Health Canada (HC) is attempting to again categorize Natural Health Products (NHP's) under the same umbrella as pharmaceutical drugs and this was covertly done through the 2023 Federal budget, Bill C-47 (clauses 500-504).

What does this mean for the industry?
As it stands, these changes place an increased burden on the regulated domestic industry, driving increased costs and lower product availability for Canadians while failing to address the risks of unregulated products.(1)

The history.(2)
Health Canada has been attempting this since 1997! That year there was a massive protest labeled "Our Foods Are Not Drugs" and it was the largest protest in Canadian history up to that point.

Not Health Canada's Jurisdiction
A lawsuit was launched in 1997 asserting that Natural Health Products were out of Health Canada's legal jurisdiction for two reasons:
​

1. No Canadians have died from natural supplements - therefore they don't pose enough of a risk to justify Health Canada regulations as drugs, and
2. The area of "Health" is a provincial jurisdiction, hence why we have provincial healthcare systems.

The mass of protests and lawsuit stopped the regulation changes at the time, however Health Canada instead of giving Natural Health Products a truly distinct class as was recommended, placed them as a subclass under "DRUGS," although with a separate set of regulations.

This meant that in 2004 when regulations could be applied, about one third of the NHP’s on the shelves at the time were lost to Canadians, and although some returned to the shelves most still haven't. Of course over time the price of NHP’s also went up due to the cost of compliance to the new regulations. Canadians basically traded quality assurance of Natural Health Products for higher prices. (If you don’t believe it check out the list of lost products.)

 
In 2007, Bill C-51 attempted to amend the Food & Drugs Act in order to legally place Natural Health Products along with chemical pharmaceutical Drugs and apply $5 MILLION-per day fines to any NHP manufacturer that did not comply with the rules. Only due to a mass protest from Canadians did they yet again back down. Rumour is that this eagerness to change the regulation for NHPs came from a very tiny group of 4 Health Canada bureaucrats. Regarding the current changes in 2023, only 2 bureaucrats have been identified as driving this current attempt. Basically, if 70% of Canadians use natural health products, then only a few people are trying to negatively affect the lives of 28 million Canadians. Why?

In 2017 Health Canada tried once more to treat NHPs the same as Drugs in their proposed "Self-Care Framework". Once again citizens and other stakeholders mounted a "strong opposition to changing the way natural health products are regulated." Health Canada had to step down and wait once more.(3)

(2 con.) Until 2023, NHPs were specifically exempted from the definition of "Therapeutic Products" within Vanessa's Law (The Protecting Canadians from Unsafe Drugs Act) . “As of June 22, 2023, the powers conferred by the Protecting Canadians from Unsafe Drugs Act (Vanessa's Law) apply to natural health products (NHPs). This is because the definition of "therapeutic product" has been revised in the Food and Drugs Act to include natural health products.”

Now Health Canada had eliminated the specific exemption NHP's had under the law, forcing them under the same umbrella as chemical pharmaceuticals. They accomplished this by covertly tacking the change into the 2023 budget Bill C-47!
This means that NHP companies can no longer challenge Health Canada in court as they did in 1997. The fact that no Canadian has died from an NHP becomes irrelevant. Drugs and NHPs were considered parallel in concern and regulation despite the fact that:

• In 68 years, (since poison-control stats started being kept in 1955), there has never been a death in Canada from a dietary supplement or NHP.
• Yet prescription drugs, NOT including prescribing errors, overdose, and self-prescribing, account for over 100,000 deaths in the United States yearly, making it the 3rd or 4th leading cause of death after Cancer and Heart diseases.[4,5]
• If the above, underlined factors are included, it would be more than 200,000 deaths per year [4] still not including the over-the-counter stats for medicines such as aspirin, acetaminophen, etc.

Based on the respective populations, Canada's rates are approximately 10% of the US. This would equate to over 20,000 - 30,000 Canadian deaths from pharmaceuticals that each year. Multiply this number by 68 years and the total becomes over 1 million deaths. One million deaths compared to zero, yet NHP’s are regulated as if they have the same risk to the public as pharmaceuticals.
 
What is Their Real Motivation?
Is it lobbying by the pharmaceutical industry against competition? Or yet another tax and fee grab by the Federal government that means prices will rise once again in your shopping cart? It also isn’t totally clear why so many Canadians are either unaware or not prepared for the changes, the last time this hit the news was months ago yet the deadline for the Health Canada Feedback on revisions to proposed fees for natural health products is May 25th 2024, extended from April 2024. The deadline was extended and some revisions to the regulations made only BECAUSE the Industry and the Canadian public sent so many letters, emails, postcards to Parliament and because key stakeholders like the Canadian Health Food Association and the ​Natural Health Product Protection Association have created strong campaigns.

The two main issues regardless of the motives are:
​

1. The legislation that Health Canada (HC) tucked into Bill C-47 will apply all the same penalties to NHPs as pharmaceuticals.
2. The cost recovery measures Health Canada is now proposing, include:
   •  $58,332 just for the application of an innovative new combination of natural ingredients, (i.e. class 3 novel application for a license), making it cost prohibitive to develop new products.
   • $542 a year simply to keep any license active.
   • Administrative penalties for any deviation from strict regulatory rules.

If a manufacturer doesn't immediately heed a demand to recall a product, the maximum penalties would be $5-million-dollars-a DAY!

 
These fees will be significant. Over 80% of the NHP industry is comprised of small and medium size businesses, and these companies can’t afford massive bills from Health Canada. Some small businesses calculate these bills could be over $300,000 each year, plus all the taxes these companies already pay to the federal government, including Health Canada. Up to 80% of these small companies are run by women so the government is not supporting women run small business as they often promise us they are. Up to 30-35% of the Canadian NHP industry could close or leave Canada.

In addition to the obvious Health Canada fees, there are a multitude of hidden fees. For an example, Health Canada is mandating that all product labels be changed. These changes will require substantially larger labels without providing any significant additional information. For some NHPs this will require doubling the packaging size simply to accommodate a larger label. This will cause an increase in the size and cost of packaging as well as the expense required to ship products. This will be wasteful, expensive and harmful for the environment. Redesigning each label (which will need new regulatory approval) could cost some small businesses over $200,000 in the first year.

Without any changes to regulations Canada has some of the best supplements in the world. Current regulations require products, manufacturers, importers and distributors to register with Health Canada, maintain licenses and follow rules, which already includes requiring Health Canada approvals of formulas (to ensure safety and efficacy), claims, cautions, and labels.(6)

How will the changes affect you?

Increased Prices & Lack of Availability.
Many brands available today will see dramatic price increases or stop existing in Canada altogether.

Decreased Product Choice
Brands will face difficult decisions regarding their profitability. More than 70% of surveyed companies said they would need to remove their products from the Canadian market.

No Love for Local
Canada has some of the most innovative supplement companies. For the most part (over 80%) these are small, local businesses that will not be able to navigate or afford increasingly complex and expensive regulations. They will be priced out of business, further limiting the product choice and innovation.

Nothing New
1 out of 5 brands are thinking about leaving the Canadian market. Exciting new international brands will likely not come to Canada because the regulatory burden and costs will be too severe. 

Environmental Burden
New labeling requirements are dramatically increasing the amount of packaging (for the same amount of product), reducing recyclability, adversely impacting the environment and further increasing costs.

Strangled by Red Tape
Red tape will make it harder for brands. Not just a higher cost of doing business but also increased packaging and label sizes, these issues will result in price increases and brands to rethink the viability of many products, both existing and future.(6)
 

The CHFA (Canadian Health Food Association) conducted an economic impact study with Deloitte to understand how the labeling changes will impact the NHP industry.

• 71% of Canadians use Natural Health Products, like vitamins, minerals, toothpaste, sunscreen, deodorant, and fiber as part of their proactive health and wellbeing. These new regulations will lead to soaring prices and the disappearance of popular products in Canada.
• 75%+ of brands say there is a high/very high chance they will need pull products from the market as a result of these regulations.
• 1 out of 5 companies (at minimum) say they are seriously considering leaving the Canadian market. Exciting new products and international brands will likely not come to Canada because the regulatory burden will be too severe.
• Our economic impact study was based on only the labeling changes set to go into effect in 2025. We expect the above numbers to increase drastically when also considering the impacts of cost recovery.

What can you do to act because time is running out?

Go to Save our Supplements and follow their action plan:

1. Click here to send a letter to your Member of Parliament – a big impact that takes less than a minute.
2. Download our Action Kit  and use our tools to spread the word to your friends, colleagues and family that the natural health products they use every single day are at great risk.
3. Book a meeting with your MP: Check out our guide to meeting with your local government representatives.
4. Our voice is stronger together. Connect on social and be part of the conversation by using #saveoursupplements in your posts.

 
Go to The Natural Health Products Protection Association (NHPPA) and follow their plan of action.

1. Educate yourself – get to know the issues so you can speak and write about them.
2. There are two documents to help you:
   (1) a two-page summary that you can also print out and share with others called Natural Health Products Crisis Summary and
   (2) the Discussion Paper on 2023 Health Canada Initiatives.
3. We also have a 9-minute video where Shawn Buckley summarizes the threats natural health products are currently facing in Canada, if you prefer to learn this way.
4. Learn about the most effective levels of communication by reading the Levels of Communication document.
5. Meet with your MP and call your MP. Do this over and over through the campaign. For tips on how to have an effective meeting with your MP, see our Communicating with your MP page.
6. Write multiple letters to MPs – go to the Letters for Members of Parliament page for addresses and instructions for writing to your MP, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Health and, if you are willing, other MPs.
7. Keep up the pressure. We will not get anywhere with a single visit and a letter. We need everyone to keep up the pressure.

 
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. ~ Margaret Mead

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1. https://chfa.ca/en/Advocacy/NHPs
2. https://www.optimumhealthvitamins.ca/blogs/health-wellness/enjoying-your-natural-health-products-not-for-long 
3. Globe and Mail, April 1st, 2017
4. Our prescription drugs kill us in large numbers. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/83aa/50e9e74b36127246498275b0fe01f969d743.pdf
5. https://ethics.harvard.edu/blog/new-prescription-drugs-major-health-risk-few-offsetting-advantages
6. Joel Thuna, MH, www.globalbotanical.com
Dr. Shiv Chopra published an insider’s book about Health Canada called Corrupt to the Core. Maybe they don’t have your best interests in mind?
 
​

Homeopathy has a long history of success with epidemics.

The brilliance of this approach is not to treat the disease but to help the body alleviate the symptoms and the underlying condition of causation for these symptoms. Also, it allows for support not only of the physical symptoms such as fever, cough or lung congestion, but also the mental and emotional symptoms such as fear, anxiety or despair. The effect of our mental state on our health is well documented in studies of Patient Reported Outcomes. Few health practices are able to provide care and support for all types of symptoms with a single remedy the way that homeopathy can. In the case of an epidemic, the symptoms, the causation and the mental/emotional states are going to be very similar for large numbers of people and this makes is possible to narrow down the protocols and apply them easily and quickly to large numbers of people and with great success.

Homeopathy has been used with great degree of success in influenza and other epidemics for 200 years. In 1918 flu pandemic homeopaths reported around 1% mortality in their cases, while conventional doctors were losing 30% of their patients.

Traditional homeopathy will use one remedy at a time, however developing systems of homeopathy are having success with using multiple remedies and complexes. Very recently, epidemics, such as leptospirosis, have been curbed in Cuba with the use of complexes. These complexes use homeopathy's specialization of supporting the body's own healing capacity, and maintaining healthy immunity. In the last month a new protocol using complexes was developed to help deal with the current crisis.

The remedies in the main complex take into consideration the fact that it is a new and emergent virus, that it affects the respiratory system in a very particular way, and that it affects people with weak lung organs. It can also help when there is fear for one's health and worry over death and finances. The full protocol will help to maintain a healthy immune system and can alleviate symptoms related to fever, flu, cough and the common cold as well as more serious issues such as pneumonia, respiratory distress and complications during pregnancy.

The HTSF protocol is as follows.
1. Follow all government public health measures and recommendations in your area.
2. Use the main complex: Dosage varies depending on if you are at moderate risk, low risk or high risk, or coming back from an area with a high number of cases.
3. Special consideration for pregnant women.
4. Apply a constitutional remedy if possible to fully boost the immune system.

The protocol is only available from trained homeopaths that are using this system. In 2015 I started my training in these complexes and in 2017 I went on a Homeopathic mission to Central America to further my studies by doing clinical work with community supported clinics that help local populations in five regions of the country.

Currently, no one really knows what effect the crisis will have. What we do know is that a health immune system, following local guidelines to reduce transmission, keeping the hospitals from being overburdened too quickly, and taking responsibility for our own health is going to be key to getting through this crisis. In the short term, boosting immunity and knowing what ways we can help to support ourselves should we develop non-critical symptoms are going to be key. Fear and despair, as well as stress or the more severe form of anxiety, and working long hours can all take a toll on our immune systems. In the long term, most of us are going to experience the effects of either losing a loved one, financial difficulty or strain on our relationships. Homeopathy is a resource and key support for all of these issues both acutely and for the foreseeable future. 

Due to the need for physical distancing most homeopaths are providing online sessions by either a video conferencing platform or by telephone. Remedies can be ordered locally at a store that carries them, or can be sent by mail. Although an in person case taking is what many of us prefer, in these times of crisis, it is going to be asked of us to adapt to use the technology available.

Curious about sustainability and natural health? Come and learn about taking care of your and your family’s health at this introductory workshop covering quick, affordable and effective homeopathic methods for general first aid situations. 
Homeopathy is safe, gentle and affordable as well as being sustainable. Learn how to see Arnica’s symptom picture and to apply that method to other remedies. Find out the best places on the web to look for remedy information and tips. Free handout with four basic remedies to work with. 

April 10th, 2019 11:30am  - 1:00pm
Location: Serious Coffee Heritage Centre Mall#9–1209 East Island Hwy,Parksville BC
Cost: 10$
Contact [email protected] for pre-registration, spaces limited.
www.laurentrimble.com

In Celebration of World Homeopathy Day, 10th of April 2019

​Ask about my 20% discount on all homeopathic consultations during Homeopathy Awareness Month!

Most of us can get all the vitamins and minerals we need by eating a balanced diet however, due to aggressive farming methods and use of synthetic fertilizers, the food produced in many countries today is deficient in nutrients, especially in minerals. We have known for decades that depleted soils equal diet deficiencies and that most important are the lacking minerals needed to make proper use of vitamins. This is why taking daily vitamins/mineral pills became so popular, it was seen as a way to supplement this lack in our foods.

Luckily since the 80’s we have started to understand the importance of organic foods and whole foods again. There is a better opportunity now to have nourishing food when we make smarter food choices. Organically grown foods and wild or grass fed meats are more closely balanced with the exact combinations of required nutrients. Foraging natural, fresh, wild foods has the optimal balance. The body is complex and needs a wide variety of vitamins and nutrients to ensure proper growth and to maintain proper system functions. Every function of each cell in all of the organs, muscles and tissues requires the exact combination of vitamins and mineral nutrients in order to function in healthy form.
Our bodies cannot truly process refined and altered foods. If a food is processed so that elements are removed or added in, then the body has a harder time to digest, assimilate and use it. A whole food is already perfectly designed with a balanced combination of nutrients to nourish some part of the body in a specific way. (A whole food would be an egg, a blueberry or bone broth, as opposed to an egg white, extracted anthocyanins or collagen removed from the bone broth.)

​Just as each whole food is naturally designed with the perfect combination of vitamins, nutrients, micro nutrients, when you take a vitamin or mineral supplement this balance is altered. An example is taking a Calcium pill. The body cannot make use of this mineral unless it can also find Magnesium and Vitamin K stored in excess the body. These beneficial combinations are found naturally in foods, but not always in vitamin pills. It is also important to understand that the majority of supplements made today are synthetic and are made to mimic the way natural nutrients act in our bodies, so the body can have difficulty recognizing and assimilating them in order to put them to good use.

Homeopaths understand that whole, organic foods are the best way to get all the vitamins and minerals you need and rarely suggest taking pills or synthetic supplements. When whole foods are not enough, you can supplement with whole ‘Super’ foods such as organic powdered greens, wheat grass, barley grass and sprouts, and basic green foods such as kale, spinach etc. Start the powdered greens 1/4 tsp per day for 3/4 days and then 1/2 tsp. The maintenance amount is 1 tsp/10 grams per day. Other super foods/whole foods that are great immune builders include Royal Jelly from bees, and Stinging nettle tea. Broths such as miso and bone broth are good as well. Miso stimulates digestion so it is good to have a 1/2 hour before a meal. Kelp, Alfalfa, Beet root, and other whole food dried herbs can be helpful as well. If you are vegetarian or vegan, there are choices that are alternatives to meat and dairy whole foods.
If feel you need to supplement with a pill, make sure you know why you need it and how to balance it correctly, and always choose a well designed, balanced product made from natural whole food sources that are organic preferably. Avoid synthetic choices, they may be cheaper on the shelf but they may cause more problems than the ones you are hoping to solve.

When there may be problems in the uptake or assimilation of certain minerals or vitamins and the body cannot use what is being provided by whole foods or natural supplements, homeopathy can be an effective solution. In this case it doesn’t matter how much you try to supplement with a pill, the body is not going to be able to use that material and will need to either eliminate it or accumulate it in the body somewhere. If we use an example again, Calcium is taken to keep bones strong and reduce the risk of osteoporosis, however it is also notorious for creating other problems. It increases the risk for heart attack and stroke since it is believed that without enough vitamin D to help absorb it, the extra Calcium can settle in the arteries instead of the bones and form plaques that threaten the heart and brain. Excess Calcium can also cause muscle pain, mood disorders, abdominal pain and kidney stones as well as other abnormal Calcium deposits.

By looking at the reason for poor assimilation and use of Calcium and providing a natural solution for that imbalance, the body can again start to use the Calcium provide in whole foods in a proper combination and avoid the risks of using Calcium supplements. This is the same for all the various vitamins, minerals and trace minerals needed for the body to perform optimally. Ask your homeopath for more information on how remedies or cell salts may be the better choice to a daily multi or specific vitamin.

We consume oils all the time and yet we pay the very little attention to what oils we are eating, and how they may impact our long term health. Removing unhealthy, rancid and heavily processed oils is one of the most important healthy habits you can make in your diet to avoid diseases such as cancers, heart disease and intestinal disorders and to reduce fatigue, inflammation and free radicals! Understanding what oils are unhealthy and what oils are safe to eat will help to reduce those risks. Adjusting your habits at home, at the grocery store and when eating out will go a long way to making the change you may be longing for in your overall health!

Avoid eating rancid oils!Unsaturated oils such as canola, olive, peanut, or vegetable oil don’t last on the shelf as long as you think since they are incredibly sensitive to heat, light and oxygen and actually go rancid in a very short time. You may not notice the off taste and it may not make you feel sick, however the increasing levels of free radicals can elevate the risk of developing diseases such as cancer and heart disease in the long term. Flavoured oils containing low-acid vegetables such as garlic or herbs and spices can cause botulism due to the rotting vegetables when they turn. Throw these old oils out!
The length of time an oil lasts depends whether it is unopened and sealed off from oxygen, how it is stored and what kind of oil it is. You can see this list for specific times www.eatbydate.com/other/condiments/how-long-does-oil-last. Most oils do not last longer than two years, even unopened. An open oil not kept in the fridge may only last 3 months. You can tell it has gone off since the oil may taste bitter, stale or “off” and there is often that noticeable rancid smell. Check the expiry dates, store oils properly either in the fridge or a cool pantry, and do the smell test. Good oils can be expensive so avoid buying large amounts if you know you won’t eat it before it expires. It will be too tempting to use it even if it is old and as I mentioned, bad oil can lead to health complications later on.

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Do you have a hard time going number 2? According to the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, constipation is one of the most common digestive problems and affects up to 13% of people in the US. It is defined as having hard, dry bowel movements or only going fewer than three times a week. I know I am typically constipated according to this definition as I don't go every day. However, when I do go it is a easy and all is fairly normal, but that was not always the case. This is in part due to my constitution and partly because of some of the factors listed below.
Common factors that contribute to increased constipation:

• A diet low in fibres and/or reduced liquid intake
• Having a sedentary lifestyle, sitting most of the day with not much physical activity
• Women, and especially pregnant women, are more prone
• Being elderly and/or a decreasing vitality
• Taking calcium/iron supplements and general overuse of medications
• Medical conditions such as diabetes mellitus, spinal cord lesions, hypothyroidism and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Improper position of bowel sphincters when seated on the toilet

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​Heat waves are part of summer, however when they are extreme they can seriously affect our health. The people most at risk are the elderly, children, people with chronic diseases especially heart and lung issues, and people on certain medications. However anyone that is sensitive to heat can feel consequences even if it is only irritability and a loss of energy. 
 
The concern is with Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke. Heat Exhaustion is when your body gets too hot and can’t cool down by sweating due to dehydration. Symptoms are heavy sweating, rapid pulse, dizziness, fatigue, muscle cramps, nausea, headache and cool, moist skin with goose bumps. Heatstroke is when the body temperature rises to 104 degrees Fahrenheit or higher and at this temperature the brain, heart, kidneys and muscles may be damaged leading to serious complications, and without cooling or emergency intervention the person may die. Symptoms include altered mental state or behavior, nausea and vomiting, flushed skin, rapid breathing and racing heart rate.
 
How can homeopathy help with the extreme heat?
Homeopathy can be a very helpful intervention in cases of both heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Be sure to assess if you or the other person needs immediate emergency medical care first. Remember that homeopathy can offer a safe complement to emergency medicine. Then using the matching symptoms one of the following remedies can be selected.
 
Belladonna:
A good remedy for high heat when the face gets flushed and red. Look for dilated pupils, a throbbing headache, radiating heat with little or no sweat and sudden spikes in temperature. There may also be violent shooting pains in head, which come and go suddenly, dizziness and restlessness. The heat is in the hot face, the hot temper and hot flushes although the hands or feet may be cool. It is easy to confuse Belladonna and Glonoine since they both have a hot head and glassy, staring eyes but in Belladonna you see the dilated pupils and the face will typically be red. 
 
Glonoine:
This is another great remedy for heat when you see staring, glassy eyes, pupils contracted, pulse barely perceptible or so quick it can’t be calculated, congestion and throbbing, loss of speech, face pale, cold sweat, body cold and head hot to the touch. This remedy is for effects of sun- stroke and hyperemia (excess if blood) of the brain from excess of heat. Generally worse in the sun.
 
Aconite:
Here you will see heat in the whole body, contracted pupils, a full pulse. There will be a lot of anxiety and restlessness. Often after lying with head exposed to the direct rays of sun. There is faintness and dizziness. Aconite is good for when the temperatures change rapidly, so feels unwell after exposure to a sudden cold wind or sudden exposure to hot weather, since this causes a shock to the body.
 
Gelsemium:
Another shock remedy, this is useful in sunstroke with a high body temperature and drowsiness, sleepy or a comatose state, and oddly a lack of thirst, refuses water.
 
Lachesis:
A great remedy for sun headaches, faintness and dizziness. Hot flashes, hot sweats, hot heavy headaches and the fatigue that follows heat, this remedy is very cooling when there is a lot of heat.
 
Bryonia:
There is great thirst for water, feels better with rest and being quiet. There will be a feeling of dryness, mucous membranes seem dry and throbbing, bursting headache. There is irritability, mostly due to pain with any movement because of lack of fluids/moisture.
 
Ferrum-phos cell salt:
When there is redness, heat, headache, minor fatigue or low fever in the first stages of irritation or illness from too much heat or sun. The result is a feeling of physical weakness, fatigue and you don’t feel right but it is not extreme. This remedy can be of general use for a speedy recovery from feeling unwell after a day in the sun!
 
 
To help choose a remedy, or for more information on how to take a homeopathic remedy you can talk to a homeopath or visit a shop with a homeopathic consultant. Many homeopaths offer a half hour or acute session reduced rate for issues like heat stroke or sun complaints such as sunburns, dehydration or headaches! 

This past year has seen many devastating fire regions that have created added challenges to health and welfare. I still remember the shocking news in June of the fires in Portugal. They were so fast and converged together that 65 people lost their lives, many in their cars on the roadways trying to escape! So rarely do forest fires take so many people’s lives. In Greenland, a huge landmass mostly covered with ice and permafrost, they had unusual and unprecedented fires of melted peat bogs. In the United States it was considered to be the most expensive firefighting year to date.  Some of the largest fires were the Lodgepole Complex Fire in Montana during July as well as the La Tuna Fire in Los Angeles in September although the damage to homes was relatively low. Overall California’s fires were disastrous and the most recent December fires forced many to evacuate and destroyed over 1,300 structures.  The state will have an economic toll of over $180 billion dollars.
 
In my home province of British Columbia the fires this year set records with the largest area burnt in a single fire season, the most number of evacuees, and the single largest fire ever recorded in the province. Over 39,000 people were evacuated from their homes and 30,000 cattle were at risk. Not to mention many household pets that were left at home and could not be rescued due to roadblocks. Over 300 buildings including homes, barns and commercial structures were destroyed. So many people have to start all over and rebuild their lives.
 
I was home in Vancouver in August and the sky appeared like a vision of an apocolypse. There was an orange dusky tinge to the night sky and the moon was blood red. I was standing waiting for my taxi looking up and thinking, “Whoa, that is not normal, what in the world is going on?” For the next week I could not see the blue sky although there was not a single cloud up there, daylight was like it was dusk or dawn but all day and the sun was bright orange while the moon was bright red. The air of course was filled with particulates and smoke and although I did have difficulty breathing, I did not try to exert myself and yet I noticed I was more tired than normal. What I really noticed during this month long visit was how this normally Temperate Rainforest Region is much hotter and dryer than it was 20 years ago. All of August there was no rain, it was extremely hot and the sun was intense. I had several sunburns, something I hardly get where I live in sunny, hot Montreal!
 
These intense natural disasters have many ways of impacting human health and homeopathy can help whether it is for the physical symptoms from smoke inhalation or the emotional issues related to shock and loss of home and livelihood.

1.  Reduced air quality and smoke related issues
When the smoke from burning wood is heavy in the air, symptoms can include watery eyes, burning eyes, sore or scratchy throats, inflamed sinuses, headaches, coughs and difficulty breathing. The very young, the elderly, pregant women, and anyone with allergies or an already compromised respiratory system are at greater risk. Urban areas often feel worse effects of forest fires although the smoke has come from hundreds of miles away. The air in cities is already often polluted during hot, dry times. There less oportunity to improve air quality by large areas of plants and trees, breezes and winds, and fresh air from rural areas.
 
Natural things you can do to help relieve symptoms
 
Use a bulb syringe or netipot to irrigate your sinuses. This clears out excess mucus and particulates like smoke or dust, and adds moisture to the nasal cavities to keep them from drying up, bleeding or feeling irritated. A warm saline solution is used and is safe and easy to do, just be sure the temperature is never hotter than body temperature. You can follow this up with a Sesame Oil Nasal Spray.
 
The eyes can be rinsed as well. You can buy a herbal eyewash or make one with Calendula (marigold), Hydrastis (goldenseal), Chamomile, and or Euphrasia (eyebright). Simply make an infusion by adding a handful of one or more of these herbs, fresh or dried, to a half litre of freshly boiled distilled water. Cover and let steep. When it is still warm, strain and use the water on the eyes.
 
Reduce the amount of contaminants you bring in the house. Keep the windows and doors closed and as soon as you come indoors change your clothes and take a quick shower to wash the exposed areas such as the face and hair. The same can be done after walking the dog, hose them down or brush them with a damp cloth. Vacuuming can stir up particles so wait until the air quality improves and you can open the doors and windows for fresh air again. Air fresheners are extremely toxic as they emit over 350 different chemicals and allergens including benzene, formaldehyde, styrene, and phthalates. Try using a water/vinegar spray with a few drops of an essential oil instead.
 
Homeopathic remedies to support forest fire symptoms
 
Ignatia: When there is smoke exposure with depression, grief or disappointments. Has a headache that feels as if a nail was being driven into the side of the head. The pain feels better by lying on the painful side. Any strong smells make things worse. May crave cigarettes to make things better.
 
Arsenicum: Smoke exposure with extreme anxiety and restlessness. The eyes are burning and tearing. Nose has a burning discharge. Cough is dry. The symptoms are worse at night and when lying down. There is a lot of worry, restlessness and anxiety about the future. Concerns about financial losses or theft.

Euphrasia: Smoke exposure with only physical symptoms. Simply notes that the eyes run and burn and the nose runs but there is no burning or pain. Eyelids can be red, swollen and sensitive. There can be a slight cough with tearing eyes.
 
Kali bichromicum: When there is a more serious smoke exposure with irritated sinus, lungs. The nose is blocked and any discharge is ropy or stringy and tends to be sticky. Sinuses are sore, raw and painful. Painful coughs with a sore chest.
 
Natrum arsenicosum: For very sensitive persons. Can be useful if other indicated remedies have not helped. Eyes are dry and painful. Sinuses are blocked and painful.
Racking cough, lungs feel full of smoke. Headaches.
 
Bryonia: Worse with any motion with dryness of respiratory system. Headache is worse with motion, better with pressure. Dry and painful coughs. Symptoms are worse at night or with motion. Cranky, wants to be quiet, still and left alone.

Silica: Useful for detoxing and expelling foreign particles. Nose is dry and blocked, no smell or taste. Sinuses are blocked and painful. Dry cough with irritation. Sensation of something stuck at the back of the throat.
 
Carbo Vegetabilis: Shortness of breath, oxygen starved. Wants to be fanned, or craves fresh air. Feels very weak and may collapse. Severe wheezing. Loss of consciousness or fainting.
 
 
2.  Shock, grief and loss related to forest fires
Natural disasters like wildfires are difficult to prepare for emotionally. We can set up a system or list of things to do to be prepared, but when a life is lost, animals are left behind, or a home is destroyed the feelings can be overwhelming and hard to recover from. Often roads and highways are shut down and people are forced to evacuate when forest fires get close to residential communities.
 
Shock is usually the initial acute response to loss
Whether the loss was sudden and unpredicted or we knew it is coming, we can experience a state of shock when it happens. The person feels stunned, numb as well as an increased sensitivity. There can be fear, agitation and even panic, and this can lead the person to do things that are not usual or even possibly dangerous. This is an acute, intense and sudden state and usually subsides quickly after the event. When it doesn’t, or the person is in an extreme state of shock that poses a danger to themselves or others, giving a remedy can be helpful.
 
Aconite:  Here we have a limbic, non-rational state where the person feels shaky, fearful and stunned after a sudden fright or strong emotions.  There is great fear, anxiety and worry and they can be very restless and moving around, even shouting, screaming or wailing. There can be panic attacks, or they may be inclined to run away and escape, everything is done irrationally and in great fear.
 
Gelsemium: This is the opposite of aconite and there is instead of a flailing panic a stoic response. They try to control themselves and avoid the feelings they have, and there is also a weakness and numbness as if they are paralyzed. They will not cry and feel drained of energy, and their mind may go blank. Here the danger is more that they try to avoid anything that reminds them of the situation or their fear.
 
A period of instability and adjustment
During this time there can be extreme emotions and moods shift dramatically and quickly. This is an intense and unstable period and can seem to as inappropriate behaviours, such as laughing in a moment that is somber and serious, or not replying when spoken to. The most common first aid remedy given for grief or loss is Ignatia and it fits this state very well.
 
Ignatia: The person is experiencing rapidly changing and intensely emotional states. There can be a bout of tears and distress and then suddenly they are silent and withdrawn. They may sigh a lot and also have a sensation of a lump in their throat. It is a good remedy when grief is “stuck” and lasts excessively or it produces symptoms such as weeping that is silent and controlled or that is brief, irregular and dramatic. There is a sense of being shattered from the loss of something or someone that they had invested a great deal of their emotions.
 
The feeling of Loss
This can be profound for some and was once described in medical terms as a “forsaken feeling.” There are several remedies that can be a good fit depending on how the person experiences loss and how they react to it.
 
Ignatia: Same as above. Give this remedy if the grief is “stuck” and lasts longer than what the person considers to be normal or necessary.
 
Pulsatilla: Here the loss includes feelings of abandonment. It is not just about feeling alone, they feel as if they have been left alone by the loss, that they have lost an anchor of support. They wish to seek comfort and sympathy and are emotional, weepy and distressed. They can seem needy because of the intense feeling of abandonment and want to be hugged or held. There is also a sense of instability as their moods can shift radically.
 
Natrum Muriaticum: This person does not seek out help but prefers to be left alone to deal with their experience. They don’t want to be fussed over and consolation makes them feel worse. They may have irritable outbursts over small matters and will not cry unless alone and even then the tears may not come. Sleep may be affected as they start to think about past events, old wounds and hurts and dwell on them. There can be depression and tremendous grief after losing a significant person in their life.
 
Phosphoric Acid: There is a great exhaustion and debility since the traumatic event. They can feel isolated from loved ones due to discord, or being physically distant and not being able to have communication with them as much as they would like so homesickness can be involved. They can have insomnia from worry and anxiety about their loved ones and can have difficulty in their thoughts or finding the right word, as if the pathways in their brain are not connecting properly. There is a sense of being emotionally crushed that shows up as lethargy, despair, apathy and they can seem almost lifeless.
 
If the angry phase develops
Anger is a complex emotion and can vary in intensity, reaction and causation. The remedies below may help the anger to express itself in more healthy ways and allow the purpose of that anger to become clearer.
 
Magnesium Carbonicum or Magnesium Muriaticum: There can be rapid flare-ups of anger that disappear quickly. The person feels intensely sensitive and lonely. The sensation is similar to being an orphan or a child whose parents were separated or divorced. Magnesium Carbonicum is when the symbol of anger is masculine and Magnesium Muriaticum when that symbol is feminine in nature. 
 
Staphysagria: Here there are strong feelings of injustice and poor treatment, perhaps of how the deceased was treated in their final days. There is anger and indignation and lots of very intense emotions. They might say it is not fair what happened to them. There is often a lot of pride, and so feeling easily offended or that others are being rude. Or it is the opposite state and the anger is suppressed and controlled, and they refuse to show it due to their strong sense of dignity and pride.
 
Colocynthis: Also angry and indignant, the person has a very strong opinion of what is right and wrong. They do not like to be contradicted and are sensitive to slights or humiliation. They will try to retain their emotions, will feel unfortunate and discontented, often complaining quite often. They are restless and have a lot of physical pains and maybe even cramps.
 
Taking remedies

1. Use a potency from 6c to a 30c for first aid situations. In severe conditions then a 200k can be used. So an intense shock due to losing one’s home, a 200k Aconite may be indicated. Or if someone passes out due to extreme smoke inhalation, a 200k Carbo Veg might be a good remedy. But generally 30c is quite useful.
2. Take up to three times a day generally.  
3. Stop taking a remedy as soon as the symptoms improve and repeat as needed only if and when the same symptoms return.
4. If you’ve taken a remedy two to three times and had no response, select a different remedy.
5. The remedies listed are safe for anyone to use including babies and the elderly.
6. If you are seeing a homeopath, consult with them to be sure the remedy you take will be compatible with any other remedies you may be taking.
7. Please share with your friends and loved ones, homeopathy is affordable, safe and sustainable and spreading the word can help so many people benefit from this wonderful healing art.

Homeopathy is a system of medicine that heals by “energy” rather than chemicals.

Sugar pills, pellets, and water are used as carriers to transfer energetic information to the body to stimulate a healing response.

While sugar pills are a convenient and delicious way to do this, a mild and temporary worsening of symptoms (an aggravation) may occur if  given when not needed, too frequently, or to a person who is highly sensitive to homeopathic remedies. This aggravation is not harmful and settles when you stop giving the remedy.

Aggravations in sensitive people are avoided by giving smaller than normal doses, something that is easily done if the pill is first dissolved in water. The most surprising thing is that its energetic effects are not halved or quartered when this is done – as would be expected with a conventional, chemical medicine – but just ‘softened’ so it is less likely to aggravate; and it still works just as well for those who are not over-sensitive.

Another benefit of turning your pills into liquids is that their potency can be altered before each dose, by succussion, so that each dose works at a slightly deeper level than the previous dose. (Succussion is hitting the base of the bottle on the palm of your hand firmly. This potentises the remedy slightly so that each dose works at a slightly different level and so is less likely to aggravate.)

In addition, because each pill can be turned into literally hundreds of liquid doses it is an easy way to extend the life of your remedies while saving a little money.

So how exactly do you do it? Here are the instructions:

Using a Cup to Turn Your Pill (Pellet) into a Liquid Remedy

Choose the remedy that most closely matches your symptoms.
Drop one pill of the remedy into approximately ¼ cup of water and gently stir until dissolved.
Before each dose, briskly agitate the liquid with a spoon for 5 seconds. This mimics succussion and potentises the remedy slightly so that it works more deeply and is less likely to aggravate (ie., temporarily worsen the symptoms).
Dose according to the intensity of your symptoms, either as advised in How Often Should I Take a Dose of My Remedy, or by your homeopath. A dose is generally one small sip, or a teaspoon amount from the cup.  Babies or small animals can be given a smaller amount but this is not essential – they will do just as well with a teaspoon dose if it is not too much liquid for them.
Keep the remedy away from light by covering it with a saucer between doses. Your remedy will be fine to use in this manner for one or two days – plenty of time to treat an acute complaint.
Using a Bottle to Turn Your Pill (Pellet) into a Liquid Remedy

Fill a 20-30ml dropper bottle two thirds full of water. (The remaining air space provides room for the remedy to be agitated during succussion.)
Label the bottle with the remedy name, potency, and date of preparation.
Drop one pill into the bottle and gently “swish” to dissolve. It is now ready to use.
Succuss the bottle five times before each dose.
Dose according to the intensity of your symptoms, either as advised in How Often Should I Take a Dose of My Remedy or  by your homeopath. One dose is 5-7 drops, or about a ¼ of a dropper. Again, the amount is not critical, and babies or small animals can be given less.
Notes

1. Because the bottle does not contain a preservative to stop the growth of mould and bacteria, store your remedy in the refrigerator and replace it at monthly intervals. If you would like to use your liquid remedies for much longer, brandy can be added – its alcohol content will act as a preservative. Just add 1/3 of brandy to 2/3 of water. Your liquid remedies are now safe to be stored at room temperature for twelve months or more.

2. Homeopathic pills (pillules, gobules, pellets) are made from sucrose or lactose and will dissolve fully in the water. If you have purchased homeopathic tablets instead of pills, binding and bulking material mixed with the sucrose or lactose will not dissolve but settle as a powder at the bottom of the cup or bottle. This is perfectly safe – just ignore it and use the liquid.

So, you have decided to try homeopathy after being referred by a friend or reading an amazing article that convinced you it might work. You are ready to book an appointment with a homeopath about your issue of say chronic anxiety and the more immediate problem of burn out and fatigue rather than taking medications, asking for stress leave, risking the flow of your career, and maybe upsetting your relationships in the process. With curiosity and an open mind, hopefully anyways, you would like to see what homeopathy can do instead.
No longer a parts based system, but a whole human being approachThe first thing to remember is that homeopathy is going to be very different than seeing a conventional doctor or a GP. Get out of that mindset that you can only bring one problem or issue to each visit. While a doctor may address you as segmented parts containing diseases and symptoms to fix, a homeopath is going to want to spend more time going over all the symptoms around your issue. They see you as a whole that needs some fine tuning, not a nervous system or a gallbladder that needs to be repaired, removed or replaced.
Also a doctor usually works with the short-term results, so if the symptoms can be altered or reduced quickly, then the person is considered better and all is well. The homeopath is looking at your long-term health, and so giving medications that alter or suppress a symptom without first looking into the original underlying reason for the anxiety or the fatigue is considered a risky short cut. A short cut that can lead to side effects from medications, a need for long term medicine use, or further health complications down the road. The better approach is to address the whole person, and to see that the treatment leads to the best possible long-term outcome for that person. The concept of wholeness is further explained in this article by Judyann McNamara, What is True Healing.
Chronic illnesses may be a reality but the idea that we have to feel worse over time is just not true. We can feel better and be healthier, and adapting and adjusting as we go is something homeopathy has the capacity to help us with.
A collaborative and self-responsible relationship of healthAnother major mindset that needs to change is the relationship between the patient and the practitioner. Going to the doctor we have become used to presenting our problem, being questioned briefly, being examined, getting some tests done, and then we go home and wait for the prescription or referral to a specialist. This is easy from the patient's point of view, yet it is also passive. You don't have to do anything other than show up, and then continue to show up for follow up appointments when they are scheduled. A homeopath will want to see you for the initial consultation, and maybe a second time to clarify their direction in selecting a remedy or support. Then, once you are given the suggestion, they would like you to stay in touch! They actually prefer if you give them feed back on how you are doing and what is happening.
This is the only way the homeopath can know what to do next, or what to do in the case you are struggling with the healing process. Your process and experience are going to be different from another person's, even if you came in with the same issue of chronic anxiety and burnout, so to follow a predefined protocol or therapy is not the optimal for each individual. The homeopath understands how significant the process back to health is for you, and by collaborating with you and following your needs, they can offer the best possible support and tools for you.
This is difficult to accept perhaps, but a homeopath wants to work with you, to hear from you and to know how you are doing.
Self rated health outcomes over generic test resultsUnlike conventional medicine where it is the test result that directs the treatment process, homeopaths prefer to use the self rated health scores of each person. Researchers have found that Self Rated Health tests show the best indicators of overall morbidity (rate of disease) and mortality rates. How many times have you wanted to go to the doctor but you don't because you already know what they will say, "Your test results are inconclusive so I have to conclude that there is nothing wrong with you!" This is an unfortunate development of the current medical system and why the hospitals and clinics are seeing so many patients with pathological diseases such as coronary artery disease, cancer, or arthritis. If they had been able to seek treatment when they first felt something was off ... maybe the functional changes in their body systems could have been avoided and they would have been able to adapt and stay healthier, and avoided the need for medications and for painful, expensive and complex treatments later on.
A homeopath is going to work with you at any stage of the disease process, and the earlier the better for everyone. They trust that you know your own state of health and that you also know when you need support and tools for regaining your health. Think about a space ship that at the start of journey is only a fraction off its course to Saturn, many years later and it has little chance of even seeing Saturn! The earlier the course is corrected, the better chance the ship has to reach its destination.
This leads to self responsibility in health. Sounds daunting perhaps, but think about it. You are the one responsible for your health and healing. Not a doctor, or GP, or a blood test, or a specialist. You. Feels good somehow doesn't it to consider it this way?
An open, accepting space to tell it how it isSince the homeopath is looking at the whole of you, you can pretty much talk about any odd, seemingly unconnected, unusual thing that you want or feel like bringing up. It is distracting to the doctor, they want to stay on point and to keep things symptom related to the part being discussed. Homeopaths on the other hand have been trained to sit in discomfort, to be ok with feeling confused as to the what the patient is describing, and to not judge the person for whatever they may have experienced. It is all part of the homeopathic system of case taking. There is also a fundamental trust that everyone has the ability to heal already within them, even if at the moment it is latent. You are not coming to be fixed, but for tools and support, basically a get-unstuck-agent that will put you back on the road to good health and help you on your path.
Unlike a doctor that takes charge of the treatment process, a homeopath is merely the one to objectively fit together the presenting symptoms to see how they express the whole, like seeing a large unfinished jigsaw puzzle. Then they pattern match what they see in that puzzle image to what remedy or other suggestion can help you the most.
And get it out of your mind that a remedy is going to take over the healing for you. It is just a tool that helps stimulate the body to heal itself, as the body would be able to do naturally before it got stuck, and does all the time when we are healthy. We don't pay attention while we feel great, but what is happening to bring about that great feeling? It is essentially the countless natural and internal processes at work keeping us alive and whole. The body is an amazing phenomenon if we stop to ponder it!
What can you do to get the most out of homeopathy?

1. Share ALL the important things going on, it is not necessary to limit what you say or self censure.
2. Be yourself at the consultation. The good, the bad and the ugly all matter when considering the whole.
3. Be engaged in your own healing by asking questions and learning what you can do yourself. Learn to be self-responsible and self-empowered again.
4. Give honest and current feedback about what you experience after taking a homeopathic remedy or suggestion. Keeping a journal with dates can be very helpful.
5. Learn to trust in your own healing capability again, it is after all the only way we ever really heal.

What to expect after seeing a homeopath?Again, this is going to be as unique as you are. Everyone is different and has different experiences and needs. And in all honesty homeopathy is not always immediate and easy. It might take time to find the best remedy match, or for you to feel empowered and trusting again so that the whole of you is on board to regain your health. However, when it works homeopathy changes lives and does 'miraculous' things. What do I mean by miraculous?
The global or whole person action of homeopathy means that when we take a remedy or support we may suddenly feel inspired to eat better, to go to the gym, to buy that house we always dreamed of, or to drop the procrastination that is holding us back, to reach out to friends, or to see our loved ones with greater appreciation. Remember, it is the whole of you that has the potential to improve! And the main complaint that brought you to see a homeopath, the anxiety and burnout, that too improves. And if it does not completely disappear, you can see it differently and discover ways to improve it, whereas before it was stuck, and there was only one possible, off course outcome. I encourage you to get the most of what homeopathy can offer! And to appreciate the journey back to health.

In cases with trans-generational trauma, the original, unresolved trauma is carried over from previous generations to the current one. For those coping with this type of trauma it can be confusing to address and understand since the symptoms they are experiencing are not based in their own life history or experiences. I would like to present some of the reasons homeopathy can be a helpful tool for this kind of trauma and to explore one homeopathic remedy with symptoms that link to trans-generational trauma in a very fascinating and beautiful way.

​To read more ... go to CleverH magazine.
​
POSTED BY AUTHORS OF CLEVER H. ⋅ 30/09/2017 ⋅ 

From the webpage, Homeopathy Awareness, part of the School of Homeopathy in the UK website.
​
How widespread is the use of homeopathy?

Homeopathy forms a large and important part of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), a market which is forecast to grow at a rate of 23% every year.

Homeopathy is used by 15% of UK citizens (around 9 million people)2 and trusted by 27% of German, 40% of French and 62% of Indian citizens.

In 2004, the World Health Organization stated that homeopathy was the second most used medical system worldwide.

It has been estimated that around 450 million people use and trust homeopathy worldwide, every year. That’s a lot of people making homeopathy their healthcare choice.

What is homeopathy?

Homeopathy is a system of natural healthcare that has been in worldwide use for over 200 years.

Homeopathy treats each person as a unique individual with the aim of stimulating their own healing ability. A homeopath selects the most appropriate medicine based on the individual’s specific symptoms and personal level of health.

It is based on the principle of ‘like cures like’ – a substance taken in small amounts can cure the same symptoms it causes when taken in large amounts.

Homeopathy is mainly taken in tablet form and can be used to treat both acute and chronic conditions in old and young including babies and pregnant women. It can be safely used alongside conventional medicine.

What makes people want to try homeopathy?

Most people in the UK are brought up with conventional medicine. When they have tried everything that this has to offer and are no better, or are worse, or cannot tolerate the drugs and treatments, they look around for some other way to get better.

Qualitative research suggests that patients greatly value the therapeutic relationship with their homeopath, the length of consultations and the ‘whole person’ approach; being listened to and treated as an individual. Homeopathy is entirely patient-centred in its approach and patients greatly appreciate this.

There are currently 3,000 registered homeopaths in the UK7, 400 homeopaths who are also qualified doctors, 60 homeopathic vets, 4 NHS funded homeopathic hospitals, several registers and 20 homeopathic schools. People who train in homeopathy tend to be in their 30s and 40s, are highly educated and moving into their second career. Registered homeopaths have undertaken rigorous academic and clinical training, are insured and adhere to a Code of Ethics.

Does homeopathy help people to improve their health?

Yes, it does, particularly with regard to chronic, long term conditions.

For example: an observational study at the NHS funded Bristol Homeopathic Hospital included over 6,500 consecutive patients with over 23,000 attendances in a six year period;8 70% of follow up patients reported improved health, 50% reported major improvement. The largest improvements were reported in childhood eczema or asthma, and in inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, menopausal problems and migraines.

Another example: in 2008 a study in Germany followed over 3,500 chronically ill adults and children receiving routine homeopathic care from GPs over an eight year period.9 At the start, 97% of participants were diagnosed with a chronic complaint with 95% declaring previous conventional treatment for their condition. The study found that, “patients who seek homeopathic treatment are likely to improve considerably” and that health benefits were steady and long term.

There are more studies of this nature, especially from France, Germany and Switzerland, all countries where homeopathy is widely used.

What sort of people use homeopathy?

Since its development over 200 years ago homeopathy has benefited millions of people, young and old, from all walks of life, in countries all over the world.

Research shows that 79% of the UK population are open to the idea of homeopathy and 15% of the population regularly use it.

Most people prefer to follow up on a recommendation from someone they know and trust. Research suggests that more people would use homeopathy if they knew more about it. 

The thing that unites most of these people is that they have already tried everything that conventional medicine has to offer, yet continue to suffer.

For more questions and answers, go to their Homeopathy Awareness page.

Many people can have difficulty going when in a bathroom if other people are nearby. This is not uncommon. However paruresis, also known as shy bladder syndrome, is when shyness, embarrassment, or fear of being judged for not being able to urinate develops into a phobia or irrational fear.

There can be a spectrum of what is ok or not ok. One person is ok when there are empty spaces and there are large dividers between the urinals, but if there are no dividers or someone is right next to him than he can’t go. Or someone can go if they use a closed stall and don’t consider this as a problem. At the other extreme a person can only go when they are at home and no one else is in the house, or only if they use a catheter. Some people have learned to use a catheter during a long airplane trip, as there was no other way that they could take a 14-hour flight without intense discomfort and pain.

Why do people develop paruresis?
Why does someone have this? Good question! Certainly there is sensitivity, and a heightened awareness of one’s surroundings. Keep in mind that virtually no one can go when their body has shifted into the fight or flight mode. This is part of the biological design of mammals. When we are running away from a tiger the last thing we are going to do is stop and take a leak, we are just going to keep running like mad. Or we may freeze and every non-vital function is going to be put on hold as long as we are gripped by fear. This includes digestion, rational thought processes, and also the sphincters that are related to urination. For a person with paruresis, absolutely nothing they think or will to happen in that moment will loosen those sphincters! Not until the uncertainty passes and they can relax again.

The main issues about shy bladder tend to be one of or a combination of the following:

• Visual, being seen going to the bathroom. If there is a stall without large gaps in the structure, or a urinal with large divisions between the basins, they are usually ok to go in public.
• Auditory, this is more about being heard than seen. Often the standard pubic washroom design makes going impossible. In Japan, they play music in bathrooms, or the toilets make noise to mask the sounds of going to the bathroom.
• Proximity, this is about how close the other person is. It can be ok if they are five urinals away, but not two. Or if they are eight stalls away or across the hallway, but not right next to you. It can also be that they are only able to go if there is no one inside the same room or even the building.
• Delay, this is about how long it takes to start going. If it seems that someone else is listening or can hear and is therefore judging the person about how long it is taking them to go to the bathroom, this can start anxiety. Once the anxiety is triggered it can be impossible to start.
• Knowing that someone is waiting can also be an issue. Even if that person is outside of the washroom, just knowing they are waiting is the issue.
• Some people have a germ phobia, so this is more about the uncleanliness of a public washroom rather than paruresis.

Stigma and shame
Unfortunately being teased or laughed at for this particular phobia is common. Many people think that they are the only person on the planet who has this thing, and that everyone else can go easily whenever they need to. Some will think, “Am I crazy. I don’t understand this.” Often they are too ashamed to ask for help and to reach out to friends or professional support. The result is that people with paruresis are often very isolated and don't seek help. Then the phobia can easily become the centre of their life.

Social life and isolation
You can see how much this might affect a person's life in terms of relationships, friendships, socializing, work, and career. There is a preoccupation with what you drink, especially before you leave the house, with where you are, and what options are available for using a bathroom. Every day is taken up with these kinds of thoughts. You change your habits and social behaviour in order to compensate. It is no longer easy to plan on going to a friend’s house, a party, or the theatre. The longer it goes on, the more the person can forget how it was before they were phobic and not realize how much the phobia is affecting their life and their choices. After time a person is controlled by his or her own fear and shame rather than being able to be spontaneous and social.

What can you do to get better?
Look up the definition for paruresis online understanding that around 7% of the population has this phobia. Google the International Paruresis Association in the United States and check out their workshops, support literature, forum and see if there is a support group in your city. Connect with other people with shy bladder, read books, consider doing the graduated exposure therapy practice in local malls. If there is nothing offered locally it is possible to start your own group setting up practice meetings and workshops. It is important to understand the cycle of anxiety and how that works.

Homeopathy and phobias

How homeopathy is different?
Homeopathy is based on the principles of individualization, minimum dose and like cures like, and it uses a truly holistic approach. The aim of homeopathy is not to treat phobia, or shy bladder, or any disease diagnosis, but to explore the root source of symptoms and individual susceptibilities. Homeopaths don't separate the mind and the body into various parts and systems that are treated independently of each other. They see that all aspects of any person are dynamically interconnected and directly influence each other. Liver, nervous system, anger, ego, soul, any symptoms the person focuses on are considered during a homeopathic session.
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What is the expected process?
The most common response to a well individuated remedy is a nearly immediate reduction of anxiety. We can start to feel whole, the root of the anxiety is addressed and we are able to start the healing process. Healing is not that different than being able to go to the bathroom, we can't heal when we never relax and we are anxious all the time! The rest of the process may take time, depending on each individual person, there is no way to know in advance. However, as the response to a core remedy is global, the results can be wide reaching and often unexpected! And no matter how challenging the process, it is certainly worth the investment if we can regain our life and joy of living.

​10 GOOD REASONS TO USE HOMEOPATHY

1. NATURAL ACTION
Homeopathy works by stimulating the body's own natural defence mechanism to promote health and to resist infection and susceptibility to disease.  Although gentle, the results can be powerful and long lasting.

2. HEALTH & WELL-BEING
Homeopathy improves health generally, rather than merely alleviating localized symptoms. It treats the whole individual, acting on the mental and emotional levels as well as the physical level, providing a balance in overall health and an increased sense of well-being and quality of life.

3. EFFECTIVE MEDICINE
When used correctly, homeopathy can be an extremely effective system of medicine, providing long-lasting relief from many acute and chronic conditions and illnesses.

4. NO HARMFUL SIDE EFFECTS
Homeopathic treatment offers a gentle and non-invasive approach to health, producing no toxic side effects, no dependency or addiction, and no withdrawal.

5. COST EFFECTIVE
Homeopathic medicines are surprisingly inexpensive to purchase, especially when compared to over-the-counter and prescription drugs.

6. FAST-ACTING FIRST-AID RELIEF
Homeopathy can be safely used at home or on the road to provide rapid relief for minor problems such as bruises, simple burns, sprains, insect bites, gastric upsets, etc. However more serious or long-lasting complaints should be treated by a qualified homeopath.

7. NOT TESTED ON ANIMALS
Homeopathic medicines are tested only on healthy humans in order to determine the range of action of each remedy.

8. COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE
Homeopathic medicines can be used independently or along with conventional drugs and other therapies (with the full knowledge of your other healthcare providers). It can often alleviate unpleasant side effects of conventional treatments (e.g., chemotherapy).

9. ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY
Homeopathy has no adverse impact on the environment. There is not waste of energy or natural resources in the manufacturing process and no pollution of the water supply, oceans, or dump sites when used. In fact, homeopathy is the ultimate Green Medicine!

10. MEDICINE OF THE FUTURE
Homeopathy is the second most widely-used system of medicine in the world. It is available in most countries and is gaining in popularity as an alternative to conventional medicine.
 

From the Canadian Society of Homeopaths at www.csoh.ca