Changing Tactics

A good post was just put up on Amy Lansky's blog about how Big Pharma is changing tactics in order to try and eliminate homeopathic remedies. The following paragraph from Lansky's post is beautifully succinct:

"At first, the skeptics tried to assert that remedies were just sugar pills or plain old water. Then they tried to say that homeopathy was dangerous because people who used it weren’t seeking “proper medical treatment”. When this strategy failed, homeopathic “sugar pills” suddenly became dangerous drugs! Oblivious to the inconsistency behind this sudden change in tactic, the media (which even mainstream politicians acknowledge is bought-and-sold by Big Pharma) has been fed horror stories about “poisonous substances” in homeopathic baby teething tablets! Of course, these dire warnings ignore the fact that the “poison” has been diluted beyond any possible toxicity, even if a baby was given 1000 tablets. Nor were there any reports of harm. It’s all too ironic, given the fact that pharmaceutical drugs are killing people every day."

Placebo or Not?

I was watching a fascinating discussion between doctors Rupert Sheldrake and Bruce Lipton and, when they arrived at a point (at 44:40) in their talk about placebo, I knew I had to share it. For most of us who have studied and worked in the Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) area of health care, placebo is a familiar term - usually because skeptics say the remedies only work due to placebo. What's particularly interesting about the above-mentioned point on the topic is because it addresses not why a placebo effect occurs but rather why would it not work? In other words, what is preventing the placebo-healing in some individuals?

I've mentioned elsewhere that I have no problem with the placebo effect as an adjunct or enhancement of remedies - because the whole purpose is, after all, to create healing. Nevertheless, it remains a wonderful subject to consider whenever one is taking any kind of medicine.

If we take this kind of healing a step further, what exactly is this healing that happens without being attributed to a material medicine? Homeopathy and Flower Essences are known as energy or vibrational remedies. Is a placebo healing due to a similar unseen effect? Is it from us or from the invisible field around us? Is it through the assistance of beings from another realm we can't see, like angels? No one knows.

Not All the Same

I was reading some messages on a Facebook post about healthy dietary lifestyles. One woman was discouraged because she didn't get the brilliant results that others were seeing.

Granted, it can sometimes simply be that we aren't following each explicit detail of the recommended method, a detail that may be key. However ...

The primary thing to also remember is that each of us is unique; every ancient or indigenous healing system points to that individuality and the need to take it into consideration. A method (or herb or remedy or food) can often work for 60-80% of the population, but there will always be those for whom the situation is different. 

So, try the "majority method" and then whittle away or add to it (listen to your own body's messages) to find your own unique path of healing.

Melting Disease

The following is one of my favorite quotes by Dr. Edward Bach, the brilliant developer of our modern (since the 1930s) version of flower essences:

“The action of these remedies is to raise our vibrations and open up our channels for the reception of our Spiritual Self, to flood our natures with the particular virtue we need, and wash out from us the fault which is causing harm. They are able, like beautiful music, or any gloriously uplifting thing which gives us inspiration, to raise our very natures, and bring us nearer to our Souls: and by that very act, to bring us peace, and relieve our sufferings. 

They cure, not by attacking disease, but by flooding our bodies with the beautiful vibrations of our Higher Nature, in the presence of which disease melts as snow in the sunshine.”

From: Ye Suffer From Yourselves, by Dr. Edward Bach (1931)

I originally worked with Bach's flower essence range, as have most people introduced for the first time to the healing power of these simple remedies. Since then, I have found other lines of flower essences that resonate as well, often more strongly, at least for me and those in my care. Nevertheless, I am deeply indebted to Bach, as the Father of Flower Essence Therapy.

If you are intrigued, here is a simple, online, FREE course to learn more about Dr. Bach and flower essences: HEALING HERBS - BACH FLOWER LEARNING.

Beginnings in Homeopathy

Since I rarely offer private consultations in homeopathic care these days, although I nearly always welcome the opportunity to share information via classes, I thought I would suggest some podcast resources:

One is for practical application of home remedies, whether you are a total newbie or have used a few one-off remedies in the past and want to learn more. That podcast is "Joette Calabrese of Practical Homeopathy Inc" (her podcast locations of availability, including iTunes ("Apple Podcast"), are listed at the top of the episode). Her latest episode is on Aging: Our Grandparents, Our Parents, and Us, and it is marvelous! Joette is bold and passionate and speaks her mind; she's fiery and courageous in speaking up about how she views homeopathy and conventional medicine/drugs. Because I'm already trained as a homeopath and have been practicing the art for a couple decades, I don't listen to most of Joette's podcasts, but have listened to enough of them to encourage those of you who are at the beginning stages of learning to do so.

The second podcast is "by a homeopath, for homeopaths" but I think that those of you who already have some knowledge about and experience in this healing modality will find it interesting and it might, perhaps, inspire you to learn more. Kelly Callahan created this podcast a couple years ago called "1M: A Homeopath's Podcast" and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Again, this is probably not a good podcast for newbies to homeopathy, as many of the discussions will be hard for you to follow, but if you've studied for a while, have some books, and are eager to step up your education, I think you will enjoy the conversations and information.

As always, if you have questions about the above, feel free to contact me!

Placebo?

A recent conversation with a family member has prompted me to post a quick public reply to the statement that "homeopathy is placebo."

The idea behind a placebo's effect is that the individual desires that the medicine they are given work, and so it works. Except that many people are strong skeptics when given a homeopathic remedy, so why would it prove effective if they don't believe it will? Plus, on the flip side, many people think and believe that conventional drugs will work ... and then they don't. Why is that? Wouldn't one think that placebo would make those conventional drugs work no matter what?

Don't get me wrong. I'm convinced that the mind is an extremely powerful force of healing! I'm simply saying that "placebo" needs to be accepted as a possibility in any and every medicine, but that doesn't mean any medicine only works because of the placebo effect. Let's talk both/and rather than either/or.

Here's another consideration. Homeopathy has been seen over and over again to work with farm animals or wild animals as well as pets / animal companions. Is that placebo? Even when they don't know the remedy is being added to their food or water?

See my essay: Substance of Homeopathy: Fact or Fiction?

From a practical perspective, this family member was also quite surprised when I provided the following tidbits of information:

- Homeopathic pharmacies are regulated by the FDA. (There is currently, however, a modern "witch hunt" against homeopathic remedies because use of them is on the rise and, despite decades of doctors stating that the harm in the remedies is due to their lack of ingredients (i.e., that they are a "placebo"), the remedies could also be harmful. Nothing in them but they still have harmful effects? Hmm. Really?) Find out more by visiting the AMERICANS FOR HOMEOPATHY CHOICE web site and especially their Facebook page for videos.

- At one time, Homeopathy was a medically accepted and widely used form of treatment. It was introduced in America about 1825 and, as outlined in one article:
"By the end of the 19th century, there were 22 homeopathic medical schools, more than 100 homeopathic hospitals, over 60 orphan asylums and senior living facilities, and over 1,000 homeopathic practitioners in the United States."
Now, granted, just because a medical tool or system was historically practiced doesn't mean that it should continue -- large doses of toxins and poisons were once dosed and I certainly wouldn't want that to have continued.

Needless to say, there are many voices raised today about homeopathy -- those for, against, and undecided. I would encourage you to explore all sides of the debate before you make up your mind about this rich and vital healing modality.

Spring Salads

Today was my first Big Spring Salad of 2018 and it was SO yummy! Usually, I wait at least until after the Spring Equinox to begin eating mega-salads for lunch, but today was so warm (67 degrees) and sunny, I could hear the birds singing through the open windows of the house, that I couldn't wait.

While I am not a hard-core advocate of seasonal eating, I do try to lean in that direction when possible. For a simple example, I eat more potatoes and squash (heavy, cooked foods) in the winter, and more fresh raw salads (light, raw foods) during spring and summer.

I learned about the concept of seasonal eating when I was being trained in Ayurveda, but I know there are other naturalists who also follow this practice. My teacher was Dr. John Douillard and his web site or book is a great starting point to learn about following Nature's cycles and seasons in order to bring increased balance to our body systems.

As a vegetarian (who tends toward the vegan side), I've done my share of moderating the guidelines in that respect as well as following my own bodily constitution. Our individual constitutions may lead us to avoid some foods while increasing others, so it's important to know your innate nature. Another personal guideline is to feel into the landscape around you. Do you live in a hot, dry climate or a cool, wet one? That can influence which foods you will be able to digest well.

There are so many aspects to giving our bodies what they need, but don't wait any longer. I encourage you to dip your toes in the waters right now and explore!