4Homeopathy unveils a campaign website for practitioners and patients alike, to enable the British public to voice to their concerns about the impending Department of Health consultation to blacklist homeopathic medicines.

Launched today, 4Homeopathy.org is the Homeopathy Hub campaign site.  The site has updates on national and local campaigns, and ideas on how you can help support homeopathy.

Cristal Sumner, Chief Executive of the British Homeopathic Association says ‘This is an excellent portal to help patients ensure their choice to have homeopathic medicines available on the NHS is heard by decision makers.’


It’s your choice, your hub and have your say by visiting www.4Homeopathy.org

'Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds

Or bends with the remover to remove.

Oh, no! It is an ever fixed mark

That looks on tempests, and is never shaken.'

(Sonnet CXV1, William Shakespeare)

Shakespeare's sonnet above; equally moving and triumphant and magnificent words capturing the essence of true love, on which we can indulge and reflect, given that it is Valentine's Day. How sublime it would be were this always to be the case and love was never 'shaken.'  Realistically however, we all know of someone who has been devastated following the break-up of a romantic relationship, and whose life appeared to be in ruins; for this reason specific homeopathic remedies for a broken heart will be discussed, in the hope that the carefully selected remedy will ease the way forward, and the victim of heartache can begin to emerge from their darkness into the light.

Yes, all love is beautiful, by definition, but conversely it can wound, scar and devastate; often the greater the love, the harder the fall, significantly validated by many great love stories which are also tragedies: Romeo and Juliet, Tristan and Isolde, Cleopatra and Marc Antony, Layla and Manjun, the list goes on. Herein lies the paradox, great love, often great pain.

Without going into any deep history, which would take too long, Valentine’s Day signifies a day where people can confess their feelings of undying love to their often 'would be' lovers, wives, husbands or partners.  As with any commercial opportunity, gifts adorn the shops months before and people get excited about the possibility of expressing their inner most thoughts and desires, through various mediums, often the more public, the better; it is like having carte blanche to be 'real.’ Sacred intimacy, appears now to be a rare and special thing, with lovers actively seeking external validation for their 'love.’ Vague cynicism aside, it is potentially wonderful to have a day devoted to love in this often cruel world, where it can be celebrated and applauded and where love-struck couples can revel and wallow in their 'special day.’

For many people however, Valentine’s Day can be a source of personal turmoil, with those confronted with their own lost love and a broken heart.  At the start of any romantic relationship one can feel indestructible, superhuman; 'we are different, our love is insurmountable, everlasting, we are special and will not be a statistic on the side of relationship breakdowns.’ Shakespeare reflects this joy and hope in the sonnet above. This of course, may be the case at the time, one is not unique in thinking this; I would go as far as to say it is all of us. Philosophically however, nothing lasts forever.  We can pledge love to eternity, although, by definition, eternity cannot have a conclusion. Any reticence shown here in believing in everlasting romantic love for all, comes from professional experience and being witness to great emotional suffering. I have taken many homeopathic chronic cases, and it is rare that a broken relationship is not cited as being a huge aetiology (cause) of despair, grief, depression, anxiety. Consider the opposite to the definitions of the love synonyms: 'affection, appreciation, devotion, emotion, fondness, infatuation, lust, and passion.’ Strong beautiful, positive words, engendering warmth and safety.  Now absorb the negative power of the antonyms: 'dislike, hate, indifference, apathy, misery, sorrow, treachery.’  Basically, should the beautiful bonds once created within a relationship break, and sadly statistics show this is frequently the case, many people are left feeling hurt and angry at best, which can have a huge effect on their overall health and wellbeing. In homeopathy, we see the mind symptoms as being top of the hierarchy to be treated, in other words our emotional state can have a huge influence on physical health.

James Tyler Kent, in 'Lectures on Homeopathic Philosophy’ states: 'Man consists in what he thinks and what he loves and there is nothing else in man.’ Wise words and reflective of the mind symptoms always being at the top of the hierarchy of symptoms to be treated. On this basis, several key homeopathic remedies can help to address emotional trauma as a result of lost love, hopefully balancing the entire body and lessening a fragile state:

Aconite (Aconitum Napellus)

To be considered when:

• First shock at hearing of break-up of their relationship


• Feel they might die without their lover


• Fear, anger


• Anxiety and restlessness

Ignatia (Ignatia Amara)

To be considered when:

• Inconsolable


• Love sick, from disappointed love


• Sighing is apparent and involuntary


• Can change quickly from laughing to weeping


• Often unable to cope and hysterical

Natrum Muriaticum

To be considered when:

• Grief at the loss of the relationship is private, often melancholy people


• Worse for consolation


• Key physical symptoms appear at the same time or soon after, like migraines, palpitations and skin conditions

Staphysagria

To be considered when:

• Subject is generally acutely sensitive


• Sometimes prone to violence in the face of love that has disappointed


• Can suppress their emotions


• Feel wounded


• Pride Hurt


• Feel slighted


• Inner seething, to point of 'boiling over.’

Hyoscymus (Hyosymus Niger)

To be considered when:

• Jealous


• Hysterical, irritable, nervous


• Spitefulness


• Suspicious and angry


• Often physically violent, incoherent speech, or inclination to laugh at everything, sometimes resulting in fits


• Destroys all reminders of lover

Aurum Metallicum

To be considered when:

• Subject is profoundly melancholic


• Great depression evident


• Possible self-harm


• Tired of life, gloomy and taciturn


• Talks about suicide

Causticum

To be considered when:

• Very sensitive people


• Subject is passionate about helping others and puts them before himself


• Ailments often follow disappointed love


• Intense sympathy for the suffering of others

Phosphoric Acid (Phosphoric Acidum)

To be considered when:

• Feeling of indifference despite disappointed love


• Lack of reaction


• Weakness, apathy


• Feelings of loss and grief


• Withdrawal


• Lack of interest in life, doesn’t want to live


• Others rudeness affects her

Apis (Apis Mellifica)

To be considered when:

• Jealousy is a large part of the emotional picture


• Fear of losing a partner, to the point where they are tormented by it


• Weeping, discouraged, despondent

Antimonium Crudum

To be considered when:

• Subject is very idealistic, romantic in love


• Bad effects of disappointed affection


• Continuous state of enthusiastic love and ecstasy


• Sentimentality a key trait

There are many more remedies that could be added to the list above, however many of the key reactions to devastating loss of romantic love are covered. As ever, I advise you to consult a homeopath: www.findahomeopath.org to see the symptoms in their totality.

My often unrealistic wish would be for everyone to practice unconditional love with respect for another’s delicate heart, the phrase 'do unto others’ comes to mind and would ultimately soften any heart breaking blows. Other advice on self-care is given throughout the homeopathic consultation, but this is one incidence in particular where I recommend reading and absorbing the beautiful words of Derek Walcott in the poem 'Love after Love’ which is a brilliant expression of the need to care for and love yourself, in all your rawness and vulnerability.

'The time will come
when, with elation
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other's welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was yourself.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart 

to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.’ 

I hope you enjoy February, and all that it brings, and if necessary, follow the heartfelt advice given here.

Gill Graham, BSc (Hons), BA (Hons) RSHom, DHMHS

BBC Radio 4's Farming Today show featured two Wiltshire based organic farmers who explain that in their experience homeopathy's holistic approach leads to all round healthier herds.

John Newman, Farm Manager at Abbey Home Farm near Cirencester, is joined by Christine Gosling.

Listen here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06z4w6y

Strictly Come Dancing star Arlene Phillips walked the red carpet last night at the National Television Awards wearing a “living” dress decorated with real flowers that are all used for homeopathic remedies, including Clematis, Hydrangea and others.

Arlene is lending her support to a campaign launched by eleven homeopathic charities and associations, including the British Homeopathic Association (BHA) and the Homeopathy Action Trust (HAT). The campaign aims to raise awareness of homeopathy and the organisations’, useful and informative website, www.findahomeopath.org.

The dress was the inspiration of award-winning florist (five consecutive RHS Gold Medals and four Best in Show awards from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show) Joseph Massie. Months of work have gone into designing and making the dress, with Massie and his team spending over 100 hours painstakingly sowing each petal onto the fabric.

Arlene uses homeopathy to aid digestion and to help keep her stomach healthy. She commented, “I’m passionate about being 100% naturally healthy. I was first introduced to homeopathy six years or so ago. After visiting a homeopath I noticed huge differences and have never looked back.”

 The BHA and HAT are both national charities that have come together for this campaign to highlight the need for greater integration of homeopathy into everyday healthcare, and to raise public awareness.  For more information visit www.findahomeopath.org.

BHA Chief Executive, Cristal Sumner, said: “We are so pleased to have such a strong, beautiful woman endorsing homeopathy and talking about her experience of using homeopathy. It mirrors what I regularly hear every day -from those who use homeopathy and see a homeopath.”

She added: “Hopefully our campaign will encourage others to join Arlene and themillions of people across the globe who have made homeopathy an indispensable part of their approach to healthcare.”

For further information, hi-res images, or to speak to Arlene Phillips, please contact Insider Communications on 0203 667 3230 or Ravi@insidercomms.com / Rania@insidercomms.com

For more information about homeopathy and the charities involved:

www.findahomeopath.org

www.britishhomeopathic.org

www.homeopathyactiontrust.org

Written by Gill Graham, BSc (Hons), BA (Hons) RS Hom, DHMHS

Whatever race, religion or spiritual leanings we have, we are all faced with January, and the start of a new year. Many of you may identify with me in that the end of the year included massive amounts of preparation for Christmas or other festive celebrations. Cooking, shopping, and entertaining endlessly, with an open heart; joyfully taking on these extra challenges in addition to our normal busy lives, grateful for the energy we are able to invest whilst our effervescence is as tangible as the finest ‘Cristal.’

However, come the beginning of January, many of us feel a tinge of burn out, disorientation and exhaustion often coupled with the usual sluggishness associated with over consumption of foods we are not used to eating and  the after effects of hyperactivity. Even by addressing our diets, we are still left emotionally bewildered at a time when the world is telling us to ‘Strive for a new you!! ‘Make this year count!!’ ‘Be the best you can be and achieve your potential!!’ A tall order when you are feeling like a large snail, who just wants to crawl back under her stone and sleep and recharge.

It is comforting at least to see there is security in numbers.  There is much we can do for ourselves however, to rebalance our bodies and minds which doesn’t involve beating ourselves up for eating our weight in mince pies and glugging prosecco like there is no tomorrow whilst ignoring our own emotional needs. Thankfully, we can slowly observe our own transformation as one emerges slowly from our shell or maybe another fitting analogy lies in the word ‘chrysalis.’

Specifically here, I am looking at homeopathic remedies to help with renewing our energy and sense of worth and purpose after a potentially exhausting time, therefore the focus here is on the pathological mind symptoms. A few indicated remedies are listed, to show the scope of homeopathic treatment, when we are left feeling tired and disorientated; however, as ever, I strongly suggest you contact a homeopath to address the symptoms in their totality.

Burnout/Exhaustion

Phosphoric Acid - To be considered if feeling:

• A very still depressiveness, the cause of which can lie in too much excitement, humiliation, fright, grief or shock


• Listlessness


• Indifferent to what is happening in life


• Exhaustion, becoming withdrawn


• Wants to go home and be alone

Sepia -To be considered if feeling:

• Shut down


• Indifferent, particularly to one’s family and those she loves the best


• Indolent, doesn’t want to do anything, work or play. Even thinking is hard


• Wants to be alone


• Confused


• Dislikes company and consolation


• Irritable


• Sensitive to noise, music, pain


• Sluggish


• Tearful and weepy

Staphysagria -To be considered if feeling:

• Violated, leading to indignation and resentment


• If feelings of resentment and injustice build up, this can often result in violent outburst of rage. Great indignation about things done by others or by himself. Dwells on the consequences


• Extremely sensitive to the slightest mental impressions. Often the least harmful word offends


• Has been insulted, but is too dignified to fight, resulting in exhaustion and sickness accompanied by trembling.


• Apathetic, indifferent and low spirited.

Cocculus -To be considered if feeling:

• Loss of sleep, from a multitude of causes, whether caring for others or self-deprivation due to lifestyle.


• Stress resulting in exhaustion leading to confusion and forgetfulness. Often those requiring cocculus will appear dazed to others.


• Grief or anger with associated trembling.

Ignatia -To be considered if feeling:

• Sensitive, broody, aliments from disappointed love


• Grief: for those that are alone and who have sad memories at this time, with a tendency to sigh


• Emotional state can swing rapidly from joy to sorrow and laughing to weeping


• Desire to be alone


• People affected by long term deep grief


• Often fine, delicate, sensitive people, who take offence to contradiction, leading to anger.

Phosphorous – To be considered if feeling:

• Anxious


• Weak


• Fearful, often of being alone


• Sensitive, particularly to pain and light


• Jumpy and irritable


• Weary of life and full of gloomy forebodings


• Love and need reassurance, touch and affection

There are many more remedy’s that could be considered, these are just a few that cover some of the emotional states that can potentially follow a full on, sometimes immensely complex time. A psychological overload, often caused by
too much interaction or possibly not enough, evoking strong feelings for which suppression is not the answer.

I hope this will be a remarkable year for you and yes, you can fly and evolve like the most glorious butterfly or carry any baggage you have freely and effortlessly, with the correct mind set.

As ever, professional homeopathic advice should be sought:http://www.findahomeopath.org/Search/Postcode