Female Ailments. "It's part of being a woman! You just have to put up with it!"

How many women have heard this from their doctor? Menstrual problems? Cystitis? PMT, PMS? Mastitis? Vaginal Thrush? These can all be painful, annoying - but just get on with it. It's life! Not only have many women told me about this response, some have commented that if men had periods there would have been a cure for Amenorrhoea, Dysmenorrhoea, Menorrhagia, Metrorrhagia, et al, long, long ago.

Conventional medicine has been dominated by men ever since its origins, in the universities of 12th and 13th century universities. It continuers to be dominated by men. And it is usually male doctors who make these dismissive comments.

Homeopathy has always been different. From the beginning it has always had effective treatments for 'women's complaints', but throughout the 20th century, and today, it is female homeopaths have played a leading role in its progress and development. Unlike me, a mere man, they know from personal experience what these conditions are like, and much of their work has been directed towards these neglected ailments.

I was aware of this during my training as a homeopath. I was under no illusion, women have particular medical needs, and they should not be underestimated. And why should they be underestimated. Homeopaths have at their disposal some remarkable remedies to deal with all these conditions. If, similarly, conventional doctors had drugs equally able to deal with them they probably would not be dismissive either - often their attitude is the result of having little to offer.

In my 'Why Homeopath?' website I have compared and contrasted what conventional medicine and homeopathy has to offer women for all these ailments. Have a look at the links below, the one's  relevant to you, to see the difference in treatment options.

Menstrual problems (in all its many forms).

Cystitis.

PMT, PMS.

Mastitis.

Vaginal Thrush.

You will then be more able to make up your own mind what kind of treatment is best for you.

Cystitis. Why Homeopathic treatment is best

This blog first published on "Why Homeopathy?" website

Cystitis is inflammation of the bladder, usually caused by a bladder infection. The condition is often referred to as a ‘urinary tract infection’ or UTI. NHS Choices says it can be caused by not emptying your bladder properly, for example, because of pregnancy or an enlarged prostate, damage or irritation around the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body), bacteria being transferred from the anus to the urethra, for example, during sex.

The symptoms of cystitis are well known:

•     an urgent and frequent need to urinate
•     pain or stinging when urinating
•     pain in the bladder

CONVENTIONAL MEDICAL TREATMENT

NHS Choices says that the symptoms of mild cystitis “usually clear up without treatment within a few days”. It offers several ‘self-help’ treatments, such as:

• painkillers like Paracetamol and Ibuprofen, which “can reduce pain and discomfort” but then tells you to read the information leaflet because of the dangers of doing so!
• drinking plenty of water is often recommended as a treatment for cystitis
• avoiding alcohol.
• refrain from having sex.
• using ‘urine alkanising agents’, such as sodium bicarbonate or potassium citrate, for a short period to relieve pain when urinating.

However, NHS Choices warns that “there is currently a lack of clinical evidence for their effectiveness”. 

When the symptoms of Cystitis become more severe, or when it recurs regularly, Antibiotic drugs are then prescribed, with all their inherent dangers.

THE HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT OF CYSTITIS

Please click here to see the evidence basis for Homeopathy

Important Note

Homeopathy does not treat illness or diseases. It treats the individual who has been diagnosed with a particular illness or disease. The distinction is important, and if you wish to read more about this, click on the chapter “Illness Diagnosis” above.

In acute cases of bladder infection, the following homeopathic remedies are the most commonly used and effective:

Aconite

Useful at the beginning of a bladder infection, when the symptoms come on very suddenly.

Cantharis

Perhaps the best known remedy for bladder infections. People needing this remedy have burning, scalding pains during urination, with a constant, frequent, often overwhelming urge to urinate, but only able to pass it drop by drop.

Apis Mel

Severe, hot burning pains, especially when passing urine. Urge to pass urine frequently to prevent leakage.  Often used when Cantharis is indicated but does not help.

Sarsaparilla

Severe pain during and at the end of urination; can urinate only in dribbles. Often a crusty urinary sediment.

Nux Vomica

Symptoms come on after over-indulgence, drugs or alcohol. There is pain before or during urination.

Lycopodium

Flow is slow to start; may be back pain before urination which goes away afterwards; may need to pass urine during night

Nux Vom

For cutting, burning pains, where little urine is passed and you feel chilly and irritable

Pulsatilla

Passes urine frequently, symptoms worse when lying down. Involuntary passing of urine  mainly at night, when coughing, passing wind.  Burning sensation during or after urination

Staphysagria

For cystitis after intercourse.

Many of these remedies can be found in simple home-use remedy kits that can be obtained from these Homeopathic Pharmacies.

Are you ill?. Allow homeopathy to help!

This blog was first published on the 'Homeopathy Pure and Simple' website. 

If you are ill, and it does not matter how the illness has been diagnosed, homeopathy can help you. This article explains how it does so - by treating the individual, and his/her symptoms rather than a conventionally diagnosed 'disease'. 

All that is necessary is to find a remedy that matches your symptoms, and it will work. Sometime, in 'first-aid' situations, this can be quite simple - it is something you can try for yourself. In more complex illness the patient will need the expertise of a homeopath.

In this week's 'Homeopathy Heals' I am drawing attention to a series of internet articles that demonstrate the wide range of illnesses that homeopathy can heal!

Vertigo (dizziness). Some simple remedies suggested for common types of vertigo.

Headaches. Several remedy suggestions, with short remedy pictures, in this article

Tetanus. Always have some Ledum around, in case of cuts and grazes.

Chicken Pox. Some sensible non-drug strategies for coping with this illness. Carbo Veg is a homeopathic remedy that can be used when suffering from chicken pox - see a homeopath if it does not ease the condition.

Croup. Some major remedies, with symptom pictures, suggested here.

Nausea and Motion Sickness. Several first-aid remedy suggestions here, with brief symptom pictures.

Sleep disorders. Remedy suggestions here, and remedy descriptions.

Cystitis (bladder infections). Several remedies suggested here, but consult a homeopath if it persists, or is a regular occurance.

Genital Warts.

Gout. Four remedies suggested here - but if condition is chronic, it is advisable to consult a homeopath.

Fibromyalgia. An article by a homeopath who has researched the condition, and treated many cases.

Angina. Not an illness for homeopathic self-prescribing, but some sensible non-drug suggestions and alternative remedies and strategies to cope with the condition.

Heart Problems. Look at this article and video to see what can be achieved

Homeopathy is becoming increasingly popular as many people are now looking for 'non-drug' alternatives to conventional medicine, dominated as it is by Big Pharma drugs.

A local homeopath can be found by visiting this website.