Surely I'd done a blog about Hayfever??

... but apparently it would seem not...  So, a little short on time (I've got playgroup pickup run starting in about 2 minutes, and also conscious that the hayfever season has started for some) so here's one from before...

 A "Magic Pill" for Hayfever and other Allergies.

Hayfever currently affects about a quarter of the UK population, one of the highest prevalence rates for hayfever in the world.  This is set to increase and it is predicted that up to 28 million people will have hayfever by 2040 due to severe pollen seasons caused by climate change.

Interestingly, homeopaths pioneered both the research on allergies and allergy treatment. In 1871, British homeopath C.H. Blackely suggested that seasonal sneezing and nasal discharge were the result of exposure to pollen. Later, American homeopath James Tyler Kent defined the practical principles of treating allergies with homeopathy. If someone develops an acute reaction to pollen (or another allergen), such as a running nose or itching, watery eyes, during the allergy season, this reaction is addressed first. After all, there is no need for anyone to suffer discomfort. Then, during the symptom-free season, a homeopath aims to find a so-called constitutional remedy that solves the problem on every level of a person's being. It can take a while for the full affects of a remedy like this to be felt. But in the end, many other complaints and conditions usually drop away along with the symptoms of allergy.

Today conventional allergists use a desensitisation process that resembles the homeopathic practice of "using like to cure like." They give their patients a bit of the allergen (for example, tree pollen) to stimulate a reaction that the body overcomes, thus making the body stronger. However, their injections do not feature homeopathically prepared solutions. It's a little known fact that a homeopath, Grant L. Selfridge, M.D., was the first president of the organization that is now called the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.

Desensitisation tends to work for the season the allergen is prescribed but the next season the process will need repeating.  Effective homeopathic treatment may be able to alleviate the hayfever entirely so decreasing or even stopping the need for anti-histamine treatments or desensitisation injections. 

How do you take homeopathic remedies? These specially prepared remedies are sold in health food stores and come in the form of small sweet pills. Buy remedies in concentration 30C. Place 1 pill under the tongue and let it dissolve. Repeat the dose in 15 minutes. If there is no improvement of symptoms at all in about 30 minutes after the second dose stop taking the remedy.  If the allergic reaction is severe always seek medical advice or go to A&E.

Constitutional treatment combined with palliation of symptoms whilst working with a qualified Homeopath would usually be the most effective way to treat hayfever, in the meantime though here are 6 remedies which may be helpful to make summer more fun!

Allium cepa (Red Onion):

Take Allium if you see the following signs. (Always compare these signs with the signs indicating a need for Euphrasia.)
· Irritating, caustic discharge from the nose that irritates the nose and the upper lip (opposite of Euphrasia)
· Bland discharge from the eyes (opposite of Euphrasia)
· Discharge from the nose and eyes in large amounts
· Nose eventually gets completely obstructed
· Frequently there is heaviness in the middle of the forehead and/or a headache that gets better when the nose drains freely
· Frequently the symptoms begin on the left side
· You feel worse: in the late afternoon and evening, and from being in a warm room
· You feel better: from open air, cold air

Apis mellifica (Honeybee):

More times than not this is the correct remedy to take for allergic reactions to beestings.  Be prepared to give it on the way to the A&E. Use it to relieve any severe allergic reaction that involves the following combination of key symptoms.
· Very significant swelling of the eyes. Sometimes eyes are literally bloodshot from swelling
· Heat and burning sensation of the face and the eyes
· Craves cold applications and is much improved by them

Arsenicum album (Arsenic Trioxide):
· Irritating watery discharge from the nose
· Dripping from the nose, which is completely obstructed
· Burning (eyes, nose, throat) that is better from hot drinks or hot applications
· Right side is mainly affected
· You feel better: from being in a warm room, warm drinks, and warm applications

· You feel worse: from anything cold

Euphrasia officinalis (Eyebright):
· Eyes feel irritated, burning and itching
· Tears are abundant and irritating, nasal discharge is bland (exactly opposite to Allium cepa)
· Worse: in the morning and from warm wind
· Better: upon lying down in bed at night

Sabadilla (Cevadilla seed):
· Remarkable fits of sneezing. Some people sound like an automatic weapon
· Every fit of sneezing provokes tears
· Constant itching inside of the nose and/or the palate
· Worse: from cold and open air
· Better: from heat, being in a warm room, and warm drinks

Urtica urens (Stinging Nettle):

This remedy is specifically used for allergic reactions to shellfish and stings by jellyfish. Look for:
· Itching hives with a prickling, burning sensation
· Hives that look like red, raised blotches with white centers

I did it - my clothes challenge!

Well it is now a year since I made a pact with myself that I would not buy new clothes (apart from underwear) for myself for a year.  I set it in a place when I hadn't lots of spare money, but also out of an ethical awareness and a desire to recycle or buy recycled clothes.  And also I guess, just out of interest to see if I could do it!

It turns out it was easier than planned, more fun and a whole lot cheaper than I thought.  It helps I've a generous (and somewhat shopaholic) sister - oh and the fact we're the same size apart from my gangly legs is useful too!  I did however get some lovely purchases from Oxfam and also from our fab swap box at work (for anyone who works in a place with other people it's a brilliant idea - just pop things in you don't want, take out the ones you do and when it's too full and the same things have been there for a while empty to a charity shop). 

I aquired a lovely dress from Age Concern to which I added a black ribbon belt, trim around the top and a halterneck band which was probably my best buy over the time.  It's here:

and Isla's dress was bought from a friend so I think our entire combined outfit cost about £20 max.

One of the main bonuses has been the time it's saved - for a not so keen shopper hours saved browsing and wandering in shops (not that I do it that often but the time adds up) as well as saving pennies.  I enjoy the creativity it sparks and if I hadn't set myself the challenge I'd never have sat sewing ribbon on and got the satisfaction when my dress got lots of compliments!

I set my challenge for a year but I enjoyed it, loved fitting a bit of creativity in there amongst being a mum, growing a business, a social life (OK the odd night out or 2) so I think I may just carry on and see how it goes for another year.... Except possibly just to get some new jeans first - think mine are ready to make shorts for summer (time for the sewing machine I think now and Mick - stop rejoycing... he never did like the flowers I embroidered on them...). 

Isla and I have been chatting about making clothes so the next step may be to get back into making my own.  Maybe that'll be the challenge for this year - I'll update you in another 12 months!!

From cake to crude homeopathy

After the success of Bryonia which worked as a partial similimum for Mick's cough (or as he said - the golden syrup cake) - we came back to the caravan the next day for him to have the same (apparently allergic) reaction.

Bryonia had helped somewhat but looking closer at the new symptoms I thought we could do with some Allium Cepa (red onion) in a 30 or 200c potency. Mick's eyes were streaming, as was his nose. He was sneezing and starting to get wheezy. Great we'd decided on a remedy. Bad news was we didn't have any.

We did however have a red onion with us so I cut a slice of it. Result!! Breathing improved, sneezing stopped and his eyes and nose stopped steaming. It needed repeating regularly so probably a remedy in potency would have been more beneficial longer term but in a caravan in the middle of nowhere without the remedy I needed it was more than good enough for us!!

Allium Cepa is a well known remedy in hayfever (or other allergic reactions) where there is watering eyes, running nose with a burning feeling, excess sneezing and a tickling cough. Take the 30c potency and when symptoms improve stop taking until you need to repeat (on return of symptoms).