Sharon Ackland - The Family Homeopath

Sharon Ackland - The Family Homeopath As a family homeopath I offer a complete system of natural, safe health care for all ages.Trusted,te

09/04/2026

Homeopathy and Neuro - divergence .
Parents of neuro - divergent children are often concerned about feeling inhibited in detailing their child's symptoms and responses in front of them . The consultations that I offer are by phone , last approximately one hour and the homeopathic remedies are posted out to you the same day . This arrangement enables the parent to speak freely , not just about their child but also the general dynamic in the family . Much benefit can come from mum ( in particular ) and siblings also receiving homeopathic treatment over time .
The homeopathic consultation is very relaxed : it is an opening for you to unfold your child's story . The Homeopath will ask about the pregnancy and birth of your son or daughter and any significant events in the child's life such as a long spell in hospital , traumatic experiences at school , challenges and disappointments in friendships and any recurring illnesses such as tonsillitis , earaches etc .
Your child's temperament will be of utmost importance to the Homeopath - is this a gregarious child , a withdrawn child , is he or she passive or fiery , anxious or confident , creative or practical ? What is their sleep pattern like and are there dreams of note or nightmares ?
Food likes and dislikes including allergies will be discussed and general questions about the effect of the weather / seasons and temperature will be asked .
Homeopathy offers a holistic approach to neuro - divergence not just by giving consideration to the mental / emotional / physical aspects of the child but also by understanding that the reasons for neuro - divergence are complex and varied . Genetics , pregnancy , medications , immunisations , accidents , surgery , miasmatic influences ( inherited patterns of disease which can pass down the generations as miasms or mists of the original disease - the most common in neuro - divergence is TB , even if it was several generations ago ) and life circumstances of note .
In future posts I will outline some specific remedy profiles used in the treatment of neuro - divergence .

08/04/2026

Homeopathy And Neuro - divergence .
Homeopathy offers a unique resonance with those inside the orbit of neuro - divergence in all of its expressions and manifestations .
The sphere of neuro - divergence is characterised by nebulous and oft changing aspects which frequently defy an immediate or even definite diagnosis . Parents of the neuro - diverse ( to whom this post is primarily addressed ) can feel overwhelmed by terms and observations such as autistic spectrum disorder , ADHD , hyper - sensitivity , developmental delays , disregulation of emotions , fixated behaviours , poor social communication and integration , to list just a few .
So what can homeopathy bring to this miasma of confusion and uncertainty ? Homeopathy is unique in that the prescription of the homeopathic remedy ( medicine ) does not rely on a diagnosis . The prescription is always made on the basis of the totality of symptoms - mental , emotional and physical . It is a unique prescription for a unique set of symptoms , your symptoms . Although there may be a broad base of symptoms or expressions within , for example , a diagnosis of ADHD , it is your particular expression of the condition that is so important to the Homeopath . An illustration of this could be that you are very thirsty , easily overheat , hate spicy food , love vinegar and are fearful of dogs . Your prescription , your homeopathic remedy , will be completely different to someone who is chilly , thirstless and has no fear of dogs , even if you both present as hyperactive with poor concentration levels .
This unique approach can be a tremendous relief to parents particularly in the initial stages of assessments and a possible diagnosis . It brings the focus more on to the person and less on to the condition . It brings a clarity and a sense of control to a process that can be exhausting and overwhelming . The unique person ( personality , likes and dislikes , fears etc ) behind the diagnosis is always at the heart of the homeopathic prescription .
I will explain the form that homeopathic treatment takes in my next post .

27/03/2026

The signs of Spring are all around us now even on gloomy days such as this one . Once the milder temperatures are with us it is a good time to start taking Milk Thistle for 2 to 4 weeks as a liver support . The liver begins to thin the blood now so that we don't overheat once the weather really warms up and Milk Thistle , by supporting the liver in this process , ensures that our liver isn't overburdened in its regular task of acting as a cleansing filter for various toxins , fats etc in the body .
It is also the start of the Easter holidays for children and if they seem fatigued and lacking in energy from the previous school term , look to the tissue salts Ferrum Phos ( which gives an iron boost ) and Kali Phos . Teachers too may be in need of this boost !
There is a " Pulsatilla " dry throat doing the rounds at the moment and it mainly seems to be children who are going down with it . The throat feels dry but there is no thirst and it is this unusual pairing of contradictory symptoms that points to Pulsatilla as the indicated remedy . For dry throats with high thirst look to Phosphorus . Remember that Pulsatilla becomes even more tearful and needy when feeling unwell so this makes it an easy remedy to spot .
Next week I will be starting a series of posts and remedy outlines for neuro - divergence .

23/02/2026

Tonsillitis .
Following on from my last post , here are a few more frequently indicated remedies for tonsillitis .
Lycopodium is very helpful when the sore throat and swollen tonsil is on the right side or if it starts on the right and then extends to the left . This remedy is much relieved by warm drinks and has a clear aggravation time of 4pm to 8 pm . People in the Lycopodium state will be very irritable becoming furious over small things . This helps to distinguish the remedy from Pulsatilla which also has a late afternoon / evening aggravation . Pulsatilla is sweet and accomodating even in illness . They become weepy and crave fuss and cuddles and they are rarely irritable . Pulsatilla''s emotions and their need for fresh air and coolness will be the guiding symptoms as their sore throats and swollen tonsils do not favour one side over another . They are also thirstless even with a dry throat so this helps to distinguish it from Phosphorus , the remedy of unlimited thirst .
Sulphur , another irritable remedy is a key choice for left sided tonsillitis which is characterised by extreme sensitivity in the throat , dryness and burning . Sulphur individuals are very prone to swollen glands and the swelling can last for weeks if the correct remedy isn't prescribed .
Phytolacca will be indicated when the throat is dullish red or bluish red and there is a sensation of fullness in the throat and / or a feeling of a red hot ball in the throat . Swallowing is excruciating and causes shooting pains to extend to the ears .
A useful keynote symptom for the remedies Hep Sulph and Lachesis is their extreme sensitivity to the external throat . They are easily differentiated by their strong characteristic symptoms :
Lachesis is left sided with an aggravation from hot drinks and strong feelings of constriction in the throat and Hep Sulph is distinguished by a throat that feels full of splinters , a sensitivity to even a slight draft of air and very angry demeanour

21/02/2026

Tonsillitis .
There has been a wave of tonsillitis these past few weeks so I thought it might be helpful to highlight the main characteristics of some of the key tonsillitis remedies for home prescribing .
If there is fever and rapid onset of symptoms give Aconite immediately . This is more common in children than adults as the high vitality in children that can throw up symptoms quickly and with a fever is more sluggish ( therefore slower onset ) in adults . Fever with a moderate speed of onset will respond well to Belladonna . Oftentimes a well treated fever at the initial onset of symptoms will nip a tonsillitis or sore throat in the bud .
Some useful tips for home prescribing when selecting the remedy for throats are observing which side has the swollen tonsil / pain or which side is the worst for pain / swelling , what the thirst is like and the type of pain and sensation present when swallowing or not swallowing .
Belladonna has a sensation of burning . ApIs has stinging and Hepar Sulph has the feeling of splinters in the throat .
Different remedies will be indicated depending on the appearance of the throat and tonsils . A bright red smooth appearance with an enlarged tonsil on the right side ( or worse on the right side ) will always respond quickly and well to Belladonna .A puffy ( oedematous ) and pink appearance to the throat and tonsils will respond to Apis . Tonsils and throat covered in ulcers will respond to Merc Sol and Phosphorus , other factors will help you to differentiate between the remedies . For example Merc Sol will have too much saliva and Phosphorus will have extreme dryness and a great thirst for very cold drinks .
Tonsillitis with an inability to swallow solids ( better for liquids ) suggest remedies like Apis , Bella and Silica . Lachesis on the other hand is worse for liquids and finds relief from swallowing solids . Lachesis is a main remedy for left sided sore throats and the appearance is bluish - red .
If you become a good throat detective and observe closely the unique characteristics of the different types of tonsillitis , you will have great success with your home prescribing .

25/01/2026

The Homeopath's Week .

It has been a run of all the usual winter complaints this past week with plenty of Gelsemium
and Pulsatilla being prescribed for the flu and catarrhal colds around .
Pulsatilla is the top remedy at this time of year for complaints that come on due to damp air . Catarrh is a condition of dampness in the body so it is best to limit cold , damp foods such as yogurt and dairy in general and to eat plenty of warming , cooked foods , ginger and other warming spices .
Gelsemium is one of many remedies used to treat flu . The Gelsemium flu is characterised by deep aching , low thirst and chills ( usually running up and down the spine ) and deep lethargy .
I am now completely out of Kali Mur 9x until the order arrives from the pharmacy as there has been a considerable run on Natrum Phos and Kali Mur for worms . I can only think that this is the unfortunate consequence of too much sugar over the Christmas period !Thread worms thrive in an acidic environment in the gut and sugar creates this state of over - acidity . Eliminating sugar , using plenty of garlic in your cooking , the homeopathic tissue salts and other tried and tested methods ( ground up pumpkin seeds , cloves etc ) will soon return the gut to a healthy alkaline state .
Caulophyllum has worked its magic for two new mums whose babies were overdue . Advice around dosage and potency needs to come from a homeopath for this remedy and it is included in the birth kit that I recommend for women during pregnancy . It will help to soften the cervix and encourage labour when nothing is starting or progressing and can often bypass the need for induction , sweeps and invasive attempts at ' getting things going ' . Homeopaths are always happy to talk through the concerns of pregnancy and labour and to reassure women and partners with the rich selection of natural and safe remedies that are available to make pregnancy and birth easier and more comfortable .

11/01/2026

Mid - Winter Remedies and Musings .

Wishing you all a healthy and happy 2026 .

So here we are deep in the winter months and hopefully , if we are wise , taking our cue from nature and accepting that this is hibernation time and our annual chance to settle into this seasonal pause . Time for quiet planning and reflection and for using this fallow time of year to nourish and ready ourselves
for the burst of energy that Spring will generate .
Several of the tissue salts can help us to replenish our lost resources of energy , namely Kali Phos and Ferrum Phos . Seasonal weariness can be lifted by taking Kali Phos morning and evening for a few weeks and if you are low on iron and feeling tired as a result then add Ferrum Phos too .
Ferrum also helps to stave off infections by reducing inflammatory levels in the body .
If your depletion leans more to the emotional side , feeling ' strung out ' from all the festivities , Mag Phos tissue salts will help to rebalance and calm the nervous system .
Keep Pulsatilla 30 c to hand for the many catarrhal coughs , colds and sinus problems that proliferate in the damper months . Kali Carb 30 c is useful if loose Pulsatilla coughs dry up and start to produce a heaviness in the upper chest and prevent the easy expectoration of mucus from the lungs . Kali Carb will loosen everything up quickly and the lungs will clear .
Styes on the eyelids can be a sure sign of feeling rundown and for this reason they are always more prevalent in the winter months . Pulsatilla is the main remedy to hasten their cure but if the styes form a very hard mass and / or they recur , consider the remedy Silica .If they tend to pus formation , Hepar Sulph is the remedy and if they appear after an altercation that leaves you feeling humiliated or indignant then Staphisagria will rapidly help the stye and your emotions .
This is an optimum time of year to consider a consultation with your homeopath and to receive some constitutional prescribing . It will rebalance your energy , strengthen your overall immune response to the various winter ailments and ensure an easy transition into the next season .
For parents of school age children and teachers , consider a few weeks of Vogel's Ecchinacea tincture to keep the infections at bay . Likewise for anyone in regular and close contact with many people , office situations etc. As a supreme blood cleanser , Ecchinacea can flush out bacterial or viral invasion prior to symptoms developing .

11/11/2025

Tips For November .
It is late in the season to be posting out a reminder to start taking Milk Thistle drops for a few weeks . A drop in temperature is forecast for next week so offer your liver some support now as it works hard to thicken up your blood and ensure that you don't feel the cold too much . The liver does a wonderful job in thickening up the blood in autumn and thinning it again in the spring thus ensuring comfortable seasonal adaptation on our part . It's tiring work for the liver so go easy on alcohol and fatty foods at these two seasonal junctures and you will definitely feel less fatigued .
The spluttery , sneezy colds are still doing the rounds but not causing too many problems or needing much in relation to prescribing remedies . However the cough that is following on from some of these colds is responding well to Kali Carb .
The Kali Carb cough is dry and not productive . If anything is coughed up it is with a lot of effort ( and coughing ) and as the aggravation time for Kali Carb is around 2 to 3 am , this remedy is a blessing . The remedy will quickly loosen the cough , expectoration will be easy and the chest will be clear of catarrh .
If the Kali Carb state has already progressed beyond the initial phase of coughing then there is likely to be a stitching , stabbing pain on coughing , more of a wheeze to the cough and a marked aggravation from lying on the painful side of the chest . Many remedies are better for lying on the painful side as it keeps the area still and supported . Not so Kali Carb .
This is a hard sounding cough with a lot of dryness , often producing hoarseness of the voice or voice loss . Leaning forward can relieve the sore chest and cough and although the right lung is usually affected ( and worse for lying on the right side ) the left side can still call for this remedy if the other key indications are present .
I have noticed over the years how I prescribe Kali Carb far more frequently for women than men and only infrequently for children . The exception here is asthmatic children , as Kali Carb is a leading remedy for asthma and asthmatic coughs in any age group .
Kali Carb is known as one of the 3 Queens ( Sepia and Natrum Mur being the other two ) and Sulphur Calc and Lycopodium being the 3 Kings . Kali Carb often presents as Sepia in its emotional / mental aspect meaning that the patient with a dry , unproductive Kali Carb cough is often tired out , irritable and over - stretched . In my experience this is a state more commonly found in women particularly in the last weeks of the year as Christmas approaches and the workload increases at home . So if you are a woman and start to feel like an overstretched elastic band you may well benefit from some Sepia but if you also have a dry cough that wakes you at 3am , you will definitely receive benefit from Kali Carb !

17/10/2025

The Homeopath's Week .

Plenty of spluttery , watery colds around at the moment , sore throats and sinus problems .
Most of the watery colds have resolved themselves without remedies but a few have moved into the throat and Phosphorus has been the indicated remedy every time . Here is the Phosphorus sore throat picture - dryness of the mucous membrane with some swelling of the tonsils and / or cervical glands . A burning thirst for cold water , preferably iced and sparkling and yet a general sensitivity to the cold with a desire to keep wrapped up and warm . Juicy fruits , ice cream and fruit pastille type sweets are generally craved with the typical Phosphorus sore throat .
A few colds have thickened up and produced sinusitis with the main remedy being Kali B**h - stringy , viscid catarrh , worse on the left side .
Many enquiries have been coming in about the flu vaccine ( spray ) that has been rolled out to most schools in the past few weeks . Most of the parents have been asking if Gelsemium would be the remedy to give if their child stays away from school on the day of the spray vaccine but then develops flu symptoms from the vaccinated children ' shedding ' .
The answer is yes , Gelsemium would be the correct remedy if it is a Gelsemium flu . This is the most common type of flu and here are the typical symptoms . Shivery and cold with drained energy and difficulty even sitting up in bed without slipping down from weakness . Thirstless . Chills up and down the spine and a deep aching all over . The headache is a dull , heavy pain .
Fortunately many children will be having the vaccine the day before the half term break so this will greatly reduce the risk of flu symptoms spreading to those who don't take the vaccine .
Do children need the flu jab ? Absolutely not . In 30 years of practice I didn't have a single case of flu in children and then the jabs/ spray became a yearly occurrence creating a susceptibility in children that wasn't previously there . This would be true of any vaccine if given year after year . It is madness that children who would not naturally be susceptible to flu ( it is mainly an acute illness that afflicts adults ) are not only receiving the jab but in many cases experiencing flu . I now regularly treat children with flu in the winter months .
If a child is susceptible to respiratory complaints , is asthmatic or has a suppressed immune system , there are many ways to build up the child's immunity and improve their overall health including the use of constitutional and acute remedies . This is the best way to stave off winter acutes or to keep the symptoms mild .
Each year the flu jab is created by an informed 'guess ' based on the previous year's flu symptoms - it is by no means an exact science and leaves many questions unanswered .

09/10/2025

Ecchinacea - Continuing The Story .

Black Elk of the Lakota Sioux tribe of Native American Indians shared with the Swiss naturopath , Vogel , many stories about the uses of Ecchinacea by his ancestors .
There are tales of Ecchinacea being curative for poison arrow wounds , snake bites and for averting sepsis in birthing women . Without scientific research to identify the components of the Ecchinacea plant and its healing properties , Native People were able to understand that this plant contained the therapeutic properties to neutralise bacteria and thus prevent blood poisoning and sepsis .
Science has since confirmed this and today Ecchinacea is one of the most researched herbs of all . By strengthening the immune response to invading bacteria by increasing the number of phagocytes there is an almost immediate boost to the immune response .
Ecchinacea tincture can aid in the resolution of boils , pustules and abscesses . It is speedy in correcting bites and stings that are threatening to turn nasty and is essential medicine in the case of blood poisoning and sepsis - both their prevention and resolution and cure .
Ecchinacea tincture taken once a day for a week or two whenever the winter acutes start to surface ( colds , coughs , flu ) will more or less keep these acutes at bay but if you do succumb because you have lost your natural balance and alignment with nature's restorative energy , Ecchinacea will quickly cleanse the blood of any invading bacteria or viral matter and health and harmony will be yours once more . One of Black Elk's great teachings to Vogel was that we get sick because we lose balance by overtaxing our body and mind and thus become susceptible to illness . I think Black Elk was a homeopath !

06/10/2025

Ecchinacea - The Story .

Following my post on Ecchinacea the other day I was asked if the leaves or the root of the plant were of most benefit . So I dug out some of my dusty old tomes from the bookcase and found a lovely story that Vogel would tell when he was asked about the origins of his wonderful range of tinctures including of course his trusty Ecchinaforce .
Alfred Vogel , the renowned Swiss naturopath ( 1902 - 1996 ) met the great Black Elk of the Sioux Lakota tribe during his travels in the US in the 1950's . The men bonded over their shared love of plants and their medicinal properties . A deep friendship was formed and Black Elk introduced Vogel to a plant regarded as sacred by the Lakota Sioux : Ecchinacea Purpura and Angustifolia . He told Vogel that both plants were equally potent in their healing capacity and that leaves or root were also equal in their therapeutic powers .
Vogel took some of the plants back to his native Switzerland and established them in his garden noting that it took several years for them to properly acclimatise to the cooler environment and high altitude .
After cutting his foot with a scythe as he cut back long grass one day , he neglected to clean the wound and a blue line became visible from the wound up the entire length of his leg - blood poisoning . The lymph gland in his groin began to swell . Remembering Black Elk's advice to chew some of the leaves and root , swallow the juice and then place the masticated plant over the cut , he was amazed to observe that in a very short period of time the blue line faded and the swollen lymph gland was no longer visible . He continued to chew the plant and swallow its juices for a few more days , just as Black Elk had advised .
This is a lovely story to remember when we dispense our 10 drops of ready prepared Ecchinacea tincture from the dropper bottle with no need to dig up a plant and chew on the leaves and root !
Thank you Alfred Vogel for creating your trusted line of tinctures which we have come to rely on in our daily lives , and in particular the wonderful Ecchinacea .
Next post ; more on the properties of Ecchinacea which Black Elk shared with Vogel .

04/10/2025

The Homeopath's Week .

Another really busy week with the seasonal complaints dominating all else . There are even a few cases of early flu out there !
If you are in an environment where colds and coughs are prevalent , remember Ecchinacea tincture ( 10 drops in a little water for a week or two ) is a supreme blood cleanser and will help to flush out both bacterial and viral matter from the blood .This is good protection used on and off throughout the autumn and winter months for teachers , students and those working in small office spaces .
Kali Phos 6 or 9x , taken twice a day will help you to bounce back when energy levels remain low after an acute illness . Phos Ac 6c , taken twice a day for 5 days will help in cases where there is a real depletion of energy .
Last week and this week I have had quite a number of teeth - related cases so just a reminder that homeopathy can be of such help not just for teething in babies but for extractions and problems afterwards . A common complication is when there is a stubborn level of inflammation following an extraction and here Belladonna will greatly reduce the inflammatory levels . Emerald given before the extraction and Arnica , Hypericum and Staphisagria afterwards will rapidly heal the cavity . If the jaw becomes painful or misaligned as a result of the force required to remove the tooth ( more common with wisdom teeth extractions ) then Phosphorus 30c given twice a day for 3 days after Arnica etc has done its work , will relieve much of the pain .

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