Colds, Coughs, and the Flu

Northfield Community Ed and Rec. Class

Sujata Owens, Homeopathic Master Clinician

January 24, 2011

Aah..ah..choo!

Evolutionary Changes

We are living in one of the most exciting periods in human history!

Virtually every aspect of human life is undergoing radical conceptual change: science, politics, economics, ecology, theatre, music and…

..the field of medicine!

Whole Man View

The objectified, materialistic view of the world is widening to include the energetic plane of existence.

The concept of the whole man is replacing previously fragmented view of the client as a diagnostic entity.

Homeopathy

200 year old scientific health care system.

Offers holistic experience of deep healing for your mental, emotional and physical complaints.

Homeopathy is gentle, permanent and non-invasive experience.

Homeopathic Medicine

Centuries of searching for a non-toxic and cost-effective alternative medicine has finally come to completion in the homeopathic system.

Homeopathy is a systematic science which correctly applies the laws of nature to stimulate the healing energies of the human being.

An Era of Recalls

FDA recalled many over-the-counter cold medicines for all pre-school children.

American Academy of Pediatrics state that oral cough and cold medicines don't work in young children, and pose significant health risks.

Antibiotic treatment is ineffective for viral infections (except scarlet fever) and will only add to your stress load.

Helps all Stages of Illness

Cold

Cough

Influenza

Ear Infection

Croup

Sore Throat

Asthma

RSV

•Fever•Itchy Rashes •Swollen Glands•Pneumonia

Homeopathy is an effective treatment.

Our Experience at VFC

At Vital Force Consulting we observe quick recovery without complications with help of homeopathic remedy suitable to individual person’s state.

Which remedies will help?

In general, it’s important to find the closest possible match between the person’s symptoms and the symptoms of the remedy. With a flu epidemic, many people will have very similar symptoms so it is possible to identify key remedies. Your homeopathic practitioner will be the person to contact for this information and can guide you. In addition to the remedy name, there will be a number and letter on the label, like 30X or 6c or 1MFor your home kits, 30c will be the most useful for beginners.

What are Homeopathic Remedies?

Legally, homeopathic remedies are classified as FDA-approved drugs. Made from plants, animals and mineral substances, produced in FDA-inspected homeopathic pharmacies. Available from your health practitioners and in health food stores, co-ops, supermarkets and online. Remedy pills all look the same: simple white sugar tablets or round pellets.Store out of reach of children, pets and away from direct sunlight, microwaves, computers, and strong smelling substances.

How can Homeopathy Help?

Signs and symptoms of an illness manifest themselves because the body has been unable to restore balance from its inner resources and needs helps. Homeopathic remedies stimulate body’s natural ability to heal itself.Well selected and well-matching homeopathic remedy strengthen the immune system and help restore a state of balance and well-being

Homeo = similar pathos = suffering

Homeopathic practitioners recommend one of the many remedies from its vast pharmacopoeia based on symptom similarity between your state and remedy state.

Aconite

First stage of any childhood illness that starts suddenly and is accompanied by a high fever; a runny nose; a hard, dry, croupy cough; red, sore eyes and/or a sore throat. The onset might begin with exposure to cold North winds. Rashes burn and itch. Children are restless, anxious and fearful. They may even say they are scared of dying. They are generally thirsty for cold water; feel worse for warmth and at night; better for fresh air and for uncovering.

Antinmonium crudum

Childhood illnesses are accompanied by a tickling cough and nausea. Children are sulky and extremely irritable, they do not want to be touched or examined, or even looked at. They have cracks at the corners of their mouth and/or nostrils. The tongue is white; as if it has been painted. They are drowsy, thirst less and worse in a hot room. These children are susceptible to corns, calluses and warts on their feet.

Apis mellifica

The rash is slow to come out, when it does it itches and stings. Face and eyelids are puffy and red. Affected parts (rash, glands etc.) are puffy also and itch and sting. Children are extremely restless, anxious, and clingy and cry out in their sleep. They are generally thirst less; cannot bear the heat or pressure of any sort; they do not want to be touched. They have a high fever with scanty urine, and feel better for cold and cool bathing.

Belladona

The violent illness starts suddenly and can be accompanied by bedwetting; a runny nose; a cough; sore throat; a throbbing headache and/or burning, dry, red eyes. The head is hot, the face red and the extremities feel cold. The pupils are dilated, and the tongue is red with white spots (like a strawberry). The rash is red, hot, dry, burning and very itchy. Children are restless and irritable, and delirious with a high, dry fever. With mumps the glands are hot and swollen and sensitive to touch. They are generally thirstless (although they may ask for lemonade); feel worse in the afternoon and cannot bear light, noise or pressure. They like rest and warmth.

Bryonia

Illness is slow to develop; the rash is slow to appear or doesn’t come out fully. There is a hard, dry, painful cough which is worse for movement, and may be accompanied by a bursting, frontal headache. Children are irritable and want to be alone; they do not want to be disturbed or moved. They are generally thirsty for large quantities (gulp them) at infrequent intervals; and worse for heat; or movement of any sort.

Calcarea phosphoricum

Children are weak and tired after a childhood illness. They are irritable, hard to please. Enlarged tonsils and adenoids. Colic. They look pale and anemic and can’t wake up in the mornings. Children grow too rapidly. Headaches, stomachaches in school aged children are common. They crave the salt of smoked meats, and "fat bacon”. The bones become soft, thin and brittle.

Coccus cacti

Whooping cough with a choking, racking, tickling cough. Coughing fits end in retching and coughing up copious mucous which hangs in strings. Generally worse for stuffy rooms and around midnight; better for fresh air.

Drosera rotundifolia

Whooping cough (or for cough after measles) with severe, violent cough with vomiting and nosebleeds. Face may go blue with each coughing fit with violent paroxysms that follow one another so rapidly child cannot get breath; . Voice becomes hoarse. The cough is worse when lying down, after midnight, when talking or laughing; better for fresh air. Constant titillating cough beginning as soon as head touches pillow at night; especially in children.

Euphrasia

Colds or coughs with very sore, swollen, burning, watery eyes which are sensitive to the light. Nose streams also but does not irritate. There may be a harsh, dry cough which is worse in the day and better when lying down& and a headache which is better once the rash appears. Keynote is when coryza or allergy is centered especially in the eyes.

Gelsemium

Gradual onset with cold or flu-like symptoms that are accompanied by a great weariness and heaviness. The eyes are swollen and watery. Children are generally apathetic and thirstless and feverish with chills. They feel better after urinating. Dullness, dizziness and drowsiness are characteristic of someone needing this remedy.

Ipecac

Rashes are slow to come out and there is constant nausea with a clear, red tongue which isn’t helped by vomiting. Cough with nausea which is dry and comes in fits which end in choking in gagging. Children are hard to please, generally thirstless and worse from heat.

Treatments for the flu

Use homeopathic remedies

Support your immune system

Nurture your body and soul

Rest, rest and some more rest

Flu Pandemic of 1918-1919

Time to take action

Call 911 with severe respiratory problems or fever over 103 degrees. Go to Urgent Care or the ER with severe vomiting and/or diarrhea which is causing dehydration.Call your doctor if symptoms persist for more than 24 hours and sooner if symptoms are severe enough. Call your homeopathic practitioner.

Aconite (Monkshood)

A key remedy to consider when there is simple inflammatory congestion with severe inflammatory fever, whether or not accompanied or followed by violent shooting pains in the chestAnxious, thinks she’s about to dieACUTE onset, SUDDEN and VIOLENT: Especially after exposure to cold, dry wind or emotional shock or frightVery restless, Cough is DRY, hoarse, frequent and suffocating

Arsenicum album

Extremely restless yet weak and exhausted.Anxious, fearfulThirsty but drinks in sips, small quantities often White expectorationDiarrhea after eating or drinkingNausea on seeing/smelling food Burning painsDoes not want to be left alone, yet cannot trust anyone. Very neat, upset by clutter

BaptisiaListless, exhausted and indifferent

Offensive smelling diarrhea

Feels bruised all over, parts rested upon feel sore and bruised (bed feels hard)

Marked gastro-intestinal symptoms

Looks drowsy and drunk, dull red face, as though may fall asleep any time

High fever, Flu comes on suddenly.

Painless sore throats and offensiveness of all discharges

The body and limbs feel as if they are scattered

Stupefying headache, with confusion

Client smells bad

Delirium with strange sensations (as if there is somebody else in their bed)

Profuse sweating, intense thirst

Bryonia

Bronchial and going downVery grumpy, irritable, feels miserable with the flu, wants to lie still and be left aloneHeadache, severe, throbbing, stitching pains. Muscle aches and cough or stomach painEverything worse from even the slightest motion. Wants to lie still and be left alone.Mouth is usually dry, with thirst for large quantities of cold drinks infrequentlySlow onsetPains (headache, body pains) better from pressure, lies on the painful partDryness everywhereconstipationNose bleedPneumonia, especially of the right sidePleurisy (pain on breathing and coughing)Wants to go home. May be confused and not realize she is at home.Talks of business, work. Better: Pressure, restWorse: Any excitement, noise, touch, movement, bright light, from eating and coughing

Dulcamara—(Bittersweet)

Eyes are red, throat is sore. Cough hurts because of muscular soreness. Cough with expectoration of bright red blood. Oppression of the chest from excessive mucus, has to cough a long time to expel phlegm Finds it difficult to talk Offensive sweatBrought on by damp, cold changes in the weather. The back and neck are stiff and the bones ache. Worse for sudden change of weather and from becoming chilled when hot.

Eupatorium perfoliatum

Lots of soreness and aching of the entire bodyHoarseness and cough, with soreness of the larynx and upper respiratory tract The cough is shattering , hurts head and chestHolds the chest with hands during coughDeep, bone breaking painsFeels as if run over by a truck, with pain deep in the bones.Bursting headache and sore eyesThirsty for ice cold water (opposite of Gelsemium) but may cause vomitingChills running up and down the back.High fever preceded by chills, especially from 7 – 9 amWorse: Movement

Gelsemium

Dull, dizzy, drowsy, apatheticLow thirstConstant chilliness, begins in hands and feet, runs up and down spine, sits near the heatWeak, tired with intense aches and muscle soreness throughout the bodyModerate feverCough is hard and painful, paroxysms of sneezing with excoriating discharge Feel as if run over by a truckSlow onsetSore throatBursting headache beginning in the neck, which may extend over the head to the eyes and forehead; relieved by copious urination.Double vision often before or during the headache. Eyelids are heavy and droopy, can’t keep them open.Fatigue, heaviness and dullness –just want to lie in bedThe legs feel weak and shakyWorse: Early morning and last thing at night, in the sun, exposure to tobacco smokeBetter: Urination, fresh air.

Ipecac

Nausea pronounced with profuse salivaVomiting of large quantities white shiny mucous, no reliefSleepy after vomitingNo thirstCough: dry spasmodic, constricted, asthmatic, rattling of mucous with inhalation Violent painful breathing, with wheezing and anxiety about the stomach Threatened suffocation from mucousPain in bones as if all torn to pieces

Nux vomica

Great irritability, over sensitivity and impatienceEasily offended and angryVery chilly. Chilliness on slightest movement, on slightest exposure to open air--shivering and chilliness for an hour Dreads to go out into the open air, gets chilled by the slightest draft Great coldness not relieved by heat, or bed coverings Wants to be completely coveredVery sensitive to light, noise and odorsShivering and chilliness immediately after drinkingFastidious--wants everything just soCollapse and fatigue from overworkBrought on by overdoing (overeating, overwork, drinking, etc.)

Phosphorous

Flu that quickly affects the lungs, especially the base of the right lungLots of coughing and bleeding Weakness following flu, this is the great post-influenza "tonic“Bloody sputum, bright red.Craves cold drinks, which may be vomited when they become warm in the stomachBurning, pressure and constriction in the chestNose bleed, bright red.Cough, worse talking and laughing Worse: Lying on the left side, lying on the painful side cough).

Rhus toxicendron

Severe aching in all the bonesSneezing and coughing--cough is worse evenings, caused by a tickling behind the upper part of the sternum. Useful in cases brought on by exposure to dampnessLots of weakness and depressionRestlessness especially at nightStiff and restless, better with movement (worse on first starting to move, then better)Red triangle on the tip of the tongueIntense feverThirstyGreat prostrationWeeps without knowing whyFear of poisoning--may refuse take medicine, thinks it is poisonAnxiety and fear that are worse at night

Oscillococcinum

Made from the heart and liver of a duck because ducks contain 80% of all flu viruses in their digestive tracts. Most effective if used during the first 48 hours of the start of flu symptoms.Follow instructions and directions from the packet. Stop when you notice improvement and repeat if symptoms come back. If you do not notice any improvement within 24-48 hours and sooner if severe symptoms, you may need to take action by calling your licensed physician.

Homeopathic prophylaxis

Influenzinum 30C:

One popular protocol is to take one dose once a month through out flu season. Another is once a week for 4 weeks and then repeat one dose at the end of month through out flu season.

Follow the hand outs from Vital Force Consulting for detailed instructions.

Constitutional Remedy helps immune system stay strong.

Using Homeopathy

It is best to consult with a homeopathic practitioner and follow a protocol that best matches your symptomsThe goal is to match the intensity and pace of symptoms with the remedy in order for the homeopathic remedy to help restore health most effectively, rapidly, and gently Homeopathic practitioners are trained to match the intensity of the remedy with the intensity of your symptoms The benefits of individually matched homeopathic remedies far exceed over the counter or at home prescriptions

Home Management In general, use remedies of 30C potency every 3 to 6 hours for up to five doses. If significant improvement doesn't occur after 24 hours, please call a homeopathic practitioner and your licensed physician.If significant improvement occurs in first 24 hours, take an additional dose only if improved symptoms regress.For severe or life threatening symptoms, call your licensed physician or go to the ER.

Flu Remedies Available from Vital Force Consulting

Have key remedies on handThe big kit contains 46 vials of 26 different remedies (some are in more than one potency)-- $125.00The small kit contains the 11 remedies covered in this presentation in 30c potency-- $50.00Individual 30c remedies are available -- $11.00

Vital Force Consulting

Sujata Owens, CCH, RS Hom (NA), Homeopathic Master Clinician, has been offering cost-effective, safe, and natural homeopathic approach for healthy mind and body for 23 years in Northfield, MN.

vfc@vitalforceconsulting.com

108 E. Third Street Northfield, MN 55057 (Look for my sign above PanPan on Division Street)