEDY IS USEFUL IN DRY COUGH WITH A TUBERCULAR DIATHESIS.

 

This remedy is derived from Roasted Sponge, which is a sea animal belonging to the natural order of Coclenterata.

 This remedy is useful in dry cough with a tuberculosis diathesis, heart affection and in exhaustion and heaviness of the body after the slight exertion.

A KEYNOTE SYMPTOM OF THIS REMEDY IS  ‘INCREASE IN THE COUGH WITH FEAR AND ANXIETY’.

This remedy is useful in chronic dry cough with nasal catarrh.  This cough is associated with tickling of the throat, which causes the cough. This remedy is useful when the cough seems to come from a deep spot in the chest and the chest feels raw and sore.  This remedy is useful in bronchitis with wheezing asthmatic cough, which is worse from exposure to cold air and is associated with profuse expectoration.

This remedy is also useful in Thyroid gland enlargement (Goiter), associated with Hyperthyroidism.

This remedy is also useful in testicular swelling with pain and tenderness (Epididymo-orchitis).

This remedy is useful for the hoarseness of the larynx, where the cough is dry, barking, croupy and worse during inspiration. It suits subjects whose cough abates after eating or drinking food, especially warm drinks.  It is useful for sore throat that comes on after eating sweet things.  This remedy is useful in Tubercular laryngitis with hoarseness.

This remedy is useful for rapid and violent palpitation associated with breathlessness in valvular diseases of the heart and in angina pectoris.

This remedy is also useful in swelling and indurations of glands. It is useful in itching of the skin associated with measles.

This remedy suits subjects who awaken with fright and feel suffocated and are generally worse after sleep.

This remedy suits subjects who are worse during midnight, with the ascending wind. It also suits subjects who are better from descending and lying down with the head low.

TIPS FROM THE MASTERS…

 I have never done better work with any other remedy in valvular diseases of the heart than SPONGIA.

Dr. Nash, M.D.

 SPONGIA TOSTA is the most valuable medicine we have when there is fibrinous deposit upon the valves of the heart.  I have repeatedly found the bellows-murmur disappear as well as the subjective symptoms become relieved under its use.  Sudden waking up in the night with a sense of suffocation is the symptom, which especially leads me to its choice I must say that for removing the valvular lesions of endocarditis, I have found SPONGIA very inferior to NAJA.

Dr. Hughes, L.R.C.P.

 SPONGIA relieves the cough and other concomitants of an aneurysm of the descending aorta.

Dr. Hughes, L.R.C.P.

 

SPONGIA is useful only in Asthma depending upon Tuberculosis.

Dr. Boehr.

Introduction:

The western world has always been advocated the use of meat, fish, poultry, grains, dairy products, fruits and vegetables for a healthy living.  But recent studies have shown that this diet actually causes diseases.

More people are turning vegetarian and some are turning into vegans. Veganism is a form vegetarianism where the subjects consciously avoid diary products is eggs. Vegans also avoid using fur, leather, wool and cosmetics, where the products are tested on animals.

Comparative anatomy studies of humans and carnivores:

If we see the hands of human beings, they are rounded without claws suggesting that human hands are meant for pluck fruits rather than tearing flesh.  The incisor teeth are meant for chewing vegetables and the human canine teeth is not well developed.  The salivary secretion in humans has salivary amylase, an enzyme that is designed to digest complex vegetarian carbohydrates. The hydrochloric acid secretion from the stomach is less than 10% of that of the carnivores, suggesting that the human body is more designed to absorb and digest vegetarian food.  Lastly, the length of the large intestine in carnivores is very short and it is three times longer in humans. This is perhaps one reason, why we are meant to be vegetarian.

Non-vegetarianism is dangerous:

The consumption of animal fats and proteins has been linked to heart disease, colon cancers, lung cancers, diabetes, higher cholesterol levels, osteoporosis (brittleness of bones), kidney diseases, blood pressure, obesity and more recently the consumption of beef has lead to the fatal MAD COW DISEASE.

Animal agriculture and the environment:

Contrary to popular beliefs, animal agriculture takes a devastating toll on the earth’s natural resources because it requires enormous amounts land, water, fertilizes and other resources to feed farm animals.  It would be easier on the earth’s resources, if we all turned vegetarian.

Animals pay a heavy price for our way of living:

All of us have a distorted notion that drinking milk or eating eggs does not kill animals. We seldom realize that the cows and chickens live their short lives caged, drugged, mutilated and deprived of their most basic freedom so that we can drink milk or eat eggs.  Many of us are not aware that these animals are cruelly slaughtered when their production rates decline.

The four holistic food groups:

A vegetarian diet would be a lot healthier and holistic.

Whole grains, which include rice, bread, pasta, corn, cereals, millets, barley are rich in fiber and other complex carbohydrates, proteins, B complex vitamins and trace elements.

Vegetables are rich in vitamin C, beta-carotene riboflavin, iron, calcium and fiber.

Legumes are all good sources of fiber, protein, iron, calcium, zinc and B vitamins. Soya milk and tofu are excellent sources of vegetable protein.

Fruits are rich in fiber, vitamin C and beta-carotene.

Conclusion:

The meat industry has contributed to more American deaths than all wars, natural disasters, and all automobile accidents combined.

Adopting a Vegan lifestyle is not easy but it provides abundant benefits to animals’ lives, to the environment, and to our own health.

SPIGELIA.

 

 

THIS REMEDY IS USEFUL IN HEADACHES AND HEART AFFECTIONS.

 It is derived from an herb called as Spigelia Antihelmia. This herb has a pink root.

This remedy suits subjects who are afraid of sharp pointed things, pin and needles.

Spigelia is an important remedy in pericarditis or other disease of the heart.

This remedy is also useful in certain eye and nervous system disorders.  It is particularly useful in glaucoma of the left eye.  This remedy suits subjects who have pain beneath the frontal eminence and temples extending to the eyes, worse in the left eye.

It is an extremely useful remedy for headache.  This remedy is useful when the pain is throbbing and worse while making a false step.

This remedy suits subjects who have a pressing pain in the eyes whole turning them and when there is severe pain in and around the eyes extending deep into the socket of the eyeball.  This remedy is useful in ciliary neuralgia.  This remedy is useful in TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA.

This remedy is useful in chronic nasal catarrh, with postnasal drip, with the forepart of the nose being dry.

This remedy is useful in combating severe toothache, worse after eating and from cold food, with a foul odor from the mouth.

This remedy is useful in Facial neuralgia, which is worse on the left side.

This remedy is useful in violent palpitation, with pre-cordial chest pain, which aggravates with movement.  This remedy is also useful for chest pain with radiating neuralgia extending to both arms.  This remedy is useful in angina pectoris and in breathlessness of cardiac origin.  This remedy is useful in Neuralgia that comes on before the vesicles appear in Herpes Zoster.

This remedy is useful in worm infestation and in subjects with ineffectual urging of the stools.

This remedy suits subjects who are worse from touch, motion, noise turning, washing and from concussion of the head.

This remedy suits subjects who are better lying on the right side with the head held high.

TIPS FROM THE MASTERS…

 SPIGELIA often stops the pain curatively, where a narcotic especially some barbiturate is given by a routinist, a down hill practice.  Dr. T. K. Moore, M.D.

 In some cases of pericarditis I have treated, SPIGELIA has done all the medicine could do and I have the utmost confidence in it. Dr. Russel, M.D.

 Coronary thrombosis has become one of the biggest killers of civilized men and it is a pity that men do not think of SPIGELIA ANTIHELMITHICA in their distress. To be given in the I.M. potency.   Dr. Jugal Kishore, D.M.S.

 

Bates method is a simple method of teaching people to make use of their eyes in a relaxed manner.  This technique was devised by, Dr. William H. Bates who was a leading Ophthalmologist in the New York Postgraduate Medical School.  After seeing over 30,000 patients, Dr Bates concluded that if the mental thinking in the patients improved positively by 50%, their vision also improved.  Dr Bates firmly believed that defective vision was not necessarily as a result of damage of the eye or deterioration of the lens, but it was often as a result of mental stress. He also concluded that for the accommodation of the eye and a sharp vision, the extrinsic ocular muscles of the eye played a major role and not the lens of the eye.

He put his concepts into practice by introducing ‘Palming’; where the patient cover the closed eyes with the palms of the hands, crossing the fingers on the forehead, so as to avoid the direct pressure on the eyeballs.  Some practitioners also combine meditation and visual imagery to this method.  He also advocated the practice of alternate focusing to objects near and far to strengthen the external ocular muscles of the eye.

Bates also believed that the defective eye blinks rarely and that the normal eye blinks both gently and frequently and he advocated his patients to blink the eye consciously.  This improves the vision by lubricating the eyeball and counteracts the harmful effects of staring.

Bates also believed that sunlight was also an important ingredient in improving the vision and extorted his patients to sun themselves with closed eyelids. This should be done along with the silent movement of the head gently, from side to side. This was called as ‘Sunning’.

Many persons who had serious myopic problems improved after trying the Bates method and the power of their glasses came down. 

Conclusion:

The Bates Method combines Palming, Sunning, Meditation and Visual Imagery.  It has definitely improved the eyesight of thousands of sufferers. The Bates method combines the rational use of scientific principles with Holistic methods such as meditation.

SILICEA.

 

This remedy is derived from Pure Flint or Quartz.

It is a remedy for imperfect assimilation and consequent defective nutrition.  It suits children who have Rickets, with a large head, and a slow closure of the fontanels, with a pale face and distended abdomen.  It is useful in scrofulous rachitic children who are slow in walking.  It also suits children who are headstrong, abstracted with fixed ideas.  ONE PECULIAR SYMPTOM IS THAT THIS REMEDY SUITS CHILDREN, WHO ARE FEARFUL OF PINS AND SEARCH AND COUNT THEM.

It suits adults who are anxious, yielding, faint-hearted, chilly and worse from cold and better from warmth and wrapping up.  This remedy suits subjects, who are restless, fidgety, starts at the least noise, and is easily fatigued and wants to constantly lie down and even mental activity fatigues the patient.

It should be used with great caution in TUBERCULOSIS, because it may re-activate old cavities.

This remedy helps the body to re-absorb fibrotic conditions and scar tissue.  It is a great remedy and it promotes the expulsion of foreign bodies; such as fish bones and splinters.  This remedy is useful in whitlows, carbuncles and fissures in the anus.

It is useful for draining abscesses, curing quinsy, headaches and keloids (excessive scar tissue).

It is useful in combating the ill effects of vaccination.

It is useful in healing fistulas in the anus.

The subjects requiring this remedy are cold, chilly and hug the fire and want plenty of warm clothing. They are generally worse in winter and lack vital heat and are intolerant to alcoholic stimulants.

The subjects requiring this remedy generally lack moral or physical grit and are generally mild and yielding in nature, faint-hearted and anxious, nervous and excitable and sensitive to all impressions.  It suits subjects who suffer from brain-fag.

This remedy suits subjects who have profuse head sweats, which extends to the neck, associated with an offensive smell.

This remedy is also useful in swelling in the lachrymal duct, sty in the eye, in iritis (inflammation of the cornea), in irido-choritis, ulcers in the cornea and in cataracts in office-workers. It also suits subjects who have a corneal opacity after keratitis (corneal inflammation).

This remedy suits subjects who have mastoiditis with a fetid discharge from the ears, and sensitiveness to noise with a roaring sensation of the ears.

This remedy suits subjects who have itching at the point of the nose, which is dry hard with crusts that bleed when an attempt is made to loosen them.  This remedy also suits subjects who are prone to sneezing in the morning with an obstructed nose, with a loss of smell and perforation of the septum.

This remedy is useful in facial neuralgia, with a throbbing of the face with a red face and the subjects are worse from the cold and damp weather.

This remedy is useful for abscesses in the root of the teeth, in pyorrhea where the teeth become sensitive to cold water.

This remedy is suitable in cases of periodical Quinsy (Peri-tonsillar abscess) and for all colds that settle down in the throat and in all hard swellings of cervical lymph glands.

This remedy suits subjects who have disgust for meat and warm food, with a lack of appetite, with excessive thirst, colic in the abdomen and constipation.

This remedy is suitable in cases of fistula in the anus, fissures in the anus, hemorrhoids, painful spasm of the anal sphincters and when the stools come down with great difficulty and recede again.

This remedy suits male subjects who have a blood in the urine with involuntary urination.  It also suits subjects, who have a prostatic fluid discharge while urinating.  It is a useful remedy for children with bed- wetting and in worm infestation.  This remedy suits male subjects who have a burning soreness of the genitals with eruption on the inner surface of the thighs.  This remedy suits subjects who suffer from gonorrhea with a thick fetid discharge from the urethra.  This remedy is also useful in elephantiasis of the scrotum and in hydrocoele (collection of fluid around the testicles).

This remedy suits female subjects who have a uterine colic with milky acrid leucorrhoea, with itching of the vulva and the vagina.  This remedy is also useful in abscess of the labia, vaginal cysts and for dissolving hard lumps in the breast.

This remedy is very useful in colds that fail to yield, with persistent muco-purulent sputum and violent cough, which is worse while lying down with a thick yellow lumpy expectoration.  It is useful in the suppurative stage of expectoration.

This remedy suits subjects who have a weak spine and are susceptible to draughts of cold air, which affect the back with pain in the coccyx.  This remedy is also useful in spinal irritation after injuries to the spine and in diseases of the bones and spine (e.g.: Potts’s spine).

This remedy is useful in subjects with a tendency to sleep walking.  It also suits subjects who are sleepless with feeling of a rush of blood and heat in the head.  It also suits subjects, who frequently start in their sleep, with anxious dreams and excessive gasping.

This remedy is very useful in sciatica with pain thorough the hips, legs and feet with cramps in the calves and soles.  This remedy is also useful in curing in-growing toenails.  This remedy is useful in icy cold sweaty feet where there is an offensive sweat in the feet.  This remedy is also useful in soreness in the feet, which extends from the instep to the sole of the feet.

This remedy is useful for skin diseases for subjects with Felons, abscesses, boils, old fistulous ulcers, painless gland swelling, raised colored blotches, scars that become painful and when every skin injury suppurates.  This remedy is also useful for curing crippled nails, bursas and keloids. It is useful in In-growing toe nails.

This remedy suits subjects with fevers that are associated with chilliness, sensitivity to cold air, with creeping sensation and shivering of the body.

This remedy is useful in subjects, who have constipation, which may be worse before and during menstruation, due to the inactivity of the rectum and the stools often recede and are partially expelled.  THIS IS REFERRED TO AS ‘SHY STOOLS OF SILICEA’ BY SOME HOMEOPATHS.

Another peculiar observation is that Silicea is useful in curing ailments, which come on with the suppression of foot-sweats. This is a strange symptom.

This remedy suits subjects who are worse in the new moon in the morning, who are worse from washing in cold water, who are worse during the menstrual period, worse from uncovering, worse from lying down and worse in the damp weather and worse from lying down on the left side and worse from the cold.

This remedy suits subjects who hare better from warmth, wrapping the head in the summer and in wet humid weather.

The remedies that follow SILICEA well are THUJA, SANICULA, And FLOURIC ACID & PULSATILLA.

TIPS FROM THE MASTERS…

A remarkable feature of SILICEA is its ability to promote the expulsion, exteriorization of foreign bodies from the tissues. Many are the records of sphincters, thorns, and pieces of glass, gravel or metal, which have been extruded from various parts of the body after the administration of the drug.  There are sites where surgical removal or attempts threaten are fraught with considerable risk of adding trauma to trauma and the extrusion of the foreign body by natural means aided and abetted by SILICEA in potency, is a preferable procedure ‘albeit’ involving some delay.

Dr. D. M. Gibson, F.R.C.S., etc.

 Hydrocoele and scrofulosis (glandular swellings) disappear after SILICEA.

Dr. Hartman.

 When a mastoid operation has been carried out and there has been slow healing and a constant discharge from the ear, the administration of SILICEA will clear up the trouble.

Dr. Beta.

 SILICEA is also one of the greatest remedies for chronic diarrhea in soldiers due to sleeping on damp grounds, eating all sorts of food, long exhausting marches.

Dr. Kent, M.D.

 SILICEA is excellent for pyorrhea and also PHOSPHORUS and a lotion of SYMPHYTUM Q –2 drams to 8 ounces of water is a good application to the gums in these cases.

Dr. Ruddock, M.D.

 In impending tetanus, we certainly have efficient preventives of the full-fledged disease. ACONITE with fever, anxiety, tension of the muscles, tingling and numbness.  VERATRUM VIRIDE, HYPERICUM with excruciating pain in the wound, BELLADONNA, CICUTA, SILICEA and possibly AUGUSTURA: if the wound is suppurating or has suddenly ceased to discharge pus.

Dr. Farrington, M.D.

For harmful effects of Penicillin: ARSENICUM, THUJA, NUX VOMICA & SILICEA.

Dr. Kent, M.D.

If such bad effects as erysipelas, convulsions or diarrhea should follow vaccination, SILICEA will cure the case, THUJA itself, is complementary here; and comes in very well for diarrhea following vaccination and also when the vaccination fever is high. Pustules like those of Smallpox together with a rash that appears all over the body.

Dr. E. A Farrington, M.D.

PHOSPHORUS is the surest remedy for Glaucoma and helps more frequently than any other remedy; if a cure is not completed by PHOSPHORUS, LYCOPODIUM and no less SILICEA will be found indispensable.

Dr. Jahr.

SILICEA appears to cause a leucocytosis and may increase body resistance to disease in this way.

Dr. Ruddock, M.D.

 

 

Introduction:

The World Health Organization estimates that about 2.5 billion to 3 billion persons are anemic worldwide.  50 % of all anemia cases are caused by Iron deficiency.

In the US it is estimated that:

• More than 3.5 million people in the United States have anemia.
• Anemia occurs in all age groups and in all racial and ethnic groups.
• In the United States, sickle cell anemia affects about 72,000 people.
• Sickle cell anemia occurs in one in every 600 African-American births.
• About 2 million Americans have sickle cell trait.
• Approximately 10 percent of children with SCD suffer fatal or debilitating strokes.
• Aplastic anemia occurs in about 500–1,000 people in the U. S.

Anemia can be caused by several factors:

 Older Adults & the Elderly

• Fatigue, weakness and other anemia symptoms can be misconstrued as normal signs of old age, but neither anemia nor these symptoms are a natural part of aging and should receive meticulous medical attention.
• 10% of persons aged 65 and older have anemia
• 50% of nursing home residents have anemia
• Anemic elderly are twice as likely to hospitalized for falls

 Cancer Patients

• 80% of chemotherapy patients have severe anemia

 

Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

• Anemia is a common and early complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD)
• 28% of mild CKD patients are anemic
• 87% of severe CKD patients are anemic

 In Critically ill Patients
Many factors contribute to anemia in critically ill patients including

• Trauma,
• Surgical blood loss,
• Inflammation
• Nutritional deficiencies.
• 50% of patients in the intensive care unit are anemic
• 75% of long-stay critically ill patients are anemic

 Women of Childbearing Age

• Heavy bleeding with normal menstruation may cause iron deficiency anemia.
• Anemia can also develop during pregnancy
• 12% of women aged 12-49 are iron deficient
• 20% of pregnant women in the U.S. have anemia

Anemia related to poor nutrition:

• Vitamins and minerals are required to make red blood cells.
• In addition to iron, vitamin B12 and folate are required for the proper production of hemoglobin.
• Deficiency in any of these may cause anemia because of inadequate production of red blood cells.
• Poor dietary intake is an important cause of low folate and low vitamin B12 levels.
• Strict vegetarians who do not take sufficient vitamins are at risk to develop vitamin B12 deficiency

 People with Heart Disease

• Hypertension can precipitate or worsen many established cardiovascular diseases, advancing the severity of anemia and congestive heart failure.
• 17-48% of patients with heart failure have anemia
• 43% of hospitalized heart attack patients have anemia

People with Rheumatoid Arthritis

• 30-60% of rheumatoid arthritis patients have anemia
  

People with Chronic Health Conditions

Anemia is often associated with these diseases and often goes undetected

• Chronic kidney disease,
• Cancer,
• Diabetes,
• Cardiovascular disease,
• HIV/AIDS,
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Inflammatory bowel disease.

Pernicious Anemia:

• There also may be a problem in the stomach or the intestines leading to poor absorption of vitamin B12.
• This may lead to anemia because of vitamin B12 deficiency known as pernicious anemia.

Sickle cell anemia:

• In some individuals, the problem may be related to production of abnormal hemoglobin molecules.
• In this condition the hemoglobin problem is qualitative, or functional. Abnormal hemoglobin molecules may cause problems in the integrity of the red blood cell structure and they may become crescent-shaped (sickle cells).

Thalassemia:

• This is another group of hemoglobin-related causes of anemia.
• There are many types of thalassemia, which vary in severity.
• These are also hereditary

Alcoholism:

• Poor nutrition and deficiencies of vitamins and minerals are associated with alcoholism.
• Alcohol itself may also be toxic to the bone marrow and may slow down the red blood cell production.

 Aplastic anemia:

• Occasionally some viral infections may severely affect the bone marrow and diminish production of all blood cells.
• Anti cancer medications and some other medications may pose the same problems.

Hemolytic anemia:

• Hemolytic anemia is a type of anemia in which the red blood cells rupture (known as hemolysis) and become dysfunctional.
• Some forms of hemolytic anemia can be hereditary with constant destruction and rapid reproduction of red blood cells.
• This destruction may also happen to normal red blood cells in certain conditions, for example, with abnormal heart valves damaging the blood cells.

 

The symptoms of anemia:

 

The symptoms are very imperceptible at first. The symptoms of anemia include weakness, fatigue, dizziness, headaches and heart palpitations. These symptoms result from the body not getting enough oxygen through the bloodstream.  It can become a life-threatening condition if left untreated for a long time.

 Some foods that raise the Hemoglobin:

Pumpkins are rich in vitamins and folic acid and vitamin B12 and are useful in combating anemia.

Vegetables like spinach and broccoli, sweet potatoes, beans, green peas, pulses and all green leafy vegetables are rich in iron, folic acid and B12.

Zucchini this is another very effective food for treating anemia. Eat in salads or steam cooked.

 

Tamarind leaves tea is very good for raising hemoglobin.

 

Guavas are great for preventing anemia, and it is believed that they may also prevent leukemia.

Some home remedies that are useful in anemia.

Red wine

Believe it or not! A glass of red wine daily corrects anemia very soon.

Vinegar and molasses

 2 spoons of apple cider vinegar and blackstrap molasses with water or tea is a very good home remedy to correct anemia.

Bee Pollen

1 teaspoon of bee pollen is a powerful biological stimulant and increases the red cells in the bone marrow.

Herbs and anemia.

Yellow dock root

It is a common roadside weed. It has the property of raising the hemoglobin levels.  Many people with anemia have surprised their doctors when they reported that their good results came from this simple plant.

Some have been able to raise their hemoglobin count in a few weeks with yellow dock.

It is available in tincture form as well as capsules. This herb can have the side effect of causing diarrhea if the dosage is too high.

Nettle leaf.

The stinging nettle, also called nettle leaf. This plant can be herb contains a stinging irritant to skin; it can be cooked and eaten like spinach.

It grows in moist shady places. It can be obtained as the bulk dried herb, tincture, or capsule form at health food stores.

It is often combined with red raspberry leaf and oat straw herb, and used as a tea. The addition of anise seed seems to improve results. 

Dandelion and burdock root.

These herbs are often used in combinations to treat anemia. These plants are widespread and easy to identify, and could be used in cases where medical help is not available. They may work by increasing the body’s ability to absorb iron from food.

Alfalfa.

This is a plant that is very nourishing when taken in tablet form. It is often included in combinations of herbs designed to build up the blood.

Alfalfa tablet doses are usually large, like 18 per day. It is more like a food than a medicine.

Dong quai.

It is a Chinese herb, has been reported to help in the treatment of anemia, but to date, no scientific studies have been done to verify this.

Homeopathic remedies for anemia.

Ferrum Metallicum

 Iron is the great allopathic remedy for anemia from almost any cause. It is also a great homoeopathic remedy, but it will not cure every case of anemia; careful individualization is necessary.

It suits patients who have an appearance of full bloodedness or plethora, which is followed by paleness or earthiness of the face and puffiness of the extremities.

Pulsatilla:

Pulsatilla is the great remedy and is indicated in the anemic conditions where the patient is relaxed and worn out; chilly and suffers from gastric and menstrual derangements.

The patient requiring Pulsatilla feels better in the open air. Dizziness on rising, absence of thirst, and the peculiar disposition will lead to the remedy. 

Cinchona

 It is the chief remedy for anemia resulting from loss of fluids, as in lactation or hemorrhage, or from all exhausting discharges, such as menstrual flow, long lasting and diarrhea.

Natrum muriaticum is also a remedy for anemic and debilitated conditions due to loss of fluids, especially in women who suffer from menstrual disorders and in chronic cases with a dead, dirty-looking skin.

Chininum arsenicosum is sometimes prescribed for anemia.  It has been found to be curative in certain cases of pernicious anemia.

Calcarea carbonica

Almost any of the deeper acting constitutional remedies may be of use in anemic and debilitated conditions

Arsenicum album

This is a very useful remedy in cases of pernicious anemia or in anemia’s due to hemolysis in malaria.

It indications are excessive prostration considerable edema, violent and irregular palpitation, marked appetite for acids and brandy, extreme anxiety and rapid emaciation.  There is irritable stomach and intense thirst.

Helonias

It is an excellent remedy in anemia. It suits especially anemia from prolonged hemorrhage in women enervated by indolence and luxury, or such as are worn out with hard work; they are too tired to sleep and the strained muscles burn and ache.  This anemia is associated wih disturbances in the urinary and sexual organs.

Aletris
It is useful in dull, heavy and confused females. It is useful in debility of females from a protracted illness.  Power and energy of mind and body are weakened.

Secale

This remedy is useful in progressing anemia, where the patient is pale, bloodless and jaundiced in color.

Ayurveda and Anemia

1) Lauha bhasma

Historically (1500 B C) in Ayurvedic literature Charak Samhita described fatigue and pallor due to bloodlessness, which can be cured by Lauha bhasma (Calcified iron).

2) Lohasavam is a curative for anemia, jaundice, liver affections, cardiac lesions, dropsy and fever. Lohasavam mixed with Draksharishtam is effective in pregnant women.

The main ingredients are Iron, Triphala, trikatu, Vidanga, Motha, Chitrak, Dhtaki and jaggery.

3)  Dhatri Lauh

It is very good Ayurvedic remedy for peptic ulcer syndrome, pain in abdomen, hyper acidity, anemia and Pitta imbalances.

It is also useful as a regular supplement after first trimester of pregnancy and lactating mothers. The action of these roots is balancing three doshas in body.

4)  Navayas Lauh has nine (Nava) main constituents.

It has Triphala and Nagarmotha, which are very well known digestive rejuvenator.

Trikatu in it corrects the metabolism of the body.

Pippali is an immuno modulator and digestive and respiratory rejuvenator.

Vidanga kills the intestinal worms.

Chitraka mool corrects all aspects of digestive system; digestion, assimilation of food and evacuation of feces.

Navayas Lauh

• Is useful in indigestion, anemia, and eye diseases
• Is useful in all skin diseases
• Helps in all diseases involving the liver i.e. jaundice, hepatitis, loss of appetite etc.
• Is useful in management of heart diseases which are having their origin in anemia
• Is useful in management of hemorrhoids

Diet in Ayurveda:

Ayurveda also recommends a good well-balanced diet rich in iron, sesame seeds, almonds, vegetables as beet, lettuce, spinach, soybean, radish, carrots, tomatoes and fresh fruits as banana, black berries, strawberries, apple, amla, and plums.

Lifestyle modifications

• Enjoy sunbathing as the sunlight stimulates the production of red blood cells.
• Yoga postures such as Shoulder Stand (Sarvangasana), Posterior Stretch (Paschimotthanasana), Corpse Pose (Shavasana) are also considered useful in combating anemia.

References:

 www.anemia.org.

www.nhlbi.nih.gov.

www.emedicinehealth.com.

www.adoptayurveda.com.

www.hpathy.com.

SEPIA.

 

This remedy is derived from the brownish black juice in the ink bag of the Cuttle fish.

This remedy suits subjects who are weary and full of misery.  Subjects requiring this remedy are generally very sad and weep while relating their symptoms.  They are miserly, anxious and indolent and most of their complaints are worse in the evening.

This remedy suits children who take to cold easily.

This remedy has a predominant action on the portal system, especially when associated with congestion and venous stasis.

It also suits flabby puffed up women, with narrow male like hips.   This remedy suits subjects who suffer from weakness with a yellow sallow skin. It suits women who are extremely irritable, easily offended, who permit no opposition, are hysterical, with a changeable temper. ONE OF THE KEYNOTE SYMPTOMS OF THIS REMEDY IS THAT THE PERSON IS INDIFFERENT TO ONES OWN FAMILY AND OFFSPRINGS, WHOM SHE ONCE LOVED.  It also suits women who dread being alone, of men and of meeting friends.  These subjects are averse to any occupation.

This remedy suits subjects who feel cold even in a warm room.

This remedy suits female subjects have headaches associated with scanty menstrual flow.  Their hair has a tendency to fall out and the roots of the hair are very sensitive.  The headache is stinging and it shoots from within outward and goes upwards.  Subjects having headache also have nausea and vomiting and they are worse indoors and while lying on the painful side.

This remedy is useful in Atrophic Rhinitis, where there is a thick greenish discharge with thick plugs and crusts, with pain in the anterior part of the nose and pain in the root of the nose.  This remedy is useful in chronic nasal catarrh with post-nasal dripping of heavy lumpy discharges, which will have to be hawked from the mouth.

This remedy is also useful in subjects with eye problems like Asthenopia, black spots in the line with the vision, tarsal tumors, ptosis (paralysis of the eyelid) and ciliary irritation.

This remedy is useful in subjects with herpes infection behind the ears or on the nape of the neck or in swelling and eruption of the external ear.  This remedy suits subjects who have yellowish blotches of the face, or a saddle like distribution of brownish pigmentation on the nose and the cheeks.

This remedy suits subjects who have a feeling of emptiness in the stomach, not relieved by eating.  This remedy is useful in combating dyspepsia caused by tobacco, which is associated with nausea before eating and vomiting after eating.  This remedy suits subjects who have a longing for vinegar, pickles and acids.  It also suits subjects who are worse after milk and have acid dyspepsia and bloated abdomen with sour eructation.  Such subjects also loath having fatty food.

This remedy suits subjects have a flatulent headache, where the liver is sore and painful, relieved by lying on the right side.  It also suits subjects who have a BEARING DOWN SENSATION IN THE ABDOMEN.

This remedy suits subjects who have bleeding at stools with fullness in the rectum, with constipation and a feeling of a ball in the rectum.  The stools are generally dark brown, round balls glued together with mucus oozing from the anus with prolapse of the anus.

This remedy suits subjects with involuntary urination (nocturnal enuresis) during the first sleep.  This remedy is also useful in chronic cystitis with slow flow of the urinary stream.

This remedy suits male subjects who have a discharge from the urethra more in the night. It also cures condylomas surrounding the head of the penis.  It also suits male subjects who have complaints coming on after coitus.

This remedy suits female subjects, whose pelvic organs are relaxed with a prolapse of the uterus and the subject feels compelled to cross her legs to prevent the protrusion of the uterus.  This remedy suits female subjects, who have leucorrhoea, which is yellowish green.  It also suits female subjects who have a painful vagina, especially after coitus. It is considered to be a woman’s remedy and helps women who have a tendency for repeated abortion.  This remedy is also useful to combat the hot flushes during menopause.  This remedy is one the best remedies for uterine prolapse.

This remedy is useful in female subjects who have frequent flushes of heat, and sweat with the least motion, and experience a general lack of warmth of the body with shivering and thirst.

This remedy suits subjects who have a dry fatiguing cough, with the taste of rotten eggs during coughing.

This remedy suits subjects who have weakness in the back with a tendency to extend the back.

This remedy suits subjects who have restlessness in all limbs with twitching and jerking, night and day.

This remedy suits subjects, who have itching not relieved by scratching, worse on the bends of the elbows and knees. This remedy has the power of removing chloasma (saddle shaped hyper-pigmentation over the cheeks or nose).  It is also useful in herpetic eruptions on the lips.  This remedy is also useful in hives (urticaria) on going out in the open air.  This remedy is also useful in hyper-hydrosis (excessive perspiration) with an offensive odor of the skin.

This remedy suits subjects who are worse in the forenoons and evenings, worse washing and after doing laundry work (THIS REMEDY IS ALSO CALLED AS A WASHER-WOMAN’S REMEDY).

This remedy suits subjects who are worse from dampness and after sweats and worse in cold air before thunderstorms.

This remedy also suits subjects who are better by pressure, exercise, warmth of the bed, hot applications, drawing up the limbs, cold bathing and after sleep.

The remedies that follow SEPIA are NATRUM NURIATICUM, PHOSPHORUS, and NUX VOMICA & GUIACUM.

 

TIPS FROM THE MASTERS…

 Clinically SEPIA has given grateful relief in some cases of complete inguinal hernia with distressing dragging and bearing down sensation. The size of the hernia has been considerably reduced and the pressure symptoms largely overcome.  In these cases, the cross-legged sitting posture of SEPIA was habitual, although the value of this symptom in the case of hernia may be questioned, as this posture tends to reduce the hernia and may therefore be entirely of mechanical origin.

Dr. E. Underhill. Jr, M.D.

 Sinusitis: in my experience, SEPIA is a treasure in sinusitis, and also STICTA in the dry ones.

Dr. E.W. Hubbard.

 Sensation as if the fetus in the uterus has stopped moving inside the uterus: SEPIA 1.M.

Dr. Knerr.

 In the misplacement of the uterus, whether from prolapse, ante-version, or ante-flexion, SEPIA will in most cases restore it to the normal position; so great is my confidence in recent cases that I never resort to manipulation.

Dr. Mercy.

 One of the important uses of SEPIA is in traumatic affections of the heart associated with annoying empty eructation. Often there is the history, perhaps years back, of cardiac involvement in some severe acute fever, compensation has taken place and but slight evidence of the old lesion remains.  Over-lifting, running or over-fatigue suddenly affect the heart and it is just this combination that SEPIA fits especially where there is an uncertain, unsteady feeling about the heart, aching down the left arm and the persistent eructation.

Dr. E. Underhill, M.D.

 When you get a head-nodding child, think of the possibility of SEPIA for it; do not dash off to one of the typical chorea remedies at once.

Dr. D. M. Borland, M.B., Ch.B.

 Dr. Drury, who has much experience in disease of children, expresses great confidence in SEPIA in recent RINGWORM.

Dr. Hughes, L.R.C.P.

 SEPIA given repeatedly, cures enuresis (bed-wetting,) occurring during first sleep.

Dr. Boeninghausen.

 SEPIA & NATRUM MURIATICUM are the 2 most potent remedies for cataract. 

Dr. Spiens. Alexander.

 SEPIA may be regarded as an excellent remedy for the paroxysms of hemi-crania (migraine), which constitute a source of distress to anemic females with lively temperaments.

Dr. Boehr.

 More walking fast more ameliorated in asthma. SEPIA.

Dr. Robert. Redfield, M.D.

 The best remedy for small ulcers about the points of the fingers is SEPIA.

Dr. E. A. Farrington, M.D.

 A history of bed wetting in early life is a good pointer to SEPIA.

Dr. T. Douglas. Ross.

Introduction:

A total of 1,444,920 new cancer cases and 559,650 deaths for cancers are projected to occur in the United States in 2007.  Cancer still accounts for more deaths than heart disease in persons under age 85 years.  From a total of 58 million deaths worldwide in 2005, cancer accounts for 7.6 million (or 13%) of all deaths. The main types of cancer leading to overall cancer mortality are:

• Lung (1.3 million deaths/year);
• Stomach (almost 1 million deaths/year);
• Liver (662,000 deaths/year);
• Colon (655,000 deaths/year) and
• Breast (502,000 deaths/year).

Deaths from cancer in the world are projected to continue rising, with an estimated 9 million people dying from cancer in 2015 and 11.4 million dying in 2030.

QUICK CANCER FACTS:

• 40% of cancer can be prevented (by a healthy diet, physical activity and not using tobacco).
• Tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of cancer in the world. Tobacco use causes cancer of the lung, throat, mouth, pancreas, bladder, stomach, liver, kidney and other types; Environmental tobacco smoke (passive smoking) causes lung cancer.
• One-fifth of cancers worldwide are due to chronic infections, mainly from hepatitis B viruses, causing liver cancer. The human papilloma viruses HPV cause cervical cancer. Helicobacter pylori are implicated in Stomach cancer. Parasites like schistosomes can cause bladder cancer and the liver fluke bile duct cancer.

A celebrity who conquered cancer:

Melissa Etheridge, one of the most recognizable and popular was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2004 at age 43.  She underwent chemotherapy and a lumpectomy and is on the road to recovery. Melissa actually attended a Grammy award ceremony with her beautiful baldhead.   Melissa said in Organic Style magazine, “People said I was courageous because I went on the Grammy’s with no hair. For me, it was just the best decision…I didn’t see it as an act of courage.”

Since the cancer diagnosis Melissa Etheridge has made some major changes in her life. She was quoted in Organic Style as saying, “When I was told I had breast cancer last October at 43, I began to change from the very second I got the diagnosis. I started listening to my body, and I became more aware of everything. With cancer, you start looking at your whole life and cutting the dark things out of it. I often say that cancer is a gift in that way.”

Melissa also reports that she loves yoga now and does it every day. And she watches what she eats, but she doesn’t use food to reward or deny herself anymore.

Conclusion:

Having cancer does not necessarily mean that it is a death sentence. Although the incidence of cancer has been increasing, it is possible to prevent cancer and even fight it off successfully. 40% of the all cancers can be prevented by a healthy diet, which could be more vegetarian or vegan. The studies also highlight the importance of exercise in our lives and avoidance of tobacco in all its forms.