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18 Feb, 2019
The good news is that “60 is the new 40” and I always think it’s exciting to read about new medical breakthroughs which help us to live longer, healthier lives. Nevertheless, a fact to stop us in our tracks is, that whilst we are increasing our lifespans, we are also spending more time with debilitating illness and disability. After reading an article in the Lancet reporting on a study called, ”The Global Burden of Disease”, I realised that many people over 60 have at least one chronic condition, and some are living with multiple ailments. It’s not unusual to hear of people being prescribed medication to manage the side effects of previous prescriptions, and so a vicious health cycle occurs. The cost to us, as well as society as a whole, is obvious. Homeopathy has a lot to offer everyone, and this includes seniors, or “SWELS” (seniors with energetic lifestyles). Homeopathic medicines are natural, non-toxic and don’t produce the kind of side effects often experienced by taking conventional medicines. In fact, they can be taken alongside prescription drugs and may even take the edge off some of the unpleasant reactions. Health expectations have shifted quite considerably from previous generations, and we are now more informed than ever about the nature of our ailments and about natural medicine options. Many who come to see me in my practice have made healthy lifestyle choices in terms of diet, exercise and the occasional use of botanical medicine or nutritional supplements. So when they come to see me, we discuss homeopathic care for a range of specific concerns like digestive disorders, joint problems, cognitive shifts, skin changes, urinary or prostate problems, issues related to anxiety or depression (especially grief, loss and loneliness) or sleep (or the lack thereof!). Homeopathy is a great fit for these patients. I take an in-depth consultation that reviews the patient’s body systems, to try and get an understanding of the stresses impacting that particular person’s life, which then leads to the selection of a tailor made solution. This comes in the form of a constitutional remedy, which will improve their chief complaint while also helping to improve their overall well being, level of energy, digestion and sleep. For further information or to make an enquiry, please contact me .
14 Feb, 2019
Hay fever is an allergic reaction caused due to an exaggerated response of the immune system to allergic substances or allergens. It is also known as “allergic rhinitis”. Unlike a common cold which has similar symptoms, it often lasts for more than 2 weeks and typically don’t include the “fever” in its name. Watery eyes and nose, sneezing, itchy eyes and roof of the mouth can all play their part in contributing to the sufferer’s discomfort. As with other allergies, hay fever is a result of your own immune system mistaking a harmless substance as a harmful one and releasing chemicals that cause the symptoms. Strategic use of homeopathy can boost the immune response in the long term and at the same time help to reduce the allergic and inflammatory reactions in the here and now by using homeopathic “acute” remedies. The aim is for the homeopathy to optimise the overactive immune system and to treat the cause as well as the immediate symptoms for long term healing. The conventional use of antihistamines and steroids can have uncomfortable side effects, especially on children and the over 60s, so homeopathic treatment is gentler and more safe as it stimulates the body’s self healing processes and supports the natural body mechanisms. It is not addictive and has no side effects. Our clinic runs a special hay fever programme to help combat the symptoms of hay fever in a natural and side effect free way. Contact us if you have any questions or would like some advice.
27 Mar, 2018
Spring has officially arrived 😀 The clocks have gone forward, the landscape is bright and the flowers and trees are beginning to blossom. Yay! Except, are you someone who is desperate to enjoy the sun but is stuck indoors for fear of a streaming or blocked nose, violent sneezing and itching eyes? About a fifth of the UK population suffers from Hay Fever, making it one of the most common forms of allergy in the country. Grass, tree and flower pollen are the common culprits for producing hay fever symptoms – otherwise known as seasonal allergic rhinitis – as the mucous membranes of the nose, sinuses, throat, palate and eyes are affected. Some people’s bodies ‘overreact’ when the allergens come into contact, and an inflammatory response is triggered. Histamine and other inflammatory chemicals in the surrounding tissues are released, increasing mucous production, contraction of smooth muscle, and dilation of blood vessels - all typical hay fever symptoms. The itching happens due to the effect of the histamine on nerve endings. So how can you banish your hay fever symptoms? More and more people are turning to complementary therapies to help them with their allergic symptoms and hay fever. The advantage of Homeopathy is that it is simple to use, is not addictive and has no side effects. It is natural. It can be used with other medicines, and is safe to use in pregnancy and also for babies and children. Special Hay Fever Programme  In my clinic we see both children and adults for hay fever and we run a special Hay Fever programme to help combat the symptoms of hay fever in a natural and side effect free way. Contact us if you have any questions or would like some advice.
16 May, 2016
Getting an acute illness or infections never convenient, is it? Colds, coughs, sore throats and so on have an annoying habit of occurring just as we are preparing to deliver an important speech, sit an exam or take part in a socially important event Or we are simply too busy at work 'to be ill'.  Recently, I attended an important (to me) opening night for an exhibition of paintings by my great grandfather, a painter of the Düsseldorf School of Painting, and, all things considered, it was a big family event. The evening went very well. It was considered a great success and we all talked a great deal; public, museum directors, city officials and family all mingled and chatted whilst viewing the paintings and I found myself talking even more that I usually do ;) Next morning I woke up and couldn't speak - or rather , I found myself squeaking and rasping when trying to vocalise anything - which might have been fine had I not been with a part of my family who I hadn't seen for ages and with whom I wished to communicate and exchange news. My dilemma, too, was that I hadn't packed any homeopathic remedies for my short visit abroad and was uncertain where the nearest pharmacy stocking homeopathic remedies might be situated...as it turned out, I popped into a dispensary round the corner from where I was staying (in Düsseldorf, Germany), and they ordered Phosphorus and Causticum at my request, for delivery in 3 hours. Saved! Or so I thought. I figured that Causticum might help me, as I had had exposure to a cold wind, had a slightly raw throat and a lot of difficult-to-expectorate mucus. I was hoarse, coughed a bit, and 'yucky, phlegmy bits' seemed stuck, so basically, I couldn't speak at all. These are all in the symptom picture for this remedy, but 'as insurance' I additionally considered Phosphorus, as I'd remembered that this too is a useful remedy for laryngitis. It's worse for cold air, especially when there've been weather changes - as had been the case - and the voice is badly affected by talking and laughing, which was also true in my case. Additionally, I was tired by the effort of talking (although this could easily have been down to having had a late night!). I bought both of the remedies at around midday. I decided that I should alternate taking them, every two hours or so. Later that evening the symptoms had eased up and I was pleased. The next day, I felt slightly better, continuing to sound hoarse, but I could communicate, even though I sounded slightly strange. I had a slightly dodgy tummy though nothing hurt; my trips to the loo to facilitate some distinctly loose, greenish stool passing I 'took on the chin' so to speak, thinking it was commensurate with my unusually high consumption of cake and coffee (a German afternoon 'habit' which I was temporarily and greedily enjoying), and alcohol. I knew that I'd resume normal healthy life on my return to London, so what harm was being done? ...except that my symptoms persisted for another day or so, and when I got home I decided to use the repertory to analyse my symptoms slightly more thoroughly. I tried to think of the symptoms as some else's, in other words to try and think of all the contributors to my loss of voice. The huge (abnormal for me) sugar intake, the alcohol (more sugar), the thick mucus stuck in my throat, my green spinach-like diarrhoea (with hugely offensive smell) all pointed to another remedy which I hadn't thought of: Argentum Nitricum.And guess what, after taking a single dose of 30c, my symptoms subsided dramatically. The following morning I took another dose and discovered that my voice was practically restored to normal, so much so that when I talked with my family by phone that evening, they'd forgotten all about it.
06 May, 2016
Whilst surfing the internet one day, I came across an article that really left an impression on me. It was written in a way that I aspire to myself, as it was not only engagingly and intelligently written, but also showed that it was indeed possible to be persuaded that homeopathy works, even if once upon a time you didn’t believe it. It really resonated with me, as I'd been in a similar place before my kids were born. As far as I was concerned, complementary therapies were not to be trusted, as that was what I'd been taught. It was only when my toddler’s tummy aches and skin problems couldn’t be cleared up with conventional methods, and after a friend’s homeopath sorted her out completely (!), that I began to take an interest and I decided to learn more. I was so enthused that I decided to study further, not only to be able to look after my growing family by myself, but also so that I’d be able to use the knowledge to try and heal others. I’m now in the lucky position where my own private homeopathic practice is growing, but also where I have the time to run a community clinic, for refugees and asylum seekers who find themselves in south London. So the following article is written by a vet, and is about his discovery of homeopathy and his take on the issues surrounding its use. The article appeared on SOTT.net, a news site with “ a view towards revealing the global trends that the mainstream media won’t touch”. That quote lead me to search further, intrigued, and I felt compelled to add it on my own pages. In doing so, I must add that whilst I admire the content and how it has been expressed, I can claim none of it as my own. 'Eppur si muove' - Like it or not, homeopathy works! Zoran Janković, DVM Sott.net Thu, 24 Apr 2014 15:50 UTC "Eppur si muove" - And yet it moves - were the words Italian mathematician and physicist Galileo Galilei allegedly uttered after being sentenced by the Inquisition for heresy. Galileo's heresy was his opinion that the Sun lies motionless, that the Earth is not at the centre of universe, and that it moves. Unlike those around him who were quite happy to blindly follow dogma concerning the universal order, Galileo observed the world around him, measured different parameters and finally, after he analysed enough collected data, worked out that the Earth is moving around the Sun. Galileo was certainly luckier then Giordano Bruno, another Italian mathematician, who was burned at the stake in 1600 for advocating the same idea. People who attack homeopathy these days do so with the same fervor as the Inquisitors. With their small, medieval minds, they repeat the same nonsense and misconceptions about homeopathy, over and over, without making the slightest effort to conduct their own research or empirical quest. I have to admit that my first reaction to homeopathy was of a similar myopic nature, my 'conventional scientific mind' immediately dismissed it as nonsense, and I had no desire to study the subject further. But then one day Spark visited my practice and everything changed. It took me a few moments to realize that Spark was not some strange, hairless breed I had never encountered before, but rather a West Highland Terrier. He had only a few tufts of hair remaining, mostly on his head, chest and the tip of his tail. The rest of his skin was completely bald, blackish and covered with oozing sores and scabs. I was the fourth veterinarian to see Spark. After learning his medical history and previous treatments, it became obvious that there weren't many options left to try. He had already been treated with several anti-parasitic medicines, tested for different allergies and was eating nothing but hypoallergenic dry-foods. None of this had worked. He'd also been on several types of antibiotics and steroids, as well as a course of fungicidal medicine, all to no positive effect whatsoever. In fact his health kept deteriorating. The last veterinarian had prescribed Cyclosporin, an immunosuppressant, touted at the time as the ultimate solution for atopic dermatitis. It wasn't just that Spark's skin wasn't getting better, the poor dog became severely depressed, refused to eat and also developed bad conjunctivitis as a result of this treatment. I felt so dejected, what was the point of all those years of conventional education and hard work I'd gone through if I was unable to help Spark? I had no other option but to capitulate and admit that I was unable to help. So reluctantly I advised the owners to seek some form of alternative treatment. After a while the shock of realizing the helplessness of my conventional veterinarian training faded away and I forgot about Spark. Several months later, Spark visited again. I couldn't believe it was the same dog. His skin was completely healthy, with fully-restored shiny, white coat and bright eyes. His whole demeanour had changed. I couldn't believe this bouncy fluffy ball of happiness was that miserable wretch of a dog I had seen only a few months before. It was nothing short of a miracle. I couldn't wait to learn about this new 'scientific' cure that had solved Spark's problems. But my enthusiasm turned to disappointment when the owners uttered the word 'homeopathy', which, at that time, was synonymous with 'quackery' as far as I was concerned. I was even more disappointed to learn that the dog had been treated by a homeopath for humans - that was outrageous to a dyed in the wool veterinarian surgeon like me. Animals were animals and humans were humans! But Spark's full recovery set me on a quest to obtain more knowledge. The fact that conventional science is unable to reconcile the principles of homeopathy caused me much grief in the beginning but I decided to temporarily 'get over it' and focus on a hands-on approach by experimenting for myself. I took an opportunity to study and work with several homeopaths. It was like entering a completely new world full of wonders. The first amazing thing I discovered was the vast amount of literature on the subject. Both ancient and contemporary, whole books had been written by medical doctors and veterinarians-turned-homeopaths - not a bad showing for a 'quacky' method. Once I started devouring all the books I could get my hands on, I slowly started to realise that homeopathy is anything but quackery - it was an ancient system of knowledge that made complete sense, founded on proven remedies, the records for which have been meticulously kept since the time of Hahneman, an 18th century German physician who systematised this vast ancient knowledge into a coherent medical discipline. At this point I simply didn't care anymore how the homeopathic principles could be made to 'fit' into conventional scientific-medical terms. I couldn't wait to see if it worked in practice. As soon as I started using homeopathic remedies in my practice I started witnessing more 'miracles'. Now, I should say upfront that it would be irresponsible to claim that homeopathy is a miracle 'cure all' method. It certainly has its limits: when the disease process and pathology of the tissue is very advanced, homeopathy can do very little. At the same same, homeopathy had some solutions to offer that were truly miraculous when compared to available allopathic treatments. At this point in my career I was in charge of a charity clinic for neutering strays, and I had to operate on an extraordinarily large number of animals in a short time. As a result of my research I had discovered that the simple addition of homeopathic Arnica or Staphisagria to pre-operative protocols significantly reduced bleeding and other surgical complications, while homeopathic Calendula in post-operative protocols virtually eradicated all commonly encountered complications. I was impressed! I generally try to avoid debating or proselytising about the soundness of homeopathy. People who know nothing about homeopathy usually either express a desire to learn more, or walk away unmoved. Every now and then a 'hater' of homeopathy with the ferocity of a torch-wielding villager crosses my path, the kind of person who would have happily ignited Giordano Bruno's stake over 400 years ago. I used to be baffled that some people would have such strong negative reactions to homeopathy. Homeopathy, after all, is not nearly as damaging as most allopathic medical treatments. It seems that the venomous grudge held by such people against homeopathy is often based merely on what they have gleaned from a superficial search on Google, Wikipedia or other 'debunking' websites. I yet have to meet an opponent of homeopathy whose beliefs are based on in-depth knowledge of homeopathic methods or personal experience with homeopathic remedies. The testimonies of real life professionals who work daily with homeopathic remedies and thousands of happy patients have very little meaning for them. Their mind is shut and nothing can sway their belief that the Earth, and modern science, are the center of the Universe. This certainly leaves very little space for any meaningful discussion. During the course of my experimentation I have learned that homeopathic remedies can effectively cure conditions which conventional medicine can do very little about. Nowadays, when I hear someone call homeopathic solutions "nothing but water", I think to myself 'tell that to hundreds of my patients who are still happily waging their tails or purring thanks to homeopathy!' Or ask the at least a dozen local stray cat colonies about the scientific studies that can explain how just one inexpensive homeopathic granule per colony can cure highly infectious Ringworm outbreaks in no time. These are true healing wonders, and while there are no bullet-proof scientific studies that prove the efficacy of homeopathic principles, there are many people out there who can testify to its effectiveness. Then again, most of the scientific studies on conventional medical treatment are not 'bullet-proof' either. Many conventional medical treatments widely prescribed today are based on nothing but shoddy science, manipulated research, and corporate greed. Perhaps the best example of this is the Cholesterol Myth. Medical dogma about saturated fats and cholesterol causing heart disease has dominated western medical thinking over the last half century, notably since biochemist Ancel Keys published his study on the 'Lipid Hypothesis' in the 1950s. Today we know that his study was flawed because he conveniently swept under the rug a large body of data that didn't fit his hypothesis. The American Heart Association, which concluded in 1957 that "the evidence that dietary fat correlates with heart disease does not stand up to critical examination," changed its position in 1960. Why? Because Keys was on the committee issuing a new report that a low-fat diet was advised for people at risk of heart disease. Since then, the "fat is bad" theory has been accepted as nutritional wisdom, even though clinical trials found no connection. "Most researchers today consider that a high intake of saturated fat and elevated LDL cholesterol are the most important causes of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. The lipid hypothesis has dominated cardiovascular research and prevention for almost half a century, although the number of contradictory studies may exceed those that are supportive. The harmful influence of a campaign that ignores much of the science extends to medical research, health care, food production and human life. There is an urgent need to draw attention to the most striking contradictions, many of which may be unknown to most doctors and researchers."1 Indeed, many medical doctors today still prescribe dangerous drugs such as statins because of this flawed study, to the benefit of the pharmaceutical industry and the detriment of people's health. There is actually considerably more laboratory and clinical research on homeopathic medicine than most people realise. Not only that, but I can argue that homeopathy and conventional (allopathic) medicine are actually two sides of the same coin. Conventional medicine is based on targeting specific diseases with symptom-specific drugs and procedures. This approach is based on the assumption that the larger dose of a drug, the stronger its effects will be. This makes sense in theory, but knowledgeable physicians and pharmacologists know it isn't true. In fact there is a recognised principle in pharmacology called the 'biphasic response of drugs'. To put this in layman's terms: research has shown that, rather than a drug having increased effects as the dose is increased, the opposite is true, the larger the dose, the more reduced the effect. Meanwhile, exceedingly small doses of the same drug will actually increase its effectiveness. For instance, it's widely recognised that normal medical doses of atropine block the parasympathetic nerves, causing mucous membranes to dry up, while exceedingly small doses of atropine cause increased secretions to mucous membranes. This pharmacological principle was concurrently discovered in the 1870s by two separate researchers, Hugo Schulz, a conventional scientist, and Rudolf Arndt, a psychiatrist and homeopath. Initially called the Arndt-Schulz law, this principle is still widely recognised, as witnessed by the fact that it's commonly listed in medical dictionaries under the definition of 'law'. More specifically, these researchers discovered that weak stimuli accelerate physiological activity, medium stimuli inhibit physiological activity, and strong stimuli halt physiological activity. For example, very weak concentrations of iodine, bromine, mercuric chloride, and arsenious acid will stimulate yeast growth, medium doses of these substances will inhibit yeast growth, and large doses will kill the yeast. In the 1920s, conventional scientists who tested and verified this biphasic response termed the phenomenon 'hormesis'. Dozens of studies were published in a wide variety of fields to confirm this biological principle. In the past two decades there has been a resurgence of interest in this pharmacological law, and at this point hundreds of studies in numerous areas of scientific investigation have verified it. Because these studies have been performed by conventionally-trained scientists who are typically unfamiliar with homeopathic medicine, they have not tested or even considered testing the ultra-high dilutions commonly used in homeopathy. However, their research has consistently shown very significant effects from such small microdoses that they're left confused and surprised. Reference to this research on the Arndt-Schulz law and hormesis is important for validating homeopathic research because it demonstrates the evidence for the important biphasic responses and microdose effects that lie at the heart of homeopathy. This research is readily available to all physicians and scientists, yet is often ignored or misunderstood. We live in the age of clinical research and clinical trials, and yet this field is often riddled with contradictions, controversies and confusion, especially for the layperson. More often then not, studies in conventional medicine will show that a certain therapy works, while other studies show that it doesn't. To solve this problem, modern researchers developed a method called 'meta-analysis', a systemic review of a body of research to evaluate the overall results of experiments within any given field. In 1991, three professors of medicine from the Netherlands, none of them homeopaths, performed a meta-analysis of 25 years of clinical studies using homeopathic medicines and published their results in the British Medical Journal.2 This meta-analysis covered 107 controlled trials, of which 81 showed that homeopathic medicines were effective, 24 showed they were ineffective, and 2 were inconclusive. The professors concluded, "The amount of positive results came as a surprise to us." Specifically, they found that: • 13 of 19 trials showed successful treatment of respiratory infections, • 6 of 7 trials showed positive results in treating other infections, • 5 of 7 trials showed improvement in diseases of the digestive system, • 5 of 5 showed successful treatment of hay fever, • 5 of 7 showed faster recovery after abdominal surgery, • 4 of 6 promoted healing in treating rheumatological disease, • 18 of 20 showed benefit in addressing pain or trauma, • 8 of 10 showed positive results in relieving mental or psychological problems, and • 13 of 15 showed benefit from miscellaneous diagnoses. Despite the high percentage of studies providing evidence of success with homeopathic medicine, most of these studies were flawed in some way or another. Still, the researchers found 22 high-caliber studies, 15 of which showed that homeopathic medicines were effective. Of further interest, they found that 11 of the best 15 studies showed the efficacy of these natural medicines, suggesting that the better designed and performed the studies were, the higher the likelihood that the medicines were found to be effective. The researchers concluded that, "The evidence presented in this review would probably be sufficient for establishing homeopathy as a regular treatment for certain indications." Skeptics usually argue that most of the studies on homeopathy were flawed in one significant way or another. They do not consider, however, that research in conventional medicine over the past 25 years has yielded a similar percentage of flawed studies. If they applied the same high standards to the therapies that doctors and veterinarians today take for granted, a whole boatload of vested interests would be out of business in no time. Another favourite argument of skeptics is that all positive results from homeopathy are the result of the placebo effect. However, in one very intriguing study, Thyroxine 30x (thyroid hormone in homeopathic preparation, meaning that it's so diluted that it shouldn't - according to the skeptics - have any effect whatsoever) was placed in the water of tadpoles. When compared to tadpoles who were given a placebo, the study showed, morphogenesis of the tadpoles into frogs was slowed for those who were exposed to the homeopathic doses. Because thyroid hormone in crude doses is known to speed up morphogenesis, it makes sense, according to homeopathic principles, that homeopathic doses would slow it down. 3 Just because we yet don't have means to accurately measure and describe certain forces in our universe - and the laws that govern them - doesn't mean they are not there and not at work all around and within us. Imagine if humans didn't have a developed sense of smell. For such humans, the olfactory abilities of working dogs like bloodhounds would be incomprehensible. Quantum physics has long since shown that our knowledge of the world around us is merely the tip of the iceberg. It is now a proven scientific fact that every single material thing in our world vibrates at a certain frequency. In the case of living organisms, these vibrations form complex electromagnetic fields, or EMF. Every living thing has its own EMF: plants and animals have it, I have it, as well as you. Why is it so difficult to fathom that even minute doses of certain matter can influence and temporarily change the EMF of other matter with their vibrations? This certainly seems like a plausible explanation. Until 'solid scientific proof' is provided, I am more than happy to accept it as working hypothesis, especially after witnessing the effectiveness of homeopathic remedies over and over again. Prescribing certain 'holistic' remedies is so much easier than prescribing many allopathic drugs, which have so many side effects and often deliver lesser results than homeopathic remedies. Our generation now faces the consequences of decades of antibiotics overuse - resistant 'super bugs' which may threaten the entire human race in the not-so-distant future. Louis Pasteur is often considered to be the 'father' of modern microbiology. Everything conventional medicine knows about infectious diseases today is based on his postulates. Yet very few people are aware that Louis Pasteur on his deathbed admitted that he had got it all wrong: "At the end of his life, Pasteur admitted that his theory was a fraud. He said that it was not the germs that mattered, but the medium in which they lived."4 This means that our approach to healing and medicine requires a serious paradigm shift if we are ever going to come closer to real understanding of the Universe and the world we live in. Alternately, perhaps a serious paradigm shift that brings us closer to real understanding will change our approach to healing, medicine, and a whole lot more besides. References Scientific Evidence for Homeopathic Medicine, Dana Ullman, MPH 1. Uffe Ravnskov, MD, PhD: The fallacies of the lipid hypothesis 2. J. Kleijnen, P. Knipschild, G. ter Riet, "Clinical Trials of Homoeopathy," British Medical Journal, February 9, 1991, 302:316-323. 3. P.C. Endler, W. Pongratz, G. Kastberg, et al., "The Effect of Highly Diluted Agitated Thyroxine on the Climbing Activity of Frogs," Veterinary and Human Toxicology, 1994, 36:56. Also, P.C. Endler, W. Pongratz, R. van Wijk, et al., "Transmission of Hormone Information by Non-molecular Means," FASEB Journal, 1994, 8, Abs.2313. 4. Logan, Cordell E. (2000). 'A Partially Unified Theory of Disease. Priority One Health and Nutrition.' Zoran Janković, DVM Zoran is a veterinary surgeon focusing on holistic approach and alternative healing methods. He is also keen researcher of all disciplines of evolutionary biology. https://sott.net/en277930
08 Mar, 2016
I love homeopathy because it is extremely safe, very effective and is made from natural ingredients. It works by taking a holistic view of a person’s symptoms, which in practical terms means that the underlying causes are treated, not just the visible signs. Homeopathic remedies are not addictive or toxic, so even babies, pregnant women and older people can use it without the danger of side effects. Because the natural ingredients work together with your immune system (rather than suppress it, like some conventional medications do), it often means that ailments treated with homeopathy do not recur. Homeopathy is respectful, in that it doesn’t chemically override your system but works with it, leaving you feeling revitalised and full of energy. As homeopathy seeks to treat the whole person and his or her particular set of symptoms, the remedies are individualised to form a ‘designer solution’. Homeopathy is a complementary therapy and so the remedies may be taken alongside conventional medications. I love using homeopathy for my family, my patients and myself. My own potentially life altering illness was improved using both conventional treatment and homeopathy. Over a decade on, I am still in excellent health, am happy, busy and feel amazing! I am often asked what it is that’s had such a positive effect on my wellbeing and I’m delighted to say that this is what homeopathy offers and this is why I love my work! Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions! Thanks for reading – I look forward to seeing you soon! Tina
09 Feb, 2015
Health officials are telling us that this year's seasonal flu vaccine isn't protecting people from the main strain of flu, with evidence revealing that the jab is only preventing three out of every 100 vaccinated people from developing the symptoms, whereas normally the flu jab works in 50 out of every 100. (www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-31145604) So even if you usually rely on an annual flu shot, this year's statistics are revealing that you're still likely to be vulnerable, vaccinated or not. WHAT DID I DO WHEN FLU HIT ON MY PARTNER? Firstly, I was a little surprised when he came home early from work, as he is generally really healthy and rarely gets ill. It was quite dramatic, in fact; noisy coughing, continuous sneezing and a sudden drop in energy. "Man flu" crossed my mind. When I saw him close up, though, I realised that the high fever, sweating and extreme exhaustion were for real. He was (and felt) extremely hot, was sweaty and needed to go straight to bed. I reached for my bottle General Flu Mix (aka GFM), one of the homeopathic Narayani Remedies, and gave him a dose. He fell asleep soon afterwards, and when he woke up an hour or so later, I repeated the dose and made sure he drank some water. While he was sleeping, I dug out the Chest Pills (Narayani Mix 8) for his rather severe cough, and War (Narayani Mix 35) to tackle the infection and inflammation that were evidently in his body. When he woke, he was sweating profusely and complaining of a bad headache. I gave him a dose of War to address it directly, knowing that the Pyrogenium and Belladonna components of the remedy are great for "bursting headaches". After also drinking some water, he fell asleep again. About half an hour later, an outburst of coughing woke him, so I gave him a dose of Chest Pills and some more War. This continued for the rest of the afternoon, with me administering a remedy every half an hour or so when he was awake, alternating between GFM and War, plus Chest Pills when the coughing was bad. I also made sure my patient was staying hydrated, as he continued to be feverish and sweating "bucket-loads". Over the next few days, the fever was gone in the mornings, only to return albeit mildly late afternoon, maybe even disappearing totally at night. On the second day, the hot fever had turned into a "shivering fever", so I gave him a dose of Arsenicum 200c and ordered him into a hot bath. Post bath he went straight to bed and slept. Nourishment came in the form of soups; chicken soup, chicken noodle broth, tomato soup and minestrone were the top requests. The patient had no energy and coughing made him feel worse, so I continued giving the three Narayani remedies as before, but by now at two to three hour intervals. The headache had not returned after the initial one on the first day, but the cough played with us, coming and going, at one moment apparently better - even seemingly gone for a few hours - only to return, usually at night.  On the fourth day, my partner visited the GP "just to make sure", as he thought he ought to be better by now. The GP's verdict, that my partner had a virus and was probably suffering from flu, meant there were no antibiotics prescribed, just instructions to rest, keep warm and drink plenty of fluids. So we continued with the Narayani remedies, War twice a day, and Cough Mix every two or three hours, depending on the severity of the cough (GFM was no longer required in my view as the fever had gone and the War components addressed the remaining symptoms).
04 Aug, 2014
This article first appeared in an Ezine by the Centre for Homeopathic Education (CHE) in June 2014. CHE Alumni Tina Neumann tells us about her homeopathic clinic in south London for asylum seekers. "My association with Southwark Day Centre for Asylum Seekers began back in January 2011. I had gained a CELTA certificate to teach English to speakers of other languages (ESOL). I figured that a voluntary position, one day a week, would complement my existing 2 days a week private homeopathy practice and my busy family life. Following up an introduction from my teacher training school, I began working with SDCAS. The charity has always sought "to help relieve poverty and distress, and to promote health and further education for asylum seekers and refugees...(and aims) to provide a wide range of holistic services which support, promote and secure the rights of asylum seekers and refugees in LB Southwark." I felt that I might be able play a small part in their objectives, which have, since their inception, included providing general advice and help, whilst also facilitating access to a range of mainstream services with particular emphasis on health, housing, employment, training, education and asylum issues. So I began to teach English, but I also increasingly saw, as time went by, that my other training (and "day job") as a homeopath could be put to use in this setting. Access to the NHS is still a major issue for refugees and asylum seekers in London today. I approached the Day Centre Coordinator about setting up a homeopathy clinic to complement the other health services, and fortunately the idea was met with enthusiasm. I volunteer my time and initially I bore the cost of the remedies. I took polycrests and "kit" remedies in 30/200c, and my Sulis remedy machine. I then added a bundle of small, plastic sealable dispensing packets, labels, unmedicated pills and some pens. I also organised a new file to contain a number of individual A4 plastic folders and some writing paper for patient notes and prescriptions. As I already use these items in my own private practice, I had them to hand and just had to find a brand new file, which I could leave on the clinic premises in a secure, locked cabinet. On the day before the first clinic session, I double checked my "equipment kit" and decided I was ready. At this point, however, I began to feel insecure about myself: would I understand my clients? be able to hear them? have enough time for them? prescribe on the spot? At the first clinic, I saw six patients and figured I was busy. The second and subsequent clinics were even busier, with me seeing as many as fourteen patients on one occasion. The first clinic had begun at just before 1pm and ended promptly at 3pm, when we had to leave the hall. Many of the complaints are muscular skeletal, whilst Aurum, Arsenicum and "Poppy" cover many of the mental/emotional symptoms I encounter in patients. A major addition that I made after the first clinic, was that I started to use Narayani remedies in the clinic, and found very positive results. A typical prescription might include a Narayani remedy, a miasm remedy and usually also an organ support. Gratifyingly, the repeat patients I see report positive feedback, and new ones come on recommendation. What has really interested me is the almost unquestioning uptake of the homeopathy; after an initial question or two about treatment I have only positive feedback on the clinic. On a personal note my eyes have been opened to the level of deprivation that I never imagined existed in the UK before my introduction to SDCAS. The Charity does a fantastic job but, as with all charities these days, is desperately under-funded and exists in a real hand-to-mouth way. Anyone who has further interest in helping please email them office@sdcas.org.uk. Pictured clients and workers at SDCAS.

My background, first as a City moneybroker and later as a Eurobond Trader, gave me an interesting and not always compliant viewpoint of alternative medicine. However, I ended up embracing it, in spite of myself, after some life altering experiences which were assisted with the help of homeopathy...

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18 Feb, 2019
The good news is that “60 is the new 40” and I always think it’s exciting to read about new medical breakthroughs which help us to live longer, healthier lives. Nevertheless, a fact to stop us in our tracks is, that whilst we are increasing our lifespans, we are also spending more time with debilitating illness and disability. After reading an article in the Lancet reporting on a study called, ”The Global Burden of Disease”, I realised that many people over 60 have at least one chronic condition, and some are living with multiple ailments. It’s not unusual to hear of people being prescribed medication to manage the side effects of previous prescriptions, and so a vicious health cycle occurs. The cost to us, as well as society as a whole, is obvious. Homeopathy has a lot to offer everyone, and this includes seniors, or “SWELS” (seniors with energetic lifestyles). Homeopathic medicines are natural, non-toxic and don’t produce the kind of side effects often experienced by taking conventional medicines. In fact, they can be taken alongside prescription drugs and may even take the edge off some of the unpleasant reactions. Health expectations have shifted quite considerably from previous generations, and we are now more informed than ever about the nature of our ailments and about natural medicine options. Many who come to see me in my practice have made healthy lifestyle choices in terms of diet, exercise and the occasional use of botanical medicine or nutritional supplements. So when they come to see me, we discuss homeopathic care for a range of specific concerns like digestive disorders, joint problems, cognitive shifts, skin changes, urinary or prostate problems, issues related to anxiety or depression (especially grief, loss and loneliness) or sleep (or the lack thereof!). Homeopathy is a great fit for these patients. I take an in-depth consultation that reviews the patient’s body systems, to try and get an understanding of the stresses impacting that particular person’s life, which then leads to the selection of a tailor made solution. This comes in the form of a constitutional remedy, which will improve their chief complaint while also helping to improve their overall well being, level of energy, digestion and sleep. For further information or to make an enquiry, please contact me .
14 Feb, 2019
Hay fever is an allergic reaction caused due to an exaggerated response of the immune system to allergic substances or allergens. It is also known as “allergic rhinitis”. Unlike a common cold which has similar symptoms, it often lasts for more than 2 weeks and typically don’t include the “fever” in its name. Watery eyes and nose, sneezing, itchy eyes and roof of the mouth can all play their part in contributing to the sufferer’s discomfort. As with other allergies, hay fever is a result of your own immune system mistaking a harmless substance as a harmful one and releasing chemicals that cause the symptoms. Strategic use of homeopathy can boost the immune response in the long term and at the same time help to reduce the allergic and inflammatory reactions in the here and now by using homeopathic “acute” remedies. The aim is for the homeopathy to optimise the overactive immune system and to treat the cause as well as the immediate symptoms for long term healing. The conventional use of antihistamines and steroids can have uncomfortable side effects, especially on children and the over 60s, so homeopathic treatment is gentler and more safe as it stimulates the body’s self healing processes and supports the natural body mechanisms. It is not addictive and has no side effects. Our clinic runs a special hay fever programme to help combat the symptoms of hay fever in a natural and side effect free way. Contact us if you have any questions or would like some advice.
27 Mar, 2018
Spring has officially arrived 😀 The clocks have gone forward, the landscape is bright and the flowers and trees are beginning to blossom. Yay! Except, are you someone who is desperate to enjoy the sun but is stuck indoors for fear of a streaming or blocked nose, violent sneezing and itching eyes? About a fifth of the UK population suffers from Hay Fever, making it one of the most common forms of allergy in the country. Grass, tree and flower pollen are the common culprits for producing hay fever symptoms – otherwise known as seasonal allergic rhinitis – as the mucous membranes of the nose, sinuses, throat, palate and eyes are affected. Some people’s bodies ‘overreact’ when the allergens come into contact, and an inflammatory response is triggered. Histamine and other inflammatory chemicals in the surrounding tissues are released, increasing mucous production, contraction of smooth muscle, and dilation of blood vessels - all typical hay fever symptoms. The itching happens due to the effect of the histamine on nerve endings. So how can you banish your hay fever symptoms? More and more people are turning to complementary therapies to help them with their allergic symptoms and hay fever. The advantage of Homeopathy is that it is simple to use, is not addictive and has no side effects. It is natural. It can be used with other medicines, and is safe to use in pregnancy and also for babies and children. Special Hay Fever Programme  In my clinic we see both children and adults for hay fever and we run a special Hay Fever programme to help combat the symptoms of hay fever in a natural and side effect free way. Contact us if you have any questions or would like some advice.
16 May, 2016
Getting an acute illness or infections never convenient, is it? Colds, coughs, sore throats and so on have an annoying habit of occurring just as we are preparing to deliver an important speech, sit an exam or take part in a socially important event Or we are simply too busy at work 'to be ill'.  Recently, I attended an important (to me) opening night for an exhibition of paintings by my great grandfather, a painter of the Düsseldorf School of Painting, and, all things considered, it was a big family event. The evening went very well. It was considered a great success and we all talked a great deal; public, museum directors, city officials and family all mingled and chatted whilst viewing the paintings and I found myself talking even more that I usually do ;) Next morning I woke up and couldn't speak - or rather , I found myself squeaking and rasping when trying to vocalise anything - which might have been fine had I not been with a part of my family who I hadn't seen for ages and with whom I wished to communicate and exchange news. My dilemma, too, was that I hadn't packed any homeopathic remedies for my short visit abroad and was uncertain where the nearest pharmacy stocking homeopathic remedies might be situated...as it turned out, I popped into a dispensary round the corner from where I was staying (in Düsseldorf, Germany), and they ordered Phosphorus and Causticum at my request, for delivery in 3 hours. Saved! Or so I thought. I figured that Causticum might help me, as I had had exposure to a cold wind, had a slightly raw throat and a lot of difficult-to-expectorate mucus. I was hoarse, coughed a bit, and 'yucky, phlegmy bits' seemed stuck, so basically, I couldn't speak at all. These are all in the symptom picture for this remedy, but 'as insurance' I additionally considered Phosphorus, as I'd remembered that this too is a useful remedy for laryngitis. It's worse for cold air, especially when there've been weather changes - as had been the case - and the voice is badly affected by talking and laughing, which was also true in my case. Additionally, I was tired by the effort of talking (although this could easily have been down to having had a late night!). I bought both of the remedies at around midday. I decided that I should alternate taking them, every two hours or so. Later that evening the symptoms had eased up and I was pleased. The next day, I felt slightly better, continuing to sound hoarse, but I could communicate, even though I sounded slightly strange. I had a slightly dodgy tummy though nothing hurt; my trips to the loo to facilitate some distinctly loose, greenish stool passing I 'took on the chin' so to speak, thinking it was commensurate with my unusually high consumption of cake and coffee (a German afternoon 'habit' which I was temporarily and greedily enjoying), and alcohol. I knew that I'd resume normal healthy life on my return to London, so what harm was being done? ...except that my symptoms persisted for another day or so, and when I got home I decided to use the repertory to analyse my symptoms slightly more thoroughly. I tried to think of the symptoms as some else's, in other words to try and think of all the contributors to my loss of voice. The huge (abnormal for me) sugar intake, the alcohol (more sugar), the thick mucus stuck in my throat, my green spinach-like diarrhoea (with hugely offensive smell) all pointed to another remedy which I hadn't thought of: Argentum Nitricum.And guess what, after taking a single dose of 30c, my symptoms subsided dramatically. The following morning I took another dose and discovered that my voice was practically restored to normal, so much so that when I talked with my family by phone that evening, they'd forgotten all about it.

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