Homeopathy help for a sporting summer!

Hi everyone

As the summer of sport continues with the Olympics as the next great sporting event it is interesting to note that among the six million users of homeopathy in the UK there are some famous sports personalities, soccer star David Beckham, rugby player Will Greenwood and tennis stars Boris Becker and Martina Navratilova. Annabel Croft,  a former tennis star, is also a great supporter of homeopathic medicine.  As Euro 2012 has just finished it is also interesting to discover that doctors supporting the German football team also use homeopathic medicines.

Homeopathic medicines have long been used to treat simple sports-related problems, the most well known being Arnica, traditionally used for bruising and muscular soreness. Research studies have suggested that Arnica can have an anti-inflammatory effect and reduce bruising, with one placebo-controlled trial concluding that a cream containing a combination of homeopathic remedies (including Arnica) was effective for treating sprained ankles. I myself have used Arnica extensively for the boys when they have sustained rugby related injuries! Arnica is often the first homeopathic remedy that people use for themselves and having discovered how effective it can be they move on to try other first aid remedies.

At the moment I think people are becoming more interested in trying holistic approaches to healthcare and I would say from my experience that homeopathy is great for those minor sporting injuries. If you are at all interested in homeopathy for first aid then let me know. I was thinking that it would be good to run some sessions on Homeopathy in first aid situations.

 

Wishing you all a happy week


Bye for now
Brenda x

Time vampires!

Hi everyone

 

I didn't think that I watched much television but I have made a discovery. Since the football has been on tv I have been reading a lot more and not watching tv as much. I have realised that tv for me is a time vampire, swallowing up time without me noticing.

I am really enjoying the peace of reading quietly in the evenings and feel better for it too. I must remember to be more selective in my choice of tv viewing and watch out for time vampires in the future.

What are your time vampires? The things that you take up your precious time but don't really help much? Reclaiming time from our time vampires is very rewarding and gives us space to take some 'me time', which is often the time that is neglected as we rush around keeping all the balls in the air!  Have a good look and see what is eating up your time, you may be surprised as I was!

 

Wishing you all a happy week


Bye for now
Brenda x

Professional Development

Hi everyone

Bit of a heavy title today I am afraid but just wanted to let people know that as a member of the Society of Homeopaths I am committed to continuing to learn about homeopathy. Studying didn't finish when I qualified nearly 5 years ago, it was just the beginning of a new phase of development.

Continuing professional development can take many forms, reading, attending lectures, listening to downloads, study groups, supervision. Often it happens quite naturally as new knowledge is gathered while working on a patient's case or the need to consolidate some previous learning is recognised in daily practice.

One of the most enjoyable ways of learning is coming together with other homeopaths and spending time together on study days. I am fortunate to be part of such a group and enjoyed a great day with my friends yesterday. I picked up some very useful information that I will be able to use in my practice and for the good of my patients, which is what it is really all about. Continuing professional development helps us to do the best for our patients.

Wishing you all a happy week


Bye for now
Brenda x

Choices

Hi everyone

As the Queen celebrates 60 years on the throne (and what an achievement that have been thinking about choices and wondering how much do we really decide things for ourselves?

I have always believed that having a choice between different options gives us freedom. However, at the moment our freedom to choose homeopathic medicine for our health care is under threat. Please follow the following link and sign the petition

urging the health minister to allow homeopathic medicines to be ordered via the telephone and internet and to be dispensed for homeopathic patients by homeopaths.

 http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Your_Access_to_Homoeopathy_is_Under_Threat/?tta

Thank you for your support, you are among the 6 million people in the UK who choose to use homeopathy for the benefit of themselves and their families.

Hope that you all have a lovely Jubilee Weekend.

Wishing you all a happy week

  
Bye for now
Brenda x

A stitch in time saves nine!

Hi everyone

A stitch in time saves nine! The old saying which has been demonstrated to me very clearly this week. I had seen the hole developing in my cardigan and I thought to myself I will just pop a couple of stitches in there and it will be fine. This was several weeks ago by the way! Well, I didn't get my sewing box out and of course the hole just got larger and larger and now it's too big to mend with a couple of stitches, it needs a lot more than that and I don't think I am going to be able to fix it without it looking a mess.

The same happens with our bodies, we  become out of balance and we either don't realise because we have forgotten to listen to the messages our body sends or we ignore the message altogether. Of course things do sort themselves out but if we need to pay attention to what's going on then our body will send us bigger and bigger messages until we take notice and take action.

I could have fixed my cardigan without too much trouble when I first noticed the small hole and it would have been fine. Now I think it will have to be consigned to the 'old clothes' pile. Let's not make the same mistake with our bodies. Lets remember how to listen to what our bodies are telling us and respond with a 'stitch in time'.

Wishing you all a happy week


Bye for now
Brenda x

Your access to homeopathic medicines is under threat

Hi everyone

This week I would like to draw your attention to the following information that I received this week from the Chairperson of Homeopathy Action Trust. It is of concern to practitioners and patients alike. Please have a look at the information and take action by writing to you MP. Many thanks.

Your access to homeopathic medicines is under threat

Why?

The Medicines Act is being simplified, which is a good thing because much duplication is being removed. However, as a result there are some key elements which could adversely affect your access to homeopathic medicines if the proposals go into force.

What will happen to my access to homeopathic medicines?

If the current proposals by the MHRA are endorsed by government the following would occur:

·You would no longer able to get homeopathic medicines by phone or online

To get any unlicensed homeopathic medicine a face-to-face consultation would be required at a registered pharmacy.  Unlicensed medicines number in the thousands and make up the majority of homeopathic prescriptions, while there are only 50 licenced homeopathic medicines.  This will also mean you cannot legally buy unlicensed homeopathic medicines online or over the phone as you currently do.

·Homeopaths would not be able to dispense or prescribe medicines to you

Homeopathic practitioners would not be able to dispense unlicensed homeopathic medicines to their patients. This arises because homeopaths are not recognised by this law as being supplementary prescribers and it will be illegal for homeopathic pharmacies to supply them with the essential (unlicensed) medicines required for their patients

·You would have to get your homeopathic medicines personally at a handful of licenced homeopathic pharmacies in Britain

Hundreds of thousands of people who currently have prescriptions filled for unlicensed homeopathic medicines will be unable to obtain their urgent medicines.  The estimated 6 million users of homeopathy in Britain cannot be expected to be supplied medicines face-to-face by less than five licenced premises.

What you can do to stop this from happening!

Write to your MP and tell him or her - especially if your MP sits on the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments or is involved with Health.

We are not asking to move mountains. All that needs to be done is a small change to paragraph 195 of the proposed new Medicines Act to allow greater freedom to dispense remedies to practitioners and could also overcome the face-to-face issue which is unworkable.

On the next page you will find a few helpful bullets and links to assist you in contacting your MP on this issue.

The new Medicines Act will be put before the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments for approval in late May/early June for implementation in July, so your swift action is critical!

Write to your MP: Medicines Act consolidation 2012

You can identify the name of your MP by using website:http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/

Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments:

David Maclean MP (Chairman), Penrith and The Border, Conservative

Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods MP, City of Durham, Labour

Mr Peter Bone MP, Wellingborough, Conservative

Nigel Dodds MP, Belfast North, Democratic Unionist

Jeff Ennis MP, Barnsley East and Mexborough, Labour

Judy Mallaber MP, Amber Valley, Labour

Chris Ruane, Vale of Clwyd, Labour

Lord Campbell of Alloway, Conservative

Lord Clinton Davis, Labour

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, Labour

Lord Kimball, Conservative

Countess of Mar, Cross Bench

Earl of Mar and Kellie, Liberal Democrats

Lord Walpole, Cross Bench

A few helpful points that could be used in your letter:

It is not necessary or recommended to include all the text suggested here.  It is critical that you personalise your letter with your own views and experiences. Overall, try to keep the letter short (a page or less), and emphasise any points that are relevant to the particular MP.

I’m deeply concerned a draft proposal set out by the MHRA as part of its consolidation and review of the Medicines Act 1968 could have a significant impact on my ability as a patient to access homeopathic medicines in the UK.

• In its current form section 10 of the proposal would only allow unlicensed homeopathic medicines to be bought directly from a pharmacist face-to-face, in effect outlawing the purchase of these medicines over the telephone or via online ordering. This would mean I would be deprived of the medicines that I have found to be so beneficial to my health.
• There are only five homeopathic pharmacies in the UK, so most homeopathic medicines are ordered from these specialist pharmacies either by phone or via the Internet. Therefore the enforcement of section 10 in its current form will have serious consequences for the six million people in the UK who choose to use this form of complementary medicine.
• If not revised the proposal would also have serious consequences for more than 2,000 homeopathic practitioners, many of whom would find it impossible to treat patients like myself because they can no longer obtain the appropriate homeopathic  medicine. 
• I understand that a central plank of government health policy is to increase patient choice. Section 10 will eliminate choice for people like me who want to be treated with homeopathy.
• I would like to call on your support in getting the Health Minister to revise slightly the proposed language of the revised Medicines Act to ensure that I have continued access to a full range of homeopathic medicines and my right to choose homeopathic treatment is maintained. 

Wishing you all a happy week

Bye for now

Brenda x

Have you spared the time to smell the flowers lately?

Have you spared the time to smell the flowers lately?

Yesterday I spent the day on the edge of Dartmoor, it was beautiful. I saw carpets of bluebells, an abundance of primroses and gorgeous patches of violets. The gorse was also in flower and smelt of honey and coconut. Being out in the open was lovely and a joy for me, nurturi ng. Which brings me to another question, how are you getting on with looking after yourself?

I know that time can be the biggest problem when it comes to self care. There just isn't any time left to look after ourselves. However, if we make the time it can be so beneficial. Everything seems so much easier and things seem to get done more quickly which means we do have more time in the long run. Making self care a regular feature of our lives is so important, I am going to be more mindful for myself, lets do it together!

Wishing you all a happy week


Bye for now
Brenda x