Richard Pitt, former Director of Pacific Academy of Homeopathy, has been a long term volunteer at the Ghana Homeopathy Project. He will treat us to a visual presentation and discussion on his work.

Saturday, Sept. 11, 4-7 p.m.
Location: Jelly’s (map)
295 Terry Francois Street
San Francisco, CA 94158-2105
$20 students and low income
$30-$40 general admission
hors d’oeuvres provided, no-host bar
RSVP to Elise Osner, CHom, or (209) 527-4420

An excerpt from Richard’s Journal:

We just returned from the rural area about 3 hours outside Accra where we are supporting a homeopathic clinic that is part of a larger clinic offering health care to a number of villages in the region. Even though it’s not far from Accra, there is still no electricity in many villages, including the village where the clinic is. From there, we take a battered old land rover, which is at least 25 years old and travel to many other villages, over rutted dirt roads which are often impassable in the rains. Many of the villages are therefore cut off from any larger communities and people often have to walk many miles to get supplies or if they need health care. Even when the roads are passable, there is little public transport for people so often we get people walking 5-10-15 miles to come to the clinic. We are now trying to get out to certain villages and see patients from as many surrounding villages as possible, so our outreach is as broad as possible.

At the clinic itself, people come in for care at all times. It could be a pregnant woman about to have birth, a person who has been injured falling off his motorbike or all sorts of other conditions. Often the clinic is visited by a nomadic people from Nigeria called the Fulani, who wander across the country with cattle, looking for land to graze on, and then moving on. They mostly don’t speak the local Ghanaian languages and so case taking is rather primitive and often one has to prescribe on little information… more.

Unlike traditional western medicines Homeopathy has no side effects. A side effect is a secondary and usually adverse effect of a drug or therapy and is not to be confused with phenomena that may occur while under homeopathic care:  proving symptoms, aggravations, or return of old symptoms.

PROVING SYMPTOMS
Proving symptoms sometimes happen when a person taking a remedy develops symptoms characteristic to the remedy but not symptoms that they have ever experienced. Proving symptoms are usually short-lived.

Proving symptoms are symptoms that have been identified in homeopathic provings of remedies. A “proving,” or “proofing,” is a drug trial or a systematic way to test a remedy and to discover a its healing properties. Remedy proving is a technique that was developed by Samuel Hahnemann, founder of homeopathy. A group of healthy individuals take a single remedy repeatedly until they start to experience symptoms that are not their own. The symptoms are carefully documented and compiled into the catalog of remedies used by homeopaths, referred to as the Homeopathic Materia Medica.

AGGRAVATIONS
Aggravations are a worsening of the symptom/s the person taking the remedy already has. Aggravations are also usually short-lived and result in a healing response. The aggravation will soon pass and the person will soon get well.

RETURN OF OLD SYMPTOMS
Sometimes on the path to wellness a person may experience a symptom they have had in the past but have not had recently. These too are usually short lived and result in a healing response of the person who is taking the remedy.

Your homeopath is the best person to unravel the experience you have while taking homeopathic remedies.

RELATED POSTS:
Homeopathy, Frequently Asked Questions

Promote good habits. Discuss with your child their schedule, band/sports practice, chores, due dates for projects, homework, etc. Help them create a daily agenda to meet their needs. Include recreational activities they enjoy. Ensure they get the rest and sleep they need. Lack of sleep wears on the nerves and immune system.

Whole food snacks and desserts that are low in sugar will help promote concentration: raw vegetable sticks, nuts and nut butter, fresh fruits, unflavored yogurt, and hard-boiled eggs. Limit foods with caffeine such as chocolate, carbonated beverages, teas and coffees, especially in the evening when it is time to wind down and get ready for bed.

One of the simplest and most effective ways to avoid stress is to breathe. Slow down and pay attention to one’s breath is something the entire family can do. Here are some breathing exercises to try.

Rescue Remedy is not a homeopathic remedy, it is a Bach Flower Remedy made from a combination of flower essences. Rescue Remedy is helpful for apprehension. Three drops in a cup of water sipped slowly can sometimes abort anxiety. Rescue Remedy Sleep formula sprayed on a pillow case or applied to the forehead and cheeks can alleviate insomnia.

Examples of homeopathic remedies that can help with stress: Kali phosphoricum helps students who have made an enormous effort with their studies and then become totally exhausted, mentally dull, and nervous.

Students who are homesick, aren’t used to the demands of college life, and have difficulty handling their workload, may become spacey, weak, or apathetic and may need Phosphoric acid. They may be drowsy by day and sleepless at night. Some needing this remedy can get so run down that they may contract mononucleosis or chronic diarrhea.

Calcaria phosophoricum can be helpful for headaches due to prolonged mental exertion.

Argentrum nitricum can relieve performance anxiety, fear of the unknown, and flatulence or diarrhea under stress.

If you are succumbing to stress and repeatedly falling ill, it may be time to seek homeopathic care from a professional. I have helped individuals and families over come stress and illnesses related to stress. I now offer pre-paid packages of 6 months that include the homeopathic remedy. Give me a call to find out more 925.826.3858.

What a great welcoming! Thank all of you who came to the Open House & Ribbon Cutting hosted by the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce. We had about 40 people attend. The food was great and the best company ever!

It was an opportunity to announce:
•  Our New Programs in Women’s Health for Menopause, Fibroids, PMS, PMD, and Thyroid;
•  Linda Young who has as joined my team as office assistant; and
• A Sampling of Nutrient Dense Foods, which I recommend to to all my clients.

You will find us at 43 Quail Court, Suite 102, Walnut Creek, CA 94596.  Call 925.826.3858

Bring in our article from a recent Community Focus and get $75-off initial consultation or $100-off one of our wellness programs.

The event was catered by LaMoone Catering. There were so many great comments on the nutrient dense food served, I’ve posted the menu:  Soaked & Dehydrated Crispy Tamari Almonds, Smoked & Dehydrated Sea Salt & Pepper Walnuts, Caraway & Juniper Berry Sauerkraut, Raw & Organic Goat Cheddar & Chevre, Sprouted Whole Wheat Grain Sourdough Crackers, Wild Salmon Gravlax, Biodynamic Raisins, and Carob Coconut ‘Almond Joys’.

Pictured Left to Right: Jeanne Schwass, Mike Elder, Susan Lucas, Teresa McKinney, Myra Nissen, Orfer Erez, Amy Erez, Connie Espinosa, Diana Walsh, Joy Maloles Keehn, Matt Rinn, Bill Schwass, Tina Traum, Jacob Traum, John Hanecak, Arlene Santos, Sara Swafford, Linda Young, Perlita Sajadi, Carole Morton, Dick Hixson, Adam Tabasco.

I have joined the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce. To commemorate my joining, I would like to invite you to an Open House & Ribbon Cutting.

I am happy to announce at the Open House:
•  Our New Programs in Women’s Health
•  Linda Young who has as joined my team as office assistant
• A Sampling of Nutrient Dense Foods, which I recommend to to all my clients.

We ill be having refreshments and give-a-ways. I invite you to stop by and join the fun. You will find us at 43 Quail Court, Suite 102, Walnut Creek. Look for us in the courtyard across from Daughters & Davis between buildings 43 & 31.

RSVP is requested.

We had a fabulous time; see how it turned out.

It is with great pleasure I would like to announce that Linda Young has joined me as administrative assistant. She has 6 years experience as an assistant for a popular day spa in Vallejo.

Linda will be the go-to person for scheduling appointments, questions about billing, and ordering remedies and supplements.
Linda can be reached either from the main phone number, 925.826.3858 or her direct number, 925.465.2244. You can reach Linda by email.

ACUTE ILLNESS
An acute illness is transitory. Symptoms begin quickly, the illness builds and then subsides. It is self-limiting. Usually the person can recover on her own. Colds and influenza are examples of acute illnesses. They are caused by a virus or bacteria. Injuries can also be considered acute illnesses.

CHRONIC ILLNESS
A chronic illness develops slowly. Symptoms gradually increase in intensity and number, slowly reducing a person’s general health and vitality. Symptoms don’t go away, and compound with accompanying ailments. Examples of chronic diseases are high blood pressure, allergies, arthritis, heart disease, and migraine headaches.

FINDING A REMEDY TO ADDRESS AN ACUTE ILLNESS
A homeopathic remedy used in an acute illness is one that most closely matches the symptoms the person is experiencing during the illness. Some symptoms that a homeopath would use to determine a remedy would include the location where the illness is experienced, the sensation the person is experiencing, the time of day the person feels better or worse, and what makes the symptoms subside or become more severe.

For example, consider the complaints of a person who has a sore throat. This person’s throat is dark red in color. The pain is worse on the left side. The throat feels better when the person swallows solid food, worse while swallowing liquids, and the person’s tonsils and glands under his jaw are swollen. The person may require the remedy Lachesis muta. In contrast, the remedy Lycopodium clvavatum may be needed for a person with a sore throat that started on the right side, is worse in the morning on waking, and feels better when the person has warm drinks.

FINDING A REMEDY TO ADDRESS A CHRONIC ILLNESS
A remedy addressing a chronic illness takes into account all the symptoms the person is experiencing whether or not they have to do with the diagnosed disease. Any physical symptoms such as headaches, joint pain, skin eruptions, as well as mental/emotional symptoms would be considered. Is the person irritable, tired, or sad? Preferences about food and weather will be taken into account. A homeopath would also want to know what the person’s life was like when the symptoms began. Remedies for constitutional care address the totality of the symptoms, and the person should begin to experience well-being throughout.

WHAT HAPPENS IF AN ACUTE ILLNESS OCCURS WHILE A PERSON IS UNDER CONSTITUTIONAL CARE?
Once someone has started a constitutional remedy, repeating that same remedy will usually take care of the acute illness because the constitutional remedy addresses the whole person. I generally start with a lower potency of the same remedy. The lower potency gently stimulates the body back to its previous state of well-being.

THE CASE OF SANDI D.
To illustrate these principles, I would like to share with you the case of Sandi D. A beautiful, intelligent young woman with her own business, Sandi came to me over two years ago complaining of low energy and allergies. At the time, she was engaged, but not certain about marriage. Together we were able to resolve her allergies, and she regained her energy. She decided that marriage was the right step for her.  She was doing very well.

Over a year after I had seen her, Sandi called because her allergies had returned and she had developed a rash. She had taken antibiotics and started taking nutritional supplements, but was not getting better.  I determined her chronic picture was reappearing, and she needed take another dose of her constitutional remedy. Sandi repeated the remedy at the same potency I had given her a year before. She called that weekend to tell me her rash had almost cleared up and her allergies were gone.

About a week later she called me again. She was very nervous about a presentation she had to give at school, and asked for a remedy to help her get through the presentation. I asked her to repeat her constitutional remedy, but this time I recommended a lower potency. She was hesitant because she knows a little about acute care and wanted to take a well-known remedy for stage fright. However, she followed my instructions. Her confidence restored, Sandi gave the best presentation in the class.

The following week Sandi called because she had dropped a heavy skillet on her big toe. She wanted to know if she should take arnica or hypericum, two logical acute remedy choices for this type of injury. I told her to first try repeating her constitutional remedy using the same low potency she had taken before she gave the presentation. She did. Her toe was instantly 85% better.

In Sandi’s case, repeating a low potency of her remedy helped her through her acute situations while not interrupting the action of the constitutional remedy. Sometimes there are exceptions and a constitutional remedy will not act on an acute illness. Your homeopath will know the best way to address an acute illness if you are under constitutional care.

Homeopathy-Self Care by Ullman & Reichenberg-Ullman

The Complete Homeopathy HandBook by Miranda Castro

Homeopathy for Pregnancy, Birth and Your Baby’s First Year by Miranda Castro

The Vaccine Guide: Risks and Benefits for Children and Adults by Randall Neustaedter

Impossible Cure: The Promise of Homeopathy by Amy Lansky

There is a great book that has a general over view on homeopathy called Beyond Flat Earth Medicine by Dooley. There is a link to a free download of the first edition of this book on my website.

Learn how to use homeopathic remedies safely and with confidence, attend the Homeopathy Every Day Study Group.

Natlaya Golovanov, ND

Myra Nissen, CCH, RSHom(NA)

Join us the third Thursday of each month to learn how to use homeopathic remedies safely to promote the health of yourself and your family.

At this meeting we will be studying homeopathic remedies for coughs, influenza and colds.

We will be meeting in Walnut Creek in Quail Court Office Park located at 43 Quail Court, Suite 215, Walnut Creek, 94596. The meeting will be held in the conference room on the second floor.

Register For Study Group

About Homeopathy Every Day Study Group.

Please join us to learn how these two modalities work together to help restore health and wellness. Suzette Lake has been in the field of bodywork since 1996 having a private practice in Walnut since 1997. She now uses Bowenwork nearly exclusively to address the needs of her clients. Visit Suzzette’s website.

Join us at the Homeopathy Every Day Study Group of Walnut Creek Thursday, October 21, from 6-7p.m. 43 Quail Court, Suite 215, Walnut Creek, CA 94510.

Register For Study Group

About Homeopathy Every Day Study Group.