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Acorn Health Blog

What we love is great health...

...and we like to write about how we can all achieve better health, naturally. Sometimes tips on how you can DIY to better health and sometimes on the therapies that can make a difference to you, your health and wellbeing.
Thank you for reading, We hope you enjoy :)

Coughs and Colds, Naturally!

General Health & Wellbeing, Therapies Posted by JadwigaPosted on Wed, March 18, 2020 04:07PM

Despite it already being Spring time, it looks like the season of colds and coughs is nowhere near left behind yet!

The recent outbreak of Coronavirus is not helping the matters in any way, with current NHS advice to self- isolate (which I urge you to follow) on sign of any symptoms which may relate to corona, it becomes very frightening to start noticing a bit of a sore throat or the dreaded cough in yourself or your loved ones!

Whilst there is no current cure or proven treatment for the circulating strain of coronavirus, there are many tried and tested approaches to coughs and colds which may come very useful when used alongside other measures.

With this in mind, my top 4 herbs for a sore throat and dry cough are:

  • Licorice root- which has a very strong soothing and anti-inflammatory action- you can try it as a syrup, lozenges or even as tea!
  • Marshmallow root- known to relieve cough which is dry and hacking in character- cost commonly found as a tea or extract
  • Plantain- especially useful for coughs which seem to have no end and there’s some wheezing involved
  • Slippery Elm- has a coating and soothing action for throat- you can try it as a tea

My top 4 homeopathic remedies for dry coughs are:

  • Aconite- if the cough seems to come on suddenly and ‘out of nowhere’, especially if accompanied by high fever and a lot of feelings of anxiety
  • Bryonia- especially useful if the cough causes a splitting headache and you feel like holding your sides in order to cough
  • Kali Carb- if you need to sit up in order to be able to get relief whilst coughing and the attacks usually come on at night
  • Phosphorus- if the cough is a result of a tickling sensation and causes burning in your chest

but:

  • If you feel very cold and swallowing causes a stabbing pain in your throat (especially if it travels to your right ear), please try Hepar Sulph!

There are many remedies, both herbal and homeopathic, which could be used for cough symptoms and, in order to be of the most benefit, need to be chosen to the exact symptoms you are experiencing.

If you are looking to support your immune system in this stressful and taxing time, I can recommend my top 3 supplements:

Our Homeopath, Jadwiga James, is offering Skype, Whatsapp and Vsee consultations to support you in managing your symptoms. You can contact her directly by emailing: comp.med.clinic@gmail.com



Endometriosis awareness month

General Health & Wellbeing, Therapies Posted by JadwigaPosted on Tue, February 25, 2020 12:34PM

Did you know that March is an Endometriosis awareness month?

For those of you who are fortunate enough not to belong to the women who suffer from it, I’m going to include a brief introduction.

So… what actually is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is usually considered as a chronic illness. It happens when the inner lining of your uterus (endometrium) starts growing outside of its bounds. It can spread to the fallopian tubes and ovaries, grow its way into the peritoneum, bladder, bowels and even go as far as lungs!

The cells which are lining the uterus are responding to fluctuations in the levels of oestrogen, building themselves up when it’s at its peak and dying off when it drops lower- that’s when we experience the menstrual flow.

The problem occurs when the cells creating the lining spread and then break down in places which don’t enable for them to become expelled as they normally would during the monthly period. Because of that, the pooling blood needs to be reabsorbed back by the surrounding tissue which is a much slower process.

Since we all experience rise and fall in hormonal levels every month, the endometrial ‘implants’ can become increasingly bigger, even turning into scar tissue which can bind internal organs together.

Why does it happen? Nobody really knows… but Endometriosis has been linked to hereditary tendencies as well as exposure to chlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and dioxin, so there is a potential element of toxic exposure and its buildup within the body.

What are the symptoms of endometriosis?

In short: PAIN. Depending on the areas affected by endometriosis, it can include:

  • Pain and bleeding during bowel movements
  • Pain and bleeding during urination
  • Pain in abdominal area
  • Pain in lower back
  • Pain during intercourse
  • Pain during menstruation- when the endometrium is breaking off causing pooling of blood in the affected cavities
  • Pain during first 2 weeks of the cycle- when the endometrium is building up

As well as:

  • Nausea, diarrhea or constipation
  • Formation of blood-filled cysts, most commonly on the ovaries
  • Problems becoming pregnant- 30-40% of infertility cases are due to endometriosis!

What are your options if have been diagnosed with Endometriosis?

Standard medical treatment involves symptom management and revolves around the use of:

  • painkillers, such as codeine, paracetamol and ibuprofen
  • synthetic hormone therapy, which puts women in a state of artificial menopause
  • surgery, used to remove adhesions

They are not your only options.

If you would like to address the Endometriosis instead of just managing its symptoms, you could try homeopathic treatment.

Homeopathy is a natural, non-toxic and side-effects free system of medicine which works by bringing your body and its functions back to balance to enable you live a life which is not restricted by pain and discomfort. There are no contraindications for homeopathic treatment and it’s very often used on its own or as an addition to any other therapy or medications you are currently taking.

If you would like to find out how homeopathy could help you address the root of your problems, book in for a free 20 minute, no-obligation chat with our homeopath:

Book your FREE introductory consultation


Indigestion: Top Tips

General Health & Wellbeing, Therapies Posted by JadwigaPosted on Sun, December 29, 2019 03:58PM

We all have experienced indigestion at one time or another. Even if you are not prone to it on a regular basis, you may have noticed an uneasiness in your stomach after overindulging yourself on one occasion or another, like after family gathering, Christmas, Birthday parties and so on…

There are many reasons for indigestion, from occasional overindulgence as mentioned above, through stress, fatigue and overall poor diet or even parasites and fungal infections.

How do I know if I have indigestion?

Indigestion is usually diagnosed based on symptoms which most often include:

  • Bloating
  • Belching (burping)
  • Acid Reflux
  • Heartburn and heaviness
  • Nausea
  • Fatigue and feeling of dullness

Note: If you suffer from a severe, chronic indigestion, it could be a sign of a stomach ulcer or inflammation which could have a negative impact on your whole digestive tract.

Best options to remedy indigestion

Widely-advertised antacids suppress the production of stomach acid. The main issue here is that they tend to create what is commonly known as an ‘acid-rebound’ effect where your body produces even MORE acid than it did before (talk about a vicious circle!). In addition, they often contain aluminium salts which may add onto the heavy metal toxicity of your body which comes with a whole new array of problems.

So the question is: will it be the proverbial last straw which broke the camel’s back? How much more can your body take?

What are your other options?

Homeopathy can be very effective in dealing with both chronic and occasional cases of indigestion. The key lies in matching the correct remedy to your experience, i.e.

  • If your indigestion is linked to overindulgence in alcohol, stimulants or rich & spicy foods (as in a post-Saturday Night Out syndrome with an added hangover) then you could seriously consider taking Nux Vomica- a remedy most commonly used when the food lies on your stomach like a stone, you have an acid or bitter reflux and feel overall chilly.
  • If you simply suffer every time you eat something too fat, you could look at getting a dose or two of Pulsatilla or Carbo Veg. The difference here is that Pulsatilla can still taste the food they ate for ages afterwards whilst Carb Veg will have a lot of burps and feel tired and sleepy.
  • If you are not a fan of antacids yet your indigestion in of a long standing, you could take Nat Phos, a biochemic tissue salt which is widely-known for its acid-calming properties with NO acid-rebound effect!

There are also plenty of herbal options, depending on the type of indigestion you are experiencing, e.g.

  • Anise- traditionally used in order to relieve indigestion with a lot of mucousy reflux and to improve appetite
  • Artichoke- considered as a liver supporting herb, usually taken for abdominal pain, heartburn and bloating
  • Cayenne- most commonly used by people with sluggish digestion and metabolism
  • Chamomile- ideal for cases of ‘nervous’ stomachs with a lot of cramps and gas
  • Gentian- commonly used to stimulate stomach and gallbladder secretions in cases where there is too little stomach acid
  • Geranium- traditionally used to decrease acidity, relieve pain and help in healing ulcers
  • Liquorice, Slippery Elm & Marshmallow- most useful when dealing with inflamed stomach lining due to their promotion of a protective mucous
  • Peppermint- most commonly used to neutralize excess acidity and spasms

If you would like to address the way your body is reacting to certain foods or bring balance back to your digestion rather than taking temporary measures, you could try bioresonance or homeopathic treatment.

Book your FREE 20 minute consultation to find out more.



Are you travel-ready?

General Health & Wellbeing Posted by JadwigaPosted on Tue, June 25, 2019 12:11PM

Summer and warm weather are approaching in big steps (or so I hope!)

Are you planning a vacation or a stay-cation this year?

Hotel at the seaside or a camping trip?

Evening strolls on the beach or a BBQ in the garden?

Whatever your plans are, I have some tips to make your holidays less stressful with a little help from….

HOMEOPATHY

Homeopathic remedies are indispensable both in long and short-stay journeys.

I always take my Homeopathic First Aid kit with me whenever I go away.
Why, you might wonder?

Well, that’s because I like to refer to natural and toxin-free ways for dealing with health problems, whether they are painful grazed knees, itchy mosquito bites or a headache from being in the sun for too long!

Homeopathy has over 4000 remedies, so it is very easy to feel baffled when trying to depict which one is the most suitable for your problem.

As I like to make life as nice and easy as possible, I thought I will put list of some of the most common problems experienced by holidaymakers at the start of they journey with the most popular remedies needed to alleviate them 🙂

I think every one of us knows somebody who is scared of flying (or maybe it’s even you!).

If the thought of going on an airplane makes you feel dizzy and turns your legs into jelly, you can try to take a dose (or two) of Gelsemium before venturing out on your journey to the airport, and then again whilst waiting to board.

Motion sickness? Not a problem! Motion sickness can affect us in different ways (and so we might need different remedies to address it), two of the most common scenarios are:

If you go pale, cold (yet sweaty) and shivery, then you would certainly benefit from a remedy called Tabacum, you can take it before a planned journey as well as during, if needs be.

If, however, the worst thing during travelling is the smell (or even thought) of food, your stomach feels cold and hollow whilst the rest of your body is all trembley and weak, you can opt for Cocculus.

Jetlag is definitely one of the problems which can put you off enjoying your getaway to the full for the first few days. To prevent and ease the possibility of feeling jetlagged, you can take Arnica just before, during and after the journey.

Did you know that you can use homeopathy for both minor problems and chronic conditions?

We offer a FREE 15 minute introductory chat is you’d like to see if Homeopathy would be a suitable option for you, you can even book online:

https://acorncentre.simplybook.it/v2/#book/category/7/service/249/count/1/



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