Homeopathic Treatment of Psoriasis

What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is one of the most obstinate skin conditions that literally mean "itch" in Greek. The red white patches of varying size and shapes appear on usually extensor aspects of the body like outer aspects of forearms, knees, etc or all over the body. Scalp psoriasis is also common. Even the toenails and fingernails may be affected. The areas usually have thick silvery plaques that flake off on itching.

Causes and Symptoms of Psoriasis:

Though exact cause of psoriasis is not known, the genetic factor predominates in the development of psoriasis. It occurs due to some defect in the dermis due to which the cell production enhances suddenly and the epidermis fails to accumulate all those cells leading to patchy skin growth in the form of psoriasis. More than exact causes, some trigger factors have been identified that increase the symptoms of psoriasis. Among them the anxiety and mental stress dominates the picture. Also injury of any kind, some drug or food allergies, recurrent skin infections etc have been known to enhance the existing psoriasis.

The symptoms are excessive itching, flaking, silvery dryness of skin, occurrence of bleeding spots due to excess itching, arthritic joint pains if the patches are on the joints, etc.

How does Homeopathy Help?

Homeopathy is a wonderful system of medicine that deals with variety of illnesses. But it is always stressed by experts that being side-effect-less should not make people take this mode of therapy lightly. One must seek professional advice and not believe in just what you read. Especially when it comes to chronic ailments like skin diseases, one must seek professional intervention. However, it is true that skin troubles like psoriasis find wonderful relief with homeopathic system of medicine.

Gone are the days when people used to go to homeopathic physicians as the last resource. Today people believe in homeopathy like never before and they present themselves to the homeopaths directly. This gives homeopaths better view of the concerned malady and easy treatment strategy. In any types of psoriasis, including scalp psoriasis, homeopathic medicines act wonderfully to relieve initially the signs and symptoms of the disease like flaking of skin, redness, occasional itching (more so if the psoriatic lesion is lichenified), and related symptoms.

Homeopathic treatment involves constitutional treatment and only that is able to impart permanent cure for the disease. Psoriasis or any other skin disease is never skin deep. It has its roots in genetics as well as bodily built up. The physiological, mental, and psychological picture of the patient must be considered to impart permanent cure. Unless one gives this constitutional and miasmatic remedy, the disease is not cured but suppressed. As well said by Burnett, “Homeopathic failures are the worst failures.” We must exercise great caution in order to not suppress the psoriasis and impart cure by aptly chosen constitutional prescription.

Certainly there are acute remedies to relieve the patient of acute exacerbation of psoriasis that may occur due to various triggers like stress, excess cold or any other aggravating factor. Here you can give acute prescriptions depending upon symptoms but never repeat it too often to cause suppression. Later to clear the picture of the case and choose the right remedy is often tedious job. But at the end, the disease responds well only to properly selected remedy that matches the constitution of the individual suffering from psoriasis.

Along with the homeopathic prescription, the homeopathic doctors should advice modification factors in the lifestyle of people depending upon trigger factors or general factors those are known to aggravate disease. Though definitive factors have not been found yet, certainly one can say that avoiding stress is one of the most important things one can do. Certain behavior therapies, yoga, stress-relief exercises, and psychotherapy may help in this regard. No wonder people call homeopaths psychotherapists because they know so much about the psyche of the person they are treating. If they do not, they will never be able to impart cure!

Why homeopathy can offer lasting relief in psoriasis?

As we said, psoriasis is an immune related disease. The genetic factor dominates and you usually tend to aggravate the condition due to above mentioned triggers. Therefore, it is necessary that the treatment regime should never be mere local. You must have seen that after using certain steroids and anti-metabolite drugs, the skin patches reduce drastically but they tend to recur over the period of time because you have treated them locally. This is the reason, homeopathic medicines that act from inside out help relieve the symptoms in the long run.

The homeopathy offers stimulating effect on the body's natural healing process. The homeopathic remedies have a natural tendency to work at the root level and bring back normalcy to the deviated immune system. Literally thousands of patients have been benefited by aptly selected homeopathic remedies. Yes, it is true that for treating your psoriasis, you must try to choose the right homeopath so that you get consistent and quicker results. Within three to five weeks, usually patients see some results after starting the treatment regime.

Also avoid using homeopathic patent medicines available in the market. They are not formulated considering the individual symptoms and therefore are not according to homeopathic principles. Only after carefully considering the constitution of the patient, a homeopathic doctor should treat the patient!

With regular follow up, numerous cases of psoriasis, psoriatic arthropathies, nail changes etc have found relief. Palliation is never a homeopathic strategy though it is a myth that these remedies cause aggravation in the initial period. Properly selected remedies rarely give rise to aggravation in cases of psoriasis and impart permanent cure!

Natrum mur- The Salt that Makes Homeopathy Complete just like Meals!

We certainly know the importance of salt in our diet. No one likes to eat salt-less meals and there are people who just hate food item devoid of salt. Actually we never give so much importance to this omni-present ingredient in diet that makes its presence felt when it is absent! Great were the stalwarts of homeopathy including Dr Hahnemann who considered the possibility of great curative powers in this day to day item and gave us one of the best polycrests of homeopathic material medica.

Certainly the salt needs potentization to enhance its curative capabilities in human beings. Hoards of potencies were tested in human beings for evaluating the various symptoms this sodium chloride gave rise to in healthy individuals. The characteristic processes of trituration and succussion bring forth the latent curative powers in various crude substances like salt, silica, and lead.

As for any other natural modes of therapies, homeopathy always carried burden of critics that kept criticizing the genuine methods of enhancing powers of such crude substances by the peculiar processes mentioned above. But that adds to the glory of homeopathy, as it remains undeterred to horrible criticism and continues serving humanity. Burnett, a devout homeopath condemns this criticism with one of the wisest monograms that says, “Our beliefs have nothing to do with truth. Disbelieving a thing does not disprove it n the same way that the presence of nothing but atheists in world would not do away with the Supreme Being.”

The most characteristic symptom of Natrum mur is the patient’s affinity for salt and salty things. “Just will not have meals if salt is less in food”. The explanation goes like this- Salt is an essential ingredient of diet. But the person is not assimilating the salt properly and so the tissues need a stimulus of potentized salt to satisfy the needs.

But while prescribing Natrum mur to patients with varied physical symptoms, mental sphere of the patient has to match with that of the drug picture. Rather, many of the great homeopaths have condemned the use of Natrum mur in potency unless the person has marked similarity of mental symptoms. The emotional vulnerability of Natrum mur is noteworthy.

I always like to call Natrum mur the remedy of twenty first century. With the fast growing economy and pace of life, there are many people around that mask their feelings, emotions in an attempt to feel falsely secure about their life. They have feelings but they will not express for the fear of ridicule or any type of reaction. But the acuity of senses has not warned off. They are suffering from various maladies that are leading to marked lethargy and weakness. Intelligence is growing by leaps and bounds but relations are getting scattered. Brooding in solitude has become a habit and slowly we have started loving it. As Dr M. L. Tyler rightly puts it “Lachrymation (weeping) with laughter” is the pure golden symptom of Natrum mur.

The remedy caters huge physical sphere for patients. Right from recurrent colds to catarrh of uterus can be treated extremely effectively with Natrum mur. The skin diseases, depression, migraines, malaria, other types of intermittent fevers with characteristic symptoms, and many other maladies come under the realm of natrum mur when the symptoms match.

Truly homeopathic material medica is a huge psychology book that teaches us how the psychosomatic illnesses can be treated by potentized drugs never to recur again. There is absolutely no need to repeat often. Try to go by classical method when you are sure of the drug picture and patient’s constitution, and our eternal homeopathic principles will never lead you in wrong direction!

A recipe for flawless health!

How to Live Disease-Free?

Friends!

Thanks for an overwhelming response to earlier blog about Pranayama! Well, from your responses, I can come to conclusion that every one of us is interested about health and that is certainly a good thing to know! One of the great queries that prompted me to write today’s blog is “If we follow Pranayama and exercises regularly, will we be never sick?

The credit for this blog certainly goes for these people who keep me on my toes to clarifying things and delve deep into the things those I write about. Upon further study of the things and after reaching out to some old health encyclopedias, I found something astonishing. The query answered affirmatively for those who really are regular in following their exercise and Pranayama routine and some other lifestyle changes. The concerned guide-books say, “You will not fall sick if you do these things scrupulously.” But what does scrupulous mean? Let’s see-

Certain criteria are there to define what is scrupulous about exercise means:

(1) Doing it everyday

Well, the medical sciences tell you that exercising regularly means exercising at least 3 times a week. Some of the medical books mention that even exercising 5 to 6 times a month gives you good results. Are these books talking wrong? No! They are not wrong for people who are extremely sedentary and need some push up. For them, this is the right guideline to start with. Also it indicates “Do at least this much!” But our aim is different. We do not want to fall sick. If that aim is to be targeted, we must do it everyday.

(2) Not skipping exercise

You might be thinking why the same point again? Doing it everyday means don’t skip. Then why this point? This is because the term “everyday” differs for people. I daily encounter in my clinical practice when I suggest to go for a walk daily, people come the next week and tell, “Doctor, I went for a walk everyday except for a few days gap!” “Why gap?” “Doctor, went to my mother’s place for 2 days” “Doctor, my niece came visiting” “I was about to leave when my husband told me to type his papers” “This house-work!” “You know my children’s school timing just doesn’t match with my walking time!” Pheww! This is what happens with almost every one of us. We do this as if our body will forgive us and still maintain its harmony. But norms of body and nature are very stringent. They don’t give us leeway for such reasons.

According to me, the above mentioned two criteria are the only ones that define scrupulousness. No “some changes here and there”!

One of our great teachers at the hospital where I studied used to tell patients “Do it any time of the day. Don’t tell excuses like I cannot get up in morning or I don’t get time. Even if you do at the mid of the day in heat of sun, it’s fine but don’t skip! If you need to go somewhere, get up earlier to complete your exercise routine!”

Below is listed the recipe for perfect health. Following it or not is in your hands!

(1) Drink at least 10 glasses of water per day.

(2) Eat at least two servings of (any) fruit every day.

(3) Space out your meals. Never eat full-stomach 2 times a day. Instead have 4 to 6 smaller meals across the day.

(4) Begin your meals with raw salad. It enables you to have fuller tummy before you embark on main dish. Naturally you tend to eat less. Also you get enough fiber to help you avoid constipation and gain lots of antioxidants.

(5) While having your favorite sweet dish and while on weight loss regime, don’t deprive yourself. Try having smaller portions and reduce the portions day by day. This way, you don’t feel overwhelmed to leave the food you love and also tend to accumulate fewer calories.

(6) If you tend to over-eat a day, try compensating it by lengthening your exercise time that day or next day. Yes, it’s must!

(7) Reduce eating outside. If you go out 3 to 4 times a week, reduce it to 2 times for first week; slowly reduce it to 2 to 3 times a month. Impossible? Don’t you want to be disease-free?

(8) Try to be active throughout the day, even if at home. Remember you must sweat a least once in a day due to some or the other work. Gardening, washing clothes, cleaning a room, etc come under these types of work. ‘I drop my daughter to school!’ C’mon! It’s not a work that sweats!

(9) Smoking and alcohol are strictly prohibited with no excuse at all!

(10) Laugh ‘heartily’ at least 2 times a day. Yep, must! Remember ‘smile’ is not ‘laugh’!

(11) Let your body and mind forget the word “stress”. Prioritize your work. Don’t be bogged down by people calling you “time-table”. Only those who manage their times well live longer, as they don’t allow them to get stressed by impending deadlines. Remember “deadlines are the death’s trap”. Let’s work ahead of time before we arrive even close to deadline. This means you should slot some time even for ‘emergencies’. If they don’t arrive, it’s your time for self-indulgence! Cool!

(12) Now the point comes- Exercise regularly. Do you know what the most beneficial factor in exercising is, apart from getting healthier? It is “giving time for yourself”. Let it become part and parcel of your routine, so much so that if you skip, you feel ‘incomplete’ for that day!

(13) Practice Pranayama at the start of any type of exercise. It allows you to concentrate better on your exercise. It helps drive away negative forces in you and surroundings. It enables you to forget the pride, jealousy, hatred, and selfishness before you embark on a journey to give your body a good head-start!

(14) Do not take any tablet (even antacid, pain-killer, or anti-diarrheal) without consulting your family physician. Remember these drugs may be life-savers at times, but it has been seen that the same drugs become killers when taken haphazardly. It is a known truth that Ayurvedic and homeopathic medicines are far mild and without side effects when it comes to treating maladies. Go natural in whatever way you can. Never ever burden your body with nasty chemicals and artificial medicinal agents.

(15) Last but not the least- Follow this daily!!

Sounds overwhelming? Actually it’s not. If you think calmly, this is the life we would all desire and be happy with. Just the huge bombarding of marketing gimmicks from various junk food products, ‘money brings happiness’ attitude, and procrastination are the factors those are leading us nowhere these days. And most importantly, we want to be disease-free! No sickness for life! And practicing above things daily gives us 100% guaranteed results! Certainly a very small premium for a free health insurance for life!

Dealing with Anxiety Neurosis Homeopathically!

As we all know, homeopathy is a holistic mode of therapy and “mind” is the most important rubric in is huge material medica. No case taking whether chronic or acute is complete without considering the mind of the person you are treating. And this journey into human mind is fascinating. Mind has been aptly correlated to wind. Mind works similarly as the wind that turns into any direction and is either violent or mildly soothing.

Anxiety is one of the major rubrics for mind while studying homeopathic material medica and in day to day practice; we encounter countless people having this symptom with some or the other physical general and particular symptoms. According to Oxford Companion of Medical Studies, anxiety is either good or bad. An unpleasant mental state of foreboding, uneasiness, and apprehension, almost approaching fear, which may be accompanied by the signs of sympathetic over activity such as tremor, sweating, and tachycardia. When this anxiety is as per the circumstance or is apt for the circumstance, it is nothing but the physiological preparation of the body to face the difficulty ahead. But when it is prolonged, excessive, and inappropriate to the circumstance, it is a disease!

Certainly living with the later kind of anxiety is tough. The person goes through lot of emotional turmoil while handling day to day life problems and slowly starts loathing life. In spiritual sense, we can say that people who are anxious decide to themselves that they rule over the circumstances and if they go out of hand, they are responsible for it. In short, these are the people with an attitude of faithlessness for the people around and themselves. Out of this sheer vulnerability to seek responsibility for every act arises the anxiety that is so hard to deal with.

I had a patient whom I was treating for his gastric trouble. He had an anxiety that he will be dismissed from the job one day and life will be so very difficult later. He was a conscientious person and was quite up to date and fastidious regarding his work. But this fastidiousness was not out of love for the job but out of the anxiety that he will lose job if he is not. He lived away from his family after his transfer to a nearby place. There his anxiety was redirected to the fear that his family, especially children will not bother about him now, as he is not there to take care of them personally. Obviously this was an anxiety without any base but he nurtured it so very close to his heart. No wonder he suffered from palpitations, gastric discomfort, and alternate diarrhea and constipation.

This kind of excessive anticipatory anxiety (a kind of suspended feeling) is found in many homeopathic remedies. Argentum nitricum was the drug of choice for the above mentioned patient with few repetitions and he started responding immediately. Looking at his other physical general and particular symptoms and mental symptoms, he was later given Sulphur 1M 1 dose and he was totally cured of his physical symptoms. Also in next visit he reported that his anxious spells are reducing day by day. He is able to cope with day to day work better.

This is just an example. Certainly along with homeopathic medicines, homeopath must be able to counsel the patient well. Rather it is true that counseling is the part and parcel of any treatment module. Only then we can achieve perfect cure!

(First published as a blog in the Homeopathy World Community Profile of Dr Shreya Deshpande)

Benefits of Pranayama! Want to miss? Certainly NOT!

A great Sunday morning and I am in mood to write about my favorite topic, Pranayama! Well, certainly with some leading Yoga gurus imbibing the value of this ancient method of instilling life force, many people are aware of the benefits. But when I see certain section of society totally unaware of the facts about Pranayama, I feel like pursuing everyone to learn it.

“Prana” is our life force. If we want to simplify the Pranayama, we can say that it is with Prana we are alive. And Pranayama is the method to give exercise to that Prana so that it remains in perfect harmony. Well, I know this may sound weird to some people who have heard many other tangible and intangible definitions of Pranayama. But I can see that this one is quite legible and comprehensible. You want good and functioning knees, doctors advise you to walk regularly, you want perfect figure, you should give appropriate exercise to your body. Then isn’t it must to give good exercise to the life force (prana) that runs you as a whole?

Pranayama is in short proper utilization of this amazing and absolutely free source of energy so that we encounter remarkable changes in our health. It is not just oxygen. It is the modified force that enables us to live to the fullest!

Let’s list some of the most visible and comprehensible benefits of Pranayama:
(1) Prevents aging: Well, in face of so many anti-aging creams and pills available in the market at platinum price, Pranayama practice is the free medicine available to avert aging. It is evident that longevity depends upon your breathing rate. If it is faster, you have fewer years to live. Pranayama helps you reduce the breathing rate to a great extent and gives you extra life full of joy and inner happiness. Ask those who practice Pranayama regularly and have a look at their skin. Study has revealed that Pranayama regular practice keeps your skin wrinkle free and glowing.
(2) Cardiovascular health: with regular practice, you tend to inhale more and more oxygen and circulate it freely all over the body. All the body cells get rejuvenated and the blood circulation improves amazingly. The pumping action of heart gets stabilized and blood pressure gets controlled. There are thousands of people who have stopped all anti-hypertensive tablets after they started practicing Pranayama.
(3) Breathing Rate is stabilized and reduced: The way we breathe decides how our health is. It is said that as the meditation helps the person to calm down, Pranayama helps one control their respiration in a positive way and slow down the heart rate so that cardiac outflow is stabilized and no undue stress is laid on heart muscles.
(4) Enhances mental acuity: The study reveals that there has been marked improvement in a person’s concentration power after he practices Pranayama. The changes are visible right from the first week and the person feels less distracted during work. The improvement in cognitive abilities and with memory power is additional plus. If instead of sending students to “improve memory” classes, parents insist on doing Pranayama once a day, it will be rewarding for sure!
(5) Negative mental qualities diminish in course of time: We all go through varied stress and strains. But as is aptly said, ‘make stress work for you’, Pranayama helps us achieve this. We can slowly but surely gain control over our anger, anguish, fears, phobias, anticipatory anxieties, greed, etc.
(6) Enhances immunity: All body parts get more oxygen and toxins are flushed out of the system with daily practice of Pranayama. The enhanced bodily resistance power due to rejuvenation of cells helps us conquer many diseases. No wonder Pranayama experts were striving for a mass attempt to perform Pranayama when we were hit by severe epidemic of swine flu. Digging well upon facing utter scarcity of water is never good than to be in a position to face anything. Immunity booster life force is instilled with every type of Pranayama, be it Kapalbhati or Anulom-Vilom.
(7) Improves digestive system: Pranayama does mild to moderate massage to entire gastrointestinal tract. The people suffering from ANY kind of gastric or intestinal disorder get benefited with Pranayama. People with constipation and hyperacidity never feel the need to take laxative or antacid once they start practicing Pranayama daily.

So, when are you starting your routine of Pranayama? First get your body attuned to it by practicing rhythmic deep breathing and then learn Pranayama step by step from an expert. You will not be far away from reaping the excellent benefits!

Homeopathy: the winner in the therapeutic systems of medicines!

Looking at the history of human medicine centuries ago, one feels surprised over huge changes that encountered in the art of healing. Many ancient gurus of medicine in ancient India and other Eastern countries had postulated that if the man fails to maintain a normal and natural way of life, he is going to suffer from more and more illnesses over the period of time. Same we are witnessing today with huge number of infectious and non-infectious diseases the names of which are there on the tongue of even a young child! What is this? Why we couldn’t maintain the natural way of living?

Well, it certainly does not mean we should not have developed. Rather, development is an automatic process as is the evolution. With the changing norms of culture and civilization, there ought to be changes in the therapeutic system of medicine. But it is also true that the same old Aloe Vera and the same old acai berry that is now sold at the price of gold, was used by our ancient medicinal experts. Doesn’t it mean that the same old principles of medicine should be applicable even today?

With utmost respect for modern medicine that has given us some breakthrough results in controlling widely spreading infectious diseases, I hereby want to stress that to help maintain our natural mode of living, our treatment options should also be natural. They should be based upon natural principles of nature. As a human being, God has bestowed upon us immense power to restore our lost equilibriums of the body. There is absolutely no need to burden it with artificial medicinal agents just to alleviate the symptoms.

Let’s understand that the symptoms that our body shows during illness are the indicators that we need to change our daily routines. Enough is the stress that perks up due to overwhelming deadlines and enough is the running behind money, power, and happiness. When are we going to understand that unless we stop running behind happiness, we may never attain it? It is rightly said that unless health is perfect, no man or woman on the earth can achieve happiness even in the smallest of percentage. Then why not relax a bit?

We daily encounter parents who run to pediatrics for the slightest of fever or cold their child gets. They do not wait even for 2 to 3 hours! In a recent study, it has been seen that in about 60 to 65% of cases, there is little or no need to show up to the physician. Then why is this rush? Are we physicians responsible for this undue stress parents encounter? Do the physicians stress hard the need to isolate the child on slightest fever and instill IV fluids on slightest of diarrheas? Do the doctors need to do introspection about the Oath of Ethics they do by heart in medical colleges? Do we physicians need to segregate between needs of patients and our needs for fame and monetary benefits? Well, lot of ‘hush hush’ goes on when it comes to revealing certain unwelcome trends among physicians. But looking at the larger interest of society isn’t it the high time we put the needs of our patients ahead of our own interests?

Why cannot we go ahead hand in hand?

Instead of segregating physicians on account of their specialties and treatment modules, why cannot all of them get together and go ahead for the betterment of society? When we look at the recent controversies regarding homeopathic system of medicine at higher levels where we expect utmost justice and unprejudiced attitude, I feel sad that even the higher authorities are least bothered about herd health as a whole.

Why homeopathy is the winner?

Despite so many controversies, homeopathic experts are running successfully their attempts to change the conventional thinking about alleviation and temporary palliation. The “result oriented” system of medicine that aims at mildly treating the patients without inflicting undue harm on them is noteworthy. Certainly there are different modules of operation in homeopathic system of medicine too. But the base remains the nature’s principle and Hahnemannian philosophy. Even today, homeopathic system of medicine is comparatively the cheapest mode of therapy available. Its effectiveness in varied infectious epidemics and pandemics is unquestionable. There might be some faults in the practitioners of this system of medicine. But such faults exist with all faculties of medicine. Obviously it is necessary that homeopathic doctors understand their responsibility in these trying times and try to give their best for the uplift of human race as a whole!

Homeopathic Medicines and Mental Sphere of Patients!

God or nature has designed each individual differently. So many colors, skin textures, eye colors, heights, weights, and mental attitudes! It is a great subject matter to study people in different perspectives and derive some or the other conclusion or just watch in order to enjoy our study. As well said by knowledgeable people, study of people in itself is a matter of great enjoyment and the process brings happiness. As a student of homeopathy, this study becomes more enjoyable, as we happen to study such individual types in our huge materia medicas.

Why the study of mental sphere and/or behavioral patterns so much important in Homeopathy?

Many times, patients those come to us feel that we ask too many questions. Especially when we ask questions regarding their behavior and mental sphere, they feel amazed and say till now no doctor has asked us such questions and what is the need? Well, in most cases, speaking out about oneself is in itself a great catharsis for patients. We tend to account patients those like to speak out and those who like to keep to themselves and take too much time to open up. This single behavioral pattern throws light upon certain drug traits in homeopathy.

The major reason behind the study of mental sphere is the necessity to comprehend the patient as a whole. As we know, homeopathy is a holistic science and encompasses certain nature’s principles. Suppression is a strict NO in classical homeopathy and stimulation is the tactic used while treating any disease. Rather, it is often said in this individualistic science that we do not treat diseases but we treat patients. And unless the person is understood in his mental faculty, one cannot comprehend him as a whole. Certainly physical general symptoms and physical characteristic symptoms are important, but especially while treating chronic diseases, we must know how the person is mentally and emotionally.

In case of children, this study is more fascinating. The way child enters your office room, the way he opens up, the eye contact, the approach to talk when asked certain questions, restlessness, etc and lot more things are studied. Even in my online practice, where I have to deal with patients from a huge distance, I always stress parents to explain each and every aspect of the personality by filling up an elaborate questionnaire. Only then, it is possible to assess the varied personality traits. Certainly with practice, things become easy. But while easing out, a homeopath should never become stereotyped in his approach. Individualistic approach is the crux of homeopathic science and arts. Only those homeopaths succeed who have that special ‘cultivated’ eye for searching the characteristic individual traits in patients. Only then one can get constitutional types in adults as well as children.

It is often said that in homeopathy there is no suppression. But if the appropriate constitutional remedy is not applied to treat a malady, especially a chronic one, we are doing nothing but suppressing the vital force and impacting temporary relief. That’s why when the cure is not achieved, fault lies with homeopath and not homeopathy!

Tips to Avoid Knee Pain!

Things that your doctor may never tell you:

(1) Firstly high blood pressure is the enemy for knee pain. So control your pressure. Eat very less salt. It is seen in the latest scientific research that eating salt increases knee pain and reducing it decreases knee pain.

(2) Eating cholesterol-rich food like ghee, butter, oil, cream, cheese, paneer etc aggravates knee pain to a great extent. In a US based study, people those reduced eating ghee experienced 50% reduction in knee pain.

(3) Avoid sugary stuff. Remember sugar is just carbon and eating it more only adds to empty calories and increases your abdominal circumference. Unless you reduce your sugar content, you cannot start any knee treatment. Just try reducing sugars in diet (avoid sugar altogether if possible) and see how your knees work smoothly without hassles.

(4) Eat at least 1 fruit a day. Among fruits, choose fruits like mosambi, oranges and pineapple. But avoid eating milk-shakes and ice-creams. Instead opt for plain fruits.

(5) Use minimal oil in cooking. Also use less salt and sugar in cooking. You can add honey in place of sugar if needed.

(6) Stay away from instant food and fermented food.

(7) Avoid eating full-stomach two times a day. Instead eat 4 to 6 times smaller meals.

(8) Exercise is must. Revive your nerves with yoga and Pranayama. Plain walking is the best exercise. Never miss a walk even if too tired. You need not necessarily walk in the morning. Walk any time of the day but empty stomach.

Let's Learn About Yoga and Pranayama!

Hello everybody!

Certainly a great warm Sunday and I am sure many of you must have dozed a bit longer! But there are people who have gotten up as usual and have had their great morning work out. Good going guys! Today my mind is particularly carried towards spiritual exercise; and Yoga and Pranayama top the list among these exercises. Just read a marvelous piece of article regarding the same by Nunuram and so posting it for you people. Let's know about Yoga and Pranayama basics--

Yoga evolved in ancient India more than 4000 years back. The word "Yoga" originates from the Sanskrit language and means, to join or integrate, or simply union. The meaning of Yoga is union of the body, mind and spirit with truth. Yoga encompasses the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of life. The benefits of Yoga breathing exercises (pranayama),Yoga postures or poses (asanas), and meditation (dhyana) are really, really immense.

In spite of all its greatness and goodness though, Yoga was never practised on a large scale in India in the sense that the common people were not in its ambit. It is only in the last decade or so that Yoga has spread among the masses, thanks to Yoga Gurus like Baba Ramdev and literally tens of millions of people in India and elsewhere are coming within its fold and benefiting from it in a very real sense. You just speak with anyone who practices yoga and they will quickly extol an endless list of its benefits and sing its praise. Housewives, businessmen, sportspeople, teenagers and the aged are all practising a variety of yoga asanas (postures), dhyana (meditation) and pranayama (breathing exercises). For many, yoga becomes a way of life - often giving a more spiritual side to their lives.

The modern world scenario with its stressful life and cut-throat competition is providing a very fertile ground for the growth and spread of Yoga. Medical practitioners always questioned the efficacy of Yoga, but now it is being prescribed even by doctors for health ailments and illnesses, as a stress reliever and to complement other fitness programs. There are numerous documented cases of yoga relieving or curing serious illnesses such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, and respiratory illnesses like asthma, diabetes, bloodpressure, etc.

The sphere of Yoga is very big. However, for the common man practising Yoga, the problem is of shortage of time because of which he cannot go into all aspects of Yoga. So two aspects become very important for him for good health, physical fitness, flexibility and mental relaxation, viz namely asanas (physical exercise) and pranayama (breathing exercises). Here, I will concentrate on Pranayama.

As you all know, oxygen is the supreme necessity for our bodies and without it we cannot survive perhaps even for a couple of minutes. There is almost unlimited oxygen all around us. But we do not know how to get its benefits fully as we never utilize our full lung capacity. Consequently our body is sort of starved of oxygen. Pranayama is a technique to govern the breathing process. Breathing is normally an unconscious process. Through Pranayama, a person learns to consciously govern the breath to bring harmony into the body, mind and spirit. Regular breathing exercises tremendously increase the capacity to inhale and absorb life-giving oxygen. The capacity of the lungs even during unconscious breathing increases. There are four breathing exercises which are particularly helpful :

1)BHASTRIKA PRANAYAMA : In this you repeatedly breathe in to the full capacity of your lungs and then breathe out completely. Should be done for minm. 2minutes ; maxm is 5 minutesHelps heart, lungs, brain, nervous system, and in migraine, depression, paralysis, etc.

2)KAPALBHATI PRANAYAMA: In this breathing exercise, you exhale completely and with force while pulling in your abdomen.Inhaling is done in a normal manner. Should be repeated 30 times, maxm 10 minutes. Helps in diabetes, constipation, gastric problems, hepatitis B, obesity, cholesterol, asthma, snoring and even in cancer and AIDS.

3)ANULOM VILOM PRANAYAMA: This pranayama is slightly more complicated but the benefits are enormous. (a) Close your right nasal orifice with your thumb and breathe in deeply with your left nose. (b) Now open the right nose, close the left nose with middle and ring fingers, and breathe out completely with your right nose. (c) Next, breathe in deeply with the right nose, close the right nose with your thumb, and breathe out completely with the left nose. Start again with (a), then move onto (b) then (c).
Repeat for at least 10 minutes.
Helps in heart, high blood pressure, heart blockages, arthritis, migraine, depression, neural system, paralysis, asthma, sinus, allergy, Parkinson's disease, etc

4)BHRAMARI PRANAYAMA: Here you close your ears with thumbs, keep index fingers on your forehead and rest three fingers should cover both eyes. Breathe in deeply and then breathe out through the nose while making a humming sound like a honey bee. Should be done seven to ten times.
It helps in cases of tension, hypertension, high blood pressure, heart, heart blockages, paralysis, migraine pain, etc. It also improves concentration and confidence. Now let us summarize the benefits that accrue if a person does Pranayama every morning (or evening) for a period of 20 to 25 minutes

It increases lung capacity and improves breathing efficiency,It improves circulation, helps normalize blood pressure and improves cardiovascular efficiency,It boosts the immune system and enhances immunity,It increases energy levels and gives a lot of positive energy,It strengthens and tones the nervous system,It combats anxiety and depression and improves sleep,It improves digestion and excretory functions,It provides massage to the internal organs, stimulates the glands and enhances endocrine functions,
It normalizes body weight and provides great conditioning for weight loss,and lastly it improves skin tone and complexion.

The Treasure Trove homeopathy! “All Is Really Well” with Homeopathy!

Was just reading Boericke’s material medica and I wondered how genius these people were who did so vast drug proving and gave us some marvelous medicines to use in day to day practice. More we study, more we get surprised by the great sense of differentiation of the stalwarts homeopaths because of whom we are earning bread and butter today. More than mere bread and butter, we have got a passion to work for in our entire life. Truly, this one passion will suffice for births together; such is the vastness of homeopathic science and arts.

You delve into any life-science and homeopathy has got its connection with it. Say it a physical or mental study of people or spiritual aspect of health that is far ignored by most of us. Apart from its therapeutic utility that is mind-blowing no doubt, I tend to find the study of people around fascinating. It is the study of groups, similar-looking people, people with similar interests, and still having huge differences in their psychological built up. For a lay person, obviously it sounds weird that we delve deep into the psychology or emotional quotient of the person who presents to us with his problem. But more than his physical features of the disease, it is his or her emotional quotient that rings the bell for correct remedy.

One can certainly understand that due to this aspect homeopathy deals with, it is called a life science! The journey has been fascinating and still is fascinating since I joined professional and elite homeopathic college. The life sciences revolve around dynamism and so does homeopathy. Dynamism is the progressive change that encompasses some fixed and eternal principles to hold upon even during progression. As life has got an eternal principle of “living” despite huge changes in everyone’s life every now and then, homeopathy also is based in “like cures like” that is a life principle too; still encompasses various newer medicinal substances to be used while dealing with various diseases.

The most amazing part in therapeutic utility of homeopathy is the ability to treat day to day diseases like common cold as well as intractable diseases like cancer. Though homeopathy understands its limitations in handling pathological conditions like terminal stages of cancer, today we know that homeopathy is one of the very few therapies that can give even a terminal cancer patient peaceful life till he or she is alive. Yesterday, when one of the relatives of cancer patients told me that with the homeopathic medicine that I gave for severe burning pains of stomach cancer, he is feeling better with his bowels and overall well-being, I wasn’t surprised. It is the all-encompassing action of homeopathy that helps patients on all levels and not just for the disease in question.

Many parents those come to me for treatment of different children conditions like asthma or nocturnal enuresis are stunned when suddenly their child with the chronic habit of thumb sucking leaves it completely. But that’s the magic of homeopathic medicines those work on higher plane to “make it all well!” What is needed on part of students of homeopathy is in-depth study of the subject and its apt application in clinical practice. I sincerely urge students of homeopathy who keep asking me “Shall we practice pure homeopathy?” that if you want this earth to turn into a better abode for future generations where will live healthy and strongly immunized individuals and not the “drugged-people”, please do practice homeopathy. Within a few years of practice (sincere practice), one understands how thorough and well-researched our material medicas are and how correctly they help sick people find the lost balance. Then you can never leave homeopathy; rather, homeopathy will never leave you!

The Secret Behind Popularity of Homeopathic Medicines

If you ask for a mode of therapy that is fast becoming popular all over the world, homeopathy will be the answer! It is the therapeutic system of medicine that is around since more than 200 years ago now and still sticking to same old principles, it is advancing in its field of treating intractable diseases. The basic reason behind this popularity is obviously the fact that “it works!”

Here is the list of factors those added glitter to homeopathic mode of treatment:

(1) Safety: In the mess of overwhelming medicinal dosages leading to excruciating side effects, homeopathy is believed as a weapon that kills disease without killing the person! Utmost safety due to highly minute doses those are potentized forms of different herbs and other sources is the plus of homeopathy. No wonder we see people around who read homeopathic literature and treat themselves with homeopathy and many times find better relief for their problems. However this is true only of certain acute conditions and not chronic ones. Lot more things need to be understood for treating chronic diseases and only a qualified homeopath can do this.

(2) Ability to treat chronic illnesses: The homeopathic medicines are capable of treating cases like intractable asthma, long standing psoriasis, and recurrent kidney stones. The diseases where modern medicine at times says “no”, homeopathy’s sphere of action begins. In many illnesses homeopathy is said to replace surgeon’s knife. Even incurable arthritis is treated with homeopathic medicines without inflicting any harm upon patients.

(3) Easy to take: Available in pill, powder, or liquid form, homeopathic medicines are easy to take for sure. Chewing the pills is a pleasurable experience for kids. That’s the reason why kids enjoy visiting homeopathic doctors and never fret questioning.

(4) Enhance bodily immunity: Instead of suppressing existing disease in question. Homeopathy by its eternal principle of “like cures like” enhances bodily immunity and enables the body to repel the disease in its entirety. That’s the reason homeopathy is believed to be extremely effective even in dealing with preventive aspects of infectious diseases in epidemics like swine flu. It is recommended by homeopathic experts that instead of digging the well when it is too late, it is better to opt for homeopathy when you sense the impending attack so that herd immunity can be built.

(5) Veterinary Use: Homeopathic medicines have been found useful for dogs, cats, and animals alike. Not only veterinary but homeopathic medicines are also found useful for plant diseases. Due to this all-round safe use, homeopathic medicines have grown popular by leaps and bounds in recent years.

Homeopathic Answer to Acne!

If you ask the skin malady that is most difficult to handle, most will answer it as acne. No doubt it is one of the intractable though not fatal problems that revolves around deteriorating the patient physically and more so mentally. Self-image and confidence are greatly at stake for boys and girls who suffer from acne. All stages of acne right from painful pustules to scars are bad for the self esteem and something needs to be done to get rid of them!

When one comes to homeopathy for acne treatment, most of the times he or she had already undergone huge ranges of treatments due to lack of knowledge of homeopathic medicinal strength and their efficacy in dealing with acne. Moreover, most of them have already suppressed their acne eruptions by applying one or more skin creams containing chemicals or some even have undergone painful chemical peals. But the worst thing is that all these treatment neither can cure acne nor can they give permanent results without inflicting side effects on the body. Moreover nasty drugs used for acne like hormone pills only make the girl suffer from other major problems like troubles with normal menstruation. That’s why skin experts today also seek help from expert homeopathic doctors to find better results.

Homeopathy can be said as utmost effective and absolutely safe for treatment of acne. In teenage boys and girls especially those are most worried for their face biology; homeopathic medicines can give lasing relief.

But here is a caution. There are many so-called homeopathic patent acne medications available in the market. No doubt they contain some homeopathic medicines but their effectiveness is not well proved and therefore at times they may aggravate your condition. Remember only a homeopathic doctor can assess your skin type and prescribe for you accurate medicine that will deal at the root cause level and clear acne completely. Also do not fall for marketing gimmicks of homeopathic local applications those may only suppress the acne and make things worse.

Basically acne is considered in homeopathy as an outward manifestation of internal disease. Therefore, unless your body homeostasis is corrected, you cannot get rid of your acne completely. Moreover, the acne complications like scars and pus formations must be handled carefully not to cause any kind of aggravation; otherwise the teen will not be ready to pursue treatment. The overall bodily physiology, mental attitude, emotional equations of the person, and many other things must be considered before prescribing to an acne patient.

Also the homeopathic doctors must give certain auxiliary line of treatment for acne patients like drinking good quantity of water, avoiding the stuff that leads to exacerbation of acne for time being, and trying to keep stress at bay. In most cases it is observed that with psychological counseling of the patients, many patients with acne feel better, while prescribing homeopathic medicines. Psychotherapy does go hand in hand with homeopathic prescribing and the homeopaths who know how the body’s trinity of body, mind, and psyche work together, never fail to achieve desired results!

Remember skin is the largest external organ of the body and it depicts what is going on inside. Homeopathic doctors are bestowed with the capacity of understanding this equation by their vast study course and cultivation of hawk’s eye! Bring the sparkle in your face back with miraculous homeopathy!