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Ear Infections and EarachesWritten by Sheelagh Behan Wednesday, 16 July 2014 09:38Homeopathy In Ear Infections by Fran SheffieldHave you, or one of your children, ever had an ear infection? If so, you’ll know the urgency of treating the pain and inflammation as quickly as possible. Fortunately, homeopathy helps with that - even during the dead of night. All you need is a little knowledge of the basic remedies traditionally used by homeopaths for the mon earache remediesAconite napellus (Acon.)Useful in the early stages of an ear infection, especially following an exposure to cold, dry air. Rapid onset of symtoms. Intense symptoms. Person is restless, thirsty, anxious and sometimes frantic. Ear sensitive to touch. Worse at night, especially between 12-2am.Remember: Rapid onset; intense symptoms; restlessness; anxiety; thirst; worse after midnight.Belladonna (Bell.)Often the right ear. Sudden onset of intense pain that may shoot or throb. Bright red ear or ear canal. Glassy eyes or dilated pupils. High fever. Often with headache. May become delirious in sleep, with nightmares. Hot head with cold hands and feet. Prefers the dark. Better for sitting rather than lying. Pain worse with light, noise, cold air, or being bumped.Remember: Rapid onset; intense symptoms; redness; often right-sided.Calcarea carbonica (Calc.)Earache or glue ear that follows colds. Child is usually obstinate, pale and pudgy with a large head that sweats easily, especially during sleep. Anxious on thinking about unpleasant things. Often craves eggs and sweets or is sensitive to milk.Remember: Obstinate; timid; pudgy; sweaty head or neck (in sleep).Chamomilla (Cham.)Unbearable pain. Anger and impatience with the pain. Demand many things but push them away when offered. Can’t be pleased – nothing will satisfy. Cannot be comforted except by being carried or rocked briskly. One cheek red, the other cheek pale. Earache may occur with teething. Worse at night and for warmth.Remember: Cannot be pleased; anger and impatience; better when carried briskly.Hepar sulphuris (Hep.)For chronic ear infections rather than in first stage. Ear is extremely sensitive to touch of any type and cold air. May cover head or lie on affected side to keep ear warm. Pain often sharp like a splinter. Irritability or tantrums. Thick discharge from nose or ear smells like old cheese. Pain worse at night. Remedy may be needed to finish a cure started by Mercurius solubilis.Remember: Older infection; irritable; sensitive to cold and touch; ‘old cheese’ odour.Kali bichromicum (Kali-bi.)Sharp, stitching or stinging pains. Intense itching or tickling inside ear. Thick, yellow and foul smelling discharge, often stringy. Irritable. Sweaty. Feels cold.Remember: Itching; stringy or offensive discharges; sweaty; irritable; chilly.Mercurius solubilis (Merc.)For chronic ear infections rather than the first stage. Often right sided. May be discharge of pus that will be thick, burning, and have an offensive odour. Pus usually green though sometimes yellow. Thirsty. Bad breath. Salivation. Perspiration. Tongue flabby with imprint of teeth on edges. Glands or tonsils may be swollen. Sensitive to extremes of temperature. Pain worse at night.Remember: Older infection; bad breath; flabby tongue; salivation; offensive discharges (if present).Pulsatilla (Puls.)Clingy. Seeks sympathy, company, and reassurance. Ear pain worse at night and in a warm room, better in open air. Worse for warm applications. Little or no thirst. Changeable moods. Thick, yellowish-green, bland discharge from nose if a cold is present or from the ear in advanced stages.Remember: Clinging, desires sympathy and comfort, thirstless, worse for warmth.Silicea (Sil.)Difficulty in hearing that often improves with blowing the nose, yawning, or swallowing. Discharge of blood and pus. Smelly discharge. Dried crusts within the ear canal. Itching. Children bore their finger into the ear. Head sweats during early sleep.Remember: Itching; difficulty in hearing; sweaty head in sleep.More often than not, antibiotics disappointThe pain from ear infections and inflammation often start in the middle of the night when doctor’s surgeries and pharmacies are closed – and should you eventually obtain some antibiotics, they probably won’t do much good; recent research indicates they are no more effective than simply watching and waiting for the infection to pass.[1]That’s the last thing you want to hear in the middle of the night when trying to settle a distressed child but homeopathy does have an alternative to just doing nothing.Research: A safer and more effective alternativeFour controlled clinical trials have now shown that homeopathic remedies relieve earaches and infections, and work faster than antibiotics. Symptoms improved rapidly, often within hours of the remedy being given and without the introduction of new problems as can occur with antibiotics and analgesics. One of the trials also showed that children whose earaches were treated with homeopathy were less likely to have their infection return.[2] [3] [4][5]So what can you do in the middle of the night?Well, with a simple range of homeopathic remedies – all found in basic homeopathic home-use kits – a lot of pain and discomfort could be avoided. Parents and carers could learn to safely treat many simple acute problems such as ear infections, even in the middle of the night – and families would get a lot more sleep.Some of the common remedies for earaches and ear infections are listed below. A link to instructions on how often to give a homeopathic remedy has been placed at the end of the list.If you are unsure …If none of these remedies seem to suit you or your child’s symptoms, please see a qualified homeopath for a better matching remedy. Click on ‘find a homeopath’ here in the right hand column. And of course, if there is any indication that the problem is more than just a simple ear infection, please see a trusted healthcare practitioner for further advice.Other resources1.Learn how often to use homeopathy with acute problems such as an uncomplicated ear infection by reading How Often Should I take a Dose of My Remedy.2.Read accounts of children treated at the Homeopathy Plus clinic for their ear (and other) problems.References1. McCormick, D.P, Chonmaitree, T, Pittman, C, Saeed, K, Friedman, N.R, Uchida, T, Baldwin, C.D. Nonsevere acute otitis media: a clinical trial comparing outcomes of watchful waiting versus immediate antibiotic treatment. Pediatrics June 2005; 115(6):1455.2. Frei, H, and Thurneysen, A. Homeopathy in Acute Otitis Media in Children: Treatment Effect or Spontaneous Resolution? British Homeopathic Journal, October, 2001,90:180-182.3. Friese, KH, Kruse, S, Moeller, H. Acute Otitis Media in Children: A Comparison of Conventional and Homeopathic Treatment,‖ Biomedical Therapy, 1997,15,4:113-122 (reprinted from Hals-Nasen-Ohren (HNO), August, 1996:462-66.4. Jacobs, J, Springer, DA, Crothers, D. Homeopathic Treatment of Acute Otitis Media in Children: A Preliminary Randomized Placebo-controlled Trial, Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 20,2 (February 2001):177-183.5. See more at: Updated on Wednesday, 16 July 2014 15:16What’s the Alternative to antibiotics?According to Dr Edmund Smith, Consultant Microbiologist talking on RTE’s Radio One Show ‘Today with Sean O’Rourke’ (13th Jan 2014) antibiotics don’t work on viral colds and flu and now other infections have become resistant to most current antibiotics. Dr Smith tells us over the last 25 years there was only one new antibiotic put on the market.So what to do when you come down with the flu? This is where Homeopathy comes into its own, helping people overcome this type of infection. Having your own Homeopath will enable you to recover quickly – find you local registered Homeopath today by clicking on Find a Homeopath.If you do get flu symptoms these are the top 5 remedies that may help you get back on your feet rapidly and without side effects.Gelsemium is commonly needed for that fluey feeling that gradually comes on where you feel exhausted, dull heavy and apathetic and eyelids are droopy and hard to keep open. This year’s flu that responds to this remedy has aching joints and back and a general unwell, tired feeling. You may have a temperature and just want to sleep and be left alone. Aching muscles, headache and sore throat, with chills up and down the spine. Usually not very thirsty or sweaty. Bryonia has slow onset and aches all over. Temperature can be up, with dry heat. Must lie absolutely still as pains are all worse from slightest motion. Irritable, wants to be left alone. Dryness of all air passages and thirsty for large quantities of cold water at infrequent intervals. Dry hacking cough can be painful and holds the chest when coughing. Eupatorium Perfoliatum feels as if your bones are bruised or broken as well as having aching muscles. Everything hurts with much groaning, a bursting headache and sore eyeballs. Runny nose and sneezing, raw chest and coughing makes the head hurt. Desires very cold water which may bring on chills. May also vomit green bile. Worse for movement, cold, open air. Rhus Toxicodendron may be needed for flu that comes on in cold damp weather with much aching and stiffness in joints which is worse when trying to get up after sitting or lying down for a while. Pains usually ease up after a bit of movement but they tire quickly and need to rest again, setting up a cycle of restlessness. All in all, they just cannot get comfortable and are often worse at night, constantly moving around in the bed. Pains may be better for warmth. Arsenicum Album flu will usually be with watery burning mucous from the nose and eyes and lots of sneezing so nostrils become sore and red. This alternates with a blocked nose. With a fever, very chilly and shivery and thirsty for frequent sips of warm drinks. Mood is anxious, irritable, fussy with great prostration. Everything is better for warmth except the headache which is better for fresh air. Usually worse after midnight and for change of temperature. The symptom picture needs to match the chosen remedy as closely as possible. Your Homeopath will provide the appropriate remedy with instructions. Remedies can also be obtained over the counter from good pharmacies or health food stores and should be taken according to the instructions provided. If there is no improvement after 3 to 4 doses, have another look at the symptoms as a different remedy may be required. Many people find it helpful to build up a range of homeopathic medicines to keep in-house for when they are needed. If symptoms persist see your Homeopath or Pharmacist/Doctor. Drink plenty of fluids, wash hands frequently and stay at home until better as you don’t want to spread the virus to others, especially those who are weak or vulnerable. Homeopathy in Switzerland Swiss Government Report – ‘Homeopathy is a valuable addition to health care’A full Health Technology Assessment (HTA) report – commissioned by the Swiss health authorities - on the effectiveness, appropriateness, safety and costs of homeopathy in health care has been published. The report was commissioned to inform decision-making on the further inclusion of homeopathy in the list of services covered by the statutory health insurance. The report offers an evaluation of the practice of homeopathy in health care and confirms it as a valuable addition to the conventional medical landscape - a status it has held for a long time in practical healthcare in Europe and around the world.An HTA is an established scientific procedure that examines not only the efficacy of a particular intervention, but especially also its 'real-world' effectiveness, its appropriateness, safety and economy. HTAs are therefore much wider in scope and politically more informative than other types of evaluations. They include material that is 'normally' not taken into consideration, such as observational studies, good case series and longitudinal cohort studies.?This revised version of the report first published in German in 2004 especially re-evaluates the separate, deeply-faulted quantitative analysis of Shang et al published in 2005 in The Lancet accompanied by the unfortunately-titled editorial 'The end of homeopathy' . Taking into consideration criteria of external and model validity as well as internal validity, the re-evaluation produces a truly remarkable result in favour of homeopathy.?In summary, the report concludes that there is sufficient evidence for the preclinical effectiveness and the clinical efficacy of homeopathy and for its safety and economy compared with conventional treatment. Future research methods must respect the unique qualities of homeopathy by attaching more weight to single case evaluations, by including practically and expertly applied homeopathic treatment into research and clinical practice in order to identify its real potential and limitations.?Copies of the report can be purchased from the following web-site where sections of it can also be?read online.Homeopathy – British Medical Journal Recently the British Medical Journal published a positive article about Homeopathy. Click on the link below to read the full article. If you also click on ‘read responses’ at the top of the article there is some interesting debate and data about the Cuban Leptospirosis trial which had a very favourable outcome for Homeopathic prophylaxis on a large scale. Homeopathy and HealthcareThe Irish Times - Tuesday, February 26th, 2013Sir, – “Journalists must always be aware of their role to serve the public’s right to know,” the former editor of The Irish Times Geraldine Kennedy, was reported as saying (June 24th, 2011).The public does indeed have a right to know and to an informed choice about healthcare. Donald Clarke (February 23rd) by discrediting any complementary or alternative options to conventional medicine, does not serve the public interest well.Surely we’re entitled to know that regarding homeopathy 43 per cent of Randomised Control Trials (RCT) have a balance of positive evidence, 6 per cent have a balance of negative evidence, 49 per cent have not been conclusively positive or negative and 2 per cent do not contain data that are suitable for analysis.According to the British Medical Journal, a review of conventional medical procedures funded by the National Health Service produced the following figures: 11 per cent beneficial, 24 per cent likely to be beneficial, 7 per cent trade-off between benefits and harms, 5 per cent unlikely to be beneficial, 3 per cent likely to be ineffective or harmful and 50 per cent of unknown effectiveness.Thus homeopathy is as effective as conventional medicine, if not more so.This debate has been going on for a number of years, but we have yet to see a fair and impartial view of the matter published and the public informed of the choices that are available when it comes to healthcare. In the rest of Europe and the world, homeopathy and various therapies are widely accepted and used by doctors and other practitioners. Does our right to know not extend to our health? – Yours, etc,SHEELAGH BEHAN, Registered HomeopathHomeopathy Has an Important Role to Play in Public Health CareAn interview with Dr Manchanda, Deputy Director (homeopathy) of the Indian Government Directorate of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy, reveals his understanding of the potential role homeopathy has to play in the large public health arena such as dealing with the epidemic and pandemic disease. Homeopathy is unique in that at one end of the scale its best results come from the individualized treatment of each patient irrespective of the diagnosed condition they present with while, at the other end of the scale, it is capable of dealing with epidemic acute diseases using a relatively narrow range of medicines homeopathic to the epidemic disease in question. India is leading the way globally in appreciating and using the diverse low-cost potential of homeopathy. Click to view the original article. Psoriasis & HomeopathyThe following article was recently published in Psoriasis Ireland Magazine. Six years ago Rita Garland tried homeopathy to help with her psoriasis from which she had been suffering since childhood. The success she experienced with the treatment inspired her to study the practice, and she is now a fully qualified Homeopath“I had psoriasis from the age of 5. It came on suddenly with the birth of my triplet sisters…as a child I remember feeling very sad and having it all over my body. From that time onwards it always stayed with me, and the degrees of severity changed with the seasons or stress levels. Constant patches remained, mostly on elbows and scalp. Six years ago, I had a very interesting healing reaction with homeopathy and have not suffered from any since. So the complete clearing of my psoriasis six years ago inspired me to study it and become a homeopath.”“In the past I would have used steroid creams but I don’t use anything anymore my psoriasis is just not there, I don’t need to treat it,” Rita added. Rita explained that for her psoriasis she was treated with a daily dosage of an individualised homeopathic remedy for her skin problems. “Homeopathic remedies are very gentle on the system. The preparation of homeopathic remedies (done in specialized pharmacies such as Nelson’s in Duke St. in Dublin) involves dilution of the original substance (mineral, plant or animal source) and for that reason they are not toxic at all and do not interact negatively with conventional medication…A person with psoriasis coming to see me typically may be taking steroid ointments and creams or even injections. In time, as the person sees the benefit of homeopathy, they can start reducing their medication gradually. Because the remedies and medication act on different levels, the person would not have to stop their conventional medication to initiate treatment.” Rita was keen to point out that any reduction in conventional medical treatment should be monitored by a doctor at all times. It is also important that people seek advice from their doctor before starting any alternative treatments. While Rita acknowledged that homeopathy does not always produce the same results for everyone and that the benefits can range from a moderate alleviation of the symptoms to a complete clearing she was keen to impress that, as a holistic therapy, homeopathy could also serve to boost a person’s overall health, mood and energy levels. According to Rita homeopathy treats the individual, not merely the physical symptoms or the disease label. This makes it especially suited for psoriasis, as there are so many different types, emotional factors, triggers and manifestations for this skin condition. “Ointments and creams that have homeopathic tinctures in them like Hypericum or Calendula will help soothe broken skin, but for homeopathy to achieve it true healing potential, you will always be treated with remedy either in pill or liquid form to be taken orally,” Rita explained. In these times of financial difficulties, Homeopathy has much to offer. For the treatment of a chronic illness like Psoriasis your homeopath will usually require one consultation a month to monitor the progress achieved over time. These consultations last for about an hour and will cost less then your usual 5 minutes with the GP. The remedies are not expensive and the combination of its high rates of effectiveness and low cost make it very cost effective.Also, homeopathic treatment opens up awareness to hidden talents, creativity and confidence levels so much needed to counteract all the doom and gloom mood of our economical crisis. To those who may be a bit skeptical about homeopathy Rita advised that they simply give it a go. “Homeopathy is not a belief system; it is a valued therapy becoming increasingly popular all over the world. In France and Germany is widely used by medical doctors and, historically, it has been used by personalities such as Charles Darwin, George Bernard Shaw, Gandhi and the Royal family in the UK.Because I was curious and not prejudiced, I have found it and it changed my life.Be open minded and try, if it doesn’t work for you let it go… if it does, isn’t it great?!” Since February 2009 Rita has been working in a free holistic clinic in the Fatima Mansions in Dublin’s inner city as part of the Fatima Health Initiative project. A graduate of the Irish School of Homeopathy, Rita is also registered with the Irish Society of Homeopaths. According to Rita homeopathy is “a wonderful therapy” both for illnesses that are short lived such as coughs and colds as well as for long term conditions such as psoriasis. For anyone interested in seeking homeopathic treatment for their psoriasis Rita advised that they ensure that their therapist is fully qualified and registered with the Irish Society of Homeopaths.The Irish Society of Homeopaths represents professional Homeopaths in Ireland and is committed to promoting Homeopathy as a health treatment choice for everyone. The Society sets and maintains standards for Homeopaths by keeping a professional Register, accrediting courses and organizing continuing professional development programmes. It has been looking after the interests of professional Homeopaths since 1990 and now has in excess of 400 members throughout the country, including students, graduates and Registered members. According to the Society “homeopathy is a gentle, yet highly effective system of medicine. It uses naturally occurring substances in the form of remedies to stimulate the body's own healing power.The results, although gentle, can be powerful and long lasting.It is suitable for everyone, even sensitive patients, from pregnancy, childhood and adolescence to adulthood and older age.”BBC VIDEO DOCUMENTARYA 30 minute introduction to homeopathy, made by the BBC in the 1990s but still valid today. It so impressed the British Medical Association that they gave it their "Medicine in the Media" Gold Award.(30mins duration)Click to view the documentary , UCC Debate delivers victory for Complementary & Alternative Medicine“That This House Believes Alternative Medicine Does More Harm than Good”Monday November 1stProposition: Paul O’Donoghue and Thomas CotterOpposition: Orla Broderick and David TredinnickThe Debate which took place in UCC on Monday night on Alternative Medicine was packed and went off very well with a resounding victory for the NAY vote.After hearing the erudite and lively contributions from the speakers on behalf of the Irish Society of Homeopaths Orla Broderick and British MP David Tredinnick and the wonderful contributions from the floor from both users and practitioners of Homeopathy the House decided against the Motion ‘That This House Believes Alternative Medicine Does More Harm than Good’.It was heartening to hear students also advocating an open minded approach to Medicine and Science in general, boding well for our country’s future and for all our citizen’s right to make informed choices about their health.The proponents of the motion argued for example that the erosion of confidence in the Medical Profession could be attributed to the rise of Complementary therapies – is this not putting the cart before the horse perhaps? Surely the opposite is true – if the public had complete confidence in conventional medicine why would they look for alternatives?Both Orla Broderick and David Tredinnick eloquently put forward the case for using Homeopathy and other therapies where appropriate, effective and safe and gave examples from their own experiences and well-researched evidence and trials.This debate was organised by UCC Philosophical Society with the UCC Medical Society. We hope that such fair and open-minded discourse can be continued; the public can access information on this debate and other aspects of Homeopathy on our website irishhomeopathy.ie.Sheelagh BehanSpokesperson for the Irish Society of HomeopathsHomeopathy and ScienceThere have been some articles recently in the Irish Times about Homeopathy, and the following letter was published on Friday 17th September 2010. We hope that the IT continues to give a fair hearing to the ISH views.Madam,We would like to point out several inaccuracies in relation to Paul O’Donoghue’s article (Science Today, September 9th). Homeopathy is a well-recognised and effective system of treatment used throughout the world, for which there is ample evidence.The UK government has recently vindicated the continued use of homeopathy as a choice under the NHS.A recent pilot study in Northern Ireland found that homeopathy and other complementary therapies were highly effective in the treatment of chronic illnesses.Quinn and Aviva do cover homeopathy in their plans; however, the VHI does not yet offer cover.Let’s not forget that there were, up to the end of 2009, 74 randomised controlled trials of homeopathy published in peer-reviewed journals, of which 63 were positive for homeopathy.Recent trials carried out in the Netherlands with placebo controls on E-coli diarrhoea in newborn piglets have also confirmed homeopathy’s effectiveness, six times more effective than placebo.Research in France by Nobel laureate Luc Montagnier (co-discoverer of the HIV virus) found that pathogenic bacteria and viruses show a distinct electromagnetic signature at dilutions ranging from 10(-5) to 10(-12) (corresponding to 5X to 12X) and that small DNA fragments (responsible for pathogenicity) were solely accountable for the electromagnetic signal.Other recent laboratory research proves that ultra-high dilutions have clearly discernible effects.Homeopaths do not only use ultra-high dilutions. We use our remedies from mother tinctures upwards. The main principle governing homeopathy is “the Law of Similars”, which means that a substance which can cause a certain group of symptoms can stimulate a healing response in a person presenting with those same symptoms when taken in much smaller doses. This is recognised in toxicology as hormesis. The second guiding principle of homeopathy is the minimum dose and is in fact validated by the hormesis principle.We would question why Mr O’Donoghue, who continues to give inaccurate information about homeopathy, is listened to by any serious scientist? Surely we can do better than this and have a proper debate on the subject?Yours, etc,SHEELAGH BEHAN,Lic ISH, IS Hom,Irish Society of Homeopaths,Portmarnock,Co Dublin.Irish People seeking other solutions to health issuesThe following article from Clodagh Sheehy, Editor of Irishhealing.ie is encouraging in that it shows that many Irish people are seeking other solutions to health issues.We would emphasize that Homeopathy is regulated in Ireland by the Irish Society of Homeopaths and as always encourage people to check that their practitioner is listed among our Registered Homeopaths.‘Complementary and alternative therapies are being used by almost three in every 10 people in this country according to a new study in the Irish Medical Journal.Women in the higher income group are the most likely users of alternative therapies but 29pc of medical card holders also attend alternative practitioners.The most common reasons for choosing a CAM practitioner (42pc of cases) was to treat an illness for which conventional medicine had already been sought.A further 27pc of those surveyed made the choice because they wanted to improve their general health and prevent illness.A significant number of people (41pc) did not tell their family doctor that they had attended a CAM practitioner.The study, carried out at a health centre in Swords, Co Dublin, also found that personal recommendation was the most important source of information for 53pc of patients looking for an alternative therapist.The study identified what it called ”push” and “pull” factors as to why people look for alternative health care.The “push ” factor “seems to include a dissatisfaction with communication skills of conventional doctors, a perceived lack of holistic care and a perceived lack of support in chronic illness” say the authors.The main “pull” factor “appears to be the societal trend of people in the western world seeking greater levels of control and empowerment over their own lives, with individuals being less prepared to accept traditional authority”.The typical person seeking an alternative therapy was female, aged between 31 and 43 years and with a higher than average income. Over half of them (51pc) had private health insurance.The study said the findings were consistent with the “high use of CAM worldwide”.It found many patients were reluctant to share information about their use of CAM therapies with their doctor “because they are concerned their physicians will disapprove”.The authors concluded that a high percentage of patients were accessing CAM in general practice and commented: “this is remarkable given the lack of any formalisation, integration or regulation of CAM within mainstream healthcare”.They suggested that as CAM grows in popularity “there is an increasing ethical obligation on GPs to present the risks and benefits of all competing therapeutic options for their patients”.’Homeopathy Effective in ADHDHomeopathy is effective in treating children suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Children with ADHD suffer from disturbances in mood, behaviour and school performance. About one child in every school class suffers from ADHD(1-2). Up to 64 % of parents of children with ADHD choose complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to treat their children(4-3) and homeopathy is one of the preferred treatment modalities(4-6).No curative conventional treatment exists, but homeopaths have considerable positive experience in treating children who have been diagnosed with ADHD, as well as children with other types of concentration, learning and behavioural difficulties(7-20). Research supports homeopaths’ positive clinical experienceResearch – evidence of improvement with homeopathic treatmentFour clinical trials including a total of 263 children diagnosed with ADHD treated with classical homeopathy have been published(21-24). Three of these were so-called randomised double-blinded trials where the children, their parents, practitioners and researchers did not know whether the child had received a homeopathic medicine or an inactive placebo pill until after the study was finalised(22-24). Results suggest that beneficial effect continues long after treatment has been completed.The study of highest methodological quality showed a significant effect of homeopathy over a 12 week period(22). One and a half years later the children were still 63 % better. Their mood was more stable and they had improved short time memory.A second study showed a significant effect of homeopathy compared to placebo and children were still 57 % better 2 months after treatment(24). A third study found significant improvement in both the homeopathy and placebo groups, which indicates that the homeopathic consultation may also positively influence the state of these children(23). A fourth (non-blinded) study showed that a minimum of 73% improvement in 75 % of 115 children diagnosed with ADHD(21).Conventional drugs can have serious side effects – homeopathy is safeNo serious side-effects were reported in any of the homeopathy trials with children diagnosed with ADHD. The safety of homeopathy is one of the main reasons why parents choose homeopathy for their children. Conventional treatment in ADHD is inadequate and includes the risk of adverse effects. The US Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning that conventional ADHD drugs may cause cardiovascular disease(25-26).Sufficient time and more research is neededMore research should be carried out to further determine the effect of homeopathy for children suffering from ADHD. A minimum treatment period of one year should be allowed for in order to properly treat these children and to assess potential long-term benefit.For safe and effective homeopathic treatment of their children, parents should make sure that the practitioner they consult is a registered member of an ECCH or ICH Member Association. For information, please refer to homeopathy-ecch.eu and outside Europe homeopathy-ADHD facts? ADHD is persistent pattern of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that is more frequent and severe than is typically observed in people at a comparable level of development27 ? One of the most common psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents(28-29) ? Frequency: Estimates range from 3-5 % in some studies(1), and 1.7-16 % in others(2) ? ADHD may negatively influence ? Social skills ? Academic performance ? It is often accompanied by(30) ? Low self-esteem ? Anxiety ? Depression ? Antisocial behaviour ? Drug abuse ? Sleep disturbance ? Diagnosis is made by ruling out other conditions AND considering patients’ symptoms ? No curative conventional therapy exists ? Conventional treatment consists of combinations of medication and psychosocial behavioural treatment(30), but conventional drugs may have serious side-effects(25-26)References1. Lahey B.B., Applegate B., McBurnett K., Biederman J., Greenhill L., Hynd G.W., Barkley R.A., Newcorn J., Jensen P., Richters J. (1994) DSM-IV field trials for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents. Am J Psychiatry, 151:1673–1685.2. Pritchard D. (2006) Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children. BMJ Clinical Evidence, 01 Mar. [online] last accessed 20 April 2007 at URL . Stubberfield T.G., Wray T.A., Parry T.S. (1999) Utilization of alternative therapies in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. J Pediatr Child Health, 35:450-453.4. Bussing R., Zima B.T., Gary F.A., Garvan C.W. (2002) Use of complementary and alternative medicine for symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Psychiatric services; Sept, 53,9:1096-1102.5. Brue A.W., Oakland T.D. (2002) Alternative treatments for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Does evidence support their use? Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, Jan/Feb. Vol.8, Iss.1;68-73.6. Kenyon J.N. (1993) Hyperactivity: a consideration of the alternatives. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, Apr, 1(2):78-80.7. Cannell M. (2000) Boy with hyperactivity and clumsiness. British Homeopathic Journal, Jan, 89(1):32-35.8. Fontaine P. (2002) My son needs consciousness. A case of ADHD. Homeopathic Links, Winter, 15(4):219-220.9. Hardy, J. (2000) Treating serious physical pathology, seminar report Ramakrishnan A.V. The Homeopath, Spring, 77:26-27.10. Heron K. (1997) Heron’s cases, Hyoscyamus niger, Mary, 12-year-old girl, May 13, ReferenceWorks Pro, version 3.0.3.11. Johnston L. (1996) Attention deficit disorder case: inability to screen out outside stimuli (Phos). Homeopathic Links, Summer, 9(2):81-82.12. Lowe J.S. (2000) Goat boy. A case of Lac caprinum. Homeopathic Links, Vol.13(3):161-167.13. Marchand J. (1999) A case of ADD. N Engl J Homeopath, Spring-Summer, 8(1):71-75.14. Pitt R. (1998) A case of ADD with violence. Simillimum, Fall, Vol XI(3):35-43.15. Reichenberg-Ullman J. (1996) Aranea ixobola: Children with Attention Deficit Disorder: Two cases: (spider) Homeopathic Links, Summer, 9(2):82-84.16. Reichenberg-Ullman J., Ullman R. (1996) Ritalin free kids. Safe and effective homeopathic medicine for ADD and other behavioural and learning problems. United States of America: Prima health.17. Reichenberg-Ullman J., Ullman R. (1997) Ritalin-free kids. Mothering; 83:78-83.18. Reichenberg-Ullman J., Ullman R. (1999) Rage free kids. Homeopathic medicine for defiant, aggressive, and violent children. United States of America: Prima health.19. Reichenberg-Ullman J., Ullman R. (2000) Ritalin free kids. Safe and effective homeopathic medicine for ADD and other behavioural and learning problems (2nd Edition) Roseville, Ca: Prima Publishing.20. Zaren A. (1993) A case of recurrent sinusitis and hyperactivity. Homeopathic Links, Spring, 6(1):16.21. Frei H., Thurneysen A. (2001) Treatment for hyperactive children: homeopathy and methylphenidate compared in a family setting. British Homeopathic Journal, 90:183-188.22. Frei H., Everts R., von Ammon K., Kaufmann F., Walther D., Hsu-Schmitz S.F., Collenberg M., Fuhrer K., Hassink R., Steinlin M., Thurneysen A. (2005) Homeopathic treatment of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled crossover trial. Eur J Pediatr, 164:758-767.23. Jacobs J., Williams A.L., Girard C., Njike V.Y., Katz D. (2005) Homeopathy for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a pilot randomized-controlled trial. J Altern Complement Med, Oct, 11(5):799-806.24. Lamont J. (1997) Homeopathic treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a controlled study. Br Homeopathic J, 86:196-200.25. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (2006) Drug safety and risk management advisory committee meeting, Feb 9 and 10. [online] last accessed 22 April 2007 at URL 26. Nissen S.E. (2006) ADHD drugs and cardiovascular risk. N Engl J Med, Apr, 354(14):1445-1449.27. American Psychiatric Association (APA). (2000) Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, Fourth Edition, text revision (DSM-IV-TR). Washington DC: American Psychiatric Publishing Inc.28. Baumgaertel A., Wolraich M.L. (1996) The prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder based on the new DSM-IV criteria. Peabody Journal of Education, vol.71. [online] last accessed 22 April 2007 at URL 29. Medical News Today (MNT). (2006) Determining prevalence of ADHD adverse medication events, AACAP and APA pledge to work with FDA. 11 Feb. [online] last accessed 20 April 2007 at URL 30. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (2004) NIMH research on treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): The multimodal treatment study – questions and answers. National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 04/09. [online] last accessed 20 April 2007 at URL Better with HomeopathyDepression is one of the main healthcare problems in the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) expects depression to become the second most common form of ill-health by 2020(1). It is one of the most commonly treated conditions by homeopaths. Research confirms the positive experience homeopaths have in treating patients suffering from depression.Conventional treatment is insufficient and potentially harmfulConventional treatment is often inadequate to treat depression(2-3). Anti-depressants have been found to have only a modest benefit over placebo4 and there is the associated risk of side-effects. Researchers say there is little reason to prescribe antidepressants to any but the most severely depressed patients(4). Moreover, 40-60 % of depressed patients relapse after conventional treatment(5). Alternatives are desperately needed.Homeopathy frequently used with positive resultsDocumentation has shown that depression is one of the most commonly treated conditions by homeopaths(6-14). In a 6-year study of 6 544 patients in a university hospital outpatient clinic, 205 were treated for depression and as many as 71 % improved(13). In a survey of 1 783 patient conditions, depression was the most frequently treated condition and significant improvement was experienced by 63.6 % of the depressed patients(14).As effective as anti-depressives and no side effectsSeveral trials indicate effectiveness of homeopathy in the treatment of patients suffering from depression(13-22). A randomized, double-blind trial of 55 patients suffering from moderate to severe depression, found homeopathy to be at least as effective as anti-depressant drugs(19). Homeopathy patients did not experience troublesome side effects that were seen in the anti-depressant group.Also helpful for patients with associated depressionHomeopathy not only helps patients who primarily suffer from depression, but it has also been shown to reduce associated depression in patients diagnosed with other conditions, such as in fibromyalgia syndrome(21) and after oestrogen withdrawal in breast cancer patients(22).Cost-effective treatmentDepression is one of the most common reasons for employees taking time off work. In Europe alone, depression costs are estimated to be over 100 Billion Euros annually(2). Homeopathy has the potential to serve as a cost effective treatment(23-31) and could contribute significantly when we know that 4.5 % of all European citizens suffer from depression(2).For safe and effective homeopathic treatment, patients should make sure that the practitioner they consult is a registered member of an ECCH or ICH Member Association. For information, please refer to homeopathy-ecch.eu and outside Europe homeopathy-References1. World Health Organization (WHO) Mental Health, Depression. (16.09.2009)2. Fava GA. The intellectual crisis of psychiatric research. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics 2006;75:202-208.3. Fava GA, Ruini C. Development and characteristic of a well-being enhancing psychotherapeutic strategy: well-being therapy. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry 2003;34:45-63.4. Kirsch I, Deacon BJ, Huedo-Medina TB, Scoboria A, Moore TJ, Johnson BT. Initial severity and antidepressant benefits: A meta-analysis of data submitted to the Food and Drug Administration. PLoS Medicine 2008, 5(2), 260-268.5. Rush JA, Trivedi MH, Wisniewski SR, Nierenberg AA, Stewart JW, Warden D, et al. Acute and longer-term outcomes in depressed outpatients requiring one or several treatment steps: A STAR*D report, American Journal of Psychiatry 2006, 163, 1905-1917.6. Viksveen P, Steinsbekk A. Changes in patients visiting a homeopathic clinic in Norway from 1994 to 2004. Homeopathy 2005, 94, 222-228.7. Sevar R. Audit of outcome in 455 consecutive patients treated with homeopathic medicines. Homeopathy 2005, 94, 215-221.8. Jacobs J, Chapman EH, Crothers D. Patient characteristics and practice patterns of physicians using homeopathy. Arch Fam Med 1998, 7, 537-540.9. Becker-Witt C, Lüdtke R, Weishuhna TER, Willicha SN. Diagnoses and treatment in homeopathic medical practice. Forsch Kompl Klass Nat 2004, 11, 98–103.10. Makich L, Hussain R, Humphries JH. Management of depression by homeopathic practitioners in Sydney, Australia. Complementary Therapies in Medicine 2007, 15, 199-206.11. Relton C, Chatfield K, Partington H, Foulkes L. Patients treated by homeopaths registered with the Society of Homeopaths: a pilot study. Homeopathy 2007, 96, 87-89.12. Jonas WB, Kaptchuk TJ, Linde K. A critical overview of homeopathy. Annals of Internal Medicine 2003, 138(5), 393-400.13. Spence DS, Thompson EA, Barron SJ. Homeopathic treatment for chronic disease: A 6-year, university-hospital outpatient observational study. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 2005, 11(5), 793-798.14. Mathie RT, Robinson TW. Outcomes from homeopathic prescribing in medical practice: A prospective, research-targeted, pilot study. Homeopathy 2006, 95, 199-205.15. Walters C, Batty J. An evaluation of the effectiveness of homeopathic treatment for anxiety and depression using MYMOP2: results of a two-year pilot project in North Kirklees. In Darnell P, Pinder M, Treacy K. (Eds.) Searching for evidence: complementary therapies research, 2006. London: The Prince of Wales’s Foundation for Integrated Health.16. Pilkington K, Kirkwood G, Rampes H, Fisher P, Richardson J. Homeopathy for depression: a systematic review of the research evidence. Homeopathy 2005, 94, 153-163.17. Heulluy B. Essai randomise ouvert de L 72 (spécialité homéopathique) contre diazépam 2 dans les états anxiodépressifs. Metz: Laboratoires Lehning, 1985.18. Davidson JR, Morrison RM, Shore J, Davidson RT, Bedayn G. Homeopathic treatment of depression and anxiety. Altern Ther Health Med. 3(1):46-9, 1997 Jan.19. Adler UC, Paiva NM, Cesar AT, Adler MS, Molina A, Padula AE, Calil HM. Homeopathic individualized Q-potencies versus fluoxetine for moderate to severe depression: Double-blind, randomized non-inferiority trial. eCAM 2009. doi:10.1093/ecam/nep114.20. Bell I. Depression research in homeopathy: Hopeless or hopeful? Homeopathy 2005, 94, 141-144.21. Bell IR, Lewis DA II, Brooks AJ, Schwartz GE, Lewis SE, Walsh BT, Baldwin CM. Improved clinical status in fibromyalgia patients treated with individualized homeopathic remedies versus placebo. Rheumatology 2004. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keh11122. Thompson EA, Reilly D. The homeopathic approach to the treatment of symptoms of oestrogen withdrawal in breast cancer patients. A prospective observational study. Homeopathy 2003, 92(3):131-4.23. Dempster A. Homeopathy within the NHS; Evaluation of homeopathic treatment of common mental health problem 1995-1997, 1988, Society of Homeopaths.24. French Government Report. Social Security Statistics, CNAM (National Inter-Regulations System) 1991, 61.25. Homoeopathy: The Guide (CDRom), HomInform 1997, June 1.26. Jain A. Does homeopathy reduce the cost of conventional drug prescribing? A study of comparative prescribing costs in general practice. Homeopathy 2003, 92, 71-76.27. Sharples F, van Haselen R. Patients’ perspective on using a complementary medicine approach to their health: A survey at the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital NHS Trust, 1998.28. Slade K, Chohan BPS, Barker PJ. Evaluation of a GP practice based homeopathy service. Homeopathy 2004, 93, 67–70.29. Swayne J. The cost and effectiveness of homoeopathy. Br Homeopath J 1992, 81: 148–50.30. Van Wassenhoven M, Ives G. An observational study of patients receiving Homeopathic treatment. Homeopathy 2004, 93, 3–11.31. Ward A, Christie E. Report on NHS practice based homeopathy project, 1996. Society of Homeopaths.UK Gov. Maintains Right to Informed Choice on HealthcareAs you are probably already aware, the UK Government has responded to the campaign against Homeopathy by issuing a statement confirming the right to informed choice in their healthcare system. “We believe in patients being able to make informed choices about their treatments, and in a clinician being able to prescribe the treatment they feel most appropriate in particular circumstances, within the regulatory and guidance frameworks by which they are bound.” This is an important milestone for our UK colleagues and we are delighted to see that good sense has prevailed and the so-called ‘sceptics’ campaign has been defeated at Government level. This campaign did spill over onto Irish soil and over the past few months we have used the opportunity it provided to highlight the benefits of Homeopathy in the media in general. The full report can be read here. Sleep well with HomeopathyWritten by Administrator Friday, 21 May 2010 18:31Pictures - ist1_3226881_mothers_love Sleep disorders are a major public health concern. Conventional sleeping pills may be effective, but can also have associated side effects. Research shows that homeopathy can help in sleep disorders, without the risk of side-effects. Sleep disorders affect between 6 and 40 percent of the population, and are also commonly seen in children and adolescents.Chronic insomnia can have serious health-related, social and economic consequences, resulting in emotional distress, fatigue and reduced productivity. Conventional drugs for sleep disorders are frequently used, but may cause a number of side-effects, including insomnia itself.Research: Homeopathy can help you sleep betterIn this trial, researchers found significant improvement of primary insomnia in participants who took homeopathic medicines (8). Homeopathy patients slept about 1 to 1.4 hours longer per night over the following four weeks. No such improvements were seen in those who were given ineffective placebo pills. The study, which included 30 participants, was randomized and double-blinded. This survey confirms results from previous trials which have shown positive effects of homeopathy for sleep disorders (9-14). Sleep disorders are one of the complaints most commonly treated by homeopaths15. Homeopathy is a safe treatment and homeopathic medicines are known to be free of serious side-effects (16).Improved sleep in menopause, fibromyalgia and ADHDHomeopathy can also be of help to patients who suffer from other complaints which affect their sleep. Examples are problems during or after menopause (9-10), fibromyalgia (11) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)(12). In a survey of 438 women suffering from menopausal problems, their hot flushes as well as their sleep improved considerably after homeopathic treatment (9). Menopausal symptoms disappeared or were reduced in 90 percent, most of them within the first two weeks after treatment started.Changed sleep in animalsResearchers have also found that homeopathic medicines affect sleeping patterns in mice and rats (17-18). Together with randomized placebo-controlled studies in human beings, these animal studies negate the argument that homeopathy may work solely due to a placebo effect.For safe and effective homeopathic treatment, patients should make sure that the practitioner they consult is a registered member of the ISH. References1. Ancoli Isreal S, Roth T. Characteristics of insomnia in the United States: results of the 1991 National Sleep Foundation Survey. Sleep 1999; 22(2): 347.2. Hossain JL, Shapiro CM. The prevalence, cost implications, and management of sleep disorders: an overview. Sleep Breath 2002, 6(2): 85-102.3. Ohayon MM. Prevalence et comorbidite des troubles du sommeil dans la population generale. [Prevalence and comorbidity of sleep disorders in general population]. Rev Prat. 57(14):1521-8, 2007 Sep 30.4. Garcia-Jimenez MA, Salcedo-Aguilar F, Rodriguez-Almonacid FM, Redondo-Martinez MP, Monterde-Aznar ML, Marcos-Navarro AI, Torrijos-Martinez MP. Prevalencia de los trastornos del sueno en adolescentes de Cuenca, Espana. [The prevalence of sleep disorders among adolescents in Cuenca, Spain]. Rev Neurol 2004, 39(1): 18-24.5. Liu X. Ma Y. Wang Y. Jiang Q. Rao X. Lu X. Teng H. Brief report: An epidemiologic survey of the prevalence of sleep disorders among children 2 to 12 years old in Beijing, China. Pediatrics 2005, 115(1 Suppl): 266-8.6. Morin CM. Insomnia – psychological assessment and management. New York: The Guilford Press, 1993.7. Roth T, Roehrs T, Costa e Silva JA, Chase MH. Public health and insomnia: consensus statement regarding its status and needs for future actions. Sleep 1999, 22(3): S419.8. Naudé DF, Couchman IMS, Maharaj A. Chronic primary insomnia: Efficacy of homeopathic simillimum. Homeopathy 2010, 99: 63-68.9. Bordet MF, Colas A, Marijnen P, Masson JL, Trichard M. Treating hot flushes in menopausal women with homeopathic treatment – Results of an observational study. Homeopathy 2008, 97: 10-15.10. Pellow J. Homoeopathic simillimum treatment of secondary insomnia in peri- and postmenopausal women. Johannesburg: Technikon Witwatersrand, 2002.11. Fisher P, Greenwood A, Huskisson EC et al. Effect of homoeopathic treatment on fibrositis (primary fibromyalgia). British Medical Journal 1989, 299: 365–366.12. Strauss LC. The efficacy of a homeopathic preparation in the management of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Source Biomed Ther 2000, 18(2):197-201.13. Roohani J. The effect of Avena sativa comp_, a homoeopathic remedy on subjective sleeping ability and sleep quality in sufferers of secondary insomnia. Johannesburg: Technikon Witwatersrand, 1997.14. Steinsbekk A, Lüdtke R. Patients’ assessments of the effectiveness of homeopathic care in Norway: A prospective observational multicentre outcome study. Homeopathy 2005, 94: 10-16.15. Witt CM, Lüdtke R, Mengler N, Willich SN. How healthy are chronically ill patients after eight years of homeopathic treatment? Results from a long term observational study. BMC Public Health 2008, 8: 413. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-8-41316. European Central Council of Homeopaths (ECCH). The Safety of Homeopathy. An ECCH Report. January 2009. Last time downloaded on 28.03.10 from. Ruiz-Vega G, Pérez-Ordaz L, León-Huéramo O, Cruz-Vázquez E, Sánchez-Diaz N. Comparative effect of Coffea cruda potencies on rats. Homeopathy 2002, 91: 80-84.18. Sukul A, Sinhabau SP, Sukul NC. Reduction of alcohol induced sleep time in albino mice by potentized Nux vomica prepared with 90% ethanol. Br Hom Journ 1999, 88: 58-61.Last Updated on Monday, 07 July 2014 16:03End of Life Care ReportThe purpose of this report is to present the activities of the Irish Society of Homeopaths (ISH) in End of Life Care in the past year, and to propose a 12-month study into the usefulness of homeopathy in a hospice setting in Ireland. Since February 2009, the ISH has been involved in presentations and discussions with interested parties in the field of palliative care, with a view towards introducing homeopathy into End of Life Care in Ireland. The ISH believes that a more holistic approach to end of life care is needed in Ireland, in order to treat not just physical symptoms but also emotional and mental symptoms while maximizing awareness and decreasing suffering. Click here to visit our Downloads for Members Area to download the Report.Arnica gets green lightPicture istock arnicaArnica has become the first Homeopathic remedy to be granted a licence by the UK medicines regulator under its new scheme for complementary therapies.Arnica has been licensed as a remedy for relief of sprains, muscular aches and bruising or swelling after contusions.The remedy in 30c pillules is the first to be approved under the Homeopathic National Rules Scheme and has been granted the licence by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency ( MHRA)Manufacturers of homeopathic remedies were previously banned from listing the clinical conditions or “indications” that products might be used to treat.Robert Wilson, chairman of Nelsons, the largest manufacturer of national healthcare products in Britain, said that the fact that therapeutic indications could be included on the packaging “not only opens the practice of homeopathy up to new users but also gives it added credibility as a safe and natural complement to conventional medicine”.The MHRA said that the National Rules scheme was introduced to resolve an inconsistency in European legislation that meant that homeopathic products introduced before 1992 could state indications for their use, whereas remedies approved after that date could not make such claims.A spokeswoman for the Agency said that the National Rules Scheme “involves the assessment of quality, safety and consumer information”.“This means that if an applicant can demonstrate that their product has been used in the UK homeopathic tradition for the relief or treatment of specific minor conditions or symptoms then the applicant may be granted a homeopathic marketing authorisation.”Swine Flu - what to doPublic concern about Swine Flu has led to a surge in requests for information about the Homeopathic response to this health issue. The Homeopathic approach to infections is two-fold - general prevention using remedies to build up the immune system and then treatment of the condition itself where necessary.Homeopaths: - login to Members Area for more articles about Swine Flu and useful remedies. Infections usually affect people whose immune systems are low. For anyone worried about Swine Flu the most appropriate course of action is to make an appointment with your Homeopath to assess your current level of health. The Homeopath can then advise on what treatment, if any, is necessary to help you strengthen your health defences.This is known as "Constitutional Treatment" where the practitioner prescribes remedies suited to the individual to boost that person's wellbeing. Constitutional remedies are given to maintain health even where there are no specific symptoms of an illness present.Where someone has acquired an infection, remedies are prescribed for the acute condition. For a serious condition, remedies should only be taken under the supervision of a fully qualified professional practitioner.In an acute situation a person may require several different remedies to treat the illness.Should you become unwell, It is therefore important to immediately contact your Homeopath and also stay in contact with your General Practitioner. General guidelines have been issued by the Health Service Executive and should also be followed. Safety confirmed by Euro Study A new Euro-wide study confirms the safety of homeopathic medicines and treatment provided by professional homeopaths across Europe. The study carried out by the European Council for Classical Homeopathy looked at the safety of the remedies, treatment by professional homeopaths and the safety of patients self-prescribing homeopathic remedies. It reviewed case reports and studies along with current legislation and self-regulation of the profession.The study concluded that homeopathic medicines rarely cause adverse drug reactions and where they do these are “only mild or moderate and transient” due to the high dilutions of the remedies. Homeopathy has no life-threatening side effects and “may safely be used during pregnancy and in the treatment of infants and children without risk of harm”At a recent Health First Europe conference entitled ‘New Horizons’ the issue of patient safety was raised and it was pointed out that 197,000 patients die every year in the EU from adverse events and medical errors and 8-12% of hospitalised patients in the EU suffer adverse events as a result of healthcare.In addition Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs) are acquired by approximately 4.1 million patients per year, 35 000 of whom die as a result. Homeopathy has an important role to play is helping prevent these highly unfortunate iatrogenic incidents. Little evidence of malpracticeThe safety study found here was very little evidence of cases of malpractice and precautionary measures had been put in place through national legislation and self regulation by the profession.These measures involve regulations governing the manufacture and sale of homeopathic remedies, the setting of competency standards for homeopaths and systems to deal with patient concerns and complaints. Self-prescribingThe report raised some concerns about patients self administering homeopathic remedies . It pointed out that these patients could be suffering from an undiagnosed disease and might arrive too late for homeopathic, conventional or other treatment by postponing consultation with a health professional.Secondly since “the practice of homeopathy requires considerable education and training it may be difficult for users self-prescribing to consider the potential effect of these products.” The ECCH strongly recommends that patients consult with a qualified homeopath for any conditions other than “the most banal ones such as bruising resulting from falls and accidents or self-limiting conditions such as a common cold.” The Council has participative status with the Council of Europe, is an associate member of the European Public Health Alliance and a member of the European Federation for Complementary and Alternative Medicine In order to further contribute to the safety of patients, it has established a number of guidelines agreed by national member associations (including the Irish Society of Homeopaths) which include education, accreditation, registration and Continuous Professional Development.The guidelines also cover codes of ethics, professional conduct procedures and the regulation of safe and ethical practice in addition to a system to enable patients to raise concerns and have a complaint acted upon if appropriate.ARNICA AND CHILDBIRTHWritten by Administrator Sunday, 23 August 2009 09:42 We have had reports that some non-homeopaths are recommending the “blanket use” of Arnica in the 200th potency repeatedly before labour. No Homeopathic remedy should be taken in pregnancy without proper professional advice from a qualified Homeopath.Pregnant women who take the Homeopathic remedy Arnica after the 36th week of their pregnancy may be refused the choice of an epidural during childbirth in some Irish maternity hospitals.We would advise any pregnant woman using Homeopathic remedies during pregnancy or childbirth to do so under the supervision of a fully qualified, professional Homeopath.A list of ISH Registered Homeopaths is available on this website under the “Find a Homeopath” option.Last Updated on Monday, 22 February 2010 23:29Homeopathy effective for FibromyalgiaHomeopathy effective in fibromyalgia Homeopathy is effective in treating patients suffering from fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a widely misunderstood condition which can greatly reduce patients’ quality of life. No curative conventional treatment exists, but homeopaths have considerable positive experience in treating fibromyalgia patients that is supported by clinical research evidence. Research – clear evidence of improvement from homeopathy In a newly published trial of 47 patients diagnosed with fibromayalgia researchers found significant improvement in those patients treated with homeopathy (Relton et al. 2009). Patients were either treated by conventional care alone, or by homeopathic treatment in addition to conventional care. Significant improvement was seen in function, pain, fatigue and tiredness in the homeopathy group. No side-effects of homeopathic treatment were noted. Significant effect in placebo-controlled trials An important question to answer is whether the effect of homeopathic treatment is a result of the so-called placebo effect (the effect of the patient’s belief that they will improve), or whether there is an identifiable effect of the prescribed homeopathic medicines. High quality research indicates that homeopathic medicines do have an effect. In a study of over 50 patients who received either individually prescribed homeopathic medicines or placebo (dummy) pills, clear effect was seen in the group taking homeopathic medicines (Bell et al. 2004 a). Neither patients nor practitioners knew who had received what, until after the conclusion of the trial. Significant improvement was seen both in the number of painful points and in the degree of pain. Homeopathy patients also experienced improvement in quality of life, general state of health and mood. The trial was carried out over a period of 4 months. An independent external assessor not otherwise involved in the trial, evaluated patients’ response to treatment. An earlier placebo controlled trial of 30 patients also showed reduction in the number of tender points, pain and improved sleep in patients receiving a homeopathic medicine, compared to those who received placebo. EEG measurement shows effect of homeopathy Significant differences were also found when measuring fibromyalgia patients’ brain wave patterns using electroencephalography (EEG) (Bell et al. 2004 b, c). Significant differences were found between patients receiving homeopathic medicine and those receiving placebo. Moreover, patterns improved significantly in homeopathy patients after 3 and 6 months. The way forward for fibromyalgia patients Many patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia experience frustration as they are not always taken seriously by some healthcare professionals. Although this is not a terminal illness, it often affects patients’ quality of life considerably. The public, patients and healthcare professionals need to learn more about fibromyalgia. Research confirms homeopaths’ positive experience in clinical practice. More research should be carried out to further test the effect of homeopathy in patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Some researchers have suggested that CAM therapies such as homeopathy could be recommended within a multi-component therapy setting (Langhorst et al. 2008). Homeopaths and other healthcare professionals working together could greatly help improve the health of these patients. Fibromyalgia factsA chronic musculoskeletal pain disorder of unknown causeNon-destructive (does not damage bones, joints or muscles)Greatly reduces the patient’s quality of lifeFrequency: About 2 % of the population (Lawrence et al. 1998), under-diagnosed?Most common in middle-aged womenMore common in people with rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseasesCharacterised by widespread muscle pain and tenderness (tender points)Typically pain in neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms, legs, especially when touchedOften accompanied byMorning stiffnessHeadacheFatigueSleep disturbanceMemory problemsSensitivity to lightDizzinessNumbness and tingling in arms and legsFibromyalgia patients often also suffer fromIrritable bowl syndromeBladder control problemsDepressionAnxietyDiagnosis: ruling out other conditions AND considering the patient’s symptoms Conventional medicine offers no solutionsPoor prognosis with conventional medicineNo curative conventional therapy existsNo clear evidence based treatment existsSome symptom control through drugs such as antidepressants and analgesics Other approaches include: exercise, education, diet, cognitive therapy. Last Updated on Monday, 22 February 2010 23:29Tamiflu and HomeopathySunday Times columnist India Knight has “armed” herself with homeopathic remedies to protect herself and her five year old daughter against Swine Flu. She thought she had Swine Flu herself recently and was concerned about her daughter who has a heart condition. She writes: “I thought I had swine flu on Wednesday. Perhaps I did — who knows? Except that the massive aching in my limbs — it exhausted me to raise my arms to wash my hair — and general hot grogginess had gone by Thursday. But I suppose that I could have had mild swine flu all week, building up to an exciting and noticeably swiney crescendo. We shall never know.Happily, I had tried to do my swine flu homework a couple of weeks ago when a case was confirmed at my five-year-old daughter's school. She has a heart condition and an enfeebled immune system, so the news sent me into something of a panic, because I suddenly realised that despite watching endless television reports and reading endless newspaper ones, I didn’t actually know anything — the reports had served only to confuse me.On the one hand: eh, it’s just flu. On the other: yeah, but you might die. You switch off the telly thinking: really, cheers for that. What do I do now — lie down quietly and wait for the reaper, or march around ticking people off for overreacting because “it’s only flu”? Both options seem reasonable. Which is it to be?By the time my arms started feeling like lead, I’d already heard the v-e-r-y s-l-o-w recorded National Health Service message you get if you call the swine line, already telephoned various council departments to get a number that would connect me to an actual doctor for advice, already spent 43 (I counted) minutes in the dedicated NHS helpline queue to speak to same. When I eventually got through, the doctor was reassuring: we might have all had swine flu already, he said, without noticing anything dramatically amiss. No, I couldn’t have Tamiflu for preventive purposes, because the epidemic meant my daughter would have to stay on it for months, which, given the lack of information about the long-term effects of the drug, wasn’t a good idea. Calpol and Nurofen, as usual in case of fever, and — well, you know, best of luck.TamifluMy GP said much the same thing. My daughter’s cardiologist said he wasn’t overly worried but to check with her immunologist at Great Ormond Street hospital, who said children with my daughter’s condition should take Tamiflu if they actually got swined up. Sounds reasonable, except for one thing: nobody knows if anyone’s swined up because there are no swab tests any more — everyone’s guessing.We’re not supposed to take our swiney selves or our swiney children into doctors’ surgeries, and doctors are far too busy for house calls, so, as far as I can see, we’re all in the dark. Also, I don’t like the sound of Tamiflu, with its side effects and lack of long-term trials. But then I don’t like the sound of death, either.No wonder every parent I spoke to last week was in a state of controlled panic — except for the ones who’ve had swine flu, who were all cheerful and said, “Pah, it’s not so bad; you just go to bed for a few days” — although they all said there was absolutely zero support or advice available to them other than: “Don’t go to work.”This — “it’s not so bad” — had been my take on it until healthy people started dying. Now I’m hovering between, “Yes, but healthy people still die of normal flu — not many, but some, just as some women still die in childbirth and nobody gets pregnant and then starts running around wailing about death,” and, “Oh my God, oh my God, what are we going to do?”HomeopathySo far I have failed to come up with a plan. I used my low journalistic cunning to sweet-talk two chemists into telling me where the stocks of Tamiflu for my area of London were held, so now I know where to break into if we suddenly find ourselves burning up in the middle of the night. And I’ve ordered some homeopathic remedies.I know that even writing “homeopathic remedies” antagonises some people to the point of foaming at the mouth, but despite the fact that the rational part of my brain doesn’t actually believe in homeopathy, I find it often works (especially with children). So, armed with my little pilules and the address of the Tami-chemist (crowbar optional), I sit and wait.Everyone else is sitting and waiting, too. A friend whose son has a condition that affects his lungs wondered whether to send him away, except it would have to be for months and there’s no guarantee that he wouldn’t come home to an extra-virulent, super-horrible strain of the flu.Another friend sent an e-mail saying she had no idea what was going on but didn’t want to bother her GP, who was so kind and so busy, by asking. A third said much the same thing: “I feel like a poor relation in a Russian novel. I’m slightly too embarrassed to ask for help. And anyway, there isn’t really any help.”The parents I know who a month or so ago were thinking everyone should get the swine-infected kids together with the healthy ones, much as you deliberately make your child catch chickenpox so it’s over and done with, have done a U-turn. At work I hear everyone has thoughtfully been provided with a couple of packets of mini-Kleenex and some antibacterial wipes. All the families I know are wondering whether to cancel their holidays: what if they end up in some swine-swamp, some fatal hotspot, by accident?In between thinking about the plagues of Israel and Camus’s La Peste, I’ve tried not to become hysterical — and mostly succeeded. There’s a lot to be said for being sanguine. We’re all going to get it or look after someone with it. Most of us will be fine. There’s not a lot we can do about it, short of observing basic hygiene rules. A vaccine will scoot along at some stage and perhaps won’t be made by a company with a history of making vaccines that sometimes, er, kill people. And that’s it.There’s been a poster that’s been popular in middle-class homes for some time. It’s a reproduction of a second world war information ministry poster that says, “Keep Calm and Carry On”. I note that the company that manufactures it has now created a companion poster that reads, “Now Panic and Freak Out”. Like most people, I’m hovering between the two.Calm wins, until I start wondering whether we couldn’t maybe put red “X”s on the doors of the infected, plague-style."India Knight, Sunday Times July 19th 2009Last Updated on Tuesday, 04 August 2009 19:32Maestro Toscanini cured with HomeopathyDuring the 1931-32 season with the New York Philharmonic that the great conductor Arturo Toscanini developed a problem with his right arm that threatened to curtail his conducting career. American doctors could do nothing to resolve the problem and consequently the maestro was forced to abandon the season at the Phil.In the meantime, however, Toscanini had heard of a homeopathic doctor back home who had earned himself a reputation for miracle cures. This was Alberto Rinaldi – like Toscanini an ardent anti-fascist and opponent of Il Duce Mussolini who was based in Piazze. In January 1932, Toscanini hitched up in Piazze to become a patient of Rinaldi, staying in the handsome mansion, which is today’s Locanda Toscanini.The rest of the story is pure thriller. Rinaldi managed to cure Toscanini, restoring him to such good health that he fell in love with the girl next door, Gelsa Salvadori. Not surprisingly, the maestro was delighted with the place, returning regularly, even conducting the town band on occasion.Alas, the story does not end happily ever after. In September 1935, Dr Rinaldi was beaten to death in the grounds of his Piazze home. The circumstances of his death remain mysterious but there are good reasons for believing the man who was sentenced for his killing, Leopoldo Moretti, might have been a fascist agent. (Curiously, Moretti was let out of prison early during the second World War, but somehow had funds enough to move himself and his family to Brazil, where he opened up a Fiat dealership.From a travel article by Paddy Agnew - Irish Times July 18th 2009.A Right to HomeopathyA resolution recognizing the right of citizens to Homeopathic treatment has just been passed in the House of Representatives in the State of Oklahoma in the US.The Resolution refers to Homeopathy as a low cost, highly effective way to treat illness and says all citizens should have access to information, products and homeoapthic services.The resolution recognizes Homeopathy as a “natural system of healing with its own theory, scientific parameters and practice unique to it”. It says the clinical use of Homeopathy “has proven to excel in the healing of a wide variety of ailments, whether they be mental, emotional or physical in nature”.It acknowledges the safety of remedies, how they are “unlikely to cause severe adverse reactions and are not known to interfere with conventional drugs” and it points to the authorization of remedies by the Food and Drug Administration.The Resolution describes how Homeopathy has been successfully practiced in America since the 1820’s and in Oklahoma “since before Statehood” by “professional health care practitioners of all disciplines, including medical doctors, osteopaths, chiropractors, veterinarians and the like, as well as trained lay Homeopaths who enjoy equal professional standing”.It says Homeopathy “has proven through several government studies to be a safe, low cost and high effective means of ameliorating illness as well as supporting health”.It is a matter of “public record that Homeopathy has proven to be particularly successful in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, as recorded in Oklahoma City during a smallpox epidemic in the 1930’s.The Resolution concludes: “Now, therefore be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the 1st Session of the 52nd Oklahoma Legislature: That this body believes that it is the right of all citizens of the State of Oklahoma to have access to all information, products and services regarding homeopathic medicine.“That in celebration of the 254th Anniversary of the birth of Samuel Hahnemann, founder of Homeopathy, April 10 through to April 16, 2009 is recognized as World Homeopathy Awareness Week in the State of Oklahoma.“That a copy of this Resolution be distributed to the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of this state and the State Commissioner of Health”.04/14/09Allergies Cures by HomeopathyHomeopathy really does work and doctors should recognise its healing effects, say researchers.A study found that allergy sufferers who were given homeopathic treatment were ten times more likely to be cured than those given a dummy pill instead.Doctors should be more positive about the alternative medicine, which is the only complementary therapy available on the NHS, the researchers said.Their study attempts to settle the controversy over homeopathic treatment, which critics say is not effective because of the tiny level of active substance used in most remedies.Nasal AllergiesIt works on the principle that a substance which in large doses will cause the symptoms of an illness can be used in minute doses to relieve the same symptoms.Critics argue that the active substance is so diluted that homeopathic remedies have no more effect than placebo or dummy treatment.The study put homeopathy to the test in 50 patients suffering from nasal allergies.They were given either a homeopathic preparation or a placebo.Each day for four weeks patients recruited from general practices and a hospital in London measured their nasal air flow and recorded symptoms such as blocked, runny or itchy nose, sneezing or eye irritation.Both groups reported that they got better - but on average patients who received homeopathy had a 28 per cent improvement in nasal air flow compared with 3 per cent among those in the placebo group.The study was carried out by doctors in Glasgow, led by Dr David Reilly of the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital, one of five specialist hospitals in Britain. He said the difference in results from the two treatments was statistically significant.Fourth trial with similar resultsDr Reilly said this was the fourth trial carried out by his hospital, all with similar results. In addition, there were positive findings in 70 per cent of a further 180 clinical trials.'I hope this will encourage doctors to examine the volume of evidence supporting homeopathy - they might be quite surprised at the positive outcome in many trials,' he said.He added that it would take consistent scientific investigation to persuade some doctors, but attitudes were changing.About 20 per cent of doctors in Scotland have basic homeopathic training compared with one per cent 15 years ago.'It isn't just about the remedies, which can be put to the test in trials, but about a greater holistic approach in encouraging self-healing and self-recovery.'Dr Bob Leckridge, president of the Faculty of Homeopathy - the body for doctors, vets, nurses and other health professionals - said: 'This latest research builds on existing evidence that homeopathy works, something that hundreds of doctors and their patients have known for 200 years.(By Jenny Hope, Daily Mail June 13th 2008)Cancer centre with HomeopathyPlans for a new cancer centre which would offer homeopathy as part of its treatment, have been announced by a cancer support group inAlizon Blythe, secretary of the Cumbria Cancer Support Group, practices homeopathy and used it instead of radiotherapy to help with her own cancer treatment.The 54-year-old had an operation to remove a sarcoma on her leg in 2007 and was offered radiotherapy as a precaution, but was worried about harsh side-effects.She eventually chose not to have it but instead use complementary therapies. Alizon is now keen to increase understanding of how these practices and how they can be used alongside other cancer treatments to the benefit of patients.“We want to help people deal with the mental and emotional effects of cancer as well as the physical ones. It’s all about taking a holistic approach,” says AlizonThe new centre will be used by people who have themselves been affected by different types of cancers.The Cumbria support group is looking for charitable status and launching a ?1 million fundraising campaign to build the centre which would combine advice and support servicesThe group is already planning a series of outdoor activities, such as sailing sessions, In addition they will also be offering members yoga and meditation classes, along with opportunities to learn more about complementary therapies and how they can be used alongside western medicineDont Let Them Grind You DownRock legend Roger Daltrey has advised Prince Charles “Don’t let the b***ards grind you down”.The musician who credits Homeopathy with saving the life of his son, gave his advice to the Prince of Wales when he was guest speaker at an event staged by the Prince’s Foundation for Integrated Health.He told how he and his wife were left in despair when their then eight-month-old boy Jamie developed an intestinal problem which had doctors baffled."I was aware of homeopaths, but I thought where do I find one and I had to look in Yellow Pages," the 65-year-old musician recalled."He prescribed some powders and within two days my son was keeping food down and within two weeks he was starting to put on weight and come back to life."Addressing the conference about his experience with Homeopathy, Daltrey praised Prince Charles for his work campaigning on issues like integrated health and climate change.The Who's lead singer described the heir to the throne as "his own man" when the two met at the health conference in central London.Asked what he thought about the 60-year-old Prince, Daltrey said: "I think the work Charles is doing is amazing, he takes it on the chin, he's his own man” before jokingly advising “Don’t let the B****rds grind you down”.Charles has faced criticism over the decades for his support for green issues and promoting the use of complementary alongside conventional treatments.EU Homeopathy DayMarion Harkin MEP Irish MEP Marian Harkin sponsored and supported Homeopaths from all over Europe at a meeting with the European Parliament in Brussels on April 2nd.This was the second such annual meeting marking EU Homeopathy Day and this year the theme was patient focussed. A young woman patient who was successfully treated with Homeopathy for endometriosis after undergoing various conventional treatments, gave a testimony to the group.Presentations were also made on Complementary and Alternative Medicine in General and on the integrated service developed in the Tuscany Region of Italy. A Dutch legal expert addressed the group on how the law impacts on CAM and on patients rights in the EU.The event was organised and funded by the European Coalition for Homeopathic and Anthroposophic Medicinal Products (ECHAMP)British RoyalsGet information on what the Queen of England does to stay healthy by listening to an interview with Dr Peter Fisher, homeopath and personal physician to the British Royal Family.The interview on Vital Force radio is part of Homeopathy Awareness Week which this year has the theme "Homeopathy for Allergies".The show also features and interview with Christine Liebing, chair of the World Homeopathy Awareness Organisation on the treatment of allergies.See also the piece on WHAW events in our News section.To listen to the show click on Homeopathy in top four in EuropeDuring the same period the Council of Europe established that homeopathy is one of the four best established forms of complementary and alternative medicine in Europe.According to a Norwegian Government report, Homeopathy is the most frequently used CAM therapy in five out of 14 countries in Europe and among the three most frequently used in 11 out of 14 countries.The ECCH survey was carried out to provide an overview of individual homeopath’s experience with nosodes in the treatment of their patients, the importance of these remedies in their practices as well as the availability of nosodes in their particular country.Not every bug needs a drugPatients and the public need to understand that every bug doesn’t need a drug, according to leading microbiologist Prof Hilary Humphreys.Hospitals are spending 20-30pc of their budget on antibiotics and if this was cut by 5-10pc million of euro could be save and healthcare associated infections reduced considerably.Prof Humphreys of Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital was speaking at the launch of a position paper by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland on antibiotic use.The microbiologist called for a more prudent use of the drugs stressing that excessive use leads to antibiotic resistant bacteria like MRSA – a frequent cause of infection in Irish hospitals.His remarks have been welcomed by the Irish Society of Homeopaths. Spokesperson Sheelagh Behan explains that “Homeopathy has a different approach to illness because it addresses the person’s immne system, strengthening it to resist and throw off the infection. Unlike antibiotics, the person’s system does not build up a resistance to the remedies.'Not everyone falls ill when a bug hits – this is because only some will be susceptible to the bug because of stress or a weakness in their immune system..“In acute illnesses like infections, usually rapid improvement is seen with the added bonus of the person subsequently having stronger defences as a result of their homeopathic treatment.”According to Prof Humphreys:.'Ireland’s antibiotic use is high by European standards and we are one of only three countries in Europe where outpatient antibiotic prescribing is increasing.“Doctors need to reduce the amount of antibiotics being prescribed”, he said, adding that the public could assist in this by understanding that not every infection requires an antibiotic.“Most common infections, and in particular colds and flu-like illnesses are caused by viruses and therefore will not respond to antibiotics”, he explained.“It is alarming that despite increasing awareness of this problem Ireland is one of only three countries in Europe where outpatient antibiotic prescribing is increasing”. Prof Humphreys also pointed out that there are currently few, if any, new antibiotics in development for use in treating infections, which was another reason to use the ones we already have more judiciously.The new position paper states that the RCPI is supporting efforts to reduce antibiotic use by providing training on this topic to over 1,000 junior doctors on its postgraduate training programmes.Prof Humphreys also stressed that in the current economic climate it should be borne in mind that reduced use of antibiotics would not just help in reducing healthcare associated infections, it would also save money. “Reducing antibiotic use will reduce costs for patients and the Health Service Executive, minimise side effects and more importantly, help check the development and spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria,” the RCPI’s position paper says.The RCPI is also developing position papers on advice for people with healthcare associated infections when discharged from hospital and on dealing with such infections in nursing homes. These are due to be published later this year.Olivia Newton Johns Cancer CentreOlivia Newton-John credits homeopathy and other forms of alternative medicine with her cure from breast cancer. She is building a new wellness holistic clinic in Australia and homeopathy will be part of the therapies on offer.“When I had cancer I was lucky enough to have things to help me in body, mind and spirit. I had meditation and yoga. I had homeopathy and acupuncture and all these alternative therapies that helped me to get through the whole healing process, emotionally as well as physically."This weekend the four time Grammy Awards winner will join Leeza Gibbons in hosting “A Night To Make A Difference” a star-studded Oscar Party in Hollywood.The event is being organised to raise funds for both Olivia’s Cancer and Wellness Centre in Australia and the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation which helps those with Alzheimers.When the singer was diagnosed with breast cancer on the eve of a world tour in 1992, it was the first step in a long battle against the disease and ultimately has resulted in Olivia’s plan to build the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre in Australia.The centre will provide complementary therapies to support patients on their cancer journey, treating mind and spirit as well as the body. Olivia describes the focus as being on the whole person and not just the disease.“The Austin Hospital in Melbourne has been the premier cancer centre in Australia for a long, long time and they asked me if I would put my name on a cancer unit they were going to build there."I went to see their facilities and they were so run down and in such bad repair that I said I would love to help them, but only if they also build a new wellness centre.“I wanted to create a place on the hospital grounds that could offer that. That became part of the appeal, and I am very excited about that.” the singer told Look to the Stars magazine.“We’ve been fundraising for it for five years. We held a major fundraising event last year when we spent three weeks walking the length of the Great Wall of China, which was amazing. We raised $2 million.“I’m also lucky to have the support of celebrities such as Cliff Richard and Dannii Minogue. Leeza Gibbons is an Ambassador. A few of the stars who did the Great Wall Walk became Ambassadors. Because I can’t be there all the time, they can represent the hospital and help with fundraising."I went to the hospital not so long ago when I was in Australia, and I went to visit some of the patients there and it really is amazing how many people are battling cancer – and in such different age groups, they’re getting younger and younger.”She says her message to anyone diagnosed with cancer: “The best thing I could say is ‘Here I am’. When I went through it and had just finished my treatment, I met a woman who said ‘Oh I read in the paper that you had breast cancer – well don’t worry, I had it 20 years ago and I’m fine now’. That was a defining moment for me. I thought to myself -well if she could do it 20 years ago when the treatments weren’t as good- it really was an enlightening moment”.Peanuts and HomeopathyDoctors have taken a hint from homeopathy in searching for a new treatment for peanut allergy.A team from Duke University Medical Centre and Arkansas Children’s Hospital have been experimenting with very small, carefully controlled daily doses of powdered peanut to children with peanut allergy.Their results suggest that eliminating peanuts from the diet of those allergic to the nuts or using antihistamine drugs to control the reaction may soon become a thing of the past.Using the principal of "like with like" and small doses, the doctors began giving the children as little as one thousandth of a single peanut daily and gradually increased the dose. After several months the children were able to consume up to 15 peanuts a day before an adverse reaction set in.The children have been continuing the daily therapy and are being closely monitored.The researchers concentrated on levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE) – a protein the body makes in response to peanut allergens.Children in the study typically had IgE levels greater than 25 but these levels dropped to less than 2 by the end of the study, according to Dr. Wesley Burks, chief of the Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at Duke.Despite these promising results, the doctors caution that more research needs to be done to ensure that the changes resulted from a true immune response and that the children did not simply outgrow their allergies.Their findings have been reported to a recent meeting of the American Academy of Asthma and Immunology in Washington. Recession StressSYLVIA THOMPSONHOLISTIC HEALTH: HARD TIMES: Therapies which are seen as extras rather than essential are haemorrhaging clientsMASSAGE THERAPISTS across Ireland have noticed a fall-off in client numbers in the past few months. Such is the extent of this fall-off in business that Judith Ashton, president of the Irish Massage Therapy Association (IMTA), has written an open letter to members this week, offering them advice on how to cope.“Everyone is taking a hit due to the [economic] downturn and massage is often seen as an extra rather than an essential therapy so some therapists will have to be more resourceful and take on extra income streams,” says Ashton.Galway-based acupuncturist Juliana Driscoll has a similar tale to tell. “It’s much quieter than before Christmas. I’m still getting hits on my website, but there aren’t as many people calling me up,” explains Driscoll who is considering offering a discount on her €50-an-hour fee to clients with medical cards.According to Driscoll, Galway is “saturated” with complementary therapists. “There are about 45 acupuncturists registered with Irish organisations and up to 15 others registered with English associations,” she says.“Business is going down for reflexologists and massage therapists too. In fact, I think acupuncture might survive better because it has a better profile for treating conditions.”Therapists agree that the market at the most luxurious or cosmetic end of complementary therapy has already shrunk.“I did a lot of facial rejuvenations [a kind of face lift using small acupuncture needles in the face] for which I charged €80 per session and it would take between 10 and 15 sessions in total. Well, that business is gone now,” says Driscoll.So, how will complementary therapists cope with the reduction in business?According to Driscoll, a lot of therapists will have to work part-time while others will learn new skills as a means of encouraging new clients. “Complementary therapists are constantly updating their skills anyway. I’m planning to study herbs,” she says.Judith Ashton offers members of the IMTA some tips on how to cope with the recession. These include offering price reductions in the form of special offers (three massages for the price of two), keeping in touch with clients between sessions and simply asking for referrals.“I’m saying to our members, you’ve got a commodity, make it as attractive and competitive as you can without devaluing what you do. There are a lot of very stressed people out there and we’re offering a very beneficial service. Massage is wonderful for dealing with stress. Personally, it’s my first line of defence,” says Ashton who also advises massage therapists to swop treatments among themselves.The rural/urban divide is difficult to define in terms of loss of business. In some cases, being one of a small number of therapists in a rural area leaves practitioners less vulnerable to loss of business than in more competitive urban areas.Darren Conroy and Kellie Taylor run osteopathic practices in Portlaoise, Co Laois and Tullamore, Co Offaly. “Our business is the same. We haven’t been affected by the recession,” says Conroy. “We treat everyone from babies to older adults in a few sessions. We give exercises and postural advice so that they can sustain themselves on their own,” he explains. “The majority of people who come to us view it as primary healthcare. It’s not a luxury but something that is necessary to help them get back on their feet.”Conroy and Taylor charge €60 per session for osteopathic treatment.More people turning to HomepathySome therapists claim that rather than having fewer clients due to the recession, they are seeing just as many but with specific “recession-induced” illnesses. “There is a lot of anxiety, depression and fear out there,” says Anne Connolly, a registered homeopath based in Dundrum, Dublin.“I’m seeing people who can’t shake off the flu that they had over Christmas and these feelings of not being in good health are tied in with anxiety,” says Connolly.Declan Mohan is a businessman who works part-time as a homeopath. “I see a lot of male patients and anxiety is the number one complaint at the moment,” he says. “It’s the suddenness of the changed economic situation that is making people very uncertain,” he says. Mohan, who also works as a business mentor, says that we need to look at some of the positives.“We have to remember that there are still 1.7 million people working and going about their business. I encourage people to recognise their fears, put a value on what they have lost and then it’s easier to move on.”Some would say that complementary therapists are better prepared than most to cope with the stresses of less work. Judith Ashton acknowledges this point.“It’s true that people who choose to become massage therapists have sometimes scaled down and chosen this work as part of a more meaningful career step but I always tell people on training courses not to give up the day job until they have really established a client base and that can take between one and two years to do.”Irish Times Feb 17th 2009Swiss Voters Approve HomeopathyOn 17 May Swiss voters overwhelmingly approved a proposal to promote alternative medicines including Homeopathy: yes: 67%, no: 33%.Homeopathy, herbal and neural therapies as well as traditional Chinese Medicine, could be paid by compulsary health insurance under the new health services plan.However, the government says such treatments must be effective, reasonably priced and appropriate to be included in the list of paid health services.Alternative medicine was given a boost when the electorate gave wholehearted backing to an initiative requiring complementary forms of medicine to be covered by obligatory health insurance.Alternative forms of medicine - including homeopathy and traditional Chinese medicine - are very popular in Switzerland, and approval had been expected.Final results showed a 67 per cent approval rate and the backing of all cantons.Opponents had unsuccessfully argued that including these forms of treatment would put more financial strain on the health system.The right wing Swiss People's Party was the only major party to reject the proposal. RECLAIM THE COST OF YOUR HOMEOPATH VISITS!"As at November 2012, if you have health insurance with Aviva, Laya Healthcare, Hospital Saturday Fund or GloHealth, you may be entitled to claim on your annual expenses for homeopath visits depending on the insurance plan you hold. Do check out your entitlements! " ................
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