~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Homeopath-online Newsletter
Newsletter 4
February 2005
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-- heart tonic
-- arnica
-- varicose veins


Hello and welcome to the homeopath-online newsletter.

As all the shops are decorated in hearts for Valentine's day I figured cardiovascular health should be the focus this month.

Thank you for sharing this email with friends and family and for the feedback you generously give me!


heart tonic
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The remedy Crataegus acts on the muscles of the heart and is an excellent tonic. It helps where there is high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis and general weakness. It has no cumulative action, meaning it will not build up in the body.
Used in a 6x or 6c homeopathic strength, Crataegus helps to strengthen and regulate the action of the heart. I have used it with patients who after regular use (plus other individualised remedies) have been able to reduce their high blood pressure medication.

Please do not reduce your medication without the authority of your doctor. I cannot stress this enough. Tonics are not a replacement for prescribed medication. Only your doctor can make changes to your prescription.

If you have high blood pressure it is best to see a homeopath for an individual prescription. Those with a family history of heart disease could use Crataegus as preventative medicine.



arnica
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is probably the best known homeopathic remedy. It is excellent for damage to the small blood vessels under the skin as in the case of bruising. Arnica helps the blood to reabsorb away from the surface of the skin, thus reducing the discolouration and tenderness.
If you do ever knock yourself and leave a bruise, take Arnica 30c internally up to six times a day until the bruise is gone. Additionally you can rub Arnica cream on the bruise itself but do not use this if the skin is broken. It will sting.

The only caution for Arnica is that it should not be used by people on blood thinners.

This is one remedy every home should have, especially if you have children! It can also be used for general trauma such as tooth extraction or after an operation. Anytime there is damage to the soft tissues of the body, think of Arnica.



varicose veins
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Varicose veins are weakened veins, usually in the legs, and are raised and purple in colour. While usually considered more a nuisance than anything dangerous, although they can feel sore, varicose veins are an indication that the circulation is sluggish.
The remedy Hamamelis is the best one for venous congestion. Use in a 6c strength daily. Used this way it is a tonic remedy and over time the soreness and distention should improve.

Additionally consider a supplement of vitamin C as this helps strengthen collagen structure in vein walls. Cayenne pepper helps relieve inflammation while expanding blood vessels, allowing better flow.

Do not cross your legs! Try to elevate your legs for at least twenty minutes a day. Preferably do "frogs" which is to lie with your feet in the air and then bend your knees towards your body. This encourages lymph flow and moves fluids through the lower limbs.

If you have itchy skin around a varicose vein, try not to scratch as it can lead to ulceration. Use Calendula cream topically or cooled aloe vera gel to help with any burning sensation.

To your health!

Adrianna

© Adrianna Holman BSc, LCH, RSHom 2005

Thank you for sharing this email with your friends and colleagues. As well as forwarding to your friends, you may reprint any tip in the newsletter. Please include full authorship, copyright, and subscription information.