Homeopathy - Remedy of the week

I am Jane Bowdenleigh and one of the homeopaths with clinics at the wonderful Bare Health in Congleton town centre.  Mel has asked me to post a regular feature, ‘Remedy of the week’.  So here is our start for January - Rhus Tox 

How does the cold, icy weather of winter affect you?  It can affect us all in different ways.  Some people suffer from cold sores; others get run down with mouth ulcers; while for some snow and ice can lead to slips and sprains.  One homeopathic remedy that can help to relieve all that and more is Rhus Tox. 

If cold sores are your problem then Rhus Tox is the number one remedy to consider.  At the first signs of itching or tingling around the mouth take Rhus Tox 6c three times a day and continue until the symptoms subside.  Many find this stops the cold sore developing.

Rhus Tox is a plant remedy commonly known as poison ivy.  In 1798 a French Doctor suffered an accidental poisoning from the juices of the plant and found it cured a rash (herpetic eruption) on his wrist that he had had for some time.  He went on to successfully treat a variety of skin eruptions in others.

It has been used as a remedy, in safe homeopathic doses for over 100 years.  Treating like with like symptoms, it is also used for chicken pox and shingles.  A key symptom for Rhus Tox is a great restlessness of mind and body and severe itching.  Patients get some relief from restless movement and typically the blisters will be small with clear fluid. Think of Rhus Tox when symptoms are worse for cold and better for heat and movement.  For example warm applications will always give some relief to a chicken pox/shingles rash that responds to Rhus Tox while the patient feels worse from putting a cold compress on the skin.

It is also used for joint sprains, which are stiff and painful and feel better for movement.  Consider too for rheumatic pain when joints are stiff and aching and worse in cold, damp weather or getting wet.  If the person feels better with slow movement or changing position and better for applying some heat or in hot, dry weather, Rhus Tox is a remedy that can bring some real relief.

Take the remedy in 6c or 30c potency, 2 to 3 times a day while symptoms persist.  Reduce the dose with improvement and stop when symptoms have gone.  There are lots of ways Rhus Tox can bring acute help in the winter months.  Always remember, if symptoms do not improve after several days to a week, contact your local homeopath or Bare Health consultant for advice.

If you have any acute remedies you would like to see included do let me know.  Or if you would like some acute advice or have a query about homeopathy I will be providing free ‘face to face’ opportunities in Bare Health on the second Saturday of each month, starting in February.  See you there.