Homeopathic Remedies for Common Ailments

 Basic Homeopathy Lesson

Written and Compiled by: Amaris Grey

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To begin: A list of common household illnesses and injuries:

 

Cold and Flu
Stomach Discomforts
Minor to Moderate Scrapes, Bruises, and Muscle and Joint Strains
Infant/Toddler Distresses
“Womanly” Discomforts
Minor Burns

Cold and Flu:

   Though it is possible to catch them during the spring and summer, cold and flu season is generally during the cold months, and there is a lot you can do to prevent them. Ingesting plenty of Vitamin C is the first thing that springs to most people’s mind, but despite the fact that vitamin C will get rid of these ailments quickly, there is no real study that suggests copious amounts of Vitamin C will prevent colds and the flu. Besides, there are many other things to do that are just as easy. Eating healthy and incorporating many fruits and vegetables into your diet will boost your immune system and will prevent a lot of illnesses, not just colds and the flu. Ingesting goldenseal and Echinacea at the first sign of the sniffles will stop a cold in its tracks. Believe it or not, the best thing for you during these sicknesses is water and rest. As far as herbal remedies go, there is nothing better for colds and the flu than garlic, Echinacea, goldenseal, and chamomile. Other herbs that are good for people with these illnesses include mullien, cinnamon, ginger, elderberry, honeysuckle, boneset, yarrow, and peppermint. The best remedy for colds and the flu is a tea of Chamomile and Goldenseal, sweetened with honey. You can also buy tablets of dried Chamomile, Goldenseal, and Echinacea in herbal markets.

 

Stomach Discomforts:

   Stomach discomforts include indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, sour stomach, heartburn, and flatulence. The biggest way to prevent these discomforts is the same as preventing colds and the flu: diet. Balancing out your diet, limiting the foods that create these problems, and eating less meat and dairy and more dietary fiber and whole grain will definitely level out your stomach’s ills and will keep you regular and feeling comfortable. Drinking plenty of water also helps prevent stomach discomforts.

Common Causes of Stomach Ills:

Large amounts of Animal Protein or Dairy Products
Beans
Processed Sugar Products (Non-Chocolate Candy Snacks)
Processed Foods High in Saturated fat.
Stress
Certain Medications (Including Anti-depressants)
Lack of sufficient Physical Activity

Ginger is a wonderful herb for any gastrointestinal concern, and other herbs that aid stomach ills include mint, buckthorn, seaweed and kelp, dandelion, milk thistle, and hibiscus. Eat several pieces of fruit throughout the day to sooth constipation. Chew on mint leaves to aid digestion and cease flatulence. Eat dry toast and crackers and drink a lot of water to help with diarrhea. You could also make a broth of onion, sage, tarragon, garlic, thyme, oregano, basil, and caraway seed. Take three cups of water and bring it to a boil. Add all the ingredients and allow the water to come to a slow rolling boil. Let it boil for one full hour, then strain and drink. This should help with flatulence, irregularity, heartburn, and also will make the body very warm, which can also calm the stomach.

 

Minor to Moderate Scrapes, Bruises, and Muscle and Joint Strains:

 

  It isn’t always easy to prevent small scrapes and minor falls around the home or at work, but safety and cautiousness is always good to observe everywhere. As far as herbal remedies go, an infusion of calendula, which fights infection, ointments made of St. John’s Wort and comfrey, which both reduces inflammation and relieves pain, all work very well. Vitamin E gel (bought in tablets in pharmacies) can be placed directly on the cuts, and will heal in half the time. For bruising, comfrey works the best. A poultice of comfrey applied to a bruise will lessen the pain and encourage the blood vessels to mend. St. John’s Wort rubbed on a bruise will work in a similar way. For sprains, a compress or parsley and St. John’s Wort will sooth it.

 

Infant/Toddler Distresses:

You should always be very cautious about what you give children, especially babies, but there are herbs proven to help infants in their numerous health concerns and makes trips to the hospital less frequent. Slippery elm is sometimes made into a gruel and given to babies who are prone to colic. Not only is it soothing, but it has the same nutritional consistency of oatmeal, both wholesome and sustaining. It can also be brewed in a tea and, when taken at night, will induce sleep.

Catnip is an herbal relaxant that aids in both breaking fevers and teething. Make a tea from catnip and put a few teaspoons in the baby’s formula for fever, or make an ointment to rub on aching gums for teething. Lemon balm is anti-viral and antiseptic. It makes a great tasting tea that can alleviate separation anxiety. A tea of lemon balm, oats, and chamomile creates a wonderful nervous system tonic. Nettles are a safe for children, high in vitamins and minerals, and are a remedy for both allergies and growing pains.

 

Please, whatever you do, talk to your child’s doctor before trying any of these remedies.

 

“Womanly” Discomforts:

Every woman (and every man living with a woman) is familiar with these problems, and how they can vary. Sometimes they’re just annoying and inconvenient, and sometimes they can be both embarrassing and very painful. From menstruation to pregnancy, these are not problems that can be ignored, and we often do not know what to do about it, other than just let it happen.

Motherwort is known as the woman’s herb because of all the things it helps in a woman. Motherwort is a first-class relaxing nerve tonic with valued for its ability to bring calm without drowsiness. Taken throughout the day and before bed, it helps insure restful sleep. This herb is also an antidepressant and very slightly euphoric for some people. Motherwort is used to strengthen heart function, especially in conditions where the heart is weak. A gentle sedative and antispasmodic, it promotes relaxation rather than drowsiness. However, it does stimulate the muscles of the uterus, and is especially suitable for delayed menstruation, menstrual pain, and premenstrual tension. As a nerve tonic, motherwort is taken three to four times per day on an empty stomach. The best times are 15 to 30 minutes before meals and before bed. During acute stressful periods, it is taken more frequently.

CAUTIONS: Motherwort should not be taken during the first two trimesters of pregnancy. Should be used cautiously by pregnant women as it is a uterine stimulant. Should not be used if menstrual bleeding is heavy.

For cramps, a tea of lavender and black cohosh works excellently. Since the cohosh herb is bitter, you may want to add a little bit of mint to disguise the taste. Seaweed is a great thing for a woman to use. Benefits from eating seaweed include glossier hair, more luminous skin, less digestive distress, renewed energy and stamina, and rekindled sexual desires. Seaweed eaten daily is a powerful ally for prevention and healing osteoporosis, breast cancer, mastitis, uterine cancer, irregular menstrual cycles, ovarian cancer, fibroids, ovarian cysts, infertility, fibro-cystic breast distress, and pre-menstrual / menopausal problems such as water retention, emotional freak-outs, chills and hot flashes, fatigue, lack of lubrication, loss of calcium, and general irritability.

Herbs that help during pregnancy are red raspberry, which prevents hemorrhaging, promotes milk production, and eases morning sickness, and nettles, which diminishes pain during and after labor, eases leg cramping, and nourishes both mother and fetus. Ingesting a lot of calcium during pregnancy can help replenish strength and will prevent preeclampsia.

Minor Burns:

There are four burn degrees; First degree burns are usually just red and painful and only injures the top layer of skin, but they heal within a few days, a week at the longest, and can be caused by scalding yourself with water or briefly touching something very hot.

There are two types of second degree burns: Superficial Partial-Thickness burns, and Deep Partial-Thickness burns. Superficial Partial thickness burns injure the first and second layers of skin and are caused the same way as first degree burns, only more severely. The skin around the burn turns white when pressed, then turned back to red. The burn is moist and painful with blistering and swelling that lasts for around forty-eight to seventy-two hours.

Deep partial thickness burns injure deeper layers of skin and are white with red areas. They are cause by coming into contact with grease, hot oil, and/or thick or microwaved liquids. This kind of burn may not be painful, because some of the nerves in the skin may have been damaged. The skin looks spotted, remains white when pressed, may appear waxy in some areas, and may be slightly moist. It’s important to watch for infection in this type of burn.

Third Degree burns (also known as full-thickness burns), injure all the layers of the skin as well as the fatty tissue beneath them. These are serious burns that can affect the skin’s ability to grow back. A third-degree burn can cause severe pain. However, if nerve endings are damaged, the burn may not hurt right away. Third-degree burns may look white, cherry red, or black, and they do not change color when you press on them (they do not blanch). Although blisters may develop, the burn is mostly dry, hard, and leathery-looking. Common causes of third-degree burns are steam, hot oil, grease, chemicals, electrical currents, and hot liquids. Infection is a major concern with third-degree burns. These burns always require care from a doctor. With small burns, new skin sometimes grows in from unburned areas. Large burns may require skin grafts and surgery.

Fourth degree is bone deep. If you’ve suffered from fourth degree, it’s likely you are not alive anymore. When it comes to burn treatment, do not try to treat anything above superficial partial-thickness burns yourself. If it is worse than that, go to the hospital immediately.

To treat burns, you must cool the skin. Hold the burn under cold running water for at least five minutes, or until the pain subsides. If this is impractical, immerse the burn in cold water or cool it with cold compresses. Cooling the burn reduces swelling by conducting heat away from the skin. Do not put ice on the burn. Cover the burn in a sterile gauze bandage. Don’t use fluffy cotton, which may irritate, or even stick, to the skin. Wrap the gauze loosely to avoid putting pressure on burned skin. Bandaging keeps air off the burn, which reduces pain and protects blistered skin.  Herbs that are good for burns include aloe vera gel, which relieves pain & inflammation, speeds healing, blackberry, which high amount of tannins stop oozing, calendula, an antiseptic & anti-inflammatory which is applied topically to speed healing and prevent infection, comfrey, pulverized into an ointment, which applied topically will help skin tissues heal and prevent scarring, and witch hazel, for pain & swelling.

INFUSION:

An infusion is a tea made from fresh or dried leaves, flowers or soft stems.  To make, warm a teapot with hot water, drain and add 1 ounce dried or 3 ounces fresh herbs.  Pour in 2 ¼ cups water that has just begun to boil.  Cover and let steep for ten minutes.  Strain.  Take up to three 6 ounce doses daily, hot or cold.  Add honey if desired.  Store unused infusion in the refrigerator for up to two days.

DECOCTION:

Decoction is a tea made from fresh or dried bark, berries, seeds or roots.  Bark or berries should be crushed and roots washed, scraped and chopped or grated.  Combine one ounce dried or two ounces fresh herbs with 3 cups cold water in a saucepan.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer gently for 20 to 40 minutes.  Strain.   Take up to three 6-ounce doses daily, hot or cold adding honey if desired.  Store unused portion in the refrigerator for up to two days.

SYRUP:

Syrup is a double-strength infusion or decoction of fresh or dried herbs, sweetened with honey or sugar, then cooked to a syrupy consistency.  Syrup is taken internally, most often for coughs.  To make a syrup, follow the direction for an infusion or decoction, using half as much water.  In a saucepan combine 1 cup of the strained liquid with 1/3 cup of honey or 1/2 cup of sugar.  Simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens.  Cool, pour into sterilized, dark glass bottles.  Insert a cork stopper and store in refrigerator up to three months.  Take 1 to 2 teaspoons no more than three times a day.

TINCTURE:

Tincture is a solution made by steeping any part of the herb in a mixture of alcohol and water.  A general guideline is to use 2 ounces dried or 6 ounces fresh herbs with one cup of 75-proof vodka and 1/2 cup water.  Place herbs, vodka, and water in a glass jar, cap tightly, and store for three weeks, shaking vigorously every other day.  Strain and pour into sterilized dark glass bottles.  Cap tightly, label, date and store up to two years.  Take up to three doses daily, diluting one teaspoon in a little warm water.

OIL:

An oil is an extraction of herbs in a vegetable oil, such as safflower or sunflower, for external use as massage oils, creams, and ointment.  Herbal oils made from flowers are usually cold infused, while those from leaves are best prepared by hot infusion.  To make a cold infused oil, pack a quart glass with the fresh or dried herbs.  Cover with the oil.  Cap tightly and place on a warm, sunny windowsill for two weeks, shaking each day.  Strain through a jelly bag, squeezing hard, and then repeat with more herbs.  After two weeks, strain again and pour into sterilized, dark glass bottles.  Cap tightly, label and refrigerate for up to a year.  To make a hot infused oil, combine 8 ounces dried herbs with 2 cups oil in the top of a double boiler.  Set over simmering water and heat gently for three hours, careful to not let the lower pan boil dry.  Cool.  Strain through a jelly bag, squeezing hard.  Pour into sterilized, dark glass bottles.  Cap tightly, label and store in a dark, cool place for up to a year.
 
OINTMENT:

An ointment is an extraction of fresh or dried herbs in white petroleum jelly used externally for bruises or skin conditions.  To make, slowly heat 1 cup of petroleum jelly in the top of a double boiler over simmering water.  When melted, stir in 1 ounce dried or 3 ounces fresh herbs.  Heat gently for two hours, careful to not boil dry.  Strain through a jelly bag, pressing against the bag with a wooden spoon.   Quickly pour into a sterilized, dark glass jar.  Cap tightly, label and refrigerate or store in a dark, cool place for up to four months.
 
POULTICE:

Poultice uses fresh or dried herbs that are applied directly to the affected external part of the body.  To make, pour boiling water over crushed or chopped herbs.  When cool enough to handle, remove herbs from liquid, squeezing out excess water.  Spread herbs on the affected area and wrap with gauze to hold the poultice in place.

COMPRESS:

Compress is a cloth soaked in an herb infusion or decoction, then applied to the affected part of the body.  Soak a clean piece of soft cotton fabric in the liquid.  Squeeze out the excess, fold into a pad, and place on the area, repeating until relief is felt.  Cold compresses are best for headaches, black eyes or bruising.

Taking Herbs Internally:

For taking herbs internally, the easiest, by far, is in tea. However, many people dislike the taste of some herbs as teas, and some just don’t like tea at all. There is a simple way to fix this. Cook a small handful of the herbs into your dinner, or mix the tea into a fruit smoothie. Other methods of taking herbs internally include capsules and “pills”.

Capsules:

You can purchase empty gelatin capsules at health food stores, mail-order herbal houses and some pharmacies. When making encapsulated herbs, fill the capsule’s smaller half with the powdered herb and pack tightly (a small stick works well as a packing rod). Close with the other half of the capsule. It takes only a few minutes to make a week’s supply of herbal capsules.

Pills:

Blend powdered herbs with a bit of honey to bind the mixture. Pinch off bits of the resulting sticky substance and roll into balls. (if the balls seem too moist, roll them in a mixture of slippery elm and licorice powder to soak up the excess moisture) Dry the herbal pills in a dehydrator, an oven set to pre-heat, or outdoors on a warm day covered with a cloth. Store the dried pills in air-tight jars. An alternative is to use one handful of dried, ground herbs, one handful of flour, and just enough water to bind it together, and follow the steps for the honey pills.

Allergy Testing:

Before using any herbal remedies, you should test them against your skin for an allergic reaction. Testing is relatively simple: Take a bandage or a piece of tape and stick a leaf or flower blossom of the herb to the skin of your hand. Leave it alone for one hour (if you feel a rash develop before time is up, take the bandage off immediately and wash the area thoroughly with soap and water). Take the bandage off and watch the hand closely for a reaction over the next twenty four hours. If there is no reaction or no rash develops, it’s likely you’re not allergic. To be completely safe, I’d suggest performing this test several times.
Even though this should go without saying, I’m going to say it, so no one can accuse me of not doing so:  Do not try any herbal remedy without first consulting a trained physician. Allergy test every herb before use to prevent allergic reactions. I am not liable nor responsible if you try a remedy without testing and have a reaction. If you have a problem more severe than the ones listed, are bleeding profusely, or have head trauma, please go to the hospital and do not attempt to treat yourself.