Arnica Montana Newsletter - December 2003

Welcome to the December newsletter for Arnica Montana!

Advice on dealing with the Fiji flu and some hair of the dog remedies for the Festive season!

The end of another year in Australia. I have trouble getting used to the heat of the winter after a lifetime in the UK and its inhospitable winter climate, but it's most enjoyable to be able to sunbathe at Christmas time!

The trials for the Arnica Montana range of products are starting with the WA polo players now, and with the polo cross players in February.

The manufacturer of my products (Mother Earth Aromatherapy) have been recommended as the leading environmental producers on WA national TV recently by Perth's senior environmentalist. This of course resulted in a huge increase in sales for them. I am delighted as I have always believed that my products are of the highest quality obtainable in Australia. The government has just introduced a campaign supporting goods manufactured, produced and exported from Western Australia, so from now on my products will be carrying a sticker to this effect.

The new range of products Sage and Calendula are proving very effective. The Calendula cream is being used for sunburn and the ointment for mozzy bites, stings cuts and abrasions, it being that time of year on the beach and the long summer holidays! The sage cream and ointment has been used successfully on minor injuries which look as if they may become infected, and found to be very useful – The smell of the new range is very refreshing and herbal and much appreciated by users.

The CD and kit for Accidents and Emergencies are proving very popular here in Oz as well as the UK and they are shortly to be distributed in Canada .

I have moved house and now live on the edge of the bush in the Hills outside Perth with its wonderful smells and wild life. There are all kinds of birds in the garden and possums running up and down the she oaks. I'm used to squirrels and oak trees from England but find it fascinating to see different types of wildlife right outside my window! The climate is terrific at this time of the year around 24C bright blue skies and a breeze most of the time, though the nights are pleasantly cool for sleeping.

For those of you in the UK the Fuji flu is cutting a swathe as it did here in Australia.

It is a dangerous flu which if not properly treated and respected, easily relapses and then bronchitis pleurisy and pneumonia may be the unfortunate sequelae. I have tried to cover all remedies common to this flu – however at all times the patient should be seen if possible by their Homeopath as well as their GP and carefully monitored.

• ACUTE BRONCHITIS Infection spreads down the bronchial tree causing acute bronchitis.The fever rises to 37.7C-39.4C ((100F-103F).There is headache, a feeling of ill health, and pain in the chest behind the breastbone. The pain is aggravated by the constant coughing which in the early stages is unproductive. The patient has difficulty in expectorating the sticky mucus. Generally the infection is not serious and the patient is usually getting better after a week. In some cases especially children and old people there is always the possibility of the infection spreading to the lungs and causing bronchopneumonia.
• PNEUMONIA Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung. 2 main types:
  • 1.Lobar pneumonia. In this type of pneumonia the whole of one or more lobes of the lung are affected. The onset of lobar pneumonia is sudden (at this stage ACONITE may abort the onset of symptoms) with a rapid rise in temperature to 39.4C-40C (103F-104F).Often accompanied by a rigor rapid respiration and quickened pulse rate, pain in the chest on the affected side due to pleurisy and a tight cough. The patient feels ill, nauseous, and may vomit, and may complain of severe frontal headache.
  • 2.Bronchopneumonia. There has been aspiration of infected material from the upper respiratory tract. The resulting inflammation has a patchy distribution often affecting areas in both lungs. A lung abscess may result from aspiration of highly infected material. Common treatment is antibiotic therapy and oxygen may be needed. Homeopathic remedies may be given safely alongside orthodox treatment with the consent of the patient and the doctor.
• PLEURISY Inflammation of the pleura (the external lining of the lungs) may occur with or without effusion. dry or wet pleurisy. If the fluid becomes purulent the condition is then called empyema . The inflammation is accompanied by pain in the chest particularly on inspiration, and this produces rapid shallow breathing in an attempt to limit the movements of the chest wall. For the same reason the patient will lie on the affected side (BRYONIA) Pain is increased by coughing, the cough is dry, short and nonproductive. There is usually some degree of fever. When pleural effusion develops the pain on breathing disappears, but if the effusion is large there will be an increase in shortness of breath, a blue tinge to the skin, and may be an increase in the fever. If the effusion becomes purulent, then the patient is more severely ill with a swinging temperature and increased pulse rate. Profuse sweating when the temperature is on the downward swing may occur.(WITH ALL LOSS OF BODY FLUIDS BE SURE TO GIVE CHINA TO CORRECT ANY DEHYDRATION).
  
  I suffered from this flu prior to going to the UK on my most recent visit in September and treated a lot of patients here in Western Australia. It appears to me to be a quick onset flu with a lot of nasal discharge, severely aching bones and persistent cough which does not seem to respond to anything.
  
  Where there are these common symptoms please don't forget to nurse the patient. Of course remedies and orthodox medication help but the patient really needs to be in bed, given a lot of fluids, thyme baths/inhalations/mustard baths/onion and honey linctus - leave an onion cut in half by the bedside – it often relieves a persistent cough enabling sleep – see the Kitchen Cupboard remedies - and looked after really well in terms of monitoring diet and fluid intake.

CONVALESCENCE

Should be observed (see the website) and return to normal duties work or school should not be for at least 2 weeks once the symptoms have subsided.

SUGGESTED REMEDIES

• EUPATORIUM PERFOLIATUM. A Tubercular remedy and often practitioners will need to give Tuberculinum as part of the prescribing picture initially, followed by the Eup Perf. Tuberculinum is needed if there is a history of the patient having colds which habitually go onto the chest sometimes causing asthma or repeated bronchitis. Dizziness-as if they will fall to the left. Vomiting. Head ache alternating with gouty pains.-patient feels better after vomiting bile. Lifts head with hands during headache. Sore aching eyeballs. Profuse clear discharge from nose with aching in every bone. Distressing pain in stomach only better when all is vomited. Cough with soreness of chest from tickling in larynx, hurts the head and must hold the chest as cough so painful. May get into knee chest position for relief.
• BRYONIA. Eup.Perf. bears a strong resemblance to Bryonia in its symptomatology . The main differential is that the Eup. Perf patient is restless and tossing and turning – the Bryonia patient will remain as still as possible and even turn their face to the wall to have zero stimulus. In both remedies there is thirst for cold water but in Bryonia the patient will drink large quantities with no ill effects - the Eup.Perf. patient will have shuddering and vomiting of bile.
• CARBO VEG. This is known as the “corpse reviver” and supports the circulatory and respiratory systems. I think it should be given regularly throughout this flu as the vital systems are very low and oxygenation of the body greatly reduced.
• CARBO ANIMALIS. A feeling of coldness in the lungs is the dominant symptom (see also Nat.carb.) and the patient feels as if they will suffocate if he closes his eyes. Shortness of breath, and there may be ulceration of the lungs. Cough with greenish pus, may be brown sticky expectoration. Feeling of a stitch in the chest with pleurisy.
• GUIACUM. A remedy for pleurisy - where there is a frequently repeated dry cough, when there may be some expectoration. Pleuritic stitches preventing deep breathing. Recurrent pleurisy left lung.
• PNEUMONIA. An unwelcome progression of this flu –neglected pneumonia- is often dealt with by Sepia. This remedy is not often thought of, but fits very well as the patient becomes so exhausted by the frequency of the cough, and in the end as in my case, couldn't care less whether he lives or dies – total indifference to the outcome! This feeling made me get out of bed, take some Sepia and realize that I needed Carbo Animalis Ant Tart, and from then on started to improve.
• SEPIA. Dry fatiguing cough as if coming from the stomach, worse for change of temperature with foul expectoration. Whooping cough that drags on-see note above re prescribing Whooping cough nosode. Pertussin. Sensation of emptiness in the chest. Rotten egg taste with coughing. Must press the chest which relieves.
• PHOSPHOROUS. A leading remedy for pneumonia on the left side, left lower lung. Patient is thirsty for cold water which he may vomit easily once the water is warm in the stomach is a keynote of this remedy. Cough hard wheezing dry painful violent tickling hacking exhausting with retching. There may be pain in the abdomen. Burning in the air passages and trembling. “As if skin in the larynx” is a very helpful symptom. In a Phosphorous case there is usually blood present in any discharges, and blood may be observed in the sputum brought up.
• SULPHUR. The Sulphur patient however ill retains their curiousity and interest in life – no indifference here! They feel hot and may be sitting in bed with covers off or limbs hanging out of the bed. There is difficult respiration - they want the windows open (as does Carbo Veg but they are cold) Deep hoarse voice, cough violent –tickling in larynx. They may have pleurisy, pneumonia, and a sensation of either burning or coldness in the chest. Feeling of weakness in chest much worse for talking which they will continue to attempt. It is my experience with Sulphur patients that any symptom is worse for talking which they are not inclined to stop however ill they are!
• STANNUM. This remedy is indicated where there is extreme weakness which is felt especially in the chest. They can feel this weakness as a paralytic heaviness and they are slow to do anything at all, even talk. The main keynote of Stannum is that all symptoms increase gradually and subside gradually. The voice is deep hollow and hoarse. Mucus +++ in trachea. Expectoration however is easy and has a sweet taste. Short breath from every effort. Needs loose clothes – takes deep breaths, chest feels raw or hollow. Stitching in left side of chest.with breathing or lying on that side. Cannot walk or do anything without coughing.
• ARNICA. Again as always appropriate - the patient feels very ill and deeply traumatized by this flu and feels aching and bruised deeply all over. The respiratory symptoms are: Hoarseness worse for any exertion ,they cough in sleep without waking, Cough can cause bloodshot eyes or nosebleed, bones and cartilage of chest are painful, and worse for motion( Bryonia )breathing or coughing. Stitching pains in the chest taking the breath away. Hoarse voice from overuse.
• ARSENICUM ALBUM. Shortness of breath, must sit up to cough. ( I had this symptom very strongly and became even more exhausted as I find it impossible to sleep lying down)Whistling wheezing breathing. Great shortness of breath - expectoration scanty. The most frustrating thing about this cough is the patient's inability to cough anything up despite the need to do so. It may even resemble whooping cough in the enormous efforts to expectorate ending in a whoop. With some of my patients I did give PERTUSSIN 30 - the whooping cough nosode when this symptom arose - this is a practitioner prescription.
• ARSENICUM IODATUM. The patient is short of breath – air hunger. Hacking cough. Expectoration yellow green /foul. Pneumonia that fails to clear up. Hoarseness. Burning heat in chest. Loss of voice.
• ANT. TART. This is a remedy which I believe to be indispensable in any prolonged respiratory case. There is unequal breathing and abdominal breathing – may be suffocative shortness of breath before, or alternating with the cough. Chest seems full but less and less is raised. May be cough followed by vomiting – this is the only way the mucus in the chest can be raised especially in children and old people. They have to sit up to breathe or cough. May cough and yawn alternately. They are better from lying on the right side and by burping.
• RADIUM BROMIDE. This cough is recurrent in the last 10 -15 years since the Chernobyl eruption and Radium Bromide was released into the atmosphere. This remedy also has deep aching in the bones as does Eup.Perf., the patient is restless and has to keep shifting about (Ars.Alb)the patient feels as if burning (Ars Alb) and there is excessive weakness and tiredness (Ars Alb). There is a persistent cough from tickling in the throat, worse for lying down, better for eating and open air, sitting up and exercise. Tightness of chest, patient feels as if he cannot get enough air.

Hair of the dog remedies for the Festive celebrations!

The remedies are Kali Bich and Nux Vomica, both very effective for hangovers

• Kali Bich. Aversion to mental and bodily labour. Avoids human society! Vertigo with nausea when trying to get up. Violent headache over eyebrows or outward along the brows. Bones of head feel sore; sharp stitches in bones as of a solid block in the forehead. Photophobia in the daylight. Face looks yellowish. Tongue thickly coated, dry burning throat. Vomiting more than he drinks of bright yellow water. Sore spot in stomach or food lies like a load. Nausea with heat in the body. Heavy kidneys.
• Nux Vomica. Irritable, may be angry and impatient. Critical of others. Can't bear noise, light, odours, touch, music, conversation or reading. Delirium tremens (alcoholics withdrawal symptoms pink elephants etc.) Vertigo with momentary loss of consciousness on empty stomach. Bruised sensation of the brain. Headache in the sunshine. Head seems larger than body. Frontal headache with desire to lean it on something. Face appears red congested or yellowish. Taste bitter in mouth, sour, bad in the morning. Throat feels rough and raw as if scraped, putrid taste. Heartburn. Water brash-nausea better if he can only vomit. Violent vomiting bilious sour, wants to vomit but cannot. Food lies like a heavy knot in the stomach. Feels better for hot drinks worse from food. Belching sour bitter. Uneasy and useless urging for stools. Ineffectual urging to urinate. May have palpitations on lying down. Wakes 3/4 am and cannot sleep again.
• China. Should also be given at night before sleeping or on waking to avoid dehydration.
• Arnica is always helpful for the trauma to the organism and the strain of overuse of the systems.
• In the case of all overindulgence plenty of water should be drunk - 2 litres if possible! and the sleep position should be in the recovery position ie the person laid on their side, 1 knee bent up with an arm placed under the head,which should be turned to one side to allow any vomiting to be safely evacuated without fear of suffocation. A high dose of Vitamin C ie 500-1000 mgs seems to help the effects of hangovers. On the following day it is advisable to drink fruit and vegetable juices, though most English people will still swear by the "Full Monty" bacon and eggs breakfast!  

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Kind Regards

Kate Diamantopoulo
kate@arnica.com.au
www.arnica.com.au