Good Old Arnica!

If there is one thing that I would NEVER be without it is a bottle of Arnica 30c tablets.  Especially now I have a toddler!  I keep some in my bag at all times and several supplies around the house!

It is most commonly known and used for the healing of bruises, but there is so much more to it than that.  It is great for sleep problems, overtiredness, pain, shock and trauma – amongst other things.  It is perfectly safe to use and will not intefere with any other medications or treatments.

 

I used two remedies when I was in labour with my son – one of which was Arnica.  It kept me going when I felt like giving up, and because of its amazing effects I had no other pain relief in labour, whatsoever.  It was also invaluable after the birth for healing and tiredness.

 

Then the little fella got bigger and started bumping in to things.  It happens a lot these days.  I am still astounded at how quickly he is fine again after just one small tablet.  I guess a lot of the incidents have an element of shock to them, and arnica dissolves the shock as quick as the tablet itself!

 

My son recently had heart surgery via catheterisation – a tube in the femoral atery in the groin – an amazing procedure with such immediate effects and much quicker recovery than open surgery.  Anyway, he only had one lot of Calpol in the recovery room straight after the procedure.  From then on he had arnica.  One every few hours for the first day, then 3 times a day after that.  He did not complain about any pain or discomfort.  Not once.  The bruising was pretty much gone and the wound healed within about 3 days.  He was back to his old self – and then some!

 

I know there are many non believers out there, but these are just a couple of examples of how Homoeopathy can be so useful in situations where there would usually need to be some extra intervention or relief and the power of the mind may not even have a say in matters…

 

No home should be without it!

Cider Vinegar – Liquid Gold?

Either you love it or you hate it, but cider vinegar seems to have a huge array of beneficial health properties.  It was recently referred to by one of my patients as ‘Liquid Gold’ because he had felt so much better since taking it!

 

So what is it? Simply, cider vinegar is what is left over from the production of cider.  Fermented over a longer period of time and containing no alcohol, it usually contains a maximum of just 5% acidity.

 

So as a predominantly alkaline substance, it is useful as an anti-inflammatory which is why I advocate its use so strongly to my patients.

 

Back in 2009 my husband had gone to the local cider farm to stock up on ‘scrumpy’ for a party he was going to, and picked up a bottle of their cider vinegar for me to try.  I had been using the stuff you get from the supermarket for years, but immediately I found the flavour of the local stuff much more palatable.

 

I had been advocating the use of cider vinegar to my patients for a few years, but I realised that they were missing out on a much more pleasant variety!  So after a chat with the cider farm, they agreed to supply it for me.

 

Most of my patients buy a bottle when they start treatment, and regulars to my clinic will restock every 2-3 months when I see them.  A few of them hate it but take it because it works, but some love it and find it hard to drink water without it!

 

It seems to help boost the immune system too.  My husband is a teacher and takes cider vinegar daily in water to protect himself from all the bugs.  His colds are much less frequent and with reduced severity don’t seem to last as long either.  I had a fluey cold type bug one summer and couldn’t take any medication due to being pregnant – a few doses of cider vinegar and the following day all the aches and pains had gone and I was feeling much more human!

 

It’s also great for animals too.  We gave it to our dog for several years.  He was an elderly boy and suffered with his joints and occasionally had skin flare ups, but a capful in his drinking water seemed to really help him and he didn’t seem to mind it too much either… maybe that’s what’s kept him going so long – he passed away at the grand old age of 18!

 

So what can you do with it?  Well, I recommend drinking one teaspoon to a capful in hot or cold water once or twice a day as a general tonic, but in cases of pain and inflammation, increasing that to 3-4 times a day.  If you suffer with indigestion or stomach problems such as reflux or ulcers, it is best to take it at mealtimes.  You can pour it neat on to a flannel or folded tea towel and use it as a compress on painful areas such as sprains or strains for 10-15 minutes at a time.  You can also put a couple of capfuls in your bath water as a soak for aching muscles and joints.  Not forgetting good old salad dressings, for tenderising pork and it’s even nice with a bit of sea salt on chips!

 

If you would like some Sunshine Health Cider Vinegar please contact me.  It costs £3.50 per 750ml bottle.  I am unable to post it but you are welcome to collect it from my clinic in Street.