Homeopathy at Home Gastro- Intestinal Issues

Your Tour Guide Karen Allen, CCH In Practice since 1994 Author of 2 homeopathic texts Lecture Nationally and Internationally Focus of Practice: Infertility / Reproductive Health How did I get interested in homeopathy and why do I think this is worth your time ???

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Gastro-Intestinal Issues Likely Symptoms – Nausea – Vomiting – Diarrhea Likely Scenarios – Food poisoning – Influenza – Travel – Vertigo – Emotional Upset – Pregnancy – Reaction to drugs

GI Flags from other body systems Less Likely but important to know about: – Disturbances / injury to the brain – Impairments to liver, kidneys, pancreas, or gall bladder – Intestinal obstructions – Meningitis – Heart attack

BE SAFE – know the self care boundaries! Dial 911 or go to Emergency Room IF nausea / vomiting / diarrhea are accompanied by warning signs: – Chest pain or severe abdominal pain – Cold clammy pale skin – Blurred vision, fainting, confusion – High fever and stiff neck – Odor or appearance of stool in vomited material

BE SAFE – know the self care boundaries! Babies are precious, so be extra careful - Dehydration is a risk because they are little. Get a diagnosis IF: No wet diaper in 3-4 hours, cries with no tears, dry mouth No wet diaper in 3-4 hours, cries with no tears, dry mouth Skin does not resume normal shape after pinched and released Skin does not resume normal shape after pinched and released Fever above 102 Fever above 102 Diarrhea with bloody or black stools Diarrhea with bloody or black stools Change in behavior – unresponsive, drowsy, irritable Change in behavior – unresponsive, drowsy, irritable

BE SAFE – know the self care boundaries! Seek help from Urgent Care or Emergency Room IF: Nausea and vomiting are accompanied by a severe headache, especially if the head pain is new to you Nausea and vomiting are accompanied by a severe headache, especially if the head pain is new to you Unable to drink or eat anything for 12 hours ( adult), 8 hours (child) Unable to drink or eat anything for 12 hours ( adult), 8 hours (child) Signs of dehydration: excessive thirst, dry mouth, urination is dark/infrequent, with weakness or dizziness on standing Signs of dehydration: excessive thirst, dry mouth, urination is dark/infrequent, with weakness or dizziness on standing Vomit or diarrhea contains blood or looks like coffee grounds Vomit or diarrhea contains blood or looks like coffee grounds

BE SAFE – know the self care boundaries! Schedule a consult with your primary care practitioner IF: Vomiting and diarrhea lasting longer than 2 days (adult), 24 hours (children under 2) Vomiting and diarrhea lasting longer than 2 days (adult), 24 hours (children under 2) Episodes of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea have been happening for more than a month Episodes of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea have been happening for more than a month Unexplained weight loss along with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea Unexplained weight loss along with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea

BE SAFE – what if I am not sure?!? How do I verify common vs. serious symptoms? Use reliable information sources on the internet. One of my favorites is Use reliable information sources on the internet. One of my favorites is Enter the issue in the search bar, and read about common symptoms, potentially serious symptoms, and guidance recommendations Enter the issue in the search bar, and read about common symptoms, potentially serious symptoms, and guidance recommendations Err on the side of caution in getting medical evaluation Err on the side of caution in getting medical evaluation You can use homeopathy while also pursuing medical evaluation! You can use homeopathy while also pursuing medical evaluation!

Supportive Self Care Follow these guidelines of self care in addition to homeopathic or other medical support: Rest! Too much activity and lack of rest can aggravate symptoms Rest! Too much activity and lack of rest can aggravate symptoms Hydration! Take sips of drinks (water, ginger ale, lemonade, tea) or chips of ice to keep fluids coming in Hydration! Take sips of drinks (water, ginger ale, lemonade, tea) or chips of ice to keep fluids coming in Minimize Triggers! Avoid strong odors, hot stuffy rooms, direct sun, flickering light, driving Minimize Triggers! Avoid strong odors, hot stuffy rooms, direct sun, flickering light, driving

As You Are Getting Better... Be gentle as you re-orient your gastro-intestinal tract: Give it a little time! Attempt solid foods only after 4-6 hours since vomiting – stick with liquids until then Give it a little time! Attempt solid foods only after 4-6 hours since vomiting – stick with liquids until then Eat bland foods! Start with easy foods like apple sauce and toast, or a brothy soup (salty is good to replace electrolytes) Eat bland foods! Start with easy foods like apple sauce and toast, or a brothy soup (salty is good to replace electrolytes) Don't Press Your Luck! Stay away from fatty foods, strongly spiced or harder to digest foods Don't Press Your Luck! Stay away from fatty foods, strongly spiced or harder to digest foods Think probiotics and electrolytes! Remember the basic mechanics of the gut flora and body chemistry. Yogurt, keifer, cell salts!! Think probiotics and electrolytes! Remember the basic mechanics of the gut flora and body chemistry. Yogurt, keifer, cell salts!!

So now that we know how to be safe, let's consider an important dynamic of health... Why do we become ill? Why do we become ill? Does everyone get sick from the same causes? Does everyone get sick from the same causes?

Health Requires Adaptation Every living being interacts with its surrounding environment. The environment includes light, sound, chemicals, bacteria, viruses, motion, emotional interactions Every living being interacts with its surrounding environment. The environment includes light, sound, chemicals, bacteria, viruses, motion, emotional interactions What happens when the organism can not react or respond adequately to a stimulus from the environment? What happens when the organism can not react or respond adequately to a stimulus from the environment?

What is Susceptibility? Susceptibility is a weakness which prevents your body or psyche from adapting to environmental impacts Susceptibility is a weakness which prevents your body or psyche from adapting to environmental impacts Some things are susceptibilities for everyone, others for only some... Some things are susceptibilities for everyone, others for only some... For people who have susceptibility in the Gastro-intestinal tract, constitutional homeopathic care may help in addition to any acute therapeutics. For people who have susceptibility in the Gastro-intestinal tract, constitutional homeopathic care may help in addition to any acute therapeutics.

So Health is Dynamic.... Consider that health / illness is not about a bacteria or virus... Consider that health / illness is not about a bacteria or virus... Health / illness is about the organism's susceptibility and its ability to adapt to all of the environmental impacts encountered Health / illness is about the organism's susceptibility and its ability to adapt to all of the environmental impacts encountered A well selected remedy reduces susceptibility and increases adaptability A well selected remedy reduces susceptibility and increases adaptability

Let's Take A Look.... We want to identify the symptoms.... We want to identify the symptoms.... We want to recognize what is individual, strong or characteristic We want to recognize what is individual, strong or characteristic We want to match that pattern to a remedy We want to match that pattern to a remedy WHAT ARE OUR 'BEST TEST' Questions? WHAT ARE OUR 'BEST TEST' Questions? There are hundreds of homeopathic remedies... We are going to focus on the ones that work especially well on the GI tract!

What happened just before the symptoms started? Was there some kind of drug use (anesthesia, medications, alcohol or recreational drugs)? Was there travel (unfamiliar food, different biological flora, motion sickness)? Are others also ill? Food consumed by all (food poisoning)? Has there been flu in the household? Was there emotional upset (bad news, fright, anticipatory anxiety?) Is this person pregnant?

Where is the greatest discomfort? Is it the NAUSEA? Is it the VOMITING? Is it the BLOATING or ABDOMINAL PAIN? Is it the DIARRHEA? Is it the MENTAL/EMOTIONAL STATE? Is it the WEAKNESS and DEBILITY?

How to give the remedy? A 30c potency is a great one to work with! Give 2-3 pellets under tongue, or add a few to a glass of water, stir and give a teaspoon of the liquid. Start with one dose every 15 minutes for an hour, then re-evaluate symptoms. With sudden onset, expect to see relief more quickly than with gradual onset. Remember to repeat as needed, and spread out doses as the symptoms improve.

You May Need More Than One... Remember that there is a dialogue between the person and the homeopathic remedy After each dose, consider how the symptoms may be changing; ask if the pattern is still the same As the symptoms change, match the new picture and give the indicated remedy

Let's Try Our Skills See the handout document for: Reference chart of homeopathic remedies Cases for us to develop our skills Let's walk through the material together.

What are your Questions? Time for questions and answers: Others also learn through questions you ask so don't be shy...

Thank You Consider Joining or Starting an NCH Homeopathic Study Group in your area to keep learning. Consider Joining or Starting an NCH Homeopathic Study Group in your area to keep learning. Consider writing a note about your successes to Kristy Lampe for the NCH e- newsletter – your successes encourage others! Consider writing a note about your successes to Kristy Lampe for the NCH e- newsletter – your successes encourage others! We are all part of our homeopathic community. Thanks for supporting NCH. We are all part of our homeopathic community. Thanks for supporting NCH.