Libby Clapham

Too much sun
If you have a throbbing headache and flushed face Belladonna 30 once every 30mins or so is the indicated remedy to take. Sip cool water, keep yourself as cool as you can and keep out of the sun while you recover.

If I have caught the sun on my skin I find Calendula cream can be very helpful. It is also a good moisturiser for a few days afterwards when skin can still be dry and peeling. Calendula was used during the first World War to dress wounds and is used today by many people to help healing of cuts and grazes. Worth keeping in the holiday first aid kit.

Hayfever - If you would like an alternative to anti-histamines you could try these:

Euphrasia - has burning, watery eyes which are sensitive to light and have hot tears and sticky mucous. There is usually a clear discharge from the nose and a cough during the day which is better from lying down. Tends to be worse in the evening, in wind and indoors.

Allium-cepa - has red, smarting eyes and a thin, watery discharge from the nose which makes the upper lip sore. Lots of sneezing in the morning and better for fresh air.

Pulsatilla - has either a thick or runny discharge from the nose but it doesn't make the lip sore. There is usually a thick often yellow or green discharge from the eyes with inflamed, itchy eyelids. Frequent sneezing and smell and taste are less or gone. If you need this one you are probably worse for lying down and possibly a bit peevish. Children suddenly become clingy and shy.

How to select the best remedy
Try to match the symptoms as closely as possible to the description. Remember that the information above is only a very small part of what is available to a trained homeopath and there are a lot more remedies which can be used where there are hayfever symptoms - the ones above are often useful and readily available. If you can't match exactly try the nearest - this can often help even if it doesn't do everything.

If your symptoms don't match or don't respond or stop responding to these remedies then you probably need more expert help in the shape of a full consultation where I will take into consideration more details of the symptoms, your personality, likes, dislikes etc and then select from a very wide range of remedies and perhaps use higher potencies.

How to buy and take homeopathic remedies generally
Many chemists and most health food shops stock and sell homeopathic remedies. They come in different potencies and the ones in the shops are usually "6" or "30". The best way to get the remedies out of the bottle and into your mouth is to put one tablet into the lid and then tip it straight on to the tongue - though you may not be able to do this with small children. They work best if you leave a gap of ten minutes before and after the remedy when you don't eat or drink or clean your teeth. The tablets should be sucked preferably until they disappear but for as long as possible.

A general rule of thumb is to take the tablets one at a time as you seem to need them - being guided by your symptoms. At first you might need to take one every half an hour or so but if you find that symptoms get better but then start to return sooner, take another tablet. Likewise if there is still an improvement when the half hour is up - wait until the improvement stops before repeating.

First aid homeopathic remedies, herbal tinctures and creams mentioned on this page can be obtained from:

Naturalife Crewkerne just CLICK HERE to go straight to their website.

B Natural The Strand Exmouth just CLICK HERE to go straight to their website.

Find out more or make an appointment by phoning me on 01395 267432 or 01392 412767 or email me by clicking on the link below.