#homeopathyhour which runs on a Monday evening from 8-9pm is shaping up into a really lovely place to hang out.

There's lots of info shared, links, tips as well as networking and chat. It's a really friendly group of regulars and we have new and experienced homeopaths. We usually have a theme (which I DM people on the Sun/Mon so you've time to have a moment or two to think about it in advance if you like and as a reminder) and we've got some great guests coming up in the weeks ahead too.

If you'd like any more info feel free to get in touch. But do come and play out. New participants are always welcome and even if all you do whilst you find your feet is retweet posts then it's a great start and your followers get to see information they may not have seen otherwise.

One of our regulars said 'This is great fun folks! A very informative space, to chat and exchange. Come on over and say Hi, and be part of the homeopathic community out there!'

And another 'Yes, highly recommended if you’re on Twitter… And a good reason to get onto Twitter, if you aren’t already...! .... Great subject and although I am usually a regular, I may not be free to join in tonight, but I will stay tuned... I would encourage everyone on this group to join in, no matter where you are in the world ! 8pm UK time.'

We've just run our 14th session and I'm really enjoying my involvement. It's brilliant to be able to chat with a group of like minded individuals about something I'm incredibly passionate about. And to know we're getting more positivity around homeopathy out there into the twittersvere. I like that too.

Well to a screen near you (really near - if you're reading this then any moment you could be meeting them)! What are you doing still reading this? Watch the fab video below instead!!

And that's not all!! Yep - there's more...

Have a watch, and give me a shout if you've any questions about how homeopathy might help you - I'm always happy to chat!

So lovely to be heard. So great to have people out there asking questions. And being heard at the same time.

Mum has been an absolute ambassador for eating out in her new vegan lifestyle and has been brilliant at requesting what places can do for her - either ringing ahead/visiting in advance or asking on the day. Each time she's been really pleased with the options and returned often to find that more is available.

Today's trip to the Wheatley Arms again reinforced that. And not only that, there were two dishes available on the menu (one to come without the parmesan) that were naturally vegan.

Service was fabulous - friendly, helpful and engaging. As for myself, eating raw (whilst I've been corrupted by a certain person recently into cooked vegan and enjoyed some great meals, I want to return to fully raw for a while and regain that fantastic energy that comes with eating raw and exercising well), they were brilliant.  I requested what I'd like - they checked out options and then provided a beautiful salad of leaves, sweet potato, courgette, pepper and sundried tomatoes.

I've learnt over time that dressings make a salad, and as salads become a big part of eating raw I've learnt to make dressings. Restaurant dressings don't often do much for me so I take my own and then REALLY enjoy the salad they've provided.

Today's (new to me - I've had it as a raw soup before with more cucumber in - 1:1 ratio) was my mango and cucumber dressing which was fresh, light and tasty. And went well with the great salad I was brought.

Yum. It was a quick dash home for #homeopathyhour - the twitter driven chat hour that I run on a Monday evening, then maybe it was that I'd been out and the meal was smaller (still a great size it's just my salads tend to be HUGE) than usual, I really fancied dessert.

Again another new to me - but worth sharing again - the cinnamon, vanilla pud.  Simple, easy to make and tasty. The way I like 'em.

So went another lovely Bank Holiday Monday afternoon and evening... Here's to a great week of eating well, exercising lots, laughter and love.

#Homeopathyhour How it works

1. HASHTAG.  The hashtag symbol '#' in a tweet is what enables tweets from different people to be grouped together and to show up in a Twitter search.

2. HOW TO JOIN IN.  To see what people are saying during #Homeopathyhour, go to the search box on Twitter and type '#Homeopathyhour' any time between 8pm and 9pm on a Monday evening.

3. WHAT NEXT?  Click on 'All' to see all the tweets.

4. JOIN IN.  To add your own message, compose a tweet about your business, blog, books you’d like to mention or event etc, making sure you include '#Homeopathyhour'.  Your message will then appear when anyone does a Twitter search for '#Homeopathyhour'.

5. CONVERSE.  To join in a conversation, just click 'reply' and get tweeting.  Or, if you think a tweet will be interesting to your followers, then retweet it.  Others may retweet your messages to their followers too.

6. USE  CONTACTS.  To chat with someone in particular, make sure your tweet includes their Twitter name (e.g. @Twittername).

7. SOCIAL NETWORKING.  In order to get the most out of #Homeopathyhour, you can talk (well, tweet) with other people.  If you're not feeling confident enough to start a thread of your own, join in a conversation that someone else has started.

8. FAST AND FURIOUS.  Sometimes #Homeopathyhour can be a little overwhelming at first, especially if you try to keep up with every single tweet and follow every conversation but, the tweets don't go anywhere so you can always come back to the Twittersearch at a later date and read through any that you've missed.

9. TOP TIP.  If you want to come back to a particular tweet or contact a particular tweeter later, you can always 'favourite' their tweet so you can find it again easily.

#Homeopathyhour is currently on twitter Mondays 8pm-9pm BST. Please come and join in – just search #homopathyhour to join the conversation.

Our intention is for it to be a respectful space where homeopaths can get together. Do feel free to block or report as spam any tweets/tweeters that are offensive to the discussions that you are having.

I saw a wonderful client today whose story I'd shared a while ago - she was my amazing headache client who was 180+ tablets down a month. Today within a few moments of the consultation she told me she couldn't remember the last time she'd had a headache. They just weren't an issue anymore.  I later asked for her to write a few words that I could share so here's her story in her words:

'5 months ago a friend asked me to make an appointment with Emma to try & help with my daily headache problem. But, I'd always had headaches & I was resigned to it being my lot in life, in fact, I'd been told many years before by my GP that I just had to learn to live with them. So, in a very negative frame of mind I booked my first session.  2 hours, no way, it would all be over in 20 minutes & I'd be on my way home. Then, I met Emma.  20 minutes turned into the allotted 2 hours & things had been shared that I never thought I would be able to discuss with anyone, ever. I left the first meeting feeling lighter & just a tiny bit optimistic. Over the last 5 months I've been on a journey, with Emma guiding me along the way.  When my headaches were down to 2 or 3 a week I was very excited and happy, but Emma wasn't ... we were going for zero tolerance ... and with trust, chat & lots & lots of laughter we have finally got there!!'

So that's it in a nutshell. 5 appointments, 1 remedy, a few repeats of that remedy and there we have it. No headaches. I really love my job. I love it when it's hard, love it when it's crazy, busy, filled with people and absolutely love it today.

This has been one I've been thinking over for a while. The recent 'selfies' for cancer research has prompted much thinking - much of it, here at my little HQ anyway, around prevention. Unless we're off to get full body scans on an annual basis (which isn't without risks itself), many of us could develop all sorts of things we are unaware of. My sister's brother in law discovered he had pancreatic cancer and 19 days later moved on to whatever comes after our time in this body. Or doesn't. But that's not the point here. What I'm trying to say is there's not always time to use these amazing cures that are being developed. And, yes, I do believe, with a friend who is an oncology professor, that some great things are being worked on.

But what if instead we took ourselves to a point where we were unlikely to need them. Where the 'cancer epidemic' that's predicted to explode into our lives just didn't. What if you could discover things to avoid the predicted statistics for yourself or your loved ones?

So I really, really am not saying not to donate. Donate to whatever you want to donate to. Whatever you believe in. I donate around 5 hours a month to actively supporting people going through their cancer journeys at the moment. And probably will donate 10 inches of my hair in the next few months to a charity which provides wigs for children going through chemo.  The system is there, it's doing what it does, but why not look up and outside it too? Research, read, discover, enquire. Because if we keep doing what we always have done, the chances are we'll end up where we always have. And at the moment with our current state of global western health, that's not all that appealing.

I'm not using this as any kind of platform, I don't think I'm above anyone else, not using it as any kind of vehicle for anything. Just a girl sharing some thoughts on some things. That's it.

But if you'd like to look at a different outlook, have a read of The China Study, Forks over Knives, Neal Bernard's work along with The Rainbow Diet, the Gerson's books, look into clearing toxic substances out of your life (I did type love there instead of life which I guess is relevant too). And do it from a place of love. So much of big pharma operates from a place of fear. I'm not saying it's not hard to watch people go through illness but let's shift the focus from fear to love a little. Love ourselves and take care of ourselves because we are made from love. Work with love at whatever we do. Life changes around us when we are able to whole heartedly be present.

And just to finish... from my facebook 'selfie' a few other tips from practitioners were forthcoming:

Homeopath Mary Aspinwall says 'I drink a 1/2 pint plus of organic home made green juice daily ... I go for a daily half hour silent walk meditating as I go. I do www.thework.com worksheets on my stressful thoughts. Over to Sarah Johnston-Knight for her tips'... Homeopath and Bowen practitioner Sarah Johnston-Knight says 'Clean up your body, head and heart...Juices of all colours here; carrot, apple and ginger still being one of my favourite. .... Byron Katie's questions are never far from my mind when I hit a glitch in my thoughts which cause me any distress. EFT to bring me back to ground instantly. A good Homeopath....and regular Bowen.'

Wishing you good health, with love x

And yet not really sure why. I've had a strange week of people not coming at the arranged time, coming late or rearranging appointments and all sorts of shenanigans that don't usually go on. 

Maybe it's retrograde Mercury doing it's mischief. Who knows. And yet I feel incredibly blessed, lucky and so filled with love for the world my little heart could burst.  Maybe that's the gift from The Gentle Art of Blessing. Again who knows.

The moving of appointments and freeing of time has allowed for reading, sewing, clearing and running. All of which have felt like absolute gifts and I feel very happy to have been allowed room for them all after what's been two really busy weeks.

Today it really hit me just how much I love my work (to be honest I do feel that a lot but today was maybe the most recent time. Well tonight I guess but that's just splitting hairs now)... and I do. I really do.

I loved the talk I gave tonight. I love that people are approaching me to give talks to groups more and more. I love that I'm meeting some fantastic people, making wonderful contacts and spreading the word about homeopathy and healthy eating further out into the world.

I loved seeing the clients I've seen this week and am looking forward to seeing more over the next 3 days.

Well, I think that's all I wanted to say. Thanks for listening.

With love x

Homeopathy is an incredible therapy and I’m finding myself more and more amazed by its depth and breadth as I continue my own journey practicing and learning about this wonderful gift I’ve been lucky enough to have found a part of and live alongside.  One of the most startling aspects can be the speed at which a correctly chosen remedy can alter and affect what’s happening for an individual, and in first aid or acute situations this is particularly apparent.  I was thinking about my Top 10 remedies to have in a first aid cupboard (or kit) and thought would share them here.  Remedies can be safely given to any age of person from babies upwards and can be prescribed at home – should you wish for more guidance please contact a qualified Homeopath. 

In Homeopathic prescribing we always aim to match the picture the patient is showing to that of a remedy (Law of Similars), so in first aid cases we do this also.  Some of the following descriptions may assist you to give Homeopathic remedies in the home to help with common ailments.  We work on another rule which we call the Law of the Minimum Dose.  This states we only use as little of a medicine as possible to stimulate the body’s own healing mechanism.  When you give a remedy give one dose (one tablet) and wait to see what happens.  If things improve, leave the patient to continue improving.  We only give another dose if the case stops improving before a full recovery is reached or if symptoms return.

So here’s my Top 10 (in alphabetical not favourite order!):

Aconite – No.1 remedy to nip colds in the bud.  If you take in the early stages of colds you may even find you suffer no ill effects.  Useful for helping with fevers and inflammations especially in healthy people whose symptoms come on suddenly.  There may be extreme restlessness and fear shown by the person needing this remedy.

Usually Arnica is the remedy the most people have heard of and, rightly so.  I would consider it as an essential part of any alternative (or indeed any) first aid collection.  Arnica is best known as a treatment for bruising and as well as the Homeopathic medication you may also purchase Arnica cream to be applied topically.  Arnica is less well known for it’s use in shock and exhaustion and is a great remedy to alleviate Jet Lag for those Long Haul Travellers!  In the cases of accidents and injuries where given early it will reduce swelling and bruising.  They may show fear of being touched because of the pain and may want to be left alone or claim are OK, when clearly they are not.

Belladonna – is the No.1 remedy for high fevers.  The inflamed area or even the entire patient may be burning, red and hot.  They eyes are glassy, with dilated pupils.  Onset is sudden and pains are violent and throbbing, whilst the patient has a rapid pulse.  They may be angry, delirious or even have visions.

Chamomilla – No.1 remedy for teething children, especially if the child has one red cheek.  You’ll see over-sensitivity and intolerable pains which may appear to be out of proportion to the illness or injury.  Suited to hot, bad-tempered, over-tired children who are only quiet when carried and constantly request, then reject things.

Hypericum – No.1 remedy for injury to nerves.  This is a useful first aid remedy for lacerated wounds from sharp instruments or any injury to nerve rich areas (e.g. slamming door fingers).  Pains are extreme and shoot along the nerves.

Ignatia – No.1 remedy for emotional shock.  It’s a great remedy for treating symptoms which follow acute loss, grief or disappointed love.  The patient may not accept what has happened and reacts with a sense of disbelief.

Ledum – No.1 remedy for puncture wounds.  Also useful in preventing or easing black eyes.  Use it to treat deep wounds (e.g. by nails) and bites from animals and insects, where the area is swollen, blue and cold but feels worse for heat and better for cold applications.

Nux Vom – No.1 remedy for hangovers, complaints from over-indulgence of alcohol and/or rich food.  For people who work and play very hard, surviving on a ‘diet’ of coffee, alcohol and tobacco.

Rhus Tox – No.1 remedy for sprains and strains.  Stiffness, accompanied by restlessness.  Pains are usually around joints, which ache, feel sore and bruised.  Pain is worse on first movement, with a tearing or stitching sensation, but eases after continued movement.  Rhus Tox can also be indicated in Chicken Pox or Shingles.

Silica – the No.1 remedy for forcing out splinters and foreign bodies.  In first aid situations this is a great remedy to assist in forcing out foreign bodies or hard plugs of ear wax (especially after swimming), but as a note of caution, do not use if you have a pace-maker, grommets, metal pins etc.  It’s useful for helping painless wounds heal that are suppurating and slow to heal.

Serious injuries and illnesses should never be treated without seeking expert advice. Use your instincts and common sense, if you are worried then call for help first and you can give the appropriate remedy whilst you are waiting for help to arrive.  If symptoms show no improvement or return always seek professional help.   

Happy prescribing!

Em x

I've not shared a case before on my blog and thought that this was a lovely one to illustrate the beauty and grace of a remedy that worked well for a client. Details are shared with full permission of the client.

Client first sought treatment for heartburn in November 2013 and requested I do food intolerance testing using kinesiology.  It didn’t matter what she did, if she ate or didn’t eat, it was there all the time.  There was no regular pattern to it although some foods do seem to exacerbate the problem – alcohol, spices, tomatoes, chocolate and cake aggravate.  Mint doesn’t help. She drinks a freshly made juice every morning and always eats melon or fruit before instead of after a meal if she’s eating them. Generally sticks to alkaline foods. Has the occasional dairy in cheese and quite a few eggs.

She tried taking Nux Vom from a first aid kit for a while but didn’t ease.

Food testing using kinesiology showed some sensitivity to: corn flour, buckwheat, millet, cashew, sunflower seeds, green lentils, chickpeas, green pepper, chilli, cocoa, pineapple, cod, prawns and house dust.

Client returned in December 2013 having cut out all the foods we’d mentioned and did feel better for it, but still found the heartburn comes and goes. Mostly though now what’s left is a burning, acidic taste in the back of her throat. Stomach feels a bit not normal – upside down – sometimes feel could be quite sick, quite nauseous really.

The acid reflux is felt in the back of throat, less of a sensation in chest than previously. Seems to settle and then for no reason start up again – no pattern at all.

At this point I suggested we look further at it from a homeopathic approach – some improvement is good but I felt there was more room for greater health here.

When it all started I was having to sort out selling mum’s house. I find it very difficult to go and see my mum – I go two to three weekly, my sister goes more often. I find it hard to deal with seeing how she is (mum has dementia and is now in a nursing home).

Before then I was a lot better – mum was living at home although that was a stressful period of life. I was up and down the road 2-3 times a day – desperate phone calls from her. Now she’s in the home she’s not mum anymore. That’s the only stress I’ve got.

Mum had dementia but they wouldn’t give the diagnosis then my husband went bankrupt at a similar time. It probably all goes back to then. Maybe coming now as can deal with it all.

I had IBS many years ago after having the children and had to be careful what I ate to sort it out. Every now and again stomach went. Stomach would ‘flip’, a sickly feeling, and feeling at the back of my throat. Probably no worse than others but is frustrating and I want to be well.

I think everyone thinks I’m a bit quirky, bit eccentric, veggie. Probably quite selfish, look after number one. Care about family, very family orientated, I adore my grandchildren, all 3 of them.

What would husband complain about? That I’m argumentative, always right. I’m very much an outdoor person, get claustrophobic if inside. Like outdoor spaces. If I travel it’s always to the sea, the Scorpio in me – I need to be by the sea. Some place where I can walk the dogs.

What’s the Scorpio like for you? Determined – if somebody does something to me will forgive but always remember. Don’t like falling out. Have a temper although I’ve calmed as got older. I do play things close to my chest – probably don’t talk about things as much as I should. I couldn’t go to see a counsellor and pour my heart out. If I cry I like to be on my own – if ill I like to be alone, don’t like people fussing around me.

Fears? Ending up with Alzheimer’s at mo. If memory taken away. Fear old age and ending up like mum.

Had tinnitus for donkey’s years – in 70s saw Status Quo and was right at the front. Couldn’t hear! Seen too many bands. Ears get clogged up with wax too.

I enjoy life – what I have I spend. Lost 3 friends this year, it makes you think. Nursing was all I ever wanted to do – now I won’t go near hospital and doctors. If I had to I would but don’t unless need to.

I have the usual aches and pains – back pain between shoulders, right shoulder a knot in at the back too. Massage and Bowen therapy helps.  My throat is better for eating and cold water and worse for hot water. I sometimes get a cough for no reason at all – a tickle in the back of my throat and once start I can’t stop.

Warm person – occasional hot flushes from time to time. Quite happy in own company – not like to be completely on own. Enjoy own space as book club and friends, quite happy on own too. Very rarely sit and do nothing, usually find something to do. Food preferences – eat loads of fruit, snack on nuts. Did like chocolate although not had since here last.

Rx Nat Mur 200C split dose. This remedy was prescribed for the individual client based on both her symptoms and other descriptions as told within the case.

Follow up 9th January 2014

Well it’s been brilliant! I knew homeopathy worked but even I’ve been quite taken aback.  Over Christmas I’ve been appalling with food and it’s been fine, although wine and ginger have set it off. Excess fruit does seem to start it off at times.

I knew it would work. It really has, been away with friends and although pretty careful but couldn’t believe how good it was – even the odd glass of wine was absolutely fine. Nothing like I’d had previously.  It was about 10 days after taking the remedy it started to ease off.

My cough settled as well.  I haven’t felt as well as this for ages.  Even had a piece of Christmas cake last night that went down fine.  My aches – I’ve been walking every single day up into the fells and been absolutely fine.

One occasional it couldn’t seem to clear up – I took some Nat Mur 30 and it settled. Dreams – had quite a few vivid ones but can’t remember just now. And the tinnitus although still there it’s not quite as bad as before and I’ve lived with it for years.

Rx no remedy prescribed - return if needed.

Mid-February 2014

I contacted the client to see if I could write up the case to share and she told me things are still great – if she has junk food it occasionally sets things off but generally all is well and she’s feeling good.

I thought that I'd use the fact that the Homeopathy Worked for Me facebook page is rapidly approaching 25,000 fans to inspire a few facts about homeopathy and share these here. One fact for every 1k fans of the page.

1.    Homeopathy has been used in the UK for over two hundred years.

2.    Hippocrates, acclaimed as the father of modern medicine and honoured by doctors in the ‘Hippocratic Oath’, was the first to suggest that a person’s own healing ability was vital in choosing the right cure for an ailment.

3.    The founder of modern homeopathy was the 18th century German physician, Dr Samuel Hahnemann.

4.    Hahnemann was a child prodigy: he was teaching Greek by the age of 12, and had mastered eight languages by the time he started to study medicine at the age of 20.

5.    Hahnemann was so appalled by the practices of his day that he set out to find a healing approach that was safe, gentle and effective.

6.    Hahnemann believed that rather than trying to suppress symptoms, the body should be stimulated to encourage its natural healing process.

7.    The word ‘Homeopathy’ is from the Greek homœo (meaning similar) and pathos (meaning suffering).

8.    Homeopathy was originally spelt Homœopathy.

9.    In the 1800’s practitioners and supporters of homeopathy were called ‘homœopathists’.

10.  Homeopathy is based on three principles.

11.  The first principle is ‘like cures like’. Something that in large doses creates the symptoms of a disease, will, in small doses, cure it. This is similar to the theory behind vaccines.  Aristotle (384 - 322B.C.) knew the principle as well, and wrote, “Often the simile acts upon the simile.”

12.  The second principle is extreme dilution which enhances the medicine’s healing properties and eliminates undesirable side-effects along the way.

13.  The third principle is that the whole person must be taken into consideration when choosing a remedy.

14.  Most high street chemists and whole-food shops now stock a limited range of frequently used homeopathic remedies (in the 6C or 30C potencies).

15.  A homeopathic pharmacy will make up a wide selection of homeopathic remedies available in different forms, including soft tablets, which are easier to give to children.

16.  It is suitable for children as well as adults.

17.  Homeopathy can also be used on animals under the control of a vet.

18.  Celebrities such as Paul McCartney, David Beckham, Twiggy, Caprice, Susan Hampshire, Tina Turner, Louise Jameson, Gaby Roslin, Jude Law, Sadie Frost, Nadia Sawalha, Jennifer Aniston, Jade Jagger, Roger Daltry, Annabel Croft and Meera Syal reportedly use homeopathy.

19.  The English Royal Family has been under homeopathic care since 1830 and there has always been a Royal Homeopathic Doctor.

20.  The Royal Homeopathic doctor is currently Dr Peter Fisher.

21.  Homeopathic Practitioners train for 4 years in Anatomy and Physiology, as well as Pathology and Disease, Materia Medica, Homeopathic Philosophy and study of the Homeopathic Repertory.

22.  Initial homeopathic consultations last between one and two hours and your homeopath will ask questions about your physical, mental and emotional health, lifestyle, preferences and fears. Your responses will help classify your symptoms and determine the remedy for you.

23.  In December 2009, Mintel published research on complementary medicines which showed that public interest in the UK was growing. Over-the-counter homeopathic treatments, such as arnica cream are expected to grow in sales by 29% by 2014 in addition to 23% growth 2004-2009.

24.  Almost every pharmacy in Germany and France (20,000) stocks homeopathic remedies.

25.  In India, alternative treatments, including homeopathy, are well established and integrated into the healthcare system, with 94 per cent of people saying that they have faith in alternative remedies.

It's probably apparent (and if not I'm definitely doing something wrong), my love for homeopathy. If you've experienced good effects then it would be wonderful if you'd share your story so we can help others too. The Find a Homeopath website is collecting testimonials so please pop over and fill in the simple form so we can reach further and help more people.

With big thanks,

Em

And big thanks too to Nelson's pharmacy who've compiled a wonderful list of 150 facts, many of which I've used here. Head over and read the extended version on their website.