If you have ever suffered with arthritis you will know how debilitating it can be. It can make doing routine everyday tasks painful and difficult, and can affect people of all ages, including children. As we approach Winter, with colder weather ahead, symptoms can get worse, so now is the time to seek help.

Arthritis is a common condition that causes pain and inflammation in a joint. There are more than 10 million people in the UK suffering with conditions that affect the joints, including arthritis. The most commonly affected joints are the hands, spine, knees and hips. Sufferers report a wide range of symptoms - joint pain, tenderness and stiffness, inflammation in and around the joints, restricted movement of the joints, warm red skin over the affected joint, and weakness and muscle wasting are the most common symptoms.

Conventional treatments aim to slow the condition's progress and minimise joint inflammation to try and prevent joint damage. However, if you are not happy with the treatment you have received, or want to try a natural alternative, then homeopathy is worth exploring.

Homeopathy is a natural, safe and gentle system of medicine that has been around for over 200 years. It’s an individualised medicine which seeks to identify the root cause of your condition. Remedies are selected according to each individual’s unique symptoms. Rhux tox, for example, can be used where the joints are hot, stiff and painful, but this is just one of a range of homeopathic medicines which are commonly used for arthritic and rheumatoid pain. 

If you want advice, search for a registered homeopath on the Find a Homeopath website, or visit one of the homeopathic pharmacies. Arthritic pain isn’t something that you have to put up with. There is help available.

Anyone who has suffered with a skin condition like eczema will know how it can affect you. Not just the way you look, but how you feel about yourself. It can impact other aspects of your life and wellbeing, and isn’t just a matter of physical discomfort or inconvenience. Eczema may make you feel embarrassed, anxious, or lacking in self-confidence. Itchiness is the worst and most common physical symptom of eczema, and can often be the most difficult to treat.

Eczema, or dermatitis, is a dry skin condition which comes in many different forms, and varies from person to person. Different triggers and factors can cause eczema - anything from allergies, clothing, cold weather, the sun, diet, stress, even everyday household products. In the UK, one in five children and one in ten adults have eczema, perhaps around 15 million people.

If eczema is affecting you and your daily life, then you need to seek help. Homeopathy is a safe, natural option. It is an individualised, whole-person  medicine which works with your own body. A homeopath will talk to you about your symptoms, how they affect you, and look for the root cause of the eczema. People around the world report positive results from using homeopathy for a range of skin conditions such as eczema. Why not give it a try yourself? It could save you a lot of unnecessary discomfort and distress.

People often say that Britain is a country of animal lovers. It is estimated that there are almost as many pets as people in the UK, an astonishing 51 million. Almost every other household is believed to have a pet. So you’d probably be right in saying we Brits adore our animals. 

Unsurprisingly, our most popular pets are dogs, with nearly a quarter of households owning a dog, followed by cats. We then have millions of small furries like guinea pigs, hamsters and rabbits. Let’s not forget to mention horses and fish. 

Pets play an important part in many of our lives. Regular interaction with a pet can have significant health benefits, from reduced stress levels to increased fitness. After all they do for us, it’s important that we also give them the care they deserve in return. Britain was, in fact, the first country in the world to start a welfare charity for animals, as far back as 1824, and animal welfare is as important to us as ever.

What many people might not know is that homeopathy can be a natural and gentle option for our pets for a wide range of ailments, keeping our precious pets healthy. Arnica is a well-known and widely used homeopathic medicine for injuries and bruising in both humans and animals, Nux vomica can be used successfully for upset stomachs, and Rhus tox can help your pets with stiff joints. Remember that homeopathy is an individualised medicine though, so like a human, our pets benefit most from a medicine specially tailored to their needs.

If you think your pet might benefit from homeopathy, then visit the find a homeopath website, and search for a registered homeopathic vet. Check out the 4Homeopathy video too, and listen for yourself how one pet owner helped her dog with homeopathy. Don't hesitate to call your own vet if symptoms are serious or persist.

People use the term wellbeing regularly, but do we really understand the complex mix of physical, psychological and lifestyle factors which affect our wellbeing, and what we can do to improve it?

This June, we invite you to take a first step to address any issues which could help improve your wellbeing. A good sense of wellbeing not only improves our general feelings of happiness and fulfilment, but could in turn help us avoid physical and mental health problems in future.

In order to make these first steps, we must understand for ourselves what constitutes wellbeing, what contributes to our positive wellbeing, and what negatively affects us.

Ask yourself some questions to assess your own wellbeing. Are you optimistic? Do you often feel relaxed? Do you feel energetic? Do you feel you cope well with your problems? Are you able to think clearly and concentrate?

These are just some of the questions which could help you determine your level of wellbeing. Negative contributors for wellbeing include things such as lack of social activity, poor diet and lack of exercise, stress, consistent poor sleep, and poor physical health and chronic illness.

Whatever your answers to these questions, the good news is that there are always things we each can do to improve and maintain our own positive wellbeing.

Remember too, that your sense of wellbeing will change. We all experience highs and lows, but if you feel you are having more lows than highs, and are not sure how to improve this on your own, then talking to a counsellor or a healthcare practitioner like a homeopath could help. 

A homeopath will look at you as a whole-person. They will empower you to address the challenges to improve your wellbeing. Homeopathy is a natural, safe medicine which supports the body’s own self-healing mechanism. Try homeopathy this June. It could be the right option for your physical and mental wellbeing.

May has brought a welcome further easing in lockdown restrictions, with travel now possible, and many of us are starting to think about taking a holiday and returning to normal. Not to mention that we all need a break, and re-charge our batteries. Amongst all the excitement of that long-awaited holiday, whether that’s in the UK or abroad, don’t forget about basic holiday health matters like stings, sunburn and travel sickness.

Homeopathy can help with all your holiday health needs for the whole family. Don’t wait till you need to find a pharmacy in your holiday destination. Don’t get caught out. It’s best to get organised now, and prepare in advance.

Sunburn is uncomfortable, and can be dangerous, so it shouldn’t be ignored. It’s better not to get burnt in the first place, but we all know how easy it is to lose track of time in the sun, especially children when they are playing in the sea, on the beach, or in the countryside. Belladonna is a commonly used homeopathic medicine for sunburn, which could be right for you.

Why risk ruining your holiday with travel sickness on the way there or back, when Nux vom or Cocculus can provide options for relief? There’s also nothing worse than being bitten by an insect, and then itching for the rest of the holiday. If this happens, Apis may be the homeopathic option for you. 

A consultation with a homeopath can ensure that you are fully equipped for all these common holiday health ailments, and for just being out and about during the better weather.

Whatever your holiday health needs, homeopathy offers a gentle, natural option. Prepare now, so you can enjoy your break without worrying about common health worries. And if just planning the holiday is making you feel stressed, homeopathy can help with that too.