14-21 June 2013 is the 13th Homeopathy Awareness Week - and the focus in on holidays.  As the Society of Homeopaths leaflet says (on the left):

"Homeopathy has a consistent history in alleviating the distress of bumps, bruises, sore muscles, digestive problems, sunburn, fear of flying, jet lag or vertigo and nausea from motion sickness (cars, planes and boats)."

How Can I Use Homeopathy Whilst I'm Abroad?

Homeopathic remedies can be bought over the counter from pharmacies and some health food stores.  However, they can also be bought individually or in 'kit' form from.  This means you can take your own remedy kit abroad with you.  This is the most cost effective way to buy remedies as you can get 18 remedies for about the same price as 5 over the counter.

Kits (like the one shown on the left from Helios pharmacy) contain several remedies, and have a comprehensive and straightforward booklet on how to use them.  

There are kits available over the internet, but you may wish to speak to a pharmacy to get more of an understanding of what's available.  There are different kits for different purposes and different budgets.  What's more, the remedies last for years and can be used for friends and family, children and adults alike,  for a long time after the holiday has ended.

Here are some links to pharmacies selling homeopathic remedy kits (click and they will open in a new window):

• Helios Pharmacy kits
• Ainsworths Pharmacy kits

Underlying chronic symptoms are best seen by a qualified professional homeopath, but minor injuries and ailments can be treated at home using these over the counter remedies.  

Homeopathy works just as well for babies as for adults, but giving them the remedy can be tricky.  As remedies are made from milk sugar or 'sac lac' they are compatible with a tiny baby's digestive system, so there is no minimum age for treatment.  

Here are 3 easy ways to give a remedy to babies.

1. Powder.  Powdered remedies are easier to put in a tiny baby's mouth and are more easily absorbed.  If your remedy comes in pill or tablet form, simply scoop or drop the remedy onto a clean teaspoon and crush by pressing another (clean!) teaspoon on top.  Pour the contents into baby's mouth - this can be done whilst they are asleep if easier as the powder simply dissolves.  TIP - do not worry if you drop some 'crumbs' of the remedy - it is not the size of that matters!  As long as some of the pill finds its way into baby's mouth it will work.
2. In water.  If your baby is old enough for cooled, boiled water then the remedy can be placed in water.  Put some water in a cup or glass, or a baby's bottle or Doidy cup.  Place a remedy into the water (again, it may seem strange but the exact amounts of remedy to water don't matter - homeopathy is an ultra dilute substance anyway).  When baby requires a dose then a teaspoon or sip of this water will do the trick.  TIP:  if the water is kept in the fridge this can allow you to repeat the remedy more often and will make the remedy last longer.
3. Pop it in!  If your baby is old enough to start weaning, then you can just drop the whole pill into the baby's mouth.  I have done this with my children whilst they sleep as they keep it in their mouths better this way.  They like the taste and will suck it or it will just dissolve whilst they sleep.  If you are concerned about any choking then do this whilst baby is awake.  The remedy coats the outside of the tablet, so if baby pushes it out chances are that it will still work.... or you can just pop it back in.  TIP: always handle a remedy as little as possible, or ideally not at all and just tip from packet or bottle straight to water/teaspooon/mouth so as not to contaminate the delicate dose.

The great thing about homeopathy is babies is we get to see remedies without any placebo effect!  There is no way a tiny baby can think itself better by knowing it's receiving a remedy - so the results just speak for themselves.

Image courtesy of phanlop88  / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I am often asked by both patients and family - 'So how often do I take the remedy?'.  The answer is 'it depends'!

Firstly, it depends!  It depends on whether the remedy is for an 'acute' illness, or constitutional.  

A constitutional remedy is prescribed by a homeopath for the patient's overall benefit and for long-term symptoms.  Here, clear direction on how often to take and sometimes repeat the remedy will be given.  Your discretion as a patient comes into play when you have an 'acute' illness.

An acute illness is one that comes on suddenly, and is self-limiting.  This could be a vomiting bug, flu, tonsillitis, earache, fever - the sort of illness that comes on relatively suddenly.  It is not a 'chronic' illness like eczema or asthma.  This is often the sort of illness that a remedy kit has a booklet about treating.  These are usually treated with a '6c' or '30c' remedy.

Do you remember the old adage 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'?  This is pretty much your rule of thumb.  If a remedy has been given and is still working (symptoms have improved, and stayed that way) then don't repeat the remedy.  There is no need.  However, if the symptoms start to creep back, or suddenly return, then that's the time to repeat the remedy.  This might be after a few minutes - say, in the case of a fever, where the patient's energy is quite high.... or may be after a few hours, perhaps towards the end of a fever.  The point is, like all homeopathy, it's individual.  Different patients, with different illnesses, will use up a remedy at different speeds.

Another rule of thumb - if a remedy makes no difference after 2 or 3 doses, even if it was working quite happily before, then STOP giving it!  It means that the symptoms have changed and the remedy will no longer work as it no longer matches the symptoms.  Homeopathy works on the principle of similars - a similar remedy to cure similar symptoms.  In this case, consult the booklet in your kit again, call your homeopath, or call the Homeopathic Helpline (not run by me, but open 9am to midnight - a charge applies for this service).

Has this helped?  I welcome your comments, feedback and personal experience below.


Image Courtesy of  nuchylee / FreeDigitalPhotos.net