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

28/07/2025

Helping Siblings Adjust To A New Baby In The Family .

Over the last month or so I have seen several cases of children experiencing difficulties and challenges in accepting a newborn into their lives . Of course there is nothing unusual about this as it represents a profound ' life - change ' for children but when natural adaptation doesn't occur and symptoms develop , rest assured that homeopathic remedies can be of real help .
The most common situation is that of jealousy . When an older sibling becomes overly possessive of mummy , pushing in between her and the new baby , particularly at feed times and reverts to earlier developmental patterns such as crawling when already walking or wanting to be on the breast when fully weaned or any other pattern that is a retrograde step for the child , Pulsatilla will restore confidence in the child as to their place in the family . Pulsatilla also helps the child to feel real pride in their developmental stage and abilities . It turns a negative into a positive and is the most commonly prescribed remedy for jealousy and sibling rivalry .
When Pulsatilla is the indicated remedy there will be many emotional outbursts , tears will well up at the slightest change in their previous routine and cuddles and one on one attention will be desperately craved . Parents are often tearful themselves at the deep sadness and need of a child so overwhelmed by the change that a new baby brings to the family . This reaction in the parents is itself an indication that the child needs Pulsatilla to set things right in his or her world . Tomorrow I will look at Lachesis for this same problem of jealousy but with this remedy a very different feeling arises in the parents towards the older child .
The essence of Pulsatilla is sweetness , kindness and passivity . When a child is in need of Pulsatilla we want to reach out with cuddles and reassurance , enveloping the child in a loving protectiveness . With Lachesis we can actually feel quite afraid of the intensity of a child's emotional storm .

12/07/2025

Sunburn .

Prevention is better than a cure of course but if it's already too late ...
Belladonna 30c as soon as possible , repeat after an hour and then 3 to 4 hours until the heat and redness begin to subside .
If there is a sensation of stinging and the affected area is puffy or slightly swollen take Apis 30c between the first and second doses of Bella .
Topically , use Aloe Vera gel .
If the burn is severe take Cantharis 30c hourly , three times and do this as soon as you can .

09/07/2025

Jellyfish !

If you live near the coast as I do then you will already be hyper alert for the inevitable shoals of jellyfish that swim in shallow waters once the weather really warms up . Both here and abroad , watch out for these sea creatures and their painful sting .
Two remedies stand out for easing the sting , pain and swelling if you are stung . Apis 30c and Urtica Urens 6c or 30c . Apis will have more swelling than Urtica along with a clear aggravation of the symptoms in the afternoon . Urtica is more indicated if the stinging is the most pronounced symptom .Pack them before leaving for a sea swim !

07/07/2025

Picric Acid .

This remedy along with Kali Phos and Phos Ac. shares the capacity to replenish energy which has been lost through the overexertion of mind such as occurs during long periods of study .
This is one of the main remedies for brain fag and the indifference and lack of will power that can take hold . There can be a tendency to simply sit and do nothing , unable to undertake the smallest task . This is a more extreme picture of exhaustion than the one we see when Kali Phos or Phos Ac. are the indicated remedies .
Sleeplessness and confusion can set in and a deep weariness of mind and body with the mental sphere being the main focus of trouble .

02/07/2025

Phosphoric Acid .

This wonderful homeopathic remedy really comes in useful during long periods of study and has a particular affinity for the teenage years .

When simple tiredness becomes depletion of energy and exhaustion , Phos. Ac. can help to restore the vitality better than Kali Phos which I posted on the other day .

Circumstances which can lead to the Phos. Ac. state developing are long hours spent studying for exams , too rapid growth such as in the early teens ( Phos. Ac. greatly supports bone health as they lengthen during growth spurts before becoming denser and stronger ) and loss of fluids through haemorrhage ( post op. , heavy periods ) and dehydration .

Most commonly we find this remedy being used around exam time when students are exhausted mentally and enter into a burnt out state .

Emotional exhaustion and ailments from disappointed love are also very much the focus of this remedy . First love in the teenage years with all of its intensity and drama responds so well to a dose of Phos. Ac. which will help to soothe the overwhelmed emotional state and prevent a prolonged grief from taking hold .

30/06/2025

Kali Phos 9x ( the tissue salt ) .

A reminder to make use of this versatile tissue salt for depleted energy .
It is really useful for children ( and their teachers ) who are struggling with end of term exhaustion . Post - exam fatigue can also be helped with this remedy but I will post on a couple of specific remedies for that tomorrow .
Kali Phos 9x taken morning and evening for a week or two can effectively replenish vitality whether it is the heat draining your energy or circumstances such as a long summer term / exams etc . It is also useful for the effects of broken sleep whether that is heat related or due to the waking of babies or children .

27/06/2025

Remedy Essentials For Glastonbury !

If you are already at the festival drop in on the hard working homeopaths on site for any health - related problems .
The key remedies to take to any festival are Belladonna 30c for symptoms of sunstroke , Nux Vomica 30c for digestive upsets ( see yesterday's post ) and hangover symptoms , Arsenium Album 30c for severe vomiting and diarrhoea , Ledum and Apis 30c for insect bites and stings and any attendant swelling and itching and last but not least , Bryonia 30c and Natrum Mur 30c for constipation when that state is the preferred option to using festival toilets 😆 . I kid you not , this is the main reason that I'm contacted by festival goers !

26/06/2025

Travel Remedies .
A basic travel kit of homeopathic remedies needs to include Nux Vomica and Arsenium Album in the 30c potency .
Nux is the ' go to ' remedy for any kind of digestive upset . It helps nausea , vomiting , diarrhoea , constipation and abdominal wind and cramps . It is a really useful remedy because often when we are abroad we can't be sure of the cause of our digestive problems . Is it the water , the richer food , the spicier food or is it food poisoning ? Nux will address all of these and in most cases it will be curative .
Arsenicum comes in if the symptoms are clearly from food poisoning ( fever , heat/chills ) and severe in spite of giving Nux . Arsenium symptoms are usually accompanied by quite a high degree of anxiety and they are typically worse around midnight .
Nux can also help with hangover symptoms and headaches from the stress of travelling and from disorder in the digestive system .
Dosage is one 4 hourly for a day reducing to one morning and evening on day two if the symptoms still require it . For severe food poisoning increase the dosage to 2 hourly , gradually increasing the time between doses to four hours and then longer . Always reduce the frequency of the remedy or stop the remedy when symptoms are definitely improving .

24/06/2025

Remedies For Travel .
Cocculus Indica and Arnica are both handy remedies for when you are travelling by boat or plane .
Cocculus is a remedy that has a strong affinity for the cerebrum and is therefore incredibly effective in stopping seasickness . More than that it will also clear up the feeling that you are still on board a moving vessel even though you are on solid ground ! This is a surprisingly common experience even days after disembarking and can cause dizziness , nausea and even vomiting . If you know that you are prone to this or seasickness , take a Cocculus 30c just before you travel and one on board if needed . It can be repeated a few times once you are on land again but this usually isn't necessary if you've taken the previous doses .
Arnica is the key remedy to take for jet lag and if it is taken pre - flight , in - flight ( every 4 hours for long haul ) and on arrival you will be amazed at how well you adjust to the new time zone .
Interestingly enough Cocculus is one our main remedies for loss of sleep due to our own illness , caring for a family member through the night due to their illness and in particular from broken nights with a newborn . It is therefore a remedy to consider for jet lag when loss of sleep is the issue and Arnica has not helped .
Cocculus can be helpful for car sickness but other remedies are more specific for the nausea and sickness due to car travel . It is the dizziness which is characteristic of Cocculus with or without nausea .

18/06/2025

Remedies For Bites And Stings .
A clutch of remedies kept at hand during the summer months can save a lot of trouble from itchy , painful and infected bites and stings .
Ledum 30c , one dose and repeated if necessary is the first remedy to take for any bite ( insects or animals) or severe sting . Depending on the severity of the bite or sting it may need to be repeated hourly for a few doses or every 3 to 4 hours . In more serious situations ,Ledum will buy you valuable time while you seek medical help as it is an anti - tetanus remedy . If a wound becomes discoloured , gapes or develops red/ purple streaks this can indicate the onset of tetanus . Wash the wound to flush it out , leave it uncovered as tetanus is anaerobic , take Ledum every 30 minutes and seek medical help .
Apis 30c is the remedy for stings or insect bites that develop a rosy hue and a puffy appearance with a characteristic stinging / burning sensation . If the itching seems to return each afternoon and has the Apis appearance you can be sure that this remedy will act fast to bring relief . Giving Ledum as the first remedy after a sting or bite will often prevent other remedy states developing but if the wound starts to look pink and puffy , feels hot to the touch and is much relieved by cold applications then switch to Apis . This is a key remedy for hives .
If a bite or sting is particularly painful and any touch worsens the pain , consider Staphisagria 30c . This is also the remedy to take if you are being repeatedly bitten by mosquitoes .
Hypericum 30c is useful when pain from a bite affects the nerve endings producing a neuralgic , shooting pain .

06/06/2025

Calcarea Carbonica .

Calc Carb. , one of homeopathy's deepest acting remedies is made from the inside of the oyster shell . The soft vulnerable oyster inside its hard protective shell creates a perfect image of what this remedy is all about - needing protection from the harsh outer world .
The sensitivity of Calc Carb. is neither the sensitive idealism of Ignatia which I discussed yesterday nor the open - hearted sensitivity of Phosphorus . Calc Carb. is too self - protective to be that open and feels too vulnerable .
This is a remedy that is badly affected by negative news and frightening world events . The reaction of Calc Carb. is to retreat ever more deeply into their 'shell ' ( home ) preferably under a soft blanket on the sofa with comforting snacks to hand .
The baseline position for Calc Carb. is vulnerability and they will avoid contact with sources of troubling news if at all possible . They are not the doomscrollers of our Materia Medica , they have an innate sense of self protection . When they are exposed to bad news they will comfort eat , retreat and fall into a morbid state of worry where everything is seen as a potential threat to their safety and security .
Calc Carb. when feeling threatened will cast around for support and safety and can become averse to everything that is not familiar .This can develop into a stultifying trap of their own making as their world becomes ever smaller in an effort to ward off perceived harm .
The uncertainties of the world as it is today is a frightening place for Calc Carb. types . A well prescribed dose of this remedy by a homeopath will soothe even the most fraught Calc Carb. and help to coax them out of their shell .

05/06/2025

Ignatia .

Ignatia , the remedy prepared from the St Ignatia Bean is prescribed for people whose emotional disposition , like Phosphorus that I described yesterday , does not easily bear a barrage of stress and strain .
Ignatia is a remedy known for its ability to ease acute shock , disappointment , the effects of bereavement and shattered ideals .
Circumstances like these can excite the inner sensitivity of Ignatia ; a sensitivity that is refined and contradictory and which finds its expression through an overought nervous system .
The circumstance can be one that affects the person directly or the circumstance of troubling world events and shocking news .
At the heart of the Ignatia state is an idealism . When this ideal vision is shattered by the reality of unfolding events it can trigger an emotional response in Ignatia that finds expression through sighing , short bursts of sobs , hiccoughs , spasms and cramps and nervous twitches .
As a remedy state of refinement and control , Ignatia holds back even the fiercest grief or shock but the tell tale signs of deep distress are all too evident . The contradiction between the person's idealism and the outer reality combined with Ignatia's depth of feeling and sensitivity can lead to complete breakdown and chaos in the nervous system . The drip - drip effect of ongoing worry and the stress it creates and the inability to make a difference or change events is then compounded by Ignatia's inability to cry or express their feelings . They have a profound sense of duty and deep sympathy for others and religious feeling often runs deep with the Ignatia person or state . It can result in turmoil in their refined nervous system and like Phosphorus , these types do well to limit exposure to the constant news feed of negative world events . More robust remedy types such as Nux Vomica and Lachesis can thrive on such input and meet it with energy and positive action . The Nux Vomica and Lachesis remedy types are frequently to be found on the ' front line ' of journalism out in the field or in the Armed Forces .

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