Causes of Kidney stone formation:
Certain foods may promote stone formation in people who are susceptible. This stone formation is enhanced when there is increased intake of calcium, calcium oxalate, uric acid or salt in our diet, with an inadequate intake of fluids. A positive family history (genetic tendency) also makes a person prone to kidney stone formation.
Certain foods that increase the risk for kidney stone formation in susceptible individuals include:
Spinach, rhubarb, chocolate, peanuts, cocoa, beet, coffee, cola, nuts, strawberries, tomato juice, grapefruit juice, apple juice, soda (acidic and contains phosphorus), all types of tea, and berries.
Symptoms of Kidney stones:
Kidney stones can remain asymptomatic until they obstruct the flow of urine. When obstruction to the flow of urine occurs at some point of time, the patient starts experiencing acute symptoms. Patient usually presents with the most agonizing pain in the lower back just below the ribs, which often extends into the groin area (described as ‘loin to groin’ radiation of pain). The patient may also experience nausea, vomiting, blood in the urine (haematuria), restlessness and fever (if infection is present).
Stones less than 5 mm in size usually pass out spontaneously; however the majority of stones greater than 6 mm require some form of intervention, especially so if the stone is stuck causing persistent obstruction and/or infection of the urinary tract.
Suggestion about homeopathic treatment:
When the stone size is small, homeopathy is likely to help in the passage of stone as well as in relieving the agonizing pain caused by the same. If the stone size is larger, or the stone is impacted, or there are multiple stones, then the patient is better treated surgically. However, even after surgical removal of stones, homeopathy still has a role to play in preventing its recurrence

Aesculus: Pain in the very low back (the sacral or sacroiliac areas) that feels worse when standing up from a sitting position, and worse from stooping, may be eased with this remedy. Aesculus is especially indicated for people with low back pain who also have a tendency toward venous congestion and hemorrhoids.

Arnica: Arnica is a remedy with a well known reputation for its usefulness in injuries and pain to soft tissue and muscles. Applied topically in either gel or ointment form (and in conjunction with internal use of Arnica 1M),

Bryonia: This remedy is indicated when back pain is worse from even the slightest motion. Changing position, coughing, turning, or walking may bring on sharp, excruciating pain. This remedy can be helpful for back pain after injury and backaches during illness.

Calcarea carbonica: This remedy is often useful for low back pain and muscle weakness, especially in a person who is chilly, flabby or overweight, and easily tired by exertion. Chronic low back pain and muscle weakness may lead to inflammation and soreness that are aggravated by dampness and cold.

Calcarea phosphorica: Stiffness and soreness of the spinal muscles and joints, especially in the neck and upper back, may be relieved by this remedy. The person feels worse from drafts and cold, as well as from exertion. Aching in the bones and feelings of weariness and dissatisfaction are often seen in people who need this remedy.

Cimicifuga : Severe aching and stiffness in the upper back and neck, as well as the lower back with pains that extend down the thighs or across the hips  may be eased with this remedy. It is often helpful for back pain during menstrual periods, with cramping, heaviness, and soreness. A person who needs this remedy typically is talkative and energetic, becoming agitated or depressed when ill.

Dulcamara: If back pain sets in during cold damp weather, along with catching a cold, or after getting wet and chilled, this remedy may be indicated. Stiffness and chills can be felt in the back, and pain is usually worse from stooping.

Ignatia: Back pains related to emotional upsets especially grief will often respond to this remedy. The muscles of the lower back may spasm, and twitches, drawing pains, and cramps often occur in other areas.

Kali carbonicum: This remedy may be indicated if low back pain drives the person out of bed at night, making it necessary to get up to be able to turn over. Pain is usually worse on the right side of the lower back, worse around the menstrual period, and aggravated by sitting and by walking. Pressure on the area often brings relief.

Natrum muriaticum: Back pain that improves from lying on something hard or pressing a hard object (such as a block or book) against the painful area suggests a need for this remedy. The person often seems reserved or formal, but has strong emotions that are kept from others. Back pain from suppressed emotions, especially hurt or anger, may respond to Natrum muriaticum.

Nux vomica: This remedy is indicated for muscle cramps or constricting pains in the back. Discomfort is made worse by cold and relieved by warmth. Pain usually is worse night, and the person may have to sit up in bed to turn over. Backache is also worse during constipation, and the pain is aggravated when the person feels the urge to move the bowels.

Rhus toxicodendron: This remedy can be useful for pain in the neck and shoulders as well as the lower back, when the pain is worse on initial movement and improves with continued motion. Even though in pain, the person finds it hard to lie down or stay still for very long, and often restlessly paces about. Aching and stiffness are aggravated in cold damp weather and relieved by warm applications, baths or showers, and massage.

Ruta graveolens: This remedy is indicated when tremendous stiffness is felt in the muscles or joints, especially after sprains or twisting injuries. The person feels lame and sore, and experiences relief from lying down.

Sulphur: This remedy is often indicated when a person with back pain has a slouching posture. The back is weak and the person feels much worse from standing up for any length of time. Pain is also worse from stooping. Warmth may aggravate the pain and inflammation

High Blood Pressure Could Be Killing You While You Are Young

Research shows that high blood pressure starts much early in life and at times goes undetected for decades until it shows itself in symptoms. It usually, is one of the most common cause for heart disease. In an extensive research carried around the world for six years, a scientific panel learned that the problems in the cardiovascular system (heart and the vessels carrying blood) can begin at much lower blood pressure levels than previously believed .

It concluded that the risk of heart disease and stroke can begin to rise when blood pressure increases past 120/80. That’s why the panel developed a new range called Pre hypertension for readings between 120/80 and 139/89. People with blood pressure readings in the Pre hypertension range are now encouraged to adapt life style changes to lower their blood pressure levels or else they would develop hypertension (high blood pressure) and become prone to heart disease and Stroke.

Blood pressure is measure of pressure exerted by the flowing blood on the walls of arteries .It is measured in two numbers systolic over diastolic. Systolic the top number is the pressure exerted when the heart pumps the blood, diastolic the bottom number is the pressure exerted when the heart is resting between the two beats. People with blood pressure readings over 140/90 are said to be having hypertension.

Essential Hypertension in youngsters is generally an out come of  faulty living habits which mainly includes improper diet, sedentary life style, alcohol and smoking. Genetic factors also play a role in its early onset. High blood pressure is dangerous as it makes the heart work hard and contributes to hardening of the arteries. It increases the risk of heart disease and stroke .It can also lead to kidney and eye diseases.

The treatment of prehypertension and hypertension in young requires a combination of a well rounded homoeopathic intervention and restructuring of one’s lifestyle .Homoeopathic intervention aims at treating the whole patient and not just the symptoms .Among many homoeopathic medicines that are found useful, Nux Vomica leads  in treating essential hypertension in  youngsters when the cause can be attributed to faulty living style i.e.  Sedentary living, overwork, stimulants etc. Ignatia and Kali Phos are helpful when mental stress are the key causative factors. Natrum Mur helps those who are addicted to high salt diet and also where long standing grief is the cause for elevated blood pressure levels. Medicines mentioned above are for information purpose only and should not be used without professional help

Preventing hypertension:

Adopting Lifestyle modifications can be of great help for those in the prehypertension stage and also those suffering from hypertension.

Diet:

Reduce sodium intake, which basically means reducing salt intake .Eat more whole grains, beans, fresh fruits and vegetables and low fat diary products. Reduce alcohol intake and for smoking, in short, dont. Limit intake of saturated fats (animal fats).

Stress:

Eliminate unnecessary elements of stress in your life and try activities like meditation, yoga, dancing, regular walks etc. Certain homoeopathic medicines are a natural form of reducing stress.

Obesity and Exercise:

Being overweight means that your heart will have to work more hard, resulting in higher blood pressure. Keep a regular check on your cholesterol levels. Regular exercise is must for maintaining ideal blood pressure levels

C

Sinusitis is the inflammation of the sinuses (hollow spaces) in our skull. These hollow spaces are linked to the nose from inside.  The  anatomical  presence of  these cavities  makes our skull light for our neck to bear it. Sinuses also provide the resonance  to our tone  when we speak. So, the presence  of the  sinuses is not a problem  but it is their inflammation (sinusitis)  that causes distress. Inflammation can be acute, recurrent or of chronic nature.

Sinuses are four sets of hollow spaces in our skull. They are situated in cheek bones, forehead, behind the bridge of the nose and between the eyes and yet another set is situated in the upper region of the nose and behind the eyes. All of these sinuses have the same lining that is present in our nose. This lining produces mucus which is drained  out of  these sinuses through an opening in the nose. During an attack of cold or allergies (mucous membranes start producing more mucus during cold, etc.) swelling in the nose and sinuses can cause the drainage from the sinuses to get blocked. This blockage leads to the trapping of mucus in the sinuses resulting in the growth of bacteria and viruses.

The symptoms:

The symptoms of sinusitis depend upon the sinus that gets affected. The morning headache when one wakes up is typical of sinusitis: blocked sensation: in the nose, heaviness and pain in the facial bones and head may occur due to the underlying inflamed sinus. Inflammation in the sinuses that are present behind the bridge of the nose and in-between the eyes can lead to swelling in the eyelids and the tissues around the eyes. Inflammation in the maxillary sinuses can cause pain in the upper jaw and teeth.

Sinusitis may be accompanied by other symptoms of nasal congestion, runny nose, fever, tiredness and cough that may aggravate at night. Post-nasal dripping of mucus can cause problems in the throat too.

A correctly prescribed homeopathic medicine can be a great boon to those who suffer from sinusitis. Homeopathic treatment aims at rebuilding one’s immunity towards such attack. Although it may take some time, a well-aimed homeopathic treatment can completely cure the chronicity and recurrence of this disease.

Homeopathic medicines Silicea and Kali Bichrome lead the homeopathic table in treating all kinds of sinusitis whether acute, chronic or recurrent. Silicea is very affective in treating sinusitis in individuals who are extremely sensitive to the least amount of chill in the air and often develop frontal headaches or heaviness during the attack of sinusitis. Kali Bichrome is helpful in cases where the discharges are very stringy, sticky and yellowish green or when the patient complains of a constant pain in the root of the nose. Other important homeopathic medicines like Hydrastis and Merc Sol also need special mention.

Preventing and managing sinusitis:

• Control your allergies and avoid exposure
• Avoid exposure to cold air, as it may trigger runny nose which can further lead to inflammation of sinuses. Try to have your allergies under control by avoiding exposure to known allergens and taking homeopathic medicines.
• Reduce stress and eat natural foods
• By reducing stress and eating vegetables and fruits that are rich in anti- oxidants can help in boosting your immune system.
• Steam inhalation can be of great help during an acute attack
• Drink plenty of fluids to thin the mucus.

• According to World Health Organization (WHO), homeopathy is the world’s second leading system of medicine for primary health care.
• All homeopathic remedies are FDA approved drugs.
• Homeopathic medicines are proven and experimented on healthy people, not on animals.
• The English Royal Family has been under homeopathic care since 1980.
• As per an independent qualitative survey, homeopathy is emerging as the first and preferred treatment for more and more people.
• Homeopathic and allopathic treatments can co exist. Homeopathic medicines can be consumed as you gradually wean away from allopathy.

a)   Trials of medicinal substances on healthy humans
b)   Special method of remedy preparation
c)   Patient oriented approach

Trials of medicinal substances on healthy humans:
Before use on patients, homoeopathic remedies, which come mainly from plant, animal and mineral sources, are subjected to extensive testing and experiments on healthy human volunteers (usually doctors and students of homoeopathy) for their effects. The effects of drugs so obtained are recorded in a medicinal book called Materia Medica. Experiments have shown that a drug substance that produces certain symptoms in a good number of healthy volunteers can remove the very same symptoms in a sick when given in homoeopathic dose. For example, Cinchona Bark, if given to a healthy person,  causes severe chill, shivering,  prostration, nausea, perspiration, etc. the symptoms closely resembling those of Malaria   and in  homoeopathic doses it cures a good number of cases of Malaria. Cumulative experience of over 200 years of continual trials has established the scientific validity of this method of drug-experimentation. Over a period of two centuries, hundreds of drugs have been tested and each one has withstood the test of time, working as specifically and safely today as in the past.

Special method of remedy preparation:
The method  known as dynamization -involves a repeated process of mixing, diluting and shaking till the chemical properties of the substance to be used as remedy are totally eliminated. This systematic and calculated process of remedy preparation, introduced by a German physician, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann,  the founder of homeopathy, about two centuries back,  has dual advantage:

i) it arouses the deeper therapeutic power of the remedy which remains latent in the presence of chemical properties.

ii) it renders the remedy totally safe as with the washing away of the chemical properties, there remains no chance of chemical toxicity.

Patient oriented approach:
Homeopathy takes a holistic approach to health with great emphasis on  pinpointing  the underlying  cause of the disease and removing the same by shaping  and  adjusting  treatment  plan  in accordance with the specific needs of each patient. To achieve this, the homeopath tries to have as much information about the patient as possible. He gives attention to minute details to have an understanding of the patient and what ails him. He asks about his moods, his reaction to weather changes, to stressful situations, to warmth and cold, his likes and dislikes, his preferences or aversions to certain foods or situations. He wants to closely know the patient, his surroundings, his activities.  The information so gathered is minutely analyzed to have a good understanding of the personal characteristics of the patient and his medical problems.

Once all information is gathered, the homoeopath is in a position to perceive which of the homoeopathic remedies are most relevant to the case. By matching the symptoms of the patient with those produced by homoeopathic remedies on healthy human volunteers (as recorded in the Materia Medica), he selects a remedy which most closely meets the broad features of the case. That is why in a good number of cases of uncertain diagnosis, where the practitioners of other systems of medicine find themselves in a quandary, a competent homoeopath can prescribe with confidence, basing his prescription on the totality of  the symptoms.

This is how homeopathy goes about effecting a genuine and lasting cure and this is what makes it different from all other systems of medicine.

Within the limitations of available scientific funding, interesting research is being undertaken to understand how and why such highly diluted remedies have profound and curative effects. Formal studies published in current medical journals show that homoeopathic remedies, when used correctly, are significantly more effective than placebo. Researchers theorize that, during potentization, an energetic change occurs in the remedy substance and its medium of dilution (usually water), enabling them to stimulate a person’s system to deal with stress and illness more efficiently. Homoeopathic remedies do not have chemical action in the body, and thus work differently than nutrients or drugs which has made it difficult for some researchers accustomed to assessing drugs to adequately consider them. Since the body is clearly affected by many forces that have no chemical content (electricity, radiation, thermal energy, etc.), it is reasonable to think that research designed to observe non chemical effects will yield more useful information.

• Medical knowledge is needed to assess complex or serious conditions. Professional diagnostic tests may be necessary, as well.
• Using a remedy that covers isolated symptoms superficially, but does not fit the person on deeper levels, may change or suppress the symptoms, yet not be deeply curative.
• Even with a correctly-chosen remedy, a temporary aggravation of symptoms may occur as part of the healing process. Training and experience are required to distinguish a helpful aggravation from an intensification of symptoms that occurs because a remedy has not acted and the illness is progressing.
• An inexperienced or impatient person might be tempted to repeat the remedy unnecessarily, or change to other remedies at times when waiting is appropriate.

If an illness or condition is chronic or deep-seated, it is best to consult an experienced homoeopathic practitioner, for a “constitutional” remedy that fits the characteristic symptoms of the case and considers the person’s physical condition and individual nature in a more comprehensive way. At at typical first visit, a homoeopath interviews a patient for at least an hour to take a careful history and elicit information about many aspects of the person’s state of health before choosing a remedy.

Observe the person, taking special note of the strongest and most unusual symptoms, as well as the way the individual responds to the stress of illness, such as things that relieve or aggravate the symptoms (motion, temperature, light, noise) or the person’s emotional and mental state.

Choose the remedy whose description most closely matches the symptoms the person is expressing. When a remedy’s pattern of action is similar to the person’s response to the stress or illness, it can help the natural defenses more efficiently overcome the problems and return the person to a better state of health.

Take one dose of the selected remedy, then wait for a response to show. If relief of important symptoms is noted—or if the person starts to improve in general—the remedy is acting. Continue to wait and let it do its work. Do not give another dose unless improvement stops. (Unnecessary repetitions can interfere with or slow down a remedy’s action.)

Further doses of the remedy should be given according to how the person is responding, not on a pre-set schedule. Intense or painful situations may require more frequent repetitions. For instance, in severe discomfort (as with a burn or throbbing headache) a dose may be needed every few minutes to an hour. In moderate conditions, such as flu or indigestion, a dose once every few hours may be indicated. In many situations, one dose of a correctly-chosen remedy will be enough to stimulate the body to heal itself.

If no response is evident after a reasonable amount of waiting, give another dose and wait again. If no response is seen after a few repetitions, review the important symptoms and choose another closely-indicated remedy.

Lower potencies (6X, 6C, 12X, 12C, 30X, 30C) are the most appropriate for non-professional self-care situations. A 30 will often act more quickly and deeply than a 6 and need fewer repetitions—but, the higher the potency, the more precise the remedy choice must be to bring results. High potencies (past 30C) should only be used by those with formal homoeopathic training, as a more developed knowledge of the remedies is needed to make an accurate prescription and to monitor results.