Explore every episode of the podcast Joette Calabrese Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Podcast 130 — Courageous Couples: Now I Feel Ready as a Mom … of 10! | 08 Nov 2024 | 00:25:57 | |
IN THIS PODCAST, WE COVER:
01:00 Introduction: Now I Feel Ready as a Mom 04:21 Finding Friends and Learning Practical Homeopathy® Through the Gateway Gateway to Practical Homeopathy®: A Guided Study Group Curriculum 05:32 The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® 06:45 Meet the Other Half of Our Courageous Couple 07:10 The Biggest Benefit of Homeopathy in His Mind Is … 09:54 Success Story: Dog and Cat Allergies 10:50 Success Story: Food Allergies 11:32 Success Story: Cataract, Acne and Brain Fog Skin, the Ugly Truth: Safe, Effective Treatment of Skin Ailments, Chronic or Acute, with Homeopathy Mindful Homeopathy: Practical Protocols for Mental and Emotional Conditions 13:47 Success Story: DVTs, Blood Clots, Varicose Veins 14:58 Success Story: Wasp Stings The Survivalist Guide to Homeopathy 16:41 Success Story: Fear of Loud Sounds 18:33 Success Story: PTSD 20:28 Success Story: Colds and Flu 22:05 Closing Advice Gateway to Practical Homeopathy®: A Guided Study Group Curriculum The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:Joette’s Study Group, Find Your New Study Group Friends
Kate: This is the Practical Homeopathy® Podcast, episode number 130. Joette: Hi, I’m Joette Calabrese, and I welcome you to our health care movement — yours, mine and the countless men and women across the globe who have re-taken control of their families’ health with Practical Homeopathy®. So, for the next few minutes, let’s link our arms as I demystify homeopathy — what was once considered an esoteric paradigm — into an understandable, reproducible, safe and effective health care solution available to all. This is the medicine you’ve been searching for — my unique brand of homeopathy, PRACTICAL Homeopathy®. INTRODUCTIONKate: (01:00) Hi, I am Kate, and I want to welcome you to the podcast. We’re so glad that you’re here. I want to thank you also for taking the time to learn about homeopathy. It’s such an important medicine. It’s going to have a huge impact on your life. So, if you’re new here, we want to welcome you. On today’s podcast, I have a lovely, precious woman. Her name is Franicia, and I know that you’re going to love her. It’s just amazing stories that she has to share with us today. So, I want to dive right in because there’s a lot to cover. So, I want to welcome Franicia to the podcast. Hi Franicia! Franicia: Hi Kate. Kate: It’s so great to be here with you. I would love for the listeners to get to know you. So why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself? Franicia: Thank you. Well, I am a mom of 10 beautiful children and my husband Tim. I look forward to joining us briefly later on. And we live in Florida. We used to be a military family, retired now, and I’m originally from the tropical island of Saipan, the U.S. territory. Kate: Wow, that’s so interesting. Where is Saipan? You have to tell us. Franicia: Saipan is a 30-minute flight from the island of Guam in the Pacific. Kate: Oh, okay. And you lived there until you were how old? Franicia: I lived there until I was 17, and then I went to the Naval Academy Preparatory School, and then the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland where I met my husband. Kate: That’s very interesting. And for those of you listening, you can’t see Franicia, but she’s this very petite woman, and she’s also very strong. So, were telling us the other night when we were studying together that you have some degrees in … was it you’re a black belt? Franicia: Yes, I’m a black belt in karate (aikijutsu). Kate: Wow. So anyway, it’s just so ironic because you’re so petite and tiny and cute. So, watch out for Franicia. Thank you for sharing that. And I’d like to also hear a little bit about your story and, how you were introduced to homeopathy and your journey. Franicia: Well, as most of us were introduced to homeopathy through health issues, I had been studying herbalism, and I had significant health issues. And I tried Arnica — like most of us have — about a decade ago. Didn’t know what I was doing. Then somebody gave me a Hyland’s kit, tried to help me with mastitis. Again, I didn’t know what I was doing. And then a church friend heard about Joette and wanted to start a study group. I wasn’t able to join. It wasn’t on Zoom, though I had asked at the time — that was around 2019. And then, about a year or so later, a friend really wanted to help us with some significant health issues, and she thought the best way that we could learn how to use the remedies — because we didn’t understand — was by studying Gateway. So, she became my first Gateway leader. And I only had a bandwidth of about an hour cumulatively in a day for my brain to understand anything, let alone homeopathy. FINDING FRIENDS AND LEARNING PRACTICAL HOMEOPATHY® THROUGH THE GATEWAYKate: (04:21) Again, those of you who don’t know Franicia, she had some serious health issues and really struggled for quite a while. And so, learning this was a huge undertaking for her. And so, what she’s referring to when she said “Gateway” is the Joette’s Gateway to Practical Homeopathy® study guide, and that’s usually done with a group of people. It’s pretty neat because you study with a group of people — though you can do it on your own — but these people usually end up staying together and become a wonderful resource going forward in your life. Some of my best friends are people that I met through this study, and I’m sure that’s the same for you. Franicia: Yeah, very much. That was so wonderful because it is a very dear friend, who you know. Noreen was my first Gateway study group leader. And then I wanted to learn more, and I looked online and found you, Kate … you and Michelle … Kate: Yes! Franicia: … and been hooked ever since. I took the Gateway courses many times from the two of you and then took all the protocol courses and then now — so thankful to the Lord for the opportunity to be part of The Academy of Practical Homeopathy®. THE ACADEMY OF PRACTICAL HOMEOPATHY®Kate: (05:32) So, The Academy is the yearlong school, which provides students with a whole, complete foundational education in homeopathy from the unique perspective, actually, of Practical Homeopathy®. So, you’ve been starting that, and it’s been a couple of months. And I would actually love to know what you’re finding the most interesting or something surprising from The Academy. Franicia: Oh, wow. Interesting or surprising? I love the way that Joette answers all our questions in APH in a very intimate setting. I had heard about it, but just to actually see how it’s being handled … I think it’s really awesome. It’s just learning from somebody who’s a master at Practical Homeopathy®. It’s so wonderful. You hear about how great it is, but you don’t realize until you’re actually a part of The Academy. It’s more than just studying the protocol courses. It’s so much more. Kate: Awesome. Well, thank you for that. I know you have a lot of stories to share, but before we dive into those stories, I wondered if Tim could join us for just a minute, and I would love to pick his brain on a few things. MEET THE OTHER HALF OF OUR COURAGEOUS COUPLEFranicia: (06:45) Yeah, sounds great. Tim: Hi, Kate. Kate: Hi. Thank you for being here. I wanted to speak to you and have you speak to those men who are listening to this. Because we don’t often hear from men, and we are seeing more and more men studying homeopathy now, which is really great. I wanted to ask you a few questions and get your perspective, if that’s okay? Tim: Yeah, absolutely. THE BIGGEST BENEFIT OF HOMEOPATHY IN HIS MIND IS …Kate: (07:10) So, I wanted to start by asking you what is the biggest benefit that you’ve seen from you and Franicia learning homeopathy together?, Tim: Well, one of them is the ability to get away from some of the pharmaceuticals that can be toxic and also expensive. We’ve been able to treat a lot of ailments with homeopathic remedies, even for me personally. And I’ve been able to get off of a medication that was affecting me in some pretty significant ways. And then for Franicia, she’s had some pretty significant health challenges, and I feel like I’ve gotten my wife back in the past three years largely because of the effects of homeopathy. So, very thankful for that. Kate: Yeah. What made you decide to learn homeopathy? Tim: I think seeing those benefits and wanting to be able to support Franicia, and also understand how to use homeopathy for myself, and how we’re using it … how Franicia was recommending that use for me. And also to be able to help my children and to be able to help Franicia if she’s feeling poorly. There’ve been some times where I’ve been able to repertorize things for her and help her. And I see my responsibility as husband and father to provide for my family and to protect them as a provider and protector. And a lot of times that seems like I need to do that financially. I want to do that spiritually. I want to do that medically as well. And so, wherever I’m able to, I try to learn more and be that provider and protector as much as in my power. And so, I really encourage men if they have that opportunity to learn to just at least get that baseline, that Gateway I and II can provide. But also, if they don’t have that bandwidth to do what they can to support their wives if their wives are interested in learning. Because homeopathy, it can be very empowering for kind of independence and kind of confidence and peace of mind for the family. Kate: Well said. Thank you so much. I know you have to get back to what you were doing, so I’ll let you go, and I want to pick Franicia’s brain some more about some of the success stories that you guys have seen, so thank you. Tim: Okay, sounds good. Thank you. Kate: Okay, Franicia, you have a lot to share. You have given me a list of all the ways that homeopathy has helped you and your family and those you know, and it was a long list! And you said that’s just a small portion of the list that you have, so I can’t wait to dive in. So, go ahead. Start. Tell us how homeopathy has helped you and your family. SUCCESS STORY: DOG AND CAT ALLERGIESFranicia: (09:54) One of the great ways that homeopathy has helped our family is that one of my daughters is allergic to or was allergic to a number of things, and specifically dogs and cats. And she was using a remedy at one point. It was helping her dog allergy, among other things. And then I studied the Allergic?! course and heard about the cat allergy protocol. And within two doses … she took it, and her cat allergy was gone. This was really significant because we were exposed to cats, where you can get adjusted by a chiropractor at either her office or her home, where she has her cat or cats. And I used to have to change my clothes when I came home, and she used to have to take a shower every single time because she was getting allergic reactions with her eyes, with her lungs, and now we no longer have to do any of that. So that’s just been very helpful for her with that specifically. SUCCESS STORY: FOOD ALLERGIESFranicia: (10:50) Another way in which she has gotten benefit from the remedies with her allergies is that she used to have certain food allergies. A bunch of us actually have. We’ve a number of our family members used to be very allergic to wheat or specifically gluten, and some had dairy intolerance. And now my daughter can eat dairy when she was very allergic before. She’s able to have gluten. A number of us are able to have gluten without having a significant muscular issues or a reaction with their tongue, certain gut issues. Some of us have to still calm it down and not take it too much, just like Joette has mentioned. SUCCESS STORY: CATARACT, ACNE AND BRAIN FOGFranicia: (11:32) And while my daughter, who had removed a bunch of her allergies through the use of some of these remedies, we started noticing in the very beginning that she has a congenital cataract. And her vision went from 5% to 80% vision. And she was seeing black and white in that eye, and then she was able to see in color. So, now she’s using glasses to kind of help her with her eye, but she never got to use that eye before. Kate: Wow, that is incredible. I didn’t know that. How did you find what remedies to use for that? Franicia: So, it all started out with Gateway. We took the Gateway course. And actually, she was trying to find an acne remedy, and she found a bunch of remedies that matched her. And so somewhere in Gateway, and eventually we learned that some of the remedies she wanted to use were in Allergic?! and Skin as well. And she was able to take the teenage acne protocol, which was awesome for her skin. And that very evening after her taking the teenage acne protocol, the redness in her skin went down, and then the burning sensation went down, and then eventually, her face started to clear. And so, she’s been on and off that protocol for the last two or more years — maybe two and a half or three years. And so, it’s just been so phenomenal. Kate: And your daughter and some of your other children have started learning homeopathy as well, which is so exciting. I know, oftentimes, you’ll tell me that one of your daughters looks up what you need or one of the kids needs, and she finds it, and that’s very exciting. Franicia: Yeah, very much. That’s very exciting as a mom because they not only learn how to use the remedies where they can help out and be able to help me out with a bunch of things. My other daughter was able to use a different remedy for her acne, too, and that helped her with her studying because it fit. It’s in the Mindful course of the college student remedy or when you have exhaustion, the intellectual fatigue. And so that was able to help her with the brain fog, the fatigue, and also a bit with the acne. It took a bit longer with her, but the brain fog was helped first, more so than the acne. SUCCESS STORY: DVTs, BLOOD CLOTS, VARICOSE VEINSKate: (13:47) I would like to hear next about the person who you helped with DVTs, blood clots, varicose veins, et cetera. Can you tell us about that? Franicia: Yeah, so there was a person who I helped who had had multiple DVTs in their calf and ankle, so blood clot issues and also had varicose veins. I mentioned the fact that there was also varicose veins because the protocol for that is the same thing. And it was just so amazing because this person had been hospitalized many times due to their DVTs. They were getting side effects from the medication. They were getting fatigue and weakness, digestive issues, and they were able to be able to wean off of and get off their medication and doing really well and no blood clots. And it doesn’t even appear as if the person has varicose veins in their legs anymore. It was very prominent when you would see it before. Kate: And from what you said, this person was really struggling. I mean, this was very serious. And so to have this of a recovery from this is amazing. Franicia: Yeah, very much. Life-changing. SUCCESS STORY: WASP STINGSFranicia: (14:58) Another thing I love about homeopathy is that now I feel ready as a mom. And my son, or one of my boys, came to me and said he got stung by a wasp. This time, a lot more. He said they were actually biting him, and then stinging him. And there were about five of them. And he was in so much pain. I think his pain scale was between an 8 or a 9. And his eye started to swell a little bit. But there was so much pain. And I was able to find a good frequency from the Allergic?! course. I even opened up my Survivalist binder. And you can find different remedies, which was awesome. It was so amazing to see how his pain around his eye reduced down to zero in less than an hour, just giving him Apis according to the frequency that’s mentioned in the course. And then the pain was gone. He felt fine, but as he slept in the night … the next day, he woke up, and he looked like Rocky. It looked like someone punched him in both eyes, and his eyes were swollen shut. And so those pictures, as you see, as I wanted to know, “Oh my, how should I give him these remedies?” Sticking to the protocol with the frequency, and it was helping, even if there wasn’t pain, there was swelling. And to see that swelling just reduce so much before lunch and then, especially, by the evening times, it’s amazing. Kate: Those wasp stings are super painful, super painful and scary. So yeah, I don’t know what I would do without homeopathy. I just got attacked recently by a swarm of wasps, and it was not fun. Okay. What else would you like to share with us? SUCCESS STORY: FEAR OF LOUD SOUNDSFranicia: (16:41) Let’s see. I have a young boy — one of my little boys — who was very affected by loud sounds, thunder, lightning. Joette writes about in her blog how you could use the Phosphorus remedy and with fireworks. And I had that remedy ready, but I didn’t get to use it quite yet. I had it. And he covered his ears one birthday of his. We were singing Happy Birthday. And having 10 children, I’ve never seen this before — where a kid will cover their ears as you sing Happy Birthday. It’s a very happy moment. And when he would see the Blue Angels fly above with the jets; he was so scared with fireworks. He wanted to stay inside. Everybody else was fine with it. Well, this past July 4th, we were over at a friend’s house, and they had a big gathering. And he was in the pool, and he was sticking his fingers in his ears. I didn’t know that one of the neighbors was going to have a fancy display, and it was so loud. It was beautiful. But he was just trying to play around. But he was bothered by the fireworks, so he was covering his ears. And I decided to give him Ignatia. And it was amazing because in less than a minute, he started taking out his fingers from his ears. He was splashing around and playing. And then he said something I never thought I’d ever hear him say because he was only a few years old at the time. And he said, “Mommy, I want to go to the fireworks.” So, he got out the pool, and he ran out. And I have a picture where he’s staring, and he’s loving it, and he’s watching the fireworks go off. And later that evening, the fireworks went off again. There was a new set, and he was telling me how much he loved the fireworks. And he didn’t need another remedy. He was like, “I love it now.” Kate: Oh, wow. I love hearing these stories. Do you have anything else? I think … oh, speaking of someone that’s afraid (but it’s a shock more so), do you want to tell us about the PTSD? SUCCESS STORY: PTSDFranicia: (18:33) Yes. That was just so phenomenal for me. So, my husband was almost killed by a terrorist during a terrorist attack in Chattanooga, July 16th, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. And though it had been many years since a terrorist was outside of his building and tried to kill him and, unfortunately, killed a number of men there, that greatly affected our whole family. And I was very much frightened by the event, and I was very concerned about safety and security. We were living in Texas at the time that I learned Gateway. And we were living near cartels, and I just had fear about safety and security. So, we were going to a new church, and I saw that they were near the border, and it wasn’t in the best area. This was El Paso. And I started getting very nervous. And after learning Gateway, Joette teaches to carry Aconite 200 because you never know when you’re going to need it, if you feel that fright or shock even after so many years. And I’m so glad I had that, too, because I was getting almost like a panic attack. I was very concerned, and I was wondering if we were going to have lots of guards at this new church because I didn’t know. I was just coming up all these thoughts. I was very concerned, but I took a dose. And I had this great calm I had never experienced in all those years. And then it started to come back to a little bit. I took a second time, and I was fine for that Bible study. I was fine after that. And I was never concerned when we went to church. And I could care less if there weren’t any guards at every door like I was hoping — which doesn’t happen at churches — but that really gave me my life back after all those years of having that kind of PTSD. Kate: That is life-changing, isn’t it? I know that you have so many more stories, but maybe let’s just end with, let’s talk about how you and your family respond to colds and flu. SUCCESS STORY: COLDS AND FLUFranicia: (20:28) I spoke to my children, and I said, “What’s one of the greatest things that you’re so thankful for from homeopathy?” And they mentioned their own key stories. But almost all of them said the same thing that I felt — and my husband, too — is how we can manage colds and flus. Because sometimes you have body aches or you don’t feel well. You have headaches; however you might feel. It’s so awesome because we have it in Gateway. In Joette’s blog, she teaches about that awesome combo from the Banerjis, Aconite and Bryonia. And then, of course, Boiron has come up with their Oscillococcinum. Those are some of our top remedies, and that has replaced our use of a bunch of herbs that we used to use. And even when a time when some herbalists weren’t sure if you should use elderberry a few years ago for certain illnesses that came up. They’re like, they’re not sure if you should have certain types of herbs. It’s just so wonderful that this has been a main staple. It’s been phenomenal. On top of adding other remedies for cold and flus that we’ve been able to tackle so many things that we could hear in the lungs. Or when my voice was hoarse, and I was losing it. I took the Aconite and Bryonia combo, and my voice came back. I mean, just so many things. It’s just wonderful. Kate: These are really great examples of how homeopathy can be so powerful. And you have so many more, so we’ll have to have you back some other time to share more. So, I imagine with 10 children, you have a lot of opportunities to use homeopathy. Franicia: Yeah, I think so. CLOSING ADVICEKate: (22:05) So, as we finish up the podcast today, would you just share a couple of tips — things that you’ve learned and maybe would be helpful for those who are listening? Franicia: Yes, I would love to. I definitely want to encourage anybody who’s listening: Learn from Joette as much as you can. There’s a lot of free information: her blogs. Do the Gateway courses — many times. Once, is not enough. And join Mighty Members, if you can — especially, Mighty Members Plus, where there’s a special Q&A. I encourage you to also purchase the protocol courses and take them just the way Joette says. She says to take them at least four times. It sounds impossible. It’s doable. It can happen because it’s not enough to just get a protocol. But within the protocol courses, Joette explains how to differentiate between sometimes two protocols for the same condition. Or the need to be able to take certain remedies that you don’t want to take it just for anything. And so, she fleshes it out. She really teaches you really well. And lastly, if you can, join The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® and beyond. I know beyond that’s Mastery™ and then Mastermind. Because you learn so much about these remedies and it’s just life-changing for yourself, your family, and the people that God puts in your path. Kate: Yeah. And you had something else. Franicia: Oh, I do. I wanted to add that Joette has a lot of golden nuggets of wisdom. And if she says something more than once, definitely do it. And so, she mentions all the ways you can learn from her. I encourage you to learn from good study groups. But Joette likes to mention that we should buy remedies and start with kits. And especially focus on your family’s needs because you never know when you might need them. And that’s happened for us. Plan for emergencies because you won’t be able to use remedies if you don’t have them on hand. And lastly, I know if I encourage a lot of people, not just Joette, but Joette says to take good notes. And I want to add onto that is if you can, try to take any electronic notes that are searchable and printable if you can, because you can print those notes. But also, if you’re looking up something you’ve studied or a need or a symptom — whatever it be — you could type it down, and you’ll be able to find it through your notes and be able to use it. Kate: Oh, this has been so fun. I look forward to talking with you some more. And I know those who are listening will really enjoy hearing your stories. So, thanks for being with us, Franicia. Franicia: Thank you, Kate. This was an honor. I’m very thankful to the Lord for this opportunity. Joette: It’s my honor to share many lessons on this simple method of using homeopathy for free —without affiliates or advertising — here in my podcasts, but also my blog posts and Monday Night Lives. But it’s critical that you learn how to use these medicines properly. These podcasts should serve as only the beginning of your training. Peruse JoettesLearningCenter.com to find fun study group opportunities and in-depth courses developed by subject. So, with the proper training, you can join the thousands of students before you in developing the confidence and competence to protect the health of your family and loved ones with my brand of homeopathy, Practical Homeopathy®. Kate: You just listened to a podcast from internationally acclaimed homeopath, public speaker and author, the founder of The Academy of Practical Homeopathy®, Joette Calabrese. Joette’s podcasts are available on all your favorite podcast apps. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit for your health strategy, visit PracticalHomeopathy.com. | |||
| Podcast 131 — Practical Professional: A Homeopathic Veterinarian Empowers Her Clients | 22 Nov 2024 | 00:24:31 | |
https://joettecalabrese.com/podcast1/131-homeopathic-veterinarian-empowers/%20%20
IN THIS PODCAST, WE COVER:
01:00 Introduction: A Homeopathic Veterinarian The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® 02:23 A Small Animal, Holistic Vet 03:33 Veterinary House Calls (and Homeopathy) 06:50 Organizing Homeopathic Medicines 08:59 Isn’t It Harder to Treat an Animal? 11:49 Success Story: Bee Sting 13:01 It All Starts With the Food 18:48 Success Story: Oral Tumors 20:55 Homeopathy Provides Better Quality of Life 22:03 Freedom of Choice for Clients ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:Gateway to Practical Homeopathy®: A Guided Study Group Curriculum Joette’s Study Group, Find Your New Study Group Friends The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® Kate: This is the Practical Homeopathy® Podcast, episode number 131. Joette: Hi, I’m Joette Calabrese, and I welcome you to our health care movement — yours, mine and the countless men and women across the globe who have re-taken control of their families’ health with Practical Homeopathy®. So, for the next few minutes, let’s link our arms as I demystify homeopathy — what was once considered an esoteric paradigm — into an understandable, reproducible, safe and effective health care solution available to all. This is the medicine you’ve been searching for — my unique brand of homeopathy, PRACTICALHomeopathy®. INTRODUCTION: A HOMEOPATHIC VETERINARIANJoette: (01:00) Hi, Janie. Janie: Hi Joette. Joette: Is that your trailer that you’re in? Is it a trailer or an RV? Janie: It’s a truck. It’s a Ford E-450. It’s 26-foot long. I have a DOT number. If you’d have told me 30 years ago, I was going to be a truck-driving, practice-owning, holistic vet, I’d have told you, you were nuts! Joette: Yes. Janie: You can see the remedies in the background hanging. Joette: I see that. So, you have them hanging. Oh, so much to talk about here, Janie. I’ve got so much I want you to tell us about. Please pronounce your last name because I don’t want to ruin it. Janie: Well, I go by Dr. Janie, and it’s Wilson. But I’m married to a Schreibeis. Joette: Schreibeis. Janie: But I’m Dr. Wilson. Joette: Okay. That makes it super easy Janie: Easy to pronounce. Yeah. Joette: Yes. Hi, Dr. Wilson. It is such a pleasure to get to know you better. You’ve been in The Academy for one year, right? Janie: Well, when it started this summer, yes. We’re on Week 13, something like that. Joette: You’re moving along into it now. You haven’t gone a full year. You’ve gone … yes … you’re into Week 13. It’s very exciting to have you. So, I wish that I could describe to people — and I’m going to try to do that with your help — what I’m looking at here. But tell us what you do. A SMALL ANIMAL, HOLISTIC VETJanie: (02:23) Well, I mean, I do a lot of things. But, so, I’m a small animal, holistic vet. I graduated from Purdue 30 years ago. They just had their 30-year reunion — I couldn’t go. And I, just a few weeks ago, celebrated 10 years of my practice. It’s called On a Roll Housecalls. Joette: “On a Roll.” ROLL because you’re on wheels. Janie: I am! I thought that was clever. And I’m on a “role” … doing what I’m supposed to be doing. So, I have a 26-foot truck that is my vet office. I have … in the background, you can see I got digital X-ray. I have an ultrasound — point-of-care ultrasound. I have it back in the back room. I can do blood work, like a 12-panel in 12 minutes. I have two different lasers. I have homeopathy. You can see in the back there. That’s my favorite … favorite modality to use. But I’ve done some Chinese herbs, western herbs and nutritional food supplementation. Not synthetic … Joette: Different than, yes, than synthetic. Big difference. VETERINARY HOUSE CALLS (AND HOMEOPATHY)Janie: (03:33) Yes. And so, I can do house calls — obviously in the truck. But I’ve gotten so busy with my holistic practice that if I’m driving, I’m not seeing patients. So, a lot of times, I stay parked, and they come to me where I am in my office. That way, I can get a lot more patients seen. I live in southeast Indiana. They’re coming from Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and I even had one come from Tennessee. So … Joette: When they come in, Dr. Wilson, do you have a waiting room? Janie: No. Joette: So, in other words, you’re seeing one at a time, and they need to maybe stay in their car and wait a while? Or they can sit there, perhaps, and sit off to the side a little bit. Is that how you work it out? Janie: Well, outside the truck … the truck is parked inside a storage unit. Joette: Okay. Janie: So that way it’s protected. And there’s kind of an office. I call it the kitchen. There’s a little table and chairs, and people can wait there. But the way I schedule it, there’s not tons of people coming in. Joette: Yes, yes. You know how long it takes to see each patient. Janie: Yeah. Which is a lot longer than what I call “fast food medicine.” So, you know, a new patient … Joette: By the time you palpate, and you do a couple of tests, and you ask the questions, et cetera, then yes. Then it can be a lot longer. Certainly. Certainly. Janie: Yeah. It’s at least an hour visit for a new patient. Joette: Yes. What are your follow-ups like? How often do you follow up and for how long are each of them? Generally. Janie: My clients can text me. So, a lot of it’s that way through texting. We’ll check on them; see how they’re doing. We will plan a recheck if needed, if things aren’t going the right direction. It just kind of depends, but … Joette: But on an average, that’s about how it works. And how many patients are you seeing in a day? Janie: That also will depend on if these are well-checks, puppies or if it’s a chronic. Again, people are finding me because I’m doing my best to get to the root of the problem. And they’re coming to me with seizures or skin problems or thyroid issues or whatever it is. That takes a lot more time. Joette: Yes. Janie: It could be five or six to 10 in a day. Joette: Yes. Yes. And so, when you say small animals, will you take goats? Janie: I’m more of a … Joette: Cat/dog? Janie: Yeah, cat/dog. Cat/dog, yeah. Joette: Okay. So how about smaller? How about a bird? Janie: I have seen about every kind of species in the past when I worked for other people, and the last bird I saw bit my finger. Right before I had to play. I’m a guitar player, and I had to play at a concert somewhere. And I’m like … I X-rayed my own finger because I was afraid it was broken! So, that was about the last time I saw a bird. ORGANIZING HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINESJoette: (6:50) What a great story. So, Janie, I have to say, I’m looking at your door that’s open, and you’ve got a hanging … kind of a vinyl, almost like a — not quite shoe holder — but maybe a shoe holder. And you’ve got the remedies in there. So, you must have them in alphabetical order. Janie: Want to go see? Joette: Let’s go visit. I would love to be able … Janie: We’re going to a little, so this is the back room. My technician, Erin, is amazing, and she keeps me organized. So, they’re in alphabetized. These are like her jewelry or hair ties, things like that. Joette: Yes. It’s an excellent method. Yes. Janie: So, we’ve got them in order by potency and alphabetical order. We have one in the bathroom, too. So, that’s more the 30 potencies. Joette: Yes. Yes. So, you use a lot of 200s? Janie: Yeah, I would say. Joette: And you’re using Banerji protocols. And probably before you even came to our Academy, you were using some Banerji Protocols too. Is that right, Janie? Janie: I was. I bought the Banerji book because I’ve listened to you for years — probably seven or eight years. I found you on Facebook, and just … I was like, “Oh my gosh! You’re my people!” Your teachings, your philosophies, everything just resonated. So, I’m building a practice, but I’m trying to soak in everything. All your Lives I could watch. Or I’d look things up on the blog, and then I’d apply it to my practice. And I tried Banerji Protocols before I probably really even knew what I was doing. But it had success. And so just to be able to be a part of your Academy this year is just a dream come true. And I’ve learned so, so much, just in … Joette: I love it. Janie, I love … it’s people like you with great curiosity. And I mean, you don’t go to sleep at night, right? Janie: There’s no time for that. Joette: No, I know. ISN’T IT HARDER TO TREAT AN ANIMAL?Joette: (08:59) So, people always ask me this question: Isn’t it harder to treat an animal because they don’t tell you how they feel? I have my answer for that, but I’d like your answer because you are the expert in this on a day-to-day basis. Tell the listeners how they can expect to get the right remedy if they’re not having answers being given to them verbally. Janie: Well, it’s the symptoms. And I can ask a good history of the owner. Well, that’s being a vet, period. The dog’s not telling me anything, so I have to go off of history, symptoms, blood tests, things like that. That’s what I have. Joette: Observation. Janie: Observation. Joette: It’s a keen sense of observation. Yes. And the longer you do it, I’m sure your observational skills become even more keen. Janie: Yep. Joette: Yeah. Because you may have missed it five years ago, but this time, you’re not going to miss that again. Janie: Right! Joette: Yeah. It’s fascinating. Janie: Well, I’ve learned what to look for. Joette: Yes. When you know what to look for as a vet — even as a conventionally trained vet — and you know what to look for as a trained homeopath, when you mesh those two together, that really is a recipe for better success than one would expect without being able to ask a question that’s answered verbally. Janie: Yeah. I feel like having this additional knowledge just gives me such a leg up on everything for treating my patients. And I’m just so thankful to have this medicine. I believe it is God’s medicine, and I’ve used it in my family so much, especially here lately. And as a vet, I want to empower my clients. I don’t want them to need me all the time for this drug or that drug, or an antibiotic, or this or that. I want to teach and empower them. So, when I get a new young mom with a puppy that comes in, I tell her about you. And I make her write it down in her phone or whatever, because we use homeopathy right away with certain things. And so, if they haven’t heard of it — which a lot of my people have because again, we’re kind of run in the same circles, so they seek me out because I do these things — but I recommend they get a homeopathic kit to just have on hand. And some of my new puppies, my clients can just text me. And then it has saved emergency room visits because I’m like, “Get your kit out. This is what you need.” They’re panicking in the moment. So … Joette: Yes. SUCCESS STORY: BEE STINGJanie: (11:49) Like a bee sting. I had a little puppy got stung by a bee. She’s panicking. I’m like, “Now you’ve got your kit. Get your kit out.” And we did Apis, and she’s like, “Within five minutes, it was like it never even happened.” Joette: Yeah. There’s no other medicine quite like that. Janie: Exactly. And knowing that I’m maybe stirring the curiosity of these moms to not just for their dogs, but for their families. That’s what I’m excited about. Joette: Yeah, you want them to have the power over their lives that they thought they didn’t have. Janie: Yeah. Joette: I wish people could see what I see right now in your background. It looks like an ER. Janie: Yeah. Joette: I mean, it’s perfection. It looks like a medical room. Not only does it look fresh and clean and shiny and organized, but it looks like you’ve got every piece of equipment, any vet or doc would ever want. Janie: I do. And more. I do laser therapy, and we can do dental cleanings in here as well. Joette Really? Janie: Yeah. IT ALL STARTS WITH THE FOOD!Joette: (13:01) So, what are the most common — I’m sure you were figuring I would ask you this question — what are the most common conditions that you treat? I mean, generally speaking, top five or 10. (Maybe let’s go with five.) Janie: Skin, gut. Same as people. Joette: Yeah, just the same as people. Janie: They’re eating the same junk food that we are. So, they’re getting the same diseases, the same gut issues, the same leak — whether it’s leaky gut, whatever … Joette: Irritable bowel. Janie: All the same stuff. We’re seeing the same cancers. We’re seeing diabetes. They get heart … Joette: Anxiety. Janie: Oh, anxiety’s huge. Huge! Joette: Yes, yes, yes, yes. Well, it’s generational. When you think about the generations of dogs before — especially if they’re bred — how many generations they’ve had before them that have been injected and treated, injected … foods, et cetera, et cetera. Canned food. Yes. Janie: Yeah, exactly. Joette: So, what do you recommend as a general diet? I’m sure that you adjust it somewhat accordingly, but … Janie: Well, I feed raw. Joette: You’re talking my language, Janie. Yes. Janie: Okay. I have one dog. He’s a little Chiweenie; his name is Rudy. He was our child replacement when our daughter went off to college. We needed, needed a new dog. So, he’s 10 pounds; so he’s not very big. So, I know, especially these days, affording these kinds of foods are harder because just even our food at the grocery store is difficult. But he gets raw that comes already balanced and everything. Joette: So, it’s got some organs in it. Janie: Yeah, organ meat. Joette: It comes frozen. Janie: Yes. Organ meat is huge. It’s so important. Joette: For animals … dogs. Yep. Janie: Yes. My heart patients: I recommend they feed hearts. Joette: So, you must be a Weston A. Pricer. Janie: I have become that way. Yes. And my daughter, daughter-in-law, son and new grandbaby are that way as well. And I’ve got them using homeopathy for the baby. Joette: Doesn’t it make your life easier that it’s just … everyone gets it? Janie: Yeah. Joette: Everyone gets it. Yes. Yes. So, do you have a local pet store that carries this raw meat that’s mixed for animals? Janie: No, it’s all online. They ship it on dry ice, that kind of thing. Joette: Yep. Yep, it’s an excellent idea. And then you stock up; keep it in the freezer; defrost it the morning of; then, that night they get it probably. Right? Or defrost it the night before, and there it is. Janie: Yep. He looooves it. Joette: He loves it! Well, that’s fabulous because I had a dog — and you’ve probably heard me talk about Buster — who was raised … it was a home birth. I mean, we had his mother with us. Janie: Oh, my. Joette: He was born. That litter was at home. So, he was not tinkered with. And they were raised on raw milk, raw eggs from our own chickens. The milk was from down the road. I gave them raw meat and organ meats. And then a switch flipped in him. He did not want that when he got much older. It was very hard for him. He would not eat it. And so, I would still mix in the raw egg yolks. I would still mix in some raw milk. I would put in a little bit of meat with the organ meat and flesh. But he was really fussy, and he would only eat this — I’ve forgotten what kind of kibble it was. It killed me to give him kibble. I did not want to do that. But he wasn’t eating, so I just ended up doing it. My guess is you have a better solution than what I came up with Janie: Gently cooked. Sometimes when they’re older, they just can’t handle the raw. Joette: Well, that is what I did. I would gently cook it. You’re absolutely right. I would put it in a little bone stock and just — yes — and simmer it a little bit Janie: In Chinese medicine — and I’m no … by no means a specialist in Traditional Chinese Medicine — but “old and cold.” That’s what happens. They get old and cold, and so … Joette: They need warmth. They need the warmth. Janie: They need the warm food. So, a lot of my senior dogs, I recommended more gently cooked. Joette: Okay. Well, then I don’t feel too bad about it. I put very little of that kibble in, and we thought it was pretty decent. But it was still kibble. Really did not want to put that in there. But it encouraged him to eat the rest so that it didn’t … and I did gently cook it. I’d forgotten that that’s exactly what I had done. So, well, I feel a little bit better about that. He did live to 18 and a half for … Janie: That’s amazing. Joette: Yeah. Poodle and Bichon. So yeah, it is good. It’s good. Yes. So, this has been fascinating, Janie. I don’t want to take too much more of your time. I wanted people just to get a feel for how you work. Can people contact you and work with you online through Zoom or other medium? Janie: So, I will say I’m pretty busy already just with my local practice. And currently, even if I were — and I was doing telemedicine consults even before COVID (I think post-COVID, that became more of a thing) — but it’s harder for me to schedule because I’m already booked out several weeks in advance. But it’s something I’m considering. But timing is hard. I am busy. So, I guess if you’re in this area and are willing to drive to Southeast Indiana where I’m at, I’m happy to … Joette: Well, I hope you inspire other vets by them listening to this story and that other vets can be inspired so that we can get more and more vets on this path. This is important work. SUCCESS STORY: ORAL TUMORSJanie: (18:48) Yeah, and I had sent you the before and after pictures of those two patients of mine that had oral tumors. Joette: Yes, thank you. Again. Yes. Janie: Oral tumors. That was the Banerji Protocol for oral tumor that I used. Joette: Yes, ma’am. Janie: And again, I know homeopathy works. I know it does. I know it’s amazing. But when it does, I’m like giddy. “Oh my gosh!” Joette: I know. I know. I know when it’s something that dramatic. I’ll tell you, Janie, after all these years — I’ve been doing this for 36 years — and I have to say that when I see a case such as that shift, it still gets me excited and happy. I should just take it in my stride. But you can’tbecause when you see someone turn from such a paltry state to robust health, it’s a heady experience. Janie: It was a 12-year-old black lab who … he basically just wanted palliative care. And I had, I guess, just learned and got from the OHM pharmacy, the remedy for the oral tumor. And I had it in a liquid on the truck. I asked him, I said, you know … He was willing to try it. And in like six weeks, it totally shrank. And I had to find out from his wife at the bank! He didn’t tell me! But she’s like … Joette: Sometimes people, they believe in it, and we don’t. [laughter] Janie: We bought that dog better quality time. And even just looking at the dog, you can see the before and the after, just a return to better health and not in pain — as much pain — and quality of life. And then in the second one, it was another dog. Completely shrank in six weeks. This oral tumor that was deforming the nose and the eye … it was starting to affect the eye, and it completely shrank. And that was on Maggie. The first one was Fancy, was her name. But Maggie lived another year and a half ‘til almost 15. HOMEOPATHY PROVIDES BETTER QUALITY OF LIFEJoette: (20:55) And that’s what we’re looking for is quality of life. Do we want them to live eternally? Not on this earth. We want everybody to go at their right time, but we don’t want them to suffer on the way there. Yeah. It’s quality of life. Yes. Janie: They can live with it. And we didn’t need the diagnosis. We didn’t need the biopsy. We didn’t need this and that, and spend thousands and thousands of dollars on the tests. I mean, that can be done. We can refer you if you want to do that. But it acted, and it was just incredible. So … Joette: Then suddenly those kinds of things begin to look — not in every case. Certainly, there are times when we do need tests — but sometimes we can start looking at it as these tests being superfluous. How much do we really need this test? Let’s give this a go. See how this protocol acts. If we don’t see a shift and we need to still need to know more, okay, now we can potentially look at another possibility. But to be able to have a first-line protocol and be able to move right ahead into it right away is really very freeing. FREEDOM OF CHOICE FOR CLIENTSJanie: (22:03) I always give clients their options. I can always refer to a specialist, or we can do these things. And I always give informed consent about things because that seems to be lacking somewhat these days. And then a lot of them don’t or can’t spend the money on things like that. And they’re willing to give it a try. And now they’re just, they’re believers. Joette: They’re hooked. Janie: Yep. Joette: They’re hooked. And they’ll soon have a bag contained in their closet, a hanging on the door with all of their remedies, all organized. Well, Janie, it’s been a privilege, really. I’ve so enjoyed this and thank you for agreeing to this. And I’m hoping that it inspires not only other vets, but just people in general to see that someone professional, such as you, is counting on this to such a degree. So, thank you again for meeting with me today. Janie: Well, thank you, Joette. It’s my pleasure to meet you. Like I said, I’ve just admired you for so long, and just to be a part of your Academy is amazing. I’m learning so much. Joette: I love it. I love it. Take care of yourself and all of your dogs and cats and small animals, and I’ll see you in class. Janie: Okay, thank you. Joette: Alright, bye now. Janie: Bye-Bye. Joette: It’s my honor to share many lessons on this simple method of using homeopathy for free —without affiliates or advertising — here in my podcasts, but also my blog posts and Monday Night Lives. But it’s critical that you learn how to use these medicines properly. These podcasts should serve as only the beginning of your training. Peruse JoettesLearningCenter.com to find fun study group opportunities and in-depth courses developed by subject. So, with the proper training, you can join the thousands of students before you in developing the confidence and competence to protect the health of your family and loved ones with my brand of homeopathy, Practical Homeopathy®. Kate: You just listened to a podcast from internationally acclaimed homeopath, public speaker and author, the founder of The Academy of Practical Homeopathy®, Joette Calabrese. Joette’s podcasts are available on all your favorite podcast apps. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit for your health strategy, visit PracticalHomeopathy.com. | |||
| Podcast 132 — A Medic Firefighter with a Decisive Advantage: Practical Homeopathy® | 06 Dec 2024 | 00:29:29 | |
IN THIS PODCAST, WE COVER:
01:00 Introduction: A Medic Firefighter 04:21 A Childhood Chock-Full of Health Conditions and Stymied Doctors 08:38 Searching for an Alternative to Conventional Medication 10:19 Side Effects From Conventional Meds Were a Call to Switch to Homeopathy 12:04 Proof of Efficacy: Without Homeopathy, the Symptoms Returned 15:44 It All Started With The Gateway to Practical Homeopathy® Gateway to Practical Homeopathy®: A Guided Study Group Curriculum Allergic?! Escape Allergies, Chemical Sensitivities, Food Intolerances, and More with Homeopathy: Practical Protocols to Get Your Life Back The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® 18:44 Success Story: Avascular Necrosis 19:47 Success Story: Concussion 22:26 Success Story: Dental Surgery 25:15 Planning for the Future The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® Gateway to Practical Homeopathy®: A Guided Study Group Curriculum 27:14 Closing Advice ADDITIONAL RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST:Joette’s Study Group, Find Your New Study Group Friends Kate: This is the Practical Homeopathy® Podcast, episode number 132. Joette: Hi, I’m Joette Calabrese, and I welcome you to our health care movement — yours, mine and the countless men and women across the globe who have re-taken control of their families’ health with Practical Homeopathy®. So, for the next few minutes, let’s link our arms as I demystify homeopathy — what was once considered an esoteric paradigm — into an understandable, reproducible, safe and effective health care solution available to all. This is the medicine you’ve been searching for — my unique brand of homeopathy, PRACTICAL Homeopathy®. INTRODUCTION: A MEDIC FIREFIGHTERKate: (01:00) Hi, I am Kate, and I’m so glad that you joined us today. If you are new here, I want to welcome you and let you know that you are in for a treat. I have an inspiring guest with me today, and I can’t wait for you to meet him. If you’ve been with us for a while, I want to commend you for continuing to study homeopathy and helping those around you. You are inspiring in what you do. So, on today’s podcast, I want to ask you a question. Have you ever wondered if homeopathy really can uproot chronic illness? If so, this podcast is for you. I’d like to introduce you to a sharp young man who has done not only just that but is now studying homeopathy to help others. In fact, he just graduated from The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® and will be starting the Mastery™ program soon. So, I’m very excited for you all to meet Nigel. Welcome, Nigel, to the podcast. Nigel: Hey Kate, thanks for having me. Kate: We would love to get to know you a little bit. So, tell us about your life. Nigel: Alrighty then. Well, I’m a mid-20-year-old medic firefighter. I’ve been a medic firefighter now for about seven years. Got into it when my dad passed away. My brother convinced me to go through EMT, and then I ended up using that EMT to get my first job with a transport company. Some other things that I’ve really enjoyed doing is the hobby farm that I’ve grown up on. Done a lot of outdoor stuff: shooting, construction and hiking. Those are some of my favorite activities. A lot of high activity, outdoors, lots of risk. I tend to end up injured. Kate: Oh, no! Nigel: Particularly with farm work. Lots of interesting injuries or just exposures to woods and stuff like that. So, that’s really been useful to be a medic firefighter, put a lot of that into use. So, yeah, that’s basically where I’m at, what I do right now and the things that I’m interested in. Kate: Nigel, you’re supposed to help other people in your profession, not have to use it with yourself! Nigel: Yeah, that’s what most people think, and I’ve only had to use it on myself a few times, thankfully. But my siblings/friends had a lot of very interesting experiences, where out in the wild, people were getting bug bites, poison ivy, cuts — had some very, very unique stuff just in my close-knit group as we go through life together. Kate: Yeah. Oh, well, I wish you lived near me because it would be nice to have someone I knew in that profession, for sure. My family always tells me I tend to be accident-prone, but I don’t think so. Anyway, let’s find out more about your upbringing and some of the chronic health conditions that you had that led you on this journey to healing and now to homeopathy. A CHILDHOOD CHOCK-FULL OF HEALTH CONDITIONS AND STYMIED DOCTORSNigel: (04:21) Yeah, so I’ve had a lot of health issues my entire life. Besides the accident-prone self that I am, I have had chronic headaches since like 10 years old … food allergies out the window. I think the highest I ever got up to was 52 allergies. Ended up also becoming allergic to the cold — breaking out in hives and welts and stuff. Kate: The cold? Nigel: Yep. The cold … didn’t know it was a thing. Went for a cold plunge with some friends, and I came out glowing like a light bulb, looking probably pretty well welted, all of ’em from head to toe, just welts. So, yeah, no, I found that out. That was a very interesting experience, but I’ve done a lot of natural care for that. Growing up, I went to my primary care doctor, and, basically, he said he didn’t have anything for me because of my headaches and the allergies that I had. He said he could prescribe pain meds but nothing else. So, with that, my mom — because I was so young — took me to a naturopath/chiropractor. I spent the next — I want to say — 10 years working with them, trying to address my health issues and trying to get my headaches under control, get my allergies where I could actually eat food. (‘Cause I had a super restricted diet.) Ended up, once I got my EMT, I really wanted to join the military, and so, I’d been pushing myself, try and get myself physically ready, get some health issues addressed. And I took a year with my chiropractor/naturopath to really try to work on everything I could. I basically said, “Sky’s the limit for money. I want to get this addressed. I want to get where I feel better — good enough where I could join the military and go serve in a combat zone.” So, she laid out a very detailed plan. I was meeting with her every month. We did a whole lot of physical training, dietary changes, just trying to nail it down. What was my cause, right? That’s the biggest question that we all ask. And in nine months, I had gotten worse. And that’s uncommon when you’re an 18-year-old, and you’ve cleaned up your diet. You’re working out, and you’re getting sleep, and you’re doing all the things that you’re supposed to be doing. It’s just very uncommon to have that experience where you get worse. Kate: Right. Absolutely. Nigel: Yeah. So, the doctor looked at me and said, “Look, I think you have a bigger problem than a dietary issue or an environment issue or a physical fitness issue. I think you might have POTS, but I don’t have the testing capability to do that. We got to send you to a cardiologist.” And at this point I was trying to get out of the job that I was doing. I’d been working transport for a year at this point, seeing all these sick, injured people all the time, not being able to do anything for ’em. And basically, I was explained that I probably would not be able to pursue any of the things that I wanted to do — military, fire department, or even construction at that point — because I was getting lightheaded, dizzy, all of that. So, I ended up going to a cardiologist. Spent a lot of money at the cardiologist running tests and got a confirmation that I had POTS, which is, for everyone out there, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. That’s basically where you become hypotensive just by standing, and your body runs in a chronic state of dehydration. So, a lot of interesting things that come with that: the dizziness, the blurred vision, gut issues. So, yeah, it was like the key. You know what? I finally found the issue that was causing all my health problems — what most people hope to have, hope to hunt down. And the cardiologist did a great job. He was a specialist for POTS. He ended up getting me on a medication. SEARCHING FOR AN ALTERNATIVE TO CONVENTIONAL MEDICATIONNigel: (08:38) But in that time period of me spending all this time and money, my mom started looking for an alternative to the medication that my doctor prescribed for a lifelong issue … trying to reduce the exposure to medication because medications have side effects. And I’d been working in EMS at this point for a year and seeing all the laundry list of medical issues and how people just keep going up in medication. They start with one, and they get more as their issues just snowball out of control. So, my mom was concerned. She was trying to find something that would address this POTS issue that I had. So, she came across homeopathy. We had known a little bit about it just because of dealing with our chiropractic/naturopathic, but we had just kind of used it for acutes. Arnica was our main go-to. But outside of that, no real experience. Came across a protocols for heart issues by the Banerjis. And after reading up on stuff, my mom suggested that I actually just start with some cell salts. And this is about the time that the doctor gave me the green light for me to go through Fire Academy and pursue that … because I’ve been able to address my issue with the midodrine that he had prescribed me for the low blood pressure. So, my mom started me on cell salts, and I made it through academy. I really didn’t know anything about any cell salts or homeopathy — what I was doing — but I really appreciated my mom’s support of me trying to make it through this process. I just kind of followed along. SIDE EFFECTS OF CONVENTIONAL MEDS WERE A CALL TO SWITCH TO HOMEOPATHYNigel: (10:19) But as I was going through academy and graduated from Fire Academy, which was about a nine-month process for me, I developed some side effects to the medication. They weren’t there at first. They weren’t originally a problem that I had, but they just started getting really bad. One of them was leg cramps — very common side effect with midodrine — but they were getting bad — really bad for me. And I started working with my doctor — the cardiologist — trying to adjust what we could do, change some stuff. Nothing was really working. If I dropped the medication lower, I got my headaches more frequently. And worse, if I took it back up to what it was, I got these other side effects. So, my mom found the Banerji Protocols at this point. And once again made a recommendation that … try out some of these other homeopathics, more than just the cell salt that you’re taking. So, I started on Crataegus, Hamamelis, Arnica and Lachesis — all very good homeopathic medications for cardiac issues and blood pressure issues and vaso-vascular. So, I started on that. And then, my insurance changed, so I had to stop with my doctor. My doctor was no longer covered, as my employer transferred over to a different group. So, I ran out of medication. I ran out of the midodrine that I was on and realized I really didn’t have another option. And all symptoms that I was looking for to come back when I stopped my midodrine, came back with far less. And I was taking the homeopathic medications, and I was like, ah, coincidence … maybe? PROOF OF EFFICACY: WITHOUT HOMEOPATHY, THE SYMPTOMS RETURNEDNigel: (12:04) But I ended up just forgetting to order — reorder — the homeopathics, and some of those symptoms came back. So, I was like, I’m actually experiencing a difference with these homeopathics that I wasn’t experiencing with the medication. Not only did my symptoms go away of the POTS, but also I wasn’t getting the side effects that were coming along with the midodrine. So, I was at this point, sold that what I was taking was actually doing me some good. And I did that for about a year and a half, and then almost all my symptoms are gone — completely gone. I don’t take any of them on a regular basis anymore, which is unheard of for POTS. “You have it and you’re going to be with it for life,” is what I was told, and it just kind of gets worse if you don’t manage it. I have been ecstatic since then. So yeah, that’s basically how I got with homeopathy and seeing what I was doing in the paramedic field and the fire EMS. I wanted to hopefully one day bring what helped me to the people I was caring for. And that started me into looking into learning about homeopathy — trying to figure out what place to go to school, or even just find a homeopathic provider that could help me with other issues or help my family with other issues. So yeah, that’s the summation of my health issues and my journey to the start of homeopathy. Kate: So, what came next? How did you get connected with Joette and start going to school at The Academy of Practical Homeopathy®? PRACTICAL HOMEOPATHY® WAS THE ANSWERNigel: (13:44) Yeah, so the starting of the investigation of our school with my medical experience as a paramedic, I was really looking for a college or some sort of licensing agency that I could go to, get some experience with homeopathy, and get someone to teach me how to use it. So, I started reading up a whole bunch about it, trying to find a school that got me where I wanted to go. I was already paramedicine. I already wanted to be — or hoped to be — a doctor one day. I was becoming very interested in this other medicine that I really just didn’t know a whole lot about. And I was not finding a lot of expedient, clear way to education for homeopathy. And back to my mom, she had found the Banerji Protocols in her search for caring for me, and I was really intrigued. And the Banerji Protocols look like and act like the protocols that I use in the back of an ambulance — where a doctor’s done all the research; they’ve done all the studies; they know, “Hey, these symptoms — nine times out of 10 or eight times out of 10 — this is the medication that you’re going to give, and this is what we want you to do.” And the Banerji Protocols was like an exact mimic of that. This is your symptoms; this is your issue; this is what you need to start with. Kate: Because the Banerji are doctors, and they’re doctors and homeopaths. So, in India, you have to become a doctor — an MD — before you can become a homeopath. Nigel: Yeah. And just their clinical experience as a doctor, reading the X-rays, reading the test results, doing the cardiac exams, all of that information that I was used to seeing as a paramedic, and they had the information and science to back up why they were saying what they were saying. And that was really impressive. IT ALL STARTED WITH THE GATEWAY TO PRACTICAL HOMEOPATHY®Nigel: (15:44) So, Joette was the only place that I could find that was giving any information and teaching more about the Banerji Protocols and how they used them. And I got a Gateway book, and I sat on that book for about a year just sitting there. I had flipped through it. I hadn’t really started in on this journey yet. It’s all just still been kind of self-study, but I was really looking for a degree or some way that I can move forward in helping people. As I just continued in my paramedic journey during COVID, seeing people not have any other information out there and me not being able to give them other information … me not being able to give them any hope that there was an actual solution to their health issues. I really started honing down on I need to go someplace. Right about this time, I came across a study group for the Gateway class, jumped into that, and I loved it. I loved the group of people that I got to hang out with and the broad spectrum of experience. The guy leading it was a pharmacist for years — retired pharmacist. So, he had a lot of experience, a lot of medical experience. He had seen everything that I had seen in the medical field, of the medications and the complications that I was having. So, it was really cool to just have his leadership as I went to the Gateway class. Then I did Gateway II, and then I did a self-study with a couple of the other guys on the Allergic?! class. Really love that. Really got to put that into practice just with myself and my family with some allergies that we were dealing with. Nigel: (17:29) And because I had taken those little classes, I found out about The Academy of Practical Homeopathy®. And that was amazing! Like, hearing about it. And I was right there. And it was a nice, neat package of all the Banerji Protocols and the experience that they had translated to the U.S., put into a year format. And, you know, it’s The Academy. It’s a lot of schoolwork; it’s a lot of money. But at this point I’ve spent well over probably a couple — a couple — college degrees and medical expenses at this point, trying to fix my issues. And I had gotten my issues fixed with 50 bucks of homeopathic medication. And I was like, well, if this could have prevented me from spending the thousands and thousands of dollars — if I can help someone else prevent them from spending thousands of dollars — I wanted it. So, I jumped in, and I got accepted and that was really exciting. And then I just graduated about what, two months ago? Something like that? And I’m really looking forward to putting it into practice. I’ve got some great stories already of times that I’ve been able to help people, and it’s just making me want to go farther. Kate: So, tell us some of those stories. Give us a couple examples of what you’ve done. SUCCESS STORY: AVASCULAR NECROSISNigel: (18:44) Ooooh, yeah, so I got a few good ones. The most recent one was actually just a friend of mine or friend. They’re having avascular necrosis, causing extreme pain. And avascular necrosis is where you’re no longer getting blood flow to the bone, and it causes bone death — bone deterioration. And he was just in a lot of extreme pain. And back during The Academy, I told him, “Hey, look, here’s some homeopathic medications that might help.” And he took it and kind of sat on it. He sat on it for about nine months, and then he reached back out to me and was like, “Hey, what are those medications again?” I was like, “Hey, yeah, this is what they were.” And he started them, and he is — like within 24 hours — his pain was gone. Gone. He’s like, “I’m still not a hundred percent — not back to full function — but the extreme pain that I’ve been dealing with for months is gone. And that’s awesome. SUCCESS STORY: CONCUSSIONNigel: (19:47) Then I had another friend, he reached out to me. He had been dealing with a concussion to the point where he couldn’t work anymore for two months. And he’d been doing all sorts of stuff — doing what the doctor recommended: bed rest, avoiding lights. He couldn’t look at his phone; he couldn’t drive. His life had been just utterly shut down by this. And I ended up making some recommendations. And the first recommendations — as we waited for the second recommendation to arrive in the mail — they gave some relief. They weren’t magically, everything gone. But then, when the second one arrived, he started on that one. And 24 hours, he could function again. He was able to go back to work. And then he’d been out of work basically for two months at that point. So, those are just some of them. Kate: That’s incredible. Right? Two very powerful, dramatic examples of how homeopathy really changed these people’s lives. That’s incredible. Nigel: Yeah. The medications cost $40 … $60 in total. Kate: Yeah, the homeopathy. Nigel: Yeah, for the homeopathy. For the couple of different homeopathic medications, and that was it. SUCCESS STORY: SEPSISNigel: (21:02) Or I had a septic case. We were out doing some volunteer work. We were going to be there for eight days or so, when they got a septic infection on their leg. And it was really preventing them from working and doing what we came to do. And we were looking at going to the hospital. And I had brought my homeopathic kit. And I was like, “Well, we can start with this.” And it’s sepsis. It doesn’t turn around fast. But within a couple hours, we were able to address the main pressing issues, prevented going to the hospital, ambulance bills … $600 to $800, an ER visit’s a couple thousand. And we were able to prevent all of that and loss of time from our work that we were doing with the homeopathic kit that I had … that I had brought with me. And there’s just relief! No expenses! So, just another really cool experience to be able to see and be a part of. Kate: Wow. I know I never leave home without homeopathy. I’m sure you’re the same because you never know what you’re going to encounter. And these medicines are so powerful. Nigel: Yes. Kate: It’s incredible. Before we move on, I know you’ve covered a lot, but I do want to hear about … there was a dental surgery that you had talked to me about earlier. Can you share that? SUCCESS STORY: DENTAL SURGERYNigel: (22:26) Yeah, so it was actually me. So, there’s a dental emergency. I developed a cavity, and it was causing me some extreme pain. They had to go in, drill it out, and in doing so, they really came close to the nerve … if not hit the nerve. Typically, when you’re dealing with dental stuff, they prescribe you some medication — Advil or Tylenol, something like that, if not some other narcotics. But I started with some homeopathics beforehand. Kate: What did you use before? I’m curious to know. Nigel: I started with Hypericum and Arnica. And the reason why is because I was already in pain. Hypericum is great for pain. And Arnica … I knew that they were going to be … Kate: There’s trauma … Nigel: … trauma going on. They’re going to be doing the lidocaine. They’re going to be drilling, holding my mouth open to be able to do the work. That’s just kind of what I went with. And then, coming out of that, they gave the lidocaine so they can do this. So, it’s numbed up. And so, I immediately — as soon as I got out there — started taking some homeopathics, but I wasn’t really focused down, or I just took some Hypericum, the Arnica again. And about the two-hour mark past my dental care, I developed excruciating pain, and I really had to jump on it with something. And I was like, well, I got to do something for this. Started rapidly taking some Hypericum, ended up also taking Symphytum and Ruta because the biggest part was the fact that I’d had my mouth open for four hours. It had locked up my jaw and everything like that. And within an hour or so, the pain was down to a manageable level. And I was able to go through the following week with just homeopathy taking care of it. No ibuprofen, no Tylenol, no hydrocodone or any other narcotic for the pain. In my experience with the 911 stuff, is all these medications — particularly the narcotics — cause addiction. They cause other issues. You have to take other medications like Zofran to go along to prevent you from getting nauseous or vomiting with them. And it was just really cool not to be able to have to do that. Or the alternative was that it was causing pain and do the root canal. That was going to be, potentially, if I could not get ahold of the pain with something else (because of them hitting the nerve, because they thought they had hurt the nerve). And I didn’t want a root canal — cause lots of pain — potential for a lot of stuff to go wrong. So, I was really, really excited that I was able to take care of it with homeopathy and avoid a root canal. PLANNING FOR THE FUTUREKate: (25:15) Homeopathy has really impacted not only your life, but people that you know. And I’m excited for you to continue your studies in Mastery™ and see where you go from here. Can you just briefly tell us what are your plans going forward? Nigel: Jumping into Mastery™ with Joette again to try and get a head start on me putting what I learned in The Academy into practice. And I’m really hoping to be able to start reaching out and possibly help teach some of these Gateway classes to my friends and family and other people who are interested — coworkers — to try to give them some alternatives. So, I just really want to be able to help people be able to help themselves. Kate: Nice. Nigel: And that’s my goal. Mastery™ is right there with that and making it more proficient for me to do that. Kate: So, for those of you listening who have never heard of The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® or the Mastery™ Program or Gateway to Homeopathy, we’re going to provide some links for you with this podcast on the notes … so on JoetteCalabrese.com, her website where the podcast will be located. So, don’t worry if you’re in the car driving and you want to find out more, but you don’t have anything to take some notes that those will all be there on the podcast notes on JoetteCalabrese.com. So, The Academy, like Nigel was saying, is a year-long program. And then there’s Mastery™, which is 11 months, which takes you from your foundational learning of homeopathy to now — like Nigel says — you’re learning, going deep into repetorizing and case-taking. So, I’m excited for where this is going to take you, and I look forward to hearing about your adventures in another podcast. Let’s meet again. Let’s get together. As we end today. Nigel, give us some words of wisdom. What would you like to share with people or leave people with today? CLOSING ADVICENigel: (27:14) I would say take courage. There’s a quote that I really enjoy and let me see if I can get it real quick. It’s by C.S. Lewis — big C.S. Lewis fan — and it’s this, it says, “Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means at the point of the highest reality.” And medicine health issues, they get scary; they get intense; they will test your metal and your desire to do good and your will to continue your life freely. And you’re going to need courage to get through it to search out the right answer for you and your health journey. So, those are my words of advice. Kate: I can tell you’re a deep thinker, Nigel, Nigel: Thank you. Kate: Yeah, it’s been great. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, and I look forward to meeting with you again. Nigel: Alright, I look forward to meeting with you again, Kate. Joette: It’s my honor to share many lessons on this simple method of using homeopathy for free —without affiliates or advertising — here in my podcasts, but also my blog posts and Monday Night Lives. But it’s critical that you learn how to use these medicines properly. These podcasts should serve as only the beginning of your training. Peruse JoettesLearningCenter.com to find fun study group opportunities and in-depth courses developed by subject. So, with the proper training, you can join the thousands of students before you in developing the confidence and competence to protect the health of your family and loved ones with my brand of homeopathy, Practical Homeopathy®. Kate: You just listened to a podcast from internationally acclaimed homeopath, public speaker and author, the founder of The Academy of Practical Homeopathy®, Joette Calabrese. Joette’s podcasts are available on all your favorite podcast apps. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit for your health strategy, visit PracticalHomeopathy.com. | |||
| Podcast 133 — The Intriguing Story of Georgie and Bryonia | 20 Dec 2024 | 00:23:41 | |
IN THIS PODCAST, WE COVER:
01:00 Introduction: The Story of Georgie 04:35 Which Specific Homeopathic Medicine Might Have Helped? 06:44 Aconitum napellus and Bryonia alba 08:56 Are These Medicines Always Used in Combination? 12:53 Bryonia Is More Valuable Than People Often Realize 15:12 Be Grateful for The Occasional Cold 19:07 Rest Is Important 21:26 Listen to The Masters ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:Joette Calabrese on YouTube (Monday Night Lives) The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® Gateway to Practical Homeopathy®: A Guided Study Group Curriculum Joette’s Study Group, Find Your New Study Group Friends Kate: This is the Practical Homeopathy® Podcast, episode number 133, with Joette Calabrese. Joette: Hi, I’m Joette Calabrese, and I welcome you to our health care movement — yours, mine and the countless men and women across the globe who have re-taken control of their families’ health with Practical Homeopathy®. So, for the next few minutes, let’s link our arms as I demystify homeopathy — what was once considered an esoteric paradigm — into an understandable, reproducible, safe and effective health care solution available to all. This is the medicine you’ve been searching for — my unique brand of homeopathy, PRACTICAL Homeopathy®. INTRODUCTION TO THE STORY OF GEORGIEKate: (01:00) Hi, I am Kate, and I want to welcome you to the podcast. We’re so glad that you’re here with us today. I want to thank you for taking the initiative to learn about homeopathy, which will have a big impact on your life. So, if you are new here today, we want to welcome you, and we’re so glad that you’ve joined us. On today’s podcast, I’m joined by Joette. Hi, Joette! Joette: Hi Kate. Kate: Hi. And you have a story to tell us today, and I’m excited to hear it. So, let’s just dive right in and hear about the story of Georgie. Joette: Yes, this is a story about Georgie. This is not my story. This is Dr. James Compton Burnett’s story. He’s the author of a number of books, but one book that I have read chapter by chapter over the past year or so to Joette’s Mighty Members. And that’s something you folks might want to consider joining because you’ll hear me teaching and teaching and teaching there. So, I read this book chapter by chapter, and one of the first chapters from this book: “Fifty Reasons for Being a Homeopath.” Dr. Compton — James Compton Burnett — authored this book back in the 1800s. And he was a medical doctor — conventionally trained medical doctor — in London and the area around London. And so, he worked in a large hospital, and he describes how — before he became a homeopathic physician, and he was still conventional — he worked in this large hospital. And there were a lot of people that were dying around that time from — I think it was around … it was in winter. There were some beds that were no longer available. And so, there was a young man who worked in the hospital. My guess is he was the equivalent of an orderly. His name was Georgie, and he described him as a waif, I think … pretty sure that was the word he used — and that he was just a “fixture” in the hospital. And he actually lived in the hospital because he didn’t have a home. And it was the benevolence, of course, of the administration and Dr. James Compton Burnett, that Georgie was able to live there and work there, and he was fed and taken care of. Dr. Compton Burnett was in his office when he saw somebody — another orderly — pushing a gurney past his desk and he said, “Oh my goodness. Who is it now? Who just passed away?” The man who was pushing the gurney along said, “Sir, I’m sorry. It’s Georgie.” And he had a tear in his eye because this man, Georgie, was quite loved by the staff at the hospital. And it touched Dr. Compton Burnett deeply because of course he knew him and was fond of him. Years later, after learning homeopathy, he recognized that the reason that — likely — that Georgie passed away — got very sick with pneumonia and passed away — was because he — Dr. Compton Burnett — had told Georgie that he couldn’t stay in this room because they needed the beds. He had to stay in that room. And this room was warm and cozy in the cold, damp winter of London. And that room, where Georgie had to stay, was drafty. And he realized later that it was the draft in which he caught cold and ended up with pneumonia in short order. And he reminisced — is it “reminisced” the word? I guess he suffered from his decision — from not having known that Georgie could have stayed in that drafty room — but once he got sick, he should have been given a specific homeopathic medicine. WHICH SPECIFIC HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE WOULD HAVE HELPED?Joette: (04:35) Now, he didn’t talk about this medicine right away — the one I’m going to mention — but he did talk about Bryonia. Now, the first medicine I would think of is Aconitum 200 because it’s from a draft. Kate: Right. Yeah, that’s what you would expect. Joette: I would expect it too … that it was a quick onset. It was from a draft: cold, dry air. Cold, even damp air. And I would’ve thought of Aconitum. Now, he didn’t say that though. He was thinking — Dr. Compton Burnett — was that the medicine was likely Bryonia. And had he given Georgie Bryonia — had he been trained in homeopathy — then he would’ve likely saved young Georgie’s life. So, here’s the story. This is what I want you to know about Bryonia — and also Aconitum, for that matter. Aconitum is the first step towards a quick onset of a cold — a chest cold, especially bronchitis or pneumonia, pleurisy, et cetera. Upper respiratory, lower respiratory infections, we think of Aconitum first, and then we can also use Bryonia. Now, Dr. Compton Burnett didn’t include Aconitum because he was emphasizing the importance of knowing how to use Bryonia. The Banerji’s have a protocol, which is Aconitum 200 mixed with Bryonia 30 for exactly this kind of a situation. And Dr. Compton Burnett was unfamiliar, of course, with the Banerji protocols. So, he would have used simply Bryonia. So, there are a couple of points that I want to make with his story. One is what the uses of Bryonia and Aconitum are, and two, but there are many ways to skin a cat. We needn’t go with only one way, or that Dr. Burnett’s way was wrong, and the Banerjis were right, or vice versa. But rather, these protocols and these methods of using our medicines are developed by the use of these medicines and developed from the need for the medicine. ACONITUM NAPELLUS AND BRYONIA ALBAJoette: (06:44) So, for Aconitum, I want you to remember a quick onset — at the moment, the first moment of an illness. By the time Dr. Burnett may have gotten to Georgie, it may have been he’d already developed pneumonia, perhaps Aconitum might’ve been secondary. I still think of it as primary, but he might’ve seen it as secondary. And the primary medicine was Bryonia. So, here’s a description of Bryonia. It is especially right-sided in the lungs. So, pneumonia on the right side, and the person finds that they must lay very still because any movement can cause coughing if it’s in the lungs. If Bryonia is needed for a headache, any movement of the head can cause more pain. So, it’s worse from movement. The need for Bryonia informs us that the person is suffering anytime they move. They’re better if they lay on the painful side. And I think that what that does is that perhaps the reason is because it holds the person in place and movement is less likely because they’re firmly placed in that position. Worse from taking a deep breath. Why? Because it’s movement of sorts. So, the person may breathe in a shallow fashion to avoid inspiring too much air and making the movement too grand. So, it is a medicine that is specific for a cough that is worse from movement. The person moves a little bit in the bed, and that causes coughing. And I’m focusing mostly on respiratory because I’m hoping that we get this information out during the winter months, and my guess is we’re going to be doing that. So, I want you to remember Bryonia as a wonderful remedy for chest infections. And often when the cold travels to the chest, and the person actually has a cold travel to the chest, and the person perhaps has a history of that “Every time I get a cold, it goes to my chest.” Often that is a call for Bryonia. ARE THESE MEDICINES ALWAYS USED IN COMBINATION?Kate: (08:56) So, we’re talking about Bryonia. We talked about Aconite and the Banerji Protocol of Aconite and Bryonia. So, I’m curious, Joette, if a person has a cough or something that’s developed into a cough and something in the lungs, would you employ the Banerji protocol of Aconite and Bryonia, or are there times where you simply use Bryonia alone? Joette: I’m glad you asked that because I hinted on it a moment ago, but I didn’t fully explain it. I think that the reason Dr. Compton Burnett did not consider Aconitum and Bryonia is because it had already developed. Aconitum is for the onset of a cough, at the onset of pneumonia, at the onset of a cold that feels like perhaps it’s going to travel down to the chest. But Bryonia is when it’s a little more ripened. So, if it was days later that the person got the cold, then turned into the sore throat, then it went into the chest, turned into a cough, hence, developed into bronchitis or pneumonia, then I would lean a little more towards what Dr. Compton Burnett suggested, and that is simply using Bryonia. Whereas if Georgie had said to Dr. Compton Burnett, “You know what? I got a chill from sleeping last night in that drafty room, I don’t feel so well today.” That would be, my sense, a good time to use Aconitum either alone or in conjunction with Bryonia as the Banerjis would use. Kate: Okay, that’s helpful. But I’m still curious because I know there’s been times where you’ve mentioned go back to Aconite and Bryonia together, even when the person has been sick for a while. And I have actually found that useful when you’ve said that. Because like you just mentioned, I think of Aconite and Bryonia for the onset of an illness. So, then when it’s developed, and it’s maybe four days into something, I tend to abandon the Aconite and Bryonia and go with maybe something else. But you’ve said, “No, go back to the Aconite and Bryonia.” So, I’m curious, when would you go back to the Aconite and Bryonia? Joette: Well, for one thing, Bryonia — let me just say this for a moment —Bryonia can have anxiety, but Aconite has tremendous anxiety. So, if the person is really anxious, fearful of getting pneumonia, fearful of the illness growing bigger, fearful of dying, or thinking that this will be their demise — they’ve been through this before; they know what this is like, and they’re pretty frightened — that would establish a tighter need for Aconitum. That’s one. The other is if the illness came on with a quick onset, and yet it’s four days into the ripening of the illness, I might still consider using Aconitum mixed with Bryonia. So, I don’t know that I can give a hard and fast rule, but it’s how the person is experiencing the disease. How the person is emotionally, physically; how long it’s been; how fast it came on. Quick onset is a very important key in determining homeopathic medicine — whether it’s a slow onset or a quick. If it’s quick onset, then I automatically think of Aconitum, especially if there’s anxiety — a great deal of anxiety. Belladonna is another great medicine for quick onset, but that usually develops into a fever — those kinds of … hot and high temperature. But for cold or something like that, I might still revert back to Aconitum. It certainly won’t do any harm, let’s put it that way, by including Aconitum with Bryonia four days into the disease. Kate: Well, what’s interesting is I seem to remember from reading about Bryonia, that Bryonia is usually something that comes on slowly. Joette: Slower. Right. Kate: Isn’t that funny? Joette: Yeah, they almost contradict each other sometimes. That’s what works best. Yeah, those combinations can work like that. BRYONIA IS MORE VALUABLE THAN PEOPLE OFTEN REALIZEKate: (12:53) I know when we were talking earlier, you had said that Bryonia is an underutilized medicine. Why did you say that? Joette: Because I don’t think that enough people know that it’s such a great medicine for a cold that goes to the chest. I don’t think they realize how valuable it can be for bronchitis, pleurisy, pneumonia, chest infections. That it’s such a great remedy for acutes such as that. I don’t think people think about it because of its characteristic of worse from movement that they don’t think about it as a medicine specific for a broken bone. I mean, if you break your tibia and you move, that pain can be excruciating. That’s Bryonia. And we would use Bryonia in, perhaps, conjunction with Symphytum for broken bone or Arnica for the injury itself and the pain. We might add other medicines, but when we see that it’s worse from movement: a headache, that is worse from … what kind of movement? Just moving the head the tiniest bit can be very painful. Or just moving the eyes when someone has a headache can be an indication for the use of Bryonia. So, I do think it’s underused because people are just not as aware of it. It’s a good medicine to have in your repertoire. Kate: Alright. When you’re talking about using Bryonia alone, would you use it in a 30th potency, a 200, a 6? Joette: Well, I would use it in a 30, most likely, for a cold or a cough. But I also would use it if it were a broken bone or a headache. If it’s for a broken bone, then I might consider using it in a 200. So, how often do we use these potencies, these medicines? Well, it depends, of course. If it’s something that is not very serious or is not plaguing the person at this moment in time, we might use it twice daily. But at the onset of a cold or, let’s say, that someone is developing pneumonia — they feel it coming on — I might use it more than twice a day. I might use it two, three times a day, maybe even four times in the very beginning. And then, as the next day progresses, if we see a little shift, then we might back off. Instead of three or four times a day, go to twice a day and then stay at that until it’s finished. BE GRATEFUL FOR THE OCCASIONAL COLDKate: (15:12) I know you say that colds can often be tricky, and we want them to move along quickly and be finished quickly. But it’s often one of the more difficult things to have come to a full resolution in a short amount of time, especially if we don’t catch it at the beginning. Do you find that to be true? Joette: I not only find it to be true, but I’m grateful for it. And this is what I mean. I think that we have to understand, as humans, that we’re supposed to get these kinds of things. We need to detoxify. And when the body is sneezing, it’s getting rid of something that is unnecessary, or that is necessary to get rid of. The nose is running, the throat is creating a lot of mucus. There’s coughing to bring up the mucus that’s in the chest. Yes, there may be aches and pains and fatigue, but that’s a sign that we need to do something different than what we were doing. And that is … we need to pay attention and rest. Just let it go. Let it roll off your back. It’s not a, “Oh no! I’m sick!” No, no. “Oh, yeah. Okay. I could use a few days or so a week, maybe, to rid myself of something, to cleanse my body of something and then rejuvenate.” And I noticed frequently — not only in my own children but in my clients and students who report this to me — that when their children get sick … Let’s say, it’s a seven-year-old, and everyone in the neighborhood’s able to ride their bike. But this child can’t seem to ride a bike, can’t get the balance right. They can’t ride. If everybody else is riding … can’t ride, can’t ride. And so, then they get sick — the child gets sick. And shortly after being sick, the child has a developmental leap. Watch for it, mothers and grandmothers, and you will see this happen time and again. After the illness, there’s a shift that seems as though it’s necessary that they got sick in order to get to the next level of development. And now, after being sick, they can get on the bike and ride it. Or “I can’t read these paragraphs,” says the third-grade child. “I can only read one sentence. I can’t get through a whole paragraph.” The child gets sick — whatever sick is — ear infection, conjunctivitis, strep throat, lung infection, whatever it might be … a fever. We actually expect and want these developmental shifts to occur as a result of simply leaving that child alone and letting the child get the illness. And what I mean by that is we don’t want to give them Tylenol and aspirin and steroids and antibiotics and all the other things — all the newfangled, synthetic, patented stuff that comes from industry to suppress the symptoms. Instead, we can use homeopathy, decent food (if the child or the person is even hungry. They may not even be hungry, and that’s perfectly fine). But we want to keep them hydrated with good bone stock broth that you’ve made at home or some fresh lemonade that you’ve made with fresh lemons, et cetera, or just salted water. And allow the child to — or the adult to — simply finish the work of being a human ready to jump into the next developmental shift. And after that amount of time — after they’ve been sick — you will find that that child will have an awakening with being able to read. Now, the child can read a whole paragraph comfortably. So, if this happens to children, might this also be happening to adults? I think it does. I think we have shifts that occur when we allow ourselves to just take it easy and know that this is intended to happen. We’re cleansing, and we’re moving to the next level. REST IS IMPORTANTKate: (19:07) I also like what you said about rest, Joette. I hear your voice in the back of my head. Every time someone comes down with something that is affecting their lungs, and you say, “The lungs require rest. In order for the lungs to heal, you really need to rest.” And I’ve shared that with a lot of people because I think we as humans tend to just go, go, go — like you were insinuating — even though we’re sick. But our bodies need this slowdown time in order to recover. Joette: Well, I’ve found time and again that if somebody has, say, a stomach upset from some bad food or they get an ear infection, and when it’s over, they can pretty much resume their activities. Even though they may not be a hundred percent. They might be a little shaky in the stomach or their ear’s a little bit uncomfortable (remains that way), and there’s still some symptoms that linger on. But when it comes to a lung infection, my friends, I can’t urge you enough to know that you must stay down. Must stay down. Because just because you’re feeling better within a day of taking the medicines doesn’t mean, “Okay, I’m done. It’s over.” Because that’s when, more often than not, if the person is not really ready to get up and get onto their daily tasks, the condition will recur, and sometimes it gets worse. I will also say that’s not only the same with lung infections, it’s also the same with breast infections. So, a breast infection is also something we do not ignore. We take it easy and use the homeopathic medicines for it. So, yeah, there are some commonsense ways to live, and we have to expect that we are going to be down sometimes. Yes. And it’s an opportunity to sleep, ponder, pray, listen to great music: Mendelssohn, Beethoven. That’s the time to go for the lofty. Sit in the sun. If you’re up north, then you sit in the window, and you just take it easy. Fire in the fireplace. There’s a nice little simmering sound on the stove with the bone stock simmering away. Take it easy and take stock of what is really important in life. Kate: Joette, thank you so much for that information. It was very helpful. LISTEN TO THE MASTERSJoette: (21:26) Well, I just want to add one more statement, and that is that when we learn these medicines — especially when we have protocols — it gives us the sense that there’s a certain order to life, a certain order to medicine. That there’s a design that was determined before us. That these protocols — for example, Aconite and Bryonia — is a protocol that has been used clinically for well over a hundred years by the Banerjis. And so, the great minds, the decades of experience can be very calming. Once you have a number of these protocols that you can press to service, it will give you a sense of confidence that only comes from something that’s well-designed and well-ordered. Thank you, listeners. It’s great to have you here. I do want you to spread the word. Make sure that you are using this and learning as much as you can and teach others, and I’ll see you next time. Thanks, Kate. It’s my honor to share many lessons on this simple method of using homeopathy for free —without affiliates or advertising — here in my podcasts, but also my blog posts and Monday Night Lives. But it’s critical that you learn how to use these medicines properly. These podcasts should serve as only the beginning of your training. Peruse JoettesLearningCenter.com to find fun study group opportunities and in-depth courses developed by subject. So, with the proper training, you can join the thousands of students before you in developing the confidence and competence to protect the health of your family and loved ones with my brand of homeopathy, Practical Homeopathy®. Kate: You just listened to a podcast from internationally acclaimed homeopath, public speaker and author, the founder of The Academy of Practical Homeopathy®, Joette Calabrese. Joette’s podcasts are available on all your favorite podcast apps. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit for your health strategy, visit PracticalHomeopathy.com. | |||
| Podcast 134 — Moms with Moxie: A Decade of Homeopathic Experience and Still Eager to Learn More | 03 Jan 2025 | 00:24:22 | |
IN THIS PODCAST, WE COVER: A Decade of Homeopathic Experience and Still Eager to Learn More
00:58 Introduction Podcast 116 — Moms with Moxie: A Close-Knit Study Group The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® Gateway to Practical Homeopathy®: A Guided Study Group Curriculum I and II 03:23 What Has Beth Tackled With Homeopathy? 05:23 The Evolution of Beth’s Gateway Study Group A Materia Medica: Practical Homeopathy® for Busy Families Joette Calabrese’s Monday Night Lives on Facebook Joette Calabrese’s Monday Night Lives on YouTube Good Gut, Bad Gut: A Homeopathic Strategy to Uproot Seemingly Unrelated Illness in Body and Mind Feminopathy: How You Can Correct Female Ailments Using Safe, Inexpensive and Effective Homeopathy 07:20 Homeschooling With The Ultimate Cool Kids Guide to Homeopathy 08:44 Success Story: Allergies (Seasonal, Dairy, Cat Dander, Anaphylaxis) The Survivalist Guide to Homeopathy 12:58 Success Story: Hernias Update: Hernias and Homeopathy Get Back in the Game, Hernias and Homeopathy 14:43 Success Story: Heat Stroke 15:56 Curate Your Own Homeopathy Kit 18:14 Learn More in The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® 19:16 Closing Advice ADDITIONAL RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST:Joette’s Study Group, Find Your New Study Group Friends
Kate: This is the Practical Homeopathy® Podcast, episode number 134. Joette: Hi, I’m Joette Calabrese, and I welcome you to our health care movement — yours, mine and the countless men and women across the globe who have re-taken control of their families’ health with Practical Homeopathy®. So, for the next few minutes, let’s link our arms as I demystify homeopathy — what was once considered an esoteric paradigm — into an understandable, reproducible, safe and effective health care solution available to all. This is the medicine you’ve been searching for — my unique brand of homeopathy, PRACTICAL Homeopathy®. INTRODUCTIONKate: (00:58) Hi, I am Kate, and I want to welcome you to the podcast. We’re so glad that you’re here today. I want to thank you for taking the initiative to learn about homeopathy because it’s going to have a big impact on your life if you learn about it and you use it. So, if you’re new here, just jump right in. We want to welcome you, and we’re going to get started. Today, I have a special guest. Her name is Beth. She’s joining me. And I met Beth through studying homeopathy. Believe it or not, that’s where I met all my closest friends, honestly, that I have now. Beth and I are dear friends, and I’m so thankful for her, and I can’t wait for you to get to know her a little more. You may have listened and heard her on Podcast 116 called, Moms with Moxie: A Close-Knit Study Group. And she’ll explain a little bit more about that study group as we talk. But for now, I want to welcome Beth to the podcast. Beth: Hey Kate, how are you? Kate: Good. It’s so fun to be with you here today. I want our listeners to get to know you a little bit. I know if they’ve listened to Podcast 116, they may have heard from you. But for those who didn’t listen to that podcast, can you just tell us a little bit about yourself? Beth: Sure, Kate. So, basically, I have been studying homeopathy for about 10 years. I started off as my daughter was a client of Joette’s … and then my whole family. And then, I started studying it and teaching it. And I have a group that’s just awesome, as you mentioned. And then I worked with you guys for a little while, and now I’m in The Academy. So, it’s just awesome. Kate: We probably started using homeopathy about the same time. I think you were in the Gateway II study group that I was leading, and that’s how we first met. Beth: Yes. Kate: And we’ve been talking ever since then. Beth: Exactly. Kate: So, you live in Florida, and I get to see you, and I come down there a couple times a year at least, which is super-fun. I love your family and your dogs. They’re great. I’ve adopted them, or maybe they’ve adopted me. Beth: Yeah. Kate: So, I know you have a lot to talk about today. You have many things that you’ve used homeopathy for in those last 10 years. Just kind of give us a rundown about all the different things that you’ve used homeopathy for with your family, your friends, clients and so forth. WHAT HAS BETH TACKLED WITH HOMEOPATHY?Beth: (03:23) Okay, so how long do we have? Okay, so I kind of broke it down a little, like some of the acutes and then some of the more chronic things. So, with friends and family, we’ve done everything from allergies, colds, flu, bites, injuries, stress, burns, stress from studying and things, loss. And then more on the chronic side, we’ve addressed things from UC, which is ulcerative colitis to diverticulitis to allergies (like food allergies as well as animal allergies), back issues, torn ligaments, diabetes … I mean, it goes on and on. Kate: Yeah, I think when we were talking earlier, you mentioned other things, too: hernias and blood clots and anaphylaxis. Beth: Yes, that’s right. We did. I’ve done anaphylaxis. That’s been amazing. And then friends even more like asthma, vertigo, UTI. I’ve dealt with Alzheimer’s with some family and aging. And then, I also had a practice for a little while and everything from miscarriages to pregnancies to gout, eczema, teeth issues. Yeah, it’s been amazing. Kate: Yeah, and I’m sure there’s many more you haven’t written down because on a day-to-day basis, we encounter many things in our families and our friends’ lives. And I know whenever we get together, Beth, we always just talk about homeopathy and all the different remedies and books and what we’re learning, and it’s very fun to have others that you can talk to about this. So, tell us a little bit more about your study group for those who didn’t listen to the other podcast and what you’ve been doing over the years. THE EVOLUTION OF BETH’S GATEWAY STUDY GROUPBeth: (05:23) It’s an amazing group. It’s just, we’ve been together … it started maybe about seven years ago, and then, it’s kind of organically changed as needed. But we’re online; we do Zoom. And we started off every Tuesday, and now we’re every other Tuesday — kind of just changes depending on what we’re doing. Started off with me just teaching everyone Gateway and getting us kind of all on the same page. And then we’ve gone into other classes. We did Joette’s materia medica through her Live. So, we’ve gone through the Facebook Lives [Editor’s note: Archived Lives may also be found on YouTube here]. And especially during the “C” time, we did all the materia medica. So, we all bought her materia medica — Joette’s. And then we went through the Lives, and it was great to connect the dots between what was in the book and then her expanding on them. So, we did that. We’ve done Good Gut, Bad Gut. We’re about to do Feminopathy. We’re going to start that in January. Kate: And right now, you’re going through some more Facebook Lives together. And I think that’s an interesting way to study together because there’s so much free information that you can go through together in addition to the courses. So, that’s a great idea that you guys are listening to Joette’s Facebook Lives and then talking about those in your study groups. That’s great. Beth: Yeah, it works really well. We’re behind, so we pick two or three. And then, the group is just amazing now even, or I don’t have to teach everything. I haven’t had to the last couple years. Everybody takes turns. So they listen, and then they talk about it, and we all give input, and it’s just amazing. It works really, really well. So yeah, it’s just an amazing group of women. And it started off just some of my friends from homeschooling, and then their friends and then maybe some of my friends. And so that’s a really nice group of people. HOMESCHOOLING WITH THE ULTIMATE COOL KIDS GUIDE TO HOMEOPATHYKate: (07:20) And I know that you’ve gone through what we’re calling the “Kids’ course,” but the full name is The Ultimate Cool Kids Guide to Homeopathy. Tell us a little bit about that and why you went through it and how you did it. Beth: So, right when that first came out, I was so excited. I was like, I love working with kids. I homeschooled my kids. I taught second grade in homeschooling. And I offered a few friends that I would teach it if their kids would be interested. And the kids were just so great, and you know they pick up so quickly on information. In fact, recently, there was an event, and there was a picture. So, this was … I don’t know, five or six years ago that I did it, right? When did it come out? I don’t remember. Anyway, there was an event, and there was a picture. And there was all these desserts. And one of the young girls — she’s now in high school — that took the class with me was like, “Oh, they’re going to need Nux vomica.” They remember. It’s amazing. Kate: Oh, that’s neat. I was actually looking at some of the videos from the Kids’ course the other day, and I was reminded how interactive that is with the videos and sound effects, and I think it’s very engaging. What are your thoughts? And I think an adult would gain information from that as well. Beth: Absolutely. I think it’s a really great class for anyone, and it’s fun. The kids’ class is fun — not that your other classes aren’t fun, but … SUCCESS STORY: ALLERGIES (SEASONAL, DAIRY, CAT DANDER, ANAPHYLAXIS)Kate: (08:44) So, let’s get into some specifics on some of the things that you mentioned earlier. Pick out a couple of things and just talk to us about how you handled a couple of those conditions that you mentioned earlier. Beth: So maybe a big thing that people will deal with is allergies, and that can be a lot of different things. It can be just like a basic allergy that something’s in the air, and you start sneezing … all the way to having digestive problems or even going to anaphylaxis. Right? And so, with the acute, I love the Boiron AllergyCalm®. I think that’s what it’s still called. [Editor’s note: AllergyCalm® was formerly called RhinAllergy®.] Anyway, that combination is really great for just those quick acutes when you’re around someone, and they’re sneezing a lot, and you can tell they’re struggling. And people are more likely to take something that’s in a package — unfortunately or fortunately, I don’t know. So, I do use that for acutes. I also carry around some other remedies like Apis, if I really need it. And I’ve also used the protocols from the Good Gut, Bad Good class on food allergies and food intolerances. So, I have one son who really had issues with dairy, and I was able to address that. And now, he’s fine. I mean, it’s just amazing. I mean, for years and years, he couldn’t. And then even myself … I had terrible gluten allergies. And I did a couple of other things trying to get over it before I knew about homeopathy, but homeopathy was what finally got rid of that. I have no symptoms anymore, which is amazing. It does take time, but it’s totally worth it because then, it’s gone. Also, my husband was allergic to cats, and we were able to treat that. And we had people here that I didn’t know they had cats, and a few years ago, my husband would’ve really struggled with that, but nothing. Kate: You mean they came over with their cats? Beth: No, just coming over with the dander on their clothes would have set him off. Kate: Oh! Okay. Beth: I used to ask people, “I’m sorry, do you have cats? If you do, I can’t have you sit on the furniture.” I would really have to be really careful. And now I didn’t even think about asking because he doesn’t react anymore. So, that was really amazing. And then, I had an anaphylactic reaction. I was at a restaurant. I was eating a lot of stuff, so I don’t know what it was, but something set me off, so I knew what I needed for … I carried that around because I had had previous anaphylaxis. I was allergic to bees and venomous insects — which I am not anymore, which is just amazing. So, I treated that with protocols, and then I had this anaphylactic reaction to some sort of food. But thankfully, I had the remedies with me, and I was able to take them. And I did exactly what Joette recommends. There happened to be a walk-in ER place just around the bend. So, I drove over there, and I sat in the car. And I took the remedies, and I never had to go in. And it was just amazing because I have been in the hospital for that. And it takes weeks and weeks and weeks to get over those drugs that they give you. Kate: And that information is covered, I know, in Gateway II and also the Allergic?! course, and I’m sure there are other courses that it’s mentioned as well … of course, Survivalist. So, if you’re interested in — that’s something that your family struggles with — you can learn that information in those places. So, what else, Beth? Beth: Stomach pain, diverticulitis … those kind of things that aren’t necessarily there shorter term, and we wouldn’t do a chronic allergy treatment with, but I’ve had really great success with those, too. SUCCESS STORY: HERNIASKate: (12:58) I know someone in your family dealt with hernias, and that’s a pretty major thing that people usually are recommended to get surgery for. And you’ve had some success with the homeopathic remedies. Which, by the way, is it something that your family struggles with or someone who does? There’s a blog called Update: Hernias and Homeopathy. There’s one previous to that called Get Back in the Game, Hernias and Homeopathy. So, if you go to JoetteCalabrese.com — that’s J-O-E-T-T-E-C-A-L-A-B-R-E-S-E.com — and you type in the top-right search box, just search “hernia”. Those blogs will pop right up for you. So, can you tell us about your experience with using the remedies for that? Beth: Yeah, we use the remedies, and we did some red light. We like to try to be healthy in general, right? And red light has been shown to be good, too. So, the combination of doing the natural modality of the red light as well as the homeopathy worked amazing. And it was very quick! And where we were getting the red light, they were like, normally the red light helps, but it doesn’t get you there. You still have to get surgery. So, I believe — obviously — that the homeopathy was the other thing that we did instead of doing a medical procedure. Kate: Since we talked about that recently (because I knew someone who had a hernia), and I mentioned it to some other people who’ve also dealt with that, and they’ve actually just used homeopathy alone. And it’s reversed it, which is incredible. You go to the doctor’s office, and they say it’s not … “You can’t reverse this.” But it has been, and your family is proof of that. So, pretty incredible. SUCCESS STORY: HEAT STROKEBeth: (14:43) Yes, definitely. Something else is we live in Florida, and it’s hot. And I’ve dealt with heat stroke with homeopathy, and that’s been amazing. When we were with groups of kids for homeopa … I mean, for homeschooling, and we would go to the beach, and the kids are running around, and they don’t want to stop, and they don’t want to drink anything. And you have kids that get heat stroke. And before homeopathy, there were a few times where people had to go to the hospital. But once we knew homeopathy — or I knew homeopathy — I was able to offer it and make suggestions. And it was amazing because it just works so quickly, and they didn’t have to. And then it’s always funny. Then people question, “Well, maybe it really wasn’t.” I’m like, “No, definitely was.” Kate: Isn’t that funny? Beth: Yeah. But it worked really amazing. I have a little bag that has all the remedies that can be used for heat stroke together, and I carry that when I go to the beach. Kate: Along with probably the remedies for stings from things that are in the ocean perhaps. Right? CURATE YOUR OWN HOMEOPATHY KITBeth: (15:56) Yeah, you know, as you get more comfortable with homeopathy, and you understand it more, that’s what I’ve ended up doing is … I kind of make my own kits for things. So, when my son was going on a mission trip to Hawaii, and I put together a kit, I looked up where he was going: What are the bugs and different things that are there? And thinking about, okay, he’s going to be in a really hot setting. He is going to be working outside. What kind of remedies is he probably going to need? Traveling remedies, right? Injury remedies. And I put together a whole kit just for him to take with him. I also do that when they go off to college. Of course, that’s really hard because they could run into a lot of different things. But the first year, I’ve really sent a lot of stuff. The second year I got better at it, but that’s something that I like to do. You can be more specific. I know what my son is more likely to deal with, and my daughter’s going to deal with, or my husband. He’s going to have more indigestion. My daughter’s going to be more exhausted. My son’s going to maybe have a little stomach thing. So, you can gear your kits towards that, which is fun. Kate: Do you send them with any instructions? Or do they just contact you when they’re not feeling well, and you point them in the right direction? Beth: It’s kind of a combination. Because I’ve been doing it so long that they all understand (on a basic level) homeopathy, but they usually call me. I create a little spreadsheet, and I print it up that has little suggestions for what to take with what. And so, they can look it up and just take it. But they do generally contact me just to make sure they’re taking the right thing. Kate: Yeah. Beth: Because the cold and flu kit that I send them with — that I put together — but they’re not going to take all of that. Right? So, they’ll call and ask or text. Kate: Right. As kids do these days, most often text. A phone call is rare. Well, not for you. Your children call you more than most, I think. You get to stay in touch. Beth: I do. LEARN MORE IN THE ACADEMY OF PRACTICAL HOMEOPATHY®Kate: (18:14) Let’s transition to talking about The Academy because I know some people like to know what is it like and what kinds of things do you learn. And so, you are about a third of the way through The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® year. Tell us what it’s like. Beth: It’s great. It’s a lot of work. No, it’s really good. I really enjoy it. I worked with you guys when we were first putting it together and the beginning of it. I wasn’t involved in that much of it, but being on the other side is so interesting. It’s a really good program. It’s really well put together, and it covers a lot of different things that some people might not have thought of as important, but they definitely are. And I can see how it all works together. I’m not a history person. I am just not, but I am actually enjoying the history. And I sent that to Joette the one time I was like, “Thank you because I really would not have looked into that at all.” But it really is good, and it really does connect some of the things that we’re also learning. Right? CLOSING ADVICEKate: (19:16) Well, good. What I’d like to finish up with today is: I’d like to get your thoughts on some things that people can do to learn more about homeopathy, or what tips or ideas do you have for people who are learning? Beth: Just keep going along. Start wherever you can. If you don’t want to buy classes, that’s okay. Joette has a lot of information online and just keep listening to it and learning about it and reading about it and listening to it, and it’ll be amazing what you pick up. And then, I think following what she recommends really does work. And that’s where — when I kind of had a practice there for a little while, well, I did — but following what she specifically said: Get the timeline and understand what’s happening over time with them is good to be able to see. Have them pick out the main things that they want to work on, and you really can see it work backwards on the timeline, and it just encourages you to keep learning more and doing more. So, watching people get healthy and be able to function in life better is just, it’s priceless. It really is. Kate: I liked the idea that you had … where you told me that as you were learning more about the different homeopathic medicines, that you take notes. And I know you do that in a couple of different ways. Maybe you can share a couple of ideas for people who are wanting to study this. Beth: Yeah, so, I think anything that you want to learn more about, the first thing is knowing what your learning style is. One of my sons is definitely an auditory learner. If he just listens to it, he learns it. Where for me, I need to take notes, and that’s how I remember it. But then, also, I want to have good information that I can use later. So, when I do the materia medica class for The Academy, I take notes on what she says. I also check her materia medica — Joette’s — and I write little notes in there. And then I also make the materia medica cards that come with The Academy. So, I’m basically creating my own materia medica written in my own words. And I think that will be really cool for me after we’re done when I’m searching for information to help people. Kate: You also make spreadsheets sometimes as well. So, for those of you listening, Beth is amazing with her notes. She’s incredible. So, she knows where to find anything you need to know. Beth: Yes. I’m doing a spreadsheet on all of the protocols and more, so that as I’m going through, I’m creating that so I can really easily search. I had a friend stop by yesterday. She needed some remedies, and we were talking, and I’m like, “Let me just look and see what else we have.” And I can just search on a word, and I can find all kinds of information. So, I like to do that. I also make little cards with PowerPoint that are the protocols, and then I have the protocols saved as little recipe cards like Joette started with on her website. Kate: Oh, my goodness. You do even more than I knew about. Beth: Yes. Kate: Wow. So, do you do the spreadsheets in Excel? Beth: I do. I use Excel, and I do the cards in PowerPoint usually. Kate: Beth, thank you so much for sharing all this information. It’s a lot, and I’m sure we’ll be talking again because you always have so much to talk about. And I know your daughter. We’re going to have a podcast where we talk to her because she has her own story about using homeopathy and actually studying it as well. So, I look forward to hearing from her. And I want to thank you for sharing this information today. Beth: Yeah, thank you. It was fun. Joette: It’s my honor to share many lessons on this simple method of using homeopathy for free —without affiliates or advertising — here in my podcasts, but also my blog posts and Monday Night Lives. But it’s critical that you learn how to use these medicines properly. These podcasts should serve as only the beginning of your training. Peruse JoettesLearningCenter.com to find fun study group opportunities and in-depth courses developed by subject. So, with the proper training, you can join the thousands of students before you in developing the confidence and competence to protect the health of your family and loved ones with my brand of homeopathy, Practical Homeopathy®. Kate: You just listened to a podcast from internationally acclaimed homeopath, public speaker and author, the founder of The Academy of Practical Homeopathy®, Joette Calabrese. Joette’s podcasts are available on all your favorite podcast apps. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit for your health strategy, visit PracticalHomeopathy.com. | |||
| Podcast 135 — Winter and Freezing Cold Is Upon Us. What Helpful Homeopathic Medicines Might We Need? | 17 Jan 2025 | 00:17:45 | |
IN THIS PODCAST, WE COVER: 01:00 Introduction: Homeopathic Medicines for Winter and Freezing Cold 02:29 When the Heat Goes On, Petroleum 05:03 What We Put on Our Skin Is Absorbed 07:57 Catching a Cold? Aconitum napellus and Bryonia alba: A Banerji Protocol 09:47 Brrrrr. Frostbite. 13:08 Depression and Vitamin D Deficiency ADDITIONAL RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: Joette Calabrese on YouTube (Monday Night Lives) The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® Gateway to Practical Homeopathy®: A Guided Study Group Curriculum Joette’s Study Group, Find Your New Study Group Friends Kate: This is the Practical Homeopathy® Podcast, episode number 135, with Joette Calabrese. Joette: Hi, I’m Joette Calabrese, and I welcome you to our health care movement — yours, mine and the countless men and women across the globe who have retaken control of their families’ health with Practical Homeopathy®. So, for the next few minutes, let’s link our arms as I demystify homeopathy — what was once considered an esoteric paradigm — into an understandable, reproducible, safe and effective health care solution available to all. This is the medicine you’ve been searching for — my unique brand of homeopathy, PRACTICAL Homeopathy®. INTRODUCTION: HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINES FOR WINTER AND FREEZING COLDKate: (01:00) Hi, friends. Welcome back to the podcast. We’re so glad that you could join us today. We want to thank you for taking the initiative to learn more about homeopathy. We know that it’s going to have a huge impact on your life, and so we’re excited for you and glad that you’re here. If you’re new here today, we want to welcome you. Today’s podcast is going to be about winter remedies. And Joette’s here to tell us about the remedies that are commonly used — or could be needed — in the wintertime. Joette: Hi, Kate. So, I’m looking out my window, and there are squirrels running all over the place. It’s beginning of December, and they are fat, fat little squirrels. They’re the chubbiest. They almost look as large as a small raccoon. They are huge where I am, and they look really healthy and robust. So, it got me thinking about how different it is in the winter — of course, it is because I’m up north — and how they’re preparing. Their cheeks are just loaded with acorns and all kinds of things, and I see them scampering about and planning for the winter. And so, I thought, why don’t we plan for the winter, too, regardless of where we live … even in the South. Now, certain tropical areas, this may not be a problem, but even where it gets just a little cold — say, even Tennessee and those states do have little cold times. And people complain all the time, and it’s understandable that they don’t feel the same. Well, they always say “when the heat goes on.” So, I thought we’d talk about that. WHEN THE HEAT GOES ON, PETROLEUMJoette: (02:29) And so, one of my favorite medicines in the winter when the heat goes on — and I don’t believe it’s from the heat necessarily, it’s because it’s just winter — and that is the remedy Petroleum. It’s so good for people whose skin gets dry in the winter — even just a little bit. It doesn’t have to crack, doesn’t have to flake. Doesn’t have to erupt. Kate: That’s what I was going to ask you, actually. You know how the cuticles of your fingernails, they get dry, and they start peeling and your skin gets really dry, like the elbows and everything. So, you’re suggesting Petroleum could help with even that? Joette: Yes. Petroleum 6 is the potency I would like. I’ve used it in a 30; I’ve also used it in a 200. But what I like about using Petroleum 6 is that you could use it twice, maybe three times, in a day. So, dry lips … if there’s cracking and flaking, we can still use Petroleum. I would start with Petroleum. In a way, it makes a lot of sense because if we’ve been using Petroleum on our skin in the past, it often can cause this problem. So, I remember years ago — I’m old enough to have been influenced by someone like Doris Day. And for those of you who are my vintage, you might remember that she put out in general to the public — I don’t know why it was that everybody seemed to know this about Doris Day — that she would smear petroleum jelly all over her body in the winter and then wrap herself up in cellophane. And everybody thought, “Well, if Doris Day does that, and she’s so attractive, maybe that’s what we all should be doing.” So, I actually remember sometime in the early sixties or so that that’s a lot of what women did, using a lot of petroleum jelly. But the problem with petroleum in its gross form is that it can suppress the condition and drive it to a later date — which is probably why some people who did that, many years later are in need of the homeopathic medicine, Petroleum 6 or 30. It can be taken twice a day, if the skin is very dry. And then as the skin improves and the skin is not as dry … Or that feeling that my face is tight. And I don’t use soap. (I’ll be honest with you, I don’t use soap on my face. I simply use a washcloth and hot water and then dry off because soap really will make my face feel even more dry.) Kate: I do that, too. That’s so interesting. And you have very young-looking skin, so it must be working. WHAT WE PUT ON OUR SKIN IS ABSORBEDJoette: (05:03) Maybe. But that’s something that I would urge people to consider using. Now having said that, let me just go off on a side note, and it has nothing to do with homeopathy, but I suppose in a way there’s some connection. And that is, that I believe that anything we put on our skin is absorbed … readily. And it can cause trouble, or it can be of use to us. And the way that I learned this was that, years ago, before I knew enough about homeopathy to be able to treat my young son — I only had one child at the time — I used to use garlic. And I would mash it up and mix it in olive oil, and I’d have it sit there and steep for a fortnight or so. And then, when he got sick with a fever or something, I would rub the bottoms of his feet with this olive oil/garlic mixture. So, one time, he was not feeling well, and I did that. I said, “Okay, now lay still.” He was on his bed, and I put an old rag under his feet, and I rubbed the bottom of his feet loaded up with garlic and olive oil. And I said, “Okay, now don’t move,” because I didn’t want the mixture to go all over the bed. “Don’t move. I’ll be right back.” And I ran to the bathroom, washed my hands and came back with a pair of old socks. Put the socks on his feet, arranged his covers and got him all ready for bed. And about two minutes later, I went to kiss him, and his breath smelled strongly — not a little bit, but very strongly of garlic. And that was when it occurred to me that indeed what we put on our skin is utilized throughout the entire body. And now it was coming out. It wasn’t from his feet. I mean, originally, it was, of course, but now it was in his entire system so that I could actually smell it on his breath. So, that’s what really made it clear to me that anything we put on our skin should be worthy of our entire body. So, I don’t buy lotions; I don’t buy creams. I rarely use any makeup at all. I do wear lipstick. I’m very careful about that — about what kind I use, and I use it only occasionally. And so, I’m very careful about that. And instead on my skin — whether it’s dry or not, I just automatically do it — I use tallow. And often, I mix it with olive oil or something, and I use that on my hands. Or after I’ve washed my face, if it seems to be a little dry, I’ll put some on my hands and rub them together and put a little bit of it on my face. Now, upon first applying it, it feels oily. And it seems like, “Oh my gosh, this is terrible. I can’t walk around being this oily. If somebody kisses my face or my hair touches my cheek, it’s going to stick.” But that’s not so. It seems to absorb quite readily. Between Petroleum 6 and my homemade lard/olive oil mixture, I find that that really gets me through the winter without having to consider anything that’s storebought with synthetic fragrances and petroleum base and ingredients that are unpronounceable. So, that’s my skin routine. CATCHING A COLD?Joette: (07:57) Now, let’s go to something else in the winter, and I can’t imagine doing without these two remedies. So, I keep them — well, I used to keep them, I should say — in my purse. I don’t any longer because I simply don’t get sick very often. I think it’s been, I don’t know, five years since I’ve had a cold or something like that or a flu. But there was a time when I and my children would get a cold once, maybe twice in the winter. And the first one that I used to keep in my purse was ColdCalm®, C-O-L-D, and then calm, C-A-L-M. That’s made by Boiron. It’s an excellent remedy to have on hand. It comes in a little box, and then there are tabs that are pushed through the little card. And so sometimes, I just take it out of the box, and I slip the little card of pills in my wallet or in my purse. Takes up almost no room at all. And at the first sign of a cold, that’s what I used to use, and that’s what I encourage folks to use … at the very first sign of it. And the sooner it’s taken more often, the better it acts. So that’s the one medicine for colds that come on in the winter. The other that I like is Aconitum, A-C-O-N-I-T-U-M. There’s a second word, “napellus.” But if you know just Aconitum, that’s good enough. Aconitum 200, and I like to mix it simultaneously in the mouth with Bryonia (B-R-Y-O-N-I-A) 30. And that happens to be a Banerji Protocol. And that, too, can abort a cold or a flu or something that’s going to the throat or the chest. And so, either one of those two to have on hand during the winter is really right as rain for most families. It really puts us in order. BRRRRRR. FROSTBITE.Kate: (09:47) Okay, so what about when you’re outside in the winter? And for those of us that live up north, it can tend to get very cold. I’ve had before where you’re outside for an extended time, and you’re not properly clothed, and your fingers get really, really cold — maybe frostbitten. Or I think there’s a word that you had for that. Joette: Chilblains. I love that word. Kate: So, what does that mean exactly? Joette: Frostbite is when it’s pretty severe. Chilblains is the step just before frostbite. And there’s a step just before that as well. Some people just have cold fingers in general. Sometimes, they turn a little white, and they often have cold hands and feet. And then, in that case, I’m going to suggest a remedy such as Hamamelis. (We’re going to spell it in the notes instead of my doing it off the top of my head.) Hamamelis … and often it’s used a 200C, twice daily, for someone who has regular cold fingers and toes because it has to do with … Kate: Circulation. Joette: Circulation. Exactly. Now let’s say the person goes further and they have not taken Hamamelis or regardless of the Hamamelis, they’ve now subjected their bodies to cold that is unrelenting. Then you might go to the next medicine for chilblains and/or frostbite, and that is A-G-A-R-I-C-U-S, Agaricus. And that’s not necessarily a preventative. I would consider that more a medicine that’s used when you’re already in a fix. You know, “Uh-oh, I have done it. I’ve overdone it. I’ve skied too long. I’ve shoveled the snow for too long a period of time. I should have worn gloves, and I didn’t, and now I’m paying for it.” That’s when we use Agaricus, and that would be used as an SOS, kind of, as needed. And in that situation, we might use it in a 30th potency every few hours — excellent for chilblains and frostbite. And as long as it’s used regularly, every few hours and depending on the severity, often the person will feel a great deal of relief. Frostbite can actually be quite dangerous. We don’t want to go too far with that. So, we want to have that medicine on hand in the ready for the winter months forthcoming. CONFUSED BY HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINES WITH SIMILAR NAMES?Kate: (12:05) Okay. I can see people asking about which Agaricus is it, Joette, because there are many of them in the materia medica and available for purchase. But often, you suggest to students that if you’re uncertain, find the remedy that has the most written about it. In this case, that would be Agaricus muscarius … Joette: That’s it! Kate: … and that’s usually the one. Joette: Yes, it is. Yes, it is. So, it’s the same thing with a lot of these homeopathic medicines: first word that is common. And we say, for example, Arsenicum. Someone just says plain old, Arsenicum, and they’re not being specific. They usually mean Arsenicum album, but there’s also Arsenicum iodatum and many other types of Arsenicum. So, you’re going to use Arsenicum that is most commonly used when you look it up in the materia medica. It’s pretty clear that this is the one that is most often used because there’s the most literature associated with it. Kate: In general, but it could be something other. But in general, if you’re wondering. Yes, good point. What else in the wintertime do people suffer from? DEPRESSION AND VITAMIN D DEFICIENCYJoette: (13:08) Depression? How about that? How about lack of sunlight? Yes. Yeah, that lack of sunlight is a big deal. And so, some people think, well, I’ll just take vitamin D, but I’m not a fan of vitamin D. It’s synthetic. It’s manufactured by an industry. If you’re looking for vitamin D than you would want to eat foods that are high in vitamin D. And the foods that are high in vitamin D just happen to be winter foods such as meat pies. And so, we make a flaky crust with lard or tallow, which has plenty of vitamin D naturally in it. And if you’ve ever read the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder on the subject of “Little House on the Prairie,” that’s what they used to use in the winter. They would use lard and tallow to make their pie crusts, and they made many, many pies every week. That was a great way to not only get the natural vitamin D but also was a tidy way to make a meal. It made the house nice and warm. It fits very neatly. So, if you’re not going to eat lard or tallow — although I would urge you to do so — and instead, you put your tallow on your skin, now you’re using something that adds vitamin D to your skin automatically. And you’ve decided no, none of that appeals to me. Then we can often use the medicine Aurum metallicum, A-U-R-U-M, metallicum, M-E-T-A-L-L-I-C-U-M. This is for frank depression — not just a little blue, but depression. Someone who loses interest. They’ve lost their get up and go. They see everything as though the glass is half-empty, and it’s pretty clear that it has something to do with the weather. It can have something to do with circumstances as well. But then we use Aurum metallicum 200C. And it’s usually used every third day — one dose every three days. And as always, with any of these homeopathic medicines, remembering they’re not supplements. They’re not vitamins. They’re medicine. So, as improvement ensues, we back off. We taper away. We halt the use of the medicine, and if it’s needed again in the future, we just take it up again. But this is not to be repeated for long periods of time. Once we see improvement, that’s when we halt the use of the medicine. Kate: I have a friend that in the wintertime — almost like clockwork, every year in January — she takes Ignatia. That’s the remedy that helps her, so to speak, the winter blues or depression that she gets in the wintertime. Is that another medicine that could be helpful in the winter? Joette: Yes. Ignatia could also be useful. Certainly, Ignatia, generally, is a little more for the female side of the world, and Aurum metallicum is a little bit more for the male side of the world. It doesn’t mean you can’t give a man Ignatia, nor does it mean you can’t give a woman Aurum metallicum. But there’s a little more weight on the sadness of a woman towards Ignatia and a little more weight on the sadness of a man towards Aurum metallicum. Kate: Okay. Well thanks, Joette, for some great ideas for remedies that we might want to have on hand for the winter in case those situations arise. Joette: Good. Love it. I hope this helps lots of folks. It’s my honor to share many lessons on this simple method of using homeopathy for free —without affiliates or advertising — here in my podcasts, but also my blog posts and Monday Night Lives. But it’s critical that you learn how to use these medicines properly. These podcasts should serve as only the beginning of your training. Peruse JoettesLearningCenter.com to find fun study group opportunities and in-depth courses developed by subject. So, with the proper training, you can join the thousands of students before you in developing the confidence and competence to protect the health of your family and loved ones with my brand of homeopathy, Practical Homeopathy®. Kate: You just listened to a podcast from internationally acclaimed homeopath, public speaker and author, the founder of The Academy of Practical Homeopathy®, Joette Calabrese. Joette’s podcasts are available on all your favorite podcast apps. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit for your health strategy, visit PracticalHomeopathy.com. | |||
| Podcast 136 — Moms with Moxie: There’s Nothing Special About Me; You Can Do Amazing Things! | 31 Jan 2025 | 00:25:06 | |
IN THIS PODCAST, WE COVER:
00:59 Introduction: There’s Nothing Special About Me; You Can Do Amazing Things! 03:08 Is It Ever Too Late To Learn Homeopathy 03:57 In Search of an Answer to Lyme Disease Gateway to Practical Homeopathy®: A Guided Study Group Curriculum 07:23 Joining The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® 08:59 From Learning to Teaching to Hanging Out a Shingle and Working With the Amish 11:54 Success Story: Panic Attacks Podcast 129: Overcoming Anxiety and Panic Attacks with Practical Homeopathy® 15:03 Success Story: Ganglion Cyst 15:51 Success Story: Fibromyalgia “How I Cured My Fibromyalgia With One Simple Medicine” 17:02 Success Story: Anger Issues 19:26 Success Story: Incontinence 12:04 Closing Advice The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:Joette Calabrese on YouTube (Monday Night Lives) Joette’s Study Group, Find Your New Study Group Friends
Kate: This is the Practical Homeopathy® Podcast, episode number 136. Joette: Hi, I’m Joette Calabrese, and I welcome you to our health care movement — yours, mine and the countless men and women across the globe who have retaken control of their families’ health with Practical Homeopathy®. So, for the next few minutes, let’s link our arms as I demystify homeopathy — what was once considered an esoteric paradigm — into an understandable, reproducible, safe and effective health care solution available to all. This is the medicine you’ve been searching for — my unique brand of homeopathy, Practical Homeopathy®. INTRODUCTION: THERE’S NOTHING SPECIAL ABOUT ME; YOU CAN DO AMAZING THINGSKate: (00:59) Hi, I want to welcome you to today’s podcast. I am Kate, and we are so glad that you’re here. I’m here today with Wendy. She’s going to share some very interesting stories. I can’t wait for you to meet her and hear about how she’s using homeopathy. But first, I want to thank you for taking the initiative to learn about homeopathy. It will no doubt have an impact on your life and those around you — as you will hear it has in Wendy’s life in just a minute. If you’re new here, we want to welcome you to the podcast. So, as I said, let’s meet Wendy and get started. Hi, Wendy. Wendy: Hi, Kate. Kate: It’s great to have you here. I can’t wait for everyone to hear your story. So, as always, we like to get to know the people that are joining us on the podcast. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your family? Wendy: Sure. My husband and I have been married for 30 years. We live in eastern Iowa. We moved back here a couple of years ago to be closer to our parents and young adult children. We have five kids; three, I still homeschool. They’re 25, 21, 13, 12 and 11. We call ’em our “bigs and our littles” — although the littles aren’t so little anymore. Our youngest two are adopted from foster care, and I only share that because with that — for anyone who is familiar with adoption — there’s lots of unique things that come out of that, both beautiful and difficult. And so, I have a lot of opportunity to use what I’ve learned. I’ll just say that. And then we also have kids with different challenges with learning and just different ways of learning — different ways of looking at life that I’ve had lots of practice in that regard as well. So, yeah, I think that covers pretty much mostly about me. Kate: Alright, that’s great. Let’s dive into your homeopathy story, as we like to call it, and hear about your journey from not knowing anything about homeopathy until now where you have a business actually helping people with homeopathy. IS IT EVER TOO LATE TO LEARN HOMEOPATHY?Wendy: (03:08) It’s interesting; I feel I’m a little late — compared to some people — to the natural healing modality. Kate: You’re not late, let me tell you. We have people who go through The Academy who are in their seventies and even eighties! So, I hear that all the time from people. So, you are not that old — and not that that’s old. And isn’t it funny what we consider old now? Wendy: Yes, absolutely. Kate: Yes. You’re young, and so you’re not late. But I understand what you’re saying … that those who learn it at a younger age or maybe as they’re first starting their families, they have a lot more time. Wendy: I think as we get older — if we discover this older — we lament what could have been, maybe, had we known. But that’s okay. We just start fresh from where we are and plow forward. IN SEARCH OF AN ANSWER TO LYME DISEASEWendy: (03:57) But yeah, my story actually began about five years ago. Well, a little bit prior to that, actually. I took my first Gateway class about five years ago, Gateway I. But a few months before that, our daughter had — just within a period of three days — gotten very ill. It began with tingling symptoms down her spine, and within three days, she could no longer — without just being in agonizing pain — crawl. It was literally a crawl from the basement of our home where her room was, upstairs. That was quite alarming, as you can imagine, and we sought help from doctors. That was largely disappointing. We had difficulties getting a diagnosis, finding out what was wrong. At the back of my mind, thought maybe this is Lyme disease based on her symptoms. A few months later, she was diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease by a doctor. That was based solely on symptoms, which the majority of were joint pain that moved around (wasn’t always consistent in the same joints), fatigue, brain fog, and then that spiraled later into a lot more anxiety and depression. So, that happened. Her symptoms began in June of 2019. I took my first Gateway class. It was really an answer to prayer that I didn’t know I was looking for. I’d never heard the word homeopathy before, but I dived into that first class, thinking, “Maybe there’ll be something here that would help our daughter.” Took the class. I was intrigued, kind of excited, but nervous. Began trying it a little bit here and there on just acute things that would come up in our family, and little by little, I began gaining confidence in its effectiveness. Then, fast forward several months. Meanwhile, I should say, our daughter … we were meeting with a team of doctors. What’s called a “Lyme-literate” medical doctor, a naturopath and then also consulting with a functional medicine doctor. So, she was on, I think, about seven antibiotics at one time — which makes me cringe now — and lots of supplements. So, she was taking, I bet, 19 or 20 pills of some kind every day. And they weren’t helping, and so we were pretty discouraged. She was depressed, as I mentioned. And several months later, as I gained confidence in homeopathy, I realized maybe this is really our answer. And so, she actually decided, “You know what? I’m just tired of this mom. I feel sick all the time. I have to choke down these pills. It’s miserable.” And so, I just encourage her. I said, “We’ve got a few options. One of them is homeopathy and just going all in on that. What do you think?” She agreed. We decided to just go off all the meds. One of them we had to wean off of, but she went off all the meds. And her symptoms, just by doing that, improved about 20%. And so that was a pretty big eye-opener right there. In the meantime, I had contacted Joette’s office and set up a consultation with her. And we were on the waitlist, and so I was sort of trying a few things homeopathically for her while we waited. We got in with Joette a few months later, and within probably, I think, four months of consulting with Joette, her symptoms had improved another, at least, 50% … probably more. And so, at that point, I was like, “This is it! Get rid of everything else.” I was clearing all the other stuff out of our cabinets, and it was just all homeopathy. JOINING THE ACADEMY OF PRACTICAL HOMEOPATHY®Wendy: (07:23) Because of my excitement, I began teaching Gateway classes here and there a little bit, inviting my friends to learn what I was excited about. And then maybe a year or so after that — I’m trying to remember the timeline — I had been thinking about going into The Academy that first, what was called the Founder’s Year. But I was sort of nervous. I wasn’t sure if I could manage it with homeschooling and all the things we had going on. And so, I didn’t join. But then, the second year, it came around again, and I think in a consultation, Joette said, “Wendy, you should really think about The Academy.” And I said, “Well, it’s funny that you say that because I have been.” And so, I decided, “You know what? Now’s the time. I’m just going to do it. If I don’t do it now, I’m not sure when I will.” And so, I did join the second year of The Academy, and I’m so glad. My hopes in joining The Academy were to just know everything I could so I could take care of my family and my friends. I’m sort of a “Don’t tell me you can’t do this” person — as much as possible, especially after our experience with our daughter. And then all the things that happened in 2020, I thought, “I’m going to do it myself. I don’t know who I can trust, and so I’m going to just do it myself.” That was sort of my thought process. So, in The Academy, I was learning a ton, enjoying every minute of it. I really, really encourage anyone thinking about The Academy at all to strongly consider it. We need more people who are trained in Practical Homeopathy® and helping the people in their circles. Whether you go on to take clients or not, it is so valuable, and it’s so needed. FROM LEARNING TO TEACHING TO HANGING OUT A SHINGLE AND WORKING WITH THE AMISHWendy: (08:59) After The Academy, then, my plan was to just keep teaching classes and keep teaching others. My thought was that old saying, “If you give a man a fish …” If you teach a man to fish, then he eats for a lifetime. If you give it to him, he eats for a day. And so, I wanted to teach other people to fish and learn — like I had — to take care of their families. That was my plan. And then people began contacting me, asking if I could help them with their different chronic conditions or ailments that they just felt were too overwhelming or, for whatever reason, they weren’t comfortable taking care of themselves. And so, I can’t tell people “no” when they ask. And so, that launched my consultation business as well. It’s been so fun teaching classes that actually led to an opportunity then. So, I had just graduated, was just starting to launch my business. Had taught, I think, maybe my first round of Gateway classes (so, Gateway I and Gateway II). And then, one of my students approached me, who works with a large Amish community that’s about an hour north of where we live and said, “Would you consider teaching classes to some Amish ladies up here who are interested?” And so, I thought about it and thought, “Yeah, I would love to do that!” And so, I went up there. It was one Saturday “fire hose” experience. If I had to do it all over again, I probably would’ve picked two days in which to do that. But I ordered all the books we needed. People signed up ahead of time. I ordered all the books that we needed (because, of course, they’re not ordering things online) and worked with Joette’s office. They were great to help me navigate that process. And we did a one-day class where we opened our books, and we just went through the material together and with the idea that we would hopefully be able to help teach some of these ladies how to fish and help their own families. This friend that I mentioned that lives up north near this community has been working with them quite a bit and feeling a little bit overwhelmed at times. And so, I think she was hoping that “Oh, maybe we could get them some education and some knowledge so that they could at least treat some of the acute things that come up in their family.” So, that was a really neat experience. Kate: That sounds really exciting to get connected with a whole other group of people, and, like you said, teach them how they can help their families. Also, I wanted to point out that I hear often from students who have gone through The Academy and then even Mastery™ or Mastermind, how they started out just thinking they want to go through The Academy and learn more about Practical Homeopathy® and help their family. And then that turns into the next thing, which turns into the next thing. And next thing you know, they’re seeing clients and having a whole business around Practical Homeopathy®. So, it’s exciting. And now I want to hear some of the stories about the things that you’ve seen and how homeopathy has helped those conditions. So, will you share a few of those things with us? SUCCESS STORY: PANIC ATTACKSWendy: (11:54) Yeah, I would love to. Before I do that, though, I wanted to just add I realized I didn’t say that our daughter — so that was several years ago — and we still consult with Joette twice a year, mostly because I don’t want to give up that time with her, probably. But our daughter is doing very well. And you would not know today. She, once in a while, might have a faint inkling of one of those past symptoms. Almost never. She’s doing amazing. She’s now married and expecting their first child. So, we’re super excited. Kate: Yeah, that’s great. Wendy: So, success stories. Back to that. I’ve got several that are really fun. And it was kind of hard to pick, to be honest, what I wanted to share. But some of them are — or one of them is, I should say: I have a client that I’ve worked with for a time, but she came to me with panic attacks and anxiety. And she’d been struggling with this for two or three years, I think, at the time that we began meeting, and had tried several things: changing her diet, adding exercise, even counseling, supplements. And she found some things that helped a little bit, but she still was struggling with panic attacks that would show up sort of out of the blue at least once a week. It made it pretty challenging to just live life as normal. And so, we began consulting, and I suggested that she begin with Aconitum 200. I think Joette has a blog or maybe some Lives about that. And it was pretty amazing to watch. Within two months, she went from weekly panic attacks to none. She commented that first follow-up that we had. She said there was one time that she could kind of feel the beginning of symptoms start, and then they just melted away. So, she, of course, was thrilled. We’ve now moved on to working on other things, but that really resolved. She’d suffered with that for two, three, four years maybe, and that really resolved in a pretty short period of time. So, she had in her back pocket the remedy she needed in case something would happen, but she really hasn’t needed to use it. We’ve been able to move on to other things that are of concern to her. Kate: So, she just took that as she felt like a panic attack was coming on. Is that how she used the Aconitum? Wendy: So, she also had anxiety. She described it as “There’s just sort of this hum in the background all the time,” but then a panic attack would come on. And that was, of course, the most debilitating. She felt like she could sort of manage that anxiety, even though it wasn’t fun. It was the panic attack that just made it impossible. And so, she was taking Aconitum 200, twice a day. And then if she felt an attack coming on … yes, then she would take another dose, and that would take care of it right away. Kate: Okay, great. And you had alluded to Joette having more information on that. I know that there’s a podcast, I think it’s 129, called “Overcoming Anxiety and Panic Attacks with Practical Homeopathy®.” So, that’s another good resource for those who want to learn more about dealing with that. So, what else? SUCCESS STORY: GANGLION CYSTWendy: (15:03) Okay, so I have another client who had a ganglion cyst on his wrist. He’d had this before and had been surgically removed, but it had grown back. And so, I began having him take Ruta graveolens. And within a few months’ time … I should say, as we followed up, I had him take measurements of how wide and long and deep it was. And so, we take measurements each time and note any changes. And it gradually was getting smaller and smaller until finally then, I think it was nine months — yes, nine months — the cyst was gone. The cyst has not returned, and he’s thrilled to have it gone and not have to worry about thinking about surgery or some other means of treating it Kate: Wonderful. SUCCESS STORY: FIBROMYALGIAWendy: (15:51) I have another client who has struggled for some time with fibromyalgia and a few other things. But the fibromyalgia … she would get flares a couple times a month. And those flares would last two or three days and just were very painful and difficult. We began working on that. She commented that she noticed right away if she felt a flare coming, that if she took Rhus tox, that it would just sort of melt away, and it wouldn’t continue to grow. This particular client was a little skeptical at the beginning, and that was a pretty big eyeopener for her in realizing, “Oh, this medicine may actually be able to help me, whereas other things have not been helpful.” And so that was really fun. After about six months, the intense flares stopped altogether, and she reported that only a few minor flares continued. And that at our eight-month check-in, she had not had any flares at all! And so that was really exciting. Kate: That is exciting. And then I think you have someone that had a little boy with some anxiety and rage, I think was the word that you used. SUCCESS STORY: ANGER ISSUESWendy: (17:02) Yes. So, this is a little boy that our family has some pretty regular interaction with. And when we met them, I noticed pretty quickly that he definitely had some issues with anger. He would get upset very quickly if the other kids were doing something that he felt was not right … and just what could be characterized as a rage. He would go into a rage and sometimes hurt other children in the process. But then his mom reported that he would be very apologetic and woeful afterward. “Mom, I don’t want to do this. I can’t stop myself. I don’t know why I do this.” It’s just kind of heartbreaking. So, I didn’t have a close relationship with his mom, but I just sort of hedged the idea: “I’ve been learning about homeopathy. It’s helped my daughter and our family. Is that something you would be interested in trying? I think I know a remedy that might be helpful for him.” And she was all over that. She was really at her wit’s end because she felt like nothing was really helping him. And she was being pressured to increase medications he was taking, and she didn’t want to do that. And so, I recommended Stramonium, and she began giving him that. And she told me that she noticed if she saw him beginning to get angry — of course, you don’t catch it all the time — but if she saw him beginning to get angry, she would have him take a dose. And similar to the fibromyalgia story, she watched it just sort of melt away. He never fully exploded or got fully angry as he used to. And within, I think, it was just two or three weeks’ time, she told me he was doing much better, very few incidents and nowhere near as bad as they were. So, that was pretty exciting, too, that it could have such a great impact on this little guy’s life because people don’t always understand those behaviors. And so, it’s great to help the behavior melt away. But also … how much more is it also helpful for the way he now can interact with other people that won’t be fearful of him or not want to be around him because of his prior behavior? Kate: Right, absolutely. And there’s also a blog called “The Angry Child” if you want to learn more, and we’ll put a link for that on the podcast notes. Wow. Yeah. That really — I’m assuming — changed the trajectory of that boy’s life for sure. Wendy: Yes. Absolutely. SUCCESS STORY: INCONTINENCEWendy: (19:26) So, my last story that I have is when I was first learning about homeopathy. Our sweet springer spaniel that we had at the time was having a lot of trouble with incontinence. And that had actually began years prior. Early on, I had found that just a little supplement for dogs was helpful in curtailing that issue for her. But over time, it began not working anymore. Again, at the time, didn’t know what our options were, and the vet put her on a medication for that issue. Knowing that it would potentially cause some long-term issues for her, I really didn’t want to put her on it, but we didn’t know what other options we had. And so that’s what we did. But as I began learning about homeopathy, I thought, “You know what? Maybe I’ll look in to see what I could do for her.” And so, like I said, I was very new. I wasn’t sure what to do, but I did have a book that I had purchased that was specifically for using homeopathy with animals. And that book was “Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs” by Don Hamilton. After scouring through that book and making some determinations, I chose Pulsatilla in a 30C for her. And I should add, this was before I got very adept at scouring Joette’s blog for her different resources, otherwise I might’ve chosen something different. So, I was giving her the Pulsatilla as well as the medication for a while, and then I removed the medication and continued with the Pulsatilla for a couple of months after that. No issues. And so, then I gradually began backing off the Pulsatilla, and she’s not had another problem with incontinence since that time. So, that was pretty exciting, too, because we don’t have to worry about side effects with homeopathy like we do with other things. Kate: Right. I would just like to mention really quickly that there is a blog titled “How I Cured My Fibromyalgia With One Simple Medicine.” And so I know you talked about fibromyalgia just a bit ago, and I wanted to mention that in case people wanted to find out more. You can just go to JoetteCalabrese.com, and you can find all of those blogs that we mentioned. So, I loved hearing your stories. It’s always so inspiring and encouraging because when we were talking earlier, you said, “There’s nothing special about me.” Well, of course, I think there’s a lot special about you! But I think you were alluding to the fact that if you can do this — if you can have these successes, if you can go through The Academy — so can others. So, would you just give those people who are wanting to experience these kinds of success stories or maybe go on to learn more about homeopathy … if you could just give them some of your advice as to how they could go about that, I would appreciate it. CLOSING ADVICEWendy: (22:13) Well, the first thing is I would say use the tools that are available. And I know there’s lots of podcasts or places that this has talked about, but Joette gives so much away for free that’s so valuable. And so, just jump in and begin learning at the level that you are at and what you are able to do, whether that’s her blogs and podcasts that are free. Take good notes. Be a student of those, whether it’s joining Mighty Members and hanging out there and learning from other people there, whether it’s continuing on with her protocol courses or other more in-depth classes, or whether that’s The Academy. And regarding The Academy, I would just say I had lots of reasons why it didn’t make sense for me to join The Academy in terms of our family dynamics or things we had going on, or you name it. But I just knew this was going to be important for our family, and it has been transformative for our family. And then there’s that ripple effect of all the students that I’ve now had the privilege to teach and the clients that I’ve worked with and seen amazing things happen. And so, there’s no perfect time. Back to what you were referencing, there’s nothing special about me. I’m not this major intellectual. I have no background in medical areas. I have no leg up that I could even point to in terms of joining The Academy. All you have to have is a drive and a willingness to learn, and you can do amazing things and help people in amazing ways. Kate: That says it all. Thanks so much, Wendy. I appreciate your time and your willingness to share with everyone. Wendy: Thank you, Kate. It’s been my pleasure. Joette: It’s my honor to share many lessons on this simple method of using homeopathy for free —without affiliates or advertising — here in my podcasts, but also my blog posts and Monday Night Lives. But it’s critical that you learn how to use these medicines properly. These podcasts should serve as only the beginning of your training. Peruse JoettesLearningCenter.com to find fun study group opportunities and in-depth courses developed by subject. So, with the proper training, you can join the thousands of students before you in developing the confidence and competence to protect the health of your family and loved ones with my brand of homeopathy, Practical Homeopathy®. Kate: You just listened to a podcast from internationally acclaimed homeopath, public speaker and author, the founder of The Academy of Practical Homeopathy®, Joette Calabrese. Joette’s podcasts are available on all your favorite podcast apps. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit for your health strategy, visit PracticalHomeopathy.com. | |||
| Podcast 137 — Learning Practical Homeopathy®: ‘Where Do I Go From Here?’ | 14 Feb 2025 | 00:25:43 | |
IN THIS PODCAST, WE COVER: 01:00 Introduction: Learning Practical Homeopathy®: ‘Where Do I Go From Here?’ 01:24 I’m New to Homeopathy. Why Am I Here? 06:30 I’m New to Homeopathy. Where Do I Go From Here? Gateway to Practical Homeopathy®: A Guided Study Group Curriculum 09:37 Where to Buy Homeopathic Medicines Monday Night Lives on Facebook Joette Calabrese on YouTube (Monday Night Lives) 11:06 I Know a Bit About Homeopathy. Where Do I Go From Here? Feminopathy: How You Can Correct Female Ailments Using Safe, Inexpensive and Effective Homeopathy Good Gut, Bad Gut: A Homeopathic Strategy to Uproot Seemingly Unrelated Illness in Body and Mind 14:20 I’m Ready to Dive In: The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® 18:30 Expectations Mindful Homeopathy: Practical Protocols for Mental and Emotional Conditions 22:17 Embrace an Autodidactic Lifestyle ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:Joette’s Study Group, Find Your New Study Group Friends
Kate: This is the Practical Homeopathy® Podcast, episode number 137, with Joette Calabrese. Joette: Hi, I’m Joette Calabrese, and I welcome you to our health care movement — yours, mine and the countless men and women across the globe who have retaken control of their families’ health with Practical Homeopathy®. So, for the next few minutes, let’s link our arms as I demystify homeopathy — what was once considered an esoteric paradigm — into an understandable, reproducible, safe and effective health care solution available to all. This is the medicine you’ve been searching for — my unique brand of homeopathy, PRACTICAL Homeopathy®. INTRODUCTION: LEARNING PRACTICAL HOMEOPATHY®: ‘WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?’Kate: (01:00) Hi, I am Kate, and I want to welcome you back to the podcast. We are so glad that you’re here. And if you are new to this podcast, this is the perfect podcast for you because we’re going to be giving you some direction about how to learn homeopathy if you’re new. But if you’ve been studying homeopathy for a while — or even many years — this is also for you. So, Joette, let’s get started. Joette: Yeah, let’s, Kate. We have a subject, right? I’M NEW TO HOMEOPATHY. WHY AM I HERE?Kate: (01:24) Yes. We’re going to talk about “Where do I go from here?” And so that might be someone who is new or has been using homeopathy for a while or even many years. So. let’s start off, Joette, with someone who is brand new to homeopathy. Maybe they just found homeopathy or just found you and learned about it. Where does that person get started? How do they learn more? Joette: Let me start half a step back. Why is it that they’re here in the first place? Usually 90 — probably 90% … I don’t have numbers, but I can take a pretty wild guess — is that the reason that they’re here looking at what we have to offer is because they’ve already suffered under the hands of another method. They’re tired of the old way. It’s like having a wound, and instead of it healing, it gets rubbed with salt. And it’s being rubbed and abrased. And so that the person is constantly suffering or frequently suffering, or they’re observing their family suffering from something. And gee, darn it, those drugs just don’t seem to pull it all the way to the end. Instead, drugs cover up. They make somebody a little more comfortable for a short period of time, and then in the long run, they suffer even grander. So, they’re looking for the same thing that you’ve looked for, that I looked for, that all of us who have found homeopathy were looking for. And some people come to it sooner and some people come to it later. And so, I welcome all of you who are new to this. Welcome! The water is just fine. It’s really comfortable on this side of the discussion. So, what people are looking for is, “What do I use? What can I give my child, who has frequent ear infections?” Or, “What can I do about these aches and pains that I have all the time? Isn’t there another way other than just taking acetaminophen?” Or, “Is there not another way to deal with these allergies that are driving me crazy so I can never leave the house — and I can’t eat this, and I can’t go here, and I can’t go there, et cetera, et cetera — because I am so sensitive to the world around me. There’s got to be another way other than these insufferable shots that I get every month that I’ve been taking for the last 15 years of my life. There’s got to be another way.” And so, there is another way, and that’s homeopathy. Now, many times, people get homeopathy. The word … unfortunately, it’s a word that includes the word “home” in it, and people think it means home remedies or holistic. Kate: Yeah, that’s so common. Joette: It does not. It does not mean holistic. Could it be under the holistic umbrella? Perhaps. Does it mean home remedies? No. But then there’s a little aspect of it in a way. It kind of lends itself to that thinking, but it’s not home remedies. It is a specific medicine. And you can find out more about what homeopathy is on my website, and it will give you a lovely direction. Kate: Yes. So, there is a bar at the top of your website with different areas like Home, New to Homeopathy, Shop, Free Resources, et cetera. So, you just click on that “New to Homeopathy” tab at the top. It’ll get you started. It’ll take you through all the information about what homeopathy is and what it is not. Joette: So, one of the things that I’ve noticed in not only in myself but in others through the years is that we’d think, “Well, why can’t we just use a little homeopathy and a little drug therapy and a little bit of essential oils and a little chiropractic, et cetera?” And in some situations, we can do all of that. But as the person travels down this pathway, they will discover something that they never expected. And that is that homeopathy covers just about every condition known to mankind. And so, it becomes, as you move along in this, you’ll find that, “Oh my gosh, I was able to take care of my child’s otitis media in three doses. Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it.” Or “That arthritis that I have in my knees is gone. I’ve been dealing with this for five years and taking all kinds of drugs that are affecting my liver,” et cetera. So, as you’ve traveled down this path, you may find yourself more and more excited about this because you’ll see, “It helped my husband’s shin splints, and it helped my daughter’s eczema and my mother’s insomnia and my father’s anxiety,” et cetera, et cetera. And so, what happens is that you get so wrapped up in it, and you see how many things — so many sufferings — that you can remove in your family’s life that it starts to become a lifestyle, and those other paradigms often fall to the wayside. Now, I’m not saying that that’s necessary. I’m just kind of warning you that that’s probably forthcoming in your life. You’re going to see such remarkable results as long as you follow the directions properly — and you do have to follow the directions properly! But you’re going to see such remarkable results that you’re going to question why you ever used anything else. Then you’ll also have some failures as well. But you’ll be spurred on by your successes enough times, is my guess — which is an educated guess because I’ve been observing this in others and myself for close to 40 years — that you’ll find yourself looking to homeopathy first instead of second or third. So, where do we begin? That’s the question, right, Kate? I’M NEW TO HOMEOPATHY. WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?Kate: (06:30) Yes. Where does someone begin? How do they learn more about homeopathy if they’re new? Joette: Let me start with this: We have so many avenues from which to choose. There isn’t one specific avenue. It depends on how fast you want to move along. If you have a condition or someone who has a condition and you’re trying to figure out what homeopathic medicine to use for that, it’s very easy just to key into your browser, “Joette Calabrese”, and then the name of the condition. Because I have an article on so many conditions because we’ve been producing — and I’ve been authoring this blog — for, I think we’re at 14 years now. Every single Sunday for 14 years, and it’s a different subject every week. So, it’s likely you’ll find a good answer in that blog. That’s free! And I don’t have any affiliate program with the companies that I direct people to purchase their medicines from. So, it is pure information, and that’s it. I get no kickbacks. So, that’s one place to use. Not just first but even simultaneously as you go through the other ways of learning this. So, another way is to go to Joette’s Learning Center and scroll down to Gateway to Homeopathy. And there you’ll find a way to learn homeopathy — some simple measures that affect most families — and you’ll study that with other people online or maybe even locally. And that’s a great way to learn it because you’re learning with someone. There’s someone who guides the group. And it makes it so much easier when you see that other people have had success, and then you get to know them. And those people, if you stay with these groups long enough, become your friends. It doesn’t matter that you live in Alaska, and this new friend lives in Manhattan. It doesn’t matter that the person who you’ve just been meeting with within this study group lives in Liverpool, and you live in Chicago. Doesn’t matter … because now you’ve made friends with people of like-mind and people are coming into this for the same reason you are. They’re looking for a solution to their own or their family’s health problem. Kate: I want to add, Joette that on your website, JoetteCalabrese.com, there’s a tab at the top that says “Shop” and under “Shop,” there’re the Gateway study group books that you can purchase, and, then, get connected with other groups through that. [Editor’s note: You may also find Gateway to Practical Homeopathy® study guides on JoettesLearningCenter.com.] So yeah, there are many ways to get connected, but this is a great way to start. Like Joette said, you are going to love the support that you get from these relationships that you build doing these study groups. Joette: Can you imagine a world in which those people around you think similarly about health? That they’ve had the same kind of problems that you have, and you can discuss it with them and not feel alone and feel shamed for questioning? That’s this world. That’s the world I’m describing right now, and it really is girding to anyone’s life who’s questioning whether or not they should be moving in this direction and away from the old chemical-burdened drug method. WHERE TO BUY HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINESKate: (09:37) Can we take a step back again for just a minute? And you might be wondering, “Okay, I’m learning by reading the blogs or in a study group how these medicines work, and I really want to get started.” So, if you’re looking where to purchase these medicines, you have a blog, Joette, and it’s titled “Where to Buy Homeopathic Medicines.” That’s on your website. So, if you’re wondering how to know what the best place is to purchase your medicines, you can go there. But also, homeopathic medicines are, I would say, becoming more and more prevalent in the stores like your mainstream stores and your, of course, health food stores. So, you can often get homeopathic medicines there as well. Joette: Yes, and I also direct in the blog — when you use my name and then the name of the condition, and it opens up the article — I almost always include a link that will direct the reader to a place where it can be purchased. Kate: So, let’s go back to those who are new. You had said you can utilize the free resources, the Facebook Lives [Editor’s note: also archived on other sites as Monday Night Lives], the blogs, the podcasts, and also get connected with a group of people studying homeopathy. And you can do that through your Gateway to Practical Homeopathy® study groups. I KNOW A BIT ABOUT HOMEOPATHY. WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?Kate: (11:06) Now, let’s talk about those who’ve learned some about homeopathy, and they want to go the next step and learn more. What do you suggest? Joette: Well, there’s Gateway I. And then, of course, there’s Gateway II, so you can go on to that. But then the next step — and I don’t even know if it’s a next step. It could be, as I said, a simultaneous step — to go to Joette’s Mighty Members, where you get information from me on a monthly [even weekly] basis. And then there’s Joette’s Mighty Members Plus, and you get even more information and information that I’m not comfortable readily putting out to the general public. Kate: And even get to meet with you live once a month [Exclusively in Mighty Members Plus]. So, that’s exciting! Students can ask you their questions and connect with you that way. And plus, there’s so much more for Mighty Members and Mighty Members Plus. So, check out those resources as well if you’re interested in going further. What else? Joette: Well, there are, of course, these podcasts where you can learn. I mean, we’ve been doing these for many years, and so there’s lots of information on the podcasts for you to learn and build your knowledge day by day. I know some people who tell me they listen to these podcasts and any of the other (even) videos. They listen to them on a day-to-day basis so that they can increase their knowledge without putting an awful lot of effort into it. Instead of … while you’re baking your bread, while you’re raking the leaves, while … whatever … you’re making the beds, then you can be learning on a regular basis. Well, then the next place might be going to Joette’s Learning Center and scrolling down and looking at the courses that I offer that are protocol-specific courses. Actually, what I should say is that they are condition-specific courses that teach protocols that are useful in these particular conditions. So, for female conditions, we have a course titled “Feminopathy.” For gastrointestinal conditions, we have, “Good Gut, Bad Gut.” Et cetera. You’ll get lost in those. There are a lot of them, and so there are enough that could keep you busy for quite some time. So, once you delve that far, now I would go not just to one course, but consider maybe even two. So, for people who have allergies and food intolerances, which are so closely related, they might want to take the “Allergic?!” course as well as the “Good Gut, Bad Gut” course. So, that’s how you build the knowledge: one brick at a time. Kate: Joette, I want to jump in, and I want to tell people also how to find those courses. If you go to your website, you can click on the “Shop” button again at the top of the website, and then the top listing there is called “Courses,” and that is where The Learning Center is. And all of those courses are explained, and you can find out more about them there. But Joette, I want to mention that some of your students don’t go this route. They go directly from the Gateway to Practical Homeopathy® study groups to your Academy. So, whether or not you go from the Gateway to The Academy, or take some courses and then go into The Academy, I would like you to explain a little bit about what The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® is and what kind of person might be interested in that. I’M READY TO DIVE IN: THE ACADEMY OF PRACTICAL HOMEOPATHY®Joette: (14:20) Well, The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® is an intense 12 months of rigorous study. Some of it is recorded, some of it is live, where we actually meet — as a student body with me — every week. And it is an in-depth study of homeopathy for one purpose and one purpose only, and that is to learn how to be able to use it, whether it’s use for your family as a practitioner. We’ve had a lot of doctors and nurse practitioners and pharmacists graduate from our Academy. Also, we’ve had farmers. We’ve had folks who have no interest in ever practicing homeopathy. They just want to know more because they’ve been bitten by the bug. And that’s often what happens. The Academy curriculum is, as I said, it’s rigorous. We teach history in depth. We teach the “Organon,” which is the essence of where homeopathy began, by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann. We teach it aphorism by aphorism. We teach how to navigate the repertory, which is important for people who are looking to really understand how far to go with a case. We teach case management. So, what do you do when you don’t know what to do? We teach more protocols. So, to make it easy — at least to take that first step. I teach materia medica so that you understand the medicines thoroughly. And we require that every member of the student body join a study group that’s within The Academy so that they’re learning with others. And we actually have assignments for each of the study groups to complete by the end of, usually, a couple of weeks. So, it’s intense, and it’s glorious. It’s intellectually delicious, as I say. So, if you have a hunger for learning more, or you want to incorporate this into your already existing medical practice, or you want to begin a practice, or you simply want to be able to take care of your family with more aplomb … this is the place to go. Now, you would think that would be the end of it, right? It’s 12 months of intensive work. After that, we have a second year called Mastery™. And that is an 11-month program in which we take what you learned — the academic that you learned in the first year — and take it to the next level and put it into application even more in-depth. So, it’s study of cases, case management, what to do even further when you don’t know what to do. We navigate the repertory even more in-depth. We study even more in-depth materia medica. There are interviews. I’ve interviewed important people in homeopathy in today’s world … some of whom have passed on, and so we’re lucky to have them as part of our curriculum. And the amount of information that is brought to the student’s awareness is more than most students would have expected to learn. Many people come in thinking, “Oh, this is going to be a simple little few months or a year or so.” No, this is very in-depth. I take this seriously, and I hope that the student does as well, but it’s complete joy of learning. This is for the person who enjoys learning. Kate: So, if this sounds interesting to you and you want to know more about The Academy of Practical Homeopathy®, we’re going to put a link on the page where this podcast is found on Joette’s website, and it will be to what we’re calling the Founders’ list. And that will put you on the list that you will get emails with information about The Academy. Once we are starting our enrollment period. We start every year in July, and so, up until that point, we are taking applications. You submit an application, and then we go from there. And we always have an amazing class of students, so it’s very exciting. EXPECTATIONSKate: (18:30) All right, we’ve covered, you’re a new person to homeopathy and you’ve known about homeopathy for a while, want to go deeper. And then for those who really want to learn more, then it’s The Academy of Practical Homeopathy®, or just taking all of your courses as well would be another thing. But I want to mention that all of Joette’s courses, like Allergic?! and Mindful, they’re all in The Academy. So, if you want to go through all those courses as well as learn more, then The Academy is a great place to do that. Anything else that you want to add as far as tips about learning homeopathy for those who want to go deeper? Joette: Well, one of the things that I find happens commonly is that people can have unrealistic expectations of what is going to happen after they’ve used a homeopathic medicine. And part of the problem is that, more often than not, homeopathy is taught to the general public using an acute condition as an example. So, for an acute condition — let’s say it’s a child with a fever of 104, 105 — and you use the homeopathic medicine, you’re going to see a shift within an hour, sometimes even minutes. Maybe only two or three doses of the medicine. Sometimes only one. And so, it’s so remarkable that that expectation then becomes transferred to what the person can count on for chronic conditions. And chronic conditions can be much different, and even some acute conditions can be much different. So, the expectations are based on … I wish I could give you absolute 100% parameters, but I can’t always do that. I’ll give you some generalized ones. If it’s an acute condition, such as a fever or relentless vomiting or an earache or a panic attack, we might see (giving them homeopathic medicine) … we might see a shift within very short amount of time. And then, we don’t continue with the medicine. We just make note of what helped: what the medicine was that was used that brought about that resolution of the condition so that it can be used again at a later date should it need to be used again. But when it comes to a chronic condition, it can take some time. So, for example, psoriasis, my friends, can take a year — sometimes longer than a year. Even eczema can take many months. We often see a shift in short order. We see a little bit of a difference. But expectations are huge. Because too often people expect that just a couple of doses of a remedy for something that they’re suffering … if they don’t see a change within those three or four doses, that means it’s not going to work. But that usually is related to something acute, meaning a very short-lived condition. Not a chronic condition that’s been going on — perhaps on and off — for many years. So, expectations matter. So, we have to know what it is we’re looking for so that we can observe the improvement or the lack of improvement after using a homeopathic medicine. Kate: Really good point. And I know it’s interesting because you always say that, “Give me a good UTI, and it’s easy. And a cold or a flu, though, can be complicated.” So, I think it’s important to keep that in mind that sometimes we think what’s simple isn’t simple. And I want to also mention that if you have a very complex case, and you’re just needing some help or want to know how to get started with a certain condition or someone in your family is very sick and you need help, there’s a website, and it’s FindAPracticalHomeopath.com. And that’s where there’s a listing of the students who have gone through and graduated from The Academy or The Academy and Mastery™ programs. And those who are taking clients have their information. And so, you can connect with someone there, a homeopath — or I should say a Practical Homeopath® —who can help you and take your case. EMBRACE AN AUTODIDACTIC LIFESTYLEJoette: (22:17) Thank you for saying that, Kate. That’s good information. And I want to appeal to those who believe in autodidactic lifestyle, which means self-learning. Finding that the best way to grow as a human being is to constantly be learning. And it is a joyous way of living to be constantly curious and finding solutions for those problems that are the most noteworthy in our lives at this moment in time. So, I believe that homeopathy offers that — not only the fact that it often gives us solutions. It’s not a hundred percent. Let me just remind everyone that this is not magic; it’s medicine. And because of that, it takes care of a lot of conditions but not all conditions. And so, I want you to approach this as something that will help your family as well as quench that thirst for learning and growing and becoming a more capable human being. Kate: What’s that saying, Joette, that you said that I think it was Dr. Prasanta used to say that homeopathy has been known to … Joette: So, I believe it was Dr. Prasanta Banerji who told me once that homeopathy has been known to cure all of human suffering, but not every person who has that condition will be cured with homeopathy. So, some people who have psoriasis will be cured using homeopathy, while others who have psoriasis may not. So, we have to keep that in mind as well. However, having said that, the beauty of homeopathy is that it doesn’t cause side effects. You can overuse it; you can use it incorrectly. But it does not cause side effects because it’s not synthetic; it’s not patented. It’s natural, and it’s also something that in the home can wield great results. Kate: So, no matter where you’re at, we welcome you to this community. And if you get plugged in, you won’t regret it. There’s so many opportunities to learn and to grow and to connect. So, thanks for joining us today. Joette: It’s my honor to share many lessons on this simple method of using homeopathy for free —without affiliates or advertising — here in my podcasts, but also my blog posts and Monday Night Lives. But it’s critical that you learn how to use these medicines properly. These podcasts should serve as only the beginning of your training. Peruse JoettesLearningCenter.com to find fun study group opportunities and in-depth courses developed by subject. So, with the proper training, you can join the thousands of students before you in developing the confidence and competence to protect the health of your family and loved ones with my brand of homeopathy, Practical Homeopathy®. Kate: You just listened to a podcast from internationally acclaimed homeopath, public speaker and author, the founder of The Academy of Practical Homeopathy®, Joette Calabrese. Joette’s podcasts are available on all your favorite podcast apps. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit for your health strategy, visit PracticalHomeopathy.com. | |||
| Podcast 138 — Peek Inside Joette’s Passionate Mastermind Group: 7 Women, 7 Homeopathic Success Stories | 28 Feb 2025 | 00:38:14 | |
https://joettecalabrese.com/podcast1/138-mastermind-7-success-stories/
IN THIS PODCAST, WE COVER:
01:00 Introduction: Peek Inside Joette’s Passionate Mastermind Group: 7 Women, 7 Homeopathic Success Stories 01:32 Meet Some of My Mastermind Students 03:20 Success Story: Blood Clots, Infection, Heart Failure, Pain From a Possible Brown Recluse Bite 09:00 Success Stories: Pneumonia and a Nonverbal, Autistic Child 18:15 From Student to Teacher Gateway to Practical Homeopathy®: A Guided Study Group Curriculum 23:30 Success Story: Depression 26:11 Success Story: Avoiding Hip Replacement Surgery 29:30 Canine Success Story: Dog With Conjunctivitis, Body Odor and Back Cyst 34:00 Success Story: Diverticulitis and Orthopedic Pain ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:Joette Calabrese on YouTube (Monday Night Lives) The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® Joette’s Study Group, Find Your New Study Group Friends
Kate: This is the Practical Homeopathy® Podcast, episode number 138, with Joette Calabrese. Joette: Hi, I’m Joette Calabrese, and I welcome you to our health care movement — yours, mine and the countless men and women across the globe who have retaken control of their families’ health with Practical Homeopathy®. So, for the next few minutes, let’s link our arms as I demystify homeopathy — what was once considered an esoteric paradigm — into an understandable, reproducible, safe and effective health care solution available to all. This is the medicine you’ve been searching for — my unique brand of homeopathy, PRACTICAL Homeopathy®. INTRODUCTION: PEEK INSIDE JOETTE’S PASSIONATE MASTERMIND GROUP: 7 WOMEN, 7 HOMEOPATHIC SUCCESS STORIESKate: (01:00) Hi, this is Kate, and I’m so glad that you’re here with us again today. We love it that you are learning about homeopathy — that you are excited and want to know more. And today, we have a very special treat for you. Joette, we’re here together! Joette: Hi, Kate. Kate: Yes, in person. Joette: I know. It’s usually not in person. Kate: I know! Joette: We meet often, but it’s on Zoom. Kate: It’s great! Joette: Yeah, it’s really great. Kate: So. Exciting thing, that we’re just finishing up a big weekend for us. We have some amazing students gathered together. Can you tell us a little bit about what we’ve done this weekend and what the listeners are going to hear? MEET SOME OF MY MASTERMIND STUDENTSJoette: (01:32) Well, what we’ve finished — and I’m pretty excited about it because it’s been such a spectacular weekend — we have 12 people, and it’s called Mastermind. And it’s our second year of doing this. And in order to be in Mastermind, you have to go through The Academy (which is a year long) and then Mastery (which is 11 months long). And then this just happens to be the second year of working together in Mastermind with a really tight group of ladies. And it’s always exciting because we get to know each other really well, and we help each other. That’s a big part of this. And the goal is to move people along in their lives as quickly as we possibly can so they can achieve their goals: whether they’re for teaching, whether the goals are to help their family, or the goals are to become a better practitioner, or wherever they are in their lives. We want to move it along faster. So, today, you’re going to be listening to a number of the students who are willing to share some ideas and some information about how homeopathy — especially Practical Homeopathy® — has touched their lives. Kate: And I think one of the things that’s exciting, Joette, is that this isn’t someone who is a doctor or a nurse or a professional, necessarily. These are people from all different walks of life, from all over the country, really. And some of them are stay-at-home moms, as you’ll hear. Some are professionals working in the medical field, some are … Joette: … physical therapists, nurses. That’s right. Educators. Yes. Kate: Real estate. Yeah. So, you’re going to hear from a number of different people, and I want this to be encouraging to you because you don’t have to fit into a certain mold in order to learn homeopathy or even, for that matter, go through these steps and into the Mastermind program. You, too, can do it. Joette: That’s true. That’s true. Yes. Kate: Let’s get started. Let’s take a minute and hear from some of the students who are in Mastermind. Joette: Let’s go. SUCCESS STORY: BLOOD CLOTS, INFECTION, HEART FAILURE, PAIN FROM A POSSIBLE BROWN RECLUSE BITEJoette: (03:20) I’m Joette Calabrese, and we’ve just had our first meeting of our second year of Mastermind. And I’m here with one of my students who I’ve gotten to know quite well through the years because she’s been through The Academy and Mastery and Mastermind last year, and now we’re starting Mastermind this year. And her name is Lorraine. Hi, Lorraine. Lorraine: Hi, Joette. It’s really a pleasure to have been able to study with you all these years, and what you’ve taught me has been, I would say, invaluable. Joette: I want to hear your story. Lorraine: My husband became really critically ill the middle of last year, and he had to be hospitalized for two weeks. There was some heart failure involved. Joette: He’s not an elderly man. Lorraine: No. Joette: He’s in his forties. Lorraine: Yep. Late forties. And he had blood clots, and he had had a serious infection. And we believe that led to all these events. Well, throughout the hospital stay, we were able to minimize a lot of the medications. He emerged from the hospital on three drugs. Over the course of the next six months. We were able to get him off of all the drugs. Joette: Slowly, carefully with the guidance of the doctors, but you were really leading the charge on many levels. Lorraine: Yes. We saw that they were creating negative side effects. We also saw that he seemed to be recovering beautifully, and that was born out with some of the diagnostic testing that we did at the end of the sixth-month period. He is basically restored to full health at this point. He does not need the drugs. He doesn’t need a lot of homeopathy, either, at this point. Joette: And the prognosis was that he was going to have to stay on these drugs for the rest of his life. Lorraine: Yes, that is definitely what the cardiologist believed. Joette: Now, may I say what you believe the cause was? There’s the potential that this was a brown recluse spider bite. Lorraine: That’s what we think. We never saw the spider. We … Joette: That’s why they’re called “recluses.” Lorraine: But it was some kind of — it appeared to be some kind of — bite. And our best guess was it was a brown recluse. Joette: And that turned into an infection, which then created clotting and cardiac … Lorraine: He was actually in heart failure. Joette: Oh, in heart failure. Lorraine: And he did have a rapid heartbeat, but more seriously than the rapid heartbeat, he was in heart failure. Joette: Yes. Do you mind telling folks just a few of the medicines that you ended up using from the beginning and then the pain remedies, et cetera? I want to recall … I think it’s important for folks to understand that your husband, Lorraine, was under the care of a doctor at all time — a cardiologist, an infectious disease. He was in critical care for a short period of time in the hospital. You never left the care of a doctor. And then you also hired another doctor who was a student in our class with you, who also supported you a great deal. And it was her work as well that helped you get through all of this. And so much of this was under her tutelage, as well as your studying. Lorraine: So, for the heart failure, in his particular case — well, really, in any heart failure case, I would think, you would always want hawthorne tincture (mother tincture), Crataegus as a baseline. We also used Lachesis. Lachesis was additionally useful because we had some severe wounds. We had the infection, and we had some issues with the lungs. So, it was a very good choice. Obviously, his heart rate was very elevated, and with the heart failure, Digitalis was very logical as well. Joette: And then he had pain. Lorraine: Yes. Joette: A lot of pain at the site that was shooting down and up and down that leg. Lorraine: So, because of the clots, we had the development of venous ulcers. (As far as we can tell, that was the cause of them.) We surprisingly found he was already taking Calendula 200 internally to aid with the healing and to help with the pain. And even for infection, Calendula internally was indicated in the materia medica. When the pain was not managed by some of the other remedies (Hypericum, and I used Chamomilla. Joette: Coffea? Did you use Coffea? Lorraine: I used Coffea. Anyway, we were having some trouble managing it, and we found that Staphysagria was helpful, even though this was not a surgical, clean-cut wound. It was actually very helpful. We used that, and it was incredibly helpful. Joette: So, now after all these months, you were the bedside prescriber, essentially with the help of the doctor who was also a homeopath and part of our group, and also the doctors in the hospital. And so now he’s doing pretty well. He’s working. There’s still a little residual problem at the site of the ulcer, but now the pain is more than managed. It’s gone. And he’s no longer on any conventional drugs and with, actually, the blessings of the doctors because he doesn’t need them. In spite of what the original prognosis was, he doesn’t need them. And you’ve also backed off of many of the homeopathics. Lorraine: Yes. Joette: All I can say, Lorraine, is nice job. Lorraine: Well, thank you, Joette. And really and truly, your system of education and the protocols you’ve given us and just the general understanding of homeopathy and how it works from a high level as well as a very baseline level — just covering the whole gamut. I think that has been incredibly helpful to being able to wrestle a case like this to the ground, so to speak. Joette: And it’s been done. Lorraine: Yes. Joette: Thank you for sharing it, Lorraine. SUCCESS STORIES: PNEUMONIA AND A NONVERBAL, AUTISTIC CHILDJoette: (09:00) I’m with one of my students who I love, and her name is Sheena. Some of you may already know her. She’s gone through The Academy (year one), and Mastery™ (that’s the second year), and Mastermind first year, and now, Mastermind second year. So, welcome, Sheena. Sheena: Thank you. It’s great to be back in Mastermind again. Joette: Well, we’re here because people like to hear stories of success, even if it’s only partial success. We don’t expect perfection in homeopathy. We expect some shift. And so, tell us a story that … perhaps, a case that you’ve been working with or someone that you’ve helped. Sheena: So recently, a lot of people are getting pneumonia, and it’s really sticking in there. It’s lasting a long time, and they’re trying different remedies. But I’ve had some really good success with that recently with a couple of clients. Joette: Now, pneumonia is one of those things that can last for weeks, even months. So, what are you seeing? Do you see that homeopathy … you give the first medicine, and bam, it’s gone? Or do you see that you have to move it along, and you are pivoting at certain points? And then you get to another point, and now the person’s a little better, et cetera, et cetera. Tell us what the process is. Sheena: Yeah, it definitely takes some time, especially because they have been generally struggling with this for a while before they come get homeopathy. Joette: Before they come to you, they’ve already been suffering. Sheena: They’ve maybe had antibiotics, maybe even steroids, and none of those things seem to be working for the pneumonia that I’m seeing. And so, I have to kind of hit it at a couple levels. And I do keep in contact with these clients pretty closely. Their rib cage is generally tight and tense. Joette: Painful. Sheena: Painful. Joette: Sometimes, even a fracture. Sheena: Maybe cracked a rib. Yep. That’s pretty much everyone so far has had a cracked rib by the time they get to me. So, we have to do remedies for that and loosen that up. And then, oftentimes, it’s coming from the sinuses. And we forget about that because the lungs are so scary, and they can’t breathe. But we have to address the mucus that’s … Joette: Draining. Sheena: … draining down the back of the sinuses. So, I generally will give them remedies for that. And then, of course, hit the cough straight on, based on how it’s presenting for that person. Joette: Particularly when the cough is racking or painful or causes breathlessness that’s frightening, that’s when we really have to hit hard with the remedies for tha. Sheena: And give them an emotional remedy because they’ve been sick for a long time. They’re desperate. They’re afraid they’re not going to get better. They’re afraid they’re not going to breathe. So, there’s a lot of fear involved, especially when it’s been going on for months. Joette: Well, breathlessness can be a very frightening experience … and especially, when you’re coughing, and you need to get that breath in, and you can’t get it in enough to be able to push out again and clear the chest. So yeah, it’s a big deal. What are you seeing with these? You’re getting the case after it’s already commenced for say, a couple of weeks? Sheena: A couple months. Joette: A couple months, first? Okay. Then you get the case. Sheena: Then I get the case. Joette: Okay. Sheena: It would be easier … Joette: Wouldn’t it be nice in the very beginning? But I think most people don’t seek help necessarily right away because they feel as though they can handle it. And that’s what we all want to be able to do. “It’s just a little cough. I’ll take some Aconite and Bryonia, maybe ColdCalm® or something like that. But sometimes, it does progress, and that’s when people need help. They need help from a professional such as you. Sheena: And sometimes it wax and wanes, so they’re like, “Oh, I am getting better. Oh, wait. Nope, I’m not. Oh wait, I am getting better.” And then finally, they’re like, “Yeah, I’m definitely not getting better.” Joette: And then at the end, usually you find people who are left with a certain set of symptoms after pretty much the pneumonia has cleared. What do you see is left in the end? Sheena: The rib pain. Joette: Yep. Sheena: That takes a while because you’re healing bone at that point. If they’ve got a cracked rib and the congestion seems to linger, so it takes a while to fully get that congestion out … especially because they no longer can cough very well because it hurts because they have a cracked rib. So, we have to sort of process each thing and keep going back with the pain, with the pneumonia, with the emotions. Joette: And then there’s that fatigue. Sheena: And the fatigue. Yes. The extraordinary fatigue. Joette: Yes. And that other level that you mentioned, and that is the anxiety that remains. The fear of, “Oh my gosh. What if this happens again?” Or “What if I’m not done? What if this goes on forever?” What we all think as humans, we automatically go there. Sheena: The fear of never getting better is big. And then, it may trigger an exacerbation of an underlying condition because they’ve been sick for so long. As soon as pneumonia or whatever starts to dissipate, I think it’s aphorism 35. Right? Then, the conditions that they had before come back, full strength may be even worse. Joette: Sheena’s referring to aphorism 35 is referring to Samuel Hahnemann’s “Organon.” He is the founder — or the discoverer and developer — of homeopathy back in the 1700s. So, he has these aphorisms. I think you’re right … I think it’s aphorism 35. I’m impressed. You studied well in The Academy, Sheena. Sheena: I studied. Well, I found that aphorism so interesting because it says if there’s two — and I’m paraphrasing — two distinct diseases, the stronger one will be the only one really presenting symptoms. Doesn’t mean the other one’s gone. As soon as the stronger one is gone, the other one just comes back. And that really tells us that these things are symptoms. And then it’s the body communicating with us — and it’s not the illness — because otherwise, one wouldn’t go away and then come back. So, it’s the body’s like, “Pay attention to this for right now; I’m going to set this aside.” As soon as that’s taken care of, then the body’s like, “Hey, now, you need to get back to this.” Joette: Well, what I love about these acutes — which could also, by the way, represent a chronic condition, which is what you’re saying — is that on the other side of it, we often see a shift that is an emotional or even a developmental shift that leads the person to feel, “Okay, I have just gotten through this. Now I’m done. I’m really done.” It can take weeks, months, perhaps, depending on the person, but “I’m really finished with this.” And now they see things differently in their lives. I have it reported to me all the time, “Oh my gosh. I feel like a different person. Not in my fears but rather in my leap forward. And we see this in children when they have fevers. And just before they mount a fever, they can’t accomplish something. For example, they say, “I can’t tie my shoe” (and that’s not a good one because no one has tie-shoes anymore.) “I can’t Velcro my shoe.” (It’s not quite the same.) So, I guess we have to go to “I can’t ride a bike like all the other children in the neighborhood. I can’t do it. I can’t get on it. I keep falling.” Then, they get sick, and they get a fever. And on the other side of the fever — if it is not suppressed by antibiotics, steroids, et cetera — what we often find is once that fever has mounted and completed itself with the use of homeopathy — or perhaps not even homeopathy … just letting it be and letting the child sleep and get well on his own — on the other side of it, now the child, when they get outside and they’re back into their normal lives again, they can get on the bike and start riding the bike. So, there’s that developmental leap. And I believe, and I’ve seen it happen in adults as well. Sheena: I’ve seen it all the time with adults. They may make a really huge shift in their relationships or something that is not right emotionally. For some reason, after these illnesses, it’s like a wake-up call, and they move into a much better place. Generally. Joette: Maybe they can make a decision differently. Something that’s been plaguing them for a while now, they can actually lean into it and make the decision. Yeah. Sheena: Yeah. It seems to be. Joette: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Sheena: So, I had another case that’s pretty cool. I was working with — or still I’m working with — a young boy who’s four and a half nonverbal autistic and worked with him. On the third month, I get on Zoom, and he says, “Hi, Sheena.” And honestly, for a minute … Joette: Goose bumps! Sheena: Well, I was like, “Wait, I’m pretty sure he is nonverbal!” So, I’m trying to play it cool. Looking at my notes … Joette: “Wait a minute. Did I get it right last time? Is he nonverbal?” Sheena: I was like, “Wait. Am I confused? What’s happening?” But he had just started talking a week before the appointment, and of course, parents were thrilled. He has continued. He’s talking; he’s reading; he’s writing; he’s spelling. A hundred percent to the homeopathy. Joette: And the parents would agree with that. Sheena: Oh, a hundred percent. No doubt. Joette: Yes, yes, yes. Well, when you see a case like that, and you’ve just changed the trajectory of a little boy into manhood someday, you know this medicine can’t be beat. Sheena: It was incredible. I mean, I was surprised. I almost fell off my chair, but I was trying to keep it cool. Joette: I know. Great story. Well, thank you, Sheena. Sheena: You’re welcome. Joette: They just got aphorism 35 and a whole lesson. Sheena: That’s right. Joette: Thank you. Sheena: And thank you. This has been the most amazing decade of learning homeopathy, and it’s literally changed my trajectory in my life. Thank you. Joette: I love it. I’m glad that you’re with us. FROM STUDENT TO TEACHERJoette: (18:15) Okay, back again, folks. Now I’m with Noreen. And Noreen has been with me through The Academy, Mastery™, Mastermind last year, Mastermind this year … and we just keep going on together. Don’t we, Noreen? Noreen: You’re right, Joette. I just thank you for having this conversation, and I just want you to know how much I appreciate you. Joette: Well, and I appreciate you too, Noreen. We could just stand here and talk about that all day. So, let’s talk about maybe a story, something, a testimonial on something that’s worked nicely in your life. Or how you’ve used homeopathy, what you’ve learned, and how it’s affected someone that you care about. Noreen: Well, I didn’t know anything about homeopathy until about 2019 when my son got stung by wasps, and his hand inflated like a balloon, and I didn’t know what to do about it. And somebody said, “Oh, well, just get this stuff. It’s called Ledum and use that.” And so, when I got it, I looked at these silly little white pills, and I thought, “This is supposed to do something?” But I gave him two doses, and in the morning, his hand looked almost normal! Where the evening before, it had been swollen, red, a streak going up his arm. It was hot; it was nasty, and I was very concerned. So, when that happened, I went, “I really need to learn more about these funny little pills.” Joette: Well, that’s interesting because 2019, I was … 2025, just the beginning of 2025 … so it was only six years ago. Right? Some people have been doing this for 30, 50 years. But you’re six years in, and you’re committed. You’re all the way in because you teach Gateway groups, don’t you? Noreen: Right. So, that was my first thing. I took a Gateway class. And then I took another Gateway class with different people. And from that, I was just hooked. And then, when you started The Academy, I decided to dive in and do The Academy … and only for my family. I had no intention of becoming a practitioner. I only wanted to learn it to help my family. At some point, going through The Academy and Mastery™, I decided that teaching was the thing that I wanted to do. So, right now, what I’m doing is I’m teaching Gateway Is, Gateway IIs, and teaching through the protocol courses. That’s my goal this year is to get through all the rest of the protocol courses. Joette: And you’re teaching groups of people in your home, in their home, online? How do you normally do that, Noreen? Noreen: Well, mostly online. But I did it at a church, so, I did do it in person for the particular group. They wanted their church group to have it in person. They were very adamant about doing it in person. So, I did theirs in person, but mostly, I do it online. And that works out good because people can be in different time zones. I can do it in the evening or in the morning. They can come in their pajamas or whatever. Joette: So, who are these people? These are mothers, grandmothers? What kind of people are they? Who wants to learn homeopathy from you? Noreen: A lot of different people. Usually, I really have a heart for young moms because I want young moms to be able to avoid the antibiotic merry-go-round … when you go in for an ear infection and the next thing you know, you’re taking something for your stomach because the antibiotic gives you a stomach ailment. All that kind of stuff. I want them to be able to avoid that kind of merry-go-round. So, I like to do young moms, but I seem to end up with a lot of grandmoms. I’ve done it for teenage girls because they’re going to be, hopefully, moms and get them trained up early. Joette: These are people who are often independent thinkers who step outside of the box and say, “You know what? I think I have a duty that’s greater than just taking my family constantly to the doctor’s office and waiting in waiting rooms. I think I’ll learn how to do this myself. Only, I’ll do it with a homeopathic medicine instead of whatever.” Noreen: And in the beginning, I was trying to convince my family and friends to do it. But you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink. Joette: Not always. Noreen: So, sometimes, you have to wait for them to come around. And sometimes you just have to look for the “lookers.” There’s people out there that want this. And if someone says, “No, thank you,” I say, “Oh, okay. Next!” Joette: Well, I know you’re doing a lot of these groups, and hopefully, we’ll have it linked down below so that people know where to go to find out more. And thank you so much, Noreen. It’s always great to have you in our group. You add a level of, shall I say, wisdom, as it was said earlier, and knowledge. So, thank you for joining us. Noreen: Well, thank you very much, Joette. I’m super-happy to be here, and I can’t even express how you’ve changed my life. I don’t know where I would be if I didn’t have this aspect of teaching in my life. It’s very fulfilling. Joette: Yeah. Thank you. Noreen: Thank you. SUCCESS STORY: DEPRESSIONJoette: (23:30) Hi, Ingrid. Ingrid: Hi, Joette. Joette: So, Ingrid, you’ve been with me first year, Academy, right? Twelve months. Then, second year, Mastery™. That’s 11 months now. Mastermind last year, which was a year, and now Mastermind, the second year. And so, you’ve been for some time … Ingrid: I have. And even longer before then, when I found you through Weston A Price. Joette: Oh, that’s right. Because you were practicing as a GAPS practitioner, right? Ingrid: Yes. Joette: Okay. So, you have some … Ingrid: And nutritional therapy. Joette: Yes. And you also have a good experience in being in practice and working with other modalities. Ingrid: Yes. Joette: Yeah, yeah. So, Ingrid, tell us your story. I like to hear this story. I know this now. So, go ahead and share it with us. Ingrid: Okay, great. There are so many, but one that really stands out because it not only impacted the person themselves, but it impacted the entire family … and then that person’s entire department at work. So, I was working with a young mom whose husband was having some depression and maybe some suicidal ideation. And in his line of work — a first responder — there are so many instances of people taking their own lives because they’re just so depressed from everything they’re seeing, the PTSD, the number of hours that they work in a row. So, they’re sleep deprived … Joette: The responsibility. Ingrid: The responsibility, for sure. So, I was working with her, and first, we — since it was depression — put him on Aurum metallicum. But it really didn’t budge it. So, we decided to pivot after maybe two months and moved to Ignatia because there was such a strong element of PTSD. And it really worked quite quickly, even in a matter of a week or two. Joette: That’s what I was going to ask you, how quickly did it? Ingrid: Very quickly. Joette: Beautiful. Ingrid: And within a month, it was pretty much a hundred percent improvement. So, not only did he improve, but the life was improved in the family. Joette: Of course, it trickles throughout the entire family. Ingrid: And then he became an advocate for homeopathy, telling his department and different people about this and then some other maybe digestive things that we were working on. So, it not only worked with that family — which I’m so pleased about — but it also … You know, once people find out about homeopathy, they want to tell everybody. Joette: Yeah. And you can’t stop! Not only can she not stop — his wife — but his excitement and, of course, yours. Because once you’ve touched a life like this so deeply, there’s no stopping us. We really want to learn more and do more and experience more and share it even further. Ingrid: So true. Joette: Yeah. Thank you so much. Ingrid: Thank you so much. And thank you so much for just everything you’ve done. Just knowing you has been such a pleasure in my life. Joette: Oh, you’re very sweet. Ingrid: And changed my life. Joette: Well, I love that you’re with us. Ingrid: Thank you. SUCCESS STORY: AVOIDING HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERYJoette: (26:11) We’re now with Laurie, who’s been through The Academy, Mastery, Mastermind last year and now Mastermind this year. And so, thanks for joining me, Laurie. You’ve got a story to share, haven’t you? Laurie: Yes. Hi, Joette. Joette: Hi. Laurie: This is about my husband. So, about a year ago, I saw him putting on his shoes to go somewhere. I’m like, “Where are you going?” He goes, “I’m going to the ER.” I’m like, “What? I’m going with you. What’s wrong?” Basically, he was in a lot of pain with his hip. Joette: Was this a previous injury or something? Laurie: Nope. Joette: Just out of the blue, pain in his hip? Laurie: Yes. Joette: Okay. Laurie: So, we get to the ER, and basically, long story short, the doctor tells him it’s arthritis … Joette: Arthritis. Laurie: And that he needs to see an orthopedic doctor. She got him into a very well-known doctor the very next day, which was great. Joette: Now, orthopedic doctor is usually a surgeon. Laurie: This was a surgeon. Joette: Right. Laurie: So, we go to the appointment together, and basically, my husband is demanding a hip replacement. He just thought that would fix everything for him. Joette: Just get rid of that and get a new one. Laurie: Yeah. And the doctor looks at me, he goes, “Is he serious?” I’m like, “Yeah, he’s serious.” So, he grabs his pamphlet — and well, he talked to my husband — but he grabs a pamphlet, and he says, “I want you to take this home. I want you to read it. And if you still want this surgery, come back, and we’ll talk.” And my husband read the pamphlet. He goes, “Yeah, I don’t want a surgery.” Joette: Yeah, do a little homework, and you might see a little differently. Laurie: So, I put him on the arthritis protocol. And this is now a year later, and he basically tells me often he’s got zero pain now. It’s gone. Joette: That’s fabulous. But what does that mean by “often”? So, in other words, he still has pain from time to time. Laurie: Occasionally. But lately, he’s been saying, “Yeah, I have no pain.” He’s amazed. He’s pretty thrilled and pretty amazed by it. So … Joette: When you can turn someone around — who was really excited about the idea of a hip replacement — to taking the little pills that actually taste good, and turn them into someone who’s now a believer and says, “Yeah, I don’t have pain very often at all,” that’s when you know you’ve done your job. Laurie: And he’s learned how to use them as SOS when he needs them. So instead of … Joette: Okay. How often might that be, Laurie? Laurie: It kind of depends on what’s going on. If there’s something that triggers or aggravates that he ends up having to go in tight spaces sometimes with his job. And so, if there’s something that aggravates that hip, sometimes it could be daily for a few days. Joette: What kind of work does he do? Laurie: He’s an electrician. Joette: Okay. So, he … Laurie: He goes up into attics and … Joette: Okay. Crawl spaces. Yes. Right. Okay. Laurie: Yeah. Joette: He’s carrying those big, heavy cables on his shoulders. Does he have to do that kind? Laurie: Yeah. Yeah, he does. Joette: Yeah. It’s a rigorous job. Laurie: Yeah. Sometimes, he’s digging ditches to run a line. Joette: Yeah. Laurie: Yeah. Joette: Wow. So, if he takes the homeopathics occasionally, we’re pretty happy about this. Laurie: He’s thrilled. Yes. Joette: Yeah, we’re thrilled, too. Nice job, Laurie. Laurie: Thank you. Joette: Thanks for sharing. Laurie: Thank you. CANINE SUCCESS STORY: DOG WITH CONJUNCTIVITIS, BODY ODOR AND BACK CYSTJoette: (29:30) Okay. Now I’m with Charis. Hi, Charis. Charis: Hi. Joette: I’ve known Charis a long time, not only because you’ve been in The Academy and Mastery™ Mastermind and Mastermind, et cetera, but you’ve been a client and have become a friend. So, it’s a joy to have you here, and I’d love to be able to ask you questions. So, share something with us, Charis, about what you do and how homeopathy has been instrumental, perhaps, in your life. Charis: Well, I am a stay-at-home mom. I am a real estate investor. I have honeybees. I have a lot of people in my life that I’m always doing stuff with. So, yes. Joette: You help a lot of people. You’re not in real, actual practice. Charis: No. Joette: Right? But you help your neighbors and your friends and your family … have an extended family. There’s always somebody you’re treating. Charis: Absolutely. Joette: Yes, very … you don’t think so, but you’ve a very organized setup for your medicines, right? Charis: That’s true. Joette: Yes. Charis: But you know, it’s never enough to a mother, but yes. Joette: No, I know. We can never have enough. Joette: So, now you have a story about Blake. Now who’s … Charis: That’s my dog. Joette: What does he look like? Charis: So, Blake is a mini-Australian shepherd mixed with a poodle. He’s a little black dog. Joette: Yes, yes. He’s very cute. I’ve seen him on Zoom. Yes. Joette: Okay. So, tell us about Blake. Charis: So, Blake … I’ve used homeopathy a lot with Blake, and so I’ve used it for various reasons. So, he’s a young dog. He’s a male dog. Occasionally, male dogs can get a bit frisky. So, I’ve used Stramonium with him. When he stinks, I use a little bit of Sulphur with him. Joette: You mean his skin has a bad smell? Charis: Yeah, like when his fur and his skin … and there’s sort of an odor coming off of him — emanating from him — I’ll use Sulphur with him. And then he gets back to that sweet, cute little puppy smell. Joette: Yes. Charis: And then I’ve used Mercurius with him when he’s had bad doggy breath. Joette: Okay. Charis: And then one time he actually had an infection in his eye, so he started getting a conjunctivitis infection. And I used the protocol for conjunctivitis, and it went away. But at the same time, he also had a cystic little growth in his back. And that actually went away at the exact same time. Joette: So, what protocol did you use for his eye and … Charis: It was Pulsatilla. Joette: Was it Silica? Did you use Silica? Charis: Yeah, but it was also Hepar sulph. I did use Hepar sulph. Joette: Okay. That’s the back. Charis: And I use Belladonna with him, too. Joette: Okay. Belladonna, for the pain and the redness, perhaps the heat. Hepar sulph was specific for the fact that it was an infection in the eye — conjunctivitis. Do you think it was the Hepar sulph that actually did the work on his back? Charis: Honestly, I think it was the Belladonna — adding the Belladonna in — because I’d used Hepar sulph before on the spot, and it wasn’t moving it. It was getting a little bit less. But then, when I used the Pulsatilla with the Belladonna and the Hepar sulph, then, it went away. Joette: Beautiful. Sometimes, one medicine doesn’t do it. Charis: Yeah. Joette: Sometimes, we need to use two — alternating. Sometimes, even three. Now, I would not go into 20, but I would certainly say that as we use the medicines, we pivot and move on to the next. Or we might even use two somewhat simultaneously. Yeah. Charis: Yeah. Joette: Nice job. So, is he less frisky now? Charis: Yes, he actually is. And the funniest thing was that I had a little bottle of Chamomilla on the counter. He grabbed it, took it down, ate the bottle, and then, he was relaxed — sleeping, just chilling out on his dog bed. Joette: Ate the plastic bottle? I hope it was a plastic bottle. Charis: No, he ate it enough that the pills came out, and then he ate all the pills. And then he was just totally chill for the next two days. And I was like, “I guess he needed it.” Joette: Well, he just said, “That’s my medicine. There’s my remedy. That’s what I want.” Charis: Yes. Joette That’s really sweet. Was he by any chance teething at the time? Charis: He could have been. It’s funny. I bet he was. Because he was just … that could have, yeah. Joette: Yeah. Well, and Chamomilla fixes teething and also the friskiness and maybe being a little bit too — what was he, irritable? Was he touchy? Charis: He was just like running around, kind of … he growls. He’s getting grumpy. Joette: Oh, grumpy. Okay. Grumpy poodle. Charis: Yeah. Not an angry growl. Like a … Joette: Yes. Irritated. Charis: Yeah. Joette: Yeah. Good. Chamomilla put him right down. Charis: So he knows what he needs. Joette: Yeah. Charis: Yeah. Joette: We all kind of do when we really do our work. Charis: Yes. Yes. Joette: Thank you. Charis. This is great. Thank you. SUCCESS STORY: DIVERTICULITIS AND ORTHOPEDIC PAINJoette: (34:00) Hi, Kirsten. Kirsten: Hi, Joette. Joette: Nice to see you here. Kirsten: Thank you. Joette: Love having you here. Yeah, it’s really great. And so, what you were just saying was that you got a case of diverticulitis that you would like to share. And I love what you just said. This protocol that you’ve used — and I know because I’ve used it for years myself — never fails you. And it is true. This is not as complicated as people would make it out to be. So please, Kirsten, share this with folks. Kirsten: Okay, sure. So, I’ve had several different cases of diverticulitis. I’ve had one that actually had a microperforation, and this person decided not to do the bowel resection. That is all that was offered to them. And so, I’ve worked with them with homeopathy, and they actually went for years without another occurrence. But as soon as they started to exhibit the symptoms, we administered the medicines, and within two days, the symptoms were gone. There was no lingering symptoms. I’ve had other clients that were actually running a fever. So, we did the baseline diverticulitis protocol. It is Staphysagria and also Lyco/Plumb. And then, they were also running a fever. So, we added Pyrogenium. Again, in days, those symptoms resolved. So, I have never had that protocol not work for someone. Joette: Well, and the reason you can say that is because you’re a practitioner, and you’re working with folks daily. And you’re so funny because you said you’re not working full time, and then you told us it was 60 hours. Kirsten: Well, that’s not every week. But my husband … he was watching. And then, he made me clock my hours. So, I had resisted that, but yes. But I’m getting tidier, so I’m working on that. Yes. I love seeing clients. I love teaching. I love that we can teach other people how to do this. They don’t always need to rely on me. We can do Gateway classes, can do protocol classes, and then they learn how to do it themselves. And then they learn how to teach others and to help their families and their community. Joette: You bet. You bet. You have another case? Kirsten: Oh gosh, there’s so many. Joette: That’s the problem. When there are so many, it’s hard to remember something that stands out because they all stand out, really, when you think about it. Kirsten: They do! I think orthopedic pain is a wonderful thing. I just had somebody that had a total knee replacement, and they used nothing but homeopathy. They didn’t need the painkillers. They came home; they recovered quicker; they had less swelling. And when they returned to the doctor, the physician wanted to know what they did and actually said, “Can you give me more information?” So, I think we’re making inroads into the allopathic community … being able to share these medicines. And then even the doctors are seeing the benefits with their own patients. Joette: You bet. You bet. They should all … all orthopods should have this information. Kirsten: Absolutely. Joette: It would be really great. Yes, yes. Thank you, Kirsten. Kirsten: Oh, you’re welcome. Joette: It’s really great. I loved, loved having you. Kirsten: It’s great. It’s great being here. It’s great being with these women. They are the cream of the crop. I learned so much, and we, of course, have learned so much from you. And thank you for sharing your knowledge and wisdom. Joette: Well, you’re a blessing, too. Kirsten: Thank you. Joette: I’m so glad that I could get this group willing to share with you some of their stories. Now, you know what it’s like to be around people of excellence, people who have really put a lot of effort into learning and putting this into place in their lives. What I love about this group is that this is our second year. We plan on meeting every year. And so, I just wanted to share those stories with you. It’s my honor to share many lessons on this simple method of using homeopathy for free —without affiliates or advertising — here in my podcasts, but also my blog posts and Monday Night Lives. But it’s critical that you learn how to use these medicines properly. These podcasts should serve as only the beginning of your training. Peruse JoettesLearningCenter.com to find fun study group opportunities and in-depth courses developed by subject. So, with the proper training, you can join the thousands of students before you in developing the confidence and competence to protect the health of your family and loved ones with my brand of homeopathy, Practical Homeopathy®. Kate: You just listened to a podcast from internationally acclaimed homeopath, public speaker and author, the founder of The Academy of Practical Homeopathy®, Joette Calabrese. Joette’s podcasts are available on all your favorite podcast apps. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit for your health strategy, visit PracticalHomeopathy.com. | |||
| Podcast 139 — Cavitations Healed! What Dentists Think Prevention Is: Fluoride, Pastes, Rinses, Flossers, Brushes, Scrapers and Sealants | 14 Mar 2025 | 00:20:41 | |
https://joettecalabrese.com/podcast1/podcast-139-cavitations-healed/
IN THIS PODCAST, WE COVER:
01:00 Introduction: Cavitations Healed! What Dentists Think Prevention Is: Fluoride, Pastes, Rinses, Flossers, Brushes, Scrapers and Sealants 01:45 Joette’s Dental “Adventure” 05:30 What Is a Biological Dentist? 06:45 I Unknowingly Traded My Wisdom Teeth for Cavitations The Antibiotic Alternative: Balance Your Bugs Without the Drugs 09:54 Surgery or Homeopathy for the Infections 14:02 The Connection Between Dental Necrosis and Chronic Conditions 16:22 Homeopathy for Dental Conditions Joette Calabrese on YouTube (Monday Night Lives) The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® Gateway to Practical Homeopathy®: A Guided Study Group Curriculum Find a Practical Homeopath® (for consultations or for educational study groups led by my Discovery Ambassadors) Joette’s Study Group, Find Your New Study Group Friends Kate: This is the Practical Homeopathy® Podcast, episode number 139, with Joette Calabrese. Joette: Hi, I’m Joette Calabrese, and I welcome you to our health care movement — yours, mine and the countless men and women across the globe who have retaken control of their families’ health with Practical Homeopathy®. So, for the next few minutes, let’s link our arms as I demystify homeopathy — what was once considered an esoteric paradigm — into an understandable, reproducible, safe and effective health care solution available to all. This is the medicine you’ve been searching for — my unique brand of homeopathy, PRACTICAL Homeopathy®. INTRODUCTION: CAVITATIONS HEALED! What Dentists Think Prevention Is: Fluoride, Pastes, Rinses, Flossers, Brushes, Scrapers and SealantsKate: (01:00) This is Kate. I want to welcome you back to the podcast. I’m here today with Joette. Hi, Joette! Joette: Hi Kate. Kate: And we love doing these podcasts because we have a lot to share. You have so much wisdom that you have really gained over your many, many years in practice and teaching. And so today, we want to welcome those of you who maybe are listening to the podcast for the first time. You are in the right place, and you’re going to love what is shared today. It’s information that you are going to be able to use right away. And for those listeners who’ve been with us for a while, we want to welcome you back. Thanks for being here. So, Joette, you have an adventure that you went on recently. I called an “adventure,” but you may not. Tell us what you’ve been up to. JOETTE’S DENTAL “ADVENTURE”Joette: (01:45) Well, I just got back from the dentist. Kate: Ewww. Most people are thinking right now, ugh! Joette: Ugh. I know. So, I don’t go to a local dentist. I actually travel five and a half hours to get to this dentist in Ohio, and it’s worth it to me. My husband drives. I sit in the car. I often work, and I see the dentist, and then we turn around and drive another five and a half hours to get back home again. Kate: Okay, so why travel five and a half hours? Joette: The reason I travel that far is because I don’t find someone locally that I have the same kind of regard for. I find that a dentist is worth spending the time traveling to get to because I want good quality care, and I want someone who thinks like I do. And this dentist is a Weston A. Price Foundation contributor. He believes in the Weston A. Price Foundation methods, and he’s seasoned. He’s got a nice amount of gray hair. So, he has a lot of experience, and I’ve been going to him for a few years. I don’t go very often. I only go once a year now. But he’s a unique man. Interestingly, his father was a dentist. But his father was a conventional dentist, and I would call this particular dentist “biological.” And that’s the only kind that I would ever consider going to. So, his father was a conventionally trained dentist and remained so. But his grandfather associated with Dr. Weston Price, and they knew each other! And that influenced what this dentist is doing. So let me also say parenthetically, if you think you’re only influencing your children with your ideas, with your use of homeopathy, with your nutritional information, you are wrong. You’re actually influencing the next generation after them because it’s not uncommon for children to question or even deny what their parents have been teaching them. But the grandchildren often listen to their grandparents instead of their own parents. And this is a case in fact. Kate: I think it’s true. Grandparents have a large influence on grandchildren, for those grandchildren who spend time with them. I remember spending a lot of time with my grandparents and how the traditional cooking methods that they used … the farming. And I got a lot of those skills and the desire to do things that way from my grandparents. So, it’s very interesting, isn’t it, Joette? How does that relate to you with your grandmother? Joette: It works that way for me, too. Now, my grandmother died when I was a teenager, but my mother gave birth to me and my brother in a hospital, and she was given drugs. And she nursed us, but not for very long because she was pressured away from it. On the other hand, my grandmothers — both sides — gave birth to their children in their own bedrooms. And they nursed their children for long periods of time. And they also eschewed drugs and medicine of commerce. They felt it was their duty to figure it out on their own. And when their child was sick, they gave them chicken soup. And they went into the backyard and pulled up mint or basil or garlic or cardoons. And so, I learned a lot from them — actually through my mother, because my mother did start taking on her mother’s ways as she aged. She reverted back. And so, it was taught to me a little bit by my grandmother and even more from my mother. WHAT IS A BIOLOGICAL DENTIST?Kate: (05:30) So, Joette, what is a biological dentist? Joette: Well, the term biological dentist means that the dentist is looking at the whole person, and they recognize that what’s going on in the mouth is keenly connected to the rest of the body. Now, some dentists call themselves biological because they’ve been to some courses. But others don’t even call themselves biological, and yet they do carry on that tradition of looking at the person as a whole person. What that means is that we can make the association between sinus concerns and chronic dental conditions. That makes rather good sense, right? It’s only millimeters away — the separation between the sinuses and the teeth. But how about looking at chronic fatigue as part of, say, a long-term infection? Many times, dental infections go unnoted because X-rays show them, but unless the dentist is trained — such as most biological dentists — they don’t see an infection that is below the gum, well into the bone and is barely noticeable at all unless someone is trained specifically. I UNKNOWINGLY TRADED MY WISDOM TEETH FOR CAVITATIONS.Joette: (06:45) So, the reason I go to this biological dentist is because he was trained that way. He can see a necrosis of the bone — another way of saying it is cavitation; another way of saying is osteomyelitis — that other dentists in my life never saw, but he did see it. What he saw in my mandible was actually three infections. Two of them that were as a result of having my wisdom teeth extracted back in 1979. Those two sites of the wisdom teeth became infected. I knew it at the time they were extracted. I might say parenthetically, superfluously. There was nothing wrong with my wisdom teeth. I didn’t even know I had them. I was being what I thought was “smart” in applying preventative medicine and just having them out because that’s what you did when you were in your twenties. And so, I had all four of them extracted, and two of them got infected. I was followed up with antibiotics, and I thought that was it. Bob’s your uncle. I’m done. However, what happened was they festered, and they stayed infected and grew to a larger infection. And one of them then led to the next adjacent area of the jaw. And I ended up with three infections. So, I had one in number 32 and 31, as well as number 17. Kate: Did you feel the pain or anything? Did you know you had this? Joette: I had no idea. I never felt any pain. I never noticed anything. Now, if I really thought about it, I might’ve noticed that sometimes my jaw clicked on one side occasionally, but that was about it. And it wasn’t until the adjacent tooth got infected because it was cracked, and I actually had a fracture … that when that was extracted (that was number 31) I had seen another dentist who said, “This is a pretty deep infection you’ve got here.” So, he extracted the tooth. I asked him to please scrape the bone and remove the ligament to make sure that there was no infection remaining. And yet, it festered and stayed down into that bone long after. And that’s what this dentist (that I travel so far to get to) found on an X-ray. But what I also like about the dentist that I see is that he also saw it on a sonogram. The sonogram is sometimes called a CAVITAT™, and it shows on the screen the density of the bone. And it was quite alarming what I saw on that. Not only the X-ray that he pointed out to me (and showed me how to read this X-ray), but also on the sonogram. It really looked like I probably didn’t have much bone left at all on my right side. Quite alarming. Kate: And there are pictures, actually, of your sonogram in the Antibiotic Alternative course for those people who do want to know more about Joette’s story and what she did. You can find that information in Antibiotic Alternative. SURGERY OR HOMEOPATHY FOR THE INFECTIONS?Joette: (09:54) Yeah, I’m not going to go into exactly how I approached it because it takes a little bit more information than we’ve got time for on this podcast. But I will tell you that most dentists want to debride. Of course, there’s an infection. Debriding means that the area is surgically opened, and the “necrosis-ed” bone is removed. But I have to say, my friends, it’s not a bone after 30-some years of infection. It’s really necrosis. And so that is what this dentist, who I hold in high regard, wanted to do. But he was also willing — because he knew that I used homeopathy — he was willing to go along with what I wanted to do. And that was I wanted to treat it homeopathically only. Homeopathy — no surgery — using only homeopathic medicines that I had learned by observing the Banerjis in Calcutta when they treated osteomyelitis time and again. And let me say what I saw in the Prasanta Banerji Homeopathic Research Foundation, I never saw them use this method for someone who had their wisdom teeth extracted. It is a distinctly American thing to do … to have your wisdom teeth extracted for no reason other than they exist. What I saw, instead, there was laborers who had an injury to a bone — the tibia, for example. And not long after — maybe six months, eight, 10 months later — there was an infection. Perhaps there was a swelling; perhaps, there was a fever. The person was fatigued, and they knew that ever since that bone injury that they haven’t been well. And it was pretty clear that, indeed, there was an infection in their bones. They would come with the X-rays. So, I saw what Dr. Pratip Banerji used for those kinds of infections and then applied that same information for the infections in my mandible. It took time. I had to use the medicines for a couple of years. But over that period of time, things changed for me. I used to get a little stiff neck, which I associated more with sleeping incorrectly, but actually, I believe was associated with the infection on that side. I was returned to more energy. My thinking became clearer. I was able to get more done during the day, and in general, I felt improved. That’s the best way to put it. I just felt improved. Now, what I was experiencing before was — and I’ll go back to that — I had fatigue, and I often found that it felt like I kept saying to myself, “It feels like I’m getting an infection.” Every time I said that, I would rub the back of my neck on the right side because that’s where the two were located. I would rub the back of my neck, and it felt like I was catching something. And then it would go away for a while, and then it would come back a few months later, and then it would go away. And I now know that that was the infection in my jaw that was probably working very hard to be resolved. But your body can only do so much with a bone infection. And had I gone back to another dentist, I would’ve been given exactly what I was given originally in 1979 — an antibiotic. And antibiotics, my friends, rarely work for bone infections because they have to go into the bloodstream, and the bloodstream then has to take it through the veins into the area. And the jaw — the mandible and the maxillary — have very little to do with the vascular system. The veins simply can’t carry into the bone. And it’s not just for mandible and maxillary in the mouth. It’s also for the tibia and any other bones in the body. Which is why when we see someone has a bone infection — whether it’s from diabetes in the toes or it’s an injury in the tibia, for example, or again in the mouth, we see that antibiotics don’t act. And then more of the bone has to be removed because, again, it turns to gangrene. THE CONNECTION BETWEEN DENTAL NECROSIS AND CHRONIC CONDITIONSJoette: (14:02) That’s what necrosis is. It’s gangrenous. So, over the years, I would go see this dentist. He would take an X-ray — and sometimes, we didn’t even use the X-ray; we just used the sonogram — and it would show that there was improvement. The bone was growing back, the infection was not as noteworthy. The sonogram showed that there was density building in again. And I would stay with the homeopathic medicines, and I’d go back again 6, 8, 10 months later. And indeed, it was growing back even further. And so, although I don’t like going to dentists in general, I really enjoy going to this dentist because I just got back, and it showed that my bone is completely grown! It’s been like that now for about three years. It has filled in. The infection is gone. Three infections are gone. That is remarkable. As I said, I won’t go into exactly how I did it. I’m sorry. You’ll have to go to the course that I teach more about it because it is rather extensive, but it’s worth knowing about. And ever since this occurred years ago, when I’ve taken any new cases on with clients, I always ask them for their dental history. Because a lot of times, if we use a homeopathic medicine — for, let’s say, for chronic fatigue or joint pain or stiff neck or even many other conditions — we use the medicines that are appropriate, yet they’re not acting as they should. My thought then is, “So tell me about how many teeth you’ve had extracted.” And more often than not, they tell me, “Oh, yeah, well, I had seven teeth extracted when I was a teenager because my jaw was too narrow, and I had to have orthodontal work, et cetera. And ever since then, I’ve never been quite the same.” So, I am now a suspicious homeopath. I’m suspicious anytime someone has had a tooth extracted, and they have chronic illness … and again, that’s what a biological dentist is looking for. What is the chronic illness that could be associated with an old cavitation that is still bubbling over many, many years, even decades later? Mine was over 33 years old before I found it, and it made a huge difference in my overall well-being. HOMEOPATHY FOR DENTAL CONDITIONSKate: (16:22) I think we can leave listeners, Joette, with a tip about going to the dentist, and how you might use homeopathic medicine. If they’re going to the dentist and they need to get X-rays, what would you suggest? Joette: Let’s pull back from this a little. I kind of gave you a pretty heavy story that … By the way, I have to say, that this story about old cavitations causing chronic illness … I’ve seen it over and over and over again in my practice. And since I started to teach it in our Academy and elsewhere, people report to me regularly that by using the specific protocols for cavitations, that they have seen a big shift on many levels. Okay, now let’s say you’re going to the dentist, and you’re nervous. One of the best ways to treat that anxiety before going to a dentist is to use Gelsemium 30 the night before — maybe and the morning of. That will calm down the angst that often accompanies having to approach an anxious event that’s forthcoming. But let’s say the person is past that. It’s not just anxiety; it’s downright panic. Then, instead of Gelsemium, we would use Aconitum 200, say, the morning of and perhaps, if it’s needed, another dose just before they get into the dentist’s chair if they’re super anxious and panicking. So, now let’s also talk about, like you said, an X-ray. When I get X-rays — and I don’t get them very often … once a year, and even that, I think, is a little bit over the top. (And I have not had it done for many years now because we know that everything is in order now.) Then, I would use the medicine X-ray 30. And that can be used just before the X-ray, and then just after the X-ray and then maybe once or twice a day for the next several days up to about a week. And that can approach the fact that X-rays have been used. Kate: Well, that’s really helpful. And what an amazing story about healing something that I don’t think most dentists would say could be healed without medicine or a surgical procedure. Thank you for sharing. That was really incredible. And I bet you were beyond thrilled to get that news. Joette: Oh, I was. My husband usually sits in the car and waits for me there while I go in to see this dentist. And he sits there with his computer on his lap, and he’s working. And I often come back practically skipping out of the office because I’m always so delighted with every time — the last three years — the sonogram shows, indeed, bone has grown back, and the infection is long gone. Kate: Just another win for homeopathy! Joette: Again and again. Kate: Never gets old … Joette: Right? It doesn’t. It’s fresh every time. Good information. I hope you folks can learn from this and that you pass it on to your children. Not unlike my dentist, it’s not just about teaching your children, it’s about teaching your grandchildren, too. Kate: Yes. Thank you, Joette. Joette: Thank you, Kate. It’s my honor to share many lessons on this simple method of using homeopathy for free —without affiliates or advertising — here in my podcasts, but also my blog posts and Monday Night Lives. But it’s critical that you learn how to use these medicines properly. These podcasts should serve as only the beginning of your training. Peruse JoettesLearningCenter.com to find fun study group opportunities and in-depth courses developed by subject. So, with the proper training, you can join the thousands of students before you in developing the confidence and competence to protect the health of your family and loved ones with my brand of homeopathy, Practical Homeopathy®. Kate: You just listened to a podcast from internationally acclaimed homeopath, public speaker and author, the founder of The Academy of Practical Homeopathy®, Joette Calabrese. Joette’s podcasts are available on all your favorite podcast apps. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit for your health strategy, visit PracticalHomeopathy.com. | |||
| Podcast 140 — Joette Interviewed on ‘Trending With Timmerie’ | 27 Mar 2025 | 00:51:27 | |
01:00 Introduction: Joette Interviewed on ‘Trending With Timmerie’ 05:17 What Is Homeopathy? 13:06 Purchasing Homeopathic Remedies 15:51 Homeopathy Gives Moms Health Care Autonomy 18:34 How to Learn About Homeopathy 21:17 Recovery After Childbirth 24:30 How Homeopathy Treats Day-To-Day and Chronic Ailments 26:17 Excessive Worry 08:38 Navigating Cold Symptoms 30:51 Morning Sickness 33:05 Childhood (and Adult) Injuries 36:21 Ailments from Restaurant Food 40:43 Homeopathy and Catholicism 45:28 Allergies and the Three Magic Markers ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Joette Calabrese on YouTube (Monday Night Lives) Kate: This is the Practical Homeopathy® Podcast, episode number 140 with Joette Calabrese. Joette: Hi, I’m Joette Calabrese, and I welcome you to our health care movement — yours, mine and the countless men and women across the globe who have retaken control of their families’ health with Practical Homeopathy®. So, for the next few minutes, let’s link our arms as I demystify homeopathy — what was once considered an esoteric paradigm — into an understandable, reproducible, safe and effective health care solution available to all. This is the medicine you’ve been searching for — my unique brand of homeopathy, PRACTICAL Homeopathy®. Introduction: Joette Interviewed on ‘Trending With Timmerie’Kate: (01:00) Welcome to the Practical Homeopathy® podcast. We’re doing something a bit different on today’s podcast. We’re sharing Joette’s interview from the Trending with Timmerie podcast. So, let’s listen in as Joette talks about homeopathy and answers listeners’ questions. Timmerie: Thanks for listening to this podcast of Trending with Timmerie from the Relevant Radio app. Anything you share in terms of episodes — whether it’s texting it to a friend, posting on social media — helps to build up the Kingdom for God to help confront the challenging issues we face as a culture, but with joy, with hope, and with an eternal perspective where our faith collides with everyday life, bringing eternal principles to help us live our life joyfully. Announcer: So, what’s trending? Bridging your Catholic faith with your everyday life. You’re listening to Trending with Timmerie on Relevant Radio. Timmerie: We are taking a deep dive into the world of homeopathic medicine today, along with combating loneliness — how this is key for us as Catholics. I grew up with homeopathic medicine. If you don’t know what that is, I will be sharing with you in just a moment with my guest. But I grew up with it. Some people call it the “Witch Doctor book.” Whether it’s any remedy that is used at home or administered by yourself in your own family. I’m always a little enamored by that. But I grew up with this, and I was always amazed at how effective it was. I think a lot of people today, it’s pretty trendy to use homeopathic teething remedies, especially a lot of people love the Hyland’s Teething tablets. I know that’s a big one. but even when I was a kid, my mom would use this and always look back on her book for helping to treat various ailments. So, it would help to keep us, sometimes, out of the doctor’s office, away from having to navigate some of those urgent care-type situations. And as an adult and a parent now, I have used it as well. Everywhere from helping friends to overcome shingles — that can be so painful if you’ve experienced that as well. I have — to navigating for myself severe allergic reactions at times or morning sickness while pregnant. Or I remember I was traveling to … I was in Washington State, and I ended up getting a bit by a bug, and I was having this severe allergic reaction. And I’m sitting here going, “I don’t have time for this!” We’re on a big family vacation with all of our extended family — with all of the first grandkids at the time. And I thought, “Okay, I’m running to Sprouts, and I’m finding a homeopathic remedy. And after hours of pain and not being able to walk, it kicked it, and I was able to keep going. Even my husband has jumped into or onto the homeopathic medicine train with his experience of using it to help with sleep. So, my guest today … to dive into what on earth is homeopathic medicine, we’ll also dive into ways to use it and just treating day-to-day ailments and even chronic illness as well. And then, we’ll dive into kind of just some neat little facts about homeopathy and take your questions. So, if you’d like to join the conversation, we will be taking questions in a little bit. Our toll-free line is 888-914-9149, and it’s sponsored by Catholic Order of Foresters Life Insurance. My guest today is Joette Calabrese. She has over 38 years as a practicing homeopath. She’s treated tens of thousands of cases. She’s actually the founder and director of The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® and Mastery™, and she taught and worked with Prasanta Banerji Homeopathic Research Foundation in Calcutta, India. In addition, she’s served as an honorary board … on the honorary board for the Weston A. Price Foundation. So, especially for those parents and moms out there who are trying to really take care of their kids — navigate that — it gives you a little taste of her background. And so, without further ado, Joette, I’ve been looking forward to speaking to you for some time. I’ve known a lot of people who’ve gone through your courses to help just treat and care for and nourish their families. Just for a crash course, let’s start with what is homeopathy? What Is Homeopathy?Joette: (05:17) It’s great to be here. So, you can hear me right? Timmerie: Yes. Joette: Okay, great. What is homeopathy? Well, it is … the meaning of the word is actually in the word itself, “homeo” meaning homonym or similar and “path” meaning pathology or illness. So, it means similar pathology or similar illness. And I’ll get to that in a moment, but first I want to say this is the medicine we all thought we were getting. What I mean by that is that all the years that I used to go to doctors as a child … and all the people who’ve told me they’ve gone to the doctor expecting that when they get the drug, the antibiotic or the steroid or the birth control pills, they thought they were going to be cured. They thought that was it. It was done. Thank you. We’re all set! When instead, it’s like kicking the can down the road., and pretty much we have trouble forthcoming that we never expected. Homeopathy is not like that. Homeopathy, especially when it’s … let’s talking about an acute, for example. Let’s say a fever in a child. It does not kick the can down the road so that the child gets another fever two months later, and you have to treat it again with an antibiotic or Tylenol. And then again, six months later. And then again, and now there’s tonsillitis. And then again, and now there’s otitis media. And it keeps going, and we automatically blame ourselves thinking, “Oh, it must be our genes that are causing this child to be so sick.” When really it’s often — not always — but it’s often the use of these synthetic, market square, patented drugs that do nothing more than hide the symptoms only for them to come back and bloom in a large way. Homeopathy is the opposite. The goal of homeopathy and these medicines … excuse me, for being so bold, I call them God’s medicine. They’re not patented; they’re not synthetic. They’re made from a natural substance that just is highly diluted and then succussed … homeopathy’s goal is to gently stimulate the body’s ability to make the correction. And the beauty of that is that our body is always trying to make the correction. The body’s always looking for homeostasis. That’s why when we eat bad chicken at a restaurant or something, and we start vomiting or there’s diarrhea two days later … or when a child gets swimmer’s ear, and they get an otitis media or conjunctivitis or something like that — that what we see is a reaction that the body naturally knows how to do it. It knows to vomit the bad chicken … release it from the bowels a few days later; cause a high fever to cook off the condition in which otitis media or conjunctivitis, et cetera, might be thriving in. And so, homeopathy uses that information and gently stimulates the body’s natural ability to correct. So, you probably want an example. Timmerie: Sure, yeah, that would be great. Joette: Okay. Especially when we say homeopathy means similar illness, homeo-pathy. So, let’s use this as an example. Let’s say we get an onion. And when we chop up an onion, most people will have a reaction — a raw onion. Their eyes might water; their nose might run; their upper lip might excoriate. That’s a reaction to a gross substance. And in homeopathy, we don’t use cutesy names, market names. We don’t use names like “Lunesta.” Instead, we use the actual Latin word for onion: Allium cepa. And why do we use the Latin word? (I’m parenthetically explaining this a little bit further.) But because this is medicine, and it’s been used all over the world for over 200 years. So, we use the Latin word Allium cepa. And so, if a homeopathic pharmacy gets — and of course, they do this. (And by the way, homeopathic pharmacies in the U.S. are regulated by the FDA.) They get a drop of onion, the Allium cepa, and they dilute it many times. And between the dilution process, it’s also succussed. So, it’s shaken in a specific way. It’s succussed, meaning that it’s like a concussion of sorts so that it really moves it. And it’s diluted many, many times. And at the end of that dilution process … it’s a very specific pharmacological mathematical method. At the end of the dilution process, let’s say it goes 30 times to the hundredth power, it would be called Allium cepa 30C. And if someone has a cold, and their eyes run, and their nose runs, and their upper lip excoriates, they can use Allium cepa 30C because that’s exactly what is caused by being exposed to an onion in gross form. Now, this can be used for a cold, or it might be someone who has runny eyes, runny nose, upper lip excoriating from allergies. And then we still use Allium cepa 30C because we’re using the symptoms to determine what medicine will likely uproot it. Timmerie: I remember, I think I was in college, and I went to see a homeopathic doctor. I had a bunch of food allergies, and I had autoimmune diseases that weren’t diagnosed yet. And part of my reaction was that I would get all these horrible rashes on my thighs. And I had since I was a young girl. And I saw this homeopathic doctor, and they said, “Okay, well let’s work on that.” You know, working on one thing after other. And they said, “Okay, I’m just warning you, though, sometimes the reaction is that you almost have super-symptoms before it gets better.” And I remember I did, but then it got better. And here was the thing that just floored me: It never came back. And I had grown up with homeopathy for treating everything from teething to pain with Arnica. I think people are probably the most familiar sometimes with homeopathy through Arnica, even if it’s just the gel. That’s different, but that’s where they’re familiar with Arnica. And I couldn’t believe it. Those rashes to this day have never come back, and I have had them my entire life. And so, it’s just one little example of where people see a lot of success with homeopathy. And so I know you have a whole program of training, Joette, and I actually want to take a question because the questions are already starting to flow in. And so, as we’re diving into “what is homeopathy,” here’s a question from Pamela in Temple City, California. She said, do you have a remedy for osteoporosis instead of the injection they’re pushing me to take? Now, I’ll also add a caveat. We’re not sitting here completely giving medical advice. These are things that you can help and aid, but we do have to give that caveat when we’re talking on radio as well. So, I do want to throw that in your direction, a remedy for osteoporosis that might be out there. Purchasing Homeopathic RemediesJoette: (13:06) Yes. Yes. There is a remedy for osteoporosis, and I have been authoring a blog for 13 years. I put it out every Sunday night, and it’s just JoetteCalabrese.com. You can go to … you can just use my name, and you’ll find my blog and a lot of my teachings, and I’ve written about the medicines — the two medicines that are often mixed together for osteoporosis, and then what the potencies are and the frequencies, et cetera. Now, I also direct people as to where they can purchase them, but I don’t have an affiliate program with any of those companies. I don’t believe in that. I feel very strongly that if I’m going to suggest a specific medicine for a specific condition, that if I get paid for that, that will perhaps push me in the wrong direction. And I believe it’s lacking in integrity. So, I will tell you that instead, anytime someone buys from a couple of the companies that I direct people to go to — including Amazon. I mean, I have no particular allegiance necessarily, but if they go to them and they … for example, Boiron, B-O-I-R-O-N, is a pharmacy that is in France and is also in the U.S. And if you go to that company and purchase the medicine, then one can at the end when the person goes to check out, if they put in the little box my name — my first name — they’ll get a discount. And it’s just “Joette” — J-O-E-T-T-E. Timmerie: So, what company is that? Joette: I like to be able to transfer … instead of my getting a kickback, I like to give it those who are using the medicines. Timmerie: That’s great. So, you’re recommending your discount code — Joette — and what was the brand that you were recommending? Joette: Boiron. B-O-I-R-O-N. Timmerie: Yeah, Boiron. Joette: It’s the little blue tubes that you often see at Walmart and Wegmans and Whole Foods, and et cetera. They’re everywhere. Timmerie: And Sprouts, some of the others … Joette: Sprouts. That’s right, yes. Timmerie: And here’s the thing that’s always struck me. It can be so expensive … whether you’re looking at a medication, or maybe you’re looking at a supplement. To buy homeopathic remedies are so inexpensive. And no matter what’s going on, it’s maybe $8 to $10 a bottle lasts quite a while, often through whatever symptom it is that you’re experiencing. And it kicks it. And that was often it. I mean, even if you have to take it longer, it’s not that expensive. And I love that side of it. Can you talk, Joette, about how it is used and safe to use for kids? This is part of what I love as a parent today is that when things are needing to be navigated within our home, this is something that can be used with children. Homeopathy Gives Moms Health Care AutonomyJoette: (15:51) Well, the best part, in my estimation, of learning how to use a few of the homeopathic medicines is that the mom has self-control, or excuse me, FULL control. And that puts the mom suddenly in a whole different category. Instead of freaking every time the child has a fever or even an injury … now we’re not talking about an ER-type injury, but an injury that she might think, “I wonder if I should go somewhere? Should I go to the ER?” Et cetera. If she administers the homeopathic medicines perhaps on the way to the ER, or she can perhaps even eliminate the need to go to the ER, it puts her in a category that is very different. And what I mean by that is that when I was raising my children, my children are … you know, I’m in my seventies. My children were … I depended wholly on homeopathy, whole foods that I made myself, some botanicals that I also made from the wayside plants around my house out in the country. And that is how … those were the medicines that I used. And so, I started using homeopathy during my pregnancies. They are, I’m going to say, relatively safe, although everyone says they are safe. You will find that on the pharmacies who manufacture them, they call them safe. And I say relatively safe because we can make a mess of anything if we do something completely incorrectly. But I used them confidently in my pregnancies and for my newborn. I use them at my births, after the birth … to move the birth along in labor and afterwards, et cetera. And my newborns, and well into … now, my children are well into their thirties. We’ve been using them that many years. So, I have the confidence that they can be used for any age. And not just any human age, but we raised goats. And we had chickens at one time when I was raising our children. And we used them for the chicks and the baby goats, and we even used them for bees that we were raising back some 20 years or so ago. Timmerie: Did you say for bees? Joette: So, it matters not what species it is, what age it is, what sex it is. It works across the board. How To Learn About HomeopathyTimmerie: (18:34) So, if you were to first introduce someone to homeopathy. They know next to nothing about it. You explained a little bit about what it is, but how would someone get started in learning about homeopathy? Joette: Well, as I said, if you are interested in just checking out my site, you can go to Joette’s Learning Center, J-O-E-T-T-E-S — no apostrophe — but Joette’s Learning Center, and scroll down and take a look at my study groups. We have a Gateway to Homeopathy study group where people join in and meet with like-minded people. Mostly, it’s mothers, grandmothers. We do have a lot of farmers because this is so great for livestock, a lot of pet owners, and those people who perhaps don’t have children but are taking care of their elderly parents or their neighbors or want to help those in their church community, et cetera. That’s a great place to start because it’s a study guide in which you actually meet online through Zoom once a week or once every two weeks, depending on the person who’s running that particular group. Very inexpensive. But another way to do it’s just go to my blog and spend time there. And the way to do that is if someone has, let’s say, shin splints. You key in right on your search bar, Google: Joette Calabrese shin splints. Somebody has a laceration? Joette Calabrese lacerations. No matter what it is, give it a try. I’ve been, as I said, I’ve been authoring that blog for 14 years, and for 52 weeks every … for 14 years, there are a lot of subjects up there that I give away information on. Timmerie: That’s Joette Calabrese. You can find her website, http://joetteslearningcenter.com/. That’s J-O-E-T-T-E-S learningcenter.com. I know a lot of people who have actually been through your program, and they have done everything from navigating childhood injuries that were scary to treating eczema, allergies, you name it. And again, I grew up with homeopathy. My mom used it. She had her book. Something was going on? She used book. And everyone in our family, from kids to my dad, we loved having that ability … and even a little bit of that empowerment of like, “Okay, something’s wrong. Let’s look at the book. Let’s work on this.” And it helped. It was effective. I know we’ve had a lot of questions coming in, and we will take a couple now. And then, we’ll move some of those for later because I do want to dive into some of your homeopathic treatments for day-to-day and chronic ailments. But Donna’s on the line from Menifee, California. Donna, welcome to “Trending.” What’s your question today for Joette? Recovery After ChildbirthDonna: (21:17) Hi. Hi. My question is if she has any tips for what to take to help with recovery after a pregnancy, like a vaginal delivery, to help with strength and decrease fatigue and to help with, like, get the bleeding out faster? Yeah, anything. Timmerie: Congratulations on your baby! Joette: That sounds like a newborn. We’re talking about postpartum directly right after birth? Donna: Yes. Joette: Yeah. It’s interesting that, Timmerie, that you should bring up the remedy, Arnica montana. Timmerie: Yes. Joette: It is exactly what I used for my births. Timmerie: Me too. Joette: I had home births, and I took Arnica during the labor, which was really helpful. But even if I hadn’t, I took it after the labor for that beat up feeling. Not only locally, but even generally. Sometimes there’s such tension during labor that the whole body tenses up so heavily that it just feels like the muscles are achy and exhausted and that fatigue. But let me also say that if, Donna, if you were to look up Joette Calabrese and then go to postpartum, you will find not only Arnica, but also other homeopathic medicines that I’ve used, and I’ve taught in many of my courses. Timmerie: Now, your blog, is that at Joette’s Learning Center? Is that at JoetteCalabrese.com? Joette: No, it’s separate. The Learning Center is all the courses and the study groups. But the blog is separate. It’s just JoetteCalabrese.com. And you can or just look up the name of the condition that you’re looking for. What to use for eczema? “Joette Calabrese, eczema.” “Joette Calabrese headaches,” et cetera. “Joette Calabrese postpartum.” Right in Google. Timmerie: Yes, I’m linking there to the blog as well. And then also http://joetteslearningcenter.com/. We’re going to come back discussing how to treat and navigate day-to-day and chronic ailments with Joette Calabrese. She’s been practicing homeopathy for over 38 years, a pretty incredible resume. And we’ll even touch on some of the neat Catholic elements where she’s worked with the Catholic Church. And did you know that St. Mother Teresa actually used homeopathy and had all of her nuns trained? And this was their first aid response as they were helping to treat and care for the ill who came into their care. It’s used very often in our convents among our nuns and sisters, so it’s kind of neat. I don’t know. I feel like it’s a little bit of our hidden Catholic tradition behind the scenes. You’re listening to Trending with Timmerie, with Joette Calabrese here. We’ll be right back diving into treating day-to-day and chronic ailments and also taking your questions. Our phone number is 888-914-9149. How Homeopathy Treats Day-To-Day and Chronic AilmentsTimmerie: (24:30) Happy Advent. Thank you for being with me today during the Advent season. We are joined today by Joette Calabrese. She is a homeopathic medicine practitioner. She’s been practicing for over 38 years, seeing thousands of cases. She’s a founder and director of The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® and Mastery™. She’s taught and worked with the Prasanta Banerji Homeopathic Research Foundation in Calcutta, India, and has served on the honorary board of the Weston A. Price Foundation. You can learn more about her work, check out some of her programs if you’re interested in learning more about homeopathy at JoettesLearningCenter.com, that’s J-O-E-T-T-E-S learningcenter.com. We explained a little bit about what homeopathic medicine is, and I want to dive into how homeopathy treats a day-to-day and chronic ailments. I shared before that I grew up with homeopathy. My mom had that book that would help us page through what was going on. I used that — I never would’ve thought — during labor and postpartum. It was a huge help. I didn’t do any pain medication or anything, and it was huge. And recovery was great with both of my children. And so, I know we have lots of questions coming. If you have a question, you can get in line. The number’s 888-914-9149. Joette, in your courses, you teach people how to treat those day-to-day things that come up to try and avoid having to pick up and go to the doctor’s office, to urgent care. And it’s so surprising all that can be addressed. So, talk to me a little bit about treating the day-to-day with homeopathy. Excessive WorryJoette: (26:17) Well, let’s talk about what many moms and grandmothers often suffer from, and that is anxiety or worry — too much worry, feeling overwhelmed, perhaps even insomnia, wringing their hands, feeling like there are too many concerns. This child or that child or “my father’s not doing well.” That worry. It can be such a burden. Now, I don’t use homeopathy unless there is a reason to do so. But this medicine I’m going to tell you about is so, gobsmacking. It is so gentle, and you can use it — and then stop using it, of course, as soon as it starts acting — and sometimes it only takes a dose or two for it to relieve the person of the suffering. And the medicine is called Ignatia, Ignatia amara, I-G-N-A-T-I-A, amara A-M-A-R-A. And I like to use it in either a 30C or a 200C. And it’s named after Saint Ignatius, by the way. So, it’s a medicine that is readily found. We don’t use it forever. That’s the whole idea of homeopathy. The goal of homeopathy is to make the correction and allow the person to move on. But if the symptoms return — the wringing of the hands, or the worry, or feeling just too overwhelmed by life. What the world has gone through in the last several years — that. Those four years were Ignatia years if I ever saw ’em. And so, you use them for twice a day for a few days, and see how it goes. And if there’s improvement — much improvement — then we simply stop. Halt the use of it. If it comes back again a week later, two weeks later, three months later, we reinstate it. And then eventually — or maybe not so eventual — we’ll find that it’s really not used — not needed — that often anymore. It’s one of my favorite homeopathic medicines. Timmerie: I love that. So, if you try it and it works, you have to call us. I’d love to hear some of those testimonies. I know you’ve been working with thousands and thousands of clients for years. Navigating Cold SymptomsTimmerie: (28:44) What about, for example, something such as navigating cold; onset of cold symptoms? Come on, people get sick. It seems to me that ever since COVID, immune systems are more hit than ever before. No matter how hard we try to boost up our immune systems, the exposure is so severe. And unless you’re hiding from everyone in the world, it’s hard not to be exposed today. What do you recommend, if anything, other than just riding out the colds that we all have to suffer? Joette: Well, we can ride out the cold, and I don’t think it’s necessary to take a homeopathic medicine for everything. But let me turn you on to a medicine that’s a combination medicine, and that happens to be made by Boiron. I just mentioned them earlier, B-O-I-R-O-N, and it’s called ColdCalm®, C-O-L-D, calm, C-A-L-M, ColdCalm®. And you can buy it on Amazon, or as I said in grocery stores, et cetera. But let’s say someone’s listening to this, and they’re in another country, and they don’t have ColdCalm® available. And that’s happened many times. I urge folks to use the medicine, Aconitum, A-C-O-N-I-T-U-M: Aconitum 200 and mix it, believe it or not, in the mouth at the same time as Bryonia, B-R-Y-O-N-I-A 30. That’s Aconitum 200 mixed with Bryonia 30 at the first sensation as though, “Uh-oh, something’s happening here.” And so, I actually, at certain times of the year, keep both ColdCalm® and Aconitum and Bryonia — I used to; I don’t do it so much anymore. I just don’t find I get these things any longer. But when I did, I would keep them in my purse because “Mom, I don’t feel so well,” in the backseat. And then you administer it, and oftentimes you can pretty much … you know, and then Bob’s your uncle. It’s done. But other times you may need to use it more frequently, say every couple of hours or so. Morning SicknessTimmerie: (30:51) So, with my last pregnancy, I had severe morning sickness. Why they call it morning sickness? I don’t know. It was all day, all night. I mean, I was having pain in my stomach all day and night. I could go on. It was some of the worst symptoms. And I was put onto a couple of homeopathic remedies that were jaw-dropping. It started treating it within a couple days. It was Nux vomica. And then I think the other one was — oh, it starts with an I. I know you’re going to know what it is. Joette: Ipecac. Timmerie: Ipecac. Yeah! I could not believe just the turnaround. And I took it for a couple days and that was it. And it significantly helped. Joette: You know another one. Those are very good ones for nausea during pregnancy. But I know another really great one, and this falls right back into homeo-pathy — similar pathology — is the remedy called Tabacum, which is homeopathic tobacco that’s been diluted 30 times to the hundredth power. And then, it will uproot the condition that tobacco would cause. If you think back, if any of you smoked, I smoked back in the sixties. I remember feeling pretty green myself after having had a cigarette. Tobacco was the cause. Timmerie: A little bit of reverse psychology; I dunno if this would work. But for all the women who are going, “Hey, I wish my husband would stop smoking,” would that be a remedy to help? Joette: No, but I do have … funny that you should say that “Joette Calabrese cigarette cessation” or “cigarette smoking” or “quit smoking,” something like that. Just use synonyms when you’re looking this up on my blog — and I do talk about that — there are some … Well, I’m not going to say that homeopathy is going to abort the whole situation. But because whoever is smoking must have some commitment to a certain degree because it really does require that as well. I think that’s so of all conditions that require a real thought process and a commitment. And that’s happens to be one, just like alcoholism and other addictions. Childhood (and Adult) InjuriesTimmerie: (33:05) We had a really horrific injury in our house a couple of weeks ago with my one-year-old. She fell, and it was just bad. You knew she was in pain, and she was. And there’s so much controversy and discomfort today over the use of things such as ibuprofen and Tylenol for children. I think the more you look at the research, the more disheartening it is. And I would love to kind of hear: What are your thoughts on helping to navigate whether it’s pain or overcoming injuries in the day-to-day that just happen, especially with children? Joette: I’m so glad you brought that up, Timmerie, because especially first moms may not realize this — and maybe sometimes even seasoned moms — that really, the danger in children’s lives is not around an ear infection or a sore throat or an eye infection or an upset stomach, fevers. Those are — as long as they’re within the childhood diseases category — that’s not where the danger lies. The danger more lies in injuries: falling, getting burned, getting into deep water, et cetera. So, let’s, indeed, talk about that because that’s where homeopathy certainly can shine. And you said it earlier, again, Arnica montana. And I have to mention that Arnica montana is a medicine that’s used in a product, SINECCH™, meaning “sin,” meaning not, and “ecch” meaning ecchymosis. It’s a fascinating product. It’s only Arnica, and it’s used by many plastic surgeons throughout the U.S. and Canada. Because they know that after plastic surgery — especially facial — one of the biggest problems is ecchymosis, which is black and blue essentially. And that and the swelling can take a long time, and there’s a lot of pain, and SINECCH™ made of Arnica montana — it’s only Arnica montana, that’s all it is; it just has another name — will not only treat the condition but abort the problem in about half the time. And so, then, the surgeon looks like a hero. Timmerie: And they don’t know that it’s homeopathy and it’s Arnica, and you’re treating the pain, the swelling, the bruising, all of it. Joette: Yes, ma’am! Timmerie: That’s why you mentioned using it for everything from birth to postpartum to injuries for adults and children. Arnica, if there’s one thing we have, if we run out of Arnica, I’m going, “No!!!” Joette: Yeah, it’s a very important remedy to have on hand, and it’s good to have in a 30th potency. That’s 30C. Arnica montana 30C or Arnica montana 200C. Very important remedy to own in the home. Timmerie: That’s Joette Calabrese again, I’ll push her website. She has a learning center, if you want to learn more about homeopathy, it’s JoettesLearningCenter.com. Joettes is spelled J-O-E-T-T-E-S, JoettesLearningCenter.com. And great programs. We’re linking to her blog as well where she often speaks of addressing various ailments. Could you mention maybe one other common day-to-day ailment that people have that you see they’re needing to address and be capable of addressing themselves within their home? Ailments from Restaurant FoodJoette: (36:21) Yes. How about when someone eats normally at home — good food that the mom is preparing — and then they go out to a restaurant, which is a little unusual for them. They eat foods that are not common to their diet, or they have too much ice cream, or they have too many desserts. And so, the food is not common to their — generally, not common to their — gut, and then they feel sick. They can either have a stomachache or nausea. It can even cause constipation, et cetera. And the medicine is called Pulsatilla, P-U-L-S-A-T-I-L-L-A. And this one is best — if we’re going to use it in this form for this particular condition is best — in a 30C. Pulsatilla 30C for restaurant food: ailments from restaurant food. Timmerie: Fascinating. How often do you hear that today? It’s so true, and I understand that from the food allergy perspective. But if people feel so sick after they go out to eat often, which is a whole ‘nother topic in and of itself. But you’re saying this helps to ease that discomfort and outright pain, among other things, that people experience when they eat out. Joette: So that also, Timmerie, the other idea is that not only does it ease the pain or the discomfort or the nausea or whatever, the bloating that might be associated at that moment in time, but the next time there’s an indiscretion — a dietary indiscretion — it may not bother them quite as severely because the goal here is to uproot, not to be dependent. Timmerie: And that’s what’s different about homeopathy. You’re actually treating what’s going on rather than a Band-Aid. I want to come back; we’ll take some questions, everything from allergies, also some fun facts about your work and how homeopathy has been used in the past by Catholics. So, we’ll be right back with Joette Calabrese. If you have a question, our line is 888-914-9149. Timmerie: Loving me some Advent music over here. In fact, my daughter was sitting here going, “Please, please,” can we listen to her current favorite? I don’t know who showed my child “Frozen,” but someone did. And we are listening to “Frozen” all day/every day for weeks now, which, it’s really cute. They sing and really sing as a one-year-old and a three-year-old belting it out is pretty cute. But we were in the car, and I think we were listening to “Come Divine Messiah.” And my daughter goes, “They’re singing about Jesus. They’re singing about Jesus.” I said, “Yes, they are.” It was just neat to see. She was really paying attention. She goes, “Okay, I like this song. We can keep listening.” I went, “Oh, okay, good.” Because I really wasn’t planning on changing it from my Advent music. You’re listening to “Trending with Timmerie” here on Relevant Radio. My guest today is homeopathic practitioner Joette Calabrese. She’s been practicing for over 38 years, treated thousands, tens of thousands of cases. She’s a founder and director of The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® and Mastery™. Has a great program at her website, JoettesLearningCenter.com. That’s J-O-E-T-T-E-S learningcenter.com. She’s taught and worked with the Prasanta Banerji Homeopathic Research Foundation in Calcutta, India, and has served on the honorary board of the Weston A. Price Foundation. Joette, I would love to just hear some of the little touch points kind of touching on our Catholic faith, in that I had no idea until today that St. Mother Teresa used homeopathy in much of her work. Can you share a little bit about that? Homeopathy and CatholicismJoette: (40:43) Well, I was at her convent and her home when I was in India. I spent years in India studying with the Prasanta Banerji Homeopathic Research Foundation, as you mentioned earlier. And Prasanta Banerji — Dr. Prasanta Banerji — was a medical doctor and a … but used only homeopathy. And he actually knew Mother Teresa and I loved that he could report to me that, indeed, it is true. She had tables set up, and they didn’t just treat the acutes. They treated long-term infections and many other conditions that the poorest of the poor were suffering in Calcutta. I love having that first-step connection. But I’ve taught in convents, and I’ve taught in (Buffalo, New York) a convent there for years. But I also have to say it would be good for people to know that the Grand Cross was bestowed upon a homeopathic physician, and that is the highest honor a pope can give to a layperson. And it was to honor him because of the cholera epidemic that occurred in, especially, Italy — in the Vatican, of course — in the 1800s. And so, he won that award and many other awards were given to homeopathic physicians in Italy by popes because of their great work in infectious diseases. So that’s a very special part of our faith. And another one I want to talk about is Antonio Negro … was a medical doctor of Naples. And he was a leading Italian homeopathic physician in the last part of the last century, I should say. He was the homeopathic doctor to Pope Paul the Sixth. And he was granted the order of St. Gregory for his work in homeopathy, as well as his son who also treated Pope John Paul II. So, we have a history. We homeopaths, we Catholics, have a lovely tapestry of a history that’s been intertwined for a long time. Timmerie: And I love that. Joette: I also believe — I just have to say — whether someone is of our faith or not, what really pulls this all together for me — what has really pulled it together for me as a mother, because first I’m a mother; second, I’m a homeopath — is that it fits in such a tidy fashion in my lifestyle. I homeschooled, I home birthed. I made my own foods (home cooking). I homeschooled. I wanted to have a medicine that I could use, that I had the ability to utilize without resorting to synthetic, patented drugs of commerce. These medicines — these homeopathic medicines — are not synthetic. They’re not patented. That’s why they’re so inexpensive because there is no patent. They’re simply made by this dilution process. That’s all it is. It’s a very specific process, but it is — it’s all it is — is dilution. And so, I wanted that autonomy and that’s exactly it gave me. Timmerie: And it’s phenomenal to see that when you have this tool, it’s widely used in Europe and other places in the world. And even, I remember learning that the Vatican had a homeopathic doctor in residence for decades up until recently. It’s neat to learn about how this was so part of our culture, but yet you have Big Pharma. You have the conversations. Western medicine can be wonderful but often overused in our modern day to day. And if we can be empowered to care and treat our families, to have a greater confidence in navigating our health, it’s a huge … it’s a game changer. And I know that this is something that my mom had when she was raising myself and my siblings. Now, I have in my arsenal when treating and caring for my children. Joette, I want to take a few more questions. I know some have come in. We’ve had multiple questions come in about allergies. Let’s see. Let’s take Claire from St. Louis. First, Claire, welcome to “Trending.” What’s your question for Joette? Allergies and the Three Magic MarkersClaire: (45:28) Hi, yes. So as mentioned, allergies. So, I seem to have an allergy for every season, a lovely gift from my mother, who I love very much. But pollen in the spring, summer and fall: plants, trees and ragweed and all the fun stuff. And then the winter, just the dry air and all the dust that seems to collect. Because let’s face it, we all get lazy and busy with the holidays, so, we might forget to do the dusting. So, I was just curious what you would recommend for someone who suffers from allergies, all different kinds throughout the year. What would you recommend homeopathy-wise for someone with allergies? Joette: Well, I have an entire course called Allergic?! And the reason it’s an entire course is because allergies are so broad. Some people have allergies to foods. Sometimes it’s called food intolerances. Others have allergies to chemicals. So, it’s chemical sensitivities. Others are, like you say, seasonal allergies. Others have allergies to perfumes and to wool and feathers and dogs, et cetera, et cetera. Keeps … the list is very, very long. Now, we don’t necessarily use a homeopathic medicine for each of those conditions because, generally speaking, if a person has an allergy to one substance, it often carries over into other substances as well. And so, if you want to really delve deeply into this, then I would urge you to go to JoettesLearningCenter.com and go down to the course titled “Allergies.” But let’s say you don’t want to go that far. You want to just dip your toe into this. Then again, I would urge you to go to my blog, Joette Calabrese and put the word, “allergies,” “hay fever,” “spring allergies.” And there it is. All the information — not the all — but a good amount of information that will help people with seasonal allergies. I’ve suffered them myself. I used to have extreme chemical sensitivities. I had extreme food intolerances, and I no longer have any of those conditions. And it only gets better. Now I’m going to tell you, though, and warn everybody who’s doing this: Certain conditions in homeopathy can be addressed within sometimes minutes, just like what Timmerie described earlier with the rash that she got and the insect bite. That can work very quickly because it’s an acute. But when it comes to a chronic, more often, it can take a good deal longer. And so, allergies can take many months, sometimes even up to a year. Now what I mean by that is not that it takes a year before you see a shift. No, no. We usually see a shift within a month or so. Very small, just a little leap, just a little hop. And then a couple months later, we notice, “Wow, this is not bothering me as much.” And I always say, we have three magic markers to determine whether or not the medicine that we’re using — the homeopathic medicine — is acting. And the first marker is there’s less intensity to the symptoms. The second magic marker is that it lasts for a shorter period of time. (In other words, instead of having the sniffling and sneezing and perhaps fatigue, instead of it lasting all day, it lasts only a few hours.) And the third is — third magic marker — is that it’s a larger space between each episode of its occurrence. And having that information at hand when you go to my blog and read up on it, I believe you’ll be able to find something that’s going to be quite useful for you. Timmerie: Excellent. So that’s on seasonal allergies. We’re running out of time. I know we had so many more questions that people had on the topic of homeopathy, getting your feet wet. I do recommend … I’ve not taken Joette’s courses, but I know a lot of people who have and felt like that were really equipped to start navigating and have a network to dive deeper into navigating health with homeopathy. You can learn more at JoettesLearningCenter.com. That’s J-O-E-T-T-E-S learningcenter.com. Thank you so much for your time, Joette, and we’ll have to have you back on again soon. Coming up tomorrow. Lots! Have everything from walking through the Advent wreath, what each of those candles symbolize, along with combating loneliness. This is a space as Catholics, whether it’s ourselves or others, there’s a lot that can be done and easily and well to be transformative. Kate: Thanks for listening to today’s podcast. If you liked that interview and want to hear more, we have more to come in the future. So, stay tuned. Joette: It’s my honor to share many lessons on this simple method of using homeopathy for free —without affiliates or advertising — here in my podcasts, but also my blog posts and Monday Night Lives. But it’s critical that you learn how to use these medicines properly. These podcasts should serve as only the beginning of your training. Peruse JoettesLearningCenter.com to find fun study group opportunities and in-depth courses developed by subject. So, with the proper training, you can join the thousands of students before you in developing the confidence and competence to protect the health of your family and loved ones with my brand of homeopathy, Practical Homeopathy®. Kate: You just listened to a podcast from internationally acclaimed homeopath, public speaker and author, the founder of The Academy of Practical Homeopathy®, Joette Calabrese. Joette’s podcasts are available on all your favorite podcast apps. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit for your health strategy, visit PracticalHomeopathy.com. | |||
| Podcast 40 – Moms with Moxie: Don’t Panic! | 13 Dec 2017 | 00:36:04 | |
IN THIS PODCAST, WE COVER: 03:51 Courtney’s story: being an herbalist, using remedies for breech birth, and being a doula 11:40 Bursitis, arthritis, food allergies and their remedies 22:19 Nola’s story with the vole: Ledum and HyperArs for an animal bite 27:30 Reacting versus responding: Don’t panic LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: Birthing Series Part One: Turning a Breech Baby Ditch the Gatorade and Make My Son’s Homeopathic Electrolyte Drink Surviving Infections on the farm with Homeopathy Podcast 34 – Dads with Audacity: These Fathers Know Best! The Secret Life of a Colicky Baby You are listening to a podcast from joettecalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. Courtney: The moment you start panicking, you’re freaking out and thinking of all the things you have to do and making that mental list. You know, take a deep breath and just realize that the best thing to do is nothing. Just wait. Just wait until you can make that choice rationally. Kate: You are listening to Podcast Number 40 at joettecalabrese.com. Joette: Each day from my office, I get to see how homeopathy is transforming lives all over the globe and I want to share them with you. Some of my students have really caught my eye. Some of you have done all you can to learn how to cure those around you using homeopathic medicines. Your successes inspire me. They’re glorious and powerful. I can’t keep these successes a secret any longer. So, with help from my roving reporters, we bring you a mini podcast series that I call “Moms with Moxie.” Sometimes we even interview dads with audacity. See how regular mothers and others, average people who want to cure those around them have gone from freaking to fabulous with homeopathy. Kate: Today, we have a very special guest joining us. I’m excited to welcome Courtney here with me today. We’re going to be talking about how homeopathy has really changed her life and her family’s life. She’s going to share with us a lot of stories that she has about how she uses homeopathy with her family, everything from animal bites to bursitis, arthritis, and birthing those babies. Courtney, thanks for joining us today. Courtney: Thanks. It’s great to be here, Kate. Kate: We’re excited to hear about your story and get to know you a little bit. Because it’s always, I think, fun for people to get to know some of the people that work with Joette behind the scenes. I’m excited for people to get to meet you and to hear about your story. So, Courtney, where are you from? Courtney: I’m from New York. I live probably about an hour and a half south of Buffalo. Kate: So, you live sort of near Joette? Courtney: Yes, I don’t live far from Joette. Joette lives just outside of Buffalo as well. Kate: You’ve gotten to know Joette by working with her. How many years have you worked with Joette now? Courtney: I’ve worked with Joette for about six years now. I assist in marketing. So, I’ve done Joette’s social media. So, a lot of people who have taken Joette’s classes and are on her student forum page — because Joette, if you’ve taken her class, you can join the online student forum which is hosted off Facebook. I moderate that group along with another girl. So, a lot of her students will probably recognize who I am because I’m often posting on there or commenting on posts or answering questions, that kind of a thing. Also, anytime Joette has a new course that we’re launching, I help launch it, and I take out advertising for it and that sort of thing. Kate: A lot of people probably hear from you but they don’t know that they’re hearing from you. Courtney: Yes. Now, they get to hear my voice. They see my picture. They’ve heard of me that way but now they get to know a little more about Courtney. Kate: Exactly, exactly. I think that’s really fun. It’s interesting. When we were talking, you told me a little bit about yourself as far as your background in natural medicine. You have some pretty interesting things. You’re pretty wise, I think. I look forward to learning from you, because you are a certified herbalist, right? Courtney’s story: being an herbalist, using remedies for breech birth, and being a doula Courtney: Yes, that’s right. Before I came to homeopathy, I was actually really interested in herbs and did a lot of wildcrafting. We live out in the country. So, I would find herbs and make tinctures out of them, and use that as medicine for myself. That was probably right before I had kids. So, I wasn’t really using herbs a lot with my kids. Now, we mostly use homeopathy and have been. Homeopathy is our family’s main source of medicine. It has been for a good five or six years. I found it right before I started working with Joette. We’ve had some really good results — especially with little kids. I have three little kids. I don’t feel like herbs are always the best choice. They can be harmful. Homeopathy is gentle. It has been really good for us in the last six years when I’ve been pregnant or my babies are really little. I never think twice about using homeopathy. Kate: One of the reasons you liked homeopathy is that when you were pregnant, you didn’t have to worry about using homeopathy. But herbs, it was a little tricky — which ones to use during a pregnancy or not. So, that was probably a selling point — one of them for homeopathy for you, right? Courtney: That’s exactly right. Herbs, you have to be careful. There are things that you can’t have when you’re pregnant; obviously, can’t give it to your newborn baby. So, homeopathy is a perfect fit for that time, the childbearing years. It’s such a nice thing to have a kit when you’re pregnant so that if you come down with the flu or even if you’re having like, sciatic issues, you don’t have to worry about resorting to allopathic medicine. Herbs — the solution isn’t always herbal because herbs can be too harsh to take when you’re pregnant. So yes, that was a big turning point for me, honestly. It’s just when we started having a family, I needed something that I could use for my babies and use on myself. Homeopathy was the ticket. Kate: Courtney, I think that is a really good point because a lot of people ask. They want to know: Can you use homeopathy when you’re pregnant? And say you have a baby or a young child, they’re concerned about are there cautions for using homeopathy with young children or when you’re pregnant? I know there are a couple of things. So, maybe we can talk about that for just a minute. Courtney: Definitely, that’s a good point. There are some remedies that Joette advises that people be careful about using or just avoid during pregnancy. The ones to be aware of when you’re pregnant are Pulsatilla, Apis and Sepia. I will say that during my last pregnancy, I was using Pulsatilla. So, I don’t really think that it’s a matter of something like dangerous — avoid them. But, like it’s not something you want to use in excess. Like if you really need Pulsatilla, you could probably talk to a homeopath and find out what the safe way to use it is. I just think that sometimes we make blanket statements like, “Be careful around these remedies.” Because you don’t want just anybody to come and read a blog about it, and start taking big doses or high potencies and possibly get themselves into trouble. Pulsatilla is one that’s actually used to turn babies. So, you can use that in pregnancy. Actually, the reason I used it was to turn my baby. Because I think it was 34, 35 weeks at least, Avery, my last baby that I was pregnant with was breech — completely breech, like head up and not even transverse. He was straight up breech. I was planning to birth him at home. So, all of my babies have been born at home. My midwife, I came in for my appointment and she was like, “Oh my goodness. He’s breach.” I was like, “Oh, what does that mean?” She said, “Well, you might not be able to have him at home,” which was really kind of scary for me. So, I talked to Joette, and she told me Pulsatilla. I think I only took two doses of it. It works very quickly. Kate: That’s amazing. Courtney: I had, previous to that, tried things like there’s [An incorrect website is mentioned in the podcast. The correct website is spinningbabies.com], I think that’s the website. But, it was very overwhelming to me, Kate. I didn’t have that much time to kind of get things moving. When you’re that far along and your baby’s breach, even the homebirth midwives were like, “Yes, Courtney. You need to do something.” I felt like, “Oh my gosh, I have to hurry up and act. I have to do something.” So, I first tried this website. When you go to that website, it gives you all these factors like hundreds of things you have to do. It was very overwhelming to me. The nice thing was as soon as I was thinking clearly, I messaged Joette. She was like, “Yes, that’s an easy one, take Pulsatilla.” It just seems so simple, compared to what I would have to go through laying on an ironing board upside down and moving this way, that way, and doing all this stuff. I was just like, “Oh my gosh, that is so easy. Take a little tablet and you’re done.” You know what I mean? It was so beautiful to know that that’s all that I would have to do, and it honestly worked. It was amazing. Kate: Wow. That’s so awesome. And I know Joette, I think, has written about that in her blog. She has some information on that too. So, you actually have helped people deliver babies, right? Courtney: Yes. Before I worked with Joette, I was certified as a doula. A doula is a support person during birth. It’s very different from a midwife. You don’t deliver babies, but you actually just support the mom through labor. For many years, I did that. I had a natural childbirth course that I wrote, and I taught that. So, I had lots of people come through that with me. I had all my babies at home, so I really understood that. I went to a lot of home births with a couple of the local midwives here. Kate: I imagine that you probably used homeopathy, did you when you were attending some of these births and helping the moms? Courtney: Oh, definitely. Gelsemium 30 is one that I’ve used many times for exhaustion in labor, especially with first-time moms. It’s very common for birth to take a long time. My first birth was 36 hours. I know Joette talks about her first birth being long. Gelsemium is a great remedy to have because obviously labor is the hardest work we do. It’s so tiring. So, I’ve used it many times with women in labor. I’ve also used Joette’s Gatorade recipe. I don’t know if you know that one, Kate, with the cell salts. Kate: Yes, I do. Courtney: That’s a great tonic for getting the electrolytes and just boosting energy when you’re not only working outside and it’s hot, but when you’re giving birth. Kate: That’s a great idea. I never thought of using that with birth, but that is really good. Courtney: If you go to Joette’s page in the upper right corner, there’s a search bar. If you enter Gatorade or “Ditch the Gatorade” which is the actual title of it, it will definitely bring it up. Kate: Tell us a little bit about your family. I know you’ve used homeopathy with your children and even your husband. We heard, actually, from your husband in another podcast. But people probably don’t know this. But your husband was on one of the “Dads with Audacity” podcasts, wasn’t he? Bursitis, arthritis, food allergies and their remediesCourtney: Yes, he’s Mark in that podcast. Mark is he’s very athletic. He likes to run. He has a lot of sports-related injuries. We joke in our family that Symphytum is Mark’s spirit animal, because he’s had a lot of good relationship with that remedy. It has helped him a lot. Bursitis is one that we dealt with, that includes Symphytum. Bursitis is like inflammation in the knee. Mark used to have repeated bouts of bursitis. I think that seems to be the case from what I’ve heard is that it tends to come and go and flare up. It’s that kind of infection type thing. The protocol for that that I got from Joette is Symphytum 200 mixed with Rhus tox 30. You just take it twice a day. Kate: Then how long does it usually take before you see some change in his symptoms? Courtney: For Mark — and actually my little boy, he had it one time too. I was so nervous because he came down with it the night before we were going to get on an airplane and travel. I was like, “Oh no.” He’s getting this knee thing. It was hot to the touch. It was painful. Previous to that experience, Mark had had a flare up. For Mark, it doesn’t last too long. It’s maybe, like with this protocol, three days to a week. Then he can kind of stop taking it. For other people, if it’s happened for a long time, they have to take it probably longer. Usually what happens is they’ll have another flare up after that they will be less severe, and maybe go away quicker. There even may be another flare up after that but then, they eventually, if you employ this protocol, you never have it again. Like, that’s kind of the trend which is usually the trend with homeopathy. It sort of roots it out completely. Kate: Right, that’s what I love about homeopathy that we don’t get with many other natural medicine options. I mean sometimes, but homeopathy really gets to the root of the cause. I know for instance my daughter and her asthma, we’re really seeing a change using homeopathy where before it was just managing the symptoms. Courtney: Yes. You’re not managing the symptoms. You are actually rooting it out. That is also different from allopathic medicine, but also herbs, a lot of times, it’s just managing symptoms. They have to keep taking the turmeric or whatever it is you’re taking over and over again. Kate: Right. So, I think people need to remember that a well-chosen remedy can really make a change, not only in just the symptoms but for the long term — that eventually, that whatever, bursitis, hopefully, Mark won’t have it in the future. Courtney: He hasn’t either. It has been a year, and I want to say three —maybe a year and six months. So, we have not had any sign of it. It’s pretty awesome. Kate: Prior to that, how often did he use to get it? Courtney: Prior to that, he would get it possibly twice a year at least. So, we’re having a good run of it right now, definitely. Kate: Your mom, too, she also had some good success with homeopathy. Courtney: Yes, definitely. So, my mom, she has had hip replacement surgeries on both of her hips. I think she’s currently up for another hip replacement. She’s trying to kind of stave herself off for a while so she can get through and just pushing it into the future a little bit. So, last she visited, let’s see, I’m trying to think. It was last month. So, a little over a month ago, she came for a visit. She was having a lot of pain. It’s hard for her to sit still for a long time. So, if we’re on a car ride or something like that, she can get achy because she has arthritis. I started to give her Rhus tox. A lot of times when my family is in town, I’ll start to just give them homeopathy if something’s going on, somebody’s got a stomachache or whatever. I gave her Rhus tox, twice a day while she was with us. I just gave her Rhus tox 200 because that’s what I had. But I probably gave it to her for like four, five days, I don’t know, something like that. So then, she went home and I kind of like, “Well, I might not hear from her about this. But if it helps, I’m sure she’ll get a hold of me.” Lo and behold, a couple of days after she got back home, she was like, “What did you give me?” I had her order Rhus tox off the internet. I sent her a link. I messaged her a link right to where she could order it with the right potency so that there wouldn’t be any confusion at all. She could just have it sent right to her house. Kate: Great. So right now, she’s kind of holding steady putting off that hip replacement surgery, right? Courtney: Yes, so far so good. We’re hoping to get her through some more months as long as we possibly can. Because hip replacement surgery is like a lot of surgeries, they don’t last forever. She’s already had her hip replacements done, and she wants to make sure she can kind of put it off as far into the future as she can. Kate: Let’s talk a little bit about your son. You have — how many children you have and tell us a little bit about your children. Courtney: So yes, I have three children. My oldest is 9. I have a middle girl and she is 6. My youngest son is 3. Kate: So, one of your children, you used a remedy with them, because I think I remember you telling me that they were really colicky. Courtney: Yes. My first born was very colicky. I didn’t really understand what was going on. I mean I felt like I was in a daze for several months after I had him. Like, “Oh my gosh, what’s going on?” I didn’t know the difference between him and other babies, like, what was normal. But it ended up the symptoms became very, very clear. It was every single evening for four or five hours at least. He was just inconsolable. I actually had this routine where I would sit on a big exercise ball, and I would bounce him and at the same time kind of pat his back while I was bouncing him. That’s the only thing that would really soothe him. Kate: Oh my gosh. Courtney: I would do that for hours. Kate: Oh my gosh, you are so bringing these memories back that I had with my daughter. I had an exercise ball, and we would do the same thing. I didn’t know about homeopathy when she was first born. Oh, my goodness, I wish I had. Courtney: I believe he ended up having food allergies. The first thing I did was eliminate food from my diet to just kind of test and see, truly, if this was the issue. It ended up being that way. Like I ended up realizing that almost everything was causing him pain. It was just really frustrating. I didn’t have coffee at that time. I really liked coffee. Chocolate bothered him. He was like the meanest baby ever, I swear. I couldn’t eat anything that I liked to eat. I couldn’t have milk. I couldn’t have sweets. Ultimately, what we realized is that he had an allergy. The biggest one was wheat. So, of course, I’ve taken all of Joette’s courses. I took the Good Gut, Bad Gut course. I immediately realized he needed to be on Bovista. I started giving him Bovista, and his sensitivities have pretty much, I mean, he can pretty much eat anything. We are very careful still with wheat. We don’t go overboard. But, I will tell you right now. He’s on a bagel kick. It’s probably been for like two weeks now. He has a bagel, a big, wheat-filled, crusty, delicious bagel every single day — and has not had an issue. If I’ve done this a couple of years ago even, he would have had diarrhea. It would have been horrible! So, we’ve had so much progress with Bovista with him. It’s amazing. Kate: Also, what do you give him for the diarrhea then? Courtney: For diarrhea, we were giving him Nux vomica 30, twice a day. If he had eaten wheat and got diarrhea, we would start the Nux vomica, or just continue him on it if we were already doing it. We don’t give him Nux vomica anymore because he doesn’t have diarrhea the way he used to have. He’s much better. He just, right now, is taking the Bovista, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to start weaning him off that even. Kate: We found Nux vomica to be helpful as well with when kids have tummy aches kind of regularly, and I think it’s something that they ate. It’s been very helpful for us as well. What did you use for your son when he was colicky? Why don’t you tell us about that? Courtney: When he was colicky, I gave him Colocynthis. I think I just gave him a 30 dose on that because, at that time when he was a little baby, all I had was the 100-remedy kit. Kate: Which is a great kit, I mean that’s a perfect kit to start off with. Courtney: Absolutely. That’s the perfect gift to get any expectant mom. Instead of coming to the baby shower and bringing some diapers and an outfit, give her a homeopathy kit. Or get a couple of people together and put in for homeopathy kit. That’s a lifesaver. To know that you’ve got something when your baby is upset or something happens, that’s the best gift that a mom could have. Kate: I agree. It’s been a lifesaver, literally, for us. So, your daughter, you had an interesting experience with your daughter that I want to hear about. Go ahead and tell us about Nola. Nola’s story with the vole: Ledum and HyperArs for animal biteCourtney: So, Nola’s six. Last summer, this story, it really kind of summarizes her personality completely. Every time I think of it, I’m like, “Of course, this happened to her.” We live in the country. We have goats. We have a little farm. My kids are always running around outside. We have a cat. The cat actually got a hold of a vole. So, the whole family got to learn what a vole is and the difference between a vole and little mouse. Because at first, I thought it was a mouse. But it wasn’t, it was a vole. Kate: Are you talking about a vole, V-O-L-E, not M-O-L-E, right? Courtney: That’s right, a vole. A vole looks like a mouse. If you actually Google it, you’ll see a picture. It’s just a little bit different. So, anyway, the cat was playing with it. It wasn’t dead. Nola saw the cat playing with this vole and saw how cute it was, and she could not help herself. I was sitting right on the porch with her. I couldn’t really figure out what was going on. But, she ran off to the cat and she’s like, “Oh my gosh, so cute, so cute.” I think she’s talking about the cat, but she’s talking about the vole. She goes to grab the vole, and it literally latches onto her finger. She’s like trying to shake it off of her finger — like throwing her hand around and stuff and screaming at the top of her lungs. I’m running off the porch like, “What is going on?” I see this thing. I take her hand and pulling it really hard one time and the thing goes flying. Of course, I’m just … oh my gosh. My mind just started to run. It was just like what is this now? I have to deal with this. She can have rabies. What do I do? What do I do? I’m like I need to call the pediatrician. I need to call the disease control people. I need to get her rabies shot. I don’t know what is going to happen here. This is a kid that’s never gotten a vaccination at all nor had any antibiotics. I am just losing my mind. Lo and behold, this is a piece of advice I’ve heard Joette actually give people before. And, I don’t remember where I heard it; it might have been in one of the courses. But she said, in the moment of an emergency, your first response — especially as a mom — is to lose it and freak out, and think of all the things you need to do. For some, like, “Hydrogen peroxide, let’s clean this out. Let’s go!” Or whatever. I remember her saying, “Actually, the best thing to do is nothing.” Just don’t. Because usually our first responses aren’t the best response because there’s a difference between reacting and responding. I think that I was totally reacting in that moment. I was like, “Oh my gosh, what do I do?” I called my husband. I called everybody. I sent Joette this email. I still laugh at it today because literally I keep every single email and question that I’ve ever asked her in a file. This one is hilarious. The subject line has like asterisk and it’s like, “EMERGENCY.” If you read this email, it sounds like I’m a crazy person. I’m like, “Nola just got bit by a vole.” I don’t think at the time we even knew it was a vole. We ended up touching it, and we weren’t sure if we needed to have it to test it or whatever. We ended up touching it and putting it in this little box. Then we could actually release it later because we didn’t have to worry about rabies. I did talk to someone from CDC or something — the health department, that’s who I talked to. I talked to someone from the health department and they were like, “Okay, ma’am, you do not need to bring her in for rabies shot. You do not need to worry about rabies. If it was a bat, that would be different. But, an animal like a mouse (that is so tiny like this), if it did indeed get bit by another animal that had rabies, it would have died. It wouldn’t have made it through that attack. So, the chances are so low that you would actually be putting her through worse things if you took her to get rabies shots.” But, I didn’t really worry about that so much anyway because there’s a protocol for rabies. I mean I just feel like I’m pretty lucky to be able to work for Joette. I can take her courses. I know homeopathy so well now. I am just grateful, so grateful for it. So, I had the remedies I needed. I emailed Joette. She messaged me back. She said take Hypericum 200 mixed with Arsenicum 200 twice a day. That’s the typical infection kind of protocol. Then I also did give her Ledum 200, twice a day for one week because the bite is a puncture wound. Ledum is what you want to give any time there’s that kind of a wound. Reacting versus responding: Don’t panicKate: Great thinking. So, good, okay, what a scary story. I think I would have done the same thing. Courtney, that’s what I love about talking to you — is that your message, I feel like as a mom and as a doula and all the things that you’ve learned working with Joette and your experiences, you’ve learned not to panic. Even if you do, then you think about it a little bit and think, “Okay, I can just really take some time and think about these things before I have to react.” Then you can actually, like, not react but … Courtney: Respond. Kate: Respond, yes. Good, I couldn’t think of the word. Courtney: That’s how I like to think of it, responding versus reacting. There’s such a big difference. Kate: Yes. You talked a little bit about that, too, even with birthing and everything. Just how when things like that happen, an emergency like you went through, you feel like, “Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, I got to do something right now!” We can think, “No, just calm down. I have some time. I’m just going to think clearly about this.” But, I think that’s hard for moms, don’t you think? Courtney: Absolutely. That brings in full circle because that was a lesson I learned early on as a doula. In the hospital setting especially, that’s one of the worse things. When you bring a first-time mom into the labor room — and one of the things that almost any doula will tell you, is that you never bring a mom in when she’s in early labor. You got to set up your little tricks at home, to kind of get her through the early stages of labor. Because the longer she’s there at the hospital, the more likely that the doctors — and I don’t mean that these doctors are like out to get people, it’s just a part of what their procedure is — but, the more likely it is that they’re going to have an intervention, whatever it’s going to be. It’s going to be an IV, a drug, a C-section. You definitely want to wait it out as long as you can, so that that’s less likely to happen. But lo and behold, there are many times when Mom decides she wants to go in absolutely without a doubt early. Or something goes down and the doctors are going to put that forward that, “Hey, we need to make a decision on this right now. You need to have C-section. This is what we think.” The pressure is on. It is incredibly hard to get through those moments, because you do feel like you’re in an emergency. They know what they are doing. I remember early on using that technique of, “Actually you don’t own this time. We get to make the decisions here.” When you are able to stay in your power about it, you get to dictate the courses, what’s going to happen. So, that’s a trick that I learned is to say, “Well actually, we need about 10 minutes to talk alone.” If you don’t tell them that you want to be alone in the room, they’ll stand there and watch you talk. Asking them to leave is very important and to have that time. Because literally, 5 or 10 minutes can be the difference between a C-section or not a C-section. You sit there and you talk to the mom and give her the options. Discuss what her plan is, and remind her of her intentions and that kind of thing. It can really make the difference in a situation like birth. So, it’s a nice thing to start learning when you’re pregnant or early on, to not freak out. The freak out moment really doesn’t help anything — even though we all do it. That’s what kids do to us. They tend to push the buttons just the right way so that we can get upset about things. Kate: I think that happens even when our kids have come down with the bad flu or cold or something. They get a really high fever or they’re in a lot of pain. We start to panic, right, and feel like, “Oh my gosh!” Courtney: Yes, definitely. I think that every family has their trigger. If your family was dealing with an ear infection and it was really freaking you out, I would just be like, “Oh yes, no. I’ll take an ear infection any day. That’s fine. We’ve gone through multiple ear infections with homeopathy.” Strep throat, that might really freak a lot of people out. You always get the ones you don’t expect. So, it’s easy to theoretically talk about, “Oh yes, we’ll do this and whatever.” But when it comes down to it, it’s usually not the easy one that you get. I never expected to have to deal with rabies. I’m prepared for strep throat, not that. That really was ridiculous. Kate: That again just leads to what we were talking about, don’t panic. You have time. You can think about things. Just take your time. Courtney: That’s right. If you can instill that into your head that the moment you start panicking, you’re freaking out and thinking of all the things you have to do and making that mental list — take a deep breath and just realize that the best thing to do is nothing. Just wait. Just wait until you can make that choice rationally. Then if you’ve got the information from Joette’s blogs, you’re one step ahead. You can just go on and do a search and help yourself out. You don’t have to go into the panic mode. So, homeopathy is like, when you’ve got that in the bag, it’s so nice to just be able to do something that you feel good about. Kate: Right. And, that doesn’t have side effects. Courtney: Exactly. Kate: Things happen. So, I don’t know. People laugh at me. But when I go anywhere, I take a lot of homeopathic remedies. And when I travel, oh my gosh, one suitcase is usually half-filled with homeopathy. I remember people teasing me like my husband or whatever. I’m like you’re going to thank me if something happens and I have the right remedy. Do you know what? It has happened. Emergencies have happened. I’ve had the right remedy. Otherwise, it would have been a trip to the doctor. Courtney: I’m the same way. I have a whole cupboard at home of remedies and things. I have a habit of buying remedies. I have many kits, you know, keep them around. You have remedies lying around or whatever in places that you think you’re going to need them. Almost anytime I go to Wegmans, I buy Arnica and Pulsatilla, because I just know those are popular ones in our family and might as well have it. I’ve got a little travel kit that always comes everywhere. I just keep fresh ones in there every time. There are certain ones that I feel like we definitely go through. That’s the beauty of homeopathy, too, because it’s not expensive. So, paying 5 to 10 bucks for one remedy that’s literally going to get you through a moment is super inexpensive. Kate: I know. Courtney, thank you so much for sharing all of your knowledge with us and giving us some of the examples of how you’ve used homeopathy. Because I think the more we can share our stories, it’s just so helpful for other people to be able to hear about how we used homeopathy. It gives us more confidence. Courtney: I think that’s what’s given me more confidence, too, is hearing other moms deal with the same things, and that they used homeopathy and everything was okay. So, that is really what it takes. I agree. And, thank you for having me. It’s been really fun to talk! cx Kate: You just listened to a podcast by joettecalabrese.com where nationally certified homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese shared her passion for helping families stay strong through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. Joette’s podcasts are available on iTunes, Google Play, Blueberry, Stitcher, and TuneIn radio. Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com. These Moms with Moxie podcasts are designed to be inspirational, not specifically educational. No Remedy Card is provided. *Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com | |||
| Podcast 39 – Blue Is The New Black! | 26 Nov 2017 | 00:26:03 | |
In this podcast, we cover: 01:08 Introducing Michèle and Christophe 08:34 Homeopathy in France and the US 14:54 Boiron’s role in the growth of homeopathy 20:50 Boiron in India
You are listening to a podcast from joettecalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition.
Joette: Hi Folks! Today’s podcast is going to be a complete turnaround for me. Normally, I’m interviewed, but this time, I’ll be the one interviewing my two special guests. The reason I’ve decided to do this is multifold. Once you understand who these folks are, it will become clear to you why I wanted to do this so much. So, whether you’re new to homeopathy or an old pro, you’ll appreciate what you’ll learn today because we’re going to be interviewing two key people in the world of global homeopathy. So, let me start with this: You know those little blue bottles of homeopathic medicines that you see at your local supermarket, or health food store, or at your local conventional pharmacy and online? Well, they’re made by Boiron. There is a fascinating and, perhaps to you, an untold story that needs to be revealed here in the US. That is my goal today. I want to start with two super important people, as I said, at Boiron. Introducing Michèle and ChristopheFirst, we have Michèle Boiron. In case you haven’t made the connection yet, she carries the family name of Boiron which makes her super important in the story that she and we are about to tell. So, Michèle Boiron is a pharmacist since 1969. She practiced her profession with passion behind the counter until 2005 — in both homeopathic and allopathic pharmacies. That makes her a little special, folks, especially in the US. Since then, Michèle has traveled the world sharing her experiences with fellow pharmacists in countries such as Brazil, Russia, Tunisia, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Polynesia. Now, of course, she’s in North America. She’s probably done this many times. But, this is a really fascinating thing is that she was made knight of the Legion of Honour by the French Minister of Health in 2008. Now, before we start talking to her, let me also introduce to you, Christophe Merville. Christophe, who is a Doctor of Pharmacology, is the Director of Education and Pharmacy Development at Boiron. In his position, he creates training programs both online and in print for pharmacists and retailers on homeopathic medicines used to treat common health conditions. Before his 20-year career with Boiron, Christophe was a university hospital pharmacist in France, Loire Valley where he obtained three years of clinical experience. He was, of course, born in France. He completed his pharmacy doctorate in Nantes in 1985. He also co-authored several published works and has presented homeopathic topics at scientific meetings. So, I welcome you both. This is really exciting for me and I hope for our listeners as well. If you don’t mind, let’s start with you Michèle. I just have to ask you this question if you don’t mind. I’ve heard you have a reputation for being a troublemaker. I love troublemakers. Michèle: That’s right. Joette: I tell people, they need to have guts, spunk, and moxie. I want to know what the reason is for this reputation. I heard you speak on it recently. So, I’d love to have you share that with us. Why are you such a troublemaker? Michèle: Yes, I am really. I was a troublemaker because I was never satisfied with what I had. I began my story in the family pharmacy in Lyon. In that pharmacy, there were only homeopathic medicines. So, I was not so well with that because as a young pharmacist, I felt there were many other medicines very effective and important. So, I stayed there 10 years and I said, “No, I have to go on my own.” I went and I bought a small pharmacy in this suburb of Lyon, only allopathic drugs and not a single pellet tube. I was happy to say, “I’m going to do what I want.” Joette: I love it. That’s the goal for all of us. Can you tell me a little bit of the legacy of your parents as pharmacists and how that all fit into your life and what Boiron is today? Michèle: You know? I wanted to be an English teacher. You can’t imagine that today, huh? But we had family values. My father was pharmacist. My mother was pharmacist. So, I became a pharmacist. Then I began with my mother in her pharmacy. Afterwards, I had my own pharmacy. I introduced homeopathy in the allopathic pharmacy. Then I came back to the family pharmacy, and there I put conventional medicine in the homeopathic pharmacy. That’s why I am a troublemaker, you know, because I need to get all the medicines and not only a part of that. They always teach me to do what I really wanted to do. So, that’s very important. My father was so much passionate by homeopathy. So, I lived with that. He transmitted that to us, I think. Us three, my two brothers and I are still working in the field of homeopathy. Joette: Yes. So, you’re the bridge to the two paradigms of medicine: allopathy and homeopathy. Michèle: Yes, that’s true because we have wonderful medicines. The only thing is to use them in the right way. And, first of all, not to take your hammer to kill a mosquito. So, at the first beginning of a story of a disease, you have to try first — for me — homeopathic medicine because they are effective and without side effects. If ever it’s not working for one reason or another, okay, we have time to take another medicine. So first of all, it can be used alone. And also, now, more and more, it’s used as a complementary medicine. Of course, also in case that people cannot take conventional medicine. So, you have so many ways to use homeopathy. For me, it’s important to know it. That’s why I’m going around the world to share my experience with homeopathy with pharmacists. Joette: Yes, yes. But there’s a uniqueness in that message. Is that … maybe it’s because of the French pharmacies and the patient pharmacist exchange? Perhaps that has something to do with it. I believe that’s very unusual. We don’t see a tight exchange here in North America between the pharmacist and the patient. The pharmacist in the US is kind of the go-between. I love that it’s done this way in France. I would love you to expound on that if you don’t mind. Michèle: Yes. It is true that it is very different exercise in France than in the US. But I can tell you, it is changing all around the world. The role of the pharmacist is increasing and becoming a more advisory role everywhere, in Russia, in Tunisia, in Italy, and everywhere in the world. I think it’s coming here, too, because people need to have somebody to ask questions as soon as it comes. Of course, otherwise, they have to be aware of many things themselves. It’s very difficult. Joette: It’s a lot of work. You’re absolutely right. I’ve actually advised people that if their pharmacist is too busy during the day, that they should call in the middle of the night those pharmacies that are open 24 hours — and get the lonely pharmacist when he or she is all alone and in need of company and wouldn’t mind some questions coming in at the dark hours of 3 AM. But maybe that will change in the US. That would be great. I’d love to see that happen. Michèle: I think it’s going to change. Joette: So there’s a wide appeal of homeopathic medicines in France, much different than what we see in North America. Yes? Homeopathy in France and the USMichèle: Yes, of course. In France, more than 50% of the people over 18 years old have used already homeopathic medicines. That means without counting children. So, that’s very important. Here, it’s not exactly the same, a little bit less. But we are on a wave at that moment where people are willing more natural and less aggressive therapeutics. It is the same for the food. It is the same for everything. They want more natural things. Homeopathy fits quite well with this new way of life. So, I think it will be more and more. Joette: It is a tidy fit. I agree with you. I think it has a lot to do with perhaps the politics of the world today, perhaps the internet having the ability to look things up on their own. There’s a movement, I think, throughout the world as you said for cleaner environments and better food and accountability and what these medications can or cannot do. I agree with you. So, Christophe, if you don’t mind, I’d love to bring you into this. Tell us about how your medicines are made. I don’t want to get too deep into this. I don’t want to get into potencies, et cetera, et cetera. But a little bit about the rules and regulations with those folks who tend to believe that homeopathy is running by the seat of its pants — when in fact, it is nothing like that? Could you dispel that for us? Christophe: The first thing to know important is that in the US, homeopathic medicines have been defined as drugs since 1938. For everybody, that means that the level of control in the manufacturing and distribution of these medicines is very high, much higher than with herbs and supplements. So, for example, during the manufacturing process, you have dozens of controls that are happening to control exactly that each medicine is the same. One thing that role has been very, very instrumental in the world of homeopathic manufacturing is establishing guidelines that have been accepted, integrated to the French Pharmacopoeia and some of them to the US Pharmacopoeia (homeopathy pharmacopoeia, of course, in the US) to provide medicine that’s very reliable. You can count on it. With Boiron, we start always with fresh plants, for example. Every time we can, it’s a fresh plant. The level of control here also is very high. For example, on each homeopathic, from each Boiron homeopathic medicine, you have a little lot number. If you give me that lot number, I can call France, and they can tell me what was the weather like. Joette: Oh, come on! Christophe: Yes, because we need to. Joette: Oh, how impressive! Christophe: When the plant was harvested because we need to gather the plants when it’s not rainy, otherwise, there is too much water in the plant, and so on and so forth. So, those are just a few examples of the level of control we care. Not talking about dilutions in detail, but when we manufacture homeopathic dilution, it is done in an environment where the air is extremely pure. It’s even purer than the air on top of Mt. Everest. And, all that is validated and controlled and so on. So, homeopathic medicines are not made in the corner of a kitchen table. It’s a highly controlled process. Therefore, each physician, each pharmacy, each patient to receive, or to distribute, or to dispense the medicine of the highest quality and reliability. Joette: So Christophe, are you saying that this is unique to Boiron? Christophe: I would say yes. No question. I worked with other pharmacist. We — the company, Boiron company — has a fast pharmacist control, and especially in domain of homeopathy where tradition and modernism work together. This is really unique. To not to criticize, but for example, the dynamization process — you can do it by hand, of course. That’s how Hahnemann described it. But we keep the same spirit, but we use a dynamizer which is the same in every Boiron plant and is calibrated to vibrate at the same speed and doing the same length. So, each dynamization is always made the same way. Joette: Consistency. Christophe: Consistency in order to eliminate from the patient and the physician or the pharmacist the doubt that, “Oh, I don’t see the same effect with the medicine because of the medicine.” No, if you don’t see the same effect, it comes from the patient. So, that’s very important. Joette: Yes, that eliminates one factor that could be very important. Christophe: We don’t know to what extent the dynamization must be: 10 seconds, 12 seconds, 5 seconds. All that needs to be ascertained. I’m sure it will be in the near future. However, consistency at this point is important. You know it works well when you do it that way. You keep doing it that way. It’s as simple as that. Joette: Beautiful. It’s beautiful. So obviously, what happens when you run a company for many decades and it grows exponentially — not just in the home country from which it began but then to the next country and the next and the next and then goes across the pond to the other side of the world — there’s a reason for that. That has a lot to do with the consistency and the quality and etcetera. So, I believe — even before I knew anyone at Boiron — that Boiron has something unique. And, not only because of the blue tubes. (I must say parenthetically, Michèle has a blue jacket on and blue eyeglasses on. They’re very beautiful. I wish you could see her. I’m totally enjoying the view I have right now.) But also, because there’s a new role occurring for Boiron. I mean it’s not that new … you’ve been in the US for what, 40 years? Christophe: Since 1983. Joette: ’83, okay. What is the role of Boiron in the role of growth of homeopathy throughout the world? Boiron’s role in the growth of homeopathyMichèle: It is our aim to make homeopathy well-known everywhere in the world. Our aim is not to make a special medicine so that we can gain much money. Of course, it’s good, but that’s not the point. The point is we really want homeopathy to be known everywhere, so that people are able to choose the way of curing them. To choose, you have to know it before. It’s the same for people than for all the healthcare professional. So, it’s important that we go everywhere in the world to promote homeopathy. Christophe: May I just add something? Joette: Please. Christophe: It’s very simple. If you go on the Boiron website, you will see that goal clearly written. It’s about, for us I think, establishing a trustful relationship with the pharmacists, physicians, or customers. I think that is strong. People recognize it. They talk about it. That’s how it grows very organically. It’s not so much an exponential growth. It’s an organic growth. Mothers talk to their daughters, to their neighbors. Joette: Yes! Christophe: When they want information, we give them coherent and consistent information. We try to give as clear and transparent as possible. That is really helping people to choose something they’re trusting, as opposed that something they’re fearing. That I think plays a role. Joette: Yes, I couldn’t agree with you more. A big aspect of my message is that this needs to be in the hands of families. That usually means mothers and grandmothers. Although, I see fathers more and more interested in this. But the mothers are the ones who are generally up with the children in the middle of the night. The grandmothers are the ones who are advising their daughters and daughter-in-laws, et cetera. So, I believe what this is, is a movement towards family. Family doesn’t have to be with children. Family can be with cats. A family can be with livestock. A family can be with having two poodles and a German shepherd. That’s still family, because we can’t help but want to take care of those we love and that is a big part of this. So, I say “family” and “mother” and “grandmother” with a little bit broader understanding of it. But, I also understand that there are pharmacy schools in the US. Tell me about these schools, and are you teaching there, Christophe? Tell me about that a little bit. Christophe: Yes, I was very pleased and honored to be invited to speak at several schools of pharmacy and two of them on a very regular basis for seven years now. Our goal is to go there with a visual of information. We are not there to promote Boiron or even promote homeopathy. It’s as much as saying those are drugs. You cannot ignore it. We think we are the best people to explain in detail and answer all your questions. We expose the facts. We expose the research. At the beginning, I was very surprised to see how — from a level of knowledge that was almost zero — at the end of the two hours, they say, “Well, we are very comfortable now answering questions.” For pharmacists or future pharmacists, this is so important. Because if they appear not to know something, the customer will go elsewhere — and God knows where sometimes — and not receive the same good advice. So, at least in the US, that’s my experience. I’m sure in France, situation is not the same, but homeopathy is more integrated. We have other types of questions. But in general, pharmacists, when they start to know homeopathy, have a keen interest into it. Joette: Well, interestingly, I find that when I teach homeopathy and I get pharmacists in my classes … they get it. Once they flip that switch, and they move just a tiny degree over, it all fits. Because that’s what homeopathy is — is pharmacology. Christophe: May I share with you just a quick number? We were involved in a process of sponsoring continued education program. One of the questions that was asked, before the program was launched, is to pharmacist, “Are you interested in being educated in homeopathy?” Guess what the percentage was? 400 pharmacists answered. Joette: I have no idea. I like to think it’s high. Christophe: 96%. Joette: Oh, come on! That’s excellent! Christophe: Can we say they are open-minded? Joette: They’re looking for the alternatives. I think that’s how we have all come to homeopathy — perhaps not Michèle so much, because she grew up in a family with it. But for those of us who were on the allopathic trail for so many years and then we’re cured (or diseases were resolved for myself, et cetera, my family), it becomes a passion like no other passion. Now, I love food and I love preparing food. I love travel. There are many things that I love. I love Italian opera. But nothing has turned me on like this. Talking about a switch being flipped … once mine was flipped, there was no turning back. I see that, and I keep waiting for it to happen in others. I am observing this in so many people because of our goal in teaching families time and time again. So, it is a very exciting movement. I do believe that it is a movement. Would you say, Michèle, that this is a movement? Michèle: Yes, of course, this is a movement. I’m very happy of that. I’m proud to help it. So, as long as I can do that and it will be really a big chance for me. Joette: Yes. So now, I also understand that you’re looking to India, and you’ve broken into the Indian market … is that right? Boiron in IndiaMichèle: It is our last subsidiary. We went to India before, and then we moved. But today, we have the will to be back to India. We are in India, since one year. In this country, homeopathy is an official medicine. You have plenty of people using already homeopathic medicines. Joette: Yes. Michèle: So, we hope to do a good job there. Joette: Yes, yes. I think it’s an excellent idea. I don’t know that they have the steps that other countries in Europe and the US have in terms of regulations. I don’t know how deep their regulations go. So, it would be good to have something that was universally regulated. I love that idea. Generally, I’m not for universality but when it comes to this — I’m all in. Christophe: Joette, I know that in India, they are looking to the homeopathic pharmacopeia of the US as a provider of clean and reliable guidelines. That’s a very good sign. Joette: Guidelines, yes, guidelines. Christophe: Normalization. Joette: Yes, it’s needed because I work with people from all over the world. It’s hard to get them some medicine sometimes because I don’t know the pharmacies in those parts of the world. To be able to send them to Boiron in remote places would certainly make it a lot easier for many of my students, et cetera. Yes, it would be great. So Michèle, you said — and please correct me if I’m wrong — something to the effect that it’s not one product that you have in mind; it’s something other than that. Could you just expound on that just for one more minute? I just want to make sure I understand. Michèle: The aim is to give some people a chance to be cured when they can’t be cured by conventional medicine. That is to say a woman who has hot flushes who has a risk of breast cancer — she will not be able to take hormonals. So, what can she do? Joette: Excellent example. Michèle: Except homeopathy, you don’t have any solution. And then you have also all the palliative care we can accompany — not, of course, replace — chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Joette: Surgery and diagnostics, et cetera, yes. Michèle: Only to mitigate the side effects of the chemotherapy. So, it helps a lot and it helps so many people. So, that’s our way of thinking. Joette: Yes, yes. Well, on the other hand, there is one product that Boiron is so well-known for. And it’s Oscillococcinum. What’s really fascinating about this story is that I have a picture of your dog in front of me. Michèle: Yes. Joette: Tell these listeners about how those two bridged together? Michèle: Her name was Oscillo, that’s why. Joette: Oscillo, very sweet. So, it only goes to show how important one medicine can be in one family. Michèle: She lived five years more than all her siblings because she was cured with homeopathy, so good for pets. Joette: Is there anything else that I should be asking you folks that I have not asked, or anything you would like to comment on for our listeners that you believe would be valuable? Michèle: Not to discuss perhaps, but to say that homeopathic medicines are good from the first day of the life until the last day of the life. They are for everybody. Everybody can take those medicines without any risk. That would be my message — dare to try —because you don’t have any risk. It is so important to dare to try. Joette: I love it, guts, spunk, and moxie — So, thank you very much both Christophe and Michèle. It’s been wonderful. I totally enjoyed it. Michèle: Thank you. Christophe: Thank you. Joette: Bye now. Michèle: Bye. Christophe: Bye-bye. Joette: There you have it, folks, straight from the experts. Many thanks to Michèle Boiron and Christophe Merville and Boiron for this inspirational interview. Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com. | |||
| Podcast 38 – Study Group Questions for Joette | 16 Nov 2017 | 00:37:25 | |
In this podcast, we cover: 02:09 Study group and its importance 08:37 Joette talks about poison, toxicity, and curative aspect 14:14 When would we see results 26:10 When it’s not acting as quickly 34:05 Homeopathic resources available
You are listening to a podcast from joettecalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. Kate: It’s Podcast Number 38 at joettecalabrese.com. Here’s what we have coming up: I’m Kate. Today, I’m excited to share with you a discussion I recently had with Joette and Lara. On this podcast, we discussed the benefits of joining a study group and how a study group can bring about a change in thinking for those people in your life who may be skeptical of homeopathy. We also answered a question that is often asked by many of you. If I’m allergic to a substance, can I take a homeopathic medicine that is made from that substance? Finally, we talked about what to expect when using homeopathy for colds and flus and how to be prepared for when an illness occurs. Now, let’s get started. Hey Joette! It’s great to be with you here today. I’m in Wisconsin and you are in Canada, right? Joette: Ontario! Yes, I’m in Ontario, and … Kate: And Lara, she’s joining us today as a special guest. Welcome, Lara. Lara is Joette’s course manager. So, Lara, where are you at? Lara: I’m in New York. Thank you, Kate. Kate: We’re glad that you could be with us today. We’re excited to be able to talk homeopathy together. There is so much good stuff that we have for you guys today. We’re excited to share it with you. So, welcome you guys. Thanks for being here. Joette: Oh, this is fun. Lara: Thank you. Kate: Today, we’re going to be talking about study groups and some of the common questions that you guys ask when you’re taking the study group. Some of the questions that come up over and over again in the courses and just in general, right Joette? People write to you with questions? Joette: On the blog, they come in to the office, absolutely, yes. Kate: So, let’s get started and let’s talk a little bit about study groups in general. I know that we covered this in Podcast Number 18. So, if you guys want some more information on that, you can go ahead and refer to that podcast and review Joette’s history about how she started her study group and then how the Gateway to Homeopathy course developed. Study group and its importanceJoette: Yes, let’s talk about it, because I’ll just tell briefly that the way that I started in homeopathy was to start my own study group back in the 80’s. I gathered a group of friends and we met every Thursday night for four years. It was our ladies’ night out essentially, although we didn’t really go anywhere. We went into each other’s living rooms. At one point, we brought a teacher in and she helped us learn. But other times, the teacher wasn’t available, so we went on — on our own. What it did was a number of things. It built a community. That’s really important. If you’ve got someone you can count on to ask questions who may be a little ahead of you or even if that person’s a little behind you in understanding, the value of having other people around you who are of like mind is paramount. Because when you’re stuck at 8 o’clock at night and somebody in your family is really sick with the flu or a cold and you can’t think straight because you’re coming down with it as well — isn’t it nice to have someone you can contact and say, “Oh my gosh, So-and-So, can you tell me what did you use that time that helped your family so much?” So, there is that. There is also your increasing your understanding of cases. Homeopathy is not just understanding the basics of homeopathy, the fundamentals, and then the materia medica, (understanding some of the medicines that are used and also the potencies and frequencies). But, it’s also understanding case-taking, and how soon you give the next dose. How frequently you give it. When you stop, et cetera. And when you hear case after case after case — which is exactly what would be happening by listening to other people’s rendition of their own condition and their family’s conditions — that’s when you learn. So, I remember when I was in homeopathy school, one of our teachers said, “You will never become a homeopath — truly become a homeopath — until you go into practice. The reason that was so clearly stated — and I couldn’t agree more — was that it’s because you got to see different cases than what you’re accustomed to in your own family. You want to see what people who have one child suffer. We want to see what people who have three dogs and what their dogs suffer. Therefore, what we want to do is get all of those incongruent aspects of homeopathy and pull them altogether. That’s what makes homeopathy much more unified, so that it starts making sense. So, you have those aha moments: “Oh, my gosh. She used Pulsatilla for her child’s stomachache, and I use Pulsatilla for my child’s ear infection. And look at these similarities.” That’s when we learn. That’s when we learn exponentially. It ups our knowledge, and the pace is really picked up in your understanding of how to use this for your family and self. Kate: Right, exactly. I know that you see a lot of people that take the Antibiotic course or the Allergic course or the Good Gut, Bad Gut course and then on top of that, they still join a study group because they have that core of group of people that they can continue that relationship with. Oftentimes, those groups go on and they take courses together and continue learning together. So, the study group, although it’s a great first place to plug in and learn, it’s not necessarily the only way that you can do this. You can do study groups after you’ve taken courses and I see that many times. Joette: One other thing I just have to add to this is that if you have a mother-in-law or a sister or a husband who is a skeptic of homeopathy, instead of you trying to convince that person who is important in your life, if they join a study group (even if they just come to one meeting) and they hear everyone else talking about it — they’re in! More often than not, they hop in because now it’s a different voice. It’s not your voice repetitively to your sister, to your husband, over and over and over again, “Homeopathy is great. Look how great it is.” No. Now, they hear different voices, and then it starts to come together instead of it just being you. So, it’s a great opportunity to bring in people who are significant in your life into your world … so that you can study and learn together or — at least if nothing else — they’re not an impediment. Because sometimes a husband who doesn’t agree can be an impediment. You want him onboard. You want to be at the same place together. That’s really critical. Lara: I think people joined the study groups for a lot of different reasons. There isn’t just necessarily one way that you have to do it: where you take the study group first and then you graduate on to a course. We’ve seen people who take the courses first, like Kate mentioned, and then join a study group. I think a part of human nature is once you have some learning, you get excited about wanting to share that learning. Sometimes people take a course — and the course is a more individual thing, you know, people do it at their own pace … Joette: They’re alone. Lara: Yes, exactly. They are learning maybe alone in their living room in front of the computer. Then there’s a desire to get with a group of people and talk about all the things you learned. And study group is great for that. Joette: Yes. Kate: Exactly. Last night, we were doing a study group together. One of the people in the study group actually had some friends over to her house and she said, “Hey, can they listen in for just a little bit?” And they did. Then afterwards she said, “Hey, they want to take the study group. They want to take Joette’s Gateway to Homeopathy.” So, just that little bit of excitement in listening to those people share their stories, their success stories with homeopathy and learn just that little bit really excited them about homeopathy. So, it’s a great way. Even if you think you are past that point of learning, it’s a great way to step back, take that course, and just bring some friends into it and take it with them. Joette: Then we have lots of questions that come from these study groups. I mean you’re like a study group guru, right Kate? Kate: I have taught the study group many times, yes. Every time, my students are the same way. They take the courses over and over again. They take the study groups over and over again. And because we’re always learning something new from each other and just really reviewing that information — you can never review too much. Joette, I hear these questions so often and I know you do, too. One of the foundational questions that people ask is “Hey, I’m allergic to poison ivy. Can I still take the homeopathic remedy Rhus tox which is actually made from poison ivy?” What do you have to say to those people? Joette talks about poison, toxicity, and curative aspectJoette: Well, there are very few people who aren’t allergic to poison ivy. So, let’s start with that. Poison ivy is indeed a poison. What’s lovely about homeopathy is that it is often made from poisons. The beauty of it is that the poison does not remain. What remains is the curative aspect. So, by diluting poison ivy 200 times for example to the 100th power, which would mean Rhus tox 200C, what we’re doing is eliminating the toxic aspect of the poison ivy by all of those dilutions. (This is all pharmacologically done and all regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, parenthetically.) It’s a method of diluting so far that it gets to the point where it comes back round again and becomes curative. How that happens is by reducing the toxicity and bringing it down by all of this dilution process. It simultaneously reduces the toxicity and brings forth the curative aspect of that plant. Now, all plants — every substance on earth — has a curative aspect to it, but sometimes we can’t use it in gross form because, of course, you would break out in pustules and itching and restlessness, et cetera. Just that’s what would happen with poison ivy. But we have found — not I, this is what Dr. Samuel Hahnemann discovered back in the 1700s and all his followers after that — that if you dilute a very poisonous substance, that by doing so, you are now bringing forth its curative aspect at a certain point. So, what point is that? Well, in homeopathy, we know it’s usually a 3X or a 3C, 6X, 6C. I don’t want to get too deeply into all this because it’s really basically a whole course in learning how to do this — or learning, understanding how this all comes together. But, we’re diluting it three times to the 10th power, that’s 3X. Three times to the 100th power, that’s 3C. And we keep going up. So, it matters not that you are allergic or you respond to Rhus tox, or for example Sulphur. Because I know that was the second part of this question was: “What if I’m allergic to Sulphur, sulfa drugs, et cetera, antibiotics?” That would mean, generally speaking, that Sulphur 30C, 200C might indeed be the perfect medicine for you because it’s been diluted to the point where now it becomes the medicine for those who suffer from such. Kate: Exactly. That really helps to clear it up in my mind because I know many people ask that. Even if we don’t necessarily have the right answer for it, we know in our minds that it’s not going to hurt us but we don’t know how to articulate that. So, thank you for helping us to articulate that to our friends and our family members who might have those concerns. Joette: Yes. Let me also mention this. That in botanicals — herbalism — the herbalists have a beautiful array of materia medica, lots of medicines from which to choose: Chamomilla, and St John’s wort, and all of those beautiful medicines that they can use. They can pick them. Make them into tinctures. Pick them, make them into poultices, et cetera, and teas, and oils, et cetera. Beautiful stuff, but they’re limited. In homeopathy, we use those same herbs and botanicals, but we get to use the poisons. The poisons are actually — in my estimation — the most valuable of all the medicines because the poison causes a condition in its gross form, but, in the highly diluted potentised level of homeopathy diluted 200 times to the 100th power, now we’ve got a medicine that can uproot what that poison would have caused. It’s gorgeous. So, we use lead: Plumbum. We use arsenic: Arsenicum album. We use Hyoscyamus. We use Belladonna, Nux vomica. Basically, in their original form … They have Strychninum, et cetera. So, what we’re doing with these homeopathic pharmacies — again, regulated by the Food and Drug Administration as medicines, mind you — we are now diluting or they are diluting it down to the point where the toxicity is removed and the curative aspect is brought to the fore. What a brilliant way of using botanicals or toxic substances found on earth and pharmacology and math. It gets the essence of many sciences and pulls them into one, and makes them into the medicine of choice. Kate: And it’s gentle, right? Joette: Yes, because it’s so highly diluted. There’s so little left that sometimes it’s even questioned whether or not there’s anything left. The point is there’s just enough to be able to gently, efficaciously stimulate the body’s ability to do this. This is what homeopathy does: bring the person back to wholeness. How does it do that? It stimulates that natural ability that we know the body has the ability, for the most part, to be able to do. Kate: Well, thank you for clearing that up for us. What are the other questions, Joette that come up? I know that right now, we are in the throes of cold and flu season. So, can you give us some ideas of some realistic expectations when we are using the remedies? For instance, we learn in our study groups or in the courses to treat the cold and flu viruses. What are some expectations that we can have as far as how quickly these remedies are going to act, and how quickly we’re going to see results? When would we see resultsJoette: I’ve seen the whole gamut. But as I fine-tune my knowledge in homeopathy — and I’ve been using homeopathy for over 30 years — I’m still always learning another homeopathic medicine that could be even tighter than the last one. I find that if you get the right medicine, it can be jaw dropping. It’s so fast. Often people tell me, “Oh my gosh, I felt really sick. I felt like I was coming down with bronchitis. I know that feeling because I’ve had it in the past. But I took that Aconitum and Bryonia. My gosh! I’m going to say two hours, I could feel my energy come back again.” So, sometimes we see that. Other times, we see that it lingers for a while. The reason it’s lingering in my estimation is you just haven’t gotten the right medicine. Because when you get the right medicine especially for an acute — remember, this is an acute we’re talking — this is not a chronic illness. For an acute, generally speaking, we see it turn around within a few hours or a day or two. Now, if it’s been established and the illness is gone for a while and we see relentless vomiting. For example, my son just had a terrible stomach flu. It started out in the morning. He was pretty uncomfortable, a lot of nausea and vomiting for about an hour. He never contacted me. He figured he could do it himself. He actually did do it himself. The vomiting stopped after taking the fourth dose of the medicine which was great. He actually used Ipecac. Then the nausea persisted a little bit longer. Now, it was about two in the afternoon. This all started early in the morning. He still had nausea. He couldn’t eat. He didn’t feel well. He couldn’t talk for very long because the nausea persisted. He kept taking it every, I think he was taking it about every three hours or so. By about 5 o clock that night, he was able to eat. Now, is that the right amount of time? I think it’s perfect to be honest. If you can miss one day of school or one day of work for a stomach flu when you see your friends and neighbors, et cetera, going on for three and four days, and then when they’re finished, they still are not 100% — I would say that’s pretty darn good use of medicine. The following day, I followed up and I texted him. “How are you doing today?” He says, “I’m fine. I’m back at school.” That’s what we’re talking about! That’s the way we wanted to go. Now, had he chosen the wrong medicine — even the “wrong” medicine — you can still do a lot of good. A lot of good … because even if you choose the wrong one, by choosing the wrong medicine, the symptoms that you need to really pay attention to will come to the fore. So, if you’ve taken the wrong medicine, and now we started to get diarrhea or pain in the stomach — now we have to look at a medicine that’s specific for diarrhea and pain in a flu, stomach flu for example. That will give us more hints. Lara: Isn’t it also possible that different medicines can work to a different extent? Joette: Yes. But I have to caution folks — unless you have something in mind, Lara, I don’t have anything in mind like that — but we have to caution folks into thinking that the medicine can only do so much, when really if we have the right medicine it will do plenty. Lara: My understanding is that for example, like with the Banerji Protocols, sometimes there will be several medicines given. Sometimes with a disease, there might be the perfect remedy which will do everything but another remedy might do a lot even if it’s not the perfect choice. I’m trying to think of a specific example. Joette: I think I know what you’re saying, and here’s my baseline answer. We have 6,000 homeopathic medicines from which to choose. Which one is it? So, the Banerjis have graciously given me their information — which all makes sense anyway, because their medicines make so much sense even if you’re using classical homeopathy. But, it doesn’t mean it’s going to work for absolutely everyone. I use the Banerji Protocols perhaps, or I use an old protocol that I’ve used in the past, or I might use cell salts. There are so many ways to skin a cat that you’re looking at many options. I don’t want people to get too confused and think that there’s only one way to do it. There is one good way to do it. When I’m teaching Banerji Protocols, then by all means, I’m going to urge you especially as a new student to start out with that if at all possible. If you can start with that and then test it out and see if it doesn’t act, then we go onward. Lara: I guess I have an example. Let’s say it’s UTI and somebody’s using Cantharis or Sarsaparilla. Is that how you pronounce it, Sarsaparilla? Joette: Yes. Lara: It takes care of the UTI pretty well but it comes back again. The next time they start with Cantharis and it’s working, but it’s not working great. They introduce Medorrhinum and all of a sudden, that’s it! Joette: Beautiful, yes. So, what that means is that you could have probably started out with Medorrhinum in the first place as well as Cantharis, or Sarsaparilla and Medorrhinum, or et cetera, et cetera. We got lots of possibilities here. But I try to give those possibilities that are the most commonly used as our first line of defense. But yes, you’re right. You’re right. Kate: Can you give us some ideas as far as dosage because I know your son, you said, took Ipecac for instance. Do you think he took Ipecac 30C? Joette: Yes, he used Ipecac 30C because I have taught him that I think that Ipecac 30C is a very good medicine for nausea. Then he also was taking Nux vomica. I didn’t tell him to do that because he was vomiting. I believe that probably the Nux vomica, now that I think back on it, was probably what stopped the vomiting and Ipecac helped with the chronic relentless nausea. So, he was using both. He used Nux vomica in a 200 and Ipecac in the 30. He was alternating them approximately every couple of hours. I actually think in the beginning, when it was really a difficult couple of hours, he could have taken them each one every 15 minutes if it was very severe. Kate: Right. Joette, do you want to know an interesting fact? Joette: Sure. Kate: Our kids, they haven’t had the stomach flu in, I think, over six years. I give homeopathy — and God, of course — the credit for that, because before homeopathy, about once a year, they would come down with a stomach flu because as it goes around, you know, the season usually brings on those viruses. Isn’t that an amazing thing? Joette: Yes, it is amazing because it does go around like wildfire. It’s almost impossible not to get these kinds of things unless you’re doing something rather active. Kate: Exactly. Lara: Joette, that’s a testament to what you talk about: how homeopathy has the ability to so deeply uproot something that it doesn’t come back. Joette: Yes. So that if my son for example, let’s go back to that. He got the stomach flu and he had this nausea and vomiting. If it goes around again this year, or in the spring, or next year, now he’s girded. He’s held up by the fact that the remedy, back now in October 2017, has corrected the condition, to a certain degree. Now, does it mean it’s going to protect him forever and ever? Sometimes yes, and sometimes no. But if it doesn’t, then the next time he gets it, it’s very likely it’ll be a milder version. Meaning it won’t be as intense. It might even finish off a little bit sooner while using Ipecac 30 and Nux vomica 200. Kate: Right. So, we have your son’s example, a recent example of when he had the stomach flu. And then six months ago, one of my kids woke me up in the middle of the night saying that they were not feeling well. They felt nauseous, maybe a little bit of a tummy ache. I gave them Arsenicum album 200C. Just one dose of that and within an hour I would say, an hour and a half, they were feeling better and they went back to sleep. But before homeopathy, the “BH” days, I can see that that stomachache — your kid waking you up in the middle of the night with a stomach ache — usually it’s going to end up in some diarrhea or throwing up or something. Joette: You’re up the rest of the night until the morning with that child… now, the child misses school the next day and then the other commitments you or the child may have. Kate: Exactly. You’re exhausted. The family is exhausted. Then it goes on to the other family members. So really, you’re not just talking a day even, you’re talking about a week or more. Joette: That’s right. I remember when I was sick. I’m sorry Lara. I do want you to get in here because I want your opinion on this, too. But when I was sick when I was a little girl, I remember never being sick for anything less than two weeks, anytime I got a cold, anytime I got a fever, sore throat, ear infection. That was back in the 50s. Two weeks. That was just the way it was. We just expected it. Lara: I feel like mothers are like farmers in this sense. You know how they say, Joette and Kate, that farmers are … kind of like … they’re the ground zero or the frontline when it comes to things like nutrition and vitamins and stuff because they’re always thinking about the bottom line? They’re thinking about, “What do I need to keep my cows healthy enough that they will reproduce successfully, and that they will give enough milk so I make a profit?” and all that kind of stuff. So, doctors — I think, human doctors — get away with a lot that farmers don’t get away with because they always have to find practically what is working. I was thinking about when you and Kate were talking about kids because I think mothers are like that, too. Like practically you can tell what makes a difference in terms of how many times the kids are getting sick, how long they’re getting sick for, how severe the illnesses are for. You see the repercussions when things don’t work because they’re missing more school; you’re getting less sleep as a family, all that kind of stuff. Joette: Yes, so that you know “your herd.” Basically, you know exactly how your child normally reacts and now how your child reacts when you give the homeopathic medicines. Lara: And it ties in to what you’re saying about how mothers and grandmothers: They’re the ones who really know. I mean like we can depend on our scientists and our doctors for a lot, but the bottom line is who’s observing that child and that family day to day. Joette: Mothers know there’s nothing like the watchful eye of a mother. I don’t mean necessarily it even has to be a mother with a human child. It can be a woman or even a man. But more often it’s a woman who is raising puppies or who has animals that they’re raising on the fields and lambs and cows, et cetera. When you are in charge, when you have a charge over another living being, you pay attention and you pay attention closely. It becomes your focus. A mother to have this focus — it’s just natural. Kate: I don’t want to give people a wrong impression either about how easy it is. Joette: Yes, yes, I’m glad you brought that up. Kate: Sometimes it is hard. I gave that great example of my child with the stomachache and how quickly it went away. But there have been times, Joette, when — and I know mothers can relate — when my kid has a cough and a cold and it is days, and we are struggling and they are coughing. Granted, I think it’s not as severe as it would have been without homeopathy for sure, and there’s relief. Whereas without homeopathy, I didn’t see the relief. Where now, you can give some homeopathic remedies to help the cough. And even though they still have the cold for three or four days, the cold isn’t as severe and the cough isn’t … you know, you can go for hours without that bothersome cough. And then they need the remedy again. So, talk a little bit about when it doesn’t act that quickly. When it’s not acting as quicklyJoette: Well, when it doesn’t act that quickly, you need to reassess what you’ve given. I always say four doses — up to about four doses and about four hours apart. Now, that is a very basic structure — a skeletal structure. If someone is, again, vomiting relentlessly, you’re not going to wait four hours to give the medicine. You’re going to wait … maybe 15 minutes. But, you know you’re not going to wait a week! So that I’m trying to give a basic structure of how often to use it. Four hours is kind of — you can go every 15 minutes if it’s very severe, or if it’s not so severe then maybe every two hours — if it’s really rather mild, you might use it every four hours. So, when you see that after about four doses (and it’s very severe and you’ve given that medicine every 15 minutes or every hour, et cetera), and you’ve given four doses and you see no change whatsoever — now that’s the key. We should talk about what change means. But if you’ve seen no change at all after about four doses, maybe five, again that’s just a benchmark, then it’s time to reassess and stop what you’re using. Now, look at what’s presenting now. So, if the child is or the person is vomiting relentlessly and they stopped vomiting but now they’re coughing, are you going to give that vomiting medicine? Are you going to give that? It’s for the gastrointestinal condition? If the primary concern now is a cough, no. Now you have to go to a medicine that is specific for the cough. Have you lost it? Have you lost the case by doing this? No, the case is evolving. It’s very likely that had you not given the homeopathic medicine, this would start out with vomiting and nausea and turn into coughing but you’re shortening that duration. So, you’re always looking to see what is happening now. What am I observing now? When we look at, for example, is this person improving? If the person stops vomiting or let’s say they continue vomiting and they’re very nauseous, yet, now they’re smiling. Now, they’re not freezing anymore. Now, they’re not frightened anymore. That’s some improvement because if the person even if it’s your husband who’s freezing cold; he’s vomiting horribly; you can see that he’s panicking; he’s feeling really uncomfortable, really sick and he continues to vomit but his demeanor changes and it becomes more positive — you better stay with that medicine because you’re doing some good. That’s how you know. The vomiting may still continue but you’re looking for the overall wellness of the person or here’s another great indicator: the person falls asleep. Here you are on the bathroom floor with your loved one, and they’re vomiting and suddenly they fall asleep. Beautiful, cover him up. Keep him warm. Have a hot water bottle close by. Make sure they’re really comfortable. Clean up the bathroom as best as you can and let them sleep. Now, if they wake up and it comes back again, most parents don’t realize that what has happened was positive and it meant that the medicine was acting. They’re thinking, “Oh no, it’s back again. They just got a little rest, but they lucked out.” No, no, no, no. This means the medicine is working. Sleep for a situation like this indicates that the medicine is correct. Now, what do you do? There’s that remedy again? You reintroduce it. You give it again. It needs another stimulus, and you’d start again. Lara: It’s so important to look at the big picture like you’re saying Joette, because if somebody brags, “I never get a cold,” but they’re constantly tired; they’re weak; they don’t have the energy to do stuff. Well maybe, you’re not getting a cold because your immune system doesn’t have the strength to ward off infection. It’s like when people talk about fevers. It’s very important to have the vitality to actually mount a fever. It’s a weak person who never gets a fever because they’re body isn’t capable. Symptoms can be good. They can be a sign that the body is functioning well. Joette: You bet. And also, sometimes the more virulent the response — like you said with the fever — if they can mount a fever, that’s very positive when it’s a child. Now, adult is a little different, but children are supposed to get fevers when they get sick. If they can do that, then you’re going in the right direction. Lara: If they still have say a runny nose and they sneeze, but they feel more energy, they feel happier, what’s that a sign of? Joette: It’s a sign of improvement because there’s nothing wrong with having runny nose because you’re clearing out the mucosa, or the cough remains but it’s not a gagging or a croupy cough. Now, it’s a clearing cough. It’s liquidy. Good, that’s very good. But that child now can go back to school. The child is sleeping properly. He can start drinking his bone stock. He can start having his kefir or whatever else he’s eating or drinking. Yet, he still has a cough that’s clearing out his chest. Keep him low. You always want to keep people low, children low, when they’ve had respiratory infections especially in the chest. But that cough that’s still clearing out even days, even a week later — as long as the vitality is good and the cough is liquidy and not keeping the child from living his life such as sleeping and eating, et cetera — then we’re moving in the right direction. Kate: That’s what I look for. My daughter tends to get coughs frequently. So, it’s beautiful when I know I’m in the right direction — just like you said — when she actually perks up and now, she wants to interact with us. So, she’s smiling and she gets up out of bed. She’s walking around and wanting to do things. So, that to me is a sign that yes, the remedy is working. She is still coughing like you said and it may be a while, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. As long as her vitality is going in the right direction and it’s positive then that’s okay, right? Joette: Yes. You have to assess. You have to know when to fold. You have to know when to say okay, this is bigger than me. I need to get to a doctor. There is that aspect of this as well. Because we don’t want somebody to get pneumonia because you thought you could handle it. Until you feel really, really confident with homeopathy, I’m going to encourage you to always be on the fence. Just in case, let’s see how far I can go with this. Let’s see what I can do. If you can cure your family member, your husband, your child of something that’s an impending long infection before it gets that bad, you really got a handle on your life. You really got some reins to hold. It’s a beautiful thing. There’s nothing more heady than being able to cure someone you love. I mean I can’t think of anything better. Curing someone you love! Holy cow, that’s amazing! Kate: It is. It’s such a great feeling. Joette, you often say, too — you recommend to people — drive to the hospitals. Sit in the parking lot. Get some blankets and some games or whatever, some snacks. Sit there if you’re not confident and just wait. Give the homeopathic medicines and just see what unfolds. That way, you’re close. You’re there if you need to be there. Joette: You’re even closer than sometimes being in the hospital and getting into the emergency room. Being on like the 7th floor of the Gastroenterology Department or something and then you need emergency care, by the time they get a gurney and bring you back down all the way to the emergency room, who knows how long that will be! But you’re right there. You have your legs and your child, and you can carry your child or walk in with your husband if you need be. So, I think that all emergency room parking lots should have like big screen TVs … like an outdoor show or something … and popcorn … some bone stocks sold on the side. Kate: Wouldn’t that be amazing? Joette: Yes. Kate: So, we’ve talked about quite a number of things. If I’m still stuck and I’m needing to figure out better method of helping my kids, and learn more remedies, and how to help them get through those colds and flus, what do you recommend Joette? What would be a next step for people? Homeopathic resources availableJoette: Well, here’s the thing. Put together what makes the most sense for you and your family. If your finances are limited then you might want to go with the study group which is Gateway to Homeopathy. I think it’s under $60, and it’s several classes together with these other folks. If you want to jump into a bigger course then by all means, How to Raise a Drug-free Family is a great way to go. But, I don’t believe that it has to be that way. If you’re new to homeopathy or even if you’re not, use my blog. It’s totally, completely free. I’ve been authoring this blog with my homeopathy tips and methods for 10 years. Every single week, we put out information. And often, we’d put out information twice a week. The whole idea of this blog is for you to be able to utilize this for your family at no cost whatsoever. But I do urge you to get a kit, a homeopathy kit, or at least if you have a Whole Foods nearby or a health foods store, and even Wal-Mart carries homeopathy, even Walgreens carries homeopathy. Make sure you know where these remedies are so that you don’t get stuck at say 10 o’clock at night and say, “Oh, I know exactly what to give,” and then you don’t own it. So, own as many homeopathic medicines as you can and get started that way. Kate: That is key, I think is to have the tools because you can have the knowledge, and you don’t have the tools and then you’re stuck. I say to my students all the time. There is so much information that Joette has available on her blogs and her podcasts. Dig into that. Dive into it. Learn as much as you can. Be prepared for when those things occur. Don’t wait until your kid has a cold or a stomach flu to learn these things. Joette: Well, I just want to add, I’m not the only one out there. There are a lot of homeopaths with lots of great information. So, don’t think that it’s just me. I give protocols to make it super easy. But there are lots of great homeopaths out there. So, don’t just read me. Read lots and lots and lots of other ways to approach this as well. Lara: But even if they just do read your blog, Joette, I think that’s like a course in and of itself. All those different articles spanning such a long time have so much information. Joette: Yes, that’s what I hope to present to the world. Kate: Your mission is what, Joette? Joette: 100,000 homes by 2020. Reaching 100,000 homes, so that each of these homes has got homeopathy as the mainstay of their medicine or at least simultaneous. Kate: All of your listeners were a part of that, right? We’re a team. Joette: You bet, you bet. It’s great. Let’s get this out everyone. Kate: Well, thank you so much for having this conversation today. Lara, thanks for joining us. Lara: Thank you. Kate: It was really great to be able to talk to you guys today and to discuss some of these things that weigh heavily on our listeners’ minds. You just listened to a podcast by joettecalabrese.com where nationally certified homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese shared her passion for helping families stay strong through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. Joette’s podcasts are available on iTunes, Google Play, Blueberry, Stitcher, and TuneIn radio. Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com.
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| Podcast 37 – New (and Not So New) to Homeopathy Part III | 30 Oct 2017 | 00:24:29 | |
In this podcast, we cover: 02:18 How often to use homeopathy 04:32 Planning ahead 12:23 Appreciating classical homeopathy 16:33 To follow or not to follow a diet
You are listening to a podcast from joettecalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition.
Paola: It’s podcast number 37 at joettecalabrese.com. Here’s what we have coming up. So, today’s podcast is what we’re calling Part 3 of our Newbies Series. I’m your host today, Paola Brown. Part 1 of this series can be found on Joette’s website under Podcast Number 17. Part 2 was Podcast Number 33. So, today’s podcast is a follow up to those first two. If you have someone who’s interested in starting homeopathy and they’re not sure where to go, maybe you could send them these three podcasts. Also, another great place is to send them to Joette’s quick start guide, which you can find on her homepage under the heading “New to Homeopathy.” So, today we’re going to talk about what makes you prepared with homeopathy, as far as remedies go. Joette talks about how you can be minimally prepared. If you are already minimally prepared, she talks about how you can advance to being super prepared. We also look at how homeopathy should be used. Do you use it for every little fear and sniffle that comes by or not? So, let’s take it from the top with Joette. I’m so happy to be here with you, Joette. Hi. How are you? Joette: Hi. I’m well. This is always great. Paola: This is Part 3 of the little podcast series that we’re doing. We’re focusing on newbies to homeopathy, newcomers. The very first podcast for newbies is Podcast Number 17. That’s one that you recorded back with Jendi. It talks about what is homeopathy, the very foundational questions. Then we had a second podcast, Part 2, and this is Part 3. So, we have a few more questions that we received from some of your listeners and your newcomers to homeopathy. I was hoping you would answer them with me today. Joette: Yes, let’s go. Paola: Some new moms to homeopathy are wondering do we treat every little runny nose or cold symptoms or do we sometimes let it run its course. So, they’re trying to know how often to use homeopathy and when to let the illness do its thing. Like sometimes mucous is okay. It’s getting rid of foreign bodies and germs that are in the bodies. So, can you use homeopathy too much or too little? How often to use homeopathyJoette: I love that question. I’m glad someone asked that because I believe that when someone is enthusiastic about homeopathy, they see results and more results and more results. They can’t wait to get at the next illness in the family. They sometimes get too excited and over-treat. I agree. I think it can be used too often. I think it’s important to let a lot of illnesses just fall to the wayside. Let the colds just be unless they’re really debilitating. Let the child get a fever unless it’s really debilitating. In fact, I have an article. If you Google it: Get Your Kids High. It’s all about allowing a child to get a fever. It is part of their education. I am concerned with the education of the immune system. It’s important that children get illnesses. If it becomes trying, or they’re in a lot of pain, let’s say it’s otitis media; or their eyes are quite swollen, they have conjunctivitis; or the throat that’s a little painful is clearly becoming more like strep because you can smell it and see it, etc.; okay now, it’s time to treat. I don’t treat every little thing. It’s hard to keep yourself from doing that when you’re fresh at this because it’s so much fun because suddenly you have all these power in your hands. But I think it’s best to keep it to a purr instead of a roar. Paola: Both of our friend, Tricia (she’s one of the gals that helps us edit these podcasts), I remember when she got her first homeopathy kit, she said, “I just kind of sit around waiting for one of my kids to get sick.” Joette: Right, for the shoe to fall, yes, that’s right. Paola: Like, “Oh good, let me go get my kit.” Sage advice. Joette: Yes. I also think that you learn faster and better when you’re treating many, so the larger your family, the better. The more livestock you have, the more house pets you have, the more wildlife you treat, you’ll learn a lot faster. You’ll be able to discern what is worthy of treatment, what is worthy of not treatment, and also, what is worthy of getting to the hospital or doctor for. Paola: Right. We have a great podcast on discernment that you can look up and listen to. I think that falls under this too, very good. So, here’s another question. A lot of newbies that are sold and they want to come … and they want to plan ahead. They want to know what is your advice on what it means to plan ahead as far as homeopathy goes. Right away own a kit, the Top 100 Remedy Kit. Planning aheadJoette: At least one kit, at least that one. As soon as you can afford another one that’s a 200-potency kit, we sell them here in the office. We give discounts for people who buy two at a time. The larger kit that’s 30th potency and the smaller kit that’s just 200th potency. Yes, you have to start with that. If you don’t have any homeopathy remedies and you’re learning how to use homeopathy and you’ve come up with a medicine, and it’s now Saturday night at 11 o’clock and your child is screaming with an ear infection; you know absolutely you should be giving Chamomilla and you don’t own it — what good is that? You might as well just give the child pain reliever. These pharmacies that manufacture them [the remedy kits] know exactly what you need for most everyday conditions. That’s what you’ll find in those kits. Now having said that parenthetically, there are 6000, at last counting that I’ve heard, homeopathic medicines available. So, this is only 100 of them in this kit. So, it’s not going to have everything, but it will be a very good start. Paola: Would you say that someone who owns just one kit, the Top 100 Remedy Kit, it’s the red kit from Washington Homeopathic that you sell, they’re minimally prepared? Joette: Yes, it’s a minimal, absolutely. Paola: Then if they own the second kit, the 200 kit, that would be more helpful? Joette: That helps too. She who has the most remedies, in the end, wins. Paola: I love that. So then, what’s the next step? So, let’s say you own the Top 100 in mostly 30C, then you own the Top 50 in 200C, those are the two kits you were talking about that you give a discount if they buy them together … then what? Joette: Well, it depends on where you are in your life. If you absolutely can’t afford anything, or if you can afford and you just don’t want to make a huge commitment yet to taking a course or buying books, etc., just go to my blog. Everything is free. All my information is free. I’ve been authoring this blog for nine years. In the last five to six years, I give you precisely the condition, what the homeopathic medicines are. If you happen not to own it, you can click on it. It will take you to Amazon or to Boiron. I don’t get any kickbacks on this. This is just strictly for the convenience of my viewers. You’ll get the medicine sent to you in short order or hopefully, you’ve got it in your kit. What you do is you put in the search bar what the condition is. Be aware that at this point, we’re in the process of revamping the website for I think the third time. Now, we’re going to make it a little bit more user friendly so that you don’t need to come up with synonyms. So, if you put in “otitis media,” if it doesn’t show up, then you personally must know to put in “ear infections,” currently. But at some point, it should be able to do that for you. So, at this point, you might have to come up with a synonym. Paola: Here’s a great, little exercise that you actually taught me, Joette, that I’m going to bring up. Sit down and make a list of all the stuff that you, your family members, your children have suffered from. Then make a list of all the stuff that could happen to them that you fear for, you know, the stepping on a rusty nail. I don’t know, all those things. Then go to Joette’s blog and research those subjects and start seeing if you own the remedies that it takes to treat those. Joette: Yes, treat those conditions. Paola: Then you fill in the gaps and order the single remedies that might be missing. Joette: That’s what you’ve done, isn’t it, Paola? Paola: Oh yes! When I got our cow and our chickens — I mean I did that for my kids — but when I got our cow and our chickens, I went through the cow book. (I have this cow book about how to take care of them and chickens.) I started seeing all these things. Joette: It’s what we spend our money on. Paola: It is. Joette: You know what I mean? It’s not about manicures. It’s not about dinners out. It’s not about a hot, new outfit. That’s what I love about this. It’s about something that is intellectually delicious, as I say and allows us to give back to our family in a very intellectual but heartfelt way as well. It puts the power back into mothering. That’s what I loved about it, probably most of all. I became the decision maker. Now, there were certainly times when my children were young that I wasn’t so sure. I might call a friend, which by the way I might mention folks ought to strongly consider joining a study group that we promote through the blog. Because now, you’ve got a little community of likeminded mothers/grandmothers who are interested in learning right along with you. They will come to the table with conditions that their families suffer. Then you’ll come to the table with the conditions your family suffers from. So, with that, now you’re fleshing out and covering many, many conditions and helping and teaching each other. Paola: Well, I think that’s absolutely right. So, planning ahead isn’t just owning remedies but it’s having a band of mothers who are like-minded who can support you. My son had an ear infection earlier this month. Boy, it was terrible. I have this friend, Joette, that stayed up with me until 1:30 in the morning. She lives in Dallas. She’s not even close to me, texting me on my phone, helping me figure things out because I was on zero sleep for two nights now. I could not think straight. I mean, that’s what I’m talking about, having friends. Joette: And you’re going to be willing to do that for her when the tables are turned. Paola: Oh yes, absolutely, yes. That’s right. Joette: Yes. So, then the next place you go to after that is just take courses. I have a lot of courses. I have CDs and downloads. I mean that is what I’m all about. My mission is to educate. So, we have plenty of information besides the podcast. You don’t even need to stay on the website. If you just Google “Joette Calabrese” and the name of the condition, I’ve written for many other blogs. I’m published in Weston A. Price Foundation’s quarterly journal for the last nine years. You will find lots of information all over the internet on this particular subject that I’ve written and others have written as well. Paola: Joette, your blog, and your presence online is such a huge help. I mean can you imagine if you had that when you were starting out? Joette: Oh my gosh. I would have died for having someone like me. Really, I had a wonderful teacher and she retired. That was the end of that. Actually, she moved out of the area when my children were young. I had counted on her. She was a great homeopath. She helped me tremendously. She helped bring my health back around again in very short order. In those days, we were taught that you only meet physically with your homeopath. Paola: Right, not on the phone. Joette: Not on the phone, not on Skype. Now, I meet with all of my clients on Skype or phone. I never meet anyone in my office any longer. But in those days, we were taught that that’s what you had to do because you had to shake their hand, you had to see if they had an odor. You were experiencing the person so that you can get a better choice of remedy. Now, with this method that I use, that’s really very much unnecessary. But at any rate, when she moved out of the area, “Oh my gosh! Now what am I going to do? I’m doomed.” It took a few days of processing it and complaining about it. “What am I going to do? How am I going to handle this? Who will I find? I need to find someone else.” I knew that there wasn’t anyone else in my area. This was back in the 80s. So, it dawned on me one day, “Oh my gosh. I think I have to know how to do this, I mean really know how to do this. This is up to me. It’s my family. It’s my job! So, I should learn how to do this.” Paola: I hate to break it to you, however, even though you have this wonderful web presence, I think everyone who follows you, Joette, is a little bit sick to their stomach that you will ever retire. Joette: My husband and I talked about that the other day. He was saying, “I don’t know. I think you’ll be able to work for a long, long time,” because I do love it. I love teaching. I love taking cases. I’ll just maybe slow it down quite a bit as I age, but I’m not slowing down now. I’m still revving up. Paola: Good. Okay, right, good girl. Keep taking your homeopathic then. Joette: Yes, it’s because of these medicines that I’m able to stay as well as I am at 65. Paola: That’s right. Okay, Joette. Here’s another great question. What is the value of classical homeopathy if the protocols are easier and more reliable shortcuts? Appreciating classical homeopathyJoette: Well, for those who are neophytes to this, they may not know the difference between classical and the protocols that I use. Paola: That’s true. Joette: These practical methods that I use, but just bear with us then. You might be able to pick up a little bit from this. But for those who know what classical homeopathy is, I was a dyed-in-the-wool classical homeopath for decades. I even taught the first classical homeopathy course that was ever credit-bearing in a college setting in New York State. So, I believed down to my toes the value of classical homeopathy. But I don’t use it much at all anymore, overtly. I believe, however, that because I had so much training in it and I studied it so thoroughly for so many years, that I think in the back of my head I do have a little classical left in there that is my basic foundation. For anyone who really wants to take homeopathy seriously — even enough to say become a practitioner at some point — I would never urge them to do it without going to classical homeopathy school. You really need that background to fully understand because many cases will come across your desk that you will not be able to necessarily understand thoroughly without that background. Having said that, however, the Banerji Protocols as well as a few of my own methods here and there — mostly Banerji Protocols — are really based on classical. But it’s trimmed down the fat and made it so tight that it’s much, much easier to use. So, you may find as someone who’s treating your family consistently, you will not need to study or use classical homeopathy. In fact, it may even confuse or confound you from time to time. Paola: Right. And in study groups: the study group curriculum, “Gateway to Homeopathy,” (the first half of that), we do talk about classical homeopathy because classical homeopathy helps us understand the foundation of homeopathy, what it means, how it works, the basic theory of homeopathy. Now, we do have a podcast, Joette, that I want to remind your listeners here, Podcast Number 24, Topics That Bear Repeating, where you and I discussed the protocol form of homeopathy versus classical homeopathy a little bit more in depth. So, if this subject kind of sparks your interest, I think that’s a good podcast to listen to. But I do want to say with my son, that ear infection that I was just talking about, I did start with the homeopathic protocol for ear infections that you taught from the Banerjis. And it did not act on him. Joette: Yes, so you need to go further. You need to go to the second protocol. If that doesn’t act, you need to go to a third protocol. If there are no more protocols after that —an the sometimes there are and sometimes there aren’t — that’s when classical, yes, indeed can be useful. Paola: That’s exactly where I was. He had a very unique ear infection. Actually, the exterior ear was swollen and sticking out like little elephant ear off to the side. The protocols did not work, at least in the way that I use them. I thought I was using them correctly. So, that’s where my friend, Sherry, we were talking until one in the morning. We found out that he needed Aconitum napellus at that time. We did Chamomilla 200 and Belladonna 200, which is still slightly part of the protocol, but that Aconitum napellus was really a big difference for him. So, I feel a little bit naked if I don’t know a little bit of classical homeopathy. Because, what if the Banerji Protocol does not work, or what if I don’t own the remedies in the Banerji Protocol? Well, I have a little bit of backup. Joette: Yes, yes. Listen, you can never get too much education. Oh, wait a minute, I take that back. Paola: What do you mean? Joette: I take it back because I’m making fun of the universities these days. There’s a lot of gobbledygook education in American universities these days. So, there’s a lot of stuff that becomes superfluous and without focus. But, self-education is what I mean. That’s where I put the emphasis. Everyone should be constantly educating themselves, whether it’s homeopathy or otherwise. Paola: I love my homeopathy library. I love all the books. I have tons of your books, Joette. I have more books. I love it. I think that’s what you’re talking about. Joette: Yes. Paola: So, my last question for the newbies that we’re getting is: What role does diet have in homeopathy? To follow or not to follow a dietJoette: People ask me this all the time. And, I hope I don’t sound inconsistent but in terms of a condition, a disease, not as much as you would think. Paola: Interesting. Joette: I’m on the board, the honorary board of Weston A. Price Foundation. I am a true believer in the whole nutrient-dense, homemade foods that are sourced from good sources. I believe in Dr. Weston Price’s works and all those who are peripherally around him. But, I have found through the years that depending on foods alone has been a disappointment, not only in my own health but in other folks’ health, in my clients and students, etc. Sometimes we get lucky and people report to me that by getting off of gluten, they don’t have any more joint pain. But if they wait long enough, my experience so far has shown me that stay away from gluten for a while and then a couple of years later, they find out, oh. it’s kind of coming back again. Now, they have to get off of dairy. Then wait a little longer and then now, they have to get off of eggs. Then eggs are related to chicken. It doesn’t correct the problem. Abstinence of food does not correct the problem in my experience. It’s management. Now, I’m not going to tell you it never works because I think that for some people, it can. If it is a food condition in the first place, then yes, I suppose that’s very possible. But I don’t get those folks. The people I get are those who have been through GAPS diets and Weston Price and FODMAPs. I can go through many more names than that of diets. If you’ll listen to this a couple of years from the time we’re recording this today, there are going to be more diets. They are going to declare that this is the diet that cures. Well, I started back in the 1980s with Dr. William Crook’s book on “The Yeast Connection.” I thought I had found the answer and followed that. It helped for a while, but it wasn’t until I got to homeopathy that it really got to the true correction. Paola: I see. Joette: So having said that, it’s not necessary to change the diet when you’re using homeopathy. If you already found that you can’t eat dairy and that you’ll get diarrhea and brain fog, so of course, you don’t eat it. Don’t go ahead and do it. You already know that that would be imprudent. So, you stay with the diet that you’ve been following. And you add the homeopathic, and then slowly you start adding in some of the foods that were a problem before. That is what we’re looking for is the freedom of being able to eat anything. I always tell folks. I want everyone to be able to eat at McDonald’s. Not that I expect you to eat at McDonald’s, but I want you to have the freedom to be able to do so. If I were bold enough to come into your home and open up your refrigerator, I would certainly hope that I would find high quality foods in there. But, if you’re on a long trip with your family, and you ran out of food, and it’s now one in the morning, you’re in the middle of a snowstorm, and the kids are waking up, and they’re hungry, and the only thing that’s around is a McDonald’s — I’d like you to be able to go to McDonald’s. Or even less severe a situation than that. So, true health is freedom. And the freedom to be able to eat whatever you have available to you is what we’re looking for. Now, also the other side of that coin is we have to be intelligent about our food choices. So, it’s unnecessary — that’s really what I’m distilling this down to — for someone to get better by using homeopathy and having to go on a strict diet in addition to that. Paola: I see. So, what you’re saying is — and I think you taught this in the Good Gut, Bad Gut course — that the Banerjis in India, they don’t prescribe a homeopathic protocol to their clients and then also prescribe a specific diet. Joette: No. They tell all the patients, eat your traditional foods. Now, it’s different there because they do have traditional foods. A lot of us, at least in the US and North America don’t have traditional foods anymore. Our grandparents or great-great grandparents, or great-great-great came here so long ago that many of the foods have been lost, or they’ve been bastardized. You have to be careful with that. That’s why I like Weston A. Price, because it is traditional and it’s mostly based on European foods. That’s where most of us hail in this country. So, that makes perfect sense to me. But, when you look at the traditional foods in Calcutta, it depends on the religion. There are many different religions. They’re very traditional people in their traditional garb, and their lifestyles, etc., etc. So, you can’t possibly broach that subject and get away with it. Paola: A lot of vegetarianism and things like that. Joette: Well, there’s vegetarianism. Many of them don’t have access to the kinds of foods that we have access to, if they live in villages or if they live in the big city. They have what they have. Paola: Right. That is right. Very good. I know that part of your logo used to say where nutrient meets homeopathy. So, it wasn’t necessarily that you needed to have the diet for homeopathy to do its thing. Really, I think your goal is to say it’s where diet has left off in the healing process, homeopathy can complete. Joette: Yes, picks up. Picks up and carries on. You don’t have to do the diet first and then homeopathy second. You can certainly start on a decent, clean diet and not worry too much about it, and use the homeopathy simultaneously. Paola: Right, very good. Joette: Well, it’s like anything in life. That anything that is wholesome and lofty and authentic, of course, you want that. I always tell people, if they’re stressed or — many conditions can be attributed to stress — I tell people, listen to good quality music. Don’t watch the news so much. Only read quality books. Don’t expose yourself to the lower end of society. Find the lofty and concentrate on it. That automatically lifts us out of aspects of life that can drag us down too deeply. Paola: Right. Weed out the toxic friendships or relationships. For me, I think it’s something big this year. It’s focusing on gratitude. That’s a very good thing too. Joette: Yes, absolutely. So, St. Catherine of Sienna said, “If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world on fire.” That is a big part of my motto. This is what I should be doing. I want to hand this over to you. If it is what you should be doing, then I hope that you’ll set your world on fire as well. Paola: Well, I know you’ve set my world on fire. I mean, truly Joette. I mean, this is one of my last podcast with you for a little while. Joette: I know. Paola: It’s so sad. It’s been such a hard thing. We live on a homestead. I’m so busy with young kids and homeschooling. Joette: You have a very rich life, Paola. It’s a good thing. It’s very good. Paola: I am so thankful. But I have to say, Joette, you really have changed my life. I’ll still be around. I’ll still help out, I’m sure, here and there with the podcast or in the course or however you need me to. But, I just feel so privileged to have been part of this and to be a little piece in your group. Joette: It’s been my pleasure as well having you. It’s been great working with you. Paola: Thank you. Joette: It’s natural. We bounce off of each other well. Paola: The gal who’s going to be helping out with the podcast, Kate, many of you already know her. She is a Mom with Moxie. She has the story where the horse landed on her arm and shattered her arm into a million pieces. My favorite part of that story is where she was at the hospital, and she wasn’t taking any painkillers. They wouldn’t release her. So, she finally said, “Okay, give me a Tylenol. Okay, that helps sooooo much. I feel so much better,” because she’s been using lots of homeopathy. So, she’ll be a great addition here. Joette: Oh yes, I think so too. Paola: So you guys can look forward to her. Well, thank you so much, Joette. Joette: It’s my pleasure, Paola. As always, it’s been great. Paola: You just listened to a podcast by joettecalabrese.com where nationally certified homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese shared her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. Joette’s podcasts are available on iTunes, Google Play, Blueberry, Stitcher, and TuneIn radio. Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com.
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| Podcast 36 – Moms with Moxie: Strep Throat, Note-taking and a Disney World Miracle | 18 Oct 2017 | 00:35:53 | |
In this podcast, we cover: 05:22 The Secret Spoonfuls: Confessions of a Sneaky Mom Story 10:02 Herbalism and Natural Medicine 19:40 Note-taking 21:14 Homeopathic treatment of strep throat, food poisoning, coughs, and canker sores 32:03 Disney World miracle story
You are listening to a podcast from joettecalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition.
Paola: It’s podcast number 36 at joettecalabrese.com. Today, we’ve got a new episode for the Moms with Moxie miniseries. Joette: All the way from my desk in New York, I get to see how homeopathy is transforming lives all over the globe. Some of my students have really caught my eye. Some of you have done all you can to learn how to cure those around you using homeopathic medicines. Your successes inspire me and they’re glorious and powerful. I can’t keep your successes a secret any longer. So, with help from my roving reporter, Paola, we bring you this mini podcast series that I call “Moms with Moxie.” It’s actually grandmoms, too but it’s Moms with Moxie. See how regular mothers and others, average people who want to cure those around them have gone from freaking to fabulous with homeopathy. Paola: I am so excited to be doing another Moms with Moxie interview. This time, I actually have a friend of mine. Now, I have to say that all of the other Moms with Moxie I’ve interviewed have not been personal people that I’ve known before, but Mindy is a gal that I met. She was actually in one of the earlier pilot study groups that we were doing before we released study groups. So, that was fun to get to know her. Mindy is a mom of four. She got her undergraduate in Elementary Ed. She taught a little bit before she got married and started having kids and stayed at home with them. What I really like about Mindy though is that she came from a background where she actually studied a lot of herbalism and wildcrafting — kind of reminds me of Joette who did a lot of that before she found homeopathy. So, let’s just talk about your journey Mindy and how you started and how you ended up with homeopathy. So, welcome. Mindy: Great. Thanks so much. I’m so excited to be here and talking with you. Paola: Okay Mindy. So, you told me earlier that you were not born or raised with alternative medicine. Mindy: Yes, not at all. I went to the doctor just like anybody else for well-checkups, for vaccinations, for all the good stuff. There was never any, “Hey, maybe we could deal with these ourselves.” So, it was trust the system, trust what the mainstream is doing. I didn’t really think much more of it than that. Then I had a certain specific event that happened to my life that changed. When I left home and I went to college, I had the greatest privilege and honor to meet a lady who I called Mumsie. She kind of became my adopted grandma. She just blew me away with her knowledge of natural medicine. I think maybe I had always wondered before, but I never really have done anything about it. She was a student herself at the age of 70 learning about herbal remedies. She would just be throwing stuff at my husband and me, “Oh, you’re sick. Here, take this. I made this special concoction just for you.” Paola: Cute. Mindy: I remember the first time I smelled this remedy that she gave, this herbal salt that she gave to us (that now I use it all the time) but I remember thinking, “This stuff stinks. What is this witch doctor stuff?” Paola: That is so funny, especially being like an older lady. She kind of has that little quirky profile. Mindy: She truly was like a witch doctor in my mind. But I really admired her, the way she walked to the beat of a round drum kind of a thing. She was so passionate about it and just instilled in me a lot of new ideas such as anti-vaccination. She didn’t eat certain foods and especially… there’s just a funny story about my brother who was over there with me. We were eating some of these healthy cookies because every meal was beautifully healthy. He goes to say, “Hey, do you have any …?” And he was going to say milk but he turns and looks at her bookcase. There is this book front and center that says “Milk, The Deadly Poison.” Then we were just like, it’s like, “I guess you don’t have any of that.” Paola: Until recently with the advent of Weston A. Price, the healthy diet was kind of that more vegan, vegetarian. Mindy: Yes. She did eat meat but the idea that milk was not created for us. A lot of times, it would just make people so stuffy and full of crud in their sinuses. That was the answer to that, to just stay away from that cloggy, mucous stuff. So, that made sense to me. I’m like, “Okay, well.” I stopped drinking milk. I started eating a lot better, looking at health better, looking at alternative stuff. Paola: I remember when we were in study groups. We were talking about homeopathy so much. We didn’t talk a lot about diet. But little things I said, and little things you said as we both realized we eat very different diets. So, I remember telling you. Go get Joette’s CD, “A Secret Spoonful,” I think it’s something … “A Sneaky Mom … Secret Spoonful of a Sneaky Mom.” So, you listened to this audio CD with your family in the car. Mindy: Yes. Paola: So, tell us what happened. I mean this is hilarious. The Secret Spoonful: Confessions of a Sneaky Mom StoryMindy: So, we’re listening to this. She starts talking about milk and how milk is actually really good for the body and it needs to be raw. My kids are looking at me with this horrified look on their face. They’re like, “What!” She is speaking like blasphemy. They put their fingers in their ears and go like, “La, la, la, la.” They just did not want to hear that because heretofore, I mean my oldest at this point was like 10. For the last 10 years, I had been telling them that milk was a bad thing. We never had milk in our house ever. We would have soy and maybe some almond, but we just stayed away from it. Paola: I remember you told me that like the lard, spoonfuls of lard for her kids or like the bacon and the breakfast. Mindy: I was kind of hyperventilating myself because I went to Paola and I said, “Okay, okay, look. We’ve got a problem here. I love this homeopathy stuff, but bacon and lard and milk, I don’t know what’s going on.” Paola: That seems too much. But I remember the thing that really piqued your interest was you were saying about cavities, that you guys have dealt with cavities. For me, a lot of my dental problem stopped cold turkey almost when I really incorporated bone broth into my diet and those fats and everything. Mindy: Yes. That’s really fascinating because we had horrific dental problems. Because I didn’t give my kids milk so I decided to give them 100% juice. Anyway, that’s another whole story that’s bad. But lately, we drink a lot of raw milk. I have to say that dentist’s appointments are looking pretty good, just saying. Paola: Oh good. Good to know, very good. That’s kind of the side note, I think with Joette and her mission. She used to focus a lot about nutrition and homeopathy together but now, she’s kind of lasered into homeopathy. But that’s great. I love the la, la, la, mommy, turn it off. What I like about you Mindy, is that you figured out for yourself that you didn’t want to go to well-checkups anymore. Because I needed Joette’s permission. I mean it was finding Joette and hearing her talk about the well checkups, that that wasn’t really serving me. That’s when I stopped doing those. But for you, you kind of snapped to it before you even heard about Joette. Mindy: I did. What happened in my life, along with my Grandma Mumsie, was we moved here to Texas and started a family. My husband went into business for himself. Insurance for self-employed people is really horrible. One visit to the doctor is at least $100. We didn’t have $5. I realized really quickly that I needed to incorporate all those things I had heard Mumsie talking about and quickly. Then I was like, “Well, why do I need to take them to a doctor if they are well?” They look healthy and happy and beautiful. I don’t need someone to tell me that. I just know. I’m like I’m not paying 100 bucks for someone to tell me my baby is well. No, thank you, next. Paola: Yes. That’s just such great independent thinking that you gave yourself the permission to do that. I really, now, today, try and think outside of the box. But it’s like until you try to, you don’t and you’re stuck. Mindy: I realized I was a little fringy with that. People would look at me weird. I just stopped talking about it with people because I think it made them uncomfortable that I didn’t take my baby to well-checkups. It was like, not validating their actions. So, there are a lot of things I just kept to myself like I didn’t vaccinate my children. I just don’t talk about that with mainstream people because it makes them upset, and so same with not taking my kids to the doctor. There are some people I know I can talk with that about and others — not. Paola: Now that I think about it, that’s exactly why I never intentionally stopped taking my youngest especially, so I call her my golden child because I did everything right. But with my youngest, I didn’t intentionally say okay, “Well, I’m not doing well-checkups anymore because they’re worthless or whatever.” I didn’t think that. Every time I went to think about making an appointment, I’m like, “Well, I’m just going to be yelled at so I’m not going to go this week. I’ll think about it next week.” Then just one thing led to another and then it was a year later … a year and a half later. Mindy: Exactly, exactly. Paola: Let’s talk about your experience with natural healing. So, you studied and went to school for understanding herbs and that stuff. Herbalism and Natural MedicineMindy: I did. I decided because I was going to not vaccinate my children that I needed to be responsible about that decision. If I was going to be responsible then I needed to know how to help my children be healthy. Paola: Interesting. Mindy: So, that’s where I studied a lot about diet. Then I studied the herbal medicines. So, I went to Dr. Christopher’s School of Natural Healing. I took online courses. Then he had a student who started his own school. I took a lot of his classes. I attended his school. Paola: Dr. Christopher, he’s mostly like herbs, tinctures. Mindy: Yes. He’s 100% herbs, yes, making tinctures and salves and teas and lots of enemas. Paola: Yes, interesting. Mindy: Up until my story starts with homeopathy, I have been able to really treat my children with herbs. Now, I wasn’t always 100% as far as like not doing antibiotics. I think my second son got pneumonia. You take him to the doctor and they’re like, “Oh my goodness. We need to take him to the hospital immediately.” The scare tactic worked on me. So, we gave him an antibiotic for that and some steroids. But I can probably count on maybe less than two hands the amount of times I’ve ever given my kids antibiotics. Probably one hand — out of all four of my children, because I was just able to treat my kids with my herbs and my natural ways that way. Paola: Which is great, that is great. Mindy: So, that was really exciting. But then life threw me a curve ball, which it always does to all of us. I came up upon something I could not treat naturally. I got strep throat four times in six months. It just knocked me on my bum. I threw everything I knew at it. I threw herbs at it. I never really did the oils — the On Guard or whatever, the Breathe. I’m just trying. Whatever I had, I’m trying. I tried enemas. Paola: Did you try cayenne pepper? Mindy: Yes. Paola: And the apple cider vinegar. I love it when people, “Well, did you try …?” I’m like, “Hey! I tried it all.” Mindy: Exactly. That’s exactly what was going on. I was trying everything. I just couldn’t kick it. It kept coming back. I was scared. For the first time in a long time, I was really scared. Because I’ll go to doctors … the last lady I went to, she’s like, “Are you kidding me that you don’t have your tonsils out already?” She’s like, “This often? They need to be out. I can make the appointment for you now.” I’m like, “Oh my goodness!” I pushed my chair up. I’m like, “Thank you for your time,” after she’d already given me tons of antibiotics. I was like I have to find something else. Because you know what? After those four rounds of antibiotics, I know this sounds weird — but I could feel my health declining. I was getting sick all the time even in between those strep throats. I was getting sick with other stuff. I felt horrible. I met a friend. It was like one of those tender mercies. Your friend comes up to the door. I’d been praying and just hoping that I would be able to find the right thing. I knew that there had to be something. I knew it. So, she says, “I want to share something with you.” She says, “I’m going to a class from my friend. And I treated my daughter with strep throat.” Then what was really interesting is I had a friend named Jen, who come to find out is your friend, and had strep throat four times in six months too concurrently with me. Except her last time, she went to you and had you treat it homeopathically. She’s like, “Mindy, it worked.” I’m like okay. Okay, folks. We got to check that out. Paola: But technically, I didn’t treat it. I educated her, and she took care of it herself. But yes, that’s right. I had a very, very, very scary experience with strep throat where if you take my study group class, I tell the whole story in detail. But it was not good. So now, I feel like I know so much about strep throat and treating it. It can be tricky. I remember even Jen, our friend Jen who had it, it was a little tricky too to address hers. But we did it. There’s something to say for herbs and Joette says this. There’s nothing wrong with having other modalities like herbals and tinctures and whatnot in your kit. But what we’re going to get to here is that homeopathy really does. If you’re going to hierarchy this stuff, homeopathy is at the top for sure. Mindy: Oh it is. It absolutely is. I’m coming from my background of herbs and loving herbs. Homeopathy takes the cake. Paola: Right. Mindy: I went to Paola’s study group, which thankfully was just about to start. It was the perfect timing. What was also interesting is that — I think it was the first class, right, Paola — where I talked to you about my daughter? Paola: Yes. Your daughter had been dealing with the flu. Mindy: It wasn’t actually quite the flu. It was more like she just had a fever that wouldn’t go away for 10 days. I was freaking out. So, she had had a fever for a couple of days when I first took your class. Paola: Yes, it was at the beginning. We both felt like, “Well, it will probably just resolve itself because fevers usually do.” Then the next week, seven days later, we were like, “She is not doing good.” Then we were like, “Oh.” Mindy: We were texting back and forth. You were so great. You were like, “Mindy, trust this remedy,” because I gave her a certain remedy. I’m trying to even remember what it was. I was like okay, well, she’s sleeping now. You’re like, “That’s good. That’s good.” I mean you helped me so much through that time. It’s so great to have somebody in your court that can help you. Paola: Which is really the purpose of study groups. People who are probably listening to this will go like, “I need a friend that knows a lot of stuff.” First of all, I haven’t been doing homeopathy for very long, Mindy. I feel like you haven’t been doing it for a very long. The amount, the net gain you can gain in the short amount of time of just listening to Joette’s podcasts and reading her blog alone is incredible. But I really believe in study groups because it allows you to create a community, even if you meet online with people. There is this cute group in Canada that I’m going to interview. They did study groups. They were all just people in the same Weston A. Price chapter. They like messaged through the group, “Hey, let’s start this study group. Who wants?” And then randomly, six of them got together. They all met online. Now, they’re all in the same regional area of Canada. But they didn’t know each other and they just started it. The support that they get from each other is phenomenal. Mindy: It’s huge. Paola: So, I think we ended up giving your daughter Belladonna in the end which we probably should have used that right away, but — oops. Sorry about that. Mindy: You’re right. It was Belladonna. That’s right. Paola: I remember she had glassy eyes, very glassy eyes and that high fever. Mindy: Yes. That was great. So, success number 1 to start a plethora of successes. Paola: Then, I remember one time in study group — and this is an important lesson. We have a podcast that talks about not running around like a chicken with its head cut off. I think we all have to experience learning not to do that. So, talk about that in study group. Mindy: Yes. So, this was a funny experience. Well, it wasn’t funny at that time, not at all actually. My son who’s four got an acute ear infection. Actually, I’m driving home from the study group. My husband is like you need to get here quick because Rocky has a really bad ear infection. I get there and he’s screaming bloody murder. Now, what’s good to know about Rocky — which would have been helpful to help me pick my remedy — is he’s just 100% in whatever he’s doing. He’s just very emotional. So, I come at it with Pulsatilla because that’s the first thing I’m thinking. I gave it to him and like he’s still screaming bloody murder. So, I’m like, “Oh my goodness. It’s not working.” Okay, it had been five minutes. So, then I’m like, “Oh, I got to try something else.” So, I gave him something else. Then like five minutes later then, “Okay it’s not working.” Paola: So then you picked the third new remedy. Mindy: Third remedy, actually, if I’m honest, I think that’s just four remedies and not three. Paola: I find out about this later. I was like, “Oh Mindy, no. That’s not how it works.” You were so cute. You were so nice. I gave you a hard time. But that’s how you learn. You’ve got to make mistakes to learn and get to the other side. So now, looking back what should you have done? Mindy: I should have absolutely kept with Pulsatilla because — just for his mentals, too, — like he was screaming Pulsatilla. I just have to say it’s really hard when you’ve got littles that are screaming. He was really screaming. So, that was a hard situation. Paola: Well really, the point is if you pick Pulsatilla at the beginning … Mindy: And I stick with it. Paola: And this is before you had a protocol because the Banerji Protocol for ear infection, there are a couple but the one that I can think of right now is Pulsatilla twice a day and then Chamomilla every 30 minutes as needed, SOS for pain. So, either you could have done a protocol or if you didn’t have a protocol and you were going to just approach it by symptoms, kind of a little bit more classically, you would pick the remedy and commit to it for three to five doses-ish. Mindy: Yes. Because it was SOS, I could have given it to him more often and it probably would have worked by the third dose, if I would have just stuck … but I didn’t give it a chance. I really didn’t. Paola: But it’s such a good lesson. Mindy: Yes, it was. It really was. Paola: Let’s go through a few more experiences. Tell us how you keep track of all your homeopathy notes. Note-takingMindy: Yes, I’m so glad you asked that because I think I have found the end-all-be-all for me. But I have all my file folders with all my kids’ names. I have my 20 notebooks around my house. I would write on each notebook, and then I would lose it. Because I love how Joette teaches that we need to keep track and write, so, I really took that to heart and I did that every time. But then I can’t find my papers to tell my success stories or to remember like, “What was it that I gave?” So anyway, I found this app. It’s called OneNote. You can download it for free. It will give you folders. Within the folders, it has tabs. So, I have my homeopathy folder. In my folder, I have each of my children’s name plus my husband’s name and my name. I go through and I just write the date. I write the exact time. I write the symptoms. I write what I gave them. And then I follow up. Then at the end, I’ll just put like little asterisks and I’ll be like okay, this is how it went down. This is how it wrapped up. It’s just this running list on my tab. So, I can just go back to each individual and it’s wonderful. I keep track. It’s just great. Paola: I am going to download that, really I am because I almost keep track of things through my email. Like I’ll email myself like blah, blah, blah. That’s terrible. They’re all over the place then. So, OneNote, it’s just an app on your phone, O-N-E-N-O-T-E. Mindy: Yes. Yes. Download it and do it. Paola: Okay, cool. Mindy: It’s great. Paola: So, as you scroll through your app, what kind of experiences do you find there? Homeopathic treatment of strep throat, food poisoning, coughs, and canker soresMindy: I’ve got a couple of great ones that I love. Just so you all know, it’s been a year and three months since I’ve had strep throat last. Within that year and three months, I have felt my strep throat come on about three to four times. Paola: Yes, because it kind of turned into a chronic problem after you take an antibiotic so many times. Mindy: Yes. We went on a vacation up to Utah. Both my son and I — because my oldest son came down with strep with me one of those times and got it twice with me. We were doing this together. We went from Texas to Utah. By the time we got up there and you know how it is with vacations, you’re working hard before. You’re kind of stressed. Then you get there and there’s a lot going on, right? I could feel it coming on. I could feel it deep in my throat. I knew but I had all my remedies with me. I took that Hepar sulph 200 is what I took. I, no joke, by the third dose, it was going away. Then my son comes up to me about a day later, after I’m like, “Mine’s successfully going away.” Because it’s quiet because we’re with lots of family, and he’s like, “I don’t want to tell anyone but I think I’m getting strep.” Paola: Oh no. Mindy: It’s like, “Okay. This is what we’re going to take. We’re not going to tell anyone. We’re just going to take our stuff.” So, we take it and bam. I mean it’s done. It doesn’t even advance past that like that sharp, sticky … like a stick in your throat, deep in there. It’s gone. Paola: That’s actually how they describe it in the materia medica for Hepar sulph. There feels like a splinter in your throat. Mindy: Yes. That is like a huge success. I want to scream it from the rooftops. I want to write Joette 100 thank you notes and Paola for teaching me this because it truly changed my life. I’m so, so, so grateful. Paola: It’s all Joette, girl. Yes, just because the way she teaches it to you and how passionate she is, it makes you feel dumb if you don’t do it which is a good thing. You need to be pushed. Mindy: Joette, I have to tell her that I feel like I’m in this grassroots effort with her. Because she is so awesome the way she gives out all these … the podcasts, all the blogs. It’s just all this free information right there at our fingertips. That’s how I’m learning. I have one of her “Good Gut, Bad Gut” classes, but that’s it. That’s all I have so far. I’ve had all these successes, because she has shared out of the kindness of her heart and out of her mission. She’s getting this word out there. I am so, so grateful. So, let me tell you just a few more little stories about awesome success stories. I woke up once in the middle of the night and it was just all of a sudden and I’m shaking violently. It’s coming out one end, about to come out the other. It feels like food poisoning. Paola: So, vomiting and diarrhea. Oh no. Mindy: Yes. So, I ordered the red kit and then got all of her cool … Paola: Oh yes, that’s true. If you ordered Joette’s top 100 remedy kit in 30C, at this time at least, she gives a bunch of free materials with that. Mindy: It was that. I love everything that came with that. So, I was reading through that and I knew Arsenicum album, that’s what I need right now. So, I wake up my husband and he’s like, “Okay. You’re freaking me out with how weird sick you look.” I’m like, “Just get me the Arsenicum album.” I take it. I’m not lying. Like less than 10 minutes later, I am back in my bed. I have fallen fast asleep. My husband is left like scratching his head like, “What just happened here? How was that possible?” Paola: That’s amazing. Mindy: It was so crazy. Not everything happens like that. It’s not like an in-day thing. So, then we have other stories with chronic coughs. My husband gets these coughs twice a year that last for like three or four months. They start with just the regular coughy, coldy stuff. Then they’ll just last forever. He had one earlier this year in January. I was treating it with actually a different remedy that I don’t have in front of me right now. So, kind of the main cold left, but he was left with this cough. The cough was the forefront remedy. Paola: That’s pretty typical for him. He tends to at the end of a cold have this lingering cough. Mindy: Yes. So, I had done my research. He was going out of town. I sent him with these remedies. He calls me in the middle of the night like two in the morning, “What do I take?” He’s coughing. I said take the Phosphorus. I really think that the Phosphorus is going to work. So, he takes it. He tells me later, I mean, it stops the cough right away. He had like more of a wet cough. So, it stops that cough right then within five minutes. It’s done. He can go back to sleep. It happened to him in the morning. He took Phosphorus again. It stopped it in its tracks. He got a little bit better. I think he maybe took it maybe once or twice in the next few days. That was awesome. Then I get a cough a couple of months later. But mine looks completely different than his. It’s more of this dry gagging. There’s no productivity to this cough. It’s just completely dry. I had to do some digging. I tried one. It helped me feel better but the cough, the gaggy cough was still there. So, after looking through my materia medicas and I always go on Google. I type in “gagging cough, homeopathy, Joette Calabrese.” That’s my go-to, right? So then, I decided on Ipecac and Ipecac 30 did the same thing for my dry, gaggy cough that Phosphorus did for my husband’s wet cough. Paola: That’s amazing. So, I like that you said that this isn’t typical. It doesn’t always work that quick. I think if you get into this, and you start using your remedy kit, you will see that sometimes it does work that quick — not always —and that’s just awesome. Mindy: Yes. Paola: I wish it always worked that way, but … Mindy: I know. I do too. But there are a lot of times that it really does work pretty quick if you pick the right remedy. It’s not hard. If you’ll just take the time to say, “You know what? I want to learn this.” I’ve shared this with a lot of my friends. There are some people that are like, “Well, I just want you to tell me what to take.” I’m kind of like, “No.” I want you to learn this because it’s so empowering. I’ve listened to a lot of your podcasts. I feel the same exact way as all these other moms, that it’s just, it’s empowering and freeing. Paola: I think that is why Joette says if you don’t have moxie — that’s why this is called “Moms with Moxie” — if you don’t have moxie, if you don’t want to do it yourself then this may not be the right thing for you. Maybe you do need to just stick with the doctor or whatever. So, another one that kind of acted quickly was for hiccups, right? Mindy: Yes, okay everybody, if you don’t like hiccups as much as I do not like hiccups, Mag phos 6X. I’ve tried this twice now. I’ve actually tried to give myself hiccups so I can try it again. But I’ve tried it with two of my kids too and it works. By the time I put it under my tongue, by the time it has dissolved, the hiccups are gone. Paola: That’s just awesome. Mindy: It makes me giggle. It’s so amazing. Paola: It is. It’s so amazing. They don’t bother me that much but you must get them kind of awful. Mindy: For some reason, they really bug me. I hate them. Paola: Well good. Keep that Mag phos with you. And then you did canker sores. Mindy: I don’t get them very often but I got one a couple of months ago. Joette has a great blog on that actually. Paola: She does. Mindy: Where she talks about her son being like Mr. Smarty Pants, being like he can just eat whatever he wants and cures canker sores. Paola: Right. Canker sores are often like a food intolerance a little bit. Mindy: I loved in that podcast where she talked about her son knowing. It really inspired me to make sure my kids know — these are the remedies for this. I used Merc sol 200 for the canker sore, and it was just gone. I think it was gone within less than a day. Paola: Yes. Mindy: It was really, really awesome. Paola: Do you have time, Mindy? I mean I’m loving these stories. Can you tell us a couple more or one more? Mindy: I could go on and on forever. So, yes, I’ll tell you I’ve got two more great stories that I love. My youngest, he is my accident-prone guy. Homeopathy is probably going to save his life by the time it’s all said and done. But he got sand in his eye. He was just playing out and he’s like, “Oh mom I got some sand.” Like little kids do, he’s rubbing it, rubbing it, rubbing it. The first thing I thought of was Aconite. He seemed to be good the rest of the day. But the next morning, he woke up and he was just in a lot of pain. He’s like I can’t keep my eye open. He’s crying, crying, crying. So, I opened my trusty materia medica. I’m looking up remedies. Actually, I think that this one was also in one of those extra books from Joette where she talked about eye remedies. It’s Euphrasia 30. Paola: I think Euphrasia, is it called Eyebright? Mindy: Yes, Eyebright. What’s interesting is I have an herbal tincture called Eyebright. So, I was having him kind of swish his eye with this eyecup I have with that tincture. But he’s like, “Ah.” He doesn’t want to do it. It’s kind of messy. So, I’m giving him that remedy. I give it to him a couple of times that day because he’s in some pretty good pain. He just has to keep his eye closed. We got this eye patch on him. For a six-year old, that’s kind of hard for him. So, it was really amazing. By about 24 hours from when I started that remedy, it was drastically better. It wasn’t all the way better. It probably was a good 48 hours before he could keep his eye open and it wasn’t red anymore. Then I kind of gave it to him maybe just like once on the third day or something. But I was also doing Echinacea and Goldenseal on the outside. I made a tea of the Echinacea and Goldenseal and like rubbed it on with a cotton ball. So, it was kind of doing it internally with the homeopathy and externally with some herbs. That was cool to have both. But I know that that Euphrasia really helped him on that. Paola: That’s amazing. I like to tell people because this is just a fun, little nerdy homeopathy fact that Aconite is also the Arnica of the eye. I think you did use Aconite right up front. Mindy: Yes. It seemed that helped. I thought the issue was done. I thought like we were good to go. We didn’t complain about it the rest of the night. Then he woke up and it was like, “Oh, okay.” Paola: So tell us your last story because this one just makes me — I mean it’s not funny but it’s so funny … Disney World miracle storyMindy: I know. I call this my Disney World miracle story because I was so excited. Obviously, Disney World is a big deal. We drove out there from Texas to Florida. I am sick on the drive. I’ve got all my books out. I’m kind of like cold sick. It kind of felt at first like this is what happens on my vacations. I feel like I’m getting strep throat because of the stress of getting everything ready. So, I took the Hepar sulph. It moved from my throat more into my head. So, by the time I get to Disney World, we’re at this pool and I am miserable. I’m not in the pool. I’m sitting on the sidelines. I am sick with this good deep cold. My nose is totally stopped up. My head is heavy. I am on my phone texting Paola. Paola: Yes, you were. Mindy: Paola, help me. I am at Disney World. I am sick, and I need you. She texted me back and she says … because you asked me a question, right? Paola: Yes, because you sounded like you have this terrible mucousy situation. I wanted to know is it more like a head cold or is it more like a chest bronchial cough cold? Mindy: Yes. Paola: I didn’t know which direction to go. Like what was bothering you the most. Mindy: Right. So, she said, “Okay, if it is more the head cold/sinuses, you want the Sanguinaria 200 combined with the Hepar sulph 200 mixed together, and then the Bryonia 200 with the Aconite 200 mixed together.” When I saw that text and I said, “Well it’s the head cold.” And you said, “Okay, well it’s the Sanguinaria mix.” And I was like, “Score!” Because those were the two I had. I didn’t have the other one. So, I went back to my camper. I took that remedy. I went to sleep. When I woke up, I wasn’t 100%, but I could breathe. My head didn’t hurt. I could function. I could totally do Disney World that day. Paola: That’s so awesome. Mindy: From that time, I definitely needed that next dose, because I took it twice a day. So, then I was so grateful that I could just take that dose. The next morning, I felt a little bit better. So, it wasn’t the night and day. It wasn’t like better from zero-to-a-hundred-better. But it was enough. For me, it was my Disney World miracle. So again, homeopathy, I love you! Paola: Yes. That’s wonderful. So, I just want to review this protocol. Joette has this blog. It’s called “My Solution for Colds and Cough: Homeopathically, of Course.” In the blog, she talks about Bryonia 200 mixed with the Aconitum when there’s a cold that’s generalized, but also affecting the coughy chest area. But then also if you look in the comments, someone says, “Now I thought Hepar sulph 200 mixed with Sanguinaria was for colds.” And Joette responds, “Yes. But that’s good for a cold that attacks the sinuses and the postnasal drip and the nose areas.” Well, Mindy, you are so awesome. Thank you for having moxie. Thank you for taking time to meet with us. You are just a delight to talk to. Mindy: Thanks so much. Joette: Are you or someone you know a Mom with Moxie? Well, we’re on the hunt for you. And of course, we don’t want to hear just from moms but from anyone who uses and loves homeopathy. Reach out to my podcast team and let us know why you’re a Mom with Moxie. For more information, contact podcast@joettecalabrese.com. Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com. These Moms with Moxie podcasts are designed to be inspirational, not specifically educational. No Remedy Card is provided. | |||
| Podcast 35 – Moms with Moxie: How The Survivalist Guide Helped This Mom | 25 Sep 2017 | 00:34:30 | |
In this podcast, we cover: 04:45 Life before Joette and homeopathy 14:03 The Survivalist Guide: carbon monoxide poisoning 23:42 Apis for wound puncture 28:03 Hip issues and Rhus tox
You are listening to a podcast from joettecalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition.
Paola: It’s another podcast at JoetteCalabrese.com. Today, we’ve got a new episode for the Moms with Moxie miniseries. Joette: All the way from my desk in New York, I get to see how homeopathy is transforming lives all over the globe. Some of my students have really caught my eye. Some of you have done all you can to learn how to cure those around you using homeopathic medicines. Your successes inspire me. They’re glorious and powerful. I can’t keep your successes a secret any longer. So, with help from my roving reporter, Paola, we bring you this mini podcast series that I call Moms with Moxie. It’s actually grandmoms, too. But it’s Moms with Moxie. See how regular mothers and others, average people who want to cure those around them have gone from freaking to fabulous with homeopathy. Paola: I am here with Shannon Gunther. I am so excited to be with you today, Shannon. We’ve gotten to know each other a little bit on the phone and through email. We have a really great podcast for Joette’s listeners. Shannon: I am so excited to be here. Thank you. Paola: Shannon, tell me where you’re from, where you’re living, what state or whatever. Shannon: I am in Northern California. We’re up in the mountains. I am a homeschooling mama with seven kids and of course, a husband. Just getting ready to graduate my third child, so pretty exciting. Paola: Awesome, graduate your third child. So, you’re a little bit ahead of me. I have to say you look just as young as you sound. That is so fun that you can just be so young to enjoy your family. Shannon: Yes, thank you. Paola: Do you have grandkids or anything yet? Are any of your kids …? Shannon: No grandkids, yes. My oldest is going to be 20 and he’s like, “Mom, not yet, stop.” Paola: So, your oldest is 20. Shannon: Well, it’s pretty cute. Paola: Shannon, the first question I like to ask Moms with Moxie like you is why do you love homeopathy. Shannon: Well honestly, when I found it, it completely gave me my life back. I was suffering from some chronic illness and I was at the end of my rope. I’ve tried everything and homeopathy was it. It completely gave me my life back. Paola: Do you feel like you have perfect health now? Shannon: I don’t have perfect health but improvement in my life, just I can function again. It’s going to be a longer journey. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and adrenal fatigue. But I’d tell you, within that first month of starting remedies, I felt like a new person. Paola: So you mean, you’ve been diagnosed with adrenal fatigue by a traditional doctor? Shannon: A naturopath. Paola: A naturopath, okay. Shannon: Of course, there were lots of tests involved and can we for sure be sure. Paola: Right, right. Shannon: But it all was pointing to that with extreme exhaustion and what not. Paola: I’m trying to remember where I read this. It was a homeopathic practitioner (who might have been Joette, I don’t know). They say that your hormones are a three-legged stool. Shannon: Yes. Paola: Your adrenals, your thyroid, and then the other stuff — the progesterone and all that pituitary stuff — and when one of them goes out, the other two were close behind. Shannon: Exactly. It’s just so linked and one will try to help the other and then of course get weakened. So, it’s just like this complex stuff. But I found homeopathy, so it simplified it completely. Paola: You feel like you’re living a robust life and that’s the thing. That’s the key. Joette says it. You’re not going to have perfect health. That doesn’t exist. Shannon: Exactly. Yes, I have my bad days. I have days where I’m definitely more tired. But I can get out of bed. I can feel not as overtaxed. I emotionally am stable. That was just a huge blessing. Paola: That is huge. You’re right. I know. I feel like I also don’t have perfect health, but when I look at what I can accomplish in a week, it’s okay. I’m working on it. We got it. It’s okay. Shannon: Exactly. Paola: Well, let’s talk about … what was your life like before Joette? Let’s go into some more details. Life before Joette and homeopathyShannon: I had my first child in my 20s and really got into herbs, really loved herbs. They helped with colds that little toddlers get. So, I was just a huge fan. I was into eating really healthy. Then we discovered Weston A. Price, loved that. So, I fell into herbs and the clean eating. That definitely assisted with health. That was great. But fast forward to right after I had my 7th baby. I was right around 30. That’s when all the chronic stuff popped up. So, I found, I went to a naturopathic doctor, got on Nature Throid. That’s all good. I was taking a lot of stuff. I mean it’s great supplement. I believed in it. But it never quite got me over the hills. So, it was a constant few steps. Climb up a bit this mountain and slip down. Climb up and we’re never reaching the top and getting over that. I remember — I know I told you earlier — that here I was at my dining room table and I had 12 to 15 supplements in front of me. I had to make a schedule of when to take them; this before eating, this during eating. It was so overwhelming, I just started bawling. I’m like, “I can’t do this anymore.” This had been probably eight years into my illness. It was this roller coaster. My body would respond a little bit to the supplements and then slip back down to the bottom. So, it was actually my naturopath at that point who said, “We should maybe bring in a homeopath just to assist.” Paola: Wow! Good for him. Shannon: I know. So, that was really incredible, that just willing to do that. Paola: It is so discouraging when you have improvements and then it stops working. I mean it’s one thing to have a step forward, a step back, and a step forward but to have it stop working, oh my gosh. It’s like you feel like you’re losing everything. Shannon: To just go on this rollercoaster up and down for eight years, it was just so discouraging. It was like I actually can’t mentally do this anymore. So that brought me to the end of the rope. It was like okay, homeopathy is left. It’s not like I didn’t believe in it but I just didn’t know. I didn’t know about it fully. Paola: So, your naturopath brought in the homeopath, just like a classical or what? Shannon: No, it was actually, she gave that up to me. So, I had known about Joette, had been kind of following her blog. My Weston A. Price group had brought her to our little town for a two-day intensive. Here I was in the front just eating it up. So, I had had the experience of hearing her and seeing her and just loved everything she said. But there was just little time. Then I was like, I want to go to Joette. That’s the one. So here, my husband was like, “Yes. Whatever it takes.” I gave her office a little call. Pulling back tears in the whole conversation because she actually gave me hope again. She’s like, “Oh, hypothyroidism, we can address that. Adrenal fatigue, no problem; emotions, I got that.” Paola: Wow. Shannon: So nobody had said that to me in my eight years to that point of we can help you out. Paola: With that confidence. Shannon: That was wonderful. Paola: Yes. Yes. Shannon: Like I said before, really my body just, of course, just responded so well right away. Paola: Then tell me about before Joette then, as far as being a mom, what was that like? Shannon: I was again just into herbs. That was before the chronic. So, that’s what I would just assist our bodies with, the herbs and the eating healthy, kind of Weston A. Price, because at that point when I had little kids, I didn’t have the chronic. Paola: I see, which is interesting because it sounds like you’re doing everything right and then the chronic stuff came which is a little bit scary. That’s not supposed to happen. Shannon: I know. I know. Genetics! Paola: Yes, that’s true. Then you did have a lot of kids which is sometimes more stressful on some women. Some women, every time they give birth, it’s like they get thinner and their hair gets thicker. Shannon: Exactly. You know, I can look back. When you do your timeline, Joette suggests this timeline, I had antibiotics as a kid. I had some vaccinations. Then of course, there’s a strong family history of hypothyroidism. I just think of those like Joette talks about that sleeping giant. It just made sense just as far as the chronics. Paola: Yes, that’s true. Yes. You could have been much worse off. I’m sure, obviously, right? So, that’s good that you were wise and just from the beginning avoiding what she calls — what is it she calls it — avoiding medicines of commerce, so very good. I remember, you also told me something about how Joette transformed your perspective on illness in general. Shannon: She did. Just having a bunch of little kids, and they’d get sick and bring home a cold, the flu. It just seemed really stressful because there is a lot of them. I’d be like, “Oh man. We’re going to be sick again.” Of course, the herbs, they assisted definitely, probably shortened the illness that I saw. But what I loved just learning from Joette, she said that sickness and the suffering with it, especially like chicken pox or the measles is actually a good thing for kids. It’s okay to have some suffering. That’s how your body can respond afterwards if they were having trouble reading or riding their bike. That just really was neat for me, just to go, “Oh! Okay. I just need to really relax about this.” Paola: Yes. Shannon: So, I just love that. Paola: Something that you even mentioned the chicken pox. I don’t know where she got it from, but my daughter got the chicken pox. She has it literally right now. I posted on Facebook like, “Stay away or whatever, if you want to stay away,” just kind of public warning, public health warning that she’s got chicken pox. The responses I got from my friends that do homeopathy and my friends that don’t do homeopathy were night and day. So, my friends who know homeopathy and do homeopathy were like, “Oh, you got this.” Just like oh, rite of passage, very even-keeled, calm about it. My other friends that don’t do any sort of natural homeopathy or even natural medicine, “We will pray for you. I am so sorry.” I appreciate that. That’s so nice of them. Thanks. We always need prayers, I guess. But there is a fear and a lack of empowerment and understanding there that I’m so glad I don’t have. Shannon: That is so true. Even when I was doing herbs primarily, I had this book. It actually had different things in there addressing to help with measles and the mumps and the chicken pox. That’s just, as a mom, empowering like, “Oh! We can do this.” Now, homeopathy just was all the more … as far as feeling confident and especially just with Joette teaching those Banerji Protocols. Paola: I know it. Shannon: Oh man, that is just huge amount of confidence. Yes, got that. Oh yes, we got this. So that’s just wonderful. Paola: Yes, you’re right. That’s the difference between fear is having information and preparation and that gives you the confidence. Shannon: Yes. Paola: So tell us. Speaking of getting that information, have you taken any of Joette’s courses? If so, which ones? Shannon: Yes. I’ve taken all of them, as many as I can. I think the Skin course was my first. Then I did the Survivalist, Good Gut, Bad Gut, Allergies, just finished Feminopathy. I just got it. I need to carve out that time to sit down and listen to that. So, I’m super excited. With four girls … I’m just super excited about it. Paola: Awesome. So, this is a practical question. But how did you save up for all those courses? What did you do? Like no Christmas anymore, just homeopathy. Shannon: Exactly. It was birthdays, Christmas. Just can I set aside a little money for this? It was just really neat. My husband, he is all about just the natural and healthy way of living. It was just neat for everybody that’s in this family what homeopathy did for my chronic. So, he’s just like, “Yes. Let’s just try to figure that out.” Paola: Yes. Let’s keep learning and doing it. Shannon: Exactly. Paola: Which of the courses so far in what you’ve experienced has had the most impact for you? The Survivalist Guide: carbon monoxide poisoningShannon: In my experience, and especially with seven kiddos here, Survivalist. Mainly because it’s so practical, and you get a syllabus with it. So, that chapter on first aid is well worn. I run in to it! The kids know the book. They’re like, “Get Mama’s syllabus here.” In fact, I will say it paid for itself because it saved us two emergency room visits. So right there, paid. Paola: For some people on the low end, that copay is just 100 bucks. So, it goes up from there. So yes, I want to hear the stories. Tell us about an experience where you felt like the Survivalist Guide was awesome. Shannon: This is kind of my biggest story to date. It’s about my daughter who is 12 years old. It was this last summer. We had been splitting wood with gas motor log splitter and stacking wood. Paola: I see. Shannon: I had come in, I think to make lunch for everybody. I had to walk to the back of the house where the laundry room was, and found her just sitting there kind of in a state of collapse. I said, “Oh no, what’s going on?” I very soon realized that she was in a state of confusion as well. She was crying just kind of gently, “It’s my head.” Her head hurts but very rapidly, the symptoms were increasing very fast. She cannot talk clearly. So, it was kind of babbling. Paola: She could just babble and not form coherent words? Shannon: Yes, correct. Of course, that freaked me out. Paola: Oh my gosh, yes. Shannon: I’m like, “Oh my goodness.” So, I called. I had one of the kids get my husband. I called the older kids just to help us. I was having people get the homeopathy kit, the syllabus, the Survivalist syllabus. Paola: I can just see it. Was it like, “Go get the kit. Go get the book. Go get your dad. Everybody go!” Shannon: Exact, mobilize. Paola: I love it. Shannon: It was great. So, I’m thinking anaphylactic shock. I’m thinking she got stung by a bee. She’s reacting. Paola: Oh yes. Shannon: We’re having a lot of trouble with these bees in the late summer. They were just crazy and angry. Paola: Oh no. Shannon: So, we wait. Husband came in. We’re looking over for a bee sting. He got on his phone and Googled her symptoms. He saw it’s coming up carbon monoxide poisoning. I’m, “Oh no!” He’s all, “No, really, look.” I’m like, “What?” We’re out in the fresh air with log splitting and all. Sure enough, it totally matched. So, I quickly looked up carbon monoxide poisoning in the Survivalist syllabus. Paola: Real quick, your husband is sensitive to carbon monoxide too? Shannon: He is, so, yes. Yes, I’m glad you reminded me. We knew he was sensitive to that. She is just very much like him, so kind of prone to that as well. Paola: That helped that he was kind of aware what that feels like or something. Shannon: Absolutely, yes. So then, it was like … it just seemed so doubtful. It could be carbon monoxide, but with that history and then the description in the Survivalist syllabus matched exactly. I’m like, “Wow.” Paola: And I can’t … like it was really in there. Carbon Monoxide poisoning … Shannon: Yes, it really is in there. I love it. Paola: That’s awesome. Shannon: I’m like okay. So of course, her daddy is holding her. We opened a door, fresh air. She’s real sensitive and she gets very distressed when she’s ill. So, she’s very distressed. She actually knew that she couldn’t form her words. She was trying to communicate. So that freaked her out all the more. It was just bad. So, looked up, there are several different remedies for carbon monoxide, but she fit Gelsemium alternating with Belladonna. I would dose her and I’d watch. Literally. Before our eyes, her body calmed. Paola: Wow. Shannon: That’s actually, I knew how to dose. And then the intensity of her … and her words would come back. She could form her words because we’d ask her questions and all that. Even her eyelids were kind of half open, and she had a little bluish on her eyelids. It’s so faint that probably just a mom could tell. I could watch that go away and then I’d watch it come back. Paola: What does that mean blue on the eyelid? Is it lack of air? Shannon: I’m not sure. That was just something I noticed because it would go away. In the description that fit these remedies for her, it did talk about the eyelids kind of being half open. So that was just something I was aware of and just caught. I’m just not really completely … I knew … up to that point, I had no idea about carbon monoxide poisoning. Paola: Right, yes. It doesn’t matter. It was something blue. It wasn’t supposed to be. It was coming and going. You wanted it gone. Right. Shannon: Yes, exactly. Paola: I have an important question. What about that situation, why weren’t you guys jumping in the car driving to the emergency room? What’s that discernment like? Sometimes in the moment, you’re just doing what feels right, but can you walk us through that real quick? Shannon: I did during this episode here. I would look at my husband and I’d say, “Do you think we should go to the emergency room?” I’m so glad he was there. He just totally confirmed my confidence as far as no, let’s just keep going because what would happen is when I would dose, there would be improvement. So, we saw the improvement by watching her body. Literally, you could just watch this calm come over her body. But I had to dose every three minutes for about an hour actually. I know that’s usually not typical, but I would just watch the symptoms come back. So, we did that for the first hour and then she wanted to go to sleep. She was calm. She could speak. And so, I love, love that when a remedy is working then they want to sleep. That’s a neat sign. That’s a sign that I look for. Paola: Okay. So deep down, that kind of scares me though because I’m like what if she falls asleep and doesn’t get up again. You know what I mean? Shannon: I know, exactly. Paola: So what did you do? Shannon: Because she wanted to sleep, I had her laid down on the couch and I sat with her. Then I dosed every 30 minutes for the next hour or two. Then from thereon out, I dosed every hour to the end of the day. Then I just had her sleep in my room because I just wanted to watch her and observe and just make sure nothing was coming back. Paola: Right. Yes, that’s very, very wise. I like that. You said earlier that your husband — while you were dosing her during that very first hour — he was online trying to find the emergency rooms, just kind of lining your ducks up in a row. And yet, because she just consistently was improving and improving, you felt like, “We’ve got this.” Shannon: Yes, exactly. Of course, we would jump in that car. I love what Joette says. You jump in the car and you start driving, but you’re dosing on the way. We would totally do that. But because we just saw that instant improvement after we would dose, that just really gave us the confidence that so far, so good. But of course, we always have that in the back of our mind that we would do that … head to the emergency room. Paola: One little side note that I thought was really interesting about this experience is — you kind of said it earlier, but I want to make sure the listeners catch this — is your daughter is a little bit prone to being Gelsemium-ish with anxiety a little bit here and there. That was interesting that when she had the carbon monoxide poisoning that it was the remedy that she needed. You know what I mean? That doesn’t always happen but it’s kind of interesting that we pick up on these little patterns with our kids as we use homeopathy more and familiarize yourselves with your kid and remedies that help them. For my son, every time he would get sick with something, I’d look up remedies, look up remedies. Oh, Pulsatilla and then I’d write it down my book. Then six months later, look up remedies for this new illness, oh Pulsatilla. It seems to always be Pulsatilla for him. Shannon: Exactly. I think, don’t you think that is just why having a materia medica and just familiarizing yourself with these remedies then your brain has that connection, like, “Oh!” So that’s for me, definitely when her symptoms did fit that Gelsemium for carbon monoxide, I was like, “Oh yes, that remedy works well on her.” Paola: Yes, exactly. That’s exactly the time to say, “Yes, this remedy historically has been great for her.” That helps confirm things, if you work through the case. Shannon: Definitely. Paola: Not that I wouldn’t use any other remedies other than Pulsatilla on my son obviously or a protocol or whatever. But it’s just an interesting familiarity and intimacy used for gaining with your kids and the remedies. Shannon: Definitely. Paola: Tell us another survivalist one that you wanted to share. Apis for puncture woundShannon: So, this actually happened before the carbon monoxide episode. We were fixing up a little house. My youngest daughter, 10, was helping us out. She came inside and again, here I was in the kitchen, busy, busy making lunch. She goes, “Mom, a nail poked my hand.” I go, “Oh! Okay well, go wash it and stick some tea tree on it.” Because I was just busy, I was not thinking. So later, I kicked myself here. Shoot. Live and learn. That night she’s like, “My hand hurts, mom.” Here, the site on her hand is it’s hot. It’s red. It’s hard. There’s a very faint line but very faint. I’m like, “Oh no. Really?” I should have known better. I kind of see — I don’t know — is it dirt, rust? Who knows? I go grab my book, the Survivalist syllabus here and looked up puncture wounds. In the back of my mind, I was thinking Ledum. But what matched up to her symptoms is Apis just like a bee sting. It was hot, hard, and red. So, I went, “Well, it matches.” I dosed her with that. Again, it was really neat to watch. I actually could feel the heat go down. Paola: Did you use a 200 or a 30 just because I’m curious. Shannon: I used a 200. I thought it was enough of an emergency. I was like hey, let’s just go for it. We actually watched the swelling go down, the heat go down, the little redness go down. That’s when I knew how to dose her. So, probably about four doses about 15 minutes apart and then I could lessen them. Again, Dad’s on the couch. We’re watching it. We’re looking at each other, emergency room or not? Paola: Looking it up again. Shannon: Exactly. This time it was late at night, of course. But just to watch those symptoms go down was so neat. It’s such a blessing to confirm we were on the right path. We had chosen the right remedy and went down. She went to sleep. I checked her in the morning. Probably gave her one more dose and we’re good. I was just like unbelievable. I mean it is believable but it’s just so neat to watch it work. Paola: Yes. It is unbelievable because no matter, it’s not an issue of whether or not I believe in homeopathy, because I do. It’s just it never ceases to amaze you. Shannon: Yes. Paola: It’s always just so wonderful. I think of like, Mother Theresa. Every time I read a quote from her or something from her life experience, it just never ceases to amaze me how special she was. It is similar with homeopathy. Shannon: That’s so true. Paola: It keeps impressing me. I love those stories. I’m glad everybody turned out okay. I’m glad that you got your money’s worth of the Survivalist Guide. Shannon: Isn’t that great? Paola: Yes, absolutely. Shannon: But having these experiences as a mom — no, we don’t want our kids to get hurt — but talk about the information, and just being able to share with people if they have this. I just feel like those experiences were great. I gained more confidence, more information for that. I always write things down, make notes. Paola: Yes, it’s true. If I was at home listening to you tell the story, I would feel like, “Oh my gosh. I could never do that.” But here’s the thing. One day you’ll wake up and the situation smacks you in the face. You’re going to have to deal with it. Shannon: Yes. Paola: If you’re prepared, you do. Shannon: Yes. On a side note, with the carbon monoxide poisoning, it was pretty stressful as a mom. So, I grabbed my bottle of Ignatia. Take that for stress for mom. Paola: Good for you. I know. Think clearly please. Shannon: Exactly. Paola: Very good. New topic, you were telling me that you’ve also had some hip trouble for yourself, right? Shannon: Yes. Paola: I think it somehow affected the knee or you tell me about it. Hip issues and Rhus toxShannon: Well, it probably started a year and a half ago with chiropractor adjustment. So, new thing for me, never really had trouble with that. Probably seven pregnancies, probably getting older. Who knows? But what it would do when it would come out, it would twist my leg to where my knee would be twisted out of alignment as well. The knee just swelled up like crazy. There was just a lot of pain. It just prevented me from even sleeping. Paola: That’s interesting. It’s like the hip being out had a domino effect and impacted the knee? Shannon: It did. Yes, that’s what my chiropractor said. So, with the swelling … actually the first time it happened, I was on vacation. I actually brought my Arnica 1M, took that. The pain was really intense and my knee was huge Paola: Oh wow. Shannon: It was awful. That took away a lot of the pain and the swelling. So, at least I could make it the next few days and get home and then get to the chiropractor. Paola: Right. Shannon: But this kept happening. I thought, “Gosh, I don’t want to live for having to go to the chiropractor all the time. I love the chiropractor but I don’t want to go every week. I travel. I don’t want to rely on that. I checked in with the chiropractor. Can you give me some strengthening exercises and what not? Well, I happened to be on an end of a consult with Joette. I just mentioned. I said, “Joette, there’s got to be something to help this.” So, she suggested Rhus tox 1M. I’m like, “Oh, okay.” I could tell when it would start to come out of alignment. There’d be a lot of pain, kind of burning pain in the hip. Paola: Interesting. So, tell me, what was the frequency you were having to go in for adjustments? Was it like once a week or what? Shannon: So when it would come out, I’d probably have to go two to three times just get it to calm down because everything was just all kind of mad and twisted up and angry. It just needed to kind of relax. Then of course, I’d probably overwork it or do something. Then I have to go back in in another couple of weeks and then have two or three appointments. Paola: Oh wow. So, it was two or three appointments. Shannon: I’m like, “Gosh.” Paola: Then there’s a three-week break then two or three more appointments. That’s kind of a lot. Shannon: Yes, exactly. So, I thought “Well, I can’t do this.” There’s got to be something, right? So Rhus tox was and is amazing. I’ll start to, usually at the end of the day, feel the pain. I take that at night right before bed, one dose, one little pill, and gone. It has lengthened the chiropractor appointments to six months in between. So, it has kept it in alignment. That was just huge for me. So, it was just amazing. Paola: So, it’s not that the chiropractor didn’t need to do the adjustments. It’s like it helped glue it in place to last longer. That’s amazing. Shannon: Exactly. So, I don’t know how it does it but it works. Paola: Yes. I have to tell the listeners, Rhus tox 1M is not something that you should just willy-nilly use. This is a pretty significant situation with the swelling and the frequency of it. Shannon: Yes. I don’t think I would have even thought that had not Joette told me how to do it. Paola: Maybe you would have done like a 30 or 200 or something. Shannon: Exactly, exactly. Paola: And you checked the materia medica, it was better from heat, better from movement, worse from overuse which is very Rhus tox. Shannon: Yes. That just again, using the materia medica just confirmed that we’re on the right track. With any remedy, I always like to look that up and just confirm, if you have time. Obviously, for emergency or first aid, you may not have time but I love that for that reason. Paola: Exactly, very good. Those are some pretty awesome experiences. You definitely have moxie, I’ve decided. Shannon: Thank you. Paola: You’re welcome. You’ve earned it, girl. That is just so wonderful. Then just do you have any closing thoughts for people who might be new to homeopathy or what you wish you would have known at the beginning of your journey? Shannon: Yes. I really wished I had known about homeopathy from the beginning. I feel like a lot of us take this — maybe not for everybody, but a lot of us — take this journey of … we try everything else and our last resort is homeopathy. I would just encourage everybody if you’re new, try it first. As moms, there is just so much confidence just being able to raise your kids without drugs and running to the pediatrician. There’s a good place for that, for sure. But it really has just empowered me as a mom. I mean, Joette says that all the time. I just love that. It’s a hobby for me, learning about it. I just want to know as much as possible. I want to be able to pass it down to my girls and even my boys. I got a boy going to Mexico on a mission’s trip. He’s like “Mom, tell me what I gotta take.” I love that. Paola: Absolutely. I think that’s really good advice. Try this first. You’re right. It does. It literally makes you a better mother because the skills you need in homeopathy, listening, observing, caring — those are things that we can always hone as moms. Shannon: Absolutely. Paola: Very good. Well, thank you for joining us Shannon. It has been delightful. I love your peppy personality and your passion for homeopathy. I really think that this podcast is going to help a lot of people. So, thanks for taking the time out to be with me. Shannon: Oh yes, thank you, Paola. Joette: Are you or someone you know a Mom with Moxie? Well, we’re on the hunt for you. And of course, we don’t want to hear just from moms but from anyone who uses and loves homeopathy. Reach out to my podcast team and let us know why you’re a Mom with Moxie. For more information, contact podcast@joettecalabrese.com. Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com. If you’d like to learn more about Shannon’s favorite course, The Survivalist Guide to Homeopathy, please click here. As she mentioned in the podcast, it paid for itself by allowing her to avoid two emergency room visits. It is, indeed, a valuable and practical course for moms to have at the center of their first aid arsenal. These Moms with Moxie podcasts are designed to be inspirational, not specifically educational. No Remedy Card is provided. | |||
| Podcast 34 – Dads with Audacity: These Fathers Know Best! | 14 Sep 2017 | 01:01:10 | |
In this podcast, we cover: 03:35 Casey’s journey with homeopathy 16:10 Broken shoulder, colds, poison ivy, headaches, and food issues 27:06 Mark’s belief in homeopathy and self-healing 32:48 What is bursitis 43:06 Life without homeopathy for Levi and his family 52:36 Iris ver and Mag phos for acid reflux 57:20 Who is Levi Click here to skip ahead and get your Remedy Card.
You are listening to a podcast from joettecalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition.
Paola: It’s podcast number 34 at JoetteCalabrese.com. We’ve got another “Dads with Audacity” interview for you.
Joette: Each day from my office, I get to see how homeopathy is transforming lives all over the globe. I want to share them with you. Some of my students have really caught my eye. Some of you have done all you can to learn how to cure those around you using homeopathic medicines. Your successes inspire me. They’re glorious and powerful. I can’t keep these successes a secret any longer. So, with help from my roving reporters, we bring you a mini podcast series that I call Moms with Moxie. Sometimes we even interview dads with audacity. See how regular mothers and others, average people who want to cure those around them have gone from freaking to fabulous with homeopathy.
Paola: For today’s podcast, we are actually shifting gears a little bit. I’m your host today, Paola Brown. This is going to be our longest podcast. So, you for sure need to save it in a queue the next time you’re going to be on a long drive or you’re folding laundry or definitely if you’re near your husband and you guys have some downtime together. But in today’s podcast, I am interviewing three dads with audacity. The first guy is Casey. I quite enjoyed Casey. An interesting thing about him is he snuck into the background of one of the study group classes I taught. I usually teach it online. So, he was sitting off camera enjoying my class. When I found out about that, I was really excited. I begged him to please be on the podcast. So, you’ll really enjoy Casey’s interview. Next, we have Mark from New York. Mark is an avid sports guy. He talks a lot about how homeopathy fits into his life with his sports and with his family. The final interview we have today is a top-secret interview. His name is Levi. I don’t reveal who Levi is until the very end of the podcast. So, until then, I’ll let you try and guess why I think this dad with audacity is so awesome. Here we go from the top with Casey.
I’m excited to have a “Dads with Audacity” podcast today. I’m here with Casey. He’s from Texas. He is a father of how many kids, Casey?
Casey: We have three kids.
Paola: Three kids. I know your wife actually took the homeopathy study group class that Joette offers. She purchased the curriculum and participated in that. So that’s great. So, tell us about that class. Your wife was taking it and where were you during that time?
Casey: I was looking over her shoulder for a lot of it. I was listening in when I could, to see what I could learn. We were making notes. Yes, it was very informative and we learned quite a bit. To be honest, it was kind of like hitting a fast-forward button and kind of soaked a lot in quickly. So, it was incredibly helpful.
Paola: Good. That’s awesome. I was actually teaching the class for your wife. I remember we ran into you guys and she introduced herself to me, “Oh, I’m Carly. I’m in your class.” Then I realized, and she says, “My husband’s been sitting off camera listening to your class, too.” I think, Casey, you were my first official male that has ever taken my study group class with me. So, I think that was pretty cool.
Casey: I don’t know if that’s good or bad.
Paola: It is a good thing.
Casey: I guess I’m honored.
Paola: Tell us. Why do you think that is the case that so many dads aren’t as interested in homeopathy? Casey’s journey with homeopathy
Casey: Yes. I’d have to go back a little further to even explain how we arrived at homeopathy and how we even learned about it. It probably started for me well over seven or eight years ago. It was more about a journey to be healthy. My wife and I, for an anniversary trip, flew to San Francisco and drove our way down the coast to LA. When I say drove, what I really should say is we ate our way down the coast. So, it was that typical vacation, anniversary trip where a lot of it was about food.
Paola: Yes, absolutely.
Casey: When we got home, I took a look in the mirror and realized I was into my 30s now and I couldn’t exactly eat and do what I wanted to do. There are going to be consequences for some of my decisions.
Paola: So metabolism is a little different in your 30s.
Casey: It changed, yes. It slowed down a little bit. Couple that with working at a desk, and I was drinking a lot of sodas. Dr. Pepper was my soda of choice. I was still fairly active. I still liked to hang out with the guys and play golf, play softball, things like that. But I didn’t really have a fitness mindset. So, I just on a whim decided, “You know what? I’m going to see what I can do to get healthy here.” So, I cut out the sodas. I signed up for a triathlon. I’d never done one. My friends had done them. I thought, alright, I knew I had to pay for the triathlon. I had to get some skin in the game if I was going to actually go for a run or a swim or ride my bike. So, I did that and eight weeks later did the triathlon. It was just a short sprint triathlon for fun. I enjoyed it. It was a lot of fun. So, then I realized they kind of time you. You have like a time where you fall in your age group. I thought, “Hmm, what can I do to improve? Could I train harder? Could I train at some other things?” One of the first things I looked at was diet. What am I eating? I didn’t really change what I was eating all that much for the training. So then, I started experimenting and reading about vegan diet, Paleo diet, all these different kinds of healthy eating. So, I started watching a lot of documentaries and things like that just to trying to educate myself. So that was the first time I really started questioning and at least looking at what I was putting in my body in terms of food. So, that started a cool journey of getting fit, and trying to be healthy, and watching what I eat, and looking at food as fuel from a nutrition standpoint.
Paola: Right. I think that’s a similar journey to anyone who has come to homeopathy specifically. The gateway is starting with diet. I read this quote once. It says, “You cannot outrun an unhealthy diet.” That really kind of hit me.
Casey: Correct.
Paola: I used to think well, I’ll have a soda. I’ll run a couple of miles and that will neutralize the soda. But that’s not how it works. It’s doing damage in your body that you can’t outrun. That’s good. How did you do in the triathlon? Were you happy with the results?
Casey: I did pretty well in the triathlon. My first goal was to finish and I did that. Then from there, I’ve probably done, I don’t know, another dozen triathlons, 5Ks. I do a couple a year now. It keeps me training, keeps me active and things like that.
Paola: Good for you.
Casey: The nutrition part was the first time I questioned what I put in my body from a food standpoint. Then it kind of grew from there. Then it was looking at other things that I was putting in my body, just things that I took for granted. I say in my body. I couldn’t even say on my body. So, I was like I would put deodorant on and I’m thinking, “What is in this?” I don’t even know what’s in this deodorant. Or getting a cold and taking an over-the-counter medication. I have no idea what is in this. I started looking at my food, but I’m not looking at anything else, whether I’m washing my hair or washing my clothes or anything else. So, it was more of just questioning. I’m not saying any of those things are bad. It was just me personally wondering, “What is this doing to my body, the things that I’m putting on and in?” So, I think our journey just started there. It was food and then it moved over into other areas. That’s when we’ve kind of arrived at the medicines.
My wife’s kind of entered into oils, which was great. There were some things that we applied there. That was a bit of a gateway into homeopathy, I think.
Paola: Yes, that’s the crossover. I will say that the oily people, the people who do their oils, they’re the best crossover group to get into homeopathy because they’re looking for independence. They’re looking for alternatives.
I have to say. One of my little pet peeves and I don’t usually get too annoyed. I’m pretty easygoing. But one of my little pet peeves when I thought someone has a headache and I go, “Maybe you should try some Bryonia or if it’s tension headache, try some Arnica montana.” You wake up in the morning and you slept wrong. You’re like, “Oh my neck hurts. So, I have this really bad headache. I slept wrong.” That’s a Rhus tox headache. So, sometimes when people mention their headaches to me, I’m like, “Oh, would you like to try one of these, guys?” Then now, they’re all of a sudden very skeptical. They’re like, “Whoa, what’s in this? What is this homeopathic?” I’m like, “Do you even do that to Tylenol or to all the other stuff that you’re taking?” It’s more of like this cultural acceptance over actual facts that help you make an informed decision.
Casey: It’s true.
Paola: Good for you. I’m very impressed that you’ve crossed over from food to even the medicine because I feel like that’s a leap for some people. But it’s very logical for you to do that, so good job! So, your wife came home saying that she wanted to take the homeopathy study group class or what happened? Were you guys seeking something or were you pretty satisfied where you were with your diet and your oils?
Casey: The oils left a little to be desired in terms of … I felt like they worked well for things that were topical and things like that. I know there are people who say they’ve had success from taking them in other ways but I think we were looking for something a little different to replace medication, I’ll say. If you go stand in a drug store, you’ve got shelves and shelves of whatever ailment you’re needing help with. I felt like we needed something to replace that. Then also, I’m wondering if we even should be taking something for a particular ailment, that sort of thing. We did a lot of reading. We read a few books and stood in front of some health stores that carry different remedies. All those little vials were very confusing. It was a lot to look at there. It was a bit overwhelming. That’s when my wife discovered the course. I think that kind of came on at just the right time where we were able to start making notes and start learning and writing things down. There’s a lot of information out on the internet. You can do a lot of good reading but the course was something for us that to hear it from someone else and to hear someone else’s experiences really helped us out. We still reference the notes from that class all the time.
Paola: Yes, awesome. I think that’s what’s so cool about the study group class, two things. You really don’t need to take a class with someone. You can just start your own group and the book walks you right through it. But if you take it with someone who has had a little bit of experience with homeopathy, that’s also a good option because they have all the experiences and the story that kind of illustrate how wonderful these little remedies work. You’re right. They are overwhelming. I have a friend who has said, “When I went to Whole Foods and I saw all those little blue Boiron homeopathic single remedy bottles, I thought that they were for practitioners. I thought that was something that I wasn’t even going to allowed to buy. I thought I was going to show some sort of license to buy it because it is so overwhelming and so foreign.” So, your wife started taking the class. You’re kind of off camera listening. She has told me that your support in the family’s homeopathy journey has been integral for her. Can you talk about that and maybe what challenges you guys faced together and why being a team player in this situation was good for you guys?
Casey: I think we both had to be committed to it for a couple of reasons. Number one, to keep each other strong because when you’ve got a child who’s not feeling well at three in the morning and standing next to your bed, you need to go get something different out of the medicine cabinet. So, we’re both on the same page. It really helps when you can keep the notes open. Let’s figure out what remedy we need to go with here. Do we even need a remedy right now? Is this real or is this “I woke up and I got a little bit of discomfort but I could probably go back to bed.” So, it just helps when you can stay on the same page. When you both have the education, I may recall something that we could do here or she might recall something. So yes, I think being able to support each other because there’s a little bit of a learning curve. I think that discourages a lot of people but if you can push through that, then you can start developing some confidence. Oh, I’ve seen this before. My wife takes really good notes anytime we have an issue. So, if my son gets in a poison ivy, we had this last summer, I remember. We can go back and look and see what ended up working and helping him. So, I think supporting each other there, making good notes is what gives you that confidence moving forward.
Paola: Yes, I think you’re absolutely right. I think what you said to me and I’ve said this before to people. If you can just push through the overwhelming information for just a couple of weeks, really not even that much, just get over that hump, it all starts connecting and making sense. Like you said, it becomes muscle memory because you remember things. It all just kind of comes to you when you need it. So, that’s great. So why don’t you tell us some stories about your family. It sounds like homeopathy came just in the nick of time for some issues that you guys were facing.
Casey: Absolutely. I’ve got a few stories I could tell you. One that we jumped into pretty quickly, we realized that homeopathy could help with eczema. That’s something that my daughter had struggled with since she was 1 ½ to 2 years old. So, we did all the steroid creams and all the medications. Anyone who has any experience with that knows that allergies and asthma and eczema are all kind of twisted together in this big knot. So, that’s something we’re in a process of unraveling right now. But, the first thing we were able to do is deal with the eczema. Like I said, it’s been something she struggled with for a long time. When we first started, I’ll admit that when you start to get that understanding of homeopathy and you work backwards especially in something like that — that’s been chronic, something she’s dealt with her whole life. So, at first, her eczema flared up quite a bit. It makes you a little nervous when you see something like that. Being on the other side of that now knowing that it’s getting a little worse before it gets better because you are flushing it out of your body, you’re doing the right things. But that can be a little scary that first time through. So, seeing her hands and her feet the way that her skin looked was not the most pleasant thing to watch a child go through. But I can tell you. Being on the other side of that now, her skin is clear. If she ever has a little spot pop back up, we know exactly what we have to do. In the winter and all the times when she typically is kind of suffering through some of that, we don’t have to go through all of that with the creams and the lotions and all the things that we used to do. Knowing that we can fall back to homeopathy is a pretty cool thing.
Paola: Yes. That is awesome. I find that with eczema and Joette, she used to be blanketed with eczema and she really has a lot of experience with this. So, she has a soft spot in her heart for people who suffered through it. But she has talked a lot about one of the reasons people’s eczema get so much worse at first before it gets better is because you’re coming off of the steroid cream. It sounds like your daughter didn’t go through a withdrawal but some people go through withdrawal. If you want to learn more about this withdrawal, you can go to this website called IT (like Tom), S (like Sam), A, N (like Nancy) — ITSAN. It basically talks about topical steroids. When you stop using them, you can go through these withdrawals.
I have a friend whose daughter went through it. I mean it was like she almost looked like a burn victim from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet, not because it was eczema anymore but because her body was going through this terrible, terrible steroid withdrawal. So that’s really good. It sounds like your daughter didn’t go through that. My friend, she used only like a little dime-sized, once every other week on her daughter. Her daughter still went through this horrible, horrible withdrawal from the steroids. You just never know what your body’s going through. So, it’s just so wise that you guys knew you wanted to get off of this and that you wanted to find a better way. That’s a blessing really for your daughter.
I do want to ask you this. Did you guys ever waiver? Was it an uphill climb, just pretty smooth and predictable?
Casey: We questioned a lot on that one just because the way her skin flared up. The eczema didn’t look good. It was pretty rough. So that one, yes, we definitely were wondering if we were doing the right thing there. But like I said, being on the other side of it now and seeing how her skin looks now and that she’s in great shape as far as the eczema goes, it was definitely worth it, kind of pushing through that.
Paola: That’s exactly why I think it’s so important for couples, husbands and wives to have a conversation about homeopathy because there are times where things get a little stressful. You really need to talk it through and figure it out. It’s really hard to have that conversation when husband is staunchly against and wife is staunchly for it. It’s important, I think, to have these conversations. In the study group class, we talked about when you suppress an illness, it drives it deeper. A homeopath who treats someone with asthma who has had eczema as a child, they don’t see asthma as asthma. They see asthma as suppressed eczema. Now, not everyone who has asthma has eczema as a child. But that’s just an example of when you suppress the eczema, it drives the illness deeper into the lungs and they can develop asthma. Okay, well tell us another story. Broken shoulder, colds, poison ivy, headaches, and food issues
Casey: Sure. That was more of a chronic issue that we dealt with. But I can give you one that’s quite a bit different. My mother-in-law took a little spill and broke her shoulder. She immediately went for Aconite. We had to go to the emergency room, of course, and get X-rays. It was a pretty bad broken shoulder. They of course wanted to offer her pain medication. She had taken Aconite at home right when the spill happened. She knew to grab that. Then in the emergency room, she actually used Arnica montana.
Paola: Good for her.
Casey: Yes, and was able to make it through that ordeal with very minimal pain medication. It’s a longer story than that. The doctor opted not to do surgery, wanted to see what would happen if it healed on its own. She took a couple of different remedies. I believe it was Hypericum.
Paola: Symphytum probably.
Casey: Yes, to help heal bone and for bone growth. So, she was able to go without surgery and use those. So, they were doing X-rays along the way. So, we could see the X-rays. We could see the bones growing and moving back together. So yes, to go with a really broken shoulder, to go through that without surgery, without a lot of medications that they wanted to put her on was a pretty cool story there to see all that happen.
Paola: Right.
Casey: Because the default there, you go to the emergency room and they want to give you pain medication. While you’re in pain, that seems like they’re really trying to help you. It seems like the right thing to do to take that pain medication and then surgery. The doctor does X-rays and tells you that you need surgery. This one opted not to do that. But I guess it’s back to that questioning and just making sure we’re asking the right questions. What I like about homeopathy is it puts us a little bit more in the driver’s seat in terms of those decisions.
Paola: It does, absolutely, yes. I think you said something that’s really important. I want to reiterate it. Sometimes asking the wrong question gets you the wrong answer. So, it is important to know how to ask the right questions to your doctors so that you can have control over the situation. I’m so glad she’s feeling better. Does she have full range of motion and back to normal now?
Casey: Getting there, getting there because they let it heal on its own. The doctor was upfront and said, “I don’t know that I would necessarily recommend surgery. You may not get full range of motion. You’re going to get most of it back without surgery.” That was his belief. So, she didn’t quite have full range of motion. But I’ll be honest. If she had surgery and just the rehab from that, I don’t know how much better off she would have been with all the risks that go with surgery as well.
Paola: Absolutely. That’s exactly right. That’s kind of how you have to think of it. I just want to give an example of the wrong question kind of gets you the wrong answer. I’m talking about talking to your doctor. I always caution people about whether or not they share with their doctor about homeopathy or even asking them questions about homeopathy. You know, I took this to my doctor. He said that there’s nothing out there that would help my bones heal. Like well, you’re asking the wrong question to the wrong person. So, you’re going to get the wrong answer. That’s really what it is. If you don’t rationally think through these situations, who you’re talking to, what you’re asking, you’re going to get the wrong answer. That only hurts you.
So, tell us another story, Casey.
Casey: Those are kind of big deals for us. Those were big ones. But then like just everyday things, I can give a couple of examples. If we feel something coming on, we always keep Coldcalm handy. That has licked a couple of things that were coming on very quickly, kind of prevent it from coming on. So, we always keep that on hand. It works well for us.
Paola: Good. I actually don’t have that one. I need to get it. Is it a Hyland’s brand, Coldcalm?
Casey: I think that’s Boiron.
Paola: Okay, Boiron.
Casey: It doesn’t come in a typical tube. It comes in a box. The instructions on there are great. It tells you how many to take at first and then every few hours. It still dissolves in to the tongue, but it’s more of pill-looking. It’s a little larger than the little pills we’re all accustomed to. But yes, it definitely works well. Then a couple of other things, my son was doing either yard work or playing in the woods, something. He got into some poison ivy and got into it pretty good on his stomach and arms. We were able to use homeopathy for that to not have put all kinds of creams and lotions or go to the doctor for a steroid. It was nice to be able to treat that at home. We also used it for little aches and pains. I’ve got some issues in my back and shoulder. So, I’ve got a couple of go-tos for myself. I’ve got Rhus tox and Ruta grave that I used for those little things. That’s kind of on a practical thing where I would have probably gone to Advil, something like that. Now, I go to ice and homeopathy.
Paola: Awesome. That’s great. Actually, one of the other dads that I interviewed, Mark, he’s like you, a pretty avid sports guy. The funny thing with him is he doesn’t even really know exactly. He says that me and the kids will all line up like baby birds and open our mouth. My wife will just drop stuff in our mouth or whatever we need and they just kind of trust her. Going back to the poison ivy, did you guys use Anacardium for your son?
Casey: I want to say we used Aconitum and Rhus tox for that if I recall correctly.
Paola: Interesting, yes, very good. That’s interesting because Rhus tox is the homeopathic remedy made from poison ivy. If you take the study group class that Joette offers, you’ll learn how it’s diluted. In its homeopathic preparation, it’s not toxic at all. But for some people, the Rhus tox works quite well even though it’s a remedy made exactly from what you’re suffering from. In homeopathy, usually, you look for the laws of similar, not the laws of exact. So Anacardium which is not made from poison ivy is usually what helps people in a poison ivy situation. So, I just like to throw these little factoids out there when people are listening so they can learn a little bit about homeopathy too.
Casey: That’s good stuff.
Paola: Yes, it is. It’s great. What about for headaches?
Casey: My wife takes Kali bichromium particularly, she’s susceptible to like when weather’s coming in, high-pressure, low-pressure. I don’t know which one triggers a headache. But I just know that when a high-pressure or low-pressure season comes in and it changes the barometric pressure, for her Kali bichromium. I remember back even Christmas Eve, she got a pretty good one. So, that was able to help her out. Then we use some other things too for food allergies. That’s a new one we’re kind of working through and trying to figure that out. But Bovista is one that we go to for that to try to deal with that. My daughter, when she eats an apple or something like that, it’s not a major issue. Her lips get kind of itchy. Just little things like that. Having go-tos, you just start to develop your tool box of things that you can go to.
Paola: I know. People always ask me. Which one of Joette’s courses do you think is the best one? Which one should I take? I firmly believe that if you were passionate about this, you work through and take every single one of those courses. I mean the Survivalist Guide is probably one of my favorites because it addresses some pretty extreme acute things but the Good Gut, Bad Gut talks a lot about food intolerance like you’re saying. Very good.
Well, Casey, you’re an awesome dad. You’ve got the audacity to take over your family’s health, your wife, and to work through these things. I think your family is going to be blessed for generations. Joette says this that homeopathy is generational because you’re not just blessing your here and now, you’re blessing your kids. Your daughters are healthy. Your grandkids are going to be healthier. Hopefully that passes down. So, good for you. I really appreciate you taking time to talk with me here on the podcast.
Casey: Oh, it was my pleasure.
Paola: Okay. So that was our interview with Casey. Thank you so much. Before the interview, Casey told me about how he really believes in the power of story. I think you’re right Casey. I really think that these stories that will provide the future for homeopathy and for health in a lot of families. So, thank you so much.
Now onto our second guy who is Mark. I’m happy to be here with Mark B. from New York. How are you, Mark?
Mark: Hi. Good, thanks.
Paola: Good. Tell us what line of work you’re in.
Mark: I repair furniture.
Paola: Awesome. You are a pretty avid sports guy, am I right?
Mark: Yes. I like to run and take part in races. I like soccer in the winter.
Paola: In the winter?
Mark: Well, indoor soccer. I bike and run in the other months.
Paola: Are you training for any specific event right now?
Mark: Yes. I’ve got a half marathon coming up Memorial Day weekend.
Paola: Okay, cool, very good. It will be nice and warm. Then you have a few children, right?
Mark: Three kids, two boys, 9 and 2. Then my girl is in the middle, she’s 5.
Paola: Awesome. You have been around the natural-medicine-block for a while now.
Mark: Yes.
Paola: I think you told me that it’s thanks to natural medicine that you met your wife.
Mark: Yes. We both were working at the same little health food store.
Paola: Oh, you guys were working there together. How cute. I think a lot of women now who do homeopathy on Joette’s paradigm wished they met their husbands in a natural health store.
Mark: Yes. No, we didn’t meet in a bar.
Paola: Right.
Mark: It’s a little bit almost the opposite.
Paola: That’s cute. When you guys told me that, I thought that that just couldn’t be more perfect. So, let me just back up and remind us why we’re doing this podcast. The gears in a man’s brain obviously turn differently than a woman does. I found that this podcast really needs the voice of some men and their perspective on homeopathy. So, thank you for coming and participating with this. But something interesting that you’ve told me is that you’re not really interested in changing people’s mind. That’s not your personality as far as homeopathy goes.
Mark: Yes. I wouldn’t want to convince somebody, preach. I’m not a preacher.
Paola: Okay. Why is that?
Mark: I think that what everyone believes is right for them in that moment. So, for me to come in and say, “Actually, you should believe this,” I don’t think that’s how minds change.
Paola: I think that’s very fair. I guess for you in your experience, what does it take to change your mind about something?
Mark: Ultimately, choice but choosing to be open to a new perspective, a new possibility that doesn’t prove your old way of thinking wrong — but just expands on it. Yes, it may prove it wrong in the long run. You just got to be open to new perspectives is how I see it.
Paola: Yes, I like that. It’s almost like being open to allowing yourself to evolve, permitting the evolution of the self and new ideas. That’s really what I think homeopathy is for a lot of people. They’ve evolved in their thinking. Let’s try something new like you said and being open to that choice. So, let’s get into this. You do feel like you have some experiences that you could share with homeopathy that our listeners might find interesting. So, why to you does homeopathy have value? Mark’s belief in homeopathy and self-healing
Mark: I believe the way I see homeopathy is, it doesn’t do the healing. It directs your body to do the healing on its own.
Paola: So, you have faith in your body then.
Mark: Yes. If I were tasked to talk to a skeptical husband about homeopathy, I would just ask him…is his faith or his belief in healing, is it in the traditional medical industry, in his doctor let’s say. Is that where your faith in healing is? It’s fine. What if your body could do it better than your doctor? I think homeopathy is a great path to understanding self-healing.
Paola: Well, I find, at least for me, I’ve had a lot of chronic health problems. I don’t know if you share that. So, what happened for me was I had a lot of mistrust with my body, miscarriages, itching all over, just terrible chronic things that happened to me. I developed a very real mistrust with my body because it proved to me that I couldn’t trust it. But you’re right, homeopathy opened that door that I could find a path back to that place of innocence that I had before my chronic stuff started coming up, where I can trust it.
Mark: Precisely. You know actually, this is a thought that occurred because knowing that this was coming up, I thought on the skeptical husband front, if I were to just remind him that we accept, oh well, babies and kids, their bodies just heal faster. They can heal anything. They’re resilient, right? We just attribute it to youth. Maybe it is the physical body itself but maybe it’s the fact that they don’t dwell in fear and doubt like we do. So, I think homeopathy can be a way to send a clear message to your body like, “Hey, do this,” rather than the clouding our thoughts with fear and doubt, I think can confuse the body on what it needs to do. Maybe that’s why we don’t heal as fast, just a thought that crossed my mind today.
Paola: No. I think that’s right. Kids almost, they don’t care about, you know…
Mark: Exactly.
Paola: I mean you guys were telling me about your son today. He has an ear infection right now. But he just wanted to play with his buddies. They just kind of let their body do their thing. So, they get sick and they go to mom. Then mom helps them out. To some degree, it’s okay, whereas I think an adult even feels a little pinch in their ear. They’re freaking out, and they’re going right to the doctor for the antibiotics or whatever. I think we react a lot quicker than we need to.
Mark: Yes. It shows you where their faith is.
Paola: Yes.
Mark: Their faith is in their doctor.
Paola: Yes, you’re right. It goes right back to that mistrust we were talking about, very good. I want to jump ahead and talk about what situations have you found homeopathy to be beneficial for you in your lifestyle, your family.
Mark: Sure. My wife, she’ll use homeopathy for a lot of things with herself and with the kids, whether it’s rashes for herself or an earache, whatever the kids are going through just to address it somehow. So, for me, I really will only pursue homeopathy for like sports injuries. I broke a toe five weeks ago. So, I would take homeopathy to speed the bone healing. Then once the bone heals after a couple of weeks, I found that it’s still hurting. Well, it’s a sprain because it’s dislocated. So, the sprain, I’ve heard takes longer. Then I’ve been on a protocol for the ligaments to heal and the swelling to go down. So, my personal experience is physical healing, bone and muscle and ligaments.
Paola: Because you have those strenuous, I mean it sounds like a strenuous workout schedule for your competitions and everything.
Mark: That’s another story. I’m training too hard actually. I think like anything and everything in moderation. You should start where you’re at and just go from there. But for me, I’ve been pushing it too hard is all.
Paola: I would love to share that protocol. I’m guessing you use Symphytum for the bone when it broke. I’m so sorry you broke it.
Mark: Yes, Symphytum, Rhus tox. I don’t know the details. I just know that those two together do something a little different.
Paola: Right. So maybe it’s your wife saying, “Alright, take this.” You’re like, “Okay, I trust you.”
Mark: Yes. I’ll be the one who stays with it, whereas yes, she’ll just pop some remedies in my mouth if I mentioned something without asking for it.
Paola: That’s so nice of that for you.
Mark: Oh it’s so nice, yes.
Paola: Mark, a lot of men like data and facts. So, let’s just use your family as a microcosm of other families who use homeopathy. How long have you guys been using homeopathy for now?
Mark: About nine years.
Paola: So, in those last nine years, have you needed to go to a doctor for these illnesses, these injuries, these kinds of things that I think a lot of other people have to see the doctors for.
Mark: No. However, before we’ve been doing homeopathy for these nine years, I did have a bursitis flare up in the knee.
Paola: I’m not familiar with bursitis. What is it exactly? It sounds like a terrible thing. What is bursitis
Mark: I think there are bursa sacs in every joint. I might be wrong on that. But there’s a bursa sac in the knee. I guess, I wish I knew, I should know, but there was a bacterial infection that took off in that bursa sac. For whatever reason, it can affect the whole knee. The whole knee got red and warm and swollen. But I stayed home for almost two days, a day and a half doing garlic, doing things that I thought would just help my body address it. The thing just got more and more swollen, more painful to move. That’s a case where we did end up going to the emergency room for an antibacterial shot in the knee. I think if we had homeopathy, I think that would have taken care of it. My son had almost the same, the beginnings of the bursitis flare up in his knee. It was warm and red. So, my son started getting that. But now, we have homeopathy. My wife gave him a remedy remembering that I had the same thing, though…she gave him a remedy, and no ER visit. It died down.
Paola: Yes, it worked. So, that’s wonderful.
Mark: Yes. I should state, too, that for trauma that I’m not comfortable addressing on my own. That’s what I love about modern medicine is they’re really good with trauma care. That’s definitely where I see the place of traditional, conventional medicine in my life is.
Paola: We have a great podcast that I always refer back to. It was on discernment. You really do need to have good common sense and discernment to know when this is an emergency, or when this isn’t and you can treat yourself. A lot of it comes down to having the knowledge, sometimes the diagnosis, knowing what it is, owning the remedies and having the knowledge for the proper protocol to use. So, that is really important. We’re very lucky that if you don’t have all those ducks lined up in a row, you can go seek out medical care. So, it’s an important point you make.
I guess my last question to you is it sounds like, Mark, you have a lot more control on your life than other people do. I mean you injure yourself when exercising and you have an option. Your kid starts getting bursitis, you have an option. Your kid gets an ear infection, you have an option. In what way does homeopathy give you the freedom to continue your life as you wish?
Mark: I believe that I’m healing faster than I otherwise would have if I didn’t take these remedies for ligament and swelling reduction. Yes, it’s given me the ability to learn from my overtraining mistakes.
Paola: Right. It has allowed you to kind of in excess of your exercising routine, enjoy it in excess.
Mark: Yes. Sure, probably I would also add that for not taking the kids to the doctor as much, we’re not paying into our insurance deductible as much. So, we’re saving some money. There’s little freedom there too.
Paola: How would you like…I mean, it’s Friday night. Your kid has an ear infection. How do you feel about spending the rest of the night in the ER?
Mark: Yes, that doesn’t sound really freeing to me.
Paola: That’s awful. Well Mark, thank you so much. I really appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective on things. It’s just really great to hear a different view.
Mark: You’re welcome.
Paola: It puts some testosterone into the podcast.
Mark: Yes, you’re welcome.
Paola: Alright, thank you so much, Mark. Now, we’re onto our top secret, final interviewee, Levi. Let’s jump in and listen to that one.
Hi. I’m here with Levi. I’m very happy to have you on the podcast here. Thank you for taking the time to join us.
Levi: It’s a pleasure to be here.
Paola: So why don’t you introduce yourself. Tell us a little bit about yourself. You are all grown up.
Levi: Yes, a little bit. Yes, I’m 59 years old this year. I’m originally from Brazil, born and raised in Brazil. I graduated as an MBA in Engineering. That’s at Brigham Young University. I worked through companies among others, Intel Corporation over in Arizona. I have three kids and seven grandkids now. Right now, I enjoy life working as a purchasing manager in a company in Wisconsin. I also enjoy the fact that I am a Boy Scout master.
Paola: Oh good, at your local church?
Levi: Yes, yes. We meet regularly and then have all those scout activities and I enjoy the boys.
Paola: Very good. So, I’m really interested because a lot of the people we’ve interviewed in our podcast have been kind of in the middle age. I’m in my early 30s. A lot of the people we’ve interviewed have been about that age. But I’m interested in your insight and your perspective on homeopathy and your health because you are a generation ahead of me. So, tell us about your health.
Levi: Well, right now, I enjoy good health. I do go to the gym at three or four times a week. I’m very active. I do a lot of yard working, a lot of trimming, a lot of pruning, and all those outside activities, bike sometimes. I really enjoy good health. No major issues health wise.
Paola: So, as you look to the future, what kind of goals do you have for your health? What do you want to do with your body as you get older?
Levi: The only thing I cannot do is stop aging, but I could maybe do the best that I can to age properly, I would say. Then when I look around, I see a lot of people my age, they don’t even work anymore. They’re force to retirement because they have issues like diabetes, cholesterol, or high blood pressure, and things like this that comes with age. Then happily, I don’t have none of those yet. I see a lot of people also dependent on drugs. They cannot move around. They can’t even travel sometimes because of their dependence on drugs or whatever. I would like to be happy by being free of drugs or free of any disease as it stretches as long as I can.
Paola: Absolutely. So really your goal is to be drug-free, healthy, independent, and what was the word you said you want to age?
Levi: With a quality of life. When I retire, I like to be a volunteer worker and then do something out there to maintain, I can go up and down and then move around without major health issues. That’s the goal.
Paola: That’s a really good point. People your age, when they do retire, they can still be a huge contribution to society, I think, in those volunteer type positions, helping the community. If they don’t have the health to do that which a lot of them don’t, they actually end up, I think, becoming the opposite…kind of a burden to their family because of their health issues. Of course, I think families should and ought to care for their older family members. But you’re right. To have that health and ability to serve is way better than the opposite, so very good. Let’s talk about homeopathy. Is homeopathy something that is new to you or have you known about it before.
Levi: Oh yes. As I said, I was born and raised in Brazil. Down in Brazil, it’s a very common thing. People have access to homeopathy. Poor people, rich people, everybody has access to that. The good thing is that it’s very affordable. I grew up in a very poor family. Health insurance was not available in my family. So anytime we have some symptoms like a sore throat or whatever issue that we had, mom would go to this pharmacy and they start using this homeopathy to be able to at least see if it can fix the problem before we go to doctor or even hospital. I don’t remember seeing a hospital in my whole childhood. Then every time me or any of my brothers would have any health issues, my mom would go to the pharmacy and buy some homeopathy medication. Then we would use that. Then we lived a happy life, a happy childhood, poor but with everything that we need and no major issues there.
Paola: Now, you told me, I think, that your mom was also a nurse. Is that right?
Levi: Yes. Being a nurse, she always would know the symptoms of somebody’s getting sick. So, at that point, she would rush to these pharmacies, which is very affordable and then could get those and start immediately helping. That’s how I grew up. As far as I remember, I never took much of other medications because I was healthy.
Paola: What happened when you started having kids?
Levi: At that point, every time one of my kids would have some issues like a sore throat or little fever or this or that, and then we also remember what my mom used to give to us. So, I just went to one of these pharmacies and get the proper homeopathic medicines. Then it’s very common thing to have also doctors already available. We visit the doctor and he gives us some advice on what kind of homeopathy medication or remedies to fix whatever problem was going on.
Paola: This is really interesting. So, you’re telling me that you would see a homeopathic doctor or a regular doctor who knew how to prescribe some homeopathic medicines?
Levi: No, mostly they were specifically homeopathic doctors.
Paola: Oh interesting.
Levi: On the case of pharmacies, they usually have both, in Brazil. Any pharmacy you go in Brazil, you’ll find both medications.
Paola: Oh wow, just side-by-side get what you need, interesting.
Levi: Yes.
Paola: There came a point, I think, in your life where you saw homeopathy kind of step out of the family life. You grew up with it. It sounds like early childhood when you were raising your kids, homeopathy was still present. But there came a point where homeopathy stepped away. Tell us about that.
Life without homeopathy for Levi and his family
Levi: Yes. That was when I was about 26 years old. I decided to immigrate to US. At that time when I moved to US, first of all, those homeopathic remedies are not readily available in the pharmacies. Also, I was a poor student. So, I’m going to college and then raising kids. Then when those needs would come around, in the beginning we brought a kit from Brazil. That kit had the most common stuff that we might need. But we ran out of those homeopathic remedies, and then we decided to move into the regular doctors because there was nothing available. Whenever an issue would come, any sore throat, any fever, or any common flu or cold would come, we’d have to go to a quick shortcut and use the regular doctors.
Paola: Wow! That sounds so tragic that you guys brought a kit and then it ran out. Then you guys did what everybody else did, it sounds like.
Levi: Yes. It was not fun, but when you are in an emergency and running up and down, having two jobs and 16 hours of classes in college, it’s kind of a busy life. So, we need to go to the shortcut.
Paola: Right. That’s exactly right. At that time, did you believe that doctors were a better route for your family because doctors, especially in the US, they’re highly respected. They’re very educated. I know that they would spend many hours studying their practice. As your homeopathy kit run out, did you feel like okay, well, we should be seeing the doctors because they’re better anyways. They’re highly educated individuals. It’s better for my kids.
Levi: No, not at all. Actually, I just went to those regular doctors because that was the only availability I have around. I always saw those homeopathic doctors as good doctors as any other doctor. I’m an educated person so I kind of understand what those things are. Every time, even when a regular doctor would give me some sorts of medications, I made my own judgment on what to take or not to take because sometimes reading all those ingredients and say no, this is no good for me. Then try to cope with the symptoms as much as you can. When I was living under these homeopathic doctors down in Brazil, I noticed that they would go for the root cause of the problem. When I came to US using these regular doctors, they’re always going for the symptoms, trying to fix the symptoms and not the actual root cause. Like, if I am having a headache, they would go for the headache and not what’s causing that headache.
Paola: Right.
Levi: And also, I noticed how expensive it is, the regular doctors, especially in the United States. It’s atrociously expensive. Down in Brazil, going to a regular doctor was not as expensive as it is here. Just to give an idea. When we moved to Wisconsin two months ago, we decided to establish our family doctor. We went to see this doctor and the doctor asked me if I was married to my wife. Yes. So, he invited us both in to her office. Then we stayed there. They questioned us about health history and this and that. My wife is not sick. I am not sick. Then we stayed there talking about those historical events in our lives about health. Then we stayed there about 20 minutes. Then I was surprised that two weeks later that I received over $500 bill for 20 minutes. 20 minutes times 3 is one hour. 500 times 3 is $1500 per hour. Whoa! It’s a highly immoral system that we have in US is how much money goes around. I don’t know exactly details on what that money went for. I just know that we sit down for 20 minutes and just talked to the doc. She checked my wife’s pulse and blood pressure, and that was it.
Paola: Right. It didn’t feel like a $500 visit, for sure. She didn’t hand you any gold bars or anything, right?
Levi: I just told my wife, as soon as I got the bill, I said, “Honey, I just got the wrong profession because she’s going $1500 an hour.” Something is wrong with this picture. Unfortunately, in US today, there’s a lack of options. The best thing to do is to keep ourselves as healthy as possible, making sure that we are eating well and then exercising and maintaining our healthy life and not to use that system.
Paola: Yes. I think most families would prefer to go seek out natural ways to uproot the root cause like you were saying. But those things can fall by the wayside if there’s no available option. Here in the US, you really have to go looking for it. I think that’s what happened with you guys and your kids. It sounds like you came prepared. You did what you could do. But life is busy. It sounds like homeopathy kind of fell by the wayside as you guys got older.
Levi: Yes. For me to find any homeopathic remedies, I need to go on Google and find on the internet and then order online, because I cannot cross town or go downtown and find somebody that can sell me those stuff.
Paola: It’s not like you have your local friendly homeopathic pharmacy anymore like you did in Brazil. Joette talks about this. Joette says look at what everyone else is doing and do the opposite. In some ways, I think she’s absolutely right because if you look at what everybody else is doing — and I think you saw this, too — everybody else is probably going to the doctors when you came here to the US. It’s just what everybody does. It’s important to question what everybody does and maybe you do need to turn around and walk the other way.
Levi: Yes. That’s what I did. About two, three years ago, I started having some acid reflux. And it started coming and was pretty bad. Then of course went to the doctor and omeprazole was prescribed to me.
Paola: So, omeprazole is to help with acid reflux, like GERD?
Levi: It stops heart burn. Then I started taking omeprazole. Then one day in conversation with my daughter on the phone, I mentioned to her that I was taking omeprazole. Then she starts telling me, “No. You should not be taking those. Go there and look into the internet and see all those side effects of those medications.” I did go. My wife and I started reading and we were, “Whoa!” It’s horrible things.
Paola: What did your wife call it? She said basically it causes…?
Levi: Dementia.
Paola: That’s not good.
Levi: My daughter listens to Joette’s podcast and then taken her classes. She was nagging me about not to take omeprazole anymore. The omeprazole is so good. I mean I take one and the rest of the day, nothing. But, every time I would go to sleep at night thinking about all those side effects, whoa, I think that I’d do something about it.
Paola: So, she planted a seed of concern in you, basically.
Levi: Yes, I could not sleep well at night. Every time I’ll take one of those, I’ll regret. Last time I was in Brazil, I was talking to my brother and then he was taking a medication right in front of me there. So, and then I said, “What are you taking there?” He says, “Oh, omeprazole.” What do you need that? They’re for acid reflux. We started talking about it. I asked him, “How long have you been taking this stuff?” Oh, as far as I remember. I don’t know. Ten years now, I guess. Also, I have another friend that takes omeprazole regularly. He’s saying that he takes several other medications and then omeprazole kind of neutralizes the effects of those medications he’s taking.
Paola: So it’s like the medications he’s taking causes GERD. Then he needs the omeprazole to deal with the GERD.
Levi: Exactly, exactly.
Paola: It’s the side effect with the side effect. So, now you’re on a bunch of medications to handle each other’s side effects. That’s great.
Levi: I told him it felt like a negative downwards spiral with all these stuff that you’re taking. Then one thing pulls the other one and then eventually you’re drowning on those medications.
Paola: So, when you thought about these friends of yours, these two in particular that you’re talking about that take omeprazole, did you notice anything with their mental state? We’re not saying that omeprazole causes dementia, but you’re saying when you added up all the potential side effects, it sounds like it could cause dementia-like symptoms.
Levi: Then actually talking to my sister in law, for instance, she’s saying that my brother is sometimes not cohesive anymore. He forgets things. I mean it comes with age but reading those side effects of this drug, I can see some signs of those things in his life. And also, other people that I have around, similar symptoms are being experienced. I don’t know much about those things. I just see that people, they have a hard time to remember things, kind of going to a stage that life is not very happy or healthy.
Paola: I just did some research on the internet here for omeprazole for some of the side effects. I see that the label says it can cause confusion, depression, feeling agitated, aggressive, hallucinations. I mean so these are definitely mental issues. So, when you got back from your trip to Brazil after seeing your friends…
Levi: When I saw these side effects on people and then I got scared. I said I better pay attention with what my daughter is telling me because I don’t want to go to that path. My daughter decided to get me hooked up with some protocols that would help me on that.
Paola: So, did you think it was going to work?
Levi: No. First of all, I would have to stop completely omeprazole. If I would forget one day to take omeprazole, I would go in pain. Sometimes I have to drive 20, 30 minutes back home at lunchtime just to get one of those or buy another pill in the pharmacy because I could not live without it. Just the idea of changing my omeprazole to something else, I guess would be bad news. So, I was really concerned about that. I have to work and life needs to go on. It’s kind of hard. How can I live with heartburns and severe heartburns actually?
Paola: So, you just felt like you were scared enough to try it.
Levi: Then one of those nights when I was brave enough to say, “You know what? I’m going to follow my daughter, whatever she’s saying.” Then I have swallowed my pride and go for it. And I did. My daughter hooked me up with Banerji Protocol.
Paola: So, can I share the protocol with our listeners?
Levi: Yes, please.
Iris ver and Mag phos for acid reflux
Paola: So, the protocol that you used was Iris versicolor 200C in liquid. You took that four times a day before each meal. So, that would include the three major meals and maybe like a snack, like an afternoon snack.
Levi: Yes.
Paola: Then if you had heartburn and tell me if this is right, you would alternate Iris ver 200 with Mag phos 6X, every 15 minutes. If you were having a heartburn flare-up, you would do the Iris ver then 15 minutes later, you would do the Mag phos. Then 15 minutes later, you switch back to the Iris ver until there is relief.
Levi: Actually. in the beginning, I could not get any relief from those protocols. What I did was one day I would take omeprazole and the other day I would take those. Life was not fun. It was maybe two months straight having all those ups and downs of flares and coming up and down.
Paola: When you took the omeprazole, did you also take the homeopathy on top of it?
Levi: No. One day, I would take omeprazole like in the morning and in the afternoon when I have some flares then I would take those protocols.
Paola: I see. For reference, homeopathy can be used in conjunction with medications. At least that’s what homeopathic practitioners have said over the years. They don’t cause any interaction with medications since they’re so ultra diluted. But that’s what you did. You just did one and then the other.
Levi: Exactly. Then a week later, I decided to be brave enough to completely avoid omeprazole, never touch that again. Then I kept on those protocols. There was not relief immediately. Especially Mag phos, I would take them quite a bit, every 10 minutes sometimes. Sometimes I just took one and then 15 minutes later, there it was again. There with the same flares. I was persistent to that. In the past, I saw homeopathic medication working well. I have faith this thing might work, too. But, I was not seeing much result on those. Then about a month later, I start seeing good results or improving. Then two months later was a half of what was before. Then within 3 ½ months, I was completely done with that. To the point that I was taking maybe once every two days and then became once a week. Then today, last time I took one of those was maybe five weeks ago.
Paola: Wow.
Levi: Completely fixed the problem. When I looked into my medicine cabinet, I see there a whole bunch of those omeprazole. I laughed at them. Most of them are already being expired because I don’t touch them anymore and then I don’t need anymore.
Paola: That’s great. That’s great.
Levi: Once in a while if I eat something too spicy, like if I go Mexican food or Indian food or whatever and then sometimes it gives me those little flares. I don’t even take Iris ver. I only go for Mag phos maybe one or two little pills, and that’s enough. Wherever I go, I just take with me in traveling and then just make sure I have those just in case. But lately, I’ve been completely free of both, all those protocols and also, happily, out of those omeprazole…out of my life.
Paola: So, you see it as being uprooted. I think that’s a really great story. I think at the beginning when you were using the omeprazole and the homeopathy, you were trying to decide what you really wanted to do. But I liked how you finally just did, “You know what? I need to commit to this. I’m going to give this up. I’m going to really give it a try.” A month seems like a long time. It seems like a long time when you’re in the middle of it during that hard time. But it sounds like one month of struggling through something is worth it when you look at the next 15 years of being free from this.
Levi: Yes, yes. That’s exactly what it is. I don’t want to take medication at all. I don’t take even Tylenol or anything. I don’t take anything anymore. I don’t have a need for those things. If I eat a little funny one of these days then I have to go to one of these protocols to help me up but it’s rare. As I said, last time I touched it was about five weeks ago.
Paola: That’s great. At the beginning of our interview, you have said that you had a homeopathy kit that was brought from Brazil for your family that you use and then it ran out. So, do you have plans on getting your own homeopathy kit now?
Levi: Oh yes, oh yes. I’m working on that. I don’t know. Maybe Brazil is going to be less expensive the next time I go down there. I’m going to talk to my daughter first to give me a list of stuff that I should be having in my kit.
Paola: Yes. Well, usually if it’s a kit, the pharmacy has done the research. They have the top, most commonly used medicines already preselected in the kit. Usually, you don’t have to build your own kit. They come preassembled which is nice.
Levi: I guess I’m going to go for one of those and start changing my habits and moving to a healthier life. Who is Levi
Paola: Very good. Should we confess to our listeners? I really wanted to do this interview with you, because we’re trying to get Dads with Audacity, right? And you are my dad.
Levi: I am your father.
Paola: So, I really wanted to interview you because I just love the story of how we did grow up with homeopathy in our early childhood but it fell by the wayside. It’s kind of made full circle back into both our lives. My siblings and my mom uses homeopathy. I just love that it’s kind of reentered our family. Joette has said that homeopathy is a generational experience. It blesses all the generations. You can leave a legacy for your children and your grandchildren. I just thought this is a really great little story to illustrate this idea that you can bless your family all around you. You can’t keep homeopathy to yourself when you see people suffering and taking medications that could ruin their long-term health, too.
Levi: Yes. I love you for helping me become healthier. Actually, if I could give you a parallel story on that. As I mentioned in the beginning, I came from a very poor family. We are six children. Education was not a common thing. Actually, I don’t know anybody in my family or extended family that ever went to school, for instance. Then when I was growing up, I decided that schooling would be a very important thing for my life. I could see poverty everywhere because of lack of schooling. In Brazil, it’s very hard to go to school. It’s very expensive. Only rich people can go to colleges, things like this. Then I decided to be brave and break that chain of poverty. Because I did, my youngest one is going to college now. My oldest son has a PhD. Paola has her master’s degree. I believe that it takes courage to break a system that’s created around you. But it’s a paradigm way to do it. The same thing with this health way of life, whatever is imposed to your life, it doesn’t mean that I should swallow that and go for it. I should question. Like questioning this, that’s what made me healthier. I do exercise. I tried to eat as healthy as possible. So, I believe it’s a paradigm shift. Those paradigm shifts is everywhere in life. In my case, education was a big one. Another one is back to homeopathic medication.
Paola: I really like that analogy about the paradigm shifts. So, that’s a very wise advice. Well, thank you so much, dad, Levi, for being on the episode for Joette. If you are listening and you know a ad that has audacity like Levi or the other dads that we’ve interviewed, we would love to hear from you. Just contact us at podcast@joettecalabrese.com. That is podcast (in the singular form, not plural) @joettecalabrese.com. Thanks again, Levi.
Levi: Thank you. Love you. Bye-bye.
Paola: I love you too, dad. For Joette’s listeners, I really hope you enjoyed this podcast. I hope you found it as enriching and beneficial as I did. For sure, I want to encourage you moms out there listening to get your hubbies to listen to this podcast. Maybe it will get their gears turning in a new way if they hear the perspective from some dads with audacity. Thanks.
Joette: Are you or someone you know a mom with moxie? Well, we’re on the hunt for you. And of course, we don’t want to hear just from moms but from anyone who uses and loves homeopathy. Reach out to my podcast team and let us know why you’re a mom with moxie. For more information, contact podcast@joettecalabrese.com.
Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com. | |||
| Podcast 33 – New (and Not So New) to Homeopathy Part II | 04 Sep 2017 | 00:45:16 | |
In this podcast, we cover: 04:15 Differentiating between homeopathy and natural medicine 18:30 All About Dosing 26:20 Aggravation 30:45 Proving 36:50 The Banerji Protocols Editor’s Note: References made within the podcast’s audio to the previous podcast “New to Homeopathy Part I” should refer to Podcast 17 instead of Podcast 7. You are listening to a podcast from joettecalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. Paola: It’s Podcast Number 33 at joettecalabrese.com and here’s what we have coming up. I’m really looking forward to sharing this podcast with you today. Joette and I got to geek out over why we love homeopathy. So, today’s podcast focuses on subjects that newcomers to homeopathy might appreciate. At the beginning of this podcast, we look at how we can distinguish natural medicine from homeopathy. We also spend some time talking about how some people have a hard time accepting the fact that these homeopathic remedies are so diluted and yet still work. We talk a little bit about how the term nano for nanoparticles are more accepted today. But why wait for society to catch up and accept the terminologies of homeopathy? Instead, just use it right away and just uproot your illness. Then the meat of the podcast comes from you, Joette’s listeners. We get into several questions that are coming from newbies to homeopathy. Alright, so here we go. Hi. I’m happy to be here with Joette recording another podcast. Joette: Hi Paola. Yes, it’s fun. I love doing this, too. We say that every time but they really are fun. It’s just like a natural conversation. Paola: It is fun. I enjoy your mind, Joette but also very much enjoy your friendship. So, this is fun. Joette: It goes both ways. Paola: We’re taking a step back with this podcast, not a step back as in a step down but just like pausing and we’re looking at the big picture in this podcast. I think it’s important to do because every day, Joette, you are getting new listeners, new people that are jumping in the middle of things. So, this podcast takes an opportunity to look at the new person who’s new to homeopathy. For those of you who aren’t new, you need to revisit the old stuff. Joette: Not only that, Paola, but I find that it is useful even if you’re a person who’s been doing this for 25 years. It’s amazing how you will learn something new even if you get one little pearl that can be useful. Interestingly, I found some tapes. I mean tapes, little cassette tapes that I had studied on homeopathy from back in the early 80s. I found them in my closet. I pulled them down. I’ve got an old car that still actually has a tape player in it. So, I thought, “Gee, why don’t I see what’s on here. Let’s see how I think differently now.” So, I’ve been listening to these tapes for the last several days in my car and loving it because even if there’s one little bit on Aconitum that I hadn’t considered before or one little aspect of Bryonia. These are medicines I had to memorize in order to get my degrees. So, it’s not like this is something that I don’t know anything about. But there’s always something more to learn from a slightly different set of words, slightly different language. So yes, there’s always something more to learn. Paola: Absolutely. You said Aconite. One of my favorite things to tell people about Aconite that they don’t always know about, and this is something that I stumbled across, Aconite is the Arnica of the eye. Joette: Yes, ma’am. Paola: That’s really cool information. If you don’t go back to the basics sometimes, you’re going to be stuck with what you know — and then you don’t know what you don’t know. Joette: Right, exactly. Paola: Very good. So, with our newbies in mind especially the structure of this podcast, so I have several questions that a lot of people who are interacting with newbies to homeopathy, these are the kinds of questions they’re getting. The first one is how is homeopathy different from herbs, specifically herbs and then also natural medicine. Differentiating between homeopathy and natural medicineJoette: Well, homeopathy is based on a lot of the botanicals, the botanical world. So, there is a lot of crossover in certain ways. But herbs or botanicals in and of themselves mean that you’re using herbs in their gross form. In homeopathy, we’re getting that herb or mineral or animal venom or something from the periodic table, et cetera and it’s being diluted. Now, we’re not going to go into how it’s diluted and all of that because that is the essence of what homeopathy is about. But it takes it to a different level. You know how when a child is teething? And if you know anything about botanicals, the first herb you might think of would be chamomile or Chamomilla. So, you get it and you make it into a tincture or you make it into a tea, especially a tea because it’s a small child. You don’t want to give a child alcohol, not too much of it anyway. You make the tea. You give it to the child. It might calm the child down a bit. In fact, it often does. It not only calms the child down but also keeps the pain down a bit. That’s why it’s calming it down. So, the pain is not so grand. So, you get that Chamomilla and you get that flower and you put it in alcohol. You let it sit for a fortnight, two weeks. Now, you’ve made it into a tincture. I’m describing the homeopathic process. Now, it’s sitting for two weeks. Then from there, it’s decanted. Then a drop of that made tincture that has the essence of the plant and the medicinal properties of the plant, now diluted into and absorbed into the alcohol, a drop of that is taken and put into 99 drops of alcohol. Now, we’re starting the process of making a homeopathic medicine. I’m not going to go through all of that again because as I said, we can refer to our podcast that describes that but it’s diluted. Paola: That would be Podcast Number 17 where Joette really kind of breaks down the homeopathic process of taking something like an herb, chamomile herb tincture turning into a diluted homeopathic remedy. Joette: Right. We’re going to dilute it, let’s say 200 times because I love Chamomilla 200 for teething fractious children. So, it’s diluted 200 times if it’s 200C to the 100th power. That gives us then the medicine Chamomilla. It’s always in Latin. We don’t use common names. We use Latin words. Chamomilla 200C diluted 200 times, C to the 100th power. Now, we give this to the child who is teething and something even grander happens. What happens is it’s not just dealing with that child that night and allowing that child to calm down from the teething pain and the irritability but also it softens the whole aspect of teething. It makes it so that the teething is no longer the condition. If you give Chamomilla 200C to a teething child who is fractious and irritable, and not able to sleep, and very touchy, and every little thing bothers them, and every little thing hurts, and nothing makes them happy. You give them Chamomilla 200C, twice a day for several days, not only will you have a child who now will be able to sleep (some people, it’s two days; some children, it’s eight days), but within that framework, you will see that child will not only fall asleep easily and the fractiousness will melt away. They will no longer be irritable and kicking you and pushing off of you and being sensitive to every little noise and touch or anything but you’ve also stopped the action or at least reduced the action often greatly of the pain that the child is experiencing with teething. So now, you’ve got a child who’s been teething and chronically has these problems for the last six months. My gosh, when is this tooth going to come out. Finally, you give Chamomilla 200C and you see the entire picture change. So, it gets that essence, the medicine, the healing aspect of chamomile flowers. By diluting it, it seems like it would go the opposite way. But there is an aspect of homeopathy that stimulates the mixture so that now, it becomes a very potent healing medicine because it’s diluted. Paola: I like to think of it as because it’s so diluted, it enters the body at a cellular level. Joette: Deeper. Paola: Nano, nano-level. Joette: Nano-molecular, yes, I love it. I love it. That’s exactly what it is. Now, in the world in which we live, nano is not an unusual word. It is understood. So, it goes deeper. By diluting it, it minimizes any toxic aspect of the plant of which there’s not much in chamomile but brings to the fore the curative aspect. So now, instead of dealing with this age-old teething, this baby, my gosh, three years old still teething; every single time a tooth comes in, the whole family is up. Now, you give the Chamomilla 200C twice a day, sometimes even three times in a day. You will see that not only will the pain go down and the irascibility but also the return ability of the condition. Paola: Very good. I guess one question that I think people have is okay, so you started this example by saying you can give like chamomile tea. So, what you’re saying is herbs can cure or help uproot the condition. Joette: Yes, yes, ma’am, absolutely. Paola: Homeopathy might do it more efficaciously, at a deeper, quicker possible level. Joette: Exactly, exactly, it goes deeper. I started out studying herbs. I live in the country. I would gather my plants from the wayside and in the fields and in the woods. I’d make my own tinctures because I didn’t know enough about homeopathy. But once I recognized the curability of homeopathy and the depth and breadth to which it can carry a person, I asked myself, “Why am I using it in the gross form as a plant when I can use it in the homeopathic form and go way past what a plant can do?” Plus, here’s another part of this picture. Now, it opens up our world because an herbalist can only use plants that are safe. But in homeopathy, we can use plants that are not safe in their gross form because we’re going to dilute them so many times that we have minimized or eliminated to a certain degree the toxic properties of the plant and brought to the fore the curative. So, it opens up the world. So now, Rhus tox which is poison ivy is a fabulous medicine for arthritis. Now, without that poisonous plant being diluted in this pharmacological, mathematical, scientific method called homeopathy, we would not have a cure or at least a help for arthritis, osteo — as well as often rheumatoid arthritis. Paola: If this piques your interest, how is it possible that we use these toxic substances and they become curative in the homeopathic preparation, again, I’m going to refer to that Podcast Number 17. Joette: Yes. Paola: Listen to that … Joette: I know it flies in the face of what we think is common sense but think about dilutions and how important they are. Dilutions matter. Paola: Yes. Joette: They’re big part of our lives. Only the difference is this is so scientific, it has been proven again and again and again for well over 230 years now. Paola: Well, and that’s the interesting thing is whether or not society has caught up with, like we were just discussing the word nano. That’s kind of widely accepted now. That’s something we all know about. So now, we can use the word nano and you don’t sound like a crazy person. But I think 20 years ago, if you use the concept of nano being a real thing, people would think you’re crazy. Joette: Here’s the thing. You know what? It doesn’t really matter how … Paola: It doesn’t matter. Joette: It really doesn’t. The fact is these medicines act. They work. Paola: Exactly. So, my point is you can wait for society to catch up with something that works or you can just go with it right now. Joette: Yes. Paola: That works. Joette: Yes, absolutely. Paola: So, there’s one thing I want to discuss, too, though, is we have herbs and then we have natural medicine. I want to distinguish that not all natural medicine necessarily cures in the same way that homeopathy cures. Joette: Well, natural medicine is really just a catch-all phrase. I don’t know what it really means except that does it mean chiropractic? Does it mean acupuncture, qigong? All of those are considered natural medicine and they all have their places. But I’ve never found anything that is as profound-acting as homeopathy. I’ve been searching a long time. I was born in 1952, ladies. I got to tell you, I’ve been around a long time. My mother used to do reflexology on my feet when I was little because she was into this for a long time. She took us to chiropractors. She didn’t take it all the way but she did explore a great deal of this and not homeopathy, unfortunately. I’ve been exposed to this kind of information for my entire life. It took a long time for me to find homeopathy. I also had very poor health for a good many decades of my life. So, I was always searching. It’s not like I lived a charmed life where nothing went wrong. I was always searching and digging, and this is the most profound. I’ve never seen anything like this. I’m sure you can probably tell in not only my voice because of the speed at which I speak and the excitement in my voice, but also your voice too, Paola. You just said today in one of our meetings here in the office that you love this. Anyone who learns enough of this to just be able to cure themselves or their family will fall in love with this. Paola: Right. Joette: I always say that you think it’s lovely getting pregnant and then holding your baby in your belly for nine months. I mean it’s also romantic. It’s so gorgeous and then giving birth. A friend of mine once said it’s the most profound human experience to give birth to your child. You think that’s incredible, try curing your child for a condition. Talk about heavy. There is nothing on this earth like being able to cure your own child and know down to your toes that you’ve done no harm. You can’t say that with antibiotics. You can’t say with steroids. You can’t say with inhalers. You can’t say with any conventional medicines. But with homeopathy, you can cure your child of something that could have been plaguing that child for months if not years and maybe even goes all the way back to your own family. That, my friends, is what excites us about this and that we want to share this with other families. Paola: Absolutely. It’s not to say that you don’t like chiropractors. We do. Joette: Oh, I love chiropractors. No, no, no, I think they’re great. Yes, absolutely. Paola: You’ve even told me before, having other natural medicine things in your kit as a backup. Joette: Yes, you need all the tools you can get. But once you start learning homeopathy, many of those tools will fall to the wayside. I studied essential oils, I don’t know, 35 years ago. I love them. I still have them in my house. I still use them here and there. But if I want medicine, I go to homeopathy. Paola: Absolutely. I do want to point out one more distinction between natural medicine and homeopathy, and you’ve taught this to me, Joette, this is where I learned it from, is that homeopathy re-educates your immune system, your body to learn to overcome. So that on the other side of an illness, be it chronic or acute, it is wiser for the illness. Whereas, opposed with natural medicine can be colloidal silver. It’s kind of grouped into that. It could be high doses of oregano oil that you take because you have strep throat or whatever. On the other side of those types of situations, your body does not learn anything. Joette: You’ve used something that doesn’t cause harm most likely, which is a great thing. But you want to up the ante. You want to go even deeper. You want it not to come back again. You want that teething episode to not be something that your child and family have to experience every couple of months just because the child is growing. Paola: Popping another tooth. Yes, that’s exactly right. I remember I taught one of the study group classes. My friend said, “Well, I always just use colloidal silver every time I get strep.” I said, “Well, did you hear yourself? Every time you get strep, how about not getting that again?” Joette: Right. We’re not saying it will never happen again. But usually, it’s a lesser version so the teething might be not as extreme. It won’t be as intense. It won’t last as long. There’ll be a larger space between each time that it occurs. Same thing with strep, you might still get a sore throat. You might still get a little strep infection. But you hit it again with the same homeopathic medicine that worked last time. It’s likely that is the goal of homeopathy, here’s the keyword, to uproot the condition. Paola: Right. Joette: Not that episode of it, the entire condition. Absolutely gorgeous. Paola: I think it even gets more exciting like, “And there’s more. You might have inherited your dad’s tendency to, I don’t know, have bad joints.” Going back to Rhus tox, that can help you get away from that inherited. Joette: Well, hey, let’s put it this way. Everything is inherited. Everything is inherited. I know people don’t think that way but the moment the sperm meets the egg … Paola: I know, unless you’re Adam and Eve. Joette: Right, really, the moment the sperm meets the egg, it’s done. I don’t care what your politics are, that is the start of human life. Once that begins, and I know that might turn some people off and it might turn some people on, I’m of that ilk that I believe that’s when the moment of life begins. At that very moment, the mixtures of the two DNAs are now set in stone. So, what happens to that child, to that person, to that teenager, to that young adult, to that middle-aged adult, to that elderly person is all based on their DNA. So, all we can do is correct it. So, if homeopathy can correct it, it means it must be affecting it. Paola: We’ve got homeopathy. It takes toxic substances and turns them curative. It has a specific process that separates itself from just generalized natural medicine. In addition to curing, it allows your body to become empowered on the other side of illness. It really sets itself apart from other forms of medicine. Usually, the next question is how do I dose? Meaning, how often do I take it and how many pellets do I take. All About DosingJoette: Well, the number of pellets is determined by looking on the back of the bottles. So, that’s super easy. How often to take it? Well, that’s too broad a question. Are you talking about for rheumatoid arthritis or are you talking about a child’s ear infection or for teething? You take it until it works. I go into this. I’m being very broad and explaining it like that. But that’s why you need to learn a little bit more about homeopathy. So these kinds of questions are answered. For example, when our study groups meet, we talk about that, how frequently a homeopathic medicine should be repeated. Basically, you take it until it’s done. Now, how do you know that you’ve chosen the right one? Well, you see improvement. If you don’t see improvement after X number of uses of it then you have to go on. Paola: But all that is very specific. You’re right that it takes more learning. That’s why you’ve done the study group curriculum, Gateway to Homeopathy, because how frequently you take it changes between an acute and a chronic. Acute, you can take it a little more frequently. Chronic, you have to space it out more. Then to measure improvement, again, it’s different between an acute and a chronic. That takes just a little bit of learning. So, I guess that again separates itself from natural medicine. I think natural medicine is a little bit easier to understand like lavender oil for when you have a stuffy nose; whereas with homeopathy, it takes a little bit more learning. Joette: Yes. Paola: Another question people get in relationship to dosing is, “Is it safe to give my baby a remedy? What is the dosing difference?” Joette: Well, let’s put it this way. I gave my baby, and I’ve been at births where the newborn is given their homeopathic medicine. So, as long as you have a pretty good idea of what you’re doing then yes, it’s safe. Everything comes with a risk. So, I’m not going to tell you it’s perfectly safe. Nothing is. So, I want you to remember that. That if you choose a medicine and you say, “Wow, I know what I should be using.” And you give it. You say, “Well, I don’t see results yet.” You give it again and no results yet. You give it again. You give it again. You give it again. You may cause trouble. So, you have to know what it is you’re treating. You want to know a little bit more than just let’s just throw this out and see if it sticks. You want to have a little bit more knowledge than, “Gee, I wonder if I can give this or not?” That’s where it really matters that you take this on. If this is of interest to you, I urge you to consider our study groups and our courses. If nothing else, go to my blog. It’s free. I’ve been writing articles on this blog for close to nine years. I give away exactly how to treat one specific condition at a time and exactly what medicines they are and how frequently to use them, et cetera. Paola: Yes. That is your signature style is you get that busy moms don’t have time to learn this the long way. So, you’re going to teach it the shortest way possible. Joette: I try very hard to distill it down as much as I can. Paola: I think a lot of women get overwhelmed. Like, “Oh boy, I have to learn this thing called homeopathy and it just seems so overwhelming.” I really feel like it’s just a few hours. If you get okay, okay, I’m going to commit to four hours of learning homeopathy this week. You’re going to learn a lot to get going, even just with four hours. Joette: Yes. Paola: Just to be clear then, dosing for a baby, if I have a baby who is nine months old … Joette: Let’s go to the teething situation. Paola: Okay. I don’t need to reduce the amount of pellets I physically give, the physical number of pellets. I don’t give five to an adult and two to a baby because I’m reducing the dose. Joette: Yes, that’s right. Although some places will, some bottles will tell you to give the baby fewer pills but that’s because it’s not necessary to give a full four pills. For example, you can just use two. But if the baby got into the bottle and ate the whole bottle, it still would not cause trouble. Paola: Right. Joette: The numbers of pills, it’s a lot different than what we’re accustomed to. Paola: Yes, you have to kind of break that paradigm. Tell them your analogy of lighting a fire with matches. Joette: Yes. It’s like if you were to start a fire, you could start a fire with one match or you could start a fire with six matches. It’s still lighting the fire. That’s what we’re doing is stimulating the body’s ability to correct itself. Paola: But of course with Tylenol, it’s completely different. You really need the proper dose. Joette: Yes. That could be dangerous if you don’t do that properly. Paola: But think about it. Earlier, we mentioned dilution. These are highly diluted remedies. It’s kind of impossible to get an overdose from two nanos versus one nano, you know what I mean, or five nanos versus 100 nanos. It’s kind of all the same. Those of you who are learning homeopathy, you realize that there’s one remedy that does many things. For example, we’re talking about Rhus tox. Joette: Rhus tox is great for joint pain, for arthritis, for tendon pain, for muscle strain, for overuse. It’s also great for chicken pox. When you think about what poison ivy can cause, it causes pustules and itching and restlessness. So, we can then say that it can also be used then because that’s the signature of the plant and how it acts on us as humans. It can then eliminate that by using Rhus tox 30C or 30X, or 200C or 200X, or even a 6x, 6C. We can uproot the itching and restlessness and maddening sensations of having chicken pox. Plants have many purposes. So, when people say how was it that it could have so many purposes? Well, plants have many purposes. If you have a stomachache, if you’re thinking of botanicals, you could use oregano. You could use mint. Many other substances can be considered for one condition. Healing is not linear. We don’t want to put health into little boxes so that we can say, “Okay, this is for this. That’s for that.” It’s a little bit overprescribed and oversimplified. Life is a little more complex than that. There are nuances. We want to know those nuances. They’re really fascinating. Paola: Tell me if this is wrong to get it in people’s minds. People are just so used to taking Benadryl for allergies, Advil for headaches. It feels like it’s one drug for one thing. Homeopathy uses the whole plants or the whole mineral, or the whole organism. So, it has many sides to it. But when you’re trying something into a pharmaceutical, it’s very narrowed down and it’s very isolated. It’s a specific drug. Therefore, it tends to only work for a handful of things. Joette: Well, it’s patented and it’s synthetic. In other words, they couldn’t sell it for what they sell it for. You can’t own chamomile. You can’t own that. That’s part of the earth. But if you get chamomile as they would in a conventional pharmacy, not a corner pharmacy but in the pharmaceutical industry, they get the constituents of the chamomile and synthetically mimic it. Now, they can own it. By owning it, they can patent it. By patenting it, that’s how they make their income. Then they could charge anything they want which is why you see some drugs are $3000 for one injection. Paola: So, it’s like they basically narrowed the ability of that plant that used to be so versatile. They’ve narrowed it down to be something specific so they can make money off of it. Joette: Well, they’ve done more than narrow. They’re mimicking it. They’re synthetically mimicking it. It’s not the same thing. It would be like sugar is sugar. It’s from the cane plant. If you want to mimic those properties, you can end up with NutraSweet. Now, is that sugar? No. It’s a mimic of it. It always amazes me that folks who are very, very studious and particular about what foods they put in their mouths and what foods they put on the table for their families but when the child gets an ear infection, they toss an antibiotic in there or they toss a steroid in there. Now, I realize. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not giving anyone a hard time because a lot of times, mothers don’t realize that there’s an alternative. This is the alternative. Paola: Okay. So, here’s a big question. This might be a new word for some people. What is an aggravation? How often does it happen? AggravationJoette: Well, an aggravation is a word that’s used in homeopathy to describe when you use a homeopathic medicine for a chronic condition, not acute, not an ear infection, not teething, not something that has a natural beginning and a natural end. It’s going to be gone in two weeks even if you do nothing but for a chronic condition like arthritis or eczema or something that the person often gets worse before they get better. So, it’s frightening to many people and I don’t blame them. It is something that is found in classical homeopathy which is why I don’t use classical homeopathy any longer. I use protocols. It is one of the many reasons that I’ve abandoned the use of classical homeopathy for chronic conditions because I don’t want to see anyone suffer any further. It often will frighten someone enough away that they will never want to do it at all because they know how sick they can become. They’re afraid that that could cause it. So, I don’t worry about it in the very least anymore. Paola: So, to use the term, “aggravation” is this new term. So, to use a term, I think that people might relate to more easily, in natural medicine, we know that there’s a detox reaction, detox symptoms. So, it’s like they say in natural medicine that a detox symptom is a good thing. It means that you’re releasing the toxins. Then once you get past that, you’ll be improved. So, in classical homeopathy, an aggravation is like a detox symptom? Joette: I would say that it’s kind of overshooting the mark and the body is having to compensate. I think that’s the way I would describe it. Paola: You’re right. I feel like I’ve rarely, if ever, had an aggravation using the Banerji Protocols, the practical homeopathy that you teach. Joette: Yes, right. Paola: Next question is can homeopathy be harmful if taken wrong? You’ve kind of touched on this. Well, let’s talk about it a little bit more because we walk a fine line though. We don’t want to scare people from using homeopathy but we still want them to respect it. Joette: That’s right. That’s a good word. We want to respect it. It’s like water. Here’s the ocean. Now, this is really beautiful. It’s really great that you want to play in it. It’s important that you learn how to swim. But you have to also understand that there can be a danger associated with this if you’re not prudent, if y don’t know how to swim, if you go to the edge of the pier and you don’t know what you’re doing. There is good and bad in most things of great value. We could do the same thing with food. Salt is a very important aspect of cooking. We need to have that mineral in our foods. But we can overdo it. It can become dangerous if we use too much. On the other hand, if we use too little, that can be a problem. So, there is always the chance of causing trouble if you don’t follow the rules. That’s why I try to make the rules very, very precise as best as I can. Paola: Which goes back to what I keep saying is your signature style to try and give us the facts so that we can take this and use it in the safest way possible. Joette: That’s true. You see, in classical homeopathy for those who know what classical homeopathy is, it’s very vague. You could take one person as a patient and have five classical homeopaths interview that person in separate rooms within an hour of each other. I can practically guarantee that you’ll come up with five different medicines for that person because it’s also based on the perception of the homeopath. Now, it doesn’t mean that they’re all wrong or that any of them are wrong. It doesn’t mean any of that because there are many ways to skin a cat. However, having said that, what I love about the Banerji Protocols, which are the protocols that I use now and some of them I call just plain old practical homeopathy, is that there are specific medicines we use for specific conditions. So, they are and here’s the keyword: reproducible results. Paola: Which is very different from classical homeopathy. Joette: Yes, it is quite different. Paola: In the sense that the same remedy will treat the same condition on everyone. Homeopathy can treat the same condition but in classical, you’d use very different remedies to get to the same results. Joette: Yes. Paola: So my headache remedy will be different from your headache remedy because we’re different people. Classical homeopathy likes different remedies. Joette: Yes. Paola: So Joette, in light of respecting homeopathy and knowing that we have to respect it and knowing that it is powerful medicine, like the ocean, we love it but we have to respect it, what does proving a remedy mean? How do we know if we are proving? ProvingJoette: Let’s stay within the realm of acute illness such as a child’s fever or otitis media, strep throat or something like that, okay? Because if we’re talking about chronic, that’s too complex to explain but let’s go at least the setting. Paola: And you do explain chronic stuff in your courses. Joette: Oh, I do. I teach it on my blog as well. But we could spend a good 45 minutes just on that. So, it’s best that we try to keep it simple. Let’s say a child has got an ear infection. You decide the remedy that should be given is Pulsatilla. So, you give Pulsatilla, and there’s no change. That’s acceptable. Give it again by three hours later, still no change. Do it again three hours later and still no change. Now, you’re going up to the fourth dose. That’s generally my rule is after the fourth dose, now, you start questioning whether or not you’ve got the right medicine. Let’s say you’ve gone past four doses and you still don’t see a change. You keep saying it’s got to be Pulsatilla. I just know it is. You give 20 of these or even 10 of these doses. What you could end up getting is a child who starts acting as though they really need Pulsatilla. What that means is that the picture of Pulsatilla, the need for it as a child is very needy and weepy. They have eyes that get goopy. They get conjunctivitis. They get stomach aches. They’re crying constantly. They’re very irritable. You might cause that to become the problem when all you really had was otitis media before that. So, it makes things much worse but it’s not permanent. You stop using the medicine. It goes away. Then you find the correct medicine that should have been used in the first place and you move on. People are very, very worried about provings. But I don’t worry about them as much as long as you follow the rules. That’s what I teach. I’m very specific about rules on my blog that we put out every week. I’m very specific about rules in my classes, in my online classes and our study groups, et cetera. I’m pretty careful about that. Paola: Right. That’s why I always cringe if I talk to someone who has taken your class and they’re breaking the rules. You shouldn’t do that. Homeopathy is complex and your rules are there for a reason. So, you should really stick to them. I have a little pinkeye story. It’s funny that you mentioned it where I had a great experience where I learned about a proving. My friend’s daughter had pinkeye. We actually went to your blog. One of the remedies that you suggested was Hepar sulph. That’s the abbreviation, I think. What’s the full name? Joette: Hepar sulphuricum calcarea. Paola: Right. So, we say Hepar sulph. Joette: Right, for obvious reasons. Paola: Right. She started dosing it. I think she got through maybe just four or five doses throughout the first day. Then she noticed that all of a sudden, that pinkeye was not only just how it was before but there was a new symptom. It was weeping. The eye was draining some fluid. Also, her daughter mentioned that the light hurt and that she wanted her mom to turn off the lights in the living room. Joette: Which was something that hadn’t been happening previously. Paola: Two brand new symptoms on top of the pink eye. So then, I went to my materia medica which is something you do learn about in your courses. Actually, you are coming out with a materia medica pretty soon here. Joette: That’s right. I can’t wait to get that out. Paola: I know. It will be really great. I cannot wait to get it too because you’ve put together a bunch of other materia medicas you’ve put together in courses, and it’s one little enchilada. Anyways, I went to my materia medica, soon to be yours. I looked up Hepar sulph. They break it down by body parts. So, I looked under Hepar sulph for the eye. I saw that with Hepar sulph, there could be a lot of drainage and sensitivity to light with something. So, because we were taking Hepar sulph and because the pink eye developed new symptoms that related to Hepar sulph, boom! I knew we were proving the remedy. That’s one of the ways you can deduce. So, then we stopped the remedy. What do you do now, Joette? Joette: You stop using that medicine. Sometimes people will use Camphor 200 or they’ll just move on. You don’t want to wait too long because you got to get at that conjunctivitis. Now, you go to, okay, what is presenting now? Now, we start thinking about what is the next medicine that could be most valuable. That’s the way this is laid out. So, you might go to Pulsatilla because Pulsatilla has a lot of weepiness. The discharge is yellow or white and that’s what it looks like. Now, they’re super sensitive. So, Pulsatilla would be my guess, would be the next good choice. Paola: Well, that is what we did and it worked. Joette: There you go. Paola: There you go. Joette: Then you use Pulsatilla 30. You use that every four hours. If it’s really severe, you might use it every two hours. I mean severe. You don’t say, “Oh gee, I just don’t like this. And she’s got a dance recital tonight.” No, no, no. Use it according to the method, about every four hours as your benchmark. Usually by the third dose, sometimes the first dose, you see an improvement. One of the ways we know that we’re witnessing improvement is that the person is better. She stops weeping. She stops being so sensitive. She gets more energy back. She feels happier. She eats a better meal. Another way to know is that she falls asleep because that’s where we heal. When we’re really sick, we need to sleep. We’re just too sick to sleep. So, that’s not what’s happening. But when you use the right homeopathic medicine, that’s often what ensues. Then when the child wakes up or whoever it might be, they wake up again. If the symptoms have returned, guess what you do? You go right back to the medicine that acted. So, you give that Pulsatilla again because it just was needed again. So, use it until it’s done. Paola: Finish it off. Joette: Yes. Paola: So, let me review here really quick then. A proving is when you have selected the wrong remedy. Typically, new symptoms arise related to that remedy. You can use the materia medica to double check. Then how do you fix the problem that you’ve gotten into? You can either antidote like you said with Camphor, or what is the preferred method is to select the proper remedy because the proper remedy like in this story of Pulsatilla will correct the ill-chosen one. Joette: That’s right. Paola: Last question Joette, what is the Banerji Protocols? How are they different from classical homeopathy? The Banerji ProtocolsJoette: The Banerji Protocols are named after Drs. Prasanta and Pratip Banerji who have become my not only colleagues but very dear friends. They use protocols that they have come up with from having seen thousands and thousands of cases because they run a clinic and research center in Kolkata. But what’s fascinating about them is they don’t just see many patients per day but this was Prasanta Banerji’s, who is in his 80s, clinic. Before that, his grandfather was using these methods. Before that was his great, great uncle. So, what we see is 150 years’ worth of homeopathic physicians — and they are MDs by the way — who use only homeopathy and see an average of 100 patients per day per doctor. So, after a while, it becomes pretty darn clear that in 80% or 70% or whatever the number turns out to be, usually it’s about 80% to 85% of all cases with this specific condition, whatever condition it is we’re discussing, will be aided greatly by this particular medicine, whatever medicine has been found to be used for many thousands of people prior. So, classical homeopathy is a little different as we touched upon earlier. Classical means you’re going to choose based on the person, not on the condition. Whereas the Banerji Protocols and practical homeopathy that I teach is based on the name of the condition. And then of course, we look at the symptoms. That’s also quite important. But we don’t go as deep into the personality per se. We go more into what is presenting. Oh, the eye is red. There’s a discharge. It’s sensitive to light. The person is weepy. It’s been going on for two or three days. She’s got a stomach ache. There’s the case. There’s the conjunctivitis case. So, if we don’t use the first medicine that is most often considered the first level, then we can go to the second level. If we use the first one and it doesn’t act like what happened with your friend and her daughter, that is pretty much the first level for conjunctivitis. Had there been any creamy or weepy substance exuding from the eye at the onset that perhaps wasn’t truly noticeable by the mother or by you, or it was there but you didn’t give it an awful lot of credence, had you seen that, you might have skipped right over Hepar sulph and gone right to Pulsatilla. So, what it is, is it really exemplifies getting a very complex medicine and distilling it down to those medicines for those conditions that will work for most of the cases on earth. Paola: So basically, the Banerji Protocols take a diagnosis, conjunctivitis for example. It does take note of some of the nuances that might be applicable to that diagnosis perhaps. Like you were saying, if we hadn’t given any credence to the weepiness or if there hadn’t been any at all, it would have helped us maybe kind of narrow down between Hepar sulph and Pulsatilla right away. Then you apply the protocol. Joette: That’s right, super easy. Let me put it this way, relatively easy. What I mean is that I’m coming from a classical background. I studied classical homeopathy 31 years ago. I was classically trained and taught the first classical homeopathy course in New York State that was ever credit-bearing at a college. So, I was a dyed-in-the-wool classical homeopath. I used to do my practice for many years. But I was frustrated by it because it was not, number one, reproducible. It took too long to take the case. And number three, and this is the key for me, I couldn’t teach it to families. I can’t teach classical homeopathy to families unless they’re willing to spend many, many, many, many years learning theory 1, theory 2, the history. That’s a big chunk to bite off. Paola: Do you mean that mostly for chronic conditions, not acute? Joette: Yes, for chronic conditions, yes, yes. I’m able to teach acute pretty easily and always have been but now, I can teach chronics pretty easily. Paola: Right. Joette: How beautiful is that? Paola: Well, I think it’s important to know this, Joette. You have two groups of students in your client base. You have one group that has been with you since the beginning or at least have done homeopathy since the beginning. We have Kate Bechard that we interviewed. She’s a Mom with Moxie that we interviewed if you look through our podcast. She’s one of them. She used to do classical homeopathy before and then she’s like, “Oh boy! But then Joette and the Banerji Protocols came on board. It has rocked my world. It simplified it so much.” So, she appreciates how much simplified the Banerji Protocols have become. But you have a group of students that have come on the scene. They haven’t done any classical homeopathy. They’ve come right into the Banerji Protocols. They feel like it’s complicated. So, I just want to point out. Remember, if you’ve come on the scene late in the game, straight to the candy, it really is a lot easier now in relationship to classical homeopathy. I think that’s really important to remember and be grateful. Joette: Well, it’s human health. Medicine is a very, very vast subject. You could study it for five lifetimes and still not get all of it. So, what we’ve done is gotten the complex and made it into a simple as we possibly can. Paola: So, know if you feel like well, this is really hard, well, it could be worse. Joette: That’s right. Paola: Joette, I think you wanted to share with us some closing thoughts. Joette: I did. I want to mention and I know that those followers of this kind of a group who would be listening to this kind of podcast are probably already in this court. But it doesn’t hurt to remind families and moms and grandmothers what we’re really doing here. So, I feel very strongly that every decision, no matter how uncomfortable socially, personally, culturally, professionally, even financially must be based on what is genuinely best for the family. Family is the core of our society. We must keep it together as tightly as we can. At the bottom of the family pecking order is the child. The child is the most innocent of all in our society. It is up to us to protect and to make sure that what is put into that child’s body is worthy of a human being, especially a human being in our own family. So, with that, I bid you all the best of studying and learning homeopathy. Get as much free from me as you possibly can. I really don’t mind. That’s exactly what I love doing. But should you decide at any point in your life that you’d like to go a little further then consider study groups. Should you decide to go even further than that then we have classes online. We’ve got a lot going on here. It is my passion to teach this and get this out there. I want to see homeopathy get back on the map in North America once again. Paola: Very good. That is your mission. How many families do you want to get this into? Joette: We want to get to 100,000 households by 2020. We’re getting there. Paola: We are getting there. It’s because moms like sharing good stuff with other moms. Joette: Yes. Well, that’s what we women do best. I don’t want to discount men but this really is more often in the woman’s realm because she’s the mother or the grandmother. She’s the one who’s responsible for the wellbeing of the children, their health, and their nutrition, et cetera. Paola: Thank you, Joette. You’re an awesome mom. Thank you for mothering us through this world of homeopathy. I hope that the newbies to homeopathy and the oldies appreciated this. I think it’s especially good for those of you who do have experience with homeopathy to listen to this podcast and share it with your friends when you’re trying to do that. I know that I have a lot of people coming to me, “So what is homeopathy?” I just feel like, “Oh dear.” Joette: Oh, you just have to explain. Paola: I send them to this podcast. Podcast Number 17 is a great first one. Then let’s say this is number two. Joette: It’s great. Well, thank you, Paola. Paola: Thank you, Joette. You just listened to a podcast by joettecalabrese.com where nationally certified homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese shared her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. Joette’s podcasts are available on iTunes, Google Play, Blueberry, Stitcher, and TuneIn radio. Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com.
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| Podcast 32 – Moms with Moxie: A Nutritionist Mom on Diet and Homeopathy | 21 Aug 2017 | 00:28:12 | |
In this podcast, we cover: 03:20 Starting Homeopathy 09:06 Success stories with Arnica, Ruta, Symphytum, and Nux vomica 15:36 Implementing Joette’s teachings & protocols into the practice of proper nutrition 24:49 Using moderate diet with the remedies
You are listening to a podcast from joettecalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition.
Paola: It’s podcast number 32 at JoetteCalabrese.com. Today, we’ve got a new episode for the Moms with Moxie miniseries. Joette: All the way from my desk in New York, I get to see how homeopathy is transforming lives all over the globe. Some of my students have really caught my eye. Some of you have done all you can to learn how to cure those around you using homeopathic medicines. Your successes inspire me. They’re glorious and powerful. I can’t keep your successes a secret any longer. So, with help from my roving reporter, Paola, we bring you this mini podcast series that I call Moms with Moxie. It’s actually grandmoms, too. But it’s Moms with Moxie. See how regular mothers and others, average people who want to cure those around them have gone from freaking to fabulous with homeopathy. Paola: I’m very much looking forward to who I’m interviewing today. I have Sheryl Shenefelt with me and she’s an interesting gal. She has been in the holistic alternative health world for quite a while now. I think you were saying, Sheryl, since before you had your own kids, which is every girl’s dream I feel like. Well, every seasoned mom’s dream. I mean, I wish I was down that road before I had kids, too. So, you’re awesome. Sheryl: Oh, thank you. Paola: You’re welcome. So, tell us a little bit about yourself. I know you’re a mom of two. Sheryl: Yes. I have two kids. My daughter is 15 and my son is 11. I’m also an author and a nutritionist. I’ve been working in the nutrition world really since when I was pregnant with my daughter. I’ve also written five nutrition books with a holistic medical doctor, Dr. David Brownstein, mostly on nutrition. We teamed up because I was really into eating real food, more of a holistic lifestyle. I had been studying a lot with the Weston A. Price Foundation. So, we just thought eye to eye as far as how real food could really help people heal along with his holistic treatment. Paola: Now, I know Joette is on the board. She’s an honorary board member of the Weston A. Price Foundation. But you were telling me that you were involved in one of the first chapters of the Weston A. Price Foundation? Sheryl: Yes. Actually, the first chapter was here in Detroit, Michigan. They had only been around for a couple of years and I found them. I actually ended up being on the board of the local chapter and getting really involved, and helping people to find local farmers, and get connected with food. It really just fit right into my practice as a nutritionist. Now, I also use homeopathy. That was the basis of what I do even now. I did a lot more then. Paola: That’s awesome. Yes. We’re going to get into that in how you combined nutrition with homeopathy. But let’s start at the beginning of your journey with homeopathy. I know that you’ve told me you would much rather have homeopathy in your life than not. Tell me about your early experiences with homeopathy and what situations you used at work. Starting HomeopathySheryl: I connected with a homeopath while I was pregnant actually. She taught me a little bit about homeopathy. I was already on the page that I wanted to have a natural childbirth but she said that I could do it without any pain meds if I just used homeopathy. So, I ended up using Arnica throughout my whole birth process and it worked. It was amazing. I mean, I can’t say I was pain-free. But I guess I didn’t use any pain meds or do epidural or anything like that. So, I was very happy to have my daughter naturally, the way I had planned. Paola: Oh, that’s awesome. Good old Arnica to the rescue. Sheryl: I know and I still…Arnica is my favorite remedy ever. I use it a lot with my kids, for myself and just for pain or injuries. So, I love it. It’s my go-to. Paola: I know. I always tell people like, “What do you do if you know someone who’s skeptical with homeopathy? I just wait for them to have an accident and use Arnica. Then it’s going to be fine. Then no.” Sheryl: No, no, no. Paola: Yes, then no, no. Arnica – yes, exactly. I mean, if homeopathy were a high school and all the remedies were people, Arnica would be class president, very popular, very successful, easy to use. So that’s awesome. You started working with a homeopath. Did you just pretty much go to your homeopathy appointment every time you got sick or did you ever start trying to transition into using it yourself without the assistance? Sheryl: I did. I really was drawn to homeopathy. Its power gave me a lot of incentive to find out more about it. Then having my children, really, I wanted to raise them drug-free, so I wanted to know what options were out there. So, I really started studying homeopathy more. I did see a classical homeopath who directed us in that route. But like acute situations and things like that, I started to learn on my own. So that I could, if my daughter or son has a cough or sniffles or something, that I could just go to my resources and my homeopathy kit and pick something to use rather than medication. Paola: Right. I think that’s pretty standard. Joette has said that among classical homeopaths, they do encourage moms to learn homeopathy for acute prescription of their own families and themselves. That’s good. So, you started dabbling into that. Have you ever happened to give say, antibiotics to your kids? Sheryl: Actually, one time. I’m still kicking myself for doing that because I know now, obviously, I didn’t know then. So, I have to give myself a break that I didn’t know then about the choices at that time. So definitely I’ve been working on using probiotics and rebuilding, and now just learning more about homeopathy. I can use that as my medicines. Paola: What was it for, that antibiotic? Sheryl: For strep throat. We got too far along on the strep throat that I just didn’t know enough about the homeopathy that it was going to take care of it. Paola: Right. Yes. You are not allowed to mom-guilt yourself for doing that because I did not have any natural childbirth and too old as to have had antibiotics and what not. So, you’re doing pretty good giving your son the one. Sheryl: He ended up actually getting strep throat again. That time, I was able to use Hepar sulph and that took care of it. Now, he hasn’t had it since. Paola: Yehey! That’s the way we like it. It sounds like the first time he has strep was pre-Joette because, with classical homeopathy, you have to repertorize and find exactly, is it the right side, the left side? What kind of strep throat are we dealing with? Then when he got strep throat the second time, was that with Joette’s information available to you? Sheryl: Yes. I had just met her. So, I didn’t know everything about it yet and I hadn’t been through her classes and whatnot yet. So that’s why I didn’t feel comfortable, b ut yes. Then the second time, I had been through her class. I had talked to her more. I felt really comfortable sticking with it. And so, that’s what pushed me along. Paola: So really before, you were hesitant with homeopathy and Joette kind of gave you permission? Is that right? Sheryl: Yes, yes. Definitely her classes, I love her classes. I’ve done all of them. One of them, just the Survivalist, I’m still working to get through. Paola: Oh, yes. That’s a good one. Sheryl: But the Good Gut, Bad Gut, the Skin, the Allergies, so it just really opened my eyes up to, even more, uses for homeopathy that just made it so exciting and also gave me more confidence to say, “Hey! This remedy is for this. Here’s what’s happening.” I feel good about giving it.” Paola: I find that that’s typical among people who did homeopathy before they met Joette. Then after Joette, it’s like their view of homeopathy broadens because you realize with her practical approach that there’s so much more you just could work for. Sheryl: Absolutely. Paola: Well, I can relate to that because my mom did raise me using a lot of homeopathic remedies. We were immigrants and didn’t have health insurance right away when we moved here on my dad’s student visa. She used homeopathy. But then it’s like as soon as we got health insurance, she stopped using it because she thought, “Oh well, now this is better.” But knowing what I know now, knowing what my mom knows now, she’s like, “Oh, boy! I wish I had realized how deep this stuff was and I would have just stuck with it.” Sheryl: Wow! Right. Paola: It’s kind of a shame. Okay. Why don’t you tell us some of your acute successes with homeopathy? Success stories with Arnica, Ruta, Symphytum, and Nux vomicaSheryl: Some of the other ways that I’ve used homeopathy is when my daughter sprained her ankle. I gave her Arnica right away for the pain. Then I started her on the Ruta for the sprain. She really felt like, after no time at all, I was almost like, “Doesn’t your ankle hurt?” She was like, “No. I feel fine.” She was like in two days walking on it. She was like, “It doesn’t hurt.” But it was purple and black and blue, but it didn’t hurt. Paola: Oh, wow! It looked bad but it felt great. Sheryl: That was amazing. Yes, it looked terrible. But it helped so fast for her. It was amazing because you could see where she was hurt. I would press on it and she was like, “Oh, don’t touch it.” But she was able to walk and do everything she needs. She went to school after only a couple of days on the remedy. Paola: That’s incredible. Tell our listeners what Ruta is good for. I know it’s for deep tissue sprains. Sheryl: I mainly had always thought in my head like Ruta, I knew it was for sprains and strain. Paola: Yes. Sheryl: So I guess, as soon as she sprained it, it popped in my head. I’m like, “Oh, that’s right.” I learned that Ruta is for sprains and strain. That’s what made me reach for that. But then I also knew Arnica is the thing that you go first when you first have an injury. You want to give the Arnica for the shock, the trauma, and then also the pain. I actually alternated Arnica with Ruta because Arnica helped with the pain and then the Ruta was to heal. Paola: I think that’s fine. I think it’s really good to have these little keynotes memorized so they’re part of your muscle memory. When something happens, you’re like, “Oh, yes, Ruta, Arnica, done. You don’t really need to overthink it especially in acutes being like this. Sheryl: Right. That’s where I’ve gone. That’s why I love Joette’s stuff because if you have this issue, here’s what you use. If you have this issue, here’s what you use. It just sticks in my head. So, it has made it easier to select remedies when I need them. Actually, a couple of weeks ago, I had bronchitis. I did not want to go on any medication. I actually searched. I Googled it. I was reading some stuff about Kali carb and I started it and it helped immediately. I was having trouble breathing and I took it. I was like, “Oh, I can breathe again,” like it was night and day. That helped so fast. That was mind-blowing because I hadn’t really used it in a severe — to me, bronchitis was getting a little more severe because I didn’t want to get pneumonia or have it get worse. Paola: Good for you. I am always amazed by homeopathy. But then when you get sick again or something bad happens, you have an accident or something and you’re really depressed about it, right, because you don’t feel good. And then when the homeopathy works, it’s like, “Oh, why do I keep getting impressed and surprised with this when I know it works.” But when it works, you’re like, “Yes, it worked.” Sheryl: I know. Paola: This is so great. And you broke your foot as well, right? Sheryl: Yes, I did. I broke my foot and actually sprained my ankle a couple of years back. Again, I used Arnica like I did with my daughter. Then I did use some Ruta because I knew for the sprain and again I was just starting to learn about Joette. Then I was reading that for the broken bone part, I was supposed to use Symphytum. So, I waited a little bit because she mentioned that you’re not supposed to use it until you know the bone is in place because it works so quickly. So, I did wait about a week until the doctor said everything was healing properly. Then I went ahead and used the Symphytum as well. Paola: Yes, because I think she says, this is rough to even think about, but if your bone is not set properly in the right position and you started the Symphytum, it will fuse together in the wrong position. I mean, ultimately the doctor has to re-break the bone to fix it. Sheryl: Right. That would not be fun. Yes. Paola: That would be terrible. Sheryl: Insult to injury for sure. Paola: We do know homeopathy is wonderful and that we would never want to live without it. But I do want to gain a real picture. Has everything been easy and you just sailed through it with homeopathy or have there been some struggles? Sheryl: I can’t say that homeopathy isn’t like a magic bullet in our household and we’re not all 100% health and the perfect human beings. I mean, we’re still real-life humans. We live in society. We don’t eat everything perfectly. My daughter actually has some food allergies. She’s had peanut allergy since she was really little and a couple of other food allergies and just some environmental allergies. And so, that’s something that we’re still working on. It’s like a process as we go. But I love homeopathy for a lot of the acute things like we’re talking about like injuries and my bronchitis and things like that that are coming up. Then I’m finding that I can reach for homeopathy and definitely not have any drugs in the house is really amazing. Paola: Well, I feel like when it comes to chronic issues, we know that those things are going to be slower to uproot. Sometimes it’s slower even because you’re finding the right protocol and not just the situation. What’s really important about homeopathy, because the more distance you put from that last antibiotic, I guess this doesn’t account for you guys except for when your son had the antibiotic, but for me who’s had lots of antibiotics, the more distance I put between me and that last round which is years ago, the healthier I’m going to get. Sheryl: Absolutely. Paola: It buys you time as you figure things out. Sheryl: Yes. That’s why I love it so much. So now, we have things that we’re working on and we are going to still order out sometimes. Paola: Yes. Sheryl: Yes. Sometimes we’ll either go to a party or go out to eat. I’ve learned from Joette the Nux vomica is great in those situations for say, overindulgence or maybe eating poor food choices. So, I do keep that one in my back pocket as well. Paola: Oh, that’s good. So, you find success using Nux vomica when you party, so to speak. Sheryl: Yes, exactly. Paola: Let’s go back to what you do for work. You said you’re a nutritionist, which I think is so interesting and that you have started recently implementing homeopathic protocols that Joette teaches into your practice and you like that. Tell us about that. Implementing Joette’s teachings & protocols into the practice of proper nutritionSheryl: Yes, you know what? I really have enjoyed using some of the protocols. Before I met Joette, I was just really working more with the Weston A. Price principle and helping people to change their diet so they’re eating more real food. I connect people with local farmers. I teach them how to make broths and things to help them health-wise. But now that I have the protocols with the homeopathy, I feel like I’m starting to give those to clients and they’re noticing shifts. Sometimes the diet changes take a little longer to see the shift. But with the homeopathy, and there’s a few of them that I actually use quite a bit, one being Lycopodium, Arsenicum. Paola: Lycopodium 200 mixed with Arsenicum 200. Sheryl: Right. Yes. Paola: Okay. Sheryl: That’s one of the Banerji Protocols that Joette teaches in her Good Gut, Bad Gut class. Paola: Okay. Sheryl: I’ve used that one probably the most out of all of them because so many people come in with bloating, and gas, and indigestion, and stomach aches, and whatnot. So, that’s been my go-to because I see so many people with digestive complaints that I really have been using that a lot. People seem to get relief very quickly. Then they’re more up to make more of the diet changes. Paola: Right, because it’s like, “If I’m going to spend all this time boiling bones or making fermented stuff and still feel bloated, I might as well just eat my pizza that I like and feel bloated.” Sheryl: Right, exactly. Yes, so it just helps because they work hand in hand so that they feel some relief. But then they’re also making their lifestyle changes that are necessary for ongoing health. Paola: Right. I think Joette, her slogan used to be homeopathy where nutrition meets homeopathy. But now, she just feels like she wants to really laser-focus on the homeopathy. It is such a broad subject that she’s spending less time educating on the diet especially because I feel like there are so many people like you out there and different bloggers who are educating people on diet and so, she felt like that wasn’t as needed. But you’re right. I do think that it can help speed what the diet does for people. Sheryl: Right, right. Yes. I mean, I think that’s like a missing piece that really helps accelerate the healing. Paola: I was speaking with a Weston A. Price chapter leader. Joette is working on a project for Weston A. Price chapter leaders, a presentation. One of the things that we got out of the meeting is that when Joette taught her Good Gut, Bad Gut course several years ago (I mean what was it, like four years ago), she said that a healthy diet — like you were saying the Weston A. Price principles of bone broth, raw milk, and all that stuff — takes care of 70% of the symptoms. What you’re left with is a 30% illness. But what Joette has witnessed in her practice and what other chapter leaders are seeing is that people are becoming sicker and sicker. Joette is seeing the reversal where diet is getting them 30% better and they’re left with 70% which is really concerning. Have you seen some of that? Is that a growing trend that you’ve witnessed anecdotally with your clients? Sheryl: I do feel similar in that respect. I feel like there’s a lot more digestive issues coming out and autoimmune conditions and things that I just don’t always feel like diet is enough. Although I do think it’s huge and definitely has to be addressed but not always enough to give people relief really from what they’re feeling or to see healing. That’s where I think the homeopathy helps so much because I think people feel a shift. Paola: Yes. Yes, because it is like you said, deflating when you’ve done all the work for the diet and you’re not feeling better yet. Sheryl: Right. Paola: Would you be willing to share with us a few of your other favorite protocols that you’ve been using with your nutrition clients? Sheryl: Yes. One of the other ones is actually the Lycopodium 200 with the Plumbum 200, mixed. That one actually is amazing for constipation. Paola: Yes. Sheryl: I seriously doubted it. I was like, “Okay, is this even going to work?” I actually had to use it on myself because I was struggling with that, just being open and honest here. Paola: Sure. Sheryl: So, I took it. Literally, I swear, it worked overnight. Paola: Yes. Sheryl: I mean, I don’t want to be graphic or anything but it was just like, “Okay. I am sold. This is the remedy I’m going to start using.” So, I started using it with some clients too. I have to say that they agree with me. Maybe not everybody overnight but if they stick with it, they notice the change. Paola: Right. I can relate, too because the day after Thanksgiving, leading up to Thanksgiving, I was preparing food for the week of Thanksgiving. I’m snacking on stuff. I feel like we have pretty healthy Thanksgiving. But I’m probably overindulging and I, myself got constipated. The day after Thanksgiving, we were going to this fair where we were going to be walking around all day outside. I took the Lyco Plumbum before we left. I was like, “Oh, shoot! I shouldn’t have done that,” because I just had, and again I don’t want to be graphic, but just nice, healthy bowel movements all day. I was like, “I got to go to the bathroom again. You guys, I’m so sorry.” I was like, “Okay. Next time, I’m going to wait until after the fair to do the protocol.” Sheryl: Right, right. Paola: Good. Any other protocols that you think our listeners might enjoy knowing about? I mean, these are all protocols that Joette has talked about on the blog and in her courses but it’s nice to have them all in one place here on this podcast. Sheryl: Right, right. Yes. You know what? Actually, I had a client who probably she was on vacation. They have gone out to dinner. She felt horrible after dinner. We pretty much narrowed it down. It sounded like a food poisoning type thing. So, I actually gave her the Arsenicum. Paola: Okay. Do you remember what potency? Sheryl: You know what? She could only get the 30. Paola: Okay. Sheryl: She had to get it locally at the store. So, I told her to take the Arsenicum 30. I told her to take it actually every 15 minutes. Paola: Okay, yes. So, it was pretty severe. Sheryl: Yes. She couldn’t move. She was in horrible pain. She said she felt better within an hour. Paola: Wow! That’s an improvement. Wow! Sheryl: Yes. So that was one. Now, I actually sometimes use that even for people if they say they’ve gone out to dinner and then they have a stomachache. I’ve used it with a couple of other people and they’ve had relief, even if they don’t know for sure if it’s food poisoning. Paola: Right, it’s just that stomach pain. Sheryl: But if they’re having issues after eating out, then I found out that one just works really well. Again, I use the Nux vomica if people go a party or overindulge or maybe drink too much. Then I recommended to that to people with success. Paola: Interesting. Then the Arsenicum for that stomach pain when they’ve gone out, is that Arsenicum 6? Sheryl: You know what? I’ve used both. Paola: Okay. Sheryl: I’ve used actually Arsenicum 6 for some congestion and Arsenicum 30 more for the stomach pain. But I know she suggests some different ways at different times. Paola: [0:23:18 crosstalk] Sheryl: Yes. Paola: I know for us, before Joette, we did the full GAPS. We started Intro to GAPS and did all the steps. My four kids, they still refer to like, “Mom, remember that one time we went to the park?” I’m like, “I don’t remember.” It was before we ate soup. I’m like, “Oh, boy.” Sheryl: Oh. Paola: I know. It traumatized them. I know. That’s how they remember. It’s like this key time in our life when we ate a lot of soup. Anyway, as we transitioned out of the GAPS diet, my middle little boy, he was having lots of stomach pain. He was like, “Mom, my tummy hurts. Mom, my tummy hurts.” We’re drinking raw milk. We have a Jersey in the backyard. So, we’re eating well. We’re having lots of the good foods like you’re talking about. But he would still have this nagging tummy pain. So, we did do the Bovista protocol that you learn in the Good Gut, Bad Gut course with food intolerances. But also in addition to that, not mixed, but we did Colocynthis 30 twice a day. That helped tremendously. That was tremendously helpful for stomach pains for him. I think if you take the course, you can learn about the Arsenicum for stomach pain and the Colocynthis and differentiate between the two and what situations they’d be best served. Sheryl: Yes, for sure. Yes, they’re both great remedies. Paola: In closing, since we’ve been talking about diet and homeopathy, you used to be extreme with your Weston A. Price principles of diet. You’ve shifted from that. I think homeopathy has helped you do that. So, why don’t you tell us a little bit about that angle? Using moderate diet with the remedies Sheryl: Yes. I would say definitely with help from Joette in teaching me about how much the homeopathy can help as well as still eating some of the foods that we want to eat or that are available to us, it helped me lighten up a little bit as far as how strict I am on diet. Maybe everything doesn’t have to be home-made or sprouted or cooked in broth or raw every second. So, I guess I’ve just lightened up a little bit and yet, I’m using the remedies regularly. Like I said, my daughter has some food allergies so I am using the Bovista and some of the other food intolerance remedies that she suggests in the course. And so, hopefully, my goal is to be able to feel that without having to be so extreme on the diet. Paola: Right, exactly. I think that’s the way to do it. I mean Joette says, and this is like blasphemy for a nutritionist, but she says, “You should be able to have McDonald’s.” Not that you ought to, but you should be able to do that. Sheryl: Yes, not that I would ever want that. Paola: I know. That’s gross. But yes. Remember what she said in the Good Gut, Bad Gut course? Do you remember this where she said, “I had an Egg McMuffin this week.”? And I was just like, “Oh, my goodness! This is like blasphemy.” Sheryl: Right. Paola: But I remember she was leaving town for an emergency with a family member. It’s nice to not have to pack the whole cooler full of specialized food and just be where your family needs you. Sheryl: Yes, and even my client who travels a lot, now she just carries the Arsenicum with her. She now uses that when she has the stomach pain after eating out. She just can’t even believe it. Paola: That’s awesome. Sheryl: So, she’s still able to eat out and yet has some relief either with that or Nux vomica. She found what works for her now. It’s pretty amazing. Paola: You remind me of the moms with moxie who have a lot of children, like Gaylyn, I think she has seven or eight children because you have all these clients. So, you get to see the homeopathy working for so many people on a regular basis. Sheryl: Right, right. That’s interesting. I always have such gratitude to those mothers out there who have so many. I’m always in awe of them. Paola: Yes, for sure. I know it. Well, Sheryl, thank you so much for letting me pick your brain on all things homeopathy and for being willing to chat with us. I think that your message is valuable. I love the combination that you brought in, that angle of diet with homeopathy. I think that’s wonderful. Thank you so much. Sheryl: Well, thank you. I really appreciate you having me. Joette: Are you or someone you know a mom with moxie? Well, we’re on the hunt for you. Of course, we don’t want to hear just from moms but from anyone who uses and loves homeopathy. Reach out to my podcast team and let us know why you’re a mom with moxie. For more information, contact podcast@joettecalabrese.com. Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com. These Moms with Moxie podcasts are designed to be inspirational, not specifically educational. No Remedy Card is provided.
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| Podcast 31 – Dads with Audacity: Empowering Wives — and Husbands — with Homeopathy! | 31 Jul 2017 | 00:32:47 | |
I’m especially excited about this month’s Sunday Podcast. First of all, I’m excited because we’re introducing a new series: Dads with Audacity. We hope that this series can encourage more husbands into the fold, by giving voices to the many men out there who are already supportive of their wives’ use of homeopathy in the family. And, I’m especially excited about this particular Dad with Audacity — because he is my husband, Perry! Maybe your husband will also enjoy meeting him, and getting a glimpse into how important homeopathy has been in our life together. Click here to listen to the podcast or read the transcript of Dads with Audacity: Empowering Wives — and Husbands — with Homeopathy!In this podcast, we cover: 01:14 Presenting Dads with Audacity podcast series 05:25 Let’s all meet Perry Smith 10:52 Perry talks about his background and how he supports Joette and homeopathy 24:23 The bad turkey, the skiing accident, and the bee sting
You are listening to a podcast from joettecalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition.
Paola: It’s podcast number 31 at JoetteCalabrese.com. We’ve got an exciting new interview series for you called Dads with Audacity.
Joette: Each day from my office, I get to see how homeopathy is transforming lives all over the globe. I want to share them with you. Some of my students have really caught my eye. Some of you have done all you can to learn how to cure those around you using homeopathic medicines. Your successes inspire me. They’re glorious and powerful. I can’t keep these successes a secret any longer. So, with help from my roving reporters, we bring you a mini podcast series that I call Moms with Moxie. Sometimes we even interview dads with audacity. See how regular mothers and others, average people who want to cure those around them have gone from freaking to fabulous with homeopathy.
Paola: Alright Joette, we’ve got a pretty special treat for our listeners today. We are launching a new podcast concept. We’re hoping this will inspire listeners to reach out to your podcast team and give us some more content. So, go ahead. Tell us what this new podcast series is going to be about. Presenting Dads with Audacity podcast seriesJoette: Well, the new series is you know, we have Moms with Moxie and so we thought we ought to have Dads with Audacity. Paola: That’s right. Joette: So with that, we’re looking for and we found several dads who do have audacity and have used homeopathy and/or are using it regularly, and how they support their wives with it, or how they’ve used it independently of them, or how they used it as children, or they’ve used it on the job, et cetera, in their sports events, in the gym, and they share the information. All of that is what we’re looking for from these dads with audacity. Now, just as we use the word, “moms,” we don’t mean necessarily women who have given birth to children, because women have a tendency to be mothers to animals and their neighbors and to livestock, et cetera. So, dads don’t have to be actually a father but they can be men — but we like alliteration. Paola: Actually the D and the D. Joette: Yes, right, right, right. So, it can be men in general. It doesn’t have to be only fathers but most of them turn out to be fathers. So, this is our move forward into embracing a larger extent of the community. Paola: Well, and I also think that when we were developing this concept, Joette, we realized that this is what I see happening, at least in my study groups when I teach it with my students is you’ll get these moms. They will do their homework. They’ll buy the kit and they have the books. They’re all like, “We are ready to go on there,” just crossing their fingers waiting for something to happen. The kid comes out with an ear infection. Then the dad steps in and he ends up sometimes being more of a hindrance than a support. So, we thought maybe it would help these women to help bring their husbands into the fold by giving them voices from other guys, how they navigate the homeopathy waters. Joette: Right, right. Yes, because it is in most families, it turns out to be the woman’s job. So, we’re hoping that the dads if they’re not interested in homeopathy, at least they bow to the understanding that their wives have some expertise in mothering and caring for their children. They’ve taken this task of learning and using and supplying the family with homeopathy to the degree that it would be something that they could respect. Paola: Right, yes. I love that. Joette: A lot of men also tell me … the fathers tell me what they love about is that it cuts their medical bills to a fraction. Veterinary bills can be cut down to a fraction. I think that can make a big difference especially in a world where health insurance may end up being just catastrophic insurance which in my estimation is really the best way to buy health insurance and not to have insurance for a child’s ear infection and every little event that comes down the pike. So then, you’re paying out of pocket for those events. But if you’re paying out of pocket and buying medicines and learning homeopathy and putting your education first instead of the insurance company’s premium first then you might find that in the end, many men will embrace this. Paola: That’s right. I think the numbers speak to the guys for sure. Joette: Yes. Paola: That’s great. I have to say I’ve interviewed now five guys starting with today’s debut interview which we’re going to talk about in a moment. But what I found interesting is that all of the guys actually don’t know much about homeopathy. They rely on the women in their lives. They kind of line up like baby birds, I like to joke. You know how the baby birds open their mouth and the mom comes and just drops remedies inside their mouths. So, that’s kind of how they do it but they love it because it works. They get the results that they want. They see their family thriving. So, would you like to introduce the next, our first debut dad with audacity? Let’s all meet Perry Smith Joette: Yes. Our first dad to speak is my husband, Perry. We’ve been married for 31 plus years. We have three children. They’re all adults now. I discovered homeopathy when I was pregnant with our first son. So, that was I don’t know … it was 30, 29, 30 years ago. I found it because I was looking at the time, I had planned on not wanting, I planned on not using antibiotics for my children. I had been harmed by antibiotics myself so I needed to find an alternative. I knew about herbs. I had been taking care, raising plants and wildcrafting, et cetera, and making my own botanicals myself, my tinctures, et cetera. Certainly, I do the essential oils. I mean it was part of my tool kit. But once I found homeopathy, it really made great sense. So, when I found it, I declared it to him — to Perry of course — and it was just one more declaration as far as he was concerned because I had declared the essential oils. I declared organic foods. I declared that I wanted to have home births, et cetera. He just kind of “Yes. Okay. Well, you do the research.” The reason that I married my husband, the reason I was attracted to him in the first place was because he was the quintessential gentleman. On our first date, he always opened doors. From that time forward even to this day when I went to the ladies’ room and we’re at a restaurant, to this day he stands up when I leave the table, stands up as I return to the table. He is the perfect gentleman. I think part of being a gentleman is knowing what you’re capable of and having the confidence in what you’re doing in life. Then in relationship to that, what your spouse is capable of doing and having respect for her. That’s really what matters. Gentlemanliness is really all about, when you think about it, it’s just respecting others. So, I’ve always felt that respect from him. Sometimes I didn’t deserve it. But plenty of times, I suppose I did. But that was a big part of the relationship. He never said, “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” or “How could you possibly know these things?” He assumes that, when he saw how I dove into these kinds of subjects, that I went in all the way up to my eyeballs. So, he felt confident, I believe, and comfortable knowing that. Plus, to be honest, I think he had his plate full, and he didn’t want to take it on himself. So, respect for my desire not to be taking our kids to the pediatrician, and to have whole foods in the house, and even put up with my preliminary diets. I don’t know if he’d even talked about this in this conversation that he had with you. But he put up with my macrobiotic and my diets, and all of the diets that I put us through where we ate lots of kale. He still complains about kale — I just don’t buy it anymore because he hated it so much — so juicing kale, et cetera. My husband because he’s respectful, I think that’s why it was an automatic for him. I didn’t have to convince him of the efficacy of homeopathy. But nonetheless, he saw it and he saw it regularly. I didn’t win every time. I didn’t cure every single condition that came down the pike with aplomb, but it happened enough times that his confidence grew in me over time as well. Paola: That’s an important thing and just allowing that observation to occur, giving room for observation and for her to do her thing, I think is the best way to go. Alright, so let’s listen to that podcast. Let’s listen to the interview. Joette: Okay. Paola: Today, I’m going to interview someone that is pretty cool and pretty special to Joette. It’s someone that you’ve probably heard of but you’ve never met before here on Joette’s podcast. He’s the guy who makes sure the lights are on, the office stays connected to the internet, the computers are all running, the emails go out on time, and the bills get paid. He’s kind of like many of your husbands. What I like about Perry is he reminds of the Wizard of Oz where you have the wizard hiding behind the curtain doing all the work to make everything run. Well, that’s Perry. So, let me welcome Perry who is Joette’s husband. Hi Perry, how are you? Perry: Hi Paola. Wow! I never thought of myself that way. It’s kind of cool. I like that. Paola: Well, good. You should. You do a lot of work for Joette but you are always behind the scenes and giving Joette the spotlight. I think you like that. Is that right? Perry: I do. I like being in the support function. Paola: Well, I really appreciate you taking the time to be on this podcast with us because I know that you like being in the background but you have an interesting story. I think it’s great to hear a perspective from some of you guys. So, I appreciate you being willing to be with us. Perry: Sure. Paola: Pardon my voice. I am under the weather. I’m getting over a little cold here. I don’t get them very often. So, don’t worry, Perry. I’m taking Sanguinaria. I’m sure you’ve used it before in the past, right, for sinus. Perry: Oh yes. Paola: So Perry, tell me a little bit about your background. Perry talks about his background and how he supports Joette and homeopathyPerry: Going back two generations, my grandfather and my great grandfather were engineers. My father and his only brother were engineers. My brother is an engineer. I am the only non-engineer, I guess what’s that, in two generations of Smiths. There are probably more Smiths in there as well. I chose a different path. I went to college to become a doctor. I was in a pre-med program. But probably in the latter part of my junior year, at the beginning of my senior year, I decided that I probably did not want to continue on for another four or five years of med school. I actually toyed with the idea of chiropractic. My roommate went on in chiropractic. This would have been in the late 60s or the very early 70s. I probably would have been retired by now, though I likely would not have met Joette. Paola: Right, right. Well, I think it’s a good thing that you didn’t become a doctor because that probably wouldn’t have worked out too good. Perry: No, that’s right. Paola: Well, very good. Being in the engineering background and your family having that history, how do you think that has influenced your initial thoughts about homeopathy and perhaps your family’s opinion of it as well, initially? Perry: Well, that’s an interesting question because obviously everyone knows engineers like to deal with empirical thoughts — show me the facts. Early on in our homeopathic journey, there were no facts for me to go with. It was all clinical-based results. I watched Joette uproot her problems, her chemical sensitivities. Then I watched what she did with our children, first Perry and then Peter and then Giuseppe. That was all I needed. I was able to give up on the need for empirical, fact-based check. I went with what I saw. I went with my gut. It was pretty clear Joette was making it happen. Paola: Especially for men, initially when they look into homeopathy, they don’t run into the facts, the empirical data like you were saying right away. That usually comes secondary. Am I right? Perry: I guess, yes. I haven’t thought about it, but go ahead. Paola: Well, I think so. But I want to let you moms out there who are listening to this who would like to convince their husbands, that Perry, you have taken the time to provide Joette’s followers with a really great document that has a lot of that information. Why don’t you tell them about that? Perry: Well, we’ve been accumulating ourselves, just searching the web — we actually had a researcher doing it for us one summer — then I came across a document that was 200 pages of single-spaced, just research. Then I gave it to one of our staff just to check the links, to make sure the links were all active, but that 200 pages single-spaced just research on homeopathy. There are some great fellows. There are some great people out there. There’s Dr. Iris Bell. She is a senior PhD medical doctor who is doing extensive research. Then of course, there’s the Banerjis in India which we’ve now spent six years, six fellowships that I go along with Joette there. Then there’s John Benneth who has a blog that talks about the activity and the background of homeopathy. So, there’s a lot out there to find if you look for it. If you know where to look, you’ve got to be able to filter out the negative. Paola: Right. With your background, with your family, the engineering, the pre-med, you know there’s a need for those kinds of evidentiary, empirical data and you’ve provided that for Joette’s listeners. The way you find that data is you go to Joette’s homepage and you look under community. If you don’t have a log-in, just create a quick log-in. It’s free. You will find that information right there in the community section. I think that’s really valuable. So, thank you. Perry: As well as some photographs of Joette in India and some interesting stuff. Also, some infographics we create for many of our courses will be there to download for free, too. So, there’s a lot of stuff there. But it’s interesting, Paola. You mentioned the need to know why this works. For me, I was too busy running my business, creating a place for Joette, just support Joette so that she could raise our children. It was clear early on we wanted to have that separation. She ran the house. She raised the kids. I got involved in the homeschooling but I had a business to run during the day. I didn’t have time nor did I want to spend the time. It was clear to me she knew what she was doing. I was seeing the results. That’s all I needed. Paola: Right. You know Perry, I think that’s a really very fascinating and interesting point. You knew Joette loved your kids and you trusted her in her role to do what she had to do. Perry: Exactly. Paola: Perry, why do you think nowadays it’s such a hang up with some couples and their marriage where the husband is really pushing back against their wife who is doing the research? She’s taking study groups. She’s studying Joette’s classes. She’s buying her remedies. She bought her books. Then the second that ear infection blows through, she’s having to deal with an ear infection and a husband who is saying don’t do this. Perry: I don’t know if I have any answer, Paola. I suspect it’s deep. I mean it is trust. It’s willingness to give up responsibility, defer responsibility to your partner. It’s maturity of the marriage. There are a lot of things there. Paola: You and Joette, you guys were married a little bit older. I met Jason at 19. I got married at 20. So, we were young. I think maybe that has something to do with it. You guys have that wisdom. Perry: You’re right. We were in our late 30s. When Giuseppe came along, Joette was 43. Paola: 43, yes, 43. Perry: It could be, Paola. It could be a lot of things. But you know what I found? I saw how successful Joette was in dealing with the acute things that came down the path with our kids. As I said, it worked for us. I didn’t need to get involved. I had too many other things to do. I didn’t need for me to go there. You got to understand something about Joette. When we say she’s got guts, spunk and moxie, she does. There was no reason that I was going to go up against that and have a big, blown up bargaining. It wasn’t going to happen. Paola: You kind of have to assert yourself as the mom when in your gut you really want to do this. You know it’s going to be good for your kid. I think it’s just the art of marriage and working it out and talking about. But it is something that you need to work through and get to the other side of if you want to do homeopathy. Perry: Yes. I don’t know why any guy would want to take on more responsibility in a marriage. It doesn’t make sense to me. Every mom that I’ve had an opportunity to meet in this organization, in this movement, clearly is committed to what they’re doing. Like you Paola, clearly committed to taking care of the kids. If the husband doesn’t see that, well, it’s kind of like … slap him across the face. Paola: On the back of the head. You have to have that conversation in your marriage because this is really for the betterment of not only your children but your future generations. Perry: That’s why we’re here. The purpose of marriage is to have children, to bring these people into the world. What better way to bring them into the world than to give them a medicine that’s going to grow them, which is going to treat them in the best way possible. We want them to grow. We have an expression in our house. That is when we fall, we always fall forward. We don’t fall backwards. If we have a problem and we get a slight bump on the road, we always consider that. We’re falling forward. We get up and we keep going. Paola: Right. I think that’s exactly what is at the core of your message with Joette because it really is you two together. This message is something that Joette’s kind of the spokesperson but you’re right there with her. I think at the core of the message of Joette’s version of homeopathy is empowering families, strengthening families. That is through health. That comes down to then your marriage needs to be strengthened. You need to figure this out and to know how to take care of your families. Because what’s that thing Joette says? Only professionals in white lab coats and other dictocrats, so to speak, hold the corner in raising children. That’s how society thinks of it. But really, Joette’s trying to give that power back to families and to moms. Perry: I think it’s coming around. I have read articles that say that even the millennials now are more willing for the mom to stay home. It’s coming around. It’s the right word. It really is the right word. If for some reason that can’t happen, the mom and the dad is in that financial point in their careers have to both work, I understand that too but then they share. There was a time when I was helping Joette raise the kids. I would get up very early in the morning. I’d get up at five in the morning and read for an hour and half to the kids. Then I’d go off to work and then she would take over. So, it’s a give and take. Paola: It’s just at face value you think when you learn homeopathy, you’re learning about just how to take care of your kids. But really, it kind of encompasses all facets of life, the marriage, the family, the health, the way you think about health. It’s political. It’s religious. It has all these layers to it that all of a sudden, you’re like shoot…I just wanted to treat this ear infection. Perry: Yes. But you know what? It’s taking on responsibility. With responsibility, and if you’re successful at it, you’re going to gain a special confidence. That confidence is going to carry you forward. Paola: Yes, correct. Perry: It is real. You’re right, Paola. It’s a lifestyle change, but it’s a real positive lifestyle change. Paola: Right. Perry: It’s natural for women to take on this healing role. It’s a good thing. It’s a positive. It’s probably instinctual. As a guy, it’s very empowering for a guy to be able to support that. Paola: Yes. Perry: That lifestyle that his wife wants to take on. Paola: Why is it empowering? Help me understand that. Why, to you, does that feel empowering to support your wife in that kind of a lifestyle? Perry: Well, think of yourself as a warrior. We go out every morning and — we don’t have to go out and kill the wildebeests — but no, we go out, we earn enough money to be able to allow your spouse to choose to stay at home or maybe work less, maybe only have to work two days or three days a week. But to be able to dedicate more of her time to her children because I think that’s instinctual. Paola: Yes, I think that’s beautiful. I love what you just said. I’m going to … press pause if you’re listening to this. Rewind and hear that again, because it’s true. I love it that you see that giving this to Joette empowers you. That’s how you should see this in a marriage when your kids are healthy and strong. Your son is a pilot now. Your other two sons are successful in college, and one runs his own business. That’s all thanks to health. Perry: Right. Paola: Let’s shift gears a little bit here and talk about … how about dealing with your parents, Joette’s in-laws, because I’m thinking back about how they have the engineering background and maybe homeopathy wouldn’t have been so natural to them. When’s the last time they’ve been to the doctor for a checkup or are they updated on their vaccines? How did you navigate that from a husband’s role? Perry: It was probably early on, there may have been a little bit of tension. We wouldn’t broach the subject with them. So, we didn’t put it out in front of them. We didn’t brag that we didn’t go to the doctor for every little cut, bruise, cold. We didn’t brag that they haven’t taken the antibiotics. If they asked, we would say everything was normal. We didn’t mislead them. We just said everything was fine. They saw the kids were healthy. But after a while, my mother learned not to ask. Until the end, she was very supportive of Joette. It was like she learned what we’re doing just by watching. Paola: Yes. I can imagine all these grandmothers today sitting in their circles talking about their grandkids. And how would you like to be the grandma with the kids that are healthy or whose mom is actively trying to uproot these chronic things, whereas everybody else is on the choo-choo train that takes them to more prescriptions and more prescriptions? Perry: Oh yes. My mother became, oh my gosh, we had to slow her down. She was so proud of her daughter-in-law and the success that she was having raising her children that she wanted to shout it from the rooftops. That’s what happens. It may take a little bit of while but that’s what happens. Paola: Right, if you allow it. I really think if you’re prayerful, to kind of get that guidance and to really thoughtfully work through these conflicts, you’ll be shown the right way to get through it and get to the other side of it with the least amount of conflict. Perry, let’s hear just a couple of stories. I think we all know about your food poisoning story. If you don’t, just go to Joette’s blog. Perry likes turkey whether it’s fresh or gone bad. Perry: Right. Paola: She has a blog. You were pretty sick. I think Joette kind of watered it down for the article a little bit. But how bad was that food poisoning from that turkey? The bad turkey, the skiing accident, and the bee sting Perry: I was in and out of consciousness. I was in quite a bit of pain. I was in and out of consciousness. I remembered Joette leaning over me, putting remedies in my mouth when I was so out of it. I didn’t have a clue. I guess I assumed that I had been poisoned by the turkey. Believe me when I tell you I was not in that room. I was clearly somewhere else … but she brought me back, and I’m ever thankful for that. But that was not the first time. That was the first time I had experienced it, but I had another situation. I remember I went over skiing. We live across the street from a ski area. I went over by myself one evening. I wanted to get three or four runs in. I was skiing down a particularly difficulty passage on the hill. That night, it was not lit as well as it should have been. I skied over the top of a ridge, came down a steep section and into a field of slalom gates. Those who have had skied know what slalom gates are. They’re basically plastic poles that are stuck in the ground. You’re supposed to ski around them. I came in to the field of them, and I didn’t see the pattern. All I saw was a mass of blue poles. I hit one. I started tumbling. We call it a garage sale when you end up at the bottom of the hill with nothing. Your gloves are even gone. Your hat is gone. Your skis are somewhere. Your poles are gone. I laid there. I looked at my fingers. I knew I had fallen in such a way that I had bent my head forward onto my chest. Paola: Oh no. Perry: I just sort of have done a forward roll. I’m sitting there. I’m not really conscious of where I am except that I know my fingers wiggle and I can move my legs. So, I’m assuming nothing is broken. I slowly got up. I found my skis. I had to ski to the bottom, ride the chair to the top. I walked home. I got home. Joette looked to me. She said, “What’s wrong with you?” I told her what happened. I’m really out of it. I don’t have a clue. I can’t remember, but I think it was pretty bad. She gave me a remedy. The following morning after sleeping a full night’s rest, though I was stiff, I was clear headed again. I can only imagine had I gone to the hospital, the myriad of tests, CT scans, X-rays, and everything else I would have gone through. I would have spent the night there under observation. Paola: But what you needed was to rest and to heal. And boy, those hospitals, that is not the place to get rest. You get poked and prodded throughout the night. Perry: Right. And again, I mean I came home. I knew something was wrong. I just instinctively went to Joette. She knew what to do: Aconitum 200 and then Arnica 200, Arnica of course for the -. Paola: The head injury, yes, very good. Perry: Then the next day, Nat sulph 1M. Paola: So, Joette gave you Nat sulph because the next day it was clear that you were still suffering from the concussion. Perry: You know, I recovered as quickly as I did. It is not a lasting memory. I remember distinctly before I met Joette, I remember falling off a ladder and breaking my wrist, going to the hospital and getting the pins, the casts. I can walk you through that whole thing. But this, probably just as severe if not more severe because it involved a head injury, I don’t have a lasting memory of it because it was resolved quickly and easily. Paola: Yes. It’s like you didn’t have post-traumatic stress because it was such a terrible … you know like it was awful … you bounced back. So, usually, when we bounce back from something, it’s okay. We kind of accept it. Do you have maybe one more story? Joette has talked about one of your sons have been allergic to bees. Perry: Yes. One of our sons was really allergic to bees. Joette has told the story many times. We decided that we were going to raise bees. Now, honey bees are generally friendly. I think you have bees, Paola. So, you know this. Paola: Yes. Perry: When you smoke them, they become relatively docile. Of course, we were generally covered, but we were back at the house on the back deck and he got stung. It was incredibly fast and scary how quickly his face puffed up. I have since looked for the photographs. I can’t find them. We did take them at the time. He was unrecognizable. We didn’t know who he was. Of course, the concern is that his throat is going to close up too. He was scared. Joette just gave him Ledum 200 every few minutes. And … it started to dissipate. Paola: Yeah, that Ledum is a little tricky because all the materia medica say it’s like cool and not swollen, puncture wound. But I have found that, too. I had an ant bite on my foot, and it kind of started swelling up. I kept using Apis and it wouldn’t work, but Ledum did. Joette has said that if you listened to her carefully in her classes, she says Ledum is often really great for bee stings. It can break the rules sometimes. So, keep that in mind. Perry: Oh, it was, yes. I can’t even describe it. It totally distorted his face. His lips all swelled up. We were obviously very worried. But he has since been stung — as you said early on — he has his own way of escaping this. He has since been stung multiple times. It is no longer an issue. Our kids have their own kits. They know what to do, although as Joette will tell you happily, she is as close as a text away. It is a great way to stay in touch with your kids because they text her. Joette remains relevant in their lives. Paola: That’s true. Yes. Perry: A very big part of their lives. And it’s not only the boys, but it’s the girls in their lives too. They get involved. It’s a beautiful thing. It really is a beautiful thing, to share with your kids. Paola: That is great. Perry: And educate them so they move forward. Paola: You fit the bill, Perry. You are a “Dad with Audacity.” I just really appreciate you taking the time and showing us your perspective on your homeopathic journey. We just so appreciate your support with Joette. Perry: A little bit in closing here to my fellow fathers out there, this really is a great feeling when you see your wife take on a task like learning homeopathy, becoming successful at it, and gaining a new inner strength. You could take credit for that because you’ve allowed that to happen by creating that environment. It’s good for both of you. It’s a great fit. Paola: It’s good for everyone. It empowers the whole family. Perry: Right. Paola: Thank you so much for being with us. We appreciate your time. Perry: I love you, Paola. Thank you. Paola: What a great interview, Joette. What a guy. Joette: Yes, he’s adorable, isn’t he? Paola: Yes. I love that you told us at the beginning how he still to this day stands up. I’m going to make my husband start standing up every time I leave the table. Joette: Well, he also taught our children to stand up when an adult comes in the room, shake their hand, look them in the eye. That was all a part of my husband’s training. My husband’s an old, New England prep. He is. He’s just an old preppy. Now, he’s an old preppy. Paola: A Renaissance man. Joette: Yes. I have a lot of respect for him as well as you can see folks when you listen to this. He’s a good guy. Paola: Awesome. Well, thank you so much. Thank you, Perry for letting us grab you and interview you. I know that was a little bit out of your comfort zone. So, that was pretty awesome of you to let us do that. So, thank you so much. Joette: Okay. Bye, Paola. Thanks. Are you or someone you know a mom with moxie? Well, we’re on the hunt for you. And of course, we don’t want to hear just from moms but from anyone who uses and loves homeopathy. Reach out to my podcast team and let us know why you’re a mom with moxie. For more information, contact podcast@joettecalabrese.com. Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com.
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| Podcast 129 — Overcoming Anxiety and Panic Attacks with Practical Homeopathy® | 25 Oct 2024 | 00:32:13 | |
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IN THIS PODCAST, WE COVER: 01:00 Introduction: Overcoming Anxiety and Panic Attacks 01:44 Downside to the Conventional Approach (Pharmaceuticals) 02:52 With Homeopathy, It’s Over Mindful Homeopathy: Practical Protocols for Mental and Emotional Conditions 04:57 Bam! Aconitum napellus 13:47 Aconitum During Labor 14:50 Fear: Argentum nitricum 19:07 When to Pivot 21:37 Check Your Materia Medica A Materia Medica: Practical Homeopathy® for Busy Families 24:15 Arsenicum album 26:09 Our “A” for Anxiety Medicines All Start with the Letter “A” 27:00 The Ladder of Learning A Dog with Anxiety? There’s a Homeopathic Solution Anxiety: When the Elevator Flies to the Top Must-Have Memorial Day Medicines for Hay Fever, Overindulgence and Anxiety Gateway to Practical Homeopathy®: A Guided Study Group Curriculum The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Joette’s Study Group, Find Your New Study Group Friends
Kate: This is the Practical Homeopathy® Podcast, episode number 129, with Joette Calabrese. Joette: Hi, I’m Joette Calabrese, and I welcome you to our health care movement — yours, mine and the countless men and women across the globe who have re-taken control of their families’ health with Practical Homeopathy®. So, for the next few minutes, let’s link our arms as I demystify homeopathy — what was once considered an esoteric paradigm — into an understandable, reproducible, safe and effective health care solution available to all. This is the medicine you’ve been searching for — my unique brand of homeopathy, PRACTICAL Homeopathy®. INTRODUCTION: OVERCOMING ANXIETY AND PANIC ATTACKSKate: (01:00) Hi, I am Kate, and I want to welcome you to the podcast today. We’re so glad you’re here. I want to thank you for taking the initiative to learn about homeopathy, which will have a big impact on your life. And if you are new here, we want to welcome you. Today’s podcast: Joette is going to share some tips on how to overcome anxiety and panic attacks. So, let’s get started. Hi, Joette! Joette: Hi, Kate. Kate: It’s so exciting. This is a huge topic because I know anxiety can be so debilitating. So, I’d love to hear your thoughts on how to address this homeopathically. It’s really the only way that I know of that can really calm down anxiety and panic attacks. What are your thoughts? DOWNSIDE TO THE CONVENTIONAL APPROACH (PHARMACEUTICALS)Joette: (01:44) Well, there are psychotropic drugs that someone could use, and that can calm down a certain amount of anxiety, but then you pay for it in another way. There’s no such thing as a synthetic drug of commerce that is as simple as, “Oh, just take it and you’ll be just fine.” No, there’s always a downside, and the downside can be pretty sobering. We don’t want to get into a situation where someone depends on a synthetic drug. So, one of the ways that we can look at this — or actually the main way to look at this — is that, with homeopathy, the homeopathic medicines correct the problem. They don’t just cover it up for the next opportunity that the panic or the anxiety attack presents again. Whereas, with conventional drugs, you are assigned to those drugs for months, years, decades. In homeopathy, after using the homeopathic medicine — sometimes only a couple of doses, sometimes only a couple of doses here and there over a period of weeks or months — it’s over. WITH HOMEOPATHY, IT’S OVERJoette: (02:52) Now, what do I mean by “over”? It means there are no more panic attacks. They simply don’t occur. And it’s not because it’s been suppressed or stuffed down into the person only to come up (like pressing down on a water balloon) so that it bulges up somewhere else. No, it uproots the condition. It stops it. It ends it so that then it becomes a mere memory — even a dim memory in your thinking — so that you can get on with your life. So, I talk about this all the time — a problem with anxiety or panic attacks, either one. I mean, we’re going to be talking about both today. But I talk about them in my blogs, which you really ought to take advantage of. They’re free. You can access them on a regular basis anytime you’d like. In my courses, we have a course called Mindful Homeopathy in which I go into greater depth of exactly how to utilize these medicines. Although, I’m going to give you good information today, even without perhaps taking an entire course. Because here’s the thing: When someone has anxiety, it is such a huge roadblock that it seems as though nothing else can be taken care of in that day. Nothing else matters. It doesn’t matter that you have to tend to the children. It almost doesn’t matter that you’re supposed to be sleeping. It almost doesn’t matter that you’re supposed to be having fun with your family. It takes such precedent over your life that it colors everything. It’s as though you’re putting on a pair of glasses that give you a completely different perspective. But that’s the downside of life. The upside is we have homeopathy, and homeopathy is the only medicine that I’m aware of that has the ability to resolve this. BAM! ACONITUM NAPELLUSJoette: (04:57) So, let’s start with one medicine that I’ve talked about so many times because it was such an influence in my life and in many others’ lives. And it’s so ubiquitous. It’s a common medicine that is used in so many people’s lives … that’s what I mean to say. And that medicine is Aconitum napellus. The short version is Aconite, but it’s Aconitum napellus. Now, here’s the thing. I don’t leave home without it. I keep it in my little makeup bag in my purse at all times. I would never leave home without it. Why? Not because I get panic attacks. I used to, many years ago, until I started to use this medicine (and another one we’re going to be talking about). Those years, those times are over for me. I can live a very comfortable life because I don’t have to worry about anxiety or panic or over-worry, et cetera. So, I keep it in my purse because the thing — and this is what I want to make clear to you today — the thing about Aconitum is that it’s often one minute, you’re fine, and the next minute, it’s BAM, and you’re hit with this terrible panic or this terrible anxiety. And the reason I keep it in my purse is because if I’m in an automobile accident or someone else is in some kind of an accident, one minute, everything is just fine. You’re just running through life, and then, all of a sudden, BAM, you’re hit with something. It could be an automobile accident. It could be falling off of a bicycle. It could even be — it doesn’t have to be — an injury. It could be you’re feeling just fine and all of a sudden, BAM, it feels like you’re coming down with something. “Oh, my gosh, my chest feels very full. Two minutes ago, I didn’t even notice this. Now, it’s all of a sudden.” So, it’s a quick onset, a fast onset of a sense of impending doom: that sense of, “Oh my gosh, something really bad has just happened.” Sometimes it’s because something bad really did happen, but many other times, we can’t even put our finger on it. “Why do I feel like this? It’s only a cold.” Or “Why do I feel like that? I don’t even have a cold. There’s nothing going on except that I feel this sense of impending doom, this panic like I’m really in serious trouble here.” And years ago, when I was poking through materia medicas, which is, of course, the material of our medicines, which is an anthology of our homeopathic medicines and a description of them. (We have many materia medicas authored by many great homeopaths.) I came across this sentence that really struck me. In fact, it struck me so strongly that I wrote down the date that it really hit me. Because someone I know — as well as myself — had suffered a shock earlier in life and found that ever since that time, it’s as though it was stuck. And so, this is what I wrote. Actually, I wrote, “Joette discovered this particular line, August 14th, 1996.” It took me a few years to actually embody this idea. And this is what this sentence read (and I’m reading from “The Desktop Guide” by Roger Morrison). This author has a way of putting things eloquently. He says, “Aconite can release a shock or fright that has been held in the body or mind for a lifetime.” That’s a powerful statement, my friends. If the person has had panic attacks for the last 15 years of their life, for example, or anxiety —even low-level, background music (“Musak” as I used to call it when I used to have it years ago) — ever since a specific event. They were caught in an earthquake. They got stuck in an elevator for several hours. Somebody attacked them and they were fearful of their life. They had a very frightening experience during birth. Aconitum can uproot that. So, we’re not going to just guess that that’s what happened. But if we could say, “Oh my gosh, yes, there was a significant event in my life 15 years ago. And just around that time, it seems as though I’ve had this anxiety for no apparent reason … or for an apparent reason.” And so, what do we do with that? Okay, Aconite fits the picture. Now, what do we do? Well, we use the remedy Aconite napellus. I prefer 200C, although a 30 could be used — 30C could be used, 30X could be used, 200X. But my preference, because it’s so readily available in today’s world, is Aconitum napellus 200C. And during an event of panic or even just simple low-level anxiety, the person takes a dose. Now, some people may say, “What do you mean during an event? I have this all the time!” Okay, then you just take it. It’s often best used before bed. Doesn’t have to be. What if it’s a true anxiety attack at noon? Does that mean we have to wait to take it before bed? No, we take it as needed. We take a dose, and then, we check out how do we feel even two hours later, 12 hours later, 24 hours later. And we kind of test how do we feel. “Oh, my goodness. You know what? I kind of forgot about it.” Now, sometimes one dose will do it. I know. Sounds strange, doesn’t it? But perhaps, instead, it might need to be used once a day, every day for a few days. We’re always looking to back off of the medicine because this is not something that I want you to get hooked on. Kate: And it’s not a supplement. Joette: It’s not a supplement or a vitamin. This is a medicine that is intended to uproot the condition. And over a period of time — it could be just one dose, could be three doses over a period of three days, could be five doses over a period of five days — you should find that you’ve just forgotten about being anxious. It just doesn’t show up. A lot of times people don’t even realize. Life just goes on, and they don’t think about it any longer. That’s the way this medicine can act. Kate: So, if someone was having a panic attack and they took a dose of Aconitum and then it subsided and things felt a little better. And then, in another 30 minutes or an hour, all of a sudden, they started feeling that panic coming back on … could they take another dose of the Aconite? Joette: Yes, they could. I would not encourage taking it much more frequently than, say, once every hour or so. But if it doesn’t act in a dose or two or three doses, then over a period of a few hours, it’s likely not the correct medicine. And I’ll tell you what I mean by that in a little while. Before I go into that — choosing a second-choice medicine — I want you to also think about this as a medicine that is really great when someone has a fear, an extreme anxiety before surgery or after surgery. Because surgery is a shock to the system and the person intuitively knows that they’re about to go through something that’s like a world war on their body. Surgery is a big deal. People take it very nonchalantly these days, but I disagree. I think they should not be thinking of it that way. If one is absolutely in need of surgery, then it can be a wonderful thing. Surgery can be very useful in the hands of a good surgeon. However, surgery is often overused. A tonsillectomy — I could keep going — all kinds of skin conditions that are surgically removed, hysterectomy. Many of these are superfluous. These are conditions that can be treated homeopathically more often than not, and so those surgeries are superfluous. But let’s say you don’t know that. You haven’t even even thought about the possibility of being able to treat tonsils that the ear, nose, throat doctor is eager to remove. Perhaps you don’t know that you don’t really need a hysterectomy for fibroids. Perhaps you don’t know all that, but yet you’re still afraid. So, this could be an entrée into the world of homeopathy by simply saying, “I am really scared of this surgery.” Or after the surgery, “Boy, I had this terrible anxiety.” Aconitum napellus 200C before bedtime (often) or during a panic attack for a few doses (meaning could be over a couple of days — three or four days — and see how you feel. And my guess is, more often than not, if you’re following what I’m saying here and you know that Aconitum is the right medicine (because we have others from which to choose), if you feel pretty confident that this is a good descriptor, then Aconitum napellus 200C often will work very nicely for most people. ACONITUM DURING LABORKate: (13:47) How about right during the birthing process: when you’re giving birth, and you have that fear? Would Aconite be the remedy for that? Joette: I’m so glad you asked that, Kate. Thank you. Yes, it’s one of our best medicines for when the mother is going through labor, and she’s saying, “I’m really anxious. I feel like something’s wrong. Something’s wrong with the baby, something’s wrong with me.” And to her, it feels as though she’s intuiting this. Now, she may be. But it’s more often likely if everything looks proper according to the midwife (or to her family members) that she’s really just fine, but she’s feeling anxious. Then, a dose or two of Aconitum napellus 200C, administered a few minutes apart perhaps, will calm her down, and she’ll be able to move forward and to get to the task at hand. So, it’s a great medicine for during labor and after labor. FEAR: ARGENTUM NITRICUMKate: (14:50) Let’s talk another medicine. Now, if Aconitum doesn’t act, what might you consider next? Joette: Well, there’s a common sense in people — especially women, I don’t hear it from men; I hear this from women — who have this inexplicable fear of going over bridges. They’ve always driven over bridges, but something in their life perhaps changed. Maybe they had an event that was frightening. Maybe they were sick from something or whatever the reason is. We don’t even have to know the etiology. But we do know that now this person (or perhaps all their life) has this fear of traveling over a bridge. Aconitum is certainly something that could be considered, but I actually prefer to use a different medicine when it is specifically for fear of going over bridges. And that’s Argentum nitricum. Short version is Arg nit, but the long version is Argentum nitricum. Again, I like a 200C. Could we use a 30? Yes, we could. If that’s what you’ve got, then that’s what you use. So, Argentum nitricum 200C. Perhaps, if it’s not something that this person suffers from regularly, just thinking about bridges will make them quake. Perhaps it’s only when they’re traveling. And they really don’t want to go over that bridge, but they know that it’s the only way they’re going to be able to get to their children’s house, so they must do it. Then the moment they start thinking about it, and the anxiety starts to build, and the fear starts to quake, then, that’s when they utilize the remedy Argentum nitricum 200C. Right as soon as it begins, because why would you suffer it if it was needless? So, you use the Argentum nitricum. It may need to be used again that day. Maybe once or twice a day for a few days, perhaps leading up to the road trip that’s forthcoming. And then, now, we watch and see if they’re better. Then you stop. They’ve gone over the bridge. What we normally see is that they can still go over the bridge. They still have some angst, but it’s not so overwhelming that it’s incapacitating. And then they can breathe comfortably after having gone over the bridge. And if it remains that they still have the anxiety, another dose of Argentum nitricum might be in order. But now they’ve finished, and it’s over with. Now, say two weeks later, they’re going to have to go back again, and they start thinking about it again. What we should see is a slight lessening of the condition, meaning there’s less intensity to the anxiety. It’s not nearly as great as it was before taking Argentum nitricum. It might also — number two — last a shorter amount of time. And number three, there’s a larger space between each time that it occurs. In other words, the next time they have to go over a bridge, they might not be so anxious. But the fourth time they have to go over a bridge, now it’s happening again. So, what we’re looking for is any one of those three criteria being met. If two of them are met, or if all three of them are met, then we know we are definitely onto the right homeopathic medicine to treat anxiety from going over bridges. So, the first rule is less intensity, the second, lasting for a shorter period of time, and the third, a larger space between each time the person suffers from this anxiety. Now, having said that, Argentum nitricum covers many other conditions that have to do with fear, but I’m just using this as an example. There are many other worries. There’s claustrophobia; there’s a tremendous sense of heights — fear of heights — that’s really big. (Bridges often represent heights, but they also represent being hemmed in.) Anxiety about being alone, anxiety about their health, et cetera. All of those kinds of conditions can also be related to Argentum nitricum. I just use this one as an example because it’s so common Kate: And fear of flying in airplanes, also can be … Joette: Yes, fear of flying an airplane. Thank you. Yes, yes. Same idea. In a way, it’s a fear of heights. It’s also feeling hemmed in, feeling as though they have no control over anything. Yes, you’re absolutely right. Kate: And it could also be the medicine that helps someone for panic attacks and anxiety attacks as well, in general. WHEN TO PIVOTJoette: (19:07) That’s right. Sometimes when we use a medicine, let’s say we think this really does sound like Aconitum napellus would be the remedy that would help me the most. And it’s used for a few times, and it works nicely. And then the fifth or sixth time it’s needed — say six, eight, 10 months later — it’s not working so well anymore. So, what is the person experiencing now? And I’m really emphasizing that word “now” because it might be different. You might think at first blush that “this is just what I had six months ago, and it’s back again. Oh, no.” Instead, you might actually say, “You know what? It really isn’t quite the same. It really isn’t panic any longer. It’s more about that fear of heights. I have to get on a flight, and I’m just so uncomfortable about it. I can’t really put my finger on it.” And then they think something has shifted. What has shifted? The homeopathic medicine, Aconitum, likely shifted this person to a different way of experiencing the panic, but a slightly perhaps milder version of it. And then we can consider going to Argentum nitricum. In other words, just because Aconitum worked in the beginning — and it helped to a certain degree, but it has now stopped helping — doesn’t mean it’s the only medicine. I mean, if I were to crack open my repertory right now, and we looked under anxiety, we would probably see about 80 to 100 medicines that could be considered. All I’m doing right now — and what I try to do on a regular basis on my blog and this podcast, in my courses and The Academy, et cetera, et cetera, Joette’s Mighty Members — is to get people to see that there are certain homeopathic medicines that are more commonly found useful, so that it can make it a little bit easier to come up with a medicine that could be of help. It’s not a hundred percent my friends, but it’s a great place to start. Kate: What’s interesting, I think about Argentum nitricum is that it can also be used for fear of having a panic attack. So … Joette: Yes, “the fear of ….” Absolutely. Fear of being alone, anxiety about even looking at a tall building, even looking at a bridge, just thinking of a bridge — not unlike some people get squeamish and have a sense of “ick” when they look at a snake. Just the sight of a snake on a computer screen can send them into a frenzy. This is the same idea only this is for heights and flying, et cetera, et cetera. Kate: Or before you’re going to the dentist, in your … Joette: Yes! Yes. Kate: Anticipatory … yeah. CHECK YOUR MATERIA MEDICAJoette: (21:37) Yes. And so, what I always urge folks to do before they even use a homeopathic medicine is to go to your materia medica and read up on the medicine. See how it fits. Look at the medicines that I’ve discussed here and see if they fit properly into this person’s demeanor. So, what do you do? You simply go to JoetteCalabrese.com or PracticalHomeopathy.com and scroll down to “Shop.” And there, you’ll find my materia medica that you can purchase. Kate: Right! It’s under “Books and CDs.” But also, you had mentioned earlier that Mindful Homeopathy course, and that is located under “Shop” in “Courses.” So, you’ll find that there, and we’ll put some links, for you who are listening, to all of these different resources so you can access them easily. They’ll be on with the podcast notes on the website as well. Joette: That’s right. So, you can go online and just look at materia medicas — old-time materia medicas that are very valuable. They’re authored by the great minds of homeopathy: Dr. Phatak (P-H-A-T-A-K), Dr. Boericke (B-O-E-R-I-C-K-E). So, these are online free sites where you can read up on the homeopathic medicine that you’re thinking about taking. And I urge folks to do this. Again, I love that Kate said, “These are not supplements, these homeopathic medicines.” They’re not regulated by Food and Drug Administration under supplements. They’re regulated as medicines — as drugs, even though they’re not synthetic, and they don’t have side effects, and they are not owned by a particular company. They’re made from natural substances with no additives. And again, no side effects. So, this is the medicine that you’ve been waiting for. This is the medicine we all thought we were getting when we used to go to a doctor and ask for something to cure us. Conventional drugs do not cure, my friends. They hold the symptoms down. They hold it at bay, and eventually it can cause more trouble than what was ever intended. And often people don’t make that connection. The doctor who prescribed the drug — I can guarantee — will not make that connection that the drug he or she prescribed is now causing the newest condition because it seems unassociated. But we know that it is if we simply read what the side effects are of each of the conventional drugs that a person is taking. ARSENICUM ALBUMJoette: (24:15) Okay, we’re going to leave with one last one. So, let’s look at Arsenicum album. Arsenicum album and Aconitum are very closely related. They are related because it has a quick onset. Arsenicum can also have a quick onset. But Arsenicum album often has the sense of panic or anxiety related to poison, such as bad food. I mean really bad food, chicken that was tainted. Or a drug that someone took, whether prescribed, over the counter or even street drug. Arsenicum album can also come about when there’s another kind of poison, such as an animal, poison — if someone has been stung by an insect, and they’re having anxiety or panic. So, Arsenicum album is similar in that there’s a sense that they’re not going to survive this. They feel as though they’re going to die. Same thing with Aconitum. They feel as though they’re going to die. So, does all of them … feel as though they’re about to die. But Arsenicum album is different in that the person has a kind of a physical appearance. They get restless. They often pace or they fidget or they’re loquacious. They talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk … the anxiety. Others can observe it. They’re also fastidious. If there’s anything untidy about the surroundings that they’re in, they must tidy it up. They cannot stand anything that’s out of order. So, they will try to tidy things up in spite of being anxious. There can also be a prominent physical aspect to Arsenicum album. There can be diarrhea. There can be nausea. There can be burning — burning in the stomach, burning in the throat. So, that, too, can be very good indicators to help you choose or differentiate between Aconitum, Argentum nitricum and Arsenicum. OUR “A” FOR ANXIETY MEDICINES ALL START WITH THE LETTER “A”Joette: (26:09) And these are our anxiety (“A”) remedies, all starting with the letter “A”: Aconitum, Argentum nitricum and Arsenicum. These are our anxiety medicines. If you or anyone in your family suffers from anxiety attacks, panic, et cetera, it is time to get ahold of these medicines and give them a try. Whatever you decide to do. Whether you decide to take the first, second or the third — there are many others as well, but let’s start with these three — stay with it. Don’t shift around. Don’t flip over from one to the other. “I don’t know if this is working fast enough. Maybe I need to go to the next one.” There is a tendency to do that when we’re in a state of anxiety, but I urge you to just give the medicine its due and then move to another one, if there truly is no improvement with the first or the second or even the third, for that matter. THE LADDER OF LEARNINGKate: (27:00) Okay, good. And if you want to know more, there is some blogs that are on your website, Joette. And I just want to mention them. And we’ll, again, put the links in the podcast notes for those who want to read up on the medicines in another format. One is called A Dog with Anxiety? There’s a Homeopathic Solution. Another is Anxiety: When the Elevator Flies to the Top. And the third, You Mean Summer is Over: When Back to School Results in Anxiety and Panic Attacks, Homeopathy Saves the Day. Oh, I just remembered one more. The blog is titled Must-Have Memorial Day Medicines for Hay Fever, Overindulgence and Anxiety. So, there, you can find the information that Joette covered and much more on those blogs. So, as we finish up the podcast today, Joette, can you tell the listeners what might be their next steps if they are trying to learn more about these medicines? Or maybe they’re new, and they don’t know where to start, what would you recommend? Joette: I would recommend that you strongly consider joining Joette’s Mighty Members. It’s a very inexpensive first step. If you’re already a member of Joette’s Mighty Members, you might want to go to Joette’s Mighty Members Plus, which is even more information. And this is information that I’m not willing to give to the general public. Because you’re a member, and you pay a small monthly subscription, I give you information that I will only tell my dear students who are in my Academy or in my other forums, as well as in the Mighties. I’m not willing to share anywhere else. Then another possibility is to join a Gateway study group. There, you’re going to learn from someone who guides you through the studies — the methods that I use. And you’ll learn it with other people, and that is invaluable to be able to work with others — other people from all over the world. You meet on Zoom, or you can meet locally as well. That’s a great way to meet people of like minds. Then, there are also my courses. And there, you’d go to Joette’s Learning Center, and you’ll find my courses. Scroll down and determine which course is best for you. If you purchase it as a group member, you’ll get a substantial discount. Now, let’s say you’ve used all of these methods, and you’ve also been on my blog for these 14 years that I’ve been producing the blog, and you’ve been listening to this podcast, and, and, and. I want you to remember that there’s always the Practical Academy — The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® — which is a very specific academy where I personally teach my students for a year-long program. And, should they choose to go to the second year, go into the Mastery™ program where I teach you the methods that I’ve been using for the last 36 years of my professional life and how I’ve been able to help tens of thousands of people. So, there’s a ladder that you can climb. You can stop at rung one. You can stop at rung four. You can go all the way to the top and go through The Academy and the Mastery™ program. And so, with that, I wish you the best. I want you to have, my friends, sprezzatura. It’s a beautiful Italian word, which means knowing how to do something or presenting something that is really seemingly quite complex — or is actually quite complex — but presenting it in a way that is with beautiful nonchalance. I want you simply to know Aconitum for this situation, Argentum nitricum for that situation, Arsenicum album for this other situation. No one will have to know all the time and effort that you’ve put into learning these three medicines. What they will see only is this perfection of this medicine in your hands. Kate: Thank you, Joette. That was so helpful. Joette: Thank you, Kate. It was great. It’s my honor to share many lessons on this simple method of using homeopathy for free —without affiliates or advertising — here in my podcasts, but also my blog posts and Monday Night Lives. But it’s critical that you learn how to use these medicines properly. These podcasts should serve as only the beginning of your training. Peruse JoettesLearningCenter.com to find fun study group opportunities and in-depth courses developed by subject. So, with the proper training, you can join the thousands of students before you in developing the confidence and competence to protect the health of your family and loved ones with my brand of homeopathy, Practical Homeopathy®. Kate: You just listened to a podcast from internationally acclaimed homeopath, public speaker and author, the founder of The Academy of Practical Homeopathy®, Joette Calabrese. Joette’s podcasts are available on all your favorite podcast apps. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit for your health strategy, visit PracticalHomeopathy.com. | |||
| Podcast 30 – Moms with Moxie: Success Stories and Avoiding the ER! | 20 Jul 2017 | 00:32:13 | |
In this podcast, we cover: 04:39 Finding Joette’s homeopathy 10:00 Organizing Joette’s blogs 12:25 Success stories and others 18:33 Failures encountered 25:29 Avoiding the ER
You are listening to a podcast from joettecalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition.
Paola: It’s podcast number 30 at joettecalabrese.com. We’ve got another Moms with Moxie miniseries for you. Joette: All the way from my desk in New York, I get to see how homeopathy is transforming lives all over the globe. Some of my students have really caught my eye. Some of you have done all you can to learn how to cure those around you using homeopathic medicines. Your successes inspire me and they’re glorious and powerful. I can’t keep your successes a secret any longer. So, with help from my roving reporter, Paola, we bring you this mini podcast series that I call “Moms with Moxie.” It’s actually grandmoms, too but it’s Moms with Moxie. See how regular mothers and others, average people who want to cure those around them have gone from freaking to fabulous with homeopathy. Paola: I am so excited to do another Moms with Moxie podcast. Today, we have Heather Stein. Heather is a rock star. She is a homeschooling mom of six. Her oldest is 10 and her youngest is a newborn. I actually tried scheduling this with you, Heather a while ago but you emailed back and said, “Well, I just gave birth like last week or something. So, can we push it out?” So, that was so funny. And you hail from St. Louis, Missouri. Heather: That’s right. Paola: Okay. I have just really enjoyed hearing your story. You seem like a very organized mom that’s on top of it. I think our listeners are going to enjoy hearing about that. So, let’s start. How did you come to find homeopathy? Heather: I came to find homeopathy when I was kind of embarking on natural health in general. My first child was one year old. We found out she had asthma. She had food allergies. She had an ear infection. A mom that I knew recommended just looking into this whole world of natural health which was totally new to me. As I was finding ways to heal my new family more naturally, I kept running into homeopathy. I didn’t understand what it was. It took kind of a learning curve. It wasn’t until a couple of years later, my midwife when I was having my second child was recommending some homeopathic. I said, “I really have to look into this.” So, I started learning more about it mainly just through books that I bought, also through online research. I started using mainly just low potency combination remedies to kind of try to get at some of the acute things that my family was dealing with. Paola: Awesome. That’s a great way to start. So, you knew right from the get-go that homeopathy was different from home remedies, natural remedies, how people lump those together. Heather: Yes, the Latin names really helped to set it apart for me that these things are all grouped together and there’s something different. Paola: Good for you. Yes. I have always had a sense that it was different. Thanks to my mom. But it’s important for anyone who’s listening to know that when you talk about homeopathy, we all get so familiar with it that we forget that other people might think it’s home remedies or whatever. So, you told me that you have a background in psychology and that homeopathy really made sense to you and influenced you to kind of continue pursuing it. So, tell us about that. Heather: Yes. So, I naturally kind of went to psychology as a major in college. I got a Bachelor’s in that. I just kind of had a little bit of a natural gift there and enjoyed figuring out how people check, and looking at the emotions, and how those fit together for people. So, when I was looking at homeopathy, I got really excited to find out that there was something more that I could do besides acute. So, I kind of started delving into classical a little bit because I saw how homeopathy looked at not just what was happening with the body but what was happening with the mind as well. So, that kind of got me involved a little bit further into homeopathy. I started looking at classical remedies. I had some success with it. I think because of my psychology background, it kind of made sense to me. But it was still a little bit hit or miss. I never really had too much confidence that the remedy was going to work. But I had enough confidence and enough successes that I felt like I was going to stick with it and keep trying and keep learning. Paola: Good for you. That’s exactly right. I think that’s wonderful that you kept pursuing it. Joette does talk about how often when you have someone that’s sick, their mental state, their emotional state will shift before the general state shifts. My daughter once was angry. I remember she made eye contact with me and like screamed into my face. I was like, “Okay, you’re mad about this here.” And then I gave her Belladonna which is red, hot, and angry. The first thing to improve was her attitude about it. She fell asleep and calmed down. So, there is that mind-body connection. But then you found Joette. So, tell us about that. Finding Joette’s homeopathyHeather: Yes. This was actually before Joette was talking about Banerji Protocols because I’ve been following her for probably four or five years and on her to the Wise Traditions journal. I read her articles. I liked what she had to say and her method of presenting it and how she wanted to empower people to use homeopathy. Because I kept encountering with classical saying, “This is in the information but don’t use it. You’re probably not qualified to do this.” I kind of thought, “Well, I do have a psychology background. So, it’s probably not too bad for me to [0:05:07] into this. But Joette seems to be kind of putting it out there and saying, “You can do this.” So, I really liked that. So, I started just following her blog and really keeping up with her. When she started presenting the Banerji Protocols, I was really excited because even though I was having some success with the classical method, I knew other people that weren’t and had abandoned homeopathy because they said this isn’t working for me. But I knew that there was something there. So, I was really excited about it. It seemed streamlined, easier to understand, not so much pouring over books. And for busy moms, that’s great. So, I started kind of going along that path with what she was presenting to all of us. It really started checking out for me. That’s where homeopathy started being sort of the go-to method in our home and crowding out some of the other things that were not working as well because homeopathy was working better. Paola: Like natural stuff that wasn’t working as well. Heather: Right. Paola: You bring up a really interesting point. I feel like you and Joette started classical. Obviously, Joette was a professional classical homeopath but the real alumni of Joette who’ve been around before she met the Banerjis. You all liked homeopathy but when Joette found the Banerjis, she was like, “Oh my gosh. This is a game changer.” I find that people who come into this not having experienced classical homeopathy all by itself first, I don’t think they sometimes appreciate how wonderful these protocols are because it’s what they’ve always had, kind of like true with modern technology and Google. Like well, life is often easy, right, because we can just Google it and there’s the answer. Where I remember when I was a kid, you can’t Google stuff. Heather: That’s right, yes. Very good. This is kind of like that. Paola: It is. They’re so wonderful. Joette, I just thank God for her because she empowers us. You’re right, other classical homeopath don’t want us doing this. Joette is trying to equip us with what we need to know to do this. So, that’s great. Heather: That’s right. That’s right. I thank God for her, too. She’s great. Paola: So, how long have you been doing homeopathy? Heather: In general since the very beginning, about nine years. Then like I said, I kind of was following along with Joette. I found her somewhere in there. That’s really the way that I learned about homeopathy now because the Banerji Protocols make it so simplified. Even when it’s not a Banerji Protocol, I feel like she presents it in a manner that really puts the tools in your hand and allows you to go ahead and use it. Paola: Yes, very true. So I guess now, this is the main way you care for your family’s health needs. Heather: Yes, it is. We travel often. I would have this bin, this plastic bin that’s the same as in our house. We call it the medicine bin. That’s what I keep with us on trips. It was always loaded with herbs and just various nutraceuticals and vitamins and minerals and all different kind of things that I gathered along the way in my research and experience that might heal a problem if we were gone, if somebody had a flu, or somebody had an accident. It was always brimming over with stuff. I had to kind of lug it around. But as I’ve used homeopathy and especially as I bought the kit, that medicine bin has been completely streamlined because mostly what I use now is homeopathy. So, it makes it very easy to put the right thing and go rather than having to kind of split all this stuff around just to be prepared. I feel like it’s so easy to be prepared with homeopathy. Paola: So, it’s like you went from having a natural medicine suitcase to a little basket or something. So that’s good, very good. I’m always curious and I like to ask the moms with moxie like you, how does your husband fit in? Is he supportive? Did it take a lot of convincing for him or what? Heather: The natural health and natural food stuff in general was a big leap for him. But once we kind of got on to that road, homeopathy for him has really lumped into all that. Paola: I see. Heather: I point that one, it saves us money because I feel like that really fixed him in, my husband. Paola: Yes, yes. Heather: So, when we avoid an ER visit because I was able to use homeopathy, I’d be sure to point that out to him because that way he knows that the money that we’re spending on remedies is working. It’s saving us money. So, that kind of really speaks to him. Whenever I had a success, I’d be sure to mention it to him so he knows that this thing that I’m trying out that he doesn’t really understand, it is working. Paola: Right. I like the way you’re describing it. You kind of just, as a matter of fact is that you just tell him. Joette says that for men, especially the skeptical ones, don’t get too excited. Don’t do backflips even though you want to. Just kind of let them witness and see that overall improvement progression benefit like you were saying. So, that’s great. Good for him. So now, he kind of lets you do your thing. That’s great. Heather: Yes. Paola: Great. Okay Heather, at the beginning of the podcast, I mentioned that you are super organized and you’ve got your act together. So, one of the things about Joette’s blog is that there is so much amazing information on it that it gets overwhelming. I hear that you have a pretty good system to keep track of it all. Organizing Joette’s blogsHeather: Yes. I am kind of an organized person. But I will say that I don’t stress about it. I don’t get really uptight about it. What I do is when I see a blog post by Joette that I think will be helpful to me, I either just write down the protocol on a little file very simply. I will note about what the remedy is and what it’s for, or if the whole blog post is really things like wow, I’m really going to need to look at this whole thing later on and reference it. Then I might print out the whole thing. Then I just stick it in a binder in a file that I have that have just a bunch of different protocols. I just print that out every once in a while. Every couple of months, I print out fresh copies so that I have everything that I need. Then that way if I don’t have access to the internet for whatever reason, I still got it all right there. Paola: That’s very smart. Do you have like little tabs in the binder? Do you organize it by subject or how do you do that? Heather: Yes. So, I have a tab for classes. Then I have a tab for just little jotted notes of remedies. And I have a tab for blog posts. It’s not organized in such a way that I can just flip to the perfect page right where it is. I do kind of have to flip through it a little bit. But I’m a busy mom. I don’t have time to really organize it to that extent. So, I just say to myself, “I’m just going to print this out.” And then it’s there. Paola: Yes, absolutely. One thing I’ve started doing is I’ve started squeezing little teeny, tiny notes in the margins of my materia medica, my favorite materia medica. I like that too because then it’s kind of there. Like if I learned something about this specific remedy, not really a condition, I just throw it in there. Then I have, I mentioned it before in another podcast, my little black book. I just alphabetized it. I just throw conditions and things about remedies in there too. I have to confess though. I don’t have my blogs organized. So, I will do that. But actually that reminds me, at the time of this recording right now, we are very close to launching something. Maybe by the time it’s released, this will have already been launched. But we are going to start providing something at the end of the blog that is going to make keeping track of these protocols a little bit more easy. So, look forward to that. I think you’re going to love it. Heather: Oh great. That sounds great. Paola: Okay. So, let’s get to my favorite part of this podcast where I ask you, moms with moxie, for some stories. I’m sure you have plenty of them. Tell me what stories you have for us about successes and even, let’s be real, frustrations with homeopathy. So, let’s talk about all of them. Success stories and othersHeather: Some of the things that I love most about learning about homeopathy is being able to share it with other people. A lot of times, I have friends just texting and saying, “Hey, what do you think about this or what do you think about that?” One time, I had a friend who texted me and said, “I’m vomiting constantly. I can’t stop throwing up. Can you help me?” I thought, “Oh boy!” My first thought was Arsenicum. But I thought, you know, better look this up just to make sure that I’m thinking the right thing. So, I did. I thought yes, Arsenicum sounds like a really good place to start. So I said, “Well, I have this but I can’t get it to you.” She said, “Well, I can’t get it either because I’m throwing up.” So, she sent her mom over to my house. Paola: Oh bless those mothers. Heather: Mom is going to pick it up. Yes, I know. God bless her, right? And so, her mom took it over to her. She texted me a little while later and said, “This totally works. Thank you so much. I can’t thank you enough.” Because when you’re that sick, you just need somebody to help you. Paola: I know. Heather: So, it was great because it was one of those things where it just worked and it worked in a dramatic way. So, that was really fun. In fact, after that experience, she wanted to learn more about homeopathy. So, she ended up taking the Good Gut, Bad Gut course because she felt how that one remedy works for her. Paola: Very good. So, have you taken the Good Gut, Bad Gut course? Heather: I have, yes. It’s been very helpful. One of the things that I use from that course was Aethusa for milk intolerance. I’ve had milk intolerance my whole life. I just never thought it could get better. I thought I just have to avoid milk forever even when I love it. So when I saw that, I thought, “I’m going to try this.” Paola: How did your intolerance present? Heather: I would have a huge eczema flare. I kind of have this low level eczema. I would drink milk and then boom! My hands would just be red and on fire and super itchy. Paola: Oh my gosh, okay. Heather: So I thought, I’m going to give this a try and I’m going to be patient with it. So, I took it for about three months. I thought, “Okay. I’m going to try it and see if anything happens so far.” And it was the same. I really couldn’t see a difference but I didn’t want to let that stop me. I thought, “Okay, she said many months.” So, I’m going to stick with it. It hasn’t been many months. It’s only been like three. So, I went for it another maybe three to six months. I thought, “Okay, I’m going to try it again.” I did. I didn’t have a big eczema flare up but I did have just a lot of sneezing, runny, mucousy nose. I thought, “Oh no, I have messed this up.” I just created a problem. But I decided to have faith and just stick with it a little bit more because I thought maybe it’s just working its way through my body. Maybe it’s getting better. Maybe it’s just a different way that it’s manifesting it. Paola: That is a tricky thing to kind of figure out, okay, am I getting worse? Am I getting better? I don’t know. She does coach us in her courses how to do that. But I think the interesting thing is for sure, your eczema was better. I agree. Like if I were you, I probably would have continued as well. Heather: Yes. It was very different from many things I have experienced in the past. Before I thought, this has to be due to the remedy. The remedy has to be doing something. I didn’t think that the remedy would make it worse. So I stuck with it. About another six months later, I kind of thought [0:15:25]. I thought, “Oh, I’m still taking this remedy. I need to see if it’s working.” So, I tried drinking a glass of milk and nothing happened. I kept searching for some symptom that was going to come up and just nothing did. It was just really impressive to me that after about a year or so of just sticking with it really worked for me. Paola: That’s amazing. I know you mentioned that you were reading the Wise Tradition magazine. That’s the Weston A. Price magazine. A lot of us try and eat, drink food with the Weston A. Price principles. So, that’s great that you can have raw milk now. Heather: Yes. It’s so frustrating to see that healthy food and say, “I just can’t eat that.” So, I’m excited. Paola: Exactly, very good. We have a little Jersey cow in the backyard. I used to be very intolerant to milk as well. So, I’m so thankful I can have six inches of cream any time I want to. Heather: That’s right. We had goats and we milk them. Paola: Oh awesome. Heather: I couldn’t drink the milk and it was so sad. Paola: That is so sad. How frustrating. Oh, my gosh! I would not have a cow if I’m not going to be able to drink the milk. Heather: Yes. Paola: Okay. So, tell me another story about your friend’s son who had a cough. Heather: Yes. A lot of my friends are very into natural health, even homeopathy. It feels like homeopathy is really taking off. Her son had a homeopathic doctor. He was a classical homeopath. She had taken her son to him and nothing had changed with the cold. And so, she was sharing with me that she was frustrated about it. She was at my house. Her son was just a little toddler. He was one year old and he was just hacking constantly. It was so sad. As she was talking to me, something was nagging in the back of my mind. I just kept thinking. I know Joette had a blog post about it but I don’t remember what the remedy was. So, I just got on the computer and I looked it up. I couldn’t exactly place what the remedy was. I plainly knew that Joette had blogged about it. I looked it up and sure enough, there it was. It was Ipecac. And so, since I had my handy kit, I went upstairs and I grabbed it. I said, “Why don’t you just try this?” She was kind of dubious because the classical homeopath hadn’t helped. Paola: Right. Heather: But I said, “I can’t make any promises but this sounds right to me.” So, she gave it to him. Within five minutes, he just bonked out and went right to sleep. I said, “Oh, that’s really good.” So, he took a nice, long nap. She loaded him in the car to come home. Later that night, she talked to me and said, “The cough is definitely getting better.” I said, “Okay. Well, keep it up until it’s very much better.” So, she kept up with it for a few days. She just thinks our story is hilarious because the classical homeopath couldn’t kick the cough and yet, we look it up on the computer, go on Joette’s blog and there it is. Paola: That’s wonderful. I like that secretly you outwitted the professional homeopath. Heather: I don’t think I could do it every time. Paola: Well, that’s the point here though is that Joette’s blog is so informative. I’m sure that homeopath is really great. He’s allowed to not get it right the first time all the time. But Joette has this really great ability to distill the information in the blog and make it usable and ready for us. Heather: Yes. Paola: I think it’s important to be real though. Have you had any trouble with homeopathy or frustrations? Failures encounteredHeather: Oh, I have. I want to talk about failures because I think it’s important that we as moms still listen to these podcasts and think, “This mom is getting it right every time. She’s always nailing it. And I keep failing. What’s wrong?” As I learn, I get it right more often. But I’ve definitely had failures. One of the failures that we had was I had a daughter with a UTI. I tried Cantharis and it wasn’t working. I had on my shopping list to buy Medorrhinum but I didn’t have it. I couldn’t give it because I didn’t have it. She ended up being brought to urgent care. We have a great natural practitioner but I couldn’t get her in and she had to have something. That was the first time that we had used drugs in a long time. It really hurt but I went, “You know what? It being on my shopping list isn’t going to cure my family.” Paola: That’s right. Heather: I needed to have it in my kit. And so, that was a really good lesson for me to make sure I have what I need. Paola: I agree with you. That is why we try our best to be prepared. But I think it’s good too that you haven’t beaten yourself up over it too much. Heather: That’s right. We just do what we can with what we’ve got at the moment. Paola: Right. Also, you mentioned that your daughter has some asthma as well. Heather: Yes, she does. She struggled with that her whole life. She’s 10. I’ve tried a lot of different natural things but it’s one of those chronic things that’s just really hard to uproot. I found a remedy through Joette’s blog that she gave for asthma. We were seeing some success and then it just kind of plateaued. I went, “I just don’t think this is working for her anymore. We’re not getting any further with it.” So, I had to put that on pause. I’m looking forward to taking Joette’s Allergic course because my understanding is she goes into that chronic asthma more there. I think that that could help get us to the next level with it. Right now, we’re just on pause there until I can take that course and learn more. Paola: Good for you. Yes, I think that’s a really good plan. Another frustration I think you had one time was with an ear infection with one of your kids. I think generally, ear infections can be pretty easy for kids but this is one of those times that you couldn’t figure it out with homeopathy. Heather: Yes. I was just trying and trying. It was clear that the remedies that I was using were not helping. Like I said, we took her to that really good natural practitioner we have and she got over it. But I wanted to learn how to overcome that with homeopathy. So, I had that on my radar as something to learn more about. Lo and behold, on one of these podcasts you mentioned the Banerji Protocol of Pulsatilla and Chamomilla. Paola: I’m going to repeat it. There is more than one. But the one I knew at the time is Pulsatilla 30, twice a day and then Chamomilla 30, as needed for pain, and maybe once every hour, once every 15 minutes if it’s extreme and the person is freaking out, or once every three hours if it’s under control. Heather: Yes. That’s what I wrote down. Sure enough, this is just last weekend. I have toddler twins. They’re two years old. My little boy came in in the morning and he had a very high fever. He was pulling on his ear and just cupping his ear. He was very fussy. We don’t have a lot of ear infections here at home but they do come up. This is his first. Right away I knew. He was saying, “My ear hurt.” I thought, “Okay. Here we go, ear infection.” This is my big chance to use this protocol and see if we can have some success. I started the protocol just as you mentioned. I was giving him the Chamomilla every 30 minutes because he was very fussy. I would give him the remedy and then he would take his nap for about 30 minutes. He’d wake up and he’d still be very cranky about it. Then I’d give it to him again. After I did three or four times, he took a big two-hour nap. Then I thought, “Oh, great. I think we’re getting something here.” He woke up again and he was a little less fussy. The fever was still very high. His ear still hurt. But I could tell that it was working. So, I gave him the remedy again. Paola: It goes back to that psychology at the beginning. Your mentals tend to shift before the generals… Heather: Yes. Paola: before that fever is gone or the infection is totally gone. Then what? Heather: Well, then he took another big two-hour nap. Then after that, I could tell that it was really, really changing. I was super confident that we had the right thing. I slowed down even more on the Chamomilla because he was just really wasn’t that irritable. By the end of the day, he was about 90%. He was back to himself. And I thought, “All right, we had a success.” Paola: Yes. Heather: I was really excited about it. I thought I have what I need now, kind of a go-to thing to try for the next ear infection. Well, little did I know, I woke up the very next morning and his twin sister comes in and she says, “My ear hurts.” “Oh, no! What is this?” Paola: I know. Heather: Why this would happen. But it did. But I was glad though because I felt like, “Okay. We had a really great success just yesterday. I’m going to try this again.” But the interesting thing was she didn’t have a fever. Whereas my son just laid there and napped all day, that’s just how he is when he is sick, my daughter is restless. She’s roaming around. She annoys everybody with her irritability. It’s just so frustrating. I thought, “Well, this is a Banerji protocol. I don’t have to look at all of that. I can just say she has an ear infection.” So I thought, “I’m going to try the same thing.” Paola: Yes, because in classical homeopathy, this is for the listeners who are really new to this, in classical homeopathy, you would really have to pay attention to that different presentation, right? But as Joette teaches the protocols, she’s saying as long as you have the appropriate diagnosis and you apply the protocol, then you’re good to go. So go on. Heather: So, I went ahead and I did the same thing that I did with her brother the day before. For her, she was irritable for longer. I didn’t see results for a longer period of time. But I wanted to stick with it. I could see about halfway into the day that yes, she was improving even though it was slowly. By the end of the day, she was very much better as well. And so, I love that story because it was just two totally different ways for the ear infection to present. The only thing that was the same was that it was an ear infection. But at the same time, that Banerji Protocol, those remedies worked for both children. Paola: That is a very good point. There are a few things I like about this. This is a great lesson in your experience. First is understanding the protocols and trusting them as long as you have the appropriate diagnosis. But the other thing too in that very first ear infection that you had that you couldn’t figure out, you didn’t have the protocol yet, it’s nice to have the natural practitioner. You have a back-up plan. I think that’s really quite wise because you were not going to get it right every single time. It’s okay to have back-up plan; very good story. If I can squeeze in one more story out of you, I hear your baby in the background. It sounds like he’s still pretty happy but I don’t want to keep you forever. You said that you have avoided the ER in a couple of emergency situations. This is a big perk for your husband. Husbands of moms out there, you can save money with homeopathy. So, tell us some of your ER stories. Avoiding the ERHeather: Yes. I have a couple of stories about avoiding the ER. My two-year-old son, the one that had the ear infection, we were actually traveling. This is a great lesson for having a kit with you. We had just gotten to our destination. We were just beginning to relax. He fell down this flight of stairs that had the metal thing on the edge of each one. He popped his forehead open and when he fell on that metal thing, it just burst open. By the time I got downstairs, my husband was already down there, he was holding him, there was blood everywhere. I could see as his heart was pumping, the blood was just pulsing out. It was really bad. Right away, we started pressure on it. Once we got the pressure on, I got my kit. I pulled out the Arnica and I gave him a dose. I was just giving him doses about every five minutes. While we were trying to comfort him and keep that compress on there, after a couple of minutes, we looked and the bleeding had stopped. We were implementing our plan to go to the ER so we’re rushing around. We’re getting him ready. We’re getting him back in the car. My husband and I, “Get in the car.” We looked back at him. He was kind of looking at us like, “What’s going on, guys?” He was totally normal. He was totally fine. He was like, “Why are we back in the car?” He had no clue why we were all running around. He felt fine. So, we looked at each other and we went, “Wait a second. Well, I guess we don’t have to go to the ER.” Well, he still had this gush and so we wanted to take care of that. So, instead of going to the ER, we just went to Walgreens and got a butterfly bandage. Paola: I love it. Heather: And he was great. He was fine. Paola: That’s awesome. I love that. Everybody’s running around. It sounds like you forget like, “No, wait. I have this thing on my team, Arnica.” I have yet interviewed a mom with moxie, maybe I have, that hasn’t mentioned Arnica. It’s great, great remedy for us moms who have kiddos that fall down flights of stairs with sharp corners. Heather: It’s great. Paola: Then tell us about your four-year-old’s bike accident. Heather: She was riding her bike. Actually, this is interesting because my mother-in-law live with us. We were walking and talking and my daughter just totally went careening down the hill and fell off her bike. When I got through and saw her, I thought, “Oh, my goodness!” The whole side of her face was just completely scraped up and swollen. I mean, she was almost unrecognizable. It was really bad. Thanks be to God, she had her helmet on, of course. But I could see right away that it was her skin and we weren’t dealing with a concussion here. Paola: Right. Heather: So, we got her cleaned up and everything. I, of course, was giving her Arnica right away. The neat thing about that was that I knew that Arnica was going to get this under control much faster than if we didn’t have it. So, I took a before and after picture. Paola: Oh, wow! Heather: I took a picture when she was really bad, when she was really, really swollen. The first three days I took pictures of her. Then it just really dropped off. The swelling completely went down and she healed up superfast. A week later, I took another picture and I said, “Look, she’s doing so much better,” to my family. They just couldn’t believe how quickly her face was healing up. She just had this beautiful, little face. It was just so sad to see it just so fully ripped up. She looks great. She has no scars. You can’t tell that she had that bike accident. It’s a year and a half later and it didn’t even scar up at all. Months later, you couldn’t tell that it happened. Paola: That’s amazing. I think taking these pictures are really important because if you take the picture, it helps with two things, I had found. A, it helps you keep track of what it was and what it is now. Heather: Yes. Paola: The second thing is because as it improves, the improvement, even though it’s better from yesterday, it still sometimes looks terrible. It becomes the new-terrible and you forget about the old-terrible. That’s very wise to take photos because it helps you measure that improvement. But then when it’s all over, your brain can still minimize it. “Oh, it wasn’t that bad.” So, you have these photos to help you remember no, it was horrible. Don’t forget that. Heather: Yes. Paola: Kind of that human condition Joette talks about that we forget, so good for you. I’m so glad. Was your mother-in-law freaking out how you handled it? Heather: Well, everybody is like, “Why don’t you just go to the doctor?” There’s a lot of good there because they want the child to be okay. But once we had her take a warm bath and got her calmed down, and we got her face cleaned up, and it was obvious that she didn’t have a concussion, she just needed to heal. She lives out of town. So a week later, she could see wow! She’s doing so much better. That, I’m sure, was comforting for her. Paola: Of course, very good. Well, great. To finish up our podcast today especially while your sweet little baby is still happy, I wanted you to share with us. This is a really cute idea, your gift of homeopathy that you did for some family members. Heather: Yes. So, I wanted to give a Christmas gift that they could really use. I thought, “Well, what do I know about?” Well, I know about homeopathy. So, I asked each of my family members, my mom, my dad, my two sisters. I said, “What’s the health problem that’s bothering you the most?” They told me. So, I looked up the remedy for each one of their issues. Thankfully, they didn’t give me anything that was too difficult. So, I looked up the remedy for each one. I bought them a bottle of the remedy. I put it in a cute little bag. I wrote up some instructions for them, and how to tell whether or not the remedy is working, and how often to take in and everything like that. I just tuck that little sheet of paper in there with the bottle. I gave it to them for Christmas. Paola: That is just too cute. It’s the gift of health. You’re so awesome. I love that story. You even have done something similar for baby showers and things like that. I just think that is so awesome. You’re a good sister-in-law and sister. Heather: It’s fun to help others. Paola: It is. We encourage you to email us at podcast@joettecalabrese.com. That’s what Heather did. Thank you so much, Heather for reaching out because it’s been really inspiring and fun talking to you and hearing your successes and your journey with homeopathy. Thanks so much for taking the time from your busy schedule. Heather: Thanks for having me. It’s been fun for me, too. Joette: Are you or someone you know a mom with moxie? Well, we’re on the hunt for you. And of course, we don’t want to hear just from moms but from anyone who uses and loves homeopathy. Reach out to my podcast team and let us know why you’re a mom with moxie. For more information, contact podcast@joettecalabrese.com. Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com. These Moms with Moxie podcasts are designed to be inspirational, not specifically educational. No Remedy Card is provided. | |||
| Podcast 29 – Lyme Q & A | 26 Jun 2017 | 00:38:07 | |
In this podcast, we cover: 03:30 Lyme disease, its origin and remedies 08:31 Joette shares her take on Lyme disease 17:37 Treating the symptoms like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, leaky gut 22:20 Symphytum and Rhus tox for joint pain 24:13 Coinfections, Lyme testing 29:19 Some more Q&A You are listening to a podcast from joettecalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition.
Paola: It’s Podcast 29 at joettecalabrese.com. Today, we’re going to talk about Lyme disease. For today’s podcast, we’ve taken a lot of questions that people have submitted to Joette about Lyme disease. So, before we get into the questions, we’re going to spend a little bit of time defining how Joette views Lyme disease — using her lens of homeopathy. So, we’re going to look at Lyme disease and how it’s affected the news and the media. We’re going to look at chronic Lyme disease versus acute Lyme disease. An interesting tidbit: we’re going to learn about where the word Lyme disease came from. Then we’re going to delve into your questions. I think this is going to be a great episode. So, here we go. Hi! I’m here with Joette. I’m excited to do another podcast with you, Joette. Hi! Joette: Yes. I always look forward to these, Paola. Paola: Thank you, me too. Today’s topic is a really hot button topic especially this summer. Have you heard about kind of the frenzy around Lyme disease this summer? Joette: Oh yes, it’s everywhere. Paola: I think the media is saying that this is going to be one of the worst summers for Lyme disease. Joette: I have heard of that. But the news says Zika is going to kill every child; that SARS is going to make you cough your guts out; that Legionnaires’ is … I mean, they do this every year. Paola: Yes. When I was in high school, it was the bird flu. Joette: Swine flu, bird flu, Asian flu, we’re all doomed. We’re just doomed. So, I never paid much attention to that. I mean, it’s every single year there’s a scare. I think it happens for a couple of different reasons. We won’t go into that in this particular podcast. But I think there are reasons for all of that. Paola: Well, I feel like if anyone here is listening, they might feel like you were right on those other diseases. But they might feel like Lyme disease is a legitimate concern. Joette: All of them are legitimate concerns. Paola: Oh, okay. Joette: Do you know what I mean? When you think about it, SARS, that’s a legitimate concern. People were dying in Toronto, or so they said. We don’t really know. We never really got the end. I don’t mean to say that they’re lying. I’m not attaching myself to a conspiracy theory. But we don’t really know the end numbers to these kinds of things and what really occurred. Paola: Yes. They’re not well-reported. Joette: No matter what it is, it’s a threat. Lyme is generally not life-threatening, so, we can put that aside. It doesn’t kill people. I mean, could you die from Lyme? I suppose it’s possible. But, it doesn’t have a high mortality rate. It’s more a chronic condition. Paola: Yes, more of a life-altering condition. Joette: Yes. Paola: I have here a number of great questions that our social media team has been collecting in regards to Lyme disease. I want to go through some of these. But basically, I want to review your position on Lyme disease so that our listeners who might be new to you, Joette, can understand. What is your position on Lyme disease as far as treating it with homeopathy? Do we treat this broad, chronic Lyme disease? Joette: Here’s the thing: Is it Lyme because someone just got a bull’s-eye rash and they just pulled a tick off of their arm a few days ago? Or are we talking about this chronic Lyme that they’re discussing? Paola: Okay. Well, let’s talk about acute first.
Joette: Okay, which is the Lyme that I’ve written about on my blog. I knew that there was such a thing as chronic Lyme, but it wasn’t as big as it has been in the news, et cetera, when I wrote that original blog some three years ago. So, the way I looked at Lyme generally (even though I knew it could go chronic — we understand that) is that Lyme is from a bacteria from a deer tick. And, I know that any kind of insect bite, pretty much, you use Ledum palustre. That’s what I wrote in my blog, Ledum palustre 200C. I would urge people to go to that blog because I’ve got the entire protocol laid out there. Now, I live in the country. We have 15 acres. We’re in New York State. The next state over is Connecticut. Lyme, Connecticut is where it got its name because it became so big in Lyme, Connecticut area. Paola: Oh Lyme, Connecticut is actually … Joette: A town in Connecticut. Paola: Interesting. Joette: So, my father-in-law had Lyme. They were in Connecticut when he got it some 30 years ago. I said it on a podcast recently, but when I think about it, it was probably closer to 45 years ago he got Lyme. It was not as prevailing as it is today. So, when we look at it as an acute: here’s a tick. Take it off. Collect it. Put it in a bottle. Put it in vodka (in the highest alcohol content vodka you can find). Label it: the date, who you found it on, which family member, where… Paola: Where on their body or where in the state? Joette: Where on their body. Well, listen if you’re in Allegheny at the time, then you might want to write Allegheny State Park or something like that and make it clear where you were. It helps you to remember what the incident was many months, if not years from now. You’re saving the deer tick to make it into a homeopathic medicine if you choose or even do some research on it. Paola: Like later down the line if they actually get an acute condition of Lyme. Joette: It turns into a chronic, you have the tick to prove one way or another. You got your evidence. Paola: So basically, you can turn that homeopathic remedy into a nosode. Do you have instructions on how to do that? Joette: I don’t know. I have it in my Survivalist Guide. Paola: Oh, that’s right. That’s right. You do teach us how to … Joette: It’s pretty clear there because you can do this with many kinds of insects, et cetera, that can cause trouble. You can learn how to make a homeopathic medicine. So, we won’t go into that now. We could probably do that in another blog. But, I just want you to know that that’s possible. Then the first thing you do is you give Ledum palustre, 200. 200C is most commonly used these days, but if you only have 200X in your neck of the woods then you could use that. We use it every 3 to 6 hours, 3 to 12 hours. The reason I don’t give exact numbers is because through the years, my family — including our dog, we had goats, our three sons (who are now all adults), my husband, and neighbors, et cetera — have had so many ticks. No one’s ever gotten sick from any of these ticks. Perhaps I’ve gotten a little lackadaisical about it. I say, “Ah, well, twice a day.” But if you’re really worried and most people are very anxious about this, it’s because they’re reading all of the news reports, you could do it every 6 hours for a few days. Paola: Yes. My girlfriend Heather, her daughter got a tick. She did your protocol to a tee, every 3 hours. And that made her feel better. Joette: Yes. Some people are very comforted by that. You become less worried as you get more experience about certain things and more worried about other things that you know are concerning. Go to my blog and it will give you exactly how to do it. Paola: Yes. We’re even updating that blog. It’s June 2017. We’re coming out with an update to that blog to reworking it a little bit. Joette: And adding a little more, just building it so that there’s more information. Paola: So definitely go and look into that. It was a June 2017 blog. It will be coming out if it’s not out already. So, let’s shift in to kind of a chronic Lyme situation. Joette: Let me also step back and mention one more thing: We have deer on our property. We have a lot of deer on our property. We have a big pond. They come and take a little sip from the pond. They go down. They tromp through my tomatoes when I used to have my tomato garden. They go throughout my hostas; they eat them all down. We are part of the trail from the top end of the ski area all the way down to the bottom end of the ski area where we live. So, it’s not as though we are not exposed to this. We have deer everywhere. It’s a wonder they don’t knock on the door and ask what else we’ve got for dinner. Paola: Right, right. Joette: We have a lot of hunters around us. So, this is a plentiful area with deer. So, I don’t want anybody to think that well, we were just lucky. Our ticks are not from deer and et cetera, et cetera. No. It is prevalent here as it is anywhere else especially in New England and upstate New York area. Paola: Right, okay. Joette: Now, let’s say somebody got a tick. By the time they hear this, it was a year ago. If they’re not sick, there’s nothing to treat. I wouldn’t even give it a thought. But now, if they’re chronically ill, now, this is where everyone gets stuck. Paola: One of the things is, if all these people in your life have been bitten by this tick, it’s almost like it’s not necessarily the Lyme bacteria that are the concern, but it’s the terrain or the health of the person that’s a concern.
Joette: Yes, I think it is. Look, I’m not an MD. I’m a lay homeopathic practitioner. I’m an educator. I’m a mother. But, I’ve been doing this long enough now and worked with homeopaths from all over the world. I have worked in India for many years, where we see very serious illnesses. I will tell you that in my experience, it seems to me that we’re going through a phase on the internet, on the news, et cetera — I might be completely wrong about this, but if you’re asking my opinion and that’s why you’re here is that you’re interested at least in hearing it — I think this is somewhat some hysteria involved. Paola: Or maybe it’s just … it’s a rabbit hole. People are overall sicker with chronic illness, and they’re trying to find the solution and a reason for it. It seems like — I don’t want to minimize it — but kind of the pendulum has swung in the direction of Lyme disease. We’re more and more and more attributing it to that. But Joette, people are getting labs and they’re seeing that they have the Lyme bacteria in them. Joette: Yes. I’m not surprised. I think we probably all have Lyme bacteria. I think if we dig around, we’ll find cancer in most people. If we dig around, we’ll find parasites. We’ll find heavy metals. We’ll find overgrowth of yeast. We’ll find everything that people are looking for. If you dig far enough, if you decided you’re going to be Vasco da Gama and start going on a discovery, you’re going to find everything! So, at some point, we have to make a decision and say, “Really? Do I really want to know absolutely every little thing that I’ve got in my body? Do I want to know that I’ve polyps in my colon and go for colonoscopy every year? Do I really want to go this far?” Because what homeopathy allows us, is the ability to calm down. The reason it does that is because we don’t have to find every little disease, and then become crazy about it — because it does cause craziness, including myself. I was like that myself many years ago, because I started to dig around. I’m like, “Oh my gosh, it’s Epstein-Barr. Holy cow, it’s also cytomegalovirus. Oh, my goodness! It’s also …” And in those days when they were testing me, they didn’t find Lyme probably because they weren’t looking for it. I’ll bet it was there. Paola: Right, right. Yes. Joette: “Oh, my gosh. You’ve got herpes. Oh, my gosh.” It could go on and on. Of course, you’ve got herpes. I had chicken pox. Of course, it’s going to show up at least in the titers. Paola: What you’re saying is in the language of homeopathy, it’s not that these conditions don’t matter. If knowing that you have Lyme helped cure the person, you would be all for it. But in the language of homeopathy, it matters not if you have all these hidden little bacteria or whatever in your system. In homeopathy, we don’t care about the possible theorized root cause. Joette: The etiology. What is the cause? Oh, it must be the Lyme. Paola: The candida overgrowth. Joette: It must be the candida. Oh, it’s heavy metals. Paola: Right. Joette: Because I get the people for whom those paradigms, I’m not saying it never works by going after it that way. But the way that I see it is I get all the people for whom those paradigms did not act, did not work. So, by doing that, I get the people who say, “Well, I was told I have heavy metals. I’ve been taking these chelated mineral supplements. I’ve been doing these cleanses. My heavy metals are coming down, but you know what? I’m still sick. I still have chronic fatigue. I still have fibromyalgia. I still suffer from brain fogs. So, darn it all, I guess it wasn’t those.” “Let’s look at this! Oh, it must be the yeast. Oh, it’s yeast overgrowth. Okay, now, we do the yeast cleanse, no sugar and no dried fruit.” I’ve been through all of these… Paola: Right. Joette: Personally myself and this is what I hear others describing. So, it comes down to we don’t know the cause of that chronic fatigue. Couldn’t it be perhaps menopause? Couldn’t it be 9-11 anxiety? Couldn’t it be that flu that really brought you down to your knees? Paola: Your divorce, those stresses? Joette: Couldn’t it be the pesticides that are sprayed around your house? Couldn’t it be the blood pressure drugs you’ve started taking? Couldn’t it be the psychotropic drugs that you take for sleep, Ativan, et cetera? Why couldn’t it be all of those? Certainly, it could be any of these. But, to try to pinpoint exactly which microorganism, exactly which input into the human system it was that triggered this? Oh my gosh — good luck. I don’t know how you could ever figure something like that out. Paola: I’ve said this before to some of my study group students. Especially in the language of homeopathy — if you want to understand how to use the language of homeopathy to get to your heath goal — it doesn’t matter. There is a podcast, Podcast Number 24. It’s called Subjects That Bear Repeating where you and I, Joette, talked about a conventional diagnosis and then the theorized diagnosis which are all these things you’re talking about: the candida, the Lyme. So, really, if you listen to this podcast and you’re kind of confused as to what Joette is saying, go to Podcast 24 and listen to that. Joette: Here’s the difference. In homeopathy — especially the method that I use, what I call practical homeopathy, much of it based on the Banerji Protocols — I like a conventional diagnosis, a conventional doctor. You go to the doctor and he says generally, “Yes, you’ve got fibromyalgia. Yep, you’ve got constipation. I’d call that chronic fatigue. Yes, yes, brain fog, there’s your diagnosis.” Those are the diagnostics. So, you go to an alternative practitioner, and they theorize. “It must be …” And that’s what we’re all talking about. “It must be you have inflammation.” Really? Of course, you’ve got inflammation! Paola: I know. I had a girlfriend send me a text message once, “Paola, I think my diagnosis is inflammation.” I go, “For heaven’s sakes, every disease starts with inflammation.” Joette: That’s right. Paola: It’s what it is. I had to explain to her. Joette: Sometimes people come back from the doctor. They say the doctor says it’s stress. Uh, hello! That is the world! Of course, there’s stress. Everybody’s got some stress. When we try to distill it down to, “It must be …” and that’s the answer. It may not even be, to be honest, the message that the naturopath (or the clinical ecologist, the functional doctor, or the chiropractor, or even the conventional doctor) is giving. It might be the way the person is getting that information and saying, “I need to distill this down to one cause.” Then they hear, “It’s inflammation,” or they hear, “It’s Lyme.” Then everything else is blanketed out of the picture. There are blinders put on. All they can think of is — it’s Lyme. Now, it’s different if you have malaria. Malaria is malaria. That is a conventional diagnosis. It’s different when you have chicken pox. Chicken pox is chicken pox. It’s not hunting. We don’t have to hunt around to find it. When the chicken pox is over, then the virus has receded, it’s calmed down, and the person lives their life. But, with this chronic Lyme, what I get are the people who’ve been on antibiotics for two years … six months … two years … seven years. I always ask, try to say this as gently as I can, “So how’s that treatment going for you?” Paola: Right. Well, here’s a little exercise. If you’re listening to this podcast, and you’ve been diagnosed with Lyme or candida, or one of these kind of theorized diagnoses, if the treatment for those problems has cured your symptoms that you’re suffering from … Joette: Then we’re done. They’re done. Don’t go any further. You’re done. Paola: Right. Joette: Consider yourself lucky and go on with your life and become productive. I’m very happy for you. I think that there are people like that. I do think that that is very possible. I think that you can … I’m not throwing out the baby with the bath water. I believe it’s very possible that you could end up with a resolution by following some of these methods. Paola: BUT, if you are shaking your head, “No, it hasn’t helped. I’m actually worse off or more frustrated or poorer from all the treatments,” then listen on. Joette: Yes. Then we look at it from a different point of view. Had it been looked at from a homeopathic point of view in the first place, someone might not have suffered for as long as they had. Of course, nobody goes to homeopathy first. That’s just the way it is in North America. In Europe, South America, India, it might be different. Sometimes it’s not different there either. Sometimes in India, we see people going conventional medical doctors first because they have the big hospitals, et cetera, et cetera. They have a more ubiquitous presence. So, homeopathy is usually last. Most people don’t know what it is. So, they find out about it far down the game. Paola: So Joette, now that we’ve kind of established your perspective on Lyme as far as homeopathy goes, let me get to some of these questions that people are asking on social media. Here’s a question Joette: “What do you do for established Lyme cases that are old, 10-plus years?” Just in a nutshell.
Joette: We look at what’s presenting. What does it mean that you have Lyme? “Well, I’ve got fibromyalgia.” Okay. Then we use the homeopathic medicine for fibromyalgia. “I’ve got chronic fatigue.” Okay. Then we use the medicine for chronic fatigue. “I have leaky gut.” Okay. Then we use the medicine that’s also for leaky gut. Now, we’ve got three medicines going. We don’t approach it as giving the Lyme protocol — at least, that’s not the way I think it through. I might use the Lyme protocol if it’s a fresh case. Ten years old? I wouldn’t go there because, again, we don’t need to know what the etiology is; we just want to know how it’s presenting and what the diagnosis is — at this point. You knew from a naturopath that your blood levels were showing Lyme, but then you went to a conventional doctor and you say, “Okay, give me a diagnosis here.” He’d say “Yes, you’ve got fibromyalgia, alright. Yes, you’ve got chronic fatigue.” So that’s the kind of diagnosis that I want. I don’t want to know which microorganism was the one microorganism that caused this. Paola: Right. And this does go back again, I’m going to repeat it, to Podcast 24 where we really picked apart what Joette means by a conventional diagnosis. Joette: Well, and also the other part of this picture is it would be easy for someone to misunderstand what I’m saying, and think that we’re treating fibromyalgia. We’re treating the symptoms of chronic fatigue. But we’re not. We’re using those symptoms to determine which homeopathic medicine is best chosen, and then the body corrects it by using it. So, we’re not treating or subduing symptoms. That’s a completely different modality. That is the modality of modern medicine. It’s not the modality of homeopathy. We use the symptoms to determine what medicine to choose. Then by choosing that, it uproots the condition. Paola: Interesting, okay. Joette: Not only interesting, fantastico! When you think about it. Really? You’re using my sufferings to determine which medicine is going to be the medicine that’s going to get rid of this? Now look, don’t get me wrong. I’m not going to tell you that we cure. I don’t talk about cure. I don’t use that word. The word that I use is uproot. Because, well, does this mean that the person will never have chronic fatigue again? Probably not. They’ll, probably have some chronic fatigue from time to time. Does this mean the person will never have a fibrous tissue in their body that will hurt again? No, it doesn’t mean that. It means that the body has been stimulated to correct as much as it can. That’s the goal. How far is that? It depends on the person; how old they are; how many drugs they’ve had, et cetera, et cetera. Paola: It is beautiful because it’s all that suffering, all those symptoms are not for naught. Joette: That’s right. They’re not for naught. Paola: Yes, thank you. So, it brings value to those symptoms that we can select the homeopathic remedy. Joette: Yes, they’re gifts then. Suddenly, our sufferings become information rather than something that we’re burdened with. Paola: It’s almost like disciplining a toddler who’s made a bad choice. You do love and logic. I’m the love and logic parent. If you do love and logic, they say when they misbehave, you need to high five yourself and celebrate because this is an opportunity to show them how to become a better person. It’s almost like the same idea with homeopathy. When you get sick and have symptoms, it’s like, “Yes, alright. This is an opportunity for me to have a better body.” Joette: Yes. In a way, I suppose that’s so. Paola: Here’s another question: “What do you do for specific symptoms such as — and I have a list — pain in hands, ALS symptoms, MS symptoms, numbness, joint pain?” Joette: Wait a minute. MS symptoms? Is it multiple sclerosis or is it just symptoms that are like multiple sclerosis? So, see, this is what this person is doing, this question that came in. Excuse me for interrupting, but what this person is doing is saying, “I have Lyme disease.” All these others are just symptoms of multiple sclerosis. That’s sounds cockeyed to me. Either you have multiple sclerosis, and we use that and we use the homeopathic medicine that’s specific for multiple sclerosis — or we have something else. So, it’s almost as though the acceptance of Lyme is greater than the acceptance of ALS or MS or whatever. Paola: Because this list of symptoms to me seems like they are attributed to Lyme disease. So, there’s muscle ache, headaches, Bell’s palsy, and hair loss. That was their list. So, I think you’re right. Joette: We’d consider each one of those worthy of correcting with homeopathy — regardless of what the microorganism was that may or may not have caused this. Paola: Okay. So Joette, can you give us a protocol for one of these symptoms that I listed? Joette: Yes, yes. How about the joint pain? Let’s talk about that. Paola: Okay.
Joette: Also, you’ll find this on my blogs. So, if you don’t get this written down, in the little search bar on the website, just put in “joint pain” or you might write “arthritis”. (That’s what joint pain is arthritis.) The method that we normally use at least what we start with for most people is Symphytum 200. It’s often mixed with Rhus tox 30. That’s taken twice daily. Now, that is a Banerji Protocol. In some people, I find that Symphytum 200, all by itself, works even better. And then we use Rhus tox — maybe in a higher potency like a 200 — twice a day, as well. And we don’t mix them. The Banerjis automatically mix them, and in many situations, it’s fabulous. But, in this situation, we might find that in one person’s situation, it might not work as well as in anothers. So, it’s taken twice a day and is taken for many weeks until you see some improvement. Once you see improvement, then you can start saying, “Oh, I see improvement. This is great.” So, you continue going until it’s done. It could take many months. But, for joint pain generally speaking, we do see a shift in about six weeks. Paola: Great. Yes, I find that this protocol you just gave is one of my favorite “conversion protocols,” to convert people to homeopathy because it works so well. It’s a really great one. Now, what if the pain is just in your hands, and not all-over joint pain, do we still use this protocol? Joette: Joint pain is joint pain. If it’s in the fingers, at the back, it’s in the shoulders, it doesn’t matter. Paola: Okay. So, it doesn’t have to be all over. Joette: Pretty much, pretty much. We can be more specific. Sometimes if it’s only in the knee, then we might use something that’s a little different. Paola: Okay, alright. So, let me get to another question here: “Can you address treatment for coinfections and associated illnesses like POTS, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Babesia? …” Joette: Yes, Babesia. It’s a coinfection. Paola: “… Bartonella, Herx, electric shocks/sparks to skin, foggy brain, sleeplessness, lethargy, forgetfulness.”
Joette: Coinfections, we look at exactly the same way as what we’ve just said for the last 10 minutes … Paola: Right, the protocol. Joette: Yes, we’re not necessarily looking for what was the cause. Which little microorganism caused this or causes this. Homeopathy doesn’t kill bugs. We’re not trying to kill. When the child has a fever, a lot of times the pediatrician will give an antibiotic. Well, that’s like a pesticide or “napalm,” as I call it. We’re not there to kill bugs. We’re there to stimulate the body’s natural ability to bring itself to completion. We all have a mechanism in us that will correct things when they’ve gone awry. If you eat bad chicken from a restaurant, the next day or that night, you’re vomiting. That’s a mechanism that is intended to correct. Get it out of the system. The next morning, you might have diarrhea, also very important. If you take a drug that forces the stopping of vomiting and diarrhea, you’re going to cause trouble because it’s intended to get it out of your system. So, it’s the same thing with a fever. A fever is a very positive thing for a child when they’re sick. We like a nice, high fever. It means they’re mounting of defense against the illness. The heat from the fever cooks off the virus. So, we’re looking for that (or perhaps it’s bacteria, but it’s usually virus). So, let’s say it’s an ear infection, and it is a bacterial infection, and you give an antibiotic. What you’re doing is squelching the symptoms by killing the bugs. Well, you can never kill the bugs, because if you’re killing the bugs, you’re killing the person. You’ll never kill all the bugs because we’re made up of bacteria and viruses, parasites, et cetera. So, it would be similar to organic gardening. Paola: Yes. Joette: There are three peach trees. Two of them are beautiful and healthy. The other one is limping along. The leaves are looking pretty sad. This gets insects on it. The insects are going to go after that tree because the terrain has been compromised. But, you could douse it with Sevin (S-E-V-I-N) the pesticide … Paola: Yes, Sevin dust. Joette: Or Monsanto … You could douse it all you want. Yes, it will kill the bugs. But, it won’t kill all the bugs, or it won’t kill the next generation of bugs that will come right back again because it sees how compromised that tree is. Instead, we are stimulating the tree’s ability to do it itself. We give it good compost. We make sure there’s enough water. There’s sunshine. We bring it back to health in its natural way. Paola: I have a trick. You also get a watering can and put a little bit of Silicea 6X into the watering can, and you water the tree with it. That has been studied in agrohomeopathy to help the tree uptake the nutrients a little bit better. Joette: Well, that’s interesting because I don’t know about that particular study, but I’ve always used cell salts for my plants and my trees. Silica 6X is one of the 12 cell salts. I’ve always found that that helps when I do it for my house plants. I do it for my vegetable garden. I try to incorporate it into anything that I feel needs to … Paola: So, you do Bioplasma? Joette: Bioplasma which has all 12 cell salts mixed together, the Hyland’s cell salts. Paola: But, I have noticed the Silica — a little word to the wise here. You can overdo it. So really like only once a month is kind of — at least for my plants — has been the sweet spot. When I plant them and then a maybe a month later … Joette: It’s interesting you say that as well, because when I do it, I’m not out there every morning doing that. I only think about it around that often, so, maybe it’s just kind of a natural response. Interesting, thanks for that. Paola: Cool. Let’s do a whole podcast on agrohomeopathy. Joette: Yes, it sounds good to me. Paola: So anyhow, going back to the discussion, and we’re looking at homeopathy. You’ve said this to me before — so I’m not going to take credit for this — but, you say, “Homeopathy is diplomatic, whereas these other ways of treating coinfections are like war.” So, one is killing the bacteria, whereas the other one is kind of encouraging the body to like, “Let’s get a little stronger and fight this bug.” Joette: But then, I must also say that it is not supplementing. People think, “Oh so we’re supplementing.” No, no, no, no. “We’re girding!” No, no, no. Specific medicines will correct specific conditions. Paola: Right. So, ready for another question? Joette: Sure. Paola: This one’s kind of obvious. I think the listeners should know by now. “What are your thoughts on Lyme testing?” Joette: If it’s fresh and brand new and the person has got the rash, et cetera, and it’s been a month now (it might be a little bit more than a month … usually, it shows up, I’m thinking, at about six weeks), and they’re really fatigued. I suppose, yes, you might want to do that. Then you would follow the protocol that’s on my website for Lyme. Now, that’s a little different. I don’t know that I would call that quite chronic Lyme. If they’re getting a condition of what a bacteria would show — such as fever and fatigue — now we’re talking about active Lyme. Now, that makes a bit of a difference. It’s when it turns into chronic, and now it’s turned into fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, that’s where I draw the line. Paola: Okay. So basically, the way I’m going to call it, by what you mean by “active” Lyme is acute, like an acute case of Lyme. Joette: Yes, it’s still acute. That’s right.
Paola: Okay. Joette, I’m going to buzz through some of these questions quickly, and you tell me if I’m correct or if I’m not correct. This is kind of a quiz to the listener. If they’ve been listening, they should be able to answer some of these questions at this point. So, “Alternatives to antibiotics or doxycycline?” Joette: Doxycycline, yes. Paola: Okay. Thankfully, I don’t know how to pronounce that, right? The alternative is to look at the symptoms and select the proper homeopathic protocol, right? Joette: That’s right. Paola: Okay, good. So, one point for listeners. Then, “Why is there such a huge rise in the diagnosis of chronic Lyme disease?” Joette: I don’t know that I could tell you the reason why. I don’t know that it’s really as widespread as people make it out to be. I think there’s just a lot of attention. I think this happens every year. We get one disease or another. I think we touched on that earlier. That becomes the disease of the year or disease of the season. I can practically guarantee. Give it another year or two, we won’t hear about it anymore. It’s like blueberries. “Blueberries are fabulous! Everybody should be eating blueberries, absolutely!” The next year: “Kiwi! Everyone should be eating kiwi!” “Vitamin C is the vitamin of all strong people!” “Wait a minute. Hold on. No, it’s Vitamin D is the big one. You got to have your vitamin D checked.” “Wait a minute. Hold it. Now, it’s calcium!” I mean really, I’ve been doing this long enough that after a while, it becomes trite. Paola: Well, I was thinking of the acai berry. That’s a big, super food berry. Joette: Yes, or blue-green algae. Oh, my gosh, 25 years ago, blue-green algae was the hottest thing around. There are many, many supplements in foods. There are many, many diseases, and things that haven’t been around for a while, come back round. There are a lot of blogs written about them. Then there are products miraculously attached to those blogs. It’s just the way the world runs. Paola: I also think that when you live a life without homeopathy, Joette, you kind of live in fear all the time of getting the flu, of getting all these things because you really don’t have something so wonderful to protect you. So then, people have their little ears open for the next big thing. Then it does become a little bit sensationalized. I really don’t want to minimize this for people who are suffering from Lyme disease … Joette: That’s an argument for learning as much as you can about homeopathy. Because of all the medicines out there, I believe it’s the best. Paola: Right. Okay. So, here’s a great question. “Alternatives to preventative techniques including DEET?” People don’t want to get — like just keep them away from me — the ticks. Joette: Oh, I would use essential oils. There are lots of products out there that are pre-made, or you can make yourself and learn a little. But, go online, what are the preventative essential oils that I can spray on myself and my children before we go out into the woods? You wear protective clothing. But, to be honest, after living in these 15 acres, my neighbor has another 20 next to me, and the other neighbor on the other side has another 10 or 20. So, I’m surrounded by green. I can’t even see houses from my house for most of the year. So, there’s plenty of opportunity to be eaten up. I never think to do that. I wear tall boots because it’s mushy outside in the back. I wear a jacket if it’s cold. If I don’t, I wear short sleeved shirt. I might wear shorts. If I find a tick, I take it off. Then I take a couple of doses of Ledum for a couple of days. Paola: Here’s another question: “Once treated homeopathically, does the Lyme no longer present in the body or does it remain lifelong?” Joette: If the symptoms are gone, then there’s no presentation. Paola: So what does it matter? Joette: That’s right. So, what does it matter? Paola: Okay. Joette: If you’re living a life and you’re healthy and you have the freedom that you would expect, then you just move on and forget about that chapter in your life. And you go on to doing the next thing. Paola: Because you’ve said this before in your class, the symptoms don’t lie. Joette: Right. They never lie unless you’re taking a drug. Then, what we’re reading instead of symptoms are side effects. I don’t call them side effects. I call them effects. Paola: Right, right, okay. Here’s another great question: “What is the connection between EBV, MTHFR gene mutation, and Lyme disease?” Joette: I don’t know. I don’t know why someone would go that far. Why would you need to go through all of that? If we go back to what we’re talking about in the beginning, it is that you use the symptoms — not only the symptoms — the name of the actual conventional diagnosis. You treat it correctly, and you forget all about all these connections. Paola: Right, okay, very good. “Does homeopathy offer remedies to boost immune system based on IgG, IgA, IgE?” Joette: No, it doesn’t boost. It corrects. Paola: Right. Joette: That’s what I teach in my course, Allergies. Because it is all about correcting the disease, not supporting the immune system. Paola: So, do you ever care if their IgG, IgA, IgE numbers, do you care if those are off? Does that help inform you? Joette: No. Because why would the person go to the allergist in the first place? Because they have eczema, because they have food intolerances, because et cetera; they have allergies; they can’t breathe, et cetera, et cetera. If those symptoms are gone, we wouldn’t need any more information than that. Paola: Okay, very good. Here’s a really good question: “I’m currently using herbs which are working well to treat my Lyme disease. My naturopath suggested waiting until the healing is further along before switching to homeopathy. What do you think?” Joette: I don’t know. I’m all about speed. I don’t know why someone would wait other than it might confuse the naturopath as to what’s acting and what isn’t. But, naturopaths, generally speaking are more about supplements and vitamins and herbs. Homeopathy is more on the backburner for many of them, probably because homeopathy is considered to be too complex — although the method that I teach is really not that complex. So, I think that’s just that particular naturopath’s preference. I don’t see how that is necessarily a good or a bad idea. Paola: Alright, very interesting. Next question: “Could antibiotics be compounding symptoms or making them worse?” Joette: Here’s what’s interesting about this question is that this must be someone who’s kind of new to all of this, this way of thinking. Because antibiotics are napalm. I’m not going to tell you that you should never use antibiotics. They have been very useful in our society for 100 years or around that time. But, we have something so much better now without side effects. That’s of course homeopathy. Antibiotics will absolutely compound the problem because they are killing bacteria. We start with this conversation by talking about how important bacteria is to the system and that it be in perfect harmony. It’s a symphony. If you kill one kind of bacteria, that allows the virus to do something else. That allows other aspects, parasites, et cetera, to overcome the system, and it throws a sabot into the works to say the least. (Sabot is the word for shoe. It’s an old French Revolution saying during the Industrial Revolution.) Paola: It throws a shoe into the works. How fancy. You’re so fancy, Joette! Here’s a good question but I think the listeners should be able to answer this one, too. “How can a homeopathic treatment plan for Lyme exist if each person’s backstory is different? The reason it manifests is different for each person. So how could a true homeopathic treatment be offered to everyone without considering the backstory of each individual?” Joette: Well, I think we’ve covered that. Paola: It’s a good question, but I think, yes, we’re looking at their symptoms and we do the protocols. Joette: Exactly. That’s why it’s individualized in that way because everyone is different. Paola: So, I really hoped that our listeners, if you’re concerned about Lyme, I hope that this podcast helped them understand the homeopathic perspective. Joette, thank you as always for opening up your brain to us. Joette: Yes, it’s always fun, Paola. We’ll probably follow up on this. Certainly, as you said earlier, we’ve got articles coming out. So, there’s written discussion on this as well. So that folks — if they don’t catch it the first time — they might catch the information they’re looking for the second time around. Paola: Very good. Joette: Yes. Thanks, Paola. Paola: Thank you. You just listened to a podcast by joettecalabrese.com where nationally certified homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese shared her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. Joette’s podcasts are available on iTunes, Google Play, Blueberry, Stitcher, and TuneIn radio. Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joette.com and schedule a free 15-minute conversation with Joette herself. | |||
| Podcast 28 – Allergies & The Power of Properly Assessing What’s Happening | 03 Apr 2017 | 00:36:02 | |
Along the way, I learned to not just throw a homeopathic medicine at the condition. Be smart. Keep tight notes. Assess properly. Today’s podcast will give you some of my best tips on how to stay on point when treating allergies. Warmly, P.S. Should you be interested in my course, Allergic?!, click here and be sure to scroll down that page where you’ll find a free infographic plus syllabus. http://allergies.joettecalabrese.com.In this podcast, we cover: 02:32 Joette’s philosophy on allergies and allergy testing 08:21 The two pronged method 16:51 Assessing after eight weeks 27:52 Buster’s milk intolerance and Argentum nitricum You are listening to a podcast from joettecalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. Paola: It’s podcast 28 at joettecalabrese.com. We’ve got a great episode for you. Joette and I were really burning the midnight oil when we’ve recorded this podcast this week. Joette circles around two important topics tonight. She talks about allergies. The second topic, I’ve noticed from my interactions with her lately that it’s really been on her mind and she is really trying to get this message across to her students. The topic is patience and assessing a case. What Joette is helping me understand more and more is that if you don’t assess a case properly, you might miss out on the whole value and power of homeopathy. So, let’s take it from the top and hear what Joette has to say about this. Alright, so here we go. Hi, Joette. We’ve had a really busy week here on allergies, allergies, allergies. How are you doing? Joette: I’m doing well. This is always great, Paola. Paola: Thank you. Yes, so we’re relaunching your wonderful course, Allergic. That means that the first time you did it, it was live. So, we have the live students. Now, what we’re releasing is the recording of that live course with all the students who had asked questions during that session and all the notes and everything. Joette: Right. We’ve got lots of feedback and that’s helped us a great deal. Paola: In what way do you mean? Joette: Well, it helped us. For one thing, we have time stamped it. I know that that is useful to students. That was a suggestion by one of the students. So, we made it available to those who already have the course but now, that’s how we’re representing it with those kinds of finishing touches to make it easier to reference. Paola: So, time stamping is like the index so you can go to the minute and the second that they talked about a given subject. Joette: Right. Paola: Good. I think that’s actually very great. We’re doing that actually to all the courses now, too but this will be one of the first ones that have it upfront. That is exciting. So, talk about allergies. I feel like this is something that you get a lot. The question of I’m allergic, so I need to find out what I’m allergic to, to then suppress it or avoid it or whatever. You have a very different philosophy when it comes to allergies. Joette’s philosophy on allergies and allergy testing. Joette: Yes, because I think that by and large, most people know what they’re allergic to. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out. So, I don’t know that testing is always mandatory or even necessary because it’s actually sometimes even unneeded. Let me give you an example. I went for testing. I’ve had allergies or I had allergies since I was six weeks old. So, I had lots of tests. It was pretty clear what I was allergic to back then. We’re talking about the early 50s. I was allergic to chocolate and milk and feathers and dusts, wool, dander, and animals, and fur, the usual milk, orange juice. So, it was pretty clear. My parents did not know at that time because I was so young. So, I suppose it was useful. In one way, it was useful and in another way, it just made my parents nuts because now what? She can’t even have wheat. What can she eat? There’s nothing left. Then I got lots of shots. Because of that information, I was given lots and lots of shots. So, it didn’t help me. It just made me scared and angry and I hated going to the doctors because I knew I was going to get 16 shots. It was always 16 in this tray. It was very scary. I have little, skinny arms. So, I went regularly. It never made any difference. I still had eczema everywhere. So then, as an adult, I went back and got tested again for allergies thinking, “Well, maybe something new has come up.” I mean it has been 30 years. Maybe science has changed and they can help me and give me more information. So, when I was about 29 or 30, I had testing done again. I actually knew what I was allergic to then. I didn’t have problems with wool but I did have problems with dusts. That was around too much. But what I was really allergic to by then was chemicals. I couldn’t be around dryer pads and perfumes and new car smells and nail polish and cleaning fluids, and walking down the aisle of the grocery store that had all the soaps. I could not be around those things. So, I went to the allergist and got tested. He brilliantly came up with the three substances that I was allergic to and said, declared, “This is what you’re allergic to.” He put this little sheet in front of me. It was three items. I’ll never forget it. This was back in 1980. I’ll never forget it. You’re allergic to bananas, horse hair, and turkey. The reason I remember that so vividly is because it’s so ridiculous. It said bananas. Okay, well I have a banana maybe once every couple of weeks, I suppose. Okay, I can stop bananas. But then horsehair, now I was not an aficionado of horses. I had no horse hair furniture in my house. So, that didn’t make any sense to me at all. So, then how can I be so sick if I had bananas only once every two weeks and not around horse hair. Then the third thing was turkey which I did eat every single Thanksgiving. Paola: I thought you were going to say every single day. Joette: Every single Thanksgiving, I ate it. I know I shouldn’t have but I did. Paola: So, it was ridiculous. Joette: It was ridiculous. So these tests are to say they’re inconclusive is laughable. Paola: Well, I went and did allergy testing myself. I was really concerned because the list of foods that I couldn’t eat was so large. I mean, you can relate. But I went with an alternative doctor. What was kind of deflating for me is I’m there to get help so that I can eat more food. He came with more ingredients that I apparently didn’t even know about that I shouldn’t be eating. So, I was like why am I even here? You’re like ruining my life a little bit more. Joette: Just away with happiness. Paola: I know. So, that was pretty frustrating. So, I don’t care. I ate the shrimp because I had to eat. Then Tina, if you listened to the most recent Moms with Moxie podcast, Tina’s doctor came in and told her she had to live on air and water, I think. He kind of said it, he was laughing. Joette: Flippantly. Paola: Yes. Tina was just, that was offensive to her because this is like a death sentence basically. Joette: Yes, yes, yes. Paola: So, it doesn’t matter what you’re allergic to. Joette: On one hand, maybe it matters because if it’s an anaphylactic reaction then you, of course, need to know that it is peanuts or it is almonds or it could be apples or whatever. Certainly, you need to know that. But to be honest, if you’ve had an anaphylactic-like symptom, you know what you’re allergic to. It’s not very difficult to figure out. Paola: I know. Joette: If it’s absolutely mandatory that you find out then of course, find out. But to be honest, most people will know. I find that those tests can be pretty archaic. Now, I’ve give mine was done is 1980 the last time I went. But I hear these stories all the time. What has brought to their attention really is not what is real in their life, that it really is more chemicals or it really is because he ate too much of a certain food. So, I just don’t find, I’m not impressed with allergy tests. So, we could start with that, I suppose. The two pronged method So, the point is that in homeopathy, we look at things, most everything in terms of health quite differently. One of them is that when we look at allergies, we use the two pronged method. One is that we have to uproot the condition with medicines that have been proven time again for most people across the board. Then we have to use the symptoms that are presenting (of course, they present differently in everyone) to determine which medicines are used for those particular symptoms. Now, for those who are accustomed to conventional medicine, they might be thinking, “Well, I could just suppress symptoms just by taking Allerest or something. But what we’re doing is different. We are not suppressing the symptoms. We’re using the symptoms because they represent what’s going on, on a deeper level. We’re using them to determine which medicines are best chosen. Some people sneeze. Some people have eczema. Some people have bloating. Some people have hair loss. Some people have food intolerances. There are all kinds of things that can come from allergies. Some people have asthma. Some people have hives. So, we’ve got to use the baseline medicines that are across the board for allergies in general and then in addition to that, the medicines that are specific to any one of those. Now, if it’s two of those, we’re using two protocols. So if it’s sneezing and eczema, we’re going to use the sneezing protocol and an eczema protocol as well as the baseline medicines. Paola: Which is usually like that food intolerance protocol because that’s what’s causing the eczema? Joette: If it’s pretty clear that that’s what it is then you can use the food intolerance protocol but we don’t want to just jump to that. We want to see some food intolerances. We want to see some diarrhea or constipation or bloating, or burping, not literally but we want to see that the person has got some gut issue that’s pretty formidable before we jump to, “This must be food intolerance.” Paola: Before we assume that the eczema is a food intolerance right away. Okay, I see. That kind of goes back to the example with our Mom with Moxie, Tina. She didn’t have these food allergies because hers are actually anaphylaxis allergies her whole life until they presented that day in her car while she was driving eating almonds. That poor woman and had to drive to the ambulance. So, the goal is to press the reset button with the appropriate protocol. Joette: Yes. Meanwhile, people would say, “Well, so can I eat foods that are offending until that time, while I’m taking these homeopathic medicines until it uproots it?” The answer is for Tina, no, she should not be eating almonds because it causes anaphylaxis. But if a little bit of wheat here and there causes a little itching in the flexors of your elbows with an eczema, this rash, it’s not a big deal for you. So, it’s not as severe for you. It depends on the severity. Paola: But that kind of goes against what naturopaths say because when I saw my naturopath, I didn’t have allergic reactions to food but I would have intolerance-type reactions. My naturopathic doctors would say, “Well, you have to avoid this completely for four years for your body to forget it, for your immune system to forget it. Then you can try and reintroduce that.” Well, I did that for three years, maybe pushing four. Then I remember, I bought wheat. I sprouted it. I cut the wheatgrass. I pressed the wheatgrass. Joette: I’ve done it. I know what you’re talking about. Paola: I got a little juice and within five minutes, I had my autoimmune type reaction. I think it was seconds, honestly. I was amazed. Oh my gosh. Four years down the drain of avoiding this, hoping my immune system would forget. So, that’s really difficult. Joette: Good luck with that system. I’ve used it because I’ve done this for so many years because the allergies were such a part of, really, it was my middle name. So, I’ve done all of that. The avoidance thing, I suppose works for some people. It never worked for me. Paola: Me neither. Joette: Nor does it work for the people who contacted me because if they’re cured by it, then I don’t hear about it. I get the people for whom it does not work or from the poor mother who’s got five kids and two of them are allergic to gluten. One is allergic to dairy. The third one is allergic to everything. The fourth one can eat anything. Now, what does she do? How does she feed a family like that? So, it behooves us to learn how to uproot the condition instead of avoiding because the more we avoid, often, not always but often, the more we avoid, the more we must avoid because it’s narrower, and narrower, and narrower until finally people tell me, “I think I’m allergic to water.” That’s the first time I heard that some 20 years ago. I was thinking, “Well, could it be the chlorine in her water.” Then I thought, you know what? I don’t think this is allergy to the substance. I think it’s not the raw materials going into the gut, into the factory. I think it’s the factory. It’s the gut. It’s the person’s body, the mechanisms have gotten cockeyed. That’s what needs to be corrected, not trying to make that food perfect. Paola: Right, that’s exactly right. I think that’s just very interesting. You have to have that mind shift that you’re body doesn’t need to forget the food that it’s intolerant to by avoiding like my naturopaths were saying. Instead, it’s allowing the factory to repair itself because really, I mean that’s the truth. If you’re going to avoid and the factory isn’t going to get better during that time then what’s the point? Joette: Well, how do you avoid pollen, and feathers, and dusts, and perfumes, and fumes? Now, you can avoid cigarette smoke but it was horrible for me. I’d smell a puff of cigarette smoke and I go right into asthma. How do you do that? Well, what I did is I lived in a bubble until I finally came across it. Paola: So, let’s say I have food intolerances which I’m a lot better from that. But if someone has food intolerances and they want to get better. So now, they’re going to get better in a week or two? Is that how it works? Joette: Oh, wouldn’t that be great? Although I have heard it, it has happened but it’s not common. It’s more often that it takes using these medicines for very long periods of time especially the medicines that are used, the baselines: Bovista, Tuberculinum, Calc carb. These are the medicines that I’m saying them quickly because to be honest, there’s a whole protocol around them. So, just to give you an idea of what the names of the medicines are. Paola: Right. That’s the core part of your Allergic course. Joette: That’s the core. That’s the first prong. Then the second prong is if there’s sneezing then sometimes it can be resolved in very short order, yes, absolutely. Paola: Yes, those little symptoms go away. That’s true. I remember in one season, my seasonal allergies were significantly better which is pretty quick. Joette: Well, I always have had watery eyes, for years on and off through the seasons. I always thought there were these allergies. It’s allergies. It’s allergies. I have to uproot the allergies. Then one day, I took Argentum nitricum and it was gone. I hate when I say this because then I’m always sorry later because people say, “Well, it didn’t work that fast for me. It must be the wrong medicine or homeopathy doesn’t work for me or it works for you but not for these people.” But the reason I remember of course is because it was so stunning. I only took a dose and the next day, they were fine. I didn’t have runny eyes. Of course, it came back again about a week later and I took it again. Until finally, I took it enough times, it finally left, it aborted. But that’s the kind of the upper, kind of like the piccolo in the concert. We’re talking about the whole string section has to be corrected. Those are the baseline medicines. Paola: So, in your courses, you explained that we need to have hat patience. You talked about the eight weeks before we change protocols or something like that. So, talk to us about that, about that patience. Assessing after eight weeks Joette: Well, what I find is that often, people are so eager to feel better that they are not honest with how many changes there have been or whether or not there have been even small changes. So, because of that eagerness to get well soon and because they’ve spent, we talked about this earlier, spent so much money trying to deal with this and seen so many doctors that they feel as though it’s within their right to expect the medicines, these medicines to work fast. They feel like homeopathy has to make up for all the previous mistakes I’ve made in my life, all the money I’ve spent, all the vitamins, all the supplements, all the doctors, all the shots, all have to be culminated again. Eight weeks, if I don’t see a change, well, I’m just going to toss it up. There we go. There was just another paradigm, another notch on my belt to prove that indeed, I’m not curable. But instead, if we look at it from a different point of view and we say, use the medicines accordingly, correctly. If you watch carefully and diligently, you will likely see a little shift at about eight weeks. If there’s no shift, absolutely no shift at all, I might say, push it a little further because these protocols are Banerji Protocols that have been used for the Banerjis for 150 years. Why not you? If it works for millions of others, why would not it work for you? So, we might push it a little bit longer but generally speaking, at about eight weeks, we stop and assess. That’s what I teach in this course, Allergic or in all my courses and on my blog that’s free. I always say stop at a certain point and especially for chronics and assess. Paola: So, you’re saying the eight weeks is really to kind of steady people to get comfortable because eight weeks is kind of a long time when you’re suffering. You’re trying to steady us to really give yourself the chance and the opportunity to assess and maybe even sneak past that a little bit. Joette: Yes. In the eight weeks, remember now is not for say the watery eyes or the lips that are swelling, absolutely not. We expect that too quickly because that’s an acute. So, I said that’s like a little piccolo. Paola: Like an acute presentation of the chronic. Joette: Of the chronic condition, absolutely. What we’re looking for in eight weeks is just an overall lifting, a little shift, a little less fatigue during allergy season, a little less bloated, a little bit less itchy. The skin is not quite as bad. If we could pick some patience out of people without them thinking about how much they’ve done before and what’s brought them here and look at this as a fresh, new paradigm, they will probably be happier with what they learn. Paola: Right. So, kind of going to the other extreme, do you worry that someone might use a protocol for too long? Joette: Yes, I do worry about that because I don’t know who I’m speaking to in these courses or even now for that matter. Are you an 80-year old man? Are you a young, 25-year old mother? Are you a mother with an infant who is sick? I know nothing about you. Are you in the US? Are you in India? Are you in New Zealand? I know nothing about you. So, I would rather be conservative and teach how to really pick it apart and observe at eight weeks than say, alright, green light, go for four months and see how you do. It really needs some overview. This is why I’m probably one of the few homeopaths that I’m aware of who teaches this kind of stuff because I know why classical homeopaths and other homeopaths won’t teach this because they’re nervous. I don’t blame them. I’m nervous too. I’m worried people are going to make a mistake. I don’t want them to make mistakes. I want homeopathy to be hailed and not the focus of fury. So, I would rather see that we move slowly and judiciously than jump into something and say, “Okay, it can’t be that. Let’s go to the next one.” Paola: No, I agree with you because I do have a lot of friends come knocking on my door. They just want me, so tell me real quick, just tell me real quick. I was talking to someone about bladder issues, interstitial cystitis, this is what I had. So, I kind of know plenty about it. Is it okay if I just tried this protocol? My fear isn’t so much that the protocol will hurt you because it’s likely that that won’t happen. But my fear is that you won’t apply it for the appropriate amount of time and then you think it’s not working and then you abandon it. Then all has been lost when it could have been helping. Joette: Right. Paola: That’s such a huge loss if you think about it. It’s like in the movie when the main character is about to do something right and they don’t realize it and then they give up. You’re like, “God, no!” Joette: Right, right, exactly, exactly. Paola: It’s so frustrating. Joette: Well, I always get the question – I always get a little preface to the question. I have a quick question. Well yeah, the question might be quick but the answer is not so uncomplicated. The answer is pretty in-depth. You might say, “What I can use for tuberculosis?” You know what I mean? Paola: Right. Joette: So, it might seem so simple. Homeopathy is a very complex medicine. What I’ve tried to do here is I’ve stuck my neck out. To be honest, I really stick my neck out with this information. What I’m trying to do is distill it, make it simple so that families can use this. I don’t guarantee results. I can only tell you what happened for me. I can report what’s happened to others. I can report what I see in Kolkata at the Banerji Homeopathic Research Foundation. I can tell you about the data that they’ve collected over the last 150 years. I think it’s pretty impressive. Paola: Right. I think the big issue here is when we talk about it theoretically like we are right now, it seems very logical. Okay well, I’ll just make sure to give it lots of time. But the problem is we’re dealing with humans who have emotions and feelings. It’s like you said a minute ago. Because we’ve suffered so much, sometimes we feel like we’re entitled to a quicker cure but it doesn’t matter. Joette: Well, I hear this all the time. I say, “Okay, so how are you doing?” They say, “Well, I’m about the same.” I’m going to be honest with you, not to be critical but people have said that to me. I don’t have anyone in mind but that’s lazy. It is really lazy. Come on. Paola: Don’t say that. Joette: Tell me what you were like before, although you don’t have to because I have it all written down when I’m working with you one on one. I have point by point, straight from the horse’s mouth. Now, tell me what has changed? Look. I don’t want to make people neurotic and have to write every single thing down but when you say, “Oh, it’s just about the same.” Now, it’s my turn actually to pick at that and say, “Okay.” So, I go back to the notes about those old headaches. This is what I usually hear. “Oh yeah, I know I don’t have those anymore.” Oh, there you go. So, I guess the medicines worked. Okay. “But I’m still pretty much the same.” Then I ask the next question. Okay, so how about the bloating? “Oh yeah, that’s gone.” So now, we’ve got two pegs there on the side of it must have been homeopathy, unless you just took steroids or something. So, it’s important that we realize that in two-month period of time, those eight weeks, you kind of have to pay attention to where you were, not on a day to day basis but rather at that eight-month juncture. You’ve got to be able to look back. How do you look back if you’re treating yourself or your family? You better take copious notes and assign a number value. On a scale of 1 to 10, how bad was that eczema itching? Oh it was an 8, okay. And how often was it? Every night. Did it keep you up at night? It keeps me up every night. Now, eight weeks later; now tell me, how bad is that eczema itching? Oh, it’s a 6. We’ve gained two points. That’s great because it was 8 and now it’s 6. You don’t say anything yet. You wait. You wait. Okay, so every night, there is itching? No, it doesn’t itch so much anymore at night. It is just a little here and there but it doesn’t keep me up anymore. Now, we know the medicine is acting. When we know the medicine is acting, what do we do? We stay with it. Paola: But I have to play devil’s advocate here for a second, Joette. I’ve been in this situation where I’ve been frustrated because we can’t nail down the right remedy. So, I think what you’re saying is that you understand those frustrations but don’t short change homeopathy. And don’t stop observing and seeing what could be happening right now because of those frustrations. Joette: Listen. Maybe I’m a little harsh in saying that that’s lazy because I do know that people are suffering. When someone is sick, the last thing they’re thinking of is observational skills, being pragmatic, keeping notes, et cetera. But if you want to really get this, to be honest, you’re going to do this yourself, you have no other choice. Now, if you’re working with a homeopath, it’s different because then, the homeopath is writing everything you’ve said down. Now, we’re comparing notes to what you’re saying now. That’s okay that you’re a little bit lazy about it. But if you’re doing this yourself, for your child, your dog, yourself, whatever, you have to be sharp. Paola: Yes. I agree with that because I feel like I have seen people kind of dropped out of school of homeopathy so to speak, drop out before they really gave it a chance. I know they’re missing out on it because like it or not, I have gone so far with homeopathy. We get greedy. We want to be better and better and better. Joette: Yes, we do. We do. Paola: But for heaven’s sakes, I’ve come so far and you have to realize that this can take you very far. Joette: Yes. Paola: Let’s go back to allergies. Tell me about a food intolerance story that you have. Buster’s milk intolerance and Argentum nitricum Joette: Yes, I can tell you about Buster, my dog. He writes the blog every once in a while on my side. Buster for quite a while couldn’t drink milk. We would get this beautiful milk from our farmer down the road. It was fresh. It was raw. He would love it. If drink one day, it’d be okay. But by the second or third day, his eyes would get weepy and red. It looked really gross. It was bothersome for him too. At one point, they would get even a little bit raw and itchy. So, we stopped the milk, the symptoms would go away. Then we wait a little longer, we do it again. Milk again. He would drink it for a couple of days, same scenario repeated. So, we could have just given Buster the life of milk abstinence. No more milk for you mister. This is just for everybody else. But I was getting all this great milk years ago. Sometimes my family didn’t drink at all. So, there are a lot of things I could have done with milk but it was awfully easy just to feed the dog and get his meal taken care of pretty much. I decided I’d just give him the medicine for it. So, I put this medicine, this homeopathic medicine in the milk. Paola: Specific. And you mean a homeopathic medicine for the eyes or specific for the food intolerance? Joette: No, specific for allergies, for food intolerances. I had started with that. That is our baseline. That’s the string section of the orchestra. Then the piccolo which was really presenting, I’m sure it’s a bigger picture than this. I bet if we continue with the milk, he’ll get probably itching elsewhere or he might get burping. He might get diarrhea, et cetera. But because it presented as his eyes becoming problematic, I gave him Argentum nitricum. I gave that to him specific. So, I gave him both, both the medicine that was specific for food intolerances and another specific for how it presents. There’s the string section and the piccolo. Then once that stopped, the eyes got better then we could reintroduce milk, not necessarily immediately. Sometimes it takes months. Not months of the Argentum nitricum because that usually went away in short order, in a week. Paola: Right. That’s what you’re saying. Joette: It better go away in a week because the piccolo doesn’t have a big part in the orchestra. It’s only got a couple of little lines here and there. But the string section is the baseline. That is the basis of all of orchestral music. So, we have to eventually correct that so there’s not a cacophony. Paola: So, the acute presentation of the chronic tends to go quickly? Joette: Yes. Paola: Then, we’re talking about that’s the eight weeks. Joette: Which is why it worked so well for Tina as she’ll describe in her Moms with Moxie podcast. Paola: Yes, exactly. Joette: So now, Buster drinks raw milk. It took a couple of years of using the baseline medicine. Every once in a while, I’d give him a little more Argentum nitricum. I don’t say when it comes back again, “Oh no. Homeopathy doesn’t work.” Wait a minute. He’s still been drinking. It is just not perfect yet. He just needs it a little bit longer. Paola: Right. Joette: Stop chewing in the towel is what I say. Come on. We have to have tenacity here. You have to have persistence when it comes to something as important as uprooting a chronic condition such as allergies. Paola: Right. Yes, we tend to oversimplify things in our mind. We want this nice, tidy, uphill climb to feeling better. Joette: Well, we want it to be linear and it is not linear. It’s two steps forward and half a step back, four steps forward, three steps back. Paola: It’s funny. You’re talking about your dog with milk intolerances. We have a dog that we got this year. He was astray. We started giving him raw milk and he had diarrhea from it. So, I went to your blog. There’s the disasters, dysentery, and diarrhea, I think blog. I gave him the protocol for the diarrhea. I’m thinking now. I think I’m going to go ahead and give him the remedy for that food intolerance. Joette: Yes. And see if he can start drinking milk again or for the first time. Paola: Very good. So, one of the reasons you haven’t given a lot of specific protocols in this podcast is why, Joette? Joette: Well, because it really requires not just, “Here is the protocol, just take it.” Sometimes it can be that simple in homeopathy but not for chronic conditions such as allergies. Allergies are old. I mean in the person, they’re often old. Even for Tina. I mean I do know Tina quite well but I don’t remember whether or not she had no allergies ever at all in her life or if there were no allergies in her family. I suppose it’s possible. I do hear that from time to time. These chronic conditions arise out of a couple of things. One is inheritance. It has to be in the DNA on some level that this person is capable of even getting allergies. Then the second is a stimulation of the inheritance. So, all you need is a couple of rounds of antibiotics for some people. Sometimes it takes two or three years of antibiotics. Sometimes it takes just one little round. Birth control pills, steroids, those are the drugs, those are the catalysts that get the DNA a little wild up and start presenting this or that. Some people’s DNA will present allergies. Others will present heart disease. Others will present rheumatoid arthritis. Others will present all three. Paola: Right. Joette: So, it takes time but it also takes courage. Aristotle said, “Courage is the greatest of all virtues because it makes all the other virtues possible.” Paola: Anyone who’s gone through chronic illness knows that to be patient takes courage. I think it does. Joette: I agree. Paola: Because it’s scary, it’s scary to kind of stick with it to allow yourself the time to see if it’s helping. But that’s where it is. You said it before to me and I’m sure in the classes that the hard part isn’t to select the remedy but it’s assessing the case. That’s the hard part. Joette: That is the hard part. It is. That’s right. Paola: Because of the lack of patience that’s in our human nature. Joette: That’s right. Well, as Voltaire said, not that I’m looking to quote every one of all but he said, “Tend your garden.” Don’t just expect that you pour seed on the ground and now you’re going to have all the vegetables for the rest of your season. No. You have to tend to that garden. You have to pay attention. You have to wait. There’ll be good days and there’ll be bad days. There’ll be bugs and there’ll be too much rain. There will be drying and there’ll be wetting. So, you have to know how to tend your garden. There’s no other garden more important than yours or your family’s. Paola: Yes. Well, thank you so much for your time, Joette. We’re actually recording this kind of late into the night. So, you’re so wonderful. Thank you. I hope you guys know. Joette wakes up early and works into the night on this. We’re so thankful to have you. You’re such a blessing to all of us. Joette: Oh Paola, thank you. Well, I feel the same way about you. It’s wonderful to have you running this that I can just hand it over to you. You just kind of pull it altogether for me. So, I have a lot to be thankful with you as well. Paola: Alright. Well, let’s go to bed. Thank you so much. Joette: Okay. Night all. Paola: Bye. You just listened to a podcast by joettecalabrese.com where nationally certified homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese shared her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. Joette’s podcasts are available on iTunes, Google Play, Blueberry, Stitcher, and TuneIn radio. Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com and schedule a free 15-minute conversation. | |||
| Podcast 27 – Moms with Moxie – Escaping Life-Threatening Allergies | 28 Mar 2017 | 00:50:32 | |
If you have allergies, remember that modern medicine has written you off. The CDC itself will tell you: “There is no cure for allergies. Strict avoidance of the allergen is the only way to prevent a reaction.” I lived decades living in a bubble, dealing with my allergies. Things improved when I stopped taking prescription drugs and changed my diet, but I was not cured. So, I kept searching until I found the thing that changed my life forever: homeopathy. Want to learn the same homeopathic steps I took to clear myself of allergies? Learn them today and use them tonight with my newest course: Allergic?!: http://allergies.joettecalabrese.com/allergic/ and download a free infographic, and start learning what remedies could help uproot your allergies. In this podcast, we cover: 01:30 The anaphylaxis reaction 07:15 Meeting with Joette and starting homeopathy 13:38 Elevated liver enzymes 16:58 Chelidonium 6 and Carduus marianus (milk thistle) for damaged liver 21:22 Food allergies and Apis 35:35 Joette’s courses 37:53 Sharing homeopathy with others You are listening to a podcast from joettecalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. Paola: We have a great “Moms with Moxie” podcast. I’m here with the delightful, Tina Gill who has some wonderful experiences and stories to share with us. Hi, Tina. Tina: Hi. Paola: Alright, so here’s my first question. I like to ask all my Moms with Moxie, what do you love about homeopathy? Tina: Oh good God. What don’t I love is going to be easier to answer. What I love about homeopathy primarily is that it’s giving me my power back. I’ve always been a healthy and a productive, proactive woman and considered fit and healthy. All of a sudden, my body went haywire. I don’t know what to exactly point a finger at. It could have been menopause. But I experienced anaphylaxis that put me in the hospital three times in 90 days. It just threw me in a no man’s land where I thought I had lost my power. Through homeopathy, I’ve been given my power back, my health, and happiness, and joy, and hope. Paola: I remember you telling me that you were so scared because it felt like it came out of nowhere. Tina: Yes. Paola: I mean we know better. We know that everything we did leading up to it, the antibiotics or whatever was kind of setting the foundation for this to come. But you were waiting for death. You were so scared. The anaphylaxis reaction Tina: Oh my goodness, yes, because I lived on almonds and was popping almonds in my mouth one morning like to the tune of 30 or 40 because it was going to hold me over to lunch. I was on a two-hour car ride to my daughter’s house. That was going to be my breakfast. All of a sudden, I started blowing up and itching and then having a hard time breathing. I looked in the mirror and realized I’m in anaphylaxis. The fear of dying alone in my car was overwhelming. So, I dialed 911. I get a gentleman that leads me to the nearest ambulance. I missed the road to the ambulance but I could see it on the other side of a cornfield and just drove my car through a cornfield to get to that ambulance. I jumped out of my car. I handed my keys and say, “I’m having an allergy reaction.” They just looked at me and said, “No kidding.” Paola: Oh my gosh. Tina: Yes, they threw me in the ambulance. They rushed me to the emergency room. Paola: Did they have like Epi stuff, whatever. Tina: Yes. Actually, I was really shocked. We had to have someone meet us halfway to the emergency room with Benadryl to shoot me to get me to the emergency room. It was that close and that scary. Paola: That’s crazy. Tina: Yes. Paola: Don’t ambulance have like Tylenol, Advil, Benadryl? Isn’t that like standard? Tina: I guess not. Paola: Oh my gosh. Tina: Not in my situation, it wasn’t. Paola: Here’s the thing. I have always felt like before homeopathy, yes, I just have my 911. We live in this wonderful country of the United States. 911, I’m just one ambulance ride away and the ambulance will help us. But this goes to show that no, you need to be prepared and have an alternate plan at all times. Tina: That also leads me to my message. I want to convey that I used to live in fear to what if there was a natural, a national catastrophe. All of a sudden, you can’t get your medicine anymore because prior to homeopathy, I was living on synthetic drugs. I went through that path of two shots a week for three years, having to sit in the allergist’s office in case I had a reaction. I lived on Singulair and an inhaler and nose spray and Zyrtec and cortisone cream just to function, to be able to breathe. Before I got back on the care, I used to have to sit up and sleep because if I lay down, I couldn’t breathe. If I would laugh, I sounded like I smoked three packs of cigarettes a day. It was horrible and embarrassing. It affects the quality of your life. But now, I have homeopathy and I have my own pills. I don’t have to buy them from a doctor or wait on a prescription. I don’t have to live with an EpiPen or take Singulair and go to my doctor every three months to get my new prescriptions. It’s so freeing. It’s empowering. I want the world to know that you don’t have to accept what modern medicine is telling you that there is no cure for food allergies. That there is and understood there is a cure. It is correctable. Don’t settle for what modern medicine is telling you and being a prisoner to six medicines a day just to exist. Paola: Well, you bring up a good point. The reason we have to get those drugs from doctors is because they’re highly toxic. It’s like this domino effect. You got to go to the doctor because the drugs are toxic, if you do it wrong. I mean, if you overdose or whatever, you need to hand that prescription, those instructions. So, you have to go to the doctor because they’re toxic. You take them. It won’t cure you. Then you have to keep going back and you have this codependent relationship with something that is just making you worse and worse and worse. So you’re right. You said from the beginning, it gave you your power back. There it is. You’re free from that relationship. Tina: I have a husband who went to travel to exotic islands. I was living in fear because I was afraid to get on an airplane. What if I can send something in the airport before we left that I didn’t know I was allergic to. I was waiting to blow up and die in front of my husband. That’s how paralyzing my life became. From being the healthy one and the caretaker in the family to crying and weeping because I had no control over my body anymore and it was a matter of time before I die. Paola: Yes. You sound like a hypochondriac almost. Tina: I did, most definitely. Never in my life did I understand hypochondria until I went through this. Paola: Yes, fear of any illness kind of popping up. Also, I experienced similar things with my body where it started popping crazy things out of nowhere then you feel like well, what else is around the corner. Tina: Yes, definitely. If this got me by the throat, what else is around the corner, exactly? Paola: So, how long have you been doing homeopathy? Meeting with Joette and starting homeopathy Tina: Well, I’m on about 14 months down the road. I’ll never forget the first time I met Joette. She said this might take a year for your body to react. I can remember thinking, “Yeah. I need help now.” So I’m just in awe that I’m 14 months or 13 months down the road and I’m everything she said I could be. It went so quickly. But you got to get started or it’s never going to happen for you. Paola: Right. At the beginning of the journey, it feels like a year is forever. But then when you’re on the other side of it, you’re like, “No. That was worth it. It’s fine. Here I am.” Tina: Well and I took synthetic drugs for two decades. I was living by my doctor. To be able to function and to stay alive, I had to listen to everything he said. I was so codependent. Now, I’m free again. So, it is so worth it. Two decades on synthetics, one year on homeopathy, it’s a no-brainer. Paola: Right. How long before you were able to-? Did you stop your medications cold turkey? How did that go? Tina: No, I was afraid. What I did was I took homeopathy faithfully. I mean like clockwork. I would say I was 99% true to whatever I had to do. It wasn’t easy at first. Any change is difficult. Primarily, you can’t eat 15 minutes before the remedy or 15 minutes after. If you’re taking multiples, that’s a big chunk of the day in the morning and again at night. But again, well worth it, small price to pay for your life. But after being on homeopathy for six months, what I started to do was to wean off my synthetic drugs. Instead of taking a whole Singulair everyday, I would cut it in half and take a half a Singulair for a month. Instead of two puffs of my inhaler, I would take one. Then the next month, instead of taking a half everyday, I took a half every other day. So, I weaned myself off gradually. I started one month doing it half doses. The second month, I did every other day, half doses. Then the third month, I didn’t take any just to see how I would feel. I didn’t have any of the symptoms that wanted me to go back to the synthetic drugs. I’ve been synthetic-free for seven months now. Paola: That’s amazing. Usually, Joette wants you to and you probably were working with your doctor to wean off of those medications safely. Tina: Well, he kept writing out prescriptions because sadly in our society, our doctors, it is such a conflict of interest. These doctors get a kickback for the meds that they’re writing. So, this man knows how many meds he’s writing to me every month and how much money he can expect from those meds. So, he’s writing me prescriptions left and right and I’m not filling them. He’s a personal friend of the family’s. He was at my 50th birthday party. He doesn’t go away nor do I want him to. But he has his eyes on me. I have tried to express to him homeopathy and he doesn’t want anything to do with it. He won’t read it. He won’t discuss it with me. He won’t entertain it. So, I’m taking things into my own hands and doing things naturally because Paola, it got to the point where I would inhale my albuterol and it would hurt my lungs. I knew I didn’t want it in my body. It’s not the route I wanted to take. So, by getting rid of that and not having breathing problems, by taking my homeopathy, I thought I’m never going back to synthetic drugs unless I break an arm or get a car accident and it’s necessary. Paola: Lifesaving, heroic situations. So, how did your doctor feel about this? Tina: Well, he wouldn’t come right out and say he was upset with me. He decided to approach it like this. He said to me during one visit, normal doctor’s visit. Four times a year I go in. He said, “I got to tell you three reasons why doctors kick patients out of their practice.” Paola: Uh-oh. Tina: I’m thinking to myself, “Oh no, here it comes.” Paola: Right. Tina: Number one, they don’t take their prescriptions. Number two, they don’t do what the doctor tells them to do. Number three, they don’t attend their doctor’s appointments. I just flat out looked at him and said, “You know doctor, if you feel the need to kick me out of your practice, it’s okay.” He started backpedalling, “Oh no, no. I’m not talking about you.” So then we went on to another subject. Then he repeated it before I left. I assured him. If he felt the need to kick me out of his practice, the family would forgive him and it would be alright. He hasn’t done that yet but he is alluding to you’re not taking your meds. I know it. You know it. You need to start doing it. Paola: So, I have a question, Tina. Shouldn’t the conversation be like this? “Oh, I noticed you’re not taking your medications. Are you feeling better?” Shouldn’t that be how the conversation? I mean, I’ve gone to doctors, some really great doctors that I said, “I don’t want to take this or that anymore.” Actually, I can’t say that because I was never really on any chronic medications. I was able to diet or whatever was my crutch for a long time. But I have said to doctors, “If I can feel better, I don’t want to take this antibiotic or whatever.” They’re always like, “Great. Yes, if you can find -.” But that’s crazy. Tina: I know. You would think yes, because isn’t he there to heal me? Paola: Yes, yes. Tina: If I’m not taking almond, I’m still living and breathing and not hacking and wheezing, he would notice. Paola: Right, right, right. Elevated liver enzymes Tina: We have proof. I have medical proof that this homeopathy has changed my health. I had elevated liver enzymes. I was always normal. He always considered me an athlete for two decades. He didn’t have anything to worry about with me. Now, all of a sudden, my liver enzymes are through the roof. He just hits the desk and says, “You can’t have any more alcohol.” I’m like, “Doctor, I rarely drink. What are you talking about?” He said, “Well, you can’t have any more.” I’m like, “Oh my goodness.” That can’t be the cause because I’m not a big consumer of any alcohol, never really have been, an occasional glass of wine, maybe two if I’m out at a wedding reception or something. He just said, “Zero sip.” So, I shared it with Joette. Joette gave me the protocol for healing my liver. So, I immediately went on that protocol. He then tested my liver and I was in the normal range. So, I go from, in September being elevated to rechecking it again in December and it’s through the roof. I consult with Joette. Now, we’re in April, three months later after homeopathy and now, I’m perfectly normal. You know what his response was? I told you, you can’t consume alcohol anymore. I never changed my alcohol consumption. I still have a periodic glass of wine here and there. The only thing I did change though was my commitment to this new protocol for homeopathy. I have blood work to show my levels, and those dates, and my protocol that came to me via email with Joette on the date that shows my activity and how it affected me. Paola: What happened. So, let’s talk about those liver symptoms too. I want to share the protocol that you were on as well. So, the liver enzymes were through the roof, right? Talk about the symptoms that you could see without labs. Tina: Okay. I had no clue that my liver enzymes were up. But I did know that I was having pain in my ribs, just underneath my breast. It was in the back, in my back, in the front. I didn’t realize at that time that’s where you’re liver is located. It’s a very large organ. So, I was having pain in my ribcage in my liver region. I was having unusually colored stool which is beige. So that always tells me something’s going on in my system. I pay attention to that because I know that it’s telling me things. So, when I expressed those symptoms to Joette, she confirmed. Yes, those are common for liver damage. Paola: Liver damage. Tina: Yes. Paola: Then before you started the homeopathy, is this correct? You said your blood tests, they were really high. Then three months later, they went even higher before the homeopathy? Tina: Yes. That was the liver blood enzymes. Paola: Okay. You said you were on the protocol for three months. Your levels went back to normal and your symptoms leveled out too? Tina: Correct. Paola: Okay, so would you mind sharing the protocol you’re on? Chelidonium 6 and Carduus marianus (milk thistle) for damaged liver Tina: I’m happy to. I want everybody to take constructive information to take home with them. So for the liver protocol, it was the Chelidonium 6, taking two a day and the milk thistle, 5 drops twice a day. Paola: Very good. Then for those of you who may not know. So milk thistle is the herbal tincture, right? Tina: Correct. Paola: Milk thistle is the common name for the herb but in homeopathy, we use the Latin name. Boy, I don’t even know if I’m going to pronounce this right. It’s Carduus marianus mother tincture is how we say it. So, if you ever need to buy a mother tincture, I just always Google the Latin name and I write common name then milk thistle pops up. Then you buy that and then do the protocol for it. So, it’s so funny about your doctor who says, “See, I told you.” He has to take credit no matter what. Tina: Yes, yes. I know, yes. I love him and respect him dearly. He used to be president Reagan’s doctor. The man has seven degrees. He’s 85 years old. He’s been practicing all his life, immense respect but it’s all about big pharma. It’s all synthetics. Paola: Right. I would be mad. Boy, if I went to medical school to heal people with all these altruistic, starry-eyed goals and then you realized that you have to get in bed with big pharma and there’s no way to divorce from that. Well, I’m sure there’s a way. There are plenty of doctors that find a way but it’s not easy. I’d be mad. I can understand he’s getting close probably to retiring. He’s set in his ways. Tina: Yes, he is. He said he’s not interested in learning anything new. In fact, when I addressed it with him, he said, “That’s a young man’s journey.” Paola: Right. Tina: We are 5% of the world’s population and we’re taking 80% of the world’s pharmaceuticals. Paola: Wow. Tina: That’s a big red flag. That’s not normal. That’s not healthy. Paola: Say that again. Tina: The American population is 5% of the world’s population, yet, the Americans take 80% of the world’s pharmaceuticals. Paola: Wow. Tina: Every other commercial one on TV is for synthetic drug. Paola: Well recently, they came out with the research that’s saying that we are not living as long as we used to. Tina: This is the first year ever that our lifespan is decreasing. I’m a firm believer it’s the quality or lack of quality of our food source and these vaccines. Many patients were living on all the side effects. Paola: I was thinking about your doctor, this old time doctor. Obviously, the reason he doesn’t want to change his ways is because it’s worked for him in his practice in all these years. But guess what? Generation after generation has been affected with this. The new doctors coming on the market, I don’t think they’re going to stick with this. Tina: No. When you know better, you do better. Paola: Right. When you see it not working over and over again and I think that’s why Joette’s mission is so important. Tina: This movement is a gift from God. It’s long overdue and it is critical because I help a lot with my grandchildren’s grade school. I go in and I do class with them for the seasons. I have to be very careful of what foods I bring in as treats because of all these food allergies. I used to find them to be annoying until I went through it. Now, I have the utmost respect for these food allergies. So, these kids are suffering. These moms and families are suffering. I believe that 80% of it can be corrected. Paola: I think you’re right. Tina: It’s maddening. Paola: It is. Well, speaking of food allergies, that’s your other big condition that you are just so ecstatic about. I’m so happy for you too. So, tell us about the food allergies. Now, that story about you driving to that cornfield, I mean that’s terrifying. I’m just glad you’re not allergic to corn as well. Tina: Yes, yes. Had I not found out the homeopathy, that would have been next. Paola: Oh, I bet you. Food allergies and Apis Tina: Well, when I had the anaphylaxis to the almond, my doctor started a series of blood tests to see what else I was sensitive to. I am not kidding you. I became sensitive to everything to the point where my doctor said to me, “You’re going to have to live on air and water,” and laughed at me. I just started to weep because there were no answers for me. I was left to withdraw from society and just wait to die. During the blood testing, it shows that I am three times more sensitive to apples than I am to almonds. Almonds almost killed me three times. Paola: That’s interesting. I’ve seen that connection. People who can’t handle almonds can’t handle apples. You had this little test that you did with the apple. Tell us about that. Tina: I knew I was having a reaction to apples before I ever had the anaphylaxis to almonds because when I would go to put an apple to my lips to take a bite, my lips would automatically swell. It wasn’t normal. I didn’t like it. So, I put the apple down. About three weeks later, I tried it again and the same reaction. Paola: So just putting the skin of the apple to your lips caused it to swell up. Tina: Correct. I didn’t even have to bite into it or consume it, just coming in contact with it. So, when I got my blood results back that said I was three times more sensitive to apples than I ever was to the almonds, I wasn’t surprised. But then, he started testing me for tomatoes, to bananas, to everything that I was eating on a daily basis. I mean, when you can’t have tomatoes, you can’t have salsa, pizza, spaghetti, ketchup. I mean, it’s in everything in my diet anyway. So when I started homeopathy, I can’t even remember, it was three to four months down the road, he sent me in for a blood test. I asked if we could test the tomato and the apples again. He said yes. So, we did that. My results came down 2/3 on my sensitivity to the apples and cut in half to the sensitivity to tomatoes. Paola: So, you had been on homeopathy for three months and the sensitivity of the apples dropped by 2/3 and the tomatoes were cut in half. That’s amazing. Tina: You know, he never even commented. Paola: Wow. Tina: He never even made notice that I was reversing it. Paola: Oh, I’d be so mad. Tina: But he told me he’s not interested. This is something I have to pursue with another professional. Paola: Yeah, that’s right. Tina: Thank God, it’s out there. Thank God for the internet. That’s how I found Joette. That’s how I’ve been able to pursue my education with homeopathy. Paola: Yes, absolutely. I agree. I Googled some term. I thank God to this day that the words came into my head and I typed it into my computer and out popped her Good Gut, Bad Gut class. I think I signed up for it like just a few days before it started. That was how it all started. Tina: I typed in food allergies. On the sidebar came joettecalabrese.com. Paola: Wow. That’s great. Tina: After reading, reading, reading in pages on the website, I didn’t like anything I was seeing or learning anything. It was all telling me that it was not understood and there was no cure for it. You just have to abstain. It wasn’t until I went to the right site and pursued Joette that I had hope again. I had fervor like no other. Paola: That’s amazing. So now, let’s talk about where you’re at right now, Tina. You’re 14 months into your homeopathy stuff. Tell us how you first initially cautiously tested your food allergies again. Tina: I was making a dish for my husband to take into the office for Christmas. I always put apples at this dish. It was a chicken salad. I took a cube of that apple. I stuck it underneath my lip, inside my lip and left it there for five minutes. Then I took it out and threw it away. I was extremely nervous and cautious in case my body had a reaction but how are you ever going to know if you never tested again. But my sense of confidence was so high that day. I had two EpiPens on the counter. I had my car keys with my full tank of gas in the garage. I live a couple of miles away from the emergency room. I was bold. I was healthy and alive and felt confident enough to try it and watched the clock for 20 minutes. I didn’t have any symptoms. I then got busy with something else. Before I knew it, it was an hour later and I’m standing, no symptoms. I don’t know that I’ll ever just go and get an apple and take a bite out of it again. But I know that if I accidentally eat apples, every now and then I will have a sip of a juice that has apple with it. I want to keep my body introduced to it, the same with bananas, all these highly sensitive foods that I was tested for. But I have to tell you. I recently accidentally consumed almonds in a restaurant. I was with my in laws and my husband and another couple. I have proof that this happened to me and consumed these almonds and started taking Apis, 1M when I realized that I was consuming almonds. I even showed it to my mother in law. She ate it and looked at it and confirmed that it was almonds and didn’t have any symptoms. I was through the roof. I mean, the weight of the world just lifted from my shoulders. The fog had lifted. I was free again. It’s a miracle. I mean, for a week, I kept repeating myself to my husband. Can you believe I ate almonds? Can you believe I ate almonds? Well then, Paola, it happened again two weeks later. We’re at another restaurant. I ordered hot and spicy shrimp. Who would think that they would garnish it with almond slivers? I take a bite at the shrimp. I’m enjoying it. I looked down on the plate and I see almonds. I had swirled that shrimp all around that garnish. I wanted all that sweet and hot and spicy flavor. I’m looking at it and I realized, “Oh my gosh. Here I am again.” So, I consumed my Apis, 1M and no symptoms. So twice in the last 30 days, I consumed almonds and had no symptoms. Paola: So, you were taking the Apis 1M kind of prophylactically? You weren’t getting symptoms. You were just like, “Oh I need to be – maybe I need to take this.” Tina: Yes, as a proactive. Paola: That’s amazing. Tina: Yes, it is amazing. Paola: Whoa, listeners of Joette, Joette would caution you. She wants you to know that she’s not recommending, or Tina, or I aren’t recommending that you just test willy-nilly. Joette has said in her classes and in her podcasts that she’s been in situations where she’s been the hospital parking lot. Even clients of her when they have food allergies and they want to test it, they’ll sit in the emergency room parking lot with their remedy kit, a deck of cards. They’ll test or they’ll deal with what they’re dealing with if it was already happening and they had it and watched the homeopathy do its thing. If for whatever reason, you’re not selecting the right remedies or whatever, you’d have that fallback just in case. Tina: Right. We don’t ever want to live without our hospitals and our synthetic drugs to have in an emergency situation but it will never be my first choice. It is going to be my last resort. Paola: Right. That’s how it should be. That’s amazing. So, I want to know now. Now that you’ve done so much better, have you gone back and done any more labs on all your food allergies because you lit up like a Christmas tree, right? Tina: Yes, yes. That’s another infuriating aspect about today’s insurance involvement with the medical field. I have specifically asked my doctor if he would go through and do my blood test on all the foods that I am sensitive to. At last count, it was 22. He said no. I asked why. He said because the insurance company contacted him. He had to write up a complete report and send in all my paperwork to justify why I have cost them so much money in the last year. And that they would not spend any more money on me. So, he cannot order blood tests which infuriates me because he can order blood tests four times a year at a regular visit to check my triglycerides, my blood pressure, and everything else. But for me to specifically request for my food allergies, no, I’ve been denied. Paola: Well, that’s ridiculous because it’s almost like he could but he doesn’t want to do all the paperwork that comes with it. Personally, I have a great doctor who is – I mean, not that your doctor isn’t great. My doctor, if I tell him I need this and this and this and this is why. I’m not crazy. I have a logical reason. He says yes, I think you do need that. He goes and he does it. Thank you so much. That’s what I need you for. Tina: Yes. Paola: My friends have been telling me that there are these discounted labs that you can send in requisitions yourself, directlabs.com. Tina: I need to write this down. Paola: Yes, directlabs.com and any labs, I think you can just Google any labs. This is in the US. I don’t know if you’re out of the country, what the situation is but these are labs that you don’t need a doctor to send them the requisition, that you can order the requisition and then go to a local lab. Tina: Thank you so much. I am dying to know. I mean I know I’m dying to get it in writing because I have proof. When he first took my blood results and my levels are in writing from a lab dated. Then three months later, when we took it after the homeopathy and they had dropped by 2/3 and a half on just 2 of the 22 foods, I want to further this and to see where my almonds are now. Paola: Right. Yes, because clearly you’re not reacting to them. Now, I don’t know if these labs actually do all labs or if they do only some of them but it would be worth investigating to see if they do your allergies. That would be cool. Also, there is one more thing I just thought you should know and Joette’s listeners should know is about alternative healthcare companies. It’s not exactly a healthcare company. They’re called health sharing. So, it’s basically finding a way to pay for your medical bills, should you need them. So, you’re sharing among other members the cost. It’s a totally different model. It exempts you from Obamacare if you signed up for them. There’s a big one called Good Samaritan Ministries, I think. But there are some that are kind of Christian related and there are some that are not so much. It’s just an interesting thing to look into especially if some people don’t even have health insurance. Anyway, I think it’s great for families who like us, who have means to address common illnesses and they’re not rushing to the doctor for every little thing. It’s just a really great backup. Then also, sometimes I kind of fibbed to my doctor when I need to get some labs done that I’m worried that he or she may not want to do. This is before I have the doctor that I have now. But I remember when I had strep throat and I got really sick from it. Obviously, the first time the strep throat came back positive and it was my big experience with homeopathy. I wanted to know if the strep was really gone or if it was just asymptomatic. Like if my symptoms were better but the strep is still there. So, I went to my doctor. I knew. I knew that the doctor at that time would not do the labs for me. I said, “Oh, I’m having really painful sore throat,” which wasn’t true. “I had strep recently. Could you swab again?” Kind of a fib but it’s okay, right? Tina: Isn’t it terrible that they paint you in their corner that you have to do that? Paola: You got to do what you got to do. Tina: I know. Paola: I know, so it’s no fun. So tell us Tina, which courses have you taken of Joette’s? Joette’s Courses Tina: Well, the Good Gut, Bad Gut course, Feminopathy, I’ve taken those courses. I buy absolutely every book and any journal or anything she recommends. But those are the two courses that I’ve taken so far. Paola: I called the Good Gut, Bad Gut course, Joette’s flagship course. It’s really a great introduction to chronic health issues in general. But you have not taken Allergic then. Tina: No, because sadly, it was in October, right? I have a daughter that has two toddlers who needed a knee replacement. I was caring for the kids and then the holidays and we were travelling. I wanted to so badly because there’s nothing like going through the course. It’s wonderful to have backup information or to be able to get online and read about it and engage in it later. But to do the one on one, you get so much more out of it. I missed that. Paola: Right. You mean the live one? Tina: Yes, the live one, yes. Anytime you get an opportunity to sit live with Joette Calabrese, drop everything and do it. Paola: You’re right. I couldn’t agree with you more. She knows. Tina: She’s a wealth of knowledge. What she had done to dedicate the last three decades or more into homeopathy and to be travelling to the other side of the world to educate herself further to bring back to us is immeasurable. I had incredible respect and I’m so proud of her. Paola: Yes, I agree. We are very lucky. What she has done for just America and the people that have access to her thing. So the internet, I agree, has been such a blessing. It changed a lot of lives for sure. Tina: Yes. Paola: So, we don’t have a lot of time left but I did want to ask you if you’ve had any success helping other people because that’s really what Moms with Moxie is about too is blessing the lives of those around you. Anyone who you mother or who you have access to nurturing and helping. So tell us about that. Sharing homeopathy with others Tina: Well, I have a large family and a large group of friends. People are hearing me. I was in the hospital three times in three months and inquiring and asking questions. So now, all of a sudden, I have the attention of those around me that have medical issues. I have a grandson who’s nine years old that has been diagnosed with ADHD. The teachers are telling my daughter he needs to go on Ritalin or something to help him focus. My daughter desperately did not want him on Ritalin because she’s heard so many horror stories about these kids that lose their personalities and they’re like not engaged anymore. She just didn’t want that for her son. So, she asked what we could with homeopathy. Fortunately, we were able to get him in with Joette. It was a really critical timing for him because he was in third grade at that time. You have to pass three state tests throughout the year to be able to go on to the fourth grade. He had flunked the first two and he was getting ready to take the third. So, all of a sudden, it’s very important for him to pass. We put him on the remedy for ADHD for focusing. He took the state exam. He passed that state exam. He was in the slow reading group in third grade. He passes the state exam. He goes on to fourth grade. He has a B in reading now. Paola: Wow. That’s amazing. Tina: His personality has blossomed. The teachers adore him. They say that he’s the sweetest thing, that he helps all the other students, that he’s not a zombie like those that are taking synthetic drugs. Now, they’re inquiring about it. What did you put this kid on? I have teachers that are saying, “My mom has this condition. My sister has that condition. What can you do for my family?” So now, they’re inquiring with me about this home study course. Paola: The study group class, good. Tina: I have a granddaughter who was three month’s old. My daughter called me crying out of control one night because she had labored breathing. She took her into the doctor’s office. The doctor said there’s nothing they can do for her. Go home. She’ll be fine. It got worse throughout the evening. So, with consulting with Joette, we found a breathing treatment for her. Within three months’ time, her conditions are all settled. She appears to be a normal, healthy baby again. Paola: So, you did a homeopathic protocol for her and no more late night calls from your daughter crying, freaking out because your granddaughter can’t breathe? Tina: Exactly. Paola: That’s amazing. Kids tend to respond a little bit, not always but they tend to respond a little quicker than adults. For your grandson with the ADHD, what was that situation like? How long? Tina: Immediate. I mean Joette nailed it. It was an immediate reaction. The child just became calmer and more focused within a week’s time. Paola: That’s amazing. That’s not always what happens but it happens. Tina: Yes, but it happens. She has said to me before that sometimes the most severe symptoms have the quickest correction. Paola: That’s true. Tina: If you nailed that remedy the first time. With him, we did. Now, he’s playing basketball. He’s into karate. It’s just he’s a different boy. He’s happy. He’s settled. It makes me want to cry. Paola: I know. Tina: To know that I had a positive impact in his DNA. Paola: Right, right. Tina: And the rest of his life. Paola: That is the legacy that we, moms with moxie, are hoping to have, that kind of a legacy for our family instead of being remembered for oh your grandma had really bad allergies. That’s where you get it from. Tina: Yes, and you just settle for it. I will say, it’s very frustrating at times because not everybody buys into it in the family. Some people think it’s a placebo. They just, “How can this little white pill have such a massive impact in such a short period of time.” So that can be quite frustrating sometimes. Paola: Yes, that is frustrating. You can’t blame them to some degree because sometimes it comes too easily to them, the struggle that you went through, the stress, the anxiety, the sorrow with your health. Joette has said, you need to get through the eye of the needle, basically gone through hell and back to figure out what you figured out. Now, you value it. Sometimes if it comes too easily, you just sometimes don’t appreciate it. Tina: Yes, you forget how serious it was when it’s corrected so easily. All I can tell people is I know what I’ve been through. I know that I used to be a healthy professional. I used to average six fights a week. I mean I was out in the world and I was making things happen. Now, all of a sudden, I’m shriveled up and I’m out of control and I’m waiting to die to being alive and healthy and in control again. That’s all I can tell you. I will never doubt for a moment that homeopathy did not correct, I don’t know if it’s correcting the flora in my gut. That’s what I suspect. Paola: Right. It’s very possible. Tina: It’s enabled me. Paola: We don’t know exactly but whatever it is. Tina: Yes. Paola: Then tell us about your granddaughter real quick. She had chronic illness all the time and had the breathing struggle. How long before she really turned around? Tina: She was just a baby. We didn’t know how much was a normal from her big sister brining home coughs and things from preschool. But within a three month period of time, she was not having the labored breathing issues that kept my daughter up at night calling me, crying, running her to the doctor, pleading for help. She hasn’t had that in well over a year now. Those days are gone, right about three months. Paola: Three months, very good, three months, very good, wonderful. Tina: My husband -. Paola: Yes, tell us about him. Tina: He has terrible food issues or had terrible food issues. We would have to come home directly after a meal in a restaurant because his stomach was so upset. Now, he knows immediately Nux vomica. Paola: Done. Tina: If he gets a headache, Belladonna; or if he gets the cracked skin in the winter months that are so painful and bleed on his fingernails, he knows Petroleum. When he gets poison ivy gardening out in the yard, he is a mentor to inner city kids. He does a lot of it through gardening and basketball. This is how he engages them. He teaches them work ethics and teamwork and commitment and dedication. We had a young guy that was working in the yard with my husband. He had terrible allergies to everything out in the yard. He came in the house and was covered in poison ivy, all up and down his forearms. I immediately gave him the Anacardium. He took that immediately and within 20 minutes, it was gone. I got to tell you. I used to get poison ivy so badly. I’d have it for eight weeks and it would literally drip from my arm. It was so bad. It was embarrassing. You couldn’t cover it up. You couldn’t go out in public. You couldn’t itch it. I mean it was horrible. This boy was relieved within 20 minutes of taking it. My husband, same thing. I’ll never know because I don’t get it anymore. Paola: That’s amazing. Tina: My homeopathy has eradicated that for me. Paola: Wow. Some people are sensitive to poison ivy and some people can touch it and they don’t get sick, a rash or whatever. Tina: Yes. Well, I’m here to tell you that this will take care of it within 20 minutes. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. So this boy’s mom is now calling me. What do you have for this thing? What do you have for that? Paola: I love it. Tina: Yes. Paola: That’s amazing. That’s what Joette says. You want people to know about this. You want to share it. Tina: Hey, I read articles in the newspaper. I read how these lovely people are out helping others, yet they can’t do it anymore because of these health issues. I want to get their name and their phone number and call them and say, “All you have to do is do this.” It’s really hard not to reach out to strangers and say, “You don’t have to be suffering. I’ve walked down that road. This is what improved my life.” I want to just yell it to the world. Paola: I know. I joke all the time. It’s like being a homeopathy missionary. Tina: Yes, definitely. I want that to be my legacy. I have bought every kit that Joette has offered and bought it for my children and left some to my grandkids. Paola: Oh my gosh. Tina: That’s really how – because I believe, I know that back in the 1940s, homeopathy was a normal practice in the United States. Big pharma had the funding stopped for homeopathy. That’s when it died in the United States. It is widely used around the world. The queen of England takes it. The pope takes it. I don’t know that we’ll ever be able to beat big pharma. So I’m just trying to scarf up as much of it as I can for those around me that are in desperate need. Paola: Yes, to be prepared. I own four kits, going on five and lots and lots of single remedies. You’re right. Tina: It doesn’t go bad. You can’t go wrong. You never know what life you’re going to be able to change with it. It’s all good. Paola: Exactly. So, in closing, I know you wanted me to ask you this question. How do you feel about Joette? What do you think of Joette? Tina: She’s an angel on earth. I recommend to any listener that any opportunity you get to listen to Joette Calabrese, you just stop what you’re doing and you pay attention. Anything that she posts on her website, any email that you’re fortunate enough to get from her staff, you print it out. You keep it. You share it. Be grateful and treat it with respect because she has a movement that is going across this nation that is going to free us from big pharma and solve these health issues that are life threatening, that we are told by mainstream that there is no cure. That’s not the truth. I’m living proof of it. I just hope to God that she continues to get the blessing of the internet so that we can get the word out. We can learn from one another under her umbrella and take it seriously. She really is a gift from God and the movement is real. Paola: That is a wonderful testimony. I don’t think Joette could get it from a better person. So you do, you make it sound like, you know what it is, so great. It’s like the emancipation of health, really. Well, thank you so much for being with us, Tina. You’re delightful. I love to hear your stories and your experiences. I’m so glad you found homeopathy and Joette. Tina: Well, I did. I couldn’t be more grateful. I couldn’t have more respect. I am delighted to share my story. I hope it helps. Paola: Thank you. Tina: Thank you. Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com and schedule a free 15-minute conversation. I have been where you are now. I’ve dieted, taken supplements, bioidentical hormones, essential oils, herbs – but nothing, nothing has ever come close to the reproducible, safe, and effective results I and my clients have achieved with homeopathy. To see the full syllabus for my Feminopathy course and read the testimonials of other women who have been helped by my Practical Homeopathy methods, click here. | |||
| Podcast 26 – Chicken without a Head | 19 Mar 2017 | 00:40:15 | |
In this podcast, we cover: 05:23 Facing fears through education 11:55 Sticking with the chosen remedies and respecting the protocols 20:40 Being organized, consistent, and having distance 25:47 Homeopathy is relatively safe 29:56 Classical training and combination remedies 36:10 A case of suppression You are listening to a podcast from joettecalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. Paola: It’s podcast number 26 at joettecalabrese.com. Here is what we have coming up. Hi, it’s Paola here. I’m really looking forward to Joette’s podcast today. We’re going to look at two important subjects. The first one looks at selecting a remedy and learning how to commit to that remedy. In other words, we’re trying to avoid running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Then the second subject we’re going to talk about is really important. It looks at whether or not Joette’s practical homeopathy, the Banerji Protocols and other protocols like that, whether or not they are safe when you compare them to classical homeopathy. This is an important subject because you really want to be confident and comfortable when you’re doing Joette’s style of homeopathy. Okay, so here we go. Hi. I’m excited to be here with Joette again. Hi, Joette. How are you? Joette: Hi Paola, very well. How about you? Paola: Good, good, and good. Alright, so we’ve got another podcast today for you guys, another homeopathy nugget that we’re going to learn and discuss today. Today’s subject is running around like a chicken with its head cut off. I think it’s Lara that first coined that term in one of the classes. Lara is the gal that Joette teaches the classes with. So, go ahead and jump into that, Joette. What does Lara mean by that? Joette: Well, I think what she’s talking about, I think this is what we’ve all been subject to especially as mothers and grandmothers is that we try a homeopathic medicine, or we try a certain food, or we try whatever modality we’ve decided we’re going to start with and we don’t see instant relief. Say it’s our child. Because we’re so closely connected to our children and grandchildren, we can’t help but want instant relief. It’s horrible to see our children suffer. So, we want something to happen now. Instead of waiting the prescribed certain amount of time for a homeopathic medicine to act, we say, “Well, maybe it wasn’t that.” We second guess ourselves. “Maybe it really wasn’t Hepar sulph. What if I was wrong? What if it really was Arsenicum album?” So then, we go to Arsenicum album. We never gave Hepar sulph a chance. Let’s talk about it as an acute situation. So, let’s say for sore throat. So, we automatically go to for example, Hepar sulph, which is a very good choice for many kinds of sore throats. If we don’t see a reaction, we think, “Uh-oh, we’re doomed. We got to go to something else.” We say, “Okay, I can’t stand it. The child is crying.” Here’s what I urge mothers, grandmothers, parents to do. Take a chill pill. Calm down. Paola: By chill pill, you mean probably an Ignatia, right? Joette: Probably. I’m giving it to you rhetorically. Take a chill pill. Calm down. If the child is not dying, if they’re not hemorrhaging, you’re not rushing on the way to the hospital, and all it is is a sore throat or an ear pain or teething, or sleeplessness. I realize how horrible these can be on a family when somebody in that family is not well or they’re out of sorts. But you have to learn how to assess what is really dangerous and what is not. I harken back to Dr. Robert Mendelsohn, his book, How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor. He was not a homeopath. He was a pediatrician. He died some couple of decades ago. Buy his book. I repeat this book all the time because this is where you get your guts, spunk and moxie or another way of putting it, of calming down over every little thing the child has. Let me bring it in from my counter perspective. Have more kids because if you only have one, every little thing is a catastrophe. I see it all the time. I know how it was for me when I had one child. The more kids I had, the more it rolled off the back of my back. Because it was something that I’d seen enough times now, croup didn’t scare me anymore. Ear infection didn’t frighten me. Teething didn’t freak me. I got accustomed to it. But if you don’t have the advantages of having more than one child, then by all means, you want to read Robert Mendelsohn’s book. I don’t mean once. Keep it by your bedside. Read it time and time again. Because if you are freaking and you’re acting like a chicken with its head cut off, you’re going to make poor decisions. Your decisions will be made out of fear. You will jump from remedy to remedy, modality to modality. In the end, you’ll have a mishmash. In Italian, it’s called a [0:05:00], a mess. Paola: Right. Well, there’s a little quote here that I pulled up real quick by Eleanor Roosevelt. She said, “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along. ‘” Facing fears through education Joette: Well and as Dr. Mendelsohn says, “The danger to children is not in childhood diseases.” Not anymore, we don’t have polio anymore in our world. We don’t have cholera anymore. We don’t have tuberculosis. I’m not saying we never have it at all ever. But I’m saying it’s not a looming threat. What is a threat to most children’s wellbeing are accidents. So, it’s the accidents that cause the most devastating of all conditions that can happen during childhood. So, if you understand and you read in advance what chicken pox looks like and what to expect, if you know what a cough looks like and you read in advance and you learn some of these methods, homeopathic methods, using good nutrition, taking soda pop out of their lives at an early age so that they’re not saturated with something that does them no good and can even do some harm sometimes. So, you want to educate yourself. We have to do that. The only way to address fear face on is education. Paola: You’re right. I mean, I think the thing that I read into the most when I’m helping friends with homeopathy is a huge, huge amount of fear with fevers. But if you read Dr. Mendelsohn’s book, he lays it out right there. Keep him hydrated, you’re going to be fine. I mean, that’s what it comes down to. My daughter had a fever this week. I didn’t even give her homeopathy until later when I saw, oh, she’s kind of getting an ear infection. So then I gave her Pulsatilla which is actually a Banerji Protocol, Pulsatilla 30 for the ear infection, Chamomilla 30 every 30 minutes when there’s SOS, acute pain. But her ear infection never got that bad. She was just kind of like I feel something in my ear. So we did the Pulsatilla. Anyway, it’s that knowledge in keeping them hydrated and that’s all you got to know. I remember the first time my kid had a fever, my little middle child loves fevers of 105, Joette, 105. I had diarrhea. I was so stressed out about it. I was taking Ignatia. I even think I took Gelsemium because of the diarrhea, anxiety. Now, after I’ve got through that first 105, the second one was a little scary but it was fine. I didn’t do Tylenol. I just kept him hydrated. I was reading Dr. Mendelsohn’s book like it was my bible. Now, I’m just like, “Oh cool, you have a fever. Just go drink some water and lie down.” I even gave him a remedy. Joette: Yes, right, exactly, exactly. So, when we say read Dr. Mendelsohn’s book or read the blog that you get that from, from me or from whomever else it might be, don’t just read it and say, “Okay, well that’s the information.” And assume that it’s stuck in your brain. If you’re freaking, you better underline that in that book. Now, put a paper clip or a little tab on that page in that book and go back to it and read it again and again and again. Paola: I give that book at baby showers. If one’s having a baby, I give them Dr. Mendelsohn’s book. It’s used. I write them a little note in there, “You’re welcome.” Joette: Yes. Great gift, Paola. Paola: Thanks. Yes, I like that one. Joette: I’ve written an article called Get Your Kids High. So if you want to just Google that, I talk about fevers and the importance of fevers being a curative aspect of being sick for children. Paola: You’ve actually spoken a lot about fevers, not just in that Get Your Kids High. I think even before you started doing the Banerji Protocols. That was one of your biggest things. So, I remember my friend’s daughter had a fever. She actually went to medical school. Not complete, because she realized that it was basically selling drug school, not so much medical school. So, she quit. But she inherently feared fevers. I think it was part of her education. I remember she was freaking out one night about her kid’s fever. I just sent her three articles written by Joette Calabrese on fevers, fevers, fevers. She said she read those articles over and over again that weekend. It just helped calm her down. She got through it for the first time without any Tylenol. Now, she’s so much more comfortable with it. Joette: Here’s the thing. I wonder if doctors, pediatricians believe that children should be given Tylenol for fevers nowadays because the American Academy of Pediatrics says -. Paola: Finally. Joette: Yes, finally. It’s taken a long time. They have declared, I think it was about two years ago, that fevers are curative or they can be curative. Perhaps, they’re more careful about their verbiage. They have made it, I think, abundantly clear that it’s the mother who’s forcing the pediatrician to give something. Now, they’re blaming the mothers but I’m going to take the blame off the mothers. Even though I do believe that we, mothers need to get a grip and learn how to treat our children ourselves without running to the pediatrician for every little thing. But I believe that the reason that mothers do that is because they’ve been trained by the pediatricians to go to them when their children have fevers. What do the doctors always give? Tylenol. What did they give in years past? Aspirin. So they’ve been training mothers and grandmothers and even older than that to go to the doctors. As soon as there’s a problem, just go to your doctor. He’ll know what to do. That’s what was done. Yes, the mothers are asking for it now but it’s only because they’ve been well-trained. Paola: Right, right. I think that’s what I like even about the Essential Oil’s Movement aside from the fact that they’re useful is because it’s finally given moms something to busy themselves with. Joette: Yes. Paola: Just let the people know. Joette: Absolutely, absolutely. Paola: Keep them hydrated. I feel like we’ve kind of gotten off on a tangent about fevers but it really does relate to running around like a chicken with the head cut off. So, if your kid is burning a fever, we’re talking about an acute illness right now. But this will apply to chronics in a minute. You don’t give them, oh it’s a fever of 102, Belladonna, Belladonna. Oh wait, shoot, shoot, shoot, I shouldn’t have been using Belladonna. That’s not high enough of a fever for Belladonna. So, I’m going to go to Ferr phos, two doses of Ferr phos. Oh, but she’s really, really clingy and whiny and whimpering and wants me to hold her. So, I’m going to switch to Pulsatilla now. It was like I’ve heard of people doing five remedies in one day, Joette, for an acute. I’m like, “No.” Sticking with the chosen remedies and respecting the protocols Joette: Stick with it. Make your decision and stick with it. At least give four doses when it’s an acute. Paola: Yes, we say three to five in the study group classes. Yes, at least four doses. I think that’s important. People will come to me a lot of times. I’m sure you get this too. My kid is sick. I started them on Hepar sulph, whatever reasoning they came to Hepar sulph. I started them this morning on Hepar sulph. Do you think I’m right? Should I switch to Do you think I’m right? Should I switch to Pulsatilla or whatever? My answer is always no. You started it. So now, we’re going to stick with it. We got to get to those three to five doses and see what happens. Is that right? Joette: Generally speaking, I would say it’s right unless the child’s much, much worse. Every time you give the Hepar sulph, the child gets worse than ever then you might want to question it. But you want at least what was your rationale. Did it go away? Is the child different now or is your thinking different? Paola: What if the child’s exactly the same? No better, no worse, they’re just the same? Joette: Keep going. Keep going. Stay with it. Stay with it. You got to give that homeopathic a chance to act. It’s not like aspirin where you’ve taken aspirin for a headache and it goes away. It can be like that. I have seen it act like that. But if it doesn’t, give the homeopathic a chance to fully act. It could take several doses to do that. Paola: Going back to the subject of fevers, I have to tell people, this remedy isn’t going to make the fever go away. So don’t expect that. Very new people to homeopathy, the child has a fever of 104 and they’ve given two doses of Belladonna. The fever is still here. Well, it’s not Tylenol. This is going to usher, assist the fever to complete the illness. Joette: Yes, but it can abort the fever. It can do that. Yes, yes. Paola: But that shouldn’t be the expectation? Joette: That’s not the goal. We’re not trying to necessarily, for an acute childhood illness, we’re not necessarily trying to get rid of a fever. We’re trying to get the child well because the fever is just a symptom. It’s not the disease. We don’t say the child, actually, we do say that in our society. Oh my gosh. He (I love this term) spiked a fever. You have to emphasize these words because it’s talk that emphasizes – the importance of the word spike. Spiking a fever is a very positive thing in most circumstances for childhood illness. We want that fever to cook it off. Paola: We should say he bloomed a fever. I hate to cut that emotional -. Joette: Yes, blossomed. Paola: Right, blossomed a fever. Joette: Yes, blossomed a curative symptom. Oh what symptom is that? Oh the fever. That is a part of the curative action. Paola: If you think it’s just about the wording we’re using, that is really the problem because it ignites fear. So, connotation is the emotional undertones that are associated with the word. Slender is better than scrawny, right? Joette: Yes, right. Paola: I would prefer to be called slender, not scrawny. We need to think of fever -. Joette: [0:15:09] as you’re obese. Paola: Right. Voluptuous, right, exactly. Joette: Voluptuous, right? Ample. Paola: So, we just need to change our rhetoric. What did you say? Joette: Ample. Paola: Oh yes, very good. I like that. Joette: We could keep going with this. Paola: So, when we talk about normal childhood illness, change the way you think of it. Joette: We do use common sense but the problem is common sense has been distorted. So we have to rearrange that thinking. We have to adjust our thinking. This is new for a lot of people. This is a different way of thinking. You can’t just say, “I think I’ll think differently.” No, no, no, no, no. You have to educate yourself with this kind of thinking. You better read. You better study. You better learn. Start with Dr. Robert Mendelsohn and go from there. Read these blogs that I put out that are free. Take courses. Get more books. Paola: As you pick your remedy, stick to it unless they’re worst. Joette: On the full, three to five doses over the prescribed period of time. Paola: Yes, exactly. Sometimes that takes a lot of fortitude to stick with it. Joette: Oh, you have to be a cowgirl. Paola: Yes. Joette: You have to be able to buck the system. You’ve got to be able to lasso that cow and bring her down. You’ve got to have guts, spunk, and moxie back again. Paola: In this case, cow is fear. The cow is your fear. Joette: Yes, that’s right. That’s right. Paola: Yes, and it is a wrestle school. Joette: That’s kind of coyote medicine. Paola: Right. I like it. It’s true. It does take guts. Oftentimes, people who I see that don’t follow through with protocols or succumb to the antibiotics, sometimes there’s a good reason for it. Joette: Yes. I also want to make that clear too, Paola. That there are certainly are times in which we use conventional medicine. If you absolutely don’t know what to do and it looks dangerous, of course, you get yourself to a doctor. Let’s not be foolish here. Paola: Right. If you want a full discussion on that, listen to the podcast on discernment that Joette and I had because we do want you to have that discernment. But basically we’re saying, I find that people that do what I thought maybe wasn’t so serious, it’s because they haven’t wrangled their fear and taken control over it. Running around with a chicken with your head cut off is a fear-based, knee-jerk action trying to do it and you’re doing it wrong. Joette: Well and I’ve also seen many parents and people for themselves as well go from doctor to doctor to doctor to doctor to doctor, modality to modality, naturopath, and chiropractor, and acupuncturist, and conventional doctor, and functional doctor, and homeopath. They’re just going all over the place desperately looking for a method that’s going to cure them. I believe that if you stay in one modality, you’ll probably find some good answers. They’re just going all over the place desperately looking for a method that’s going to cure them. I believe that if you stay in one modality, you’ll probably find some good answers. Paola: Right. Okay, really what we’re talking about here by not jumping from one remedy to another remedy especially when you’re dealing with protocols for an illness is respecting the protocols. Joette: I love that word. Yes. Because if you’re saying, if you have a little classical homeopathy training, “Well, but my child really seems more like Phosphorous because he’s sparkling. He’s got a twinkle in his eye. He’s artistic. I don’t think I want to use that protocol. I’m just going to throw Phosphorous in there. I don’t think that my child can handle a 200 potency even though the Banerjis say to use a 200. I think I’m going to use a 30.” I would urge people not to do that. When you say we should be respecting these Banerji Protocols, it’s based on knowledge of these doctors, the Banerjis and their colleagues seeing 100 patients per day. There are 12 of them that are working in this clinic. That means there are 1200 patients per day. At the end of the week, they’ve seen over 7000 per week. They’ve been doing this approximately. They’ve been seeing this many for 150 years collectively. Paola: Yes, six days a week, yes. Do you know what this reminds me of? I have always had this keen awareness when I was a young mom, pregnant with my first baby. I have this awesome mother in law. My mom is awesome too. My mother in law has had 10 children. Boy, that’s like a weight. That’s like a knowledge and life experience that I know I don’t have. So when she would give me advice, I was really careful to listen to her advice because I knew where she was coming from. I knew that she had information. But then I see some of my other friends dismiss the advice like, “Oh no. I know better.” I look at them. You just have like one kid. We have mother’s intuition. I respect that too. But look at all the knowledge. Joette: The data, just the data. Paola: Of our grandmothers that we’re dismissing here, of our mothers. Joette: Yes, that’s 10 children everyday for all those years. Your mother in law, it sounds to me from what you’ve told me, had a lot of innate knowledge. Paola: Yes, she did. I just think, “Don’t be naïve.” That’s embarrassing. 10 years from now, you’re going to be embarrassed. Don’t be naïve to not respect the protocols. Joette: Right, right. Being organized, consistent, and having distance Paola: Then another aspect that’s important about this not avoiding, running around like you’re a chicken with the head cut off is being organized and consistent. Joette: That requires writing down what you see, what you saw when it started. When your child started getting the fever, what time of the day was it? What remedy you chose, what you observed. It was a fever plus diarrhea. How frequently were the movements? How severe was the diarrhea? Was it loose stool or was it explosive and watery? Those are things that you will forget especially if you see three children and they’re all getting sick. Who had what when? So you want to jot it down. Now, you don’t want to jot down absolutely every little thing but those that are noteworthy should be noted. Paola: I tell people your magic markers podcast. We talk about the magic markers of improvement. We have intensity, duration, and frequency. If you don’t know what to write down, I think those are three things that you want to write down. Joette: That’s right. I think in being organized and consistent is also having distance. That’s a part of this. When your child is hanging on you and saying, “Mom, mom, mom, I’m still not well. Mom, mom, I’m still coughing,” or your husband is saying, “What are you going to do about this? Come on. Let’s do something,” you have to have enough staying power and being grounded enough to say it requires time, a tincture of time. It takes time for these medicines to act. Don’t expect me to just run my magic wand over them and correct everything within minutes. It takes some distance. You almost have to shut off your emotions for a while until you can see what’s happening. So you can get enough. Because if you are helping a friend and you don’t have that child screaming in your lap or the father who is saying, “Come on, come one,” and you have enough distance, you have the wherewithal. That’s what you need in your own family sometimes. Paola: So, it’s learning how to be objective and detached. I can’t tell you how many times. I’ve talked to friends all the time. No, do the remedy that you started with three to five doses. Report back. Take notes if you have to. When I’m in the middle of a crisis in my own home, this helps me tremendously. I have to tell myself, “Okay, what would I tell them if I were them?” Yes, that really, really does help. Well, this is what I would say. Sometimes I’ll say if I’m freaking out and I’ll say I’m going to email Joette or call the office and see if she has a quick minute. But then I have to tell myself, “What is she going to tell me?” I already know what she’s going to tell me. She’s going to tell me to stick with it or be patient. So then I’m like, “Okay, well then I don’t have to call her.” I don’t. I don’t call you all the time. But it’s this human instinct to help me. Fix me. Joette: Help, help, someone, help, help. If you’re going to take this on and you want to learn how to cure your family yourself, then you have to have the guts to hold steady. Paola: I think that’s exactly right. Joette: Also know, let me mention again just to emphasize this, also know when it’s something that’s outside of your knowledge and when to get to a doctor or a hospital or a clinic. You also have to know that too. Paola: Right. That goes back again to that discernment podcast which is so important. Then you gave us some rules when we’re treating chronic conditions, we’re going to touch into that just very briefly but allowing, we say in acute, three to five doses; well then in a chronic, you got to give those eight full weeks. Joette: Six to eight weeks, that’s right, six to eight weeks. Paola: And watch. Don’t watch the hourly changes of a chronic illness. Don’t let yourself do that. Distance yourself and allow those eight weeks. Joette: That’s right. Well, people often tell me between appointments, “I just want to give you an update.” Well, no. The update is in six to eight weeks unless there’s a crisis. Now if there’s a crisis, by all means, we may have to make adjustments. What oftentimes people are saying, “Well now, the itching is not so severe. Does that mean the remedy’s not working?” Well, possibly. Paola: I hope so. Joette: Yes, it might be that the child wasn’t exposed to as much mold recently. So, we won’t know until we have that time so that we can observe from a distance. Paola: Especially in the case of women, we have our hormone, our monthly cycle. That throws a rant into a lot of stuff. Well, part of the month you’re better and part of the month you’re worse. You don’t know until six weeks to eight weeks covers 1 ½ maybe even two cycles. Joette: Right, exactly, exactly. Paola: That’s important. Kind of shifting subjects a little bit, Joette. We have a little time and I want to jump into it. I have seen a lot of the discussion out there about classical homeopathy versus the protocols and saying and word of mouth that the protocols can actually suppress symptoms in the way that antibiotics suppress symptoms or drugs can suppress symptoms. Let’s talk about that because that’s a really scary statement to think that our beloved homeopathy could be doing damage. Homeopathy is relatively safe Joette: Well, let’s start with this. Homeopathy is relatively safe. You can make a mess of things with homeopathy. There’s no doubt about it. That’s why I’m so clear when I try to teach these protocols that you understand what you’re getting into and what you’re doing and how to use them and when to stop. So, I hope that I make it clear. I believe I am. People come back and ask me questions. I can see that they do understand. But if I have not, allow me to do so here. It is very important that the protocols be followed precisely if you’re going to be using protocols. If someone takes a homeopathic medicine and it is incorrect, you’re taking it for eczema and what it really is, I don’t know, lupus. You start taking these medicines and you take them and take them and take them and you insist that this must be eczema. Then the remedy may indeed cause what it was intended to correct. You may end up with eczema. So now, you have lupus and eczema or other conditions that could be brought out by using the incorrect medicine. But that’s not, I believe, what the classicals who criticize the Banerji Protocols are saying. I believe what they’re saying -. Go ahead. Paola: I just want to interject real quick. It goes back to something we talked about in our last podcast. That is the protocols are like recipes but you can still mess up a recipe if you read it wrong or someone tells you the recipe wrong. So, that’s why I’m so adamant about telling people on Facebook who are sharing protocols, even in the Students of Joette Calabrese Facebook, you really want to take the courses yourself and know those protocols for yourself. Because you don’t want to get the protocol wrong or interpret the recipe wrong because homeopathy is relatively safe. Joette: It’s medicine. It’s medicine. It’s not herbs. It’s not vitamins. It’s not supplements. It’s not essential oils. It is medicine. So, it has to be taken with a great more respect. So, what I’m hearing sometimes is that if you repeat a medicine daily that that can suppress. I couldn’t disagree more. That’s number one. Paola: I think that’s great. That’s great news, yes. Joette: I couldn’t disagree more because I see the outcome. The Banerjis have seen the outcomes of using them frequently. I also saw the outcome when I was a classical homeopath and I used homeopathic medicines. I would give a dose and wait six weeks or give two doses in 24 hours or a third dose in 36 hours and then wait and wait and wait and wait. There were times when it was perfectly clear to me that it was important to repeat it. But my education told me not to repeat it. So, what the Banerjis have done is given me permission. They’ve opened up my world and the world of many homeopaths, I believe throughout the world to yes, use it more frequently because it needs to be met with a condition more frequently. Because if we wait too long, the condition starts to clear up for a little while and now, we wait week 4, week 5. It starts to come back again. Week 6, holy cow, here it comes back again. I got to wait until week 8, that’s classical. I got to wait until week 8 or even week 6. Now, you can give it again. Holy cow, who’s going to wait that long? Who’s got that kind of time? We live in a fast paced world. People don’t want to wait for things to unfold. Indeed, it may work. It does work. Classical homeopathy is a beautiful medicine but it often takes too long and we have such a better method by using these homeopathics in greater frequency. Classical training and combination remedies Now, that also harkens back to companies such as Hyland’s Homeopathics or Boiron or Washington or Hahnemann Pharmacy, Helios, that manufacture combination remedies. I had been trained when I was trained classically many years ago, don’t ever use combination remedies. Well, that’s great. But what that does is it keeps a huge segment of the population out of using homeopathy. I abhor that. It means that curing and the ability to correct disease then can only be in the hands of classical homeopaths. Well, good luck folks. There aren’t very many, number one. Number two, they often don’t share the information. They don’t tell you what they’re giving you. They make it a kind of medicine that is only within the hands of a few. I don’t like that kind of thinking. Paola: Well, it’s interesting. I have been to a classical homeopath before working with you, Joette. He’s a great homeopath. I think he’s done a lot of good in the world. But he wouldn’t tell me the remedy that he wanted to give me. Joette: That’s very common in classical. Paola: It kind of goes back, I think, to what you’re saying. Am I right? Joette: Yes, that’s exactly what we’re talking about. It’s keeping it so close to the vest that no one learns it. Well, I hate to say it but I believe that there are classical homeopaths out there who don’t want people to learn it. They believe it’s dangerous. I think in some instances, that’s an excuse because there is a lot that we can teach families how to use homeopathy. There’s a lot that we can get out there. If we keep it so close to the vest, it will never blossom the way it needs to blossom. I believe this belongs in the hands of the families. Paola: Perhaps it also comes down to every homeopath might be a good homeopath but they’re not necessarily good teachers. That’s a burden too. Joette: I’m a mother first. I was a mother first. Then I became a homeopath. I can’t wait until someday I become a grandmother because this is what needs to be in every single family. Every mother and grandmother needs to know what Arnica is used for. They need to know how to use Hypericum. They need to know how to use Belladonna and Antimonium crud. If they don’t know how to do this then what normally happens is they go directly to the conventional doctor and get suppressive methods. If they happen to have a classical homeopath by their side, great, but what if they don’t? Paola: Right. That’s most of us. Joette: What if the homeopath chooses incorrectly. Yu got to wait six to eight weeks to find out. No, no, no, no, no. We need to know how to do this ourselves. So, what I like about the combination remedies that are available at Wal-Mart – hello, shouldn’t it be at Wal-Mart? Why should it not be at Wal-Mart? What is this, esoteric? This is only for the upper echelon of education? Absolutely not. This is for everyone to use. So if a mother goes into Wal-Mart and says, “Gee, what can I use for my child’s teething or for sleeplessness or my husband’s leg cramp?” There’s a product that says homeopathic leg cramps. What do you know? Why should we discourage her from using this? Because number one, it’s inexpensive. Number two, it’s readily available. Number three and most importantly, slam dunk, it usually works. If we can give them a medicine that works instead of pain relievers for her husband’s leg cramps, we are 50 legs up on where they were before they started this. We need to give this message to the world. Paola: It’s really about empowering families, I think. Joette: Absolutely. Paola: The point of this discussion is to let you know that while homeopathy is relatively safe, as you said, the statement that classical homeopathy does not suppress and the protocols suppress is really a sweeping statement that isn’t necessarily true. Joette: Yes, that’s right because you can suppress with classical homeopathy too. They make mistakes too. Paola: The risk is in both. Joette: Yes, absolutely. When we’re buying, let’s go back to those combination remedies for leg cramps, or teething tablets, or fever, or colds and flus, or Coldcalm, there are so many wonderful combination remedies out there. I used to be against them. I’ll be honest with you. You may even find something in which I’ve been recorded saying that a good 15, 20, 25 years ago. But I’ve mended my ways. Because I see how important it is that families have this at their fingertips. So, if only one of the medicines is acting in a combination remedy to help that father or that husband with leg cramps so that he can get a good night sleep, so he can get up and make a living for his family the next day, that’s good enough for me. Just because there might be four others in that combination that are potentially superfluous doesn’t mean it doesn’t work. Paola: Well, I’ve actually had a friend whose daughter had a fever and was not feeling well. She was older. She wasn’t teething or anything. She had the teething tablets from -. Joette: Hyland’s. Paola: Yes, Hyland’s. But they don’t sell here anymore because of that controversy. Anyway, her older daughter, she just gave her the teething tablet because it happened to have Belladonna. She needed Belladonna. She didn’t have Belladonna. It worked. Joette: Of course it worked, absolutely, because there’s the remedy right there, sitting right in there. The little label tells us. Paola: Now, I wouldn’t recommend you to do that. That’s not what you do but in a pinch, alright, it worked. Joette: Absolutely. Paola: So Joette, just this is kind of the blazing question. All your years of experience and perhaps from what you’ve heard from your colleagues, have you heard of a case where you’ve seen homeopathy, classical or otherwise, suppress a symptom that is absolutely this is suppressed. A case of suppression Joette: I have seen a case. Years ago when I first started studying homeopathy, one of my friends who was far ahead of me in understanding of homeopathy was – we were all using only classical. She gave a homeopathic to someone. The person got sick. They got sick. Not with an acute, it was a chronic condition. I wish I remember the circumstances but it scared the wits out of us because we all believed that it must have been the homeopathic medicine that was incorrectly chosen. I don’t know. We, still to this day, don’t know what it was. I’ve not gotten back to that person. I don’t know what the circumstances are or what came of that. But we were under the impression that the homeopathic medicine that our friend chose caused a chronic condition to blossom in this person. I hate to use the word blossom but to -. Paola: Spike, Joette, spike. Joette: Spike. So yes, it can happen. Absolutely, it can happen. But for my money, for my time, for my energy, I’ll take this medicine any day over medicines that we know have side effects, that must have side effects in order for them to even act. Paola: And do suppress. If they worked, it means it suppressed. Joette: That’s right. That’s right, absolutely. Now, there are times when we don’t mind suppressing. Suppression isn’t always a bad thing. When someone has to have surgery, you’re going to suppress the sensation of pain when they use that scalpel across the abdomen. Of course, it’s going to suppress. There may be a downside to that. Of course, there’s a downside to it. The person can get sick later on. They can have vomiting from the general anesthesia. They can have nightmares from anesthesia. They can feel spacy from anesthesia. But hello, there are times when you have to do that. You just weigh the advantages to the disadvantages. But if you’re using it without knowing, without understanding how serious side effects can be and how serious suppressions can be by using these drugs for long periods of time or even short ones, then you’re walking into the lions dead blindly. You just weigh the advantages to the disadvantages. But if you’re using it without knowing, without understanding how serious side effects can be and how serious suppressions can be by using these drugs for long periods of time or even short ones, then you’re walking into the lions dead blindly. Paola: So basically, what you’re saying is what other options do we have? If you’re going to sit in a corner, paralyzed by fear that maybe, possibly, there’s a small chance that homeopathy might suppress. You’re not going to do anything. Well then, you got drugs. We know that. So, it’s like go with the safer option. We know this is much safer. Joette: Yes, that’s right. So, I like those combination remedies from Boiron, Hyland’s, et cetera. I like those. I think that they are changing the way we, mothers, grandmothers, et cetera, treat our children and our families. It’s changing the world. That’s exactly what we want to do. My goal is to reach 100,000 households by 2020. I have it written on this little rock here on my desk that I want to reach that many households. I hope I reach many more than that. But that was my original goal a few years ago. That’s my focus. I want people to know how to use this stuff. Paola: Well, I can’t thank you enough, Joette. We have Moms with Moxie podcast coming out soon with Tina. She talks about that at the end about your goal and how thankful she is for it. I too, am thankful. So thank you for taking the time to talk to us today about not running around like a chicken with our head cut off. Kind of appreciating the difference between classical and the protocols and that it is relatively safe basically. Joette: Yes, yes. Well, thank you for doing this, Paola. It’s always great. Paola: You just listened to a podcast by joettecalabrese.com where nationally certified homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese shared her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. Joette’s podcasts are available on Google Play, Blueberry, Stitcher, and TuneIn radio. Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com and schedule a free 15-minute conversation. | |||
| Podcast 25 – Moms with Moxie – Meet the Arnica Mom! | 23 Feb 2017 | 00:39:27 | |
In this podcast, we cover:
14:10 Joette’s influence with Kali carb for asthma 21:09 More Arnica experience: uterine fibroid 24:51 Using remedies on horses and tips on how to administer them 31:51 Childbirth and labor You are listening to a podcast from joettecalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. Paola: It’s another podcast at joettecalabrese.com. Today, we’ve got a new episode for the Moms with Moxie miniseries. Joette: All the way from my desk in New York, I get to see how homeopathy is transforming lives all over the globe. Some of my students have really caught my eye. Some of you have done all you can to learn how to cure those around you using homeopathic medicines. Your successes inspire me and they’re glorious and powerful. I can’t keep your successes a secret any longer. So with help from my roving reporter, Paola, we bring you this mini podcast series that I call “Moms with Moxie.” It’s actually grandmoms, too but it’s moms with Moxie. See how regular mothers and others, average people who want to cure those around them have gone from freaking to fabulous with homeopathy. Paola: Hi. I’m excited to have another “Moms with Moxie” interview. Today, we have Barb Rigelhof, hailing from the state of Washington. Hi, Barb. Barb: Hi. It’s nice to see you, Paola. Paola: I know. I’m so glad to be chatting with you. I love doing these little interviews because I want others to see and Joette wants others to see that normal moms, if you study this, you can become pretty awesome. I’m excited to hear your stories. Tell us about how you came to find natural medicine and homeopathy. Barb: Right. The natural medicines came about because I’m blessed and cursed at the same time that regular medicine doesn’t tend to work on me. I get side effects and no results. At some point, I started looking into natural medicine. I have a science background so I looked at herbs. I looked at sort of everything except homeopathy because homeopathy being energy medicine, so I was kind of woo-woo. And so, being a science snob, I was like, “Oh, that’s just perfect. Whatever.” So I didn’t look at that. It was when a friend of mine who dragged me to a talk by a homeopath back in Montreal where I’m from, she took me to this talk and this homeopath just blew me away. She had been a nurse for 35 years, and also French-Canadian lady, awesome, awesome speaker. Just what she was talking about just blew me away. So, I started thinking, “Okay. Maybe I do need to look into this homeopathy stuff.” It was in my face all the time. I kept putting it aside. So, I did start working with that. When I started trying it out, it was first on my dog. There’s no placebo effect on animals. That’s one of the things they always talk about with homeopathy. Oh, it’s the full effect. Paola: Yes. Barb: Yes. Try telling that to a dog. I don’t think you can convince a dog that what you’re doing is going to help them. They just either get better or they don’t. I had some great results. So then I started using it for myself and this was before I had kids. By the time my kids came along, I was really starting to get much more proficient with it. So, my kids were raised largely with homeopathic remedies. Paola: Oh, I’m so jealous. That is my dream story, that I found homeopathy before I have my kids, practiced on some animal, got comfortable with it. Barb: That’s just because I’m older than you, Paola. I found it and then I had my kids. That’s all. Paola: Well, that’s wonderful, I think. I meet moms even today that have just one tiny baby. I’m like, “Oh, you’re so lucky you met me and I get to share this with you.” So that’s great. I like that you had a science background. It is funny how we just dismiss homeopathy until we realize that maybe we don’t know it all. Barb: Yes, exactly. Yes, it’s that science indoctrination. Really, we’re not even looking at evidence. We’re just going with what we’ve been told. Paola: Right. Barb: We just spoon feed it along and now at some point, you go, “Oh, wait a minute. Well, I actually don’t know anything about this. Maybe there’s something to it. Paola: Right. I think that’s why people do the herbs and the essential oils first because in our heads, it makes more sense. Barb: Most allopathic medicines come from herbs or plants or something. We know that. So, using the herbal form is less of the mind shift. Paola: Right. I think the biggest thing that people need to grasp with homeopathy, just step one is understanding we’re not trying to kill the infection, which a lot of times garlic, herbs, and antibiotics -. I was kind of thinking along those lines. We’re thinking about changing the terrain so that your body can’t host the illness anymore. Barb: Exactly. We’re not suppressing. We’re actually helping the body to rally its troops and deal with it. Paola: Tell us what happened with your dog then. Barb’s introduction to homeopathy and the Arnica basket Barb: Oh, okay. Yes. So, this was a number of years ago. So my dog, within a space of six months, he had two surgeries. The first one, I didn’t know about homeopathy yet. So, he came back from that surgery. He was in quite a bit of pain. I gave him pain relief. You could see it in the eyes. I saw how he dealt with it. But the second surgery, I knew about homeopathy and I decided to give Arnica a try. So, I had dissolved some Arnica in a dropper bottle. I had that ready with me when I went to pick him up. When I went to pick him up, he was very excited to see me. He was having, it was debulking of a tumor that was on his jaw. So, he smacked his jaw when he saw me. He was so excited. It started bleeding. I could see the pain in his eyes. Blood was gushing everywhere. Fortunately, I had it already. I gave him the drops right away. Literally, within 30 seconds, his eyes cleared and the bleeding stopped. My pet went like, “Wow!” I kept giving him the Arnica and I didn’t have to give him any pain relief medicine. When you know your animal, I mean, I could just tell by his eyes especially having experienced a previous surgery, and just the way it kept everything under control and how quickly he recovered. It was a real eye-opener. That’s when I went, “Okay, this is something.” Paola: That’s what’s so cool about treating animals and young children or babies is they’re so uninhibited. They will let you know if there’s improvement. You can observe and see that shift so clearly. Barb: Yes. Paola: I was teasing you. You are like the Arnica mom. You’ve really found a lot of great uses for Arnica. Barb: I have. I even have another little story since we last talked. For Thanksgiving, we went to our neighbor’s house. There were few other families there. Everyone was sitting around the table. They went around and said, “Let everyone say what you’re thankful for and also what you’re known for.” So, when it was my turn, I said, “I’m known for BBs,” which I call them Barb’s bombs. It’s these little chocolate, homemade chocolate truffles that I make that I always brought to any of our events, right. Paola: Oh, yummy! Barb: So, I was known for those. Everyone was like, “No, you’re like the Arnica.” Anytime we’re injured, you’re on the doorstep with the Arnica and the instructions on what to do.” Paola: Oh, I love that. You have like an Arnica basket. Barb: There’d be other remedies too depending on the injury. But yes, I’m known as – and sometimes the kids would come to me and say like, “Barb, I hurt myself. My mom said I could come for some Arnica.” Paola: Oh, that’s so awesome. They trust you. They know. That’s great. I love that. I know it’s so funny. I think sometimes when I’ve learned homeopathy even more, I get them all jumbled up in my head and sometimes the answer is so simple, Arnica or even Aconite and Arnica. Barb: Those are certainly for an injury or an emergency because one of the things I love about Arnica is how good it is for shock. It’s amazing for shock or just getting your head straight. I mean, I took it one time when my daughter injured herself. I was fine. But I took it just because she cut the end of her finger and she was really young. Paola: Oh, my gosh! Barb: Yes. I’m not squeamish but when it’s your kid, it’s a whole different thing. So, I was feeling faint, just so like, “Oh, my God!” I said to my husband, “I actually took the Arnica before I gave it to her.” It’s a little of that airplane thing where you put the gas mask on first. Paola: Yes, that’s exactly what I thought. Barb: I was worried that I was going to be sick. Paola: Right. Barb: I got to keep it together so I can help her. Paola: Yes. Barb: Yes. It’s a life-saver for so many things. Paola: That’s awesome. I love that. So, you have how many kids? Tell me what that was like raising them having known homeopathy from the beginning. Barb: Right. So, I have two children. My oldest is 17. My youngest just turned 14. So, I’ve been doing this for a while. Paola: Yes. Barb: You can tell. I got more proficient as I went along. I didn’t have a lot of childhood illnesses. We didn’t have a lot of stuff. But I did have the crying baby and the fevers and all of that. My kids have never had a suppressed fever in their life. They’ve always had their fevers treated homeopathically. I’ve never had an elevated fever for more than 12 hours using homeopathics Paola: Wow! Barb: So, I’m not afraid of a fever. I mean, we’re so indoctrinated in this fear of fever. I mean, a fever is a wonderful thing. It’s your body burning up whatever is in its system that shouldn’t be there. So, it’s not something to be afraid of. But if you can help it along and help it do it more effectively and get through the disease more effectively, then great. Paola: I think that’s such a big thing that Joette has talked about so much. But it seems that I still can’t get away from it no matter how much -. She has blogs and podcasts about fevers. Young moms are still so stressed out by it. I mean, I think it’s coming from three areas. I feel like part of that is because the doctors are, “So, you need to give them Tylenol. You need to give them Tylenol.” Then you fill in the blanks. Barb: They’re burning up. They could get out of control. Paola: Right. Then the second thing is I feel like our mothers and grandmothers aren’t passing down that knowledge for whatever reason. Maybe we’ve a lot of doctors who supersede and take over that role for us. Then it’s just that lack of experience. I guess what made you feel comfortable to never ever suppress a fever? Barb: I think part of it was the gift of having children a bit later than I expected to. I think I watched all my friends go through it. I mean, I had one good friend who had a daughter who, this wasn’t a fever situation. I think she had strep throat or something. This poor little kid ended up on the couch for two months on various antibiotics after antibiotics after antibiotics. She was all of three or four years of age. When you see a listless kid on the couch for a couple of months at that age for something pretty normal, I mean, it’s just an infection, I was mortified. I just said, “This is not the way to treat kids.” You just see that it’s just more and more suppression, suppression, suppression. I also had an incident myself where I worked at a bank and I got a paper cut on my finger that ended up with some funky herpes virus. So, I ended up with this funky infection on my finger that had to be lanced, opened. Anyway, I took antibiotics for that. Well, after that course of antibiotics, I ended up with a bladder infection. I was given antibiotics for that. Then I ended up with a kidney infection. At some point, I just went, “Okay, so I’m going from one infection to another because I’m going from one set of antibiotics to another.” Paola: The merry-go-round. Barb: A pattern. I saw that in myself. I saw it in people around me. I just went, “No, this doesn’t work.” Paola: So, maybe the takeaway here is observe. Observe those around you that are doing everything that Joette is saying to be careful about. Barb: Right. When you see people who are preaching all the other stuff, are they really healthy? How well are they doing? Are their kids truly healthy? Are they popping pills all the time? Paola: Yes, are they propped up? Barb: Yes, exactly. That’s one of the things that I’m good at. I see the big picture in things. Some people are very good at looking at specific things. I’m not so good at that. It’s hard for me to really focus in on things. I see everything. I’m pretty good at picking up patterns around me. I saw that pattern in so many people and just thought this is not how we go. Paola: Which is very science-based, observation, kind of referring to your background, I think that’s great. Observation is incredibly powerful. It’s how we’ve come to know a lot of things. Barb: It’s the first step to any valid science. If you’re not observing stuff, I mean, that’s how you start studying this, observation. Paola: Back to raising your children with homeopathy, tell me more about that. Barb: When I was looking at how to best raise my kids, I was so lucky to start it with dogs. It’s less stressful, honestly, when you’re looking at pets first as babies and everything. I learned a lot. This dog that I told you about with the two surgeries, he ended up having cancer. So I started really looking into what’s going on with cancer in dogs because those rates are going through the roof. Paola: Yes, they are. I heard today, it’s one in every two dogs are going to die from cancer. That’s a lot. Barb: It’s crazy. It’s crazy. I had a friend, a very good friend who was talking to me about how she was stopping to vaccinate her dogs. I was like, “Really? Why were you doing that?” She said, “Well, they’re showing a link between all these increases and all these medications and everything and all these diseases that are coming forth. There’s a concern that there might be a link between that and cancer or just what it does to the immune system and therefore, more diseases and everything.” I’m not trying to say that vaccines cause cancer but just vaccines will harm your immune system. So then, you’re just going to expect more things to come up, whatever. Paola: It compromises the immune system. Barb: Exactly. So I started looking at all of that. It just all came together in a picture for me. It’s not that I won’t do things allopathically but why would you for things that it doesn’t work well in? Paola: Joette calls this being a consumer of medicine. Like if you’re going to go shopping and you’re a consumer for like an outfit, you’re super critical about how it fits, how it looks, how it feels, the price, everything, the risks, and how much money you’re going to spend, and going to debt or whatever for this if you’re putting it on the credit card. We don’t do that with allopathic medicine and that’s exactly what you did. Barb: This is the indoctrination that we’ve been given. It’s amazing because when you look around, people are not getting healthier. Certainly, children are not getting healthier. Paola: Right. Barb: You want to question what’s going on. It’s not, I mean, the intentions are good but let’s open our eyes and look and decide what we think is best for us and our families. Paola: Tell us how has Joette influenced your journey because that’s going to be more recent. Joette’s influence with Kali carb for asthma Barb: Yes. Well, because of course, when you’re trying to treat your own family, it’s really hard. It’s really hard with your kids. It’s hard, first of all, to really see the picture of what’s going on because you’re influenced by your perceptions. I mean, most doctors don’t treat their own family members either. Paola: Right. Right. That’s true. Barb: That’s difficult. It’s also hard too, sometimes when you’re dealing with something that’s a little more chronic to really have the patience to follow it through and know you’re going in the right direction without a fresh set of eyes and they’re saying, “Hey! Yes, this is the right thing.” So, I consulted Joette for my daughter. She had some exercised-induced asthma that was building up. She was playing soccer. She was quite young, just six or seven, probably about seven. She hadn’t been formally diagnosed but I could certainly see. Her color would just get – she’d get very pale and just have a hard time catching her breath. That was starting to get worse and worse. Then eventually, I did take her to my naturopath and she said, “Yes, it looks like she’s developing asthma.” Paola: It’s just typical at that age. Usually, you don’t get it until about seven or eight. Did she have eczema before? Barb: A little bit but not bad. I didn’t use cortisone and do all those nasty things that would have made it bad. She had a pretty bad cradle cap as a newborn. Yes, yes, that I remember quite well. Paola: And Joette says that that can sometimes be food intolerance, a manifestation. Yes. Barb: Yes, exactly. So we treated her for that. Within about six months, she was just pretty much – it was pretty much better. We just had to give her. Kali carb is the remedy for her which is the one for wheezing and all that kind of stuff. Paola: What is it, Kali carb 200, every other day? Barb: Yes. Paola: Okay, because I know they’re going to want to know, the people, the folks listening. Barb: Oh, my gosh! She was on a few others because she had a few other things going on. But that was the balm for the wheezing. Paola: Okay. Barb: Every now and then, when she’s had a chest cold since then, I’ll still give her a couple of doses because first of all, I mean, it helps clear up the chest cold and just because that seems to be her remedy for anything that goes to her chest. But my daughter does not have exercise-induced asthma. She has no issues now. She is a pretty heavy-duty equestrian right now. So, she trains hard and she has no breathing problems at all. There’s not an herb or a drug out there I think that can do that. Paola: Wow! That’s amazing Barb: Yes. Paola: Oh, just to give her that freedom to live. Oh, that’s great. Barb: That I could not have done on my own. Paola: Right. Barb: I do have some training, not just an independent training but I have a bit of formal training in homeopathy. I would not have been able to follow that through with my own child on my own because I was second guessing myself. I would be just like, “Oh, I don’t think it’s working or now, this has popped up, maybe I need to shift it.” You know, we wouldn’t have gotten there. Paola: Yes. We are so lucky to be able to have consults with Joette. Barb: Yes. Paola: That’s a huge thing. Tell us about your training, your background education with homeopathy and then the shift into the Banerji Protocols because that’s a question that’s been coming up is comparing the difference between the two. So you have classical training. Go ahead. Barb: Yes. I have a certificate from the British Institute of Homeopathy. I’m not a certified homeopath but I have a certificate in homeopathy. So it’s the first step. I was doing that classical training. That was my first exposure to homeopathy as well. It’s always the classical method. So, you’re looking at one remedy for the problem. You’re taking one dose. You wait a month. Then I had consultations with classical homeopaths. That was always the process is you figure out which is the best match. You take that dose. You go back in a month to see where you’re at, to see if you need to do things differently. It can be of course extremely effective. But if you’re not finding the right remedy, first of all, it’s very time-consuming, taking the case especially for someone like me. I’m an onion with many layers. So, it can be really hard to take the case for me because I have so much stuff. Then other people are a little more cut and dry. But I’ve found some frustration with that. I had some great successes. But I also found, again using it for my family, using it myself was really frustrating because I’m not going to sit down with my kid for an hour and a half and take the case the way a classical homeopath will. Paola: Right. Barb: So then, once I started consulting with Joette, she was just starting to get into these protocols. When she started using those, it was just like ding, ding, ding. The light went off. Just having things that are more, you have this situation, well then chances are this protocol will probably work. You don’t have to do this complicated case-taking. Paola: Yes. It’s practical. It’s practical. Moms want straightforward and practical. Barb: Especially with treating your own family. Paola: Yes. Barb: You need to know if your kid has this, this or this. Well, you know what? Start with this. When it doesn’t work, it’s going to be this and that’s probably going to do it. Paola: Yes. I love that. Barb: You don’t have this open book of well, it could be one of a hundred remedies. Let’s see. Do they feel better at night? You go through all of this. Oh, my gosh! It’s so – I hate it. Paola: Exhausting. Barb: Yes, exactly. Paola: Yes. Barb: I like it. I’m the Arnica lady, right? They tend to be more like Arnica. They’re a little more universal. Paola: Right, because Arnica is a protocol that a lot of classical homeopaths, whether or not they appreciate it as a protocol, it’s the go-to. With Joette, she’s teaching us the Banerji Protocols and she’s expanding that same mindset. Barb: Exactly. It also makes sense. I mean, the classical remedies, when homeopathy was first developed, I mean, that was what, 250 years ago now. It was a different world. Things were a lot less complex than they are now. Bodies responded in a different way than they do now. I think you need to modernize, just like medicine has had to be modernized. Any healing modality needs to be modernized as we develop. Paola: Right and as our illnesses become modern. Barb: Yes, because they’re more complex. Paola: They are. Barb: They’re different. If you get the flu now, it’s not the flu of 250 years ago. Paola: Right or even out with syphilis, enter Crohn’s, fibromyalgia, colitis. Barb: Exactly. Paola: We can’t trick Mother Nature. She finds a way to make us sick. We’ve got to let our bodies evolve with healing. Barb: Yes. Paola: Very good. Let’s hear some stories. You’ve told me about your experience with your dog. That was your big introduction to homeopathy with Arnica. I love Arnica for that reason because it’s such a dramatic, it’s a great convert. You know, when someone’s hurt themselves like, “Oh here’s some Arnica.” Barb: Yes. It works so quickly. It’s amazing. Paola: Right. Tell us some more stories with Arnica, with homeopathy, whatever you think. More Arnica experience: uterine fibroid Barb: I can give you one of my best experiences with Arnica. It wasn’t a great experience but the Arnica really saved my butt, at least. I had a very large fibroid that I did not know about. It decided to prolapse which is basically the birth itself. So, it sort of showed up. I scuttled over to a doctor. We had arranged for surgery. Of course, it was a Friday when I got to the doctor. Paola: This is a uterine fibroid? Barb: Yes, uterine fibroid. Paola: Okay. Barb: The surgery was scheduled for Monday morning. Well, Sunday night, it decides to detach, 10 o’clock at night. It was like having an artery cut. I was bleeding. I’m sitting in the bathroom bleeding like an artery has been cut. I’m thinking, “Holy crap. What do I do?” Fortunately, my kids and my husband were still up. So I called my kids. My husband was upstairs. I said, “Get the kids to get me my Arnica.” I have, of course, a homeopathy kit that has a 1M Arnica in it. Usually, I keep 200C Arnica in my purse all the time. But I have the 1M and I told them to get me the 1M. Paola: Right. Barb: I took Arnica right away because I was worried that I might pass out or I didn’t know how long this bleeding was going to go on. They got my husband. I had to keep my wits about me. I had to call my doctor, all of these. So anyway, long story short, we booted over to the hospital. It was almost a 30-minute drive. But I have my Arnica with me. I kept taking it. By the time we got there, the bleeding had completely stopped. Paola: Wow. Barb: And it was amazing because that’s probably the most scared I have ever been personally for myself because I’ve never bled like that. It stopped it very quickly. Within a few minutes, it was under control and within a few more minutes, it was done. Paola: That’s amazing. Barb: Yes, it was amazing. Paola: I can relate. I wrote on Joette’s blog about my miscarriage where I hemorrhaged. Barb: Oh there you go, yes. Paola: Arnica was part of that. Barb: It can literally save your life. Paola: Yes. Barb: Yes. Paola: I was in the hospital still hemorrhaging and they didn’t even know. I guess they weren’t monitoring me. I just had a miscarriage, so I was kind of loopy and not sure. Oh wait. Maybe I shouldn’t be bleeding this much. I wasn’t in the car on the way anymore, so I had a dose behind the doctor’s backs. But, yes. Barb: Yes, that’s what you do. You kind of sneak it. Paola: Exactly. Barb: So that you don’t have to explain. When your mind is messed up, the last thing you need to do is have to explain this to a doctor. Paola: Defend yourself, right. Barb: Yes. My husband was dosing me at the hospital when the doctor would leave the room as well. Paola: You too, okay. Yes. We do that not because we want to lie. It’s because you want to protect the doctor and not get into it. Barb: Exactly. I mean, how could I talk about it the next morning when I’m out of the danger zone and not feeling so exhausted by the whole process. But yes, that the time sometimes you just got to do what you got to do. Paola: So, at that point with your fibroid, did you still have to have the surgery to get it removed? Barb: Yes. But it was very simple surgery because when they prolapsed – I mean if they’re small, they just have to twist. You can just twist them right off. It’s just because it was so large that it had to be surgery in a hospital because of the potential for bleeding. Paola: Right. Barb: I have proven at this point that yes, it had a lot of potential for bleeding. Paola: Right. So it had fully detached or it was just tearing? Barb: It was tearing. Paola: Okay, so you had finished it off. Barb: Yes. They just finished it off. But oh my goodness, I recovered in record time even with having the general anesthetic and everything. I had the surgery on the Monday morning. The Tuesday, I rested. Wednesday, I was on my feet at a horse show with my daughter for the next five days. Paola: Wow. That’s amazing. I love that story. I’m so glad you’re okay. Barb: Yes, fine. Paola: That’s awesome. So horses are kind of big part of your lives. Have you had a chance to use it with? Using remedies on horses and tips on how to administer them Barb: I do. Yes, I use it a lot with horses; again, Arnica of course. I’ve used Rhus tox. It’s been great for the aches and pains and that kind of thing because the horses are athletes. I’ve had a lot of success with one of our horses using that. I’ve sort of had to develop a method for administering the homeopathy to the horses because I kind of tried everything. Having always used the glass dropper bottles, that’s what I went to first. Then I switched at once to look for something a little more simple. So, I switched to little spray bottles. Most of the horses are okay with that. They have to get used to something being sprayed near their mouth and some are fine. Some are a little flighty with that. One time fairly recently, I was dosing one of our horses. I just had a dropper bottle with me. So, we’re at a horse show. I’m giving him this little dose. Paola: Do you put it in his mouth with the dropper bottle? Barb: Yes. I would put it just in his mouth. I pull the lip out a little bit. Paola: Okay. Barb: Sometimes they’re tossing their head around. I would basically just squirt it in there. Paola: Right. Barb: But the little devil, he bit the tip off the grass. Paola: Oh no. Barb: I just about died because I didn’t know if he swallowed it. I didn’t know if it was in his mouth. I didn’t know. I’m searching in the hay but I mean, needle in a haystack, right. Paola: Oh my God. Barb: It was just a little tip. I had visions of surgeries and internal bleeding. I just about died. It turned out he was fine. He must have spat it out. We never found it. He was fine or if he swallowed it, his body took care of it. Whatever happened, I don’t know but he was totally fine. Paola: Right. Barb: But that was the end of me with glass around horses and homeopathic remedies. I kind of had a little aha moment when I was drinking out of a water bottle. I thought, “Oh, those little, small water bottles that they have for kids that are about eight ounces instead of the bigger ones.” You just mix up the remedy in one of those. Shake it up. Let it dissolve. They can use a Sharpie to write on it, what it is. I just dose them like that. It’s plastic. If they bite the bottle, it doesn’t matter. Paola: Then that bottle is permanently assigned to that remedy? Barb: Yes, exactly. They are disposable. So if you’re at the horse shows or you’re travelling or whatever, I don’t have to worry about taking care of little glass bottles and wrapping them up and everything. I don’t use disposable water bottles as a rule. I try not to but it’s fantastic, I have to say. Paola: That’s clever. Barb: I put those in my car. Now, I don’t have to worry about running out of sterilized bottles for remedies and to keep my kit. If you’ve used them a few times then you go like, “Oh gosh, I got to sterilized the bottle or whatever.” I just keep those little water bottles with me and a Sharpie and my remedy kit. I can mix it up right there. Even with some horses when they’re eating, I’ll just toss it on their hay. Paola: Oh, that’s clever. Barb: Because you’re not supposed to have them around food. But I think with horses and some other animals, they have such a simple diet. Horses are eating all the time. So, it’s almost impossible to dose them away from food anyway. I think with their very simple diet, I’ve had great success. It seems to work just fine. Paola: Interesting. Barb: Yes. Paola: So with our cow, they’re very different than horses. We are able to spray on her nose. It doesn’t bother her much. But we just have the one and then often what I do is when she’s in distention, I have access underneath her tail because I’ve milked or whatever. I can just lift up the tail and spray under her tail and that works. Barb: Yes. I’m thinking with the horse, that could be an interesting experience. Paola: Yes. Barb: They vary a lot. Some horses are no problem at all. But others are going to hit the roof. You’re never going to get near them again with the spray bottles. Paola: Yes, that’s probably true. Horses kick backwards, whereas cows don’t. They kick to the side. So, if you’re right behind her, you’re generally safe. Barb: Yes. It’s just I wouldn’t want to go there with the horses. Paola: Yes. Barb: I think my method is I’ll stick to that one. Paola: Yes, very good. I like that. Oh boy, I don’t want a horse. They’re huge. They’re scary to me. Barb: Oh, they’re fabulous. But yes, it’s one of those things. Paola: No, that’s very good tip. I know lot of people that use homeopathy and have horses especially around where we live in Texas. So that’s a very good tip. I like that. Do you have a specific story of using homeopathy in one of your horses? Barb: Yes. We have a retired pony that injured herself horribly. She cut her side on this bolt in our yard and ripped her side open down to the ribs. But she’s very stoic. We had no idea anything was wrong. My daughter and I just went to feed them in the evening and she’s standing there. We tossed her a hay, standing there chewing her hay. Then she turned and I see this huge, I mean it was probably at least 10 inches long. Paola: Oh my gosh. Barb: Fortunately, it wasn’t bleeding too much. It was still fairly fresh. So, you can imagine, both my daughter and I kind of went into shock. Anyway, I got up the Arnica, gave it to the pony right away. I gave it to us and called the vet. Of course, the vet is over an hour away, so we had to wait. So, I’m just giving her Arnica, Arnica, Arnica and the vet got there. It was several hours later because she was worried about the lung being punctured. It was that nasty a wound. Paola: Wow. Barb: So, she had to apply layers of stitching. Anyway, got her all stitched up. Well, that pony healed so quickly. This is an older pony. She’s 23. She healed so quickly and so perfectly from this wound. There was no infection. We didn’t have to do anything else. I mean, it was just amazing. Other than just keep it clean and keep our eye on it, it just healed up beautifully. That was a real saver because it was really extreme. It was a really horrible, horrible wound. Paola: So, did she end up getting stitched up or having to take antibiotics or anything? Barb: You know, this was a case where I actually did give her the antibiotics because the wound was fairly fresh but it was probably at least an hour too old. You don’t know what’s in there. I mean, there was some dirt in there. It had to be cleaned. Paola: Well, it’s in a barn. Barb: It’s in a barn and it was down to her ribs. This is where you weigh the pros and cons. Allopathic drugs save people’s lives. Paola: Right, they do. Barb: This to me was a time when I said, “Okay, you know what, I’m doing the antibiotics.” But I’m using all my homeopathic knowledge to support the healing. With that being so much faster and so much cleaner, I mean it was best case scenario. Paola: Right. That’s good to know. You can use the homeopathy alongside. They don’t counteract. Barb: Absolutely. I mean there are times for that. This is what I’ve seen time and time again is anytime we have an injury in our family, whether it’s a pet or a human or whatever, our rate of healing, we’re always sort of the best case scenario. Paola: Right. Barb: We heal so quickly and so efficiently. Paola: That’s wonderful. You had also told me a good story, moving on from horses to humans, about child birth. Childbirth and labor Barb: Yes. Oh my goodness, yes. Hypericum is my very good friend. I wasn’t as knowledgeable about homeopathy when I had my first child as I became. But I had a very knowledgeable midwife who was wonderful. I damaged my coccyx quite a few times in my youth. Paola: Is that your tailbone? Barb: Yes, it’s the tailbone. That is what ended up causing me the biggest problems in my first labor. I had horrible pain in my tailbone. It was worse than the actual labor pains and I had fully natural labor. So the Hypericum was what actually really saved me in that case because that’s what allowed me to just be able to get through that pain. I would not have known what do. I was very fortunate to have a midwife who knew her remedies. Paola: Oh how lucky. Barb: It was Hypericum. It’s in 200C and she just kept dosing me. I was able to get through it. I was so pleased because I did not, I definitely didn’t want to end up going to any of the drugs. As someone who’s had a lot of back issues, my big concern with an epidural is then you end up (I mean, my theories) giving birth in positions you wouldn’t necessarily give birth in if you could feel it. Paola: Right. Barb: You end up doing some damage. So, I was really worried about. I didn’t want to mask any pain because of my back. Paola: I never thought of that. That’s a very good point because you might get into a safer position. Barb: Yes. Paola: Wow. It can cause that problem, interesting. I never thought about. You see, I had epidurals with all three of my births. People always apologized to me like, “Oh well, I did an epidural.” Hey, listen. Homeopathy didn’t come until after I had all my three children. Barb: The other thing too is if you don’t have someone who’s skilled supporting you. If you’ve got a doctor and you’re trying to do it naturally and your doctor only knows allopathic medicine and you’re having a hard time, you need support. Paola: Yes. Barb: One thing about childbirth, you need support. So when you have someone who’s really knowledgeable with the alternatives supporting you because you can’t and even if I knew what I knew now, I don’t think I could have done it for myself. It was extreme. I just wanted to run away from this pain. It was so painful. It wasn’t the labor pain. It was that different. Paola: It’s the pressure on that bone. Barb: Yes. It was excruciating. To have someone who could just really support me through that made all the difference and the right remedies. Women should never be hard on themselves about labor. Paola: You did it. Good job. Barb: You do what you got to do. That’s why you need to surround yourself with the right people. Paola: Right. That’s very good. I love that. Barb: It’s a support group. So, you need the right support people. Paola: I like that very good takeaway. What about your husband? Has he used homeopathy? How does he feel about it? Barb: Oh yes, especially, of course Arnica. He’s an avid cyclist. He was in a cycling accident one time. He was with a group of people and they all kind of went down. He ended up really kind of crushing his collarbone. It was just a nasty fracture. They actually ended up taking him away in an ambulance because they were worried about his neck. I don’t know what’s the problem with his neck but it was just such a nasty fracture. They just wanted to stabilize him. But I got the distress call as soon as the fall happened. They give me, “Come and pick me up and bring the Arnica!” Paola: Oh I love it. Barb: I would load him with Arnica. All the guys got the Arnica. He didn’t want to take any pain meds. He just wanted his Arnica. Actually, I had to force him to take one dose of pain meds because he was in so much pain. Paola: Did they have to set the collarbone? Barb: They didn’t set it. I’m trying to remember it. It’s a few years ago now. I’m not quite sure what they did with him but he did have to go see a surgeon, an orthopedic surgeon. He didn’t have to have surgery. It’s because of an old injury that he had where he had a really strong ligament that held his collarbone on so strong. That’s why it actually ended up being a worse fracture. It had been added to his old injury that had made his ligaments so strong. Anyway, I filled him up with all kinds of remedies and his supplements and everything. He made a supersonic recovery, yet again, but the Arnica got him through that point of dealing with all of that. Paola: You really are the Arnica mom. Barb: I am. Thanksgiving really brought it home when everyone was like, “No, you’re the Arnica.” I was like, “Oh, I am.” Paola: For the chocolate, the chocolate balls. Barb: Yes. Paola: Do you just use Arnica? Barb: No, no, no. I use all kinds of stuff. Well, I like another story of my son when he was young. He didn’t have a lot of fevers as a young kid which actually worried me because I was worried that his immune system wasn’t kicking in. He would get these low-grade sicknesses where he’d just be hot but it never got this big. Well, when he got his first really good fever, he was five. It was a Belladonna fever. I was so excited. He had the eyes. He had the flushed cheeks. I was like, “It’s a Belladonna fever.” I’m so excited. So, I treated him with this Belladonna. He got through it beautifully. I’ve got 150 remedies, at least, in my little drawers. I use all the kinds of stuff. But I guess it’s just the Arnica, when it’s an injury, it’s the first thing I go to. Paola: Yes, easy. Barb: So, you can figure out what else you need. Of course, as you’re healing, different remedies will support the healing process if it’s bone or you know. Paola: I was thinking for your husband’s collar. You probably used Symphytum. Barb: Oh, absolutely. Paola: That’s a great one for healing bones that have been broken. But it’s really important that they’re set. You have to have the bone set first before you start that one. Barb: Yes, because it’s going to start knitting together. So, if the bones are in the wrong spot, you’re going to start healing it all off. Paola: Yes. Then they’ll have to re-break it and then set it again. Oh don’t even, that would be awful. Barb: No, exactly. Paola: Thank you Barb for chatting with me and telling me you Arnica stories and your horse stories and all of you thoughts. It’s so helpful to hear from a seasoned mom who’s been there and done that. You know Joette is not the only one. We can aspire to go out to be like you. Barb: I don’t know. I think you probably have a lot more knowledge. You seem to have a lot more knowledge than I had at your age. You probably have a lot of knowledge in there. We all have our own leg paths and we learn about the stuff we learn about. Paola: That’s exactly right. That’s thanks to Joette, thank you Joette. Barb: Yes, Joette’s wonderful. Paola: Thank you for joining me today. Barb: Thank you so much, Paola. I really appreciate the opportunity to chat about homeopathy. Paola: No problem. We hope to have another “Moms with Moxie” coming out soon. So stay tuned to Joette’s podcast. Thanks. Joette: Are you or someone you know a Mom with Moxie? Well, we’re on the hunt for you. Of course, we don’t want to hear just from moms but from anyone who uses and loves homeopathy. Reach out to my podcast team and let us know why you’re a Mom with Moxie. For more information, contact podcast@joettecalabrese.com. Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com and schedule a free 15-minute conversation. Many of the homeopathic medicines referenced in this transcript can be found at https://shop.boironusa.com/. Enter the coupon code “joette” at checkout and you will receive a 20% discount on your purchase. | |||
| Podcast 24 – Subjects that Bear Repeating | 15 Jan 2017 | 00:39:02 | |
In this podcast, we cover: You are listening to a podcast from joettecalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. Paola: It’s podcast 24 at joettecalabrese.com. Right from the get-go, we want you to know that Joette’s podcasts are now available on Google Play, Blubrry, Stitcher, and Tune-in Radio. We’ve got a great episode for you. Today, we’re going to look at some topics that Joette feels bear repeating. First topic looks at getting a conventional diagnosis and Joette gives us some good examples of what she means. Then the second topic is pretty closely related to the first where Joette is looking at what she calls these ‘hencers’. So I have foggy brain and low vitamin D, hence, I need to supplement with vitamin D. So she looks at that more carefully. Finally, the third topic is the concept of knowing when you can use a protocol and knowing when for a chronic condition or even I guess an acute, you should be seeking professional help from a homeopath. So she wants us to know what our limitations may or may not be. Now, if you’ve heard these topics before, don’t assume that you already understand them. Today’s discussion came about because Joette has been receiving repeated questions in relation to these subjects. So you may think you get them but hopefully today’s episode will prove useful for you as you gain a deeper understanding of them. Okay, so here we go. Hi, I’m here with Joette. How are you, Joette? Joette: I’m well, Paola. Nice to be here with you. Paola: We’ve just been brainstorming and planning today’s podcast and we’ve got a real great one for you guys today. It is going to be on things we’ve said before, topics that bear repeating that Joette has talked about over and over again. We think it is a great time to remind you guys about some important subjects. We have three that we’re thinking of. Joette: Yes, sometimes things need bear repeating. As we learn, we think we understand and then a year later, we didn’t embody it fully. We have to go back and think it through again and commit it to our thinking structure. Paola: Well, homeschooling classical world, we have grammar, dialectic, and rhetoric. The grammar stage is when you’re first understanding the concept and you’re getting the vocabulary down and just the very basics. The dialectic is where you’re starting to ask questions about it and like you said starting to embody it. Then rhetoric is where you can really teach it and talk about it and have an authoritative position. I think the only way you get through those three levels is to repeat it and to hear it again and again. Joette: Well repetition is the mother of knowledge. Really, that’s just what it boils down to. Getting a conventional diagnosis Paola: So here we go. We have three topics we want to cover. The first one is the topic of getting a conventional diagnosis for any condition that you were trying to use homeopathy with. Joette: Yes. This is a hard and fast rule but there are always exceptions to every rule. So, if you get sore throats consistently and you’ve gone to the doctor many times and the doctor reports, “Yes, indeed, it’s strep,” do you need a diagnosis every single time you get a sore throat? Well, after a while, it’s pretty clear. It’s a strep throat. But if you’ve never had a sore throat and wondering if it’s strep, then it might be a good idea to get someone’s opinion who sees this consistently. Now, if you’ve seen it consistently, I would say you’re a pretty good measure. But if you haven’t then go to someone perhaps who has. Paola: Right. We’ve talked about before, getting those rapid strep tests from Amazon. That might be a good try. Joette: Love it, love it. Yes, yes, same thing with urinary tract infections. Those can be dangerous. So if you’ve never had one before, it might be a good idea to find out if indeed it is a urinary tract infection. Sometimes it’s just obvious as can be. So, I’ve gone without seeing conventional doctors for many years. I know what’s happening generally speaking but sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I have no idea what’s going on. So I really do need someone who has more expertise than I do in that particular area. So you have to weigh it out. Paola: I think a good example for me at least is skin conditions. I feel like sometimes red rashy skin looks like a red rashy skin. I don’t know is it rosacea. I mean, hives are pretty obvious, right? But is it rosacea? I mean, I was just helping a friend of mine. We’re doing a protocol for her eczema. Then suddenly, she got this terrible rash all over her. I thought, “Oh my gosh. What is it?” So I said, “Go to the doctor. Get a diagnosis.” I mean probably Antimonium crud but I just want to know. She came back and it was impetigo. That helped so much, giving a nice, firm diagnosis. Joette: Right, right. Yes, it’s good to know that. Sometimes dermatologists and doctors in general don’t know what certain conditions are. Sometimes we give them a hard time for it but to be honest, it can be hard to determine what this or that is sometimes. That precludes, actually maybe that leads us into that section that you and I were talking about today and getting too much information. Paola: Oh yes. Joette: Sometimes too much information can bog us down. In using the Banerji Protocols, we forego all of the naturopathic ways of looking at health. Instead of assuming that the liver must be sluggish or it’s got to be this meridian or that meridian, no, no, no. I’m not saying that’s wrong but if you’re using the Banerji Protocols, generally speaking, we’re using conventional diagnostics. So from a doctor’s point of view, what is this called. Not from a naturopath, not from a clinical ecologist, not from a functional MD, they look at it much differently. Again, I’m going to say there’s nothing wrong with that necessarily but it will throw you into a different way of thinking. In a way, you have to choose which method you want. Which camp are you in, the homeopathic method, the naturopathic method, the conventional medicine method? It doesn’t mean you can’t cross over from time to time but you have to decide, identify yourself to a certain degree. Paola: Okay, so let’s run through a couple of examples just to kind of yes, no, Joette. Is this a good diagnosis that you’re looking for or is this too deep of the diagnosis, so the MTHFR gene. Joette: Too deep. Paola: Too deep, okay. Joette: Too deep. Why, because that’s not a diagnosis. That’s a theory as to why you have this inability to resolve toxins. It has to do with why you’re not methylating your B vitamins. That’s meaningless in homeopathy used in this method. Paola: Basically if you suddenly have uptake better B vitamins, will your condition go away? We don’t know. For that purpose, it’s more of a theorizing and not a firm conventional diagnosis that we can case. Joette: Yes, so if you’re not methylating your B vitamins properly and you’re not really seeing your toxins, so now what? What doctors who believe in this method of investigation will tell you is that you need more B vitamins but these are better methylating B vitamins. What homeopathy says is how do we even know that it’s only the B vitamins. It could be vitamin R that nobody’s discovered yet, in addition to the B vitamins. Why are we going down that rabbit hole? What are the symptoms? What’s the diagnosis and what are the symptoms? That’s what we hang our head on. Paola: Yes. So it’s not necessarily that the B vitamins hold the cure. It’s perhaps just a side effect, let’s say, of this that you’re having. Joette: It could be. Sure. Paola: If we fix the disease, let’s say all that gets back to normal again like it used to be or whatever. Joette: Right, right. Well, when somebody tells me they’re not methylating their B vitamins, they’re often bloated and they have constipation. They might have some skin condition. So symptoms never lie. Let’s start with that. Let’s actually make that our foundation. Symptoms never lie. The only time symptoms lie is when someone’s taking a medication. Then what we’re reading are not symptoms but rather side effects. Paola: Side effects. Joette: But you can still separate those two. Once you get better at this, you’ll be able to figure out what’s a side effect and what is a true genuine symptom. Paola: If you’re dealing with side effects, the goal then is to address the illness that you’re taking the drugs for so that you can wean off the drugs and therefore eliminate the side effects. Joette: Hopefully, hopefully, depending on the disease. If it’s a really serious disease and we’re talking about diabetes, we’re not going to tell somebody to get off their insulin. They may never get off of their insulin, for example. Paola: Right. Typically, I would think that there are not a lot of diseases where you will say that. Joette: It depends on who you are. I mean I work with a lot of people who have very serious illnesses. Paola: Okay. Sometimes it’s okay. Joette: And their age, it depends on their age. What if they’re 87 years old? Paola: Right, right. Joette: Do you say, “We got to get you off of these drugs.” Well, kind of late. I’m not saying it’s for everyone. It doesn’t mean we can’t ever get anyone off of their medications but something, let’s say blood pressure meds that they’ve been taking for the last 45 years, that’s going to take some effort and time. Do we have that much time? Paola: Let’s go back to some examples of diagnosis. What about gluten intolerance? Joette: Gluten intolerance, it only gives us one bit of information, that the person can’t tolerate gluten. It’s all it tells us. It doesn’t tell us how it’s presenting. How is it presenting? “Oh, you have colitis. Oh, okay.” Now, there’s a diagnosis. Paola: There we go. Joette: Where is the colitis from? Okay, the colitis is as a result of eating gluten. So, I don’t eat gluten because otherwise, I get colitis. There you go. Now, we use a homeopathic protocol, medicines specific for colitis. Paola: Right. Joette: That’s what we’re looking for. What is the name of the disease that comes from this gluten intolerance? I’ll tell you. I’ve worked with many, many people who say, “I’m gluten intolerant and I have colitis.” So if you eat gluten, the colitis gets really bad, yes. What if you don’t eat gluten? I still have colitis but it’s not so bad. So then, it’s not gluten intolerance that’s the cause, is it, because that would mean that by stopping the gluten, that’d be the end of it. Paola: Like people with celiac disease. Joette: That’s not the answer, is it? The answer is not what’s going in, it’s what’s happening once it goes in or once anything goes in because I meet with people. They’re gluten intolerant. They’re dairy intolerant. They’re shellfish intolerant. We go on and on, all the intolerances. I know because I’ve been there personally myself. They eliminate and eliminate and eliminate. As they get more and more narrow and go down this funnel, what occurs is they’re still sick but now they can’t figure out what food it is. Well, that’s because in my estimation, more often than not, it’s not actually the food. It’s not the raw materials going into the factory, it’s the factory. Paola: Right. Joette: It was just the bat in the works. Paola: Right. Joette: It’s the factory that needs to be corrected, not the food eliminated. If you think in terms of eliminating food and you call yourself gluten intolerant, dairy intolerant, et cetera, et cetera intolerant, then you’re going down a rabbit hole for which you will likely never come out of until you find, in my estimation, until you find homeopathy. Paola: It’s not necessarily that we don’t address the gluten intolerance with perhaps Bovista or something like that. It’s that we also need to look at the underlying disease that is the factory basically, what is not working. Joette: Bovista, it will help with the underlying condition that there is any intolerance in the first place. Paola: Right. Joette: But now we have to see, “What do you mean by that? Oh, colitis. Oh bloating. Okay, got it.” Now, we address it with the correct homeopathic protocols that are specific for how it presents because not everyone has gluten intolerance or dairy intolerance in the same way. So then it doesn’t tell us, not with anything. Paola: You’re right. For a long time, I never even had digestive issues with gluten. My bladder would bleed. Some people have no digestive issues but they have fibromyalgia. Joette: Exactly, or depression if they have gluten, or fatigue, or their hair falls, or their thyroid becomes hypothyroidism. Yes, it depends on the person. What is your weak link? Look back. It’s whatever your weakest link is in your family. That, more often than not, not always but more often than not will give you the indicator of what organ is going to break down when you use something, a substance that needs to be not eliminated but the action corrected around it. Paola: The action corrected around it. That’s an interesting point because for me, for example with my bladder condition which is now pretty much cured, we never even did Bovista for my gluten intolerance until recently. We addressed all the factory problems first. You know what I mean? It wasn’t until recently that you and I decided, “Okay. Well, let’s go ahead and try this Bovista too to finish some things up.” I think that’s an interesting point. Be careful when you’re looking at gluten intolerance that you’re not ignoring (I like that analogy a lot) the factory itself, not just the input that’s going in. We’ll here’s another example then, liver detox. I have a toxic liver versus elevated liver enzymes. There’s a difference. Joette: There’s a difference, big difference. Paola: Walk us through that. Joette: There are practitioners out there and books that you can read that will tell you that you are toxic. In fact, more often than not, that is the spiel. You’re toxic. You’re toxic. You have parasites. You have heavy metals. You have yeast. That’s the mantra I hear all the time. Well, I know that intimately because I personally was told that. What I was reading back 35 or even longer than that, years ago that it must be that I’m toxic. Now, what it does is two things. It again throws people down rabbit holes. But meanwhile, they’re freaking, absolutely freaking over the fact that they’re toxic, every little thing that happens. I’m sweating, so that must mean I’m getting the toxins out. I’m eating kale so that’s a good thing. Everything is myopic around the topic of toxins because it’s a scary “diagnosis.” I don’t believe that it is a diagnosis unless you can show that, unless your liver enzymes are elevated, unless you’ve had blood test and it shows that you have heavy metals, that you have lead. Even then, tell me what the symptoms are. If the liver is tender or the liver enzymes are elevated, now we have a conventional (and I’m going to say it again and again), a conventional diagnosis is what we’re looking for. Now, we know how to address that. Paola: It’s not that the liver isn’t toxic. I mean, they may very well be true or it may very well be true that you have the MTHFR gene or heavy metals. Joette: First of all, it’s subjective. Let me just interrupt for a second. Paola: Okay. Joette: It’s a very subjective statement. What do you mean it’s toxic? Show me a liver that isn’t toxic. Paola: Right. That’s what they do, right? Joette: Yes. And so, what is the level that you consider toxic because it changes from decade to decade, from modality to modality. Which one is toxic? If it is toxic, does that mean the person is sick? Sometimes people have so-called toxic livers and they’re not even sick. Paola: They’re fine, yes. Joette: Right. Paola: What it comes down to is the language of Joette’s practical homeopathy is this: The difference between theorizing a toxic liver and having a conventional diagnosis where you have blood work that shows elevated liver enzymes, you have the beige stool, the pain in the liver right under your ribs, those are different from theorizing that you need to detox to your liver or any of the other subjects that we talked about. Joette: That’s right, absolutely. I talked to so many people who have been on detoxing programs again and again and again and again. I say, “So, how is it working?” Some people swear by it. They say, “Yes, it’s helped me.” Other people say, “I never saw any change.” Paola: Right, if it helped then great. Joette: Yes, great. But if it’s not, you are going down a path that will lead you to be thinking, in my estimation, in the wrong way. Paola: Well, it just comes down to if there’s an easier way that is possibly even safer because some of these detoxes are pretty intense. So if there’s an easier way that is possibly safer, why wouldn’t you do that first, I guess. Joette: Right, right. Hencing/theorizing: stop trying to answer the whys Paola: Yes, alright. Let’s go on to our second topic here on our subject of topics that bear repeating. The next topic we’re calling hence. My skin is dry. Hence, I must not be drinking enough water. My stools are not frequent enough. Hence, I must be eating too much meat. Tell us about hence, Joette. Joette: Well, I think that we, as humans are hencers. Paola: Kind of a new word. Joette: We have problems with hencing because we want answers. We’re all looking for an answer. “Why am I so sick?” That’s why I like timelines. I do like people to lay out a timeline of the conditions that they’ve experienced from the time they started to get sick (let’s say it’s a chronic condition or even an acute) and lay out what preceded that. “Oh, I had pneumonia.” Okay, so what did you do of the pneumonia? “Oh, I took antibiotics. Before that, I had impetigo.” What did you do for that? “I took antibiotics,” et cetera, et cetera. That will give us a clear picture, give you a clear picture of what’s going on in your system. But when we make the assumption that it must be this because I’ve done that, it’s too simplified. I also talk to people who say, “Well, I drink a lot of water, so the hence doesn’t work. My skin is still dry.” What I love about homeopathy is if you’re going to be logical, be logical. Start out with that. Well, maybe if you’re not drinking any water, it might be a good idea. But don’t start pounding down a gallon a day. I think that’s irreverent of the body’s natural understanding of thirst. Instead, if the skin is truly itchy and dry and worse in winter, et cetera, et cetera, and cracking, why not just use a homeopathic medicine for it and correct it once and for all, which is Petroleum 200 for example. Paola: Well, this hails back to the first subject, too. I mean, the reason we picked these three is they’re interconnected. It goes back to theorizing sometimes. I can’t focus. Hence, my doctor says that my vitamin D levels are low. Therefore, hence, I guess that’s where you put it in. Joette: Right. Paola: Hence I take vitamin D. Joette: Hence I take vitamin D, synthetic vitamin D. Paola: It goes back to that again. Joette: Well then, my question is, “So, you’re not utilizing your vitamin D?” Are you eating meat? Are you eating liver? Do you take cod liver oil? Do you go out in the sun? Do you wear sunscreen? Those are important questions. Because if you are blocking the ability of your body to utilize those nutrients such as the sun or eating liver, et cetera, et cetera, from absorbing and utilizing vitamin D and making vitamin D, then yes, you might need vitamin D. But what if you’re already doing all of those? What if you’re already in the sun? What if you live in Florida and you don’t wear sunscreen, and you golf, and you take cod liver oil from time to time, and you eat liver, and you eat butter and lard and tallow, et cetera, where vitamin D is naturally found? Vitamin A and E is already in concert with vitamin D vitamins. Then how does that fit? If you take synthetic vitamin D, now you’re just getting a synthetic version of the vitamin. My question would be what are the symptoms? If the symptoms tell us what’s going on then we just use the homeopathic medicine that is specific for how it’s presenting, not why it’s presenting necessarily. Paola: Well, something you said about this. There’s actually a danger with theorizing too much and saying hence too often. You said when we’re planning, not only does it make you neurotic, which isn’t good, you don’t want that added stress, you already have enough stress, you have your condition, but also these assumptions slowly solidify into facts. That’s not good. Joette: No. They’d solidify into facts in our brains. They concretize. There’s no doubt about it. Paola: When they’re not the facts that we’re looking for. Joette: Right. Paola: Yes. And so, you think about anything in our lives, in our world. If we believe that that’s the truth and you’re completely off base, wow, what a waste of time. Joette: Yes, absolutely. What that means is that then you follow this thinking down a certain path that is erroneous. You have to be open for other ideas here. You may think that you’re not drinking enough water in spite of the fact that you’re drinking almost a gallon a day because you’re reading sites that say you should be drinking a gallon a day. I can’t seem to pound that down. I can’t get it all in. That’s got to be the reason. It’s me. I’ve done it wrong. I’m theorizing that I’m not drinking enough. Paola: Right. Joette: That’s a mistake. Paola: Right. It’s just the solution is simply if you have X illness -. Joette: If you have a condition and you’re surmising that it’s from not drinking enough water or whatever and you know the condition, why not just use the homeopathic medicine that corrects the condition once and for all? Then you drink water according to your thirst. Paola: Right, exactly. Okay, to conclude the second point, Joette, you’re saying stop trying to answer the whys. You’ll never figure out the why and neither will your doctor. Let it go and just treat the condition that has been diagnosed conventionally. Joette: Yes. I like that answer or that conclusion. But I will also say that I do believe in people asking why so that they can learn from their mistakes. “Oh, now I have eczema after having taken antibiotics.” What do you know? You can make some assumptions based on your timeline. But that still doesn’t give us necessarily a method for treatment because now we’re in the eczema stage. So we have to go with how to use these homeopathic medicines for the eczema. Paola: Right. I mean, so it’s important to know what a high-quality diet is. It’s important to know how dangerous antibiotics and steroids and other medications are. So those whys are important but it doesn’t necessarily lead to the answer of how to fix it. Joette: Yes. Homeopathy and the concept of baking a cake Paola: The third point. Let’s move on to the third point. That is homeopathy and the concept of cooking a recipe for dinner. Do tell us about that. Joette: I would love to say that homeopathy is formulaic. This is the condition, this is the remedy. Many times we can and that’s what I try very hard to teach in my courses and on my blog and on these podcasts. If it’s a simple solution, I’m there to hand it out to you. I want you to have it. However, it’s not always like that especially for many chronic conditions. If we’re baking a cake and you’re winging it. You’ve never made a cake before and you say, “Well, I know there must be flour in here. I’m pretty sure there’s butter in cakes. I think there are eggs, too. Let’s say let’s just throw some sugar in there to make its taste sweet.” You throw it all together. You might end up with a decent cake, you might not. With essential oils, it’s very formulaic. If you’ve got a cold, you use this. If you’ve got a cold, you use lavender or whatever. If you’ve got a dental issue, you use clove oil, et cetera. It’s pretty formulaic. It’s often pretty formulaic when it comes to herbs as well. That’s why I believe essential oils have made such in-roads in our world today, at least in the US. It’s that it’s super-easy. If I’ve got this, I use that. Homeopathy can do some of that with the Banerji protocols. But I will also tell you there are many, many, many conditions that humans suffer and animals suffer that are not necessarily readily available through my teachings and even through sometimes the Banerjis. Sometimes we have to revert to classical homeopathy. That is what the Banerji Protocols are based on in the first place. If you know anything about classical, they are classical homeopaths. They have just found certain protocols work exquisitely fast or exquisitely well with these specific protocols in large percentage of the population. Paola: Right. They’ve studied a pattern with that protocol and that condition that makes it very scientific for them to rely on that protocol. Joette: Because there’s data and plenty of it. Their data show that if you have itching, Antimonium crud is very likely to help with that. In approximately 80% of those who have itching, rashes, Antimonium crud is likely to help. Now, let’s say it doesn’t. Well, that means you go to the second protocol. That might cover another 10% or 15% of the population. But it may get to the point where you still have itching and you’ve used protocol 1, protocol 2. And if there’s a third protocol, that one as well. At that point, we do have to consider going to classical homeopathy. Paola: Who gets to help you through that if it’s a chronic condition? Joette: Many of our students are seasoned homeopaths. Many of them are moms who’ve been using homeopathy for 40 years and they have repertories. They own a repertory where they can actually crack open the book and start repertorizing, which is a process. It is a complex process. I hate to take it out of the hands of neophytes but it is a complex process that has to be studied and learned. For those who are new and you’re stumped, it’s best to see a homeopath. Neophytes and the study of classical homeopathy Paola: Let’s define who is new. Let’s talk about me. I love homeopathy. I live and breathe it. I own tons of books, I mean dozens of books. I have hundreds of remedies. I love it. I help people all the time with protocols. I’ve helped my friend. She no longer has ulcerative colitis. I’ve done eczema with people. I’ve done this and that. Do I get to go to my repertory? I have Kent’s repertory. Do I get to go to that and fix someone’s chronic disease using classical skills because none of the protocols work? Joette: If you are educated in using a repertory. Paola: I’m not. Joette: Then you would not be able to necessarily count on it. Paola: Educated meaning I went to homeopathy school. Joette: Yes. Using a repertory is complex. Yes. Paola: Not a one-hour lecture here and there. Joette: That’s right. That’s right. Yes. You really do need to study it further. Paola: I just think that’s such an important point to make because I hear people talking, “Well, I might use some Silica for my eczema.” No, you’re not allowed to do that. No. Walk away. Not allowed. You’re supposed to do the protocols. Joette: Either use the protocol or really know classical homeopathy and have repertorized it. Really know it. Really know it. Paola: Classical homeopathy is not a recipe like the Banerji Protocol. Joette: No, it is not. It is not. Paola: It’s very deep. I’m an English teacher. We were talking about how I get these questions from my students. This is probably why a lot of people hate English class because, “Okay, how long does my essay have to be?” You’re killing me. I can’t answer that question. “What is a good essay?” We’ve got diction. We’ve got voice. We have word choice. We have research. We have facts. We have organization. Joette: Yes, who is it being submitted to? What are the needs of the publication? Do you know their requirements? Is it a publication or is it an English teacher in college? Paola: Who is the audience? Right. Joette: Who’s the audience? Who you’re speaking to? What rhetoric do you use for a specific audience? If you’re writing to children then you got to speak differently than if you’re writing to scientists. Paola: Right, exactly. So, it’s like you can’t answer that question. I think homeopathy, classical homeopathy is very much the same way. “What potency do I use for this condition?” It’s like asking me, “What’s a good essay?” Joette: Right. Paola: It’s so deep. You don’t even know what you’re talking about. Joette: Well, when we’re asking about what potency and how frequently, that is called the study of posology, P-O-S-O-L-O-G-Y. It is a study that I studied for a year. How do you know which potency and how frequently? First, you go into the repertory if you have learned how to use that. You find out which homeopathic medicine is most likely to fit this person and this person’s condition. Then you’re going to several rubrics. Well, the way I learned it, it was all jotted down. Now, there are programs. But I would write that all down. I would write it down on a legal pad. It would take a good, at least 40 minutes to write them all down, look them all up, my three-legged stool, my three most important conditions that needed to be considered. Then I would jot down the most valuable homeopathic medicines that I thought were most -. Again, it’s very subjective. Now, I have to go to the materia medica and study those, say five homeopathic medicines that kept coming to the fore. Once I’ve studied those and I’ve made a determination. Okay, it’s Phosphorous. I know it’s Phosphorous. Now, what potency? Oh well, let’s see. I’ve used 200 in the past or maybe also, it’s been helpful in a 30. Kent says to use it in a 200 or 1M, now what potency? Now, I decide on my potency. Okay, how frequently? That’s the study of posology. If you don’t have that, you better stick with the Banerji Protocols. Paola: Right. I think it’s important for people to appreciate that’s a year of your life that you studied that subject. Joette: Yes. Paola: So you’re not going to figure it out. I mean, you might accidentally figure it out but that’s an accident. Good for you, if it is an accident. But this is what you are up against. Just a little example, I remember when I had a lot of my chronic bladder stuff, we would use at one point, only the Cantharis 200 would work for my chronic bladder pain. The 30 wouldn’t work. It was 200. Then later on as I had healed a lot and I no longer really had the chronic stuff but I got an acute bladder infection, only the Cantharis 30 would work. The 200 wouldn’t touch me. That’s just a wonderful example of how the potency really matters. We’re so lucky to have these protocols that the work is done for us. Joette: That’s right. The cake recipe is all put out. It tells us exactly how many eggs, how much sugar, how much vanilla, how much flour. Paola: The interesting thing is you can still mess up the recipe. How many times have you cooked something, Joette and you messed it up because you didn’t read the directions properly? That alone, reading the directions properly is hard enough. You got to slow down and pay attention. I know there are different Facebook groups on homeopathy. You have your students of Joette Calabrese. It’s really important that you just don’t take someone’s word for it when they give you a protocol. “Oh, yes. This is the protocol for that.” You got to make sure that – you’re assuming, they’ve read the recipe right and digesting it and giving it to you right, too. You got to go take the classes and know for yourself that you’re doing it right. I think that’s a big deal. The importance of repetition Joette: Yes, it is. Speaking of the importance of repetition, when folks use the blog or they take a course, I see questions that come in and it’s clear to me they have not read it. They’ve not read the blog thoroughly. It’s very clear. It’s all there. It’s as obvious as can be, yet they still ask questions. No, no, no, no. Go back and read it again. If you have to read it five times, read it again. If you’re taking one of our courses and you’re not sure what to do, go back and take the course again. It really takes that much effort. This is very concentrated tight information that I’m trying. I try to explain that in the beginning of these classes that these are very intense, very intense information. So, I don’t expect you to just go to page 57 and say, “Okay. So what do I take now for this eczema?” No, no, no, no, no. You start from the beginning because now that you’ve taken it, now what do you do after you’ve been taking it for a few weeks and it’s partially gone? Those are the questions we often get. What do I do now? Well apparently, you didn’t study the course well enough because it tells you exactly what you have to do the second time. How do you observe? How do you interpret what you’re observing? Paola: I really like the classical model of homeschooling. It hails back to that concept of grammar, dialectic, and rhetoric. If you review it and review it and review it, you move through those stages and you can’t fast forward. You can’t go from grammar to rhetoric. You can’t. You got to work through all these three stages. Joette: Right. Well, it’s the same thing as we said earlier as playing the piano. Someone says, “Well, I really would like to be able to play a Tchaikovsky concerto.” Well, great. Do you know where middle C is? Paola: Yes. Twinkle, twinkle little star, my friend. Here we go. Joette: I know. Let’s see. You have to learn. You have to start when you’re four and study and study and study and repeat and repeat and practice two hours a day. Someday, you may be able to play a Tchaikovsky concerto. Paola: This is not just advice for anyone that’s new to homeopathy. I think you, yourself, Joette, take this advice because I remember you said when you went to the Banerjis to study with them, you wouldn’t ask questions. You would sit and observe and study and listen and observe and study and listen. You even said now that you’ve gone back so many times. You’re starting to ask a few more questions. Is that similar to why you’re trying to grasp the information? Joette: Yes. I’m trying to absorb. Here’s the reason. I know why they’re using specific remedies because the remedies that they’re using are medicines that I’ve used for exactly those same conditions. But for them, they have exact potency, exact frequency and it’s all laid out. What I would have done, I might have gone to the same homeopathic medicine as they did but I might not have used it in a 6X, twice a day or say, a month. If I would ask them, “Why do you use this remedy in a 6X, twice a day for a month?” Do you know what their answer would be? Paola: It works? Joette: Yes. That’s the answer. So, why would I ask them a question that I know the answer to already? Just keep quiet, Joette and just observe and record. I’ve got books and books and books of all my observations and recordings. Paola: It’s cool because I think you can start seeing patterns. Joette: Oh, absolutely. Paola: As to like a Belladonna 6 is for pain. We have head pain. We have different pains but it’s always at lower potencies. Maybe a Belladonna in a higher potency does something else. So you can learn those patterns. But sometimes when you ask pointblank, it’s hard to answer. When you observe it and you see kind of the constellation appear to you, you start picking up on that pattern yourself and you internalize it. Joette: Exactly. Paola: Okay. Well, those are our three points, our three topics that bear repeating. Joette: Good. I think we did it. Paola: Yes, I think we did. I hope you guys liked it. I hope that this helps because sometimes you feel like you’re missing something and you’re not sure what you’re missing. Then you want to know what it is. Well, this is something that we pulled together between Lara and people in the office, in your social media. Joette: The questions that we get on a regular basis. Yes. Paola: Exactly. This is a big deal. Thank you so much, Joette for your time. Joette: Oh, it’s my pleasure. It’s always fun, Paola. Paola: Awesome. Thank you so much. Well, see you later. Joette: Okay. Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com and schedule a free 15-minute conversation. | |||
| Podcast 23 – Moms with Moxie Snap! Broken Bone. | 09 Dec 2016 | 00:34:20 | |
02:00 Kate’s Favorite Remedies 08:08 How homeopathy cured her daughter from her illnesses 14:28 Sharing some amazing homeopathic experiences 23:23 Kate’s accident and how Arnica and Hypericum helped a lot You are listening to a podcast from joettecalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. Paola: It’s another podcast at joettecalabrese.com. Today we’ve got a new episode for the Moms with Moxie miniseries. Joette: All the way from my desk in New York, I get to see how homeopathy is transforming lives all over the globe. Some of my students have really caught my eye. Some of you have done all you can to learn how to cure those around you using homeopathic medicines. Your successes inspire me and they’re glorious and powerful. I can’t keep your successes a secret any longer. So with help from my roving reporter, Paola, we bring you this mini podcast series that I call “Moms with Moxie.” It’s actually grandmoms, too but it’s moms with Moxie. See how regular mothers and others, average people who want to cure those around them have gone from freaking to fabulous with homeopathy. Paola: Alright. I’m here with Kate Bechard from Wisconsin. I’m very happy to have her. Kate has a lot of knowledge about homeopathy and some pretty extreme experiences with it which probably weren’t fun at the time but they’re fun to talk about now that everything turned out well. She is a mother of two children. One’s a teenager and one’s entering their teenage years. She loves horses. They do a lot of activities with their horses. They love music. Kate says that she is passionate about healing and learning. Welcome, Kate. Kate: Thank you. I’m glad to be here. Paola: Yes. Joette and I both think you’re definitely a mom with moxie. Yes, it’s real good and we love moms with moxie because you guys are willing to do what it takes to learn and take on the challenges. Kate, we’ve been talking a lot about homeopathy leading up to this interview. Share with us. What are your favorite remedies and maybe tell us why. Kate: With homeopathy, I get super excited. I think it’s super hard to have just a few favorite remedies. Don’t you? Paola: Yes. Kate’s Favorite Remedies Kate: This is a challenge. But I will tell you just a couple. Of course, Arnica. Who could live without Arnica, right? You have kids. You have animals. You need Arnica. Paola: Right. Kate: So definitely, I have to have that with me at all times. Paola: A lot of people have Arnica and they don’t even know they’re using homeopathy. That’s how popular Arnica can be. Yes. Kate: It is. That’s why I hate to say it’s a favorite remedy but it’s so important for accidents. We’ll get into that a little bit later. Paola: Yes. Kate: So Arnica is one of my favorites. Arsenicum is another one of my favorites. My kids actually have not had the stomach flu in five years. I attribute it to God and Arsenicum because pretty much every time they tell me they have a tummy ache, I tell them to take some Arsenicum. Paola: Right, great for tummy aches and kind of gastrointestinal issues. Kate: Another favorite remedy that I have is Ledum. That is a remedy that I use quite often as well for bee stings, bug bites, tick infections, things like that. So, it’s definitely one of my go-to remedies. Paola: That’s awesome. I love it. I’m always surprised at how much Ledum helps, sometimes even more than Apis when it comes to bee stings which is kind of counter intuitive because Apis is from bee sting but often Ledum is the one that acts a little bit better. Kate: Right. Yes, I have found that to be true as well. Yes, definitely you consider Ledum if you got any sort of bite and inflammation from the bite. Paola: Okay, so it feels like you’ve been doing homeopathy for a long time, even maybe before you learned about joettecalabrese.com. So, tell us how long you’ve been doing homeopathy. Kate: I have been studying homeopathy for about six to seven years now. At first, when I learned about homeopathy, I learned about classical homeopathy which is where you would take and use one remedy at a time. You look at everything about a person’s psychological, emotional, physical. I remember being frustrated in the beginning because it takes so much time to figure out the right remedy because you have to look at every symptom and there are thousands of remedies to choose from. So, when my kids would have a cough, it would take me about 45 minutes to try and figure out what to give them for the cough. Paola: Wow! Kate: So, Joette has rocked my world. She has changed our lives. This morning, when I was thinking about our interview, I was even emotional because I was so thankful for how she has changed our lives with what she teaches. When I met Joette, I found her on the internet and then I actually had a consult with her for one of my children. Then I’ve been taking her courses. I think I’ve taken almost all of her courses. So about four years now, I’ve followed Joette and our lives have changed drastically. It’s so much easier to use homeopathy now. So, I just really encourage people to take a look at what she has to offer and the Banerji protocols. Paola: I just think that is just so inspirational. That’s why we’re doing this podcast series, Moms with Moxie, because we think that it’s just Joette that has all this success. But it’s true that if you dedicate yourself, you can really learn. I mean, do you agree? I do not live in abject fear of illness? Kate: Yes. That’s why I say she’s rocked my world because I used to be afraid. My daughter had pneumonia one time. She ended up in the hospital. That was actually when I was just starting to learn about homeopathy. It was the classical homeopathy. I tried different things. This is a funny story. So, I tried a couple of different things. She was so bad that she was passed out on the couch, you couldn’t have any light on, don’t talk around me, extremely high fever, couldn’t keep anything down. So I was thinking, I can do this, right? I can do this. I can find my homeopathic remedy. I don’t want to put her on antibiotics. Paola: Those were pretty loud symptoms. So you think that helps pick a remedy, right? Kate: Right. So, I went through a couple of different remedies. After so many hours, as a mom, you get worn out. You just think, “Oh, my gosh! Am I doing this right? I want to care for my daughter.” So, I finally tried a remedy. I don’t even remember what it was. I’d have to look. I keep a notebook with everything that I gave my kids throughout the years so I can remember what works for them. But anyway, I just decided I’ve had it. She’s sick and I’m tired and I want to do the right things. We took her to the emergency room. By the time that we got there, the remedy worked. Paola: No! Kate: So we were in there and she’s sitting up in the wheelchair. She’s telling them all the registration information. I’m like, “Are you kidding me?” Paola: No! So what did you do? Kate: I was just tired. They did treat her. They gave her an inhaler and some other things just to clear her lungs. But at the time, I was just exhausted and I just needed help. But she really was on the mend by the time that we got there. Using the protocols that Joette teaches, it’s so much easier. Paola: It helps kind of preserve your strength. You were right. We’re just talking about just for this interview how I had a sick farm animal, whatever, cows and I’m telling you, it wore me out to try and figure out the remedies with the protocols. I can’t imagine. I mean, he would have had antibiotics if I hadn’t even been able to narrow it down to a couple of protocols to pick from. Kate: Exactly. It is so amazing. I’m a big fan of Joette and the Banerji protocols. Paola: Yes, yes. You mentioned to me about your daughter. She had a couple of conditions that you felt like homeopathy had made it so they were gone permanently. How homeopathy cured her daughter from her illnesses Kate: Yes. One of the first things that I did with Joette is we addressed my daughter’s eczema. We treated her. She had eczema when she was little which led me into the whole natural health world. First, I’ve tried using nutrition which is great. Nutrition is great. I found out she was allergic to a couple of things at the age of two. We stopped giving her those things and she got better. Then, it popped up again. I used herbs. I used essential oils. Then I feel like all those things are great but when you find homeopathy, wow! You’re just so excited because it works like nothing else does. Joette helped me and we treated her with Antimonium crud 200 combined with Arsenicum album 200, twice daily. I also gave her Calc carb 200, every other day. That did it. That got rid of her eczema permanently. Whereas before, it would go away and then it would come back and go away and come back. She hasn’t had it in, I think four years now. Paola: Oh, that’s beautiful. I love it. Oh, and Joette does talk about that protocol quite a bit. I think she talks about it in Good Gut, Bad Gut. Obviously, she talks about it in Skin. And on her blog, it’s there. Kate: Yes. It’s a fantastic protocol. My daughter also had asthma. We’ve been working with that over the years. We used Kali carb 200, twice daily for a while. It got rid of the asthma. But then, it came back. Now we’ve been using in the last, I’d say four months, we’ve been using Lachesis 200, every other day. In the four months or so that we’ve been using it, she hasn’t had severe asthma attacks. That’s been amazing. When she gets an asthma attack, it’s very short and very little. So I’m really confident that that’s going to take care of her asthma. The other thing is that when she does have an attack, she uses Kali iodatum. That helps her with the attack and she doesn’t need to use an inhaler. Paola: So she is that in the acute. That’s the magic markers Joette talks about where you look for an improvement, and frequency, intensity. There’s a whole podcast where she talks about how to look for improvement. So as she continues to improve, you can expect to wean her off of these remedies. Kate: Exactly. I think sometimes people get frustrated and think if it’s a chronic condition that, “Oh, it’s not working.” But they don’t look at the overall picture of like you’re saying, Paola, how often they have the issues and how intense they are. I think it’s good to really write those markers down, the symptoms, and really take a look month to month to see if it is changing because you have chronic conditions that have taken years to come about in your body. It’s not just over night that they disappear. So we need to have patience and stick with things for a while. Paola: Yes, patience is the big one. You definitely learn patience with homeopathy which is a good thing. I think it’s impatience that leads us to the drugs and the antibiotics because it’s so easy. It seems so easy and tempting. Kate: But then if you think about it and I know that you know this but you take antibiotics, say for whatever condition. What you’re doing is you’re just masking the symptoms. You might feel better but it’s going to drive that condition into maybe something else in your body. It’s going to come out in another way. So, you’re not really healing your body. You’re just getting over it for that time. Then it comes back again like asthma or a chronic cough, whatever it is, eczema like what happened with my daughter. So we really want to try to do something that’s going to empower our bodies to heal for good. Paola: Right. Okay. Another thing Kate that I was impressed with in your little family of homeopathy is that it sounds like your daughter who’s 15, right? She’s getting pretty good at homeopathy. I love to hear that because I want to pass this on to my children and my grandchildren. Tell me about that, how it’s been teaching your daughter and how do you do it. Kate: Well, I think the biggest way is just she sees me use it. She sees the success with it and then she builds up the confidence to use it as well. For myself and for my children, it’s repetition to really just doing it, seeing me help other people with it. Then that even gives them more confidence. One of the things that I do is I send them, wherever they go, if they go and stay at a friend’s house or on a trip or something, I give them a bag of homeopathy, a ziplock bag. Paola: I love it. Kate: I put a card in the bag. It tells them. So for a tummy ache, take this. For a headache, take this. For a fever, take this. For accident, take this. A cheat sheet so that they can know what to do because when I’m sick, I can’t think clearly. Paola: I love that. I teach a little study group class on homeopathics in Joette’s Curriculum, the Study Group Curriculum. I help people all the time. But sometimes when I’m sick, they’ll call or a friend will hear and come over or something and I’ll be sick. They’ll say, “Well, don’t you need to just take like Ignatia because you’re so stressed about your farm animal?” I’m the worst patient of myself. I can use it. So, it would be so nice. Because my husband, all he knows is Aconite and Hepar sulph so he’s of no help. I can’t wait until my kids could step up and help. Kate: Exactly. Also, my daughter is going to be taking some of Joette’s courses and so that’s exciting, too because I feel like she will learn more about the remedies and how to use them. She’s very good at using them right now. She’s pretty good. I would definitely ask her if I had an issue. Paola: That’s awesome. I love that. It’s so generational. This is so generational. I love that. You’re going to share with us a copy of that little cheat sheet you give your kids. We will put it on Joette’s blog under this podcast so you can visit the podcast and you can see a copy of that. Kate: Yes. Paola: Okay. Cool. Moving forward, I know we have a big culminating story. You want to share about an unfortunate accident you experienced. But before we get there, are there any experiences you wanted to share with us with homeopathy? Sharing some amazing homeopathic experiences Kate: Sure, yes. There are so many stories. Oh, my goodness! That’s my favorite thing to talk about. One thing that I remember that happened last summer, my son went biking. He went with a friend of his. They just took off down these trails. There were a lot of hills. He had never ridden his friend’s bike. He jumped on his friend’s bike and they went over a big hill. His friend’s bike was different. It didn’t have the same braking system that he was used to. He was airborne. He landed and his bike hit first. His head hit the handle bar of the bike and then he flipped over backwards and landed on his back. They were way deep in the woods. I was waiting for them to come back. I didn’t know where they were or how to find them. So he came back, pushing his bike really kind of dazed. The first thing I did, of course, was run and get the Arnica and I gave him Arnica. I thought that I had Aconite with me but I did not. Now, Aconite is a great remedy for shock. We were about 10 minutes away from town. The Arnica helped him but he was not talkative. He was very quiet. I knew that he was shocky. So I just put him in the van and I drove to town. I drove to our local health food store. I bought some Aconite 30 because they only have the 30 potencies. Otherwise, I would have used 200. I gave him some Aconite 30. Within five to ten minutes after giving him that, he was talkative and joking around and acting normal. I was like, “Should I take him to the emergency room or give him Aconite?” It was a serious accident. So, I just stayed in town a little while just to make sure that all these symptoms were going away. The Aconite did it for him. I just continued the Arnica 200 and Aconite, just alternating them for a little while. Then we ended up continuing with the Arnica 200 because he had huge bruises on his face and his eye. But yes, he was good. So, thank the Lord for Aconite and Arnica. Paola: I can just picture him joking about how cool the accident was. That’s what those boys do at that age, right? Kate: Exactly. Paola: Right. Kate: And also, he loves to snowboard. So, I send him all the time when he goes down the hill, I give him Arnica that he keeps in his pocket. The funny thing is that if he falls and hurts himself, he’ll just take some Arnica, wait a few minutes, and then he’s back up and going because the Arnica works so fast that they feel great afterwards. Then he’s back up and going. I guess that’s good at that, right? Paola: Right, exactly. And maybe, maybe he should take it easy. Kate: Yes, I know. His friend was with us one time and he vomited. I didn’t see it but he must have hit his head because he was sitting up. When I got to him, he’s kind of dazed. This is a really good thing to know that I learned from Joette and the Banerji’s is Cuprum metallicum is great for head injuries. So I tried Arnica with him once and didn’t seem to do much. I gave him the Cuprum and right away, within five minutes, he was feeling fine. He said, “I want to get up and go snowboarding again.” I was saying to him, “No, you need to rest. You fell hard.” He was saying that his head was hurting like an 8 out of 10. So it was pretty bad and so I made him rest for a while. But the Cuprum is really amazing. That’s a great one to know about for head injuries. Paola: Right. Very good, very, very good, especially moms with teenage boys. I have a friend here in Texas who has three teenage boys. When I had an accident myself where I cut my hand, I knew I could call her right away because she uses a lot of homeopathy because she’s got three teenage boys. I know she’s dealt with injuries before. Kate: Yes. Paola: So that’s great. Kate: Okay, do we have time for one more story? Paola: Yes, go ahead. Let’s hear another one. Kate: A tick disease is something I’m passionate about because the Ledum has helped me just so wonderfully with fighting tick disease. Paola: So real quick, in Wisconsin there’s a lot of ticks and they carry Lyme disease and other diseases, right? Not just Lyme. Kate: Yes. There are a number of tick diseases that you can have, some of them worse than others. But a lot of people suffer from that on the East Coast and in this area. They don’t realize that it gets misdiagnosed a lot as chronic inflammatory conditions like fibromyalgia or other things. I was not feeling well for a long time and finally went and was tested for tick disease. I found out that I had three different tick diseases. I chose to use Ledum instead of anything else. It worked amazing. Within, I don’t know, four or five hours, I was up doing things and feeling so much better. So I’ve used that for many months, almost a year probably. I feel so much better. I’ve seen it work amazingly. Our dog came down with tick disease. I woke up one morning and she wasn’t eating. She was lethargic, just laying around and limping when she got up. Paola: How would you know that was tick disease? I would think maybe they ate something weird. Kate: Because I’ve seen it so many times. We’ve had several pets that have had tick disease in horses, dogs, humans. I recognize it. Paola: Okay. Kate: Anyway, I gave her a dose of Ledum. I called the vet and I scheduled an appointment for the afternoon. By the time we got to the vet, she was totally fine. Paola: Wow! Kate: How amazing it works. When I got there, he said, “She seems fine.” I said, “No. She has a tick disease. Can you test her, please?” It turns out she had three tick diseases. Paola: Wow! Kate: Yes, exactly. But she was really fine after that first dose of Ledum. I think I just kept giving her Ledum. But I wanted to be sure. Actually before I knew about all this, we had a dog that passed away from a tick disease. It was pretty traumatic. I’ve seen it work with horses the same way. We had a friend’s horse that was not moving very well, would not run to her, would not turn, not very hungry. I said, “Give her a dose of the Ledum. It sounds like tick disease.” She did. She gave her the dose in the morning. She came home from work in the afternoon and her horse came running after her just fine. Paola: Wow! Kate: That is how amazing it is with tick diseases. Of course, if people have had tick diseases for a long period of time, it can be more difficult to see the results. But it’s an amazing remedy. Paola: Maybe it’s not even as often as simple as taking like Ledum or something once it’s been with you for a long time. Kate: Exactly. It can be more complex. But yes, I’ve seen it work like this many more times and even when I just said so. Paola: Do you have any recommendations? I know a lot of people will get a tick disease and they don’t even know they were ever bit by a tick. Do you know what I mean? Kate: Right. Paola: So you’re just kind of being aware of your body and how you’re feeling. Kate: Yes, rashes on your body because a rash that you see, a rash that is, you don’t know where it came from, that can be a tick bite that developed into a tick disease. Yes, if you’re feeling lethargic, if you feel like you can’t think, tired all the time, those are some of the symptoms that I dealt with personally. Paola: Right. Kate: Yes. Paola: Well, very good. Yes, I know that this is definitely a big issue with a lot of people. I’ve actually heard about some famous people that had tick diseases like I think Avril Lavigne did and Tommy Hilfiger’s daughter did. I think that awareness is growing and it’s important so people know what’s going on. Kate: Right. I would encourage people to look at Joette’s blog because she has a really good blog about tick disease and what to do for tick bites. Check that out because that has all the information on it. Paola: It’s like a protocol she developed. She says she has yet to see it fail once you get the tick bite. Kate: Yes, exactly. If you get a bite, definitely take some Ledum. Even if you don’t have a tick disease, take some Ledum. I give my horses and our dog Ledum about once a month just to prevent. I know we don’t encourage homeopathy as a preventative but you don’t know when an animal gets bit by a tick necessarily because they’re outside. You can’t see the bite marks. Paola: So you kind of do it prophylactically, so to speak. Kate: I do. Yes. Paola: But it seems well-justified because you’re in an area where it’s pretty heavy with ticks. You’re in the country, I assume, right? Kate: Yes. Paola: Yes, exactly. Okay. So Kate, I want to hear the big story. You just showed me your arm. There are stitches going the entire length of your forearm on two different sides. You had a terrible accident. The story is amazing so just go ahead and take it away and tell us what happened. I’m so sorry you got hurt. Kate’s accident and how Arnica and Hypericum helped a lot Kate: Yes, it wasn’t fun having it happen but so many good things have come out of it. So, I’m still thankful. I’m thankful to be alive really. Here’s the story. I was at a horse show and we had a new young horse. I took her into a trail class and I rode her through. She was nervous about everything in the class. She doesn’t have a lot of show experience. At the end of the trail class, I got off of her and I thought, “Whew! We made it and I’m alive.” Paola: Right. Kate: Then I proceeded to walk her over a log so I had the rein in my hand and she flew. She ran me over and I ended up underneath her, holding on to her rein. She was kind of walking on top of me, like over the top of me. So she ended up stepping on my arm. I don’t remember it happening. I just remember being on the ground and thinking, “Curl up in a ball so she doesn’t step on you.” Then I got up and I remember my arm. This is kind of gross. I don’t know if it’s okay to say but my arm was hanging from skin and muscle. Paola: Ugh! Kate: So I said, “Serena, go get my homeopathy kit.” Paola: That’s your daughter? Kate: Yes, my daughter. Paola: Your budding homeopath. Kate: Yes. They were saying, “Somebody call an ambulance.” I said, “No. Don’t call an ambulance. Serena, go get my hom-.” And I was very emphatic about the homeopathy. I could see her. She was kind of standing there. She, of course, went to get it. Paola: I can see everybody standing, “Don’t get an ambulance. What the heck is a homeopathy kit?” Kate: Yes, you’re right. I wonder what they were thinking. And so, she got it. I didn’t realize this but I had an open end fracture. My brother was there, thankfully. He came up and he held my arm so that the bleeding would stop. Serena kept dosing me with the strongest Arnica and Hypericum that I have along with me which was Arnica 1M and Hypericum 1M. Looking back, I wished that I would have had the 10Ms with me and I would have done that. So now, guess what I ordered? Arnica 10M and Hypericum 10M and I will not go anywhere without them. You can be sure of that. Anyway, they got me in the car, took me to the local hospital which was a very small hospital. I was in the ER. I just had Serena keep dosing me with Arnica and Hypericum every, I don’t know, 10 to 30 minutes at first. So it was every few minutes. Then it gradually got further and further apart. In the first ER, I was there for probably four hours or so. Serena just kept giving me that. They kept asking me, “Do you need pain meds?” I said, “No, I don’t need any pain medication. I’m fine.” I was in pain obviously. Paola: Right. Kate: But I wasn’t in enough pain that I felt like it wasn’t controlled. Paola: Right. Kate: So Arnica and Hypericum were amazing. They made it bearable. I did not have Aconite with me. I wish I would have because I would have taken that as well for shock. Paola: Right. Kate: They kept saying to me, “You’re going to go into shock. We need to get you to the hospital.” I said, “No, I’m fine.” The Arnica and Hypericum really took care of that, too which was amazing. Anyway, they ended up having to transport me for surgery about an hour and a half away. So I had a bumpy car ride with my arm in a makeshift brace. Then I had another about five hours until I had surgery. Paola: Because they had a hard time finding a surgeon who is qualified enough to deal with your injury. Kate: 4th of July weekend and they called several hospitals who wouldn’t take me and they gave different reasons. But I think they just didn’t want to come in on the holiday weekend. Paola: Yes. I mean, if you’re listening to this podcast, you really need to see this photographs of her arm. I mean, you do not appreciate the magnitude of this injury until you see. I mean, it’s like Frankenstein arm all the way down with the stitches. Kate: Yes, it was crazy. Thankfully, we found a surgeon that would take me and do surgery. In the surgery, I had five fractures on my arm. He had to cut through two muscles to put two plates into my arm. I also had bruised ribs. I never had an x-ray of my ribs so I’m still not sure whether they’re broken or are they bruised. I don’t know. But they were extremely painful. I had my cheekbone that was also bruised because it was very sore. I didn’t really know those things as much when I was in the hospital because the Arnica and Hypericum really took away the pain on those things. My ribs hurt but not extreme. But by the time I got home, I realized those were very injured as well. Long story short, I had surgery and I had a nerve block in my arm for the surgery. After the nerve block, I was in the hospital for another about 12 hours. They kept telling me to take pain medicine. They almost did not let me leave the hospital without taking pain meds. So finally, I agreed to take some Tylenol just because they were so adamant. They said, “You are going to need pain meds and we want to see how you respond.” They actually wanted me to take oxycodone. They wanted to see how I responded to it while I was still in the hospital. Paola: Like if you’re allergic or something. Kate: Right, right. I just said, “No, I don’t need that. I’m going to be fine.” They wouldn’t believe me. I asked them about homeopathy. They just said they’d have to check with the doctor. I said, “Okay, I won’t use it then.” (Wink, wink). Paola: Right. “This is off the tape. I was just kidding.” Kate: Yes. Paola: So your daughter had been dosing you kind of privately, secretly without them seeing. Kate: Yes, yes. In the first hospital, they were actually good about it. It was openly that they let her do it because one of the attendants, his wife was studying to be a naturopath and so he knew about it. Paola: Oh. Kate: They know it. Paola: Yes. Kate: The attending physician there, she didn’t know that I was doing it but the people who were actually with me, they knew and they didn’t care. So that was great. In the second hospital, not so much so. But that’s okay. Finally, I took a Tylenol so that they would let me go home. I’m like, “Oh, I feel so much better now.” Paola: “Thank you. So glad you guys have Tylenol.” Kate: I’m going to be fine with the Tylenol. Paola: That’s fun. Kate: Anyway, I went home and I just used homeopathy. Then I did have a consult with Joette and she put me on a protocol. I’m actually taking a lot of different remedies. I never really realized you could take so many remedies at a time. But I guess in an emergency acute situation and a traumatic thing that I went through, you can do those things for a short time. So I have a huge list of remedies that I’m taking right now. But I’m gradually able to come off of some of them as things change in my body and heal. Paola: Did you take The Survivalist Guide? Kate: I did. Okay, that is something that everyone needs to know about. I love the Survivalist Guide Book. That is a book that I cannot live without. That book has so many great things in it. I think everyone listening needs to take that course because it’s a life saver. It literally is in so many ways. It has every emergency situation that you can think of and how to handle it homeopathically. Paola: Yes. Not all of Joette’s courses come with a binder or book but this is one of them that does. And so, I’m sure a lot of the remedies she put you on for your injury are also discussed in that course. They’re listed in the book. Kate: Right. I will tell you on my follow up visits with my surgeon, I had one a couple of weeks ago and he said that the swelling in my hand and in my arm is greatly less than he would have expected it to be considering what I went through and the surgery and everything. I know that’s due to homeopathy for sure. That Lycopodium 30 is great for edema and that’s what Joette put me on for that. But then again, the Arnica is also great for that and I was taking that for quite a while as well. Paola: Interesting. We use Lycopodium 30 on my little cow out here because he had pretty bad edema. That was just one that Joette told me to do. I was like, “I didn’t know about Lycopodium. Okay.” And I just did it. But now I’m piecing it together right now. That’s why she picked it. Kate: Yes. I didn’t know about that either so that’s definitely one thing that I’m going to remember. Paola: It breaks my heart that we don’t have homeopathy in the hospitals like we should because I mean, for heaven’s sakes, just in the emergency room. Please just put it in the emergency room. Kate: Right. Paola: Such a big help. Kate: Can you imagine having a horse step on your arm, what kind of bruising should I have had on my arm and my hand? Then having the trauma of having stitches on both sides of my arm all the way up my forearm? Okay, I had no bruising. I mean, there was no bruising. Paola: We can see the photos you’re sending us. We’re going to put the photos on this blog. But I mean it’s hard to believe, Kate. Kate: Yes, it is. It’s really hard to believe. I had some swelling. But yes, it was really amazing. You have to look at the pictures then you’ll be able to see the full scope of what homeopathy actually did and how it helped. Paola: Kate, you’re awesome. I loved hearing the story. I’m so glad you’re feeling better. I love homeopathy. Kate: Me too. Paola: Joette is awesome. We love Joette. Kate: Hey, Joette. Paola: I know. So thank you so much for joining us and for being a Mom with Moxie and being willing to share your story and for helping out our listeners learn. Are you working in your community? Do you have study groups or anything like that or have you thought about starting one because you’re rocking it. You’ve got lots of information. Kate: Yes, I actually want to start a study group since then and I’m excited to do it. But we do help a lot of people with homeopathy and talk a lot about it. So there are a lot of people that have learned about it. It’s just fun to share and see people’s lives change with it. Paola: Yes. Awesome. Well, thank you so much, Kate. Thank you again. Joette: Are you or someone you know a Mom with Moxie? Well, we’re on the hunt for you. Of course, we don’t want to hear just from moms but from anyone who uses and loves homeopathy. Reach out to my podcast team and let us know why you’re a Mom with Moxie. For more information, contact podcast@joettecalabrese.com.
Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com and schedule a free 15-minute conversation. P.S. If this is a subject that turns you on as much as it does me and you want to “get it” too, join me in my Survivalist Guide to Homeopathy to better understand how to endure both natural and man-made disasters. But don’t think that this guide is mandatory. Simply stay tuned to this blog because my plan is to give you years’ worth of free content right here every week.
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| Podcast 22 – Picking Apart a Chronic Case | 21 Nov 2016 | 00:56:10 | |
In this podcast, we cover: 03:22 Writing down information and fine-tuning them 13:48 Homeopathy transcends other methods of medicine 18:50 Assessing the case 27:05 How long before a remedy acts 34:59 Figuring out the conditions 41:30 The importance of note taking to determine one’s improvement
Paola: It’s podcast number 22 at joettecalabrese.com. Here’s what’s coming up. Joette: Dig around a little bit but if it doesn’t come up, don’t theorize. “Oh well, then it must be mercury. Oh well, you still have amalgams in your teeth. It’s got to be that.” Not really, it could be a gazillion thing and then you listen more. I have joint pain, all of those things you want to actually jot down but at the top of the page, you’re jotting down the ideas of the medicines that come to mind. The message is that homeopathy transcends the other methods of medicine. Paola: The goal of today’s podcast is to walk you through the case taking process for a chronic condition. At the time of this recording, Joette is in the middle of teaching the Allergic?! course and this podcast is turning out to be a homework assignment for the students taking that class. But this podcast really also benefits all of Joette’s listeners. So, the steps we’ll explore begin with listening to the case and taking notes on the person’s ailments. She emphasizes that it’s important to even write some of the exact verbiage that the person uses to describe their ailments. Joette recommends that we write down to what degree the person is suffering like on a scale of 1 to 10. Then as you’re listening to the person express themselves, you may think of protocols that might fit their conditions. So, while you’re hearing them and while you’re taking notes on the case, in the corner of the page, you’re supposed to be writing down what protocols might apply to them. So this is a brainstorming process. Then after you’ve completed taking the case, you take some time to look at those potential protocols and edit them down to the most important ones that you want to prioritize. Finally, once you’ve set around four protocols for that person, you need to commit to them to them for six to eight weeks. So that’s the Reader’s Digest version of what we’re going to discuss in today’s podcast. Joette is going to really take some time to tease apart each of those steps so that we can understand them more deeply. You are listening to a podcast from joettecalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. All right, here we go. Hi Joette. How are you? Joette: Hi Paola. I’m doing well. Paola: For those of us who signed up for your Allergic?! Course, we’re well into it, I think past the halfway point. Joette: Yes. Paola: It’s been a fascinating course. I have pages and pages of notes. Joette: Oh good girl, Paola. Paola: Yes, I love it. But you’ve been giving us some homework for that course, the last podcast’s homework and this podcast tonight is some homework for the students. But you were saying that this would apply to just anyone and the Allergic?! students as well. Joette: Yes. This is the fundamental information that’s so useful when dealing with a chronic case. We’re going to touch a little bit on acutes too but particularly chronic. So yes, this is for anyone who wants to go that far in homeopathy in dealing with chronic conditions. Paola: Yes. For those of you who’ve already taken her courses, I think it’s a really important reminder, if you’ve taken Good Gut, Bad Gut or others. The topic of this podcast is what you like to call editing down a case. So I’m an English major. I know what it’s like to edit an essay when you have all the information there. But what do you mean by editing down a case? This is chronic, right? Writing down information and fine-tuning them Joette: Yes, yes. We’re talking about a chronic case. So that means something like for example, for this course that we’re doing right now on Allergic?!, when someone says, “Well, I have joint pains,” and if you know anything about homeopathy, the first thing you’re thinking of is oh my gosh. That must be or it could be Rhus tox. It could be Arnica. So you jot that down as soon as you hear it. Then you listen more. I have joint pains that are worse on first movement. It’s better when I limber up. It’s rare that they say it quite like this but most people don’t give you the answer that clearly. But let’s say that’s what comes of it. Now, you can cross off Arnica because Arnica doesn’t have that. So while you’re taking the case, you’re jotting down not the whole sentence necessarily, although you’re taking the case in a full sentence as the person is giving it to you but you’re also at the top of the page. You’re writing down the names of the medicines that are coming to mind. When you finish taking the case, now you find out that the person has terrible allergies and if they eat wheat, their joints ache. If they eat wheat, they have bloating. Oh bloating, wait, wait, wait. I know what bloating is. Hold on. You write down Lycopodium is bloating. So you write down Lycopodium. It’s Lycopodium that is often mixed with Arsenicum 3 which is a Banerji Protocol. So wow, maybe it’s Arsenicum. Let’s find out more. Oh there’s burning or there’s discharge or there’s et cetera, et cetera. We go into all the pictures of what LycoArs covers and you say I got it. I got it. It’s LycoArs. Don’t assume that that’s set in stone. You’re writing down your ideas based on what is being presented. It doesn’t mean that you’re not writing down the full case because as the person’s telling you this, you’re jotting down I have bloating every time I eat wheat or even after I eat anything, it feels like there’s a beach ball in my belly. All of those things you want to actually jot down. But at the top of the page, you’re jotting down the ideas of the medicines that come to mind. When the case is fully taken and you’re all done, you’re going to go back and you look at the top of the page. After you’ve taken all your notes, you look at the top of the page. You might have 15 medicines up there. That’s if you know enough materia medica, if you know enough. Now, you may not. If you’re brand new, you might only think of one or two which is alright. That’s alright. You’re still learning. It’s brand new to you. But let’s say you’re at the level where you come up with about 10 homeopathic medicines for this whole picture. Now, you have to fine-tune it. Fine-tuning is like you said, like an English major. You go back and you find the most potent words to make the most sense of what you’re trying to convey. This is the same thing with homeopathy. You can also use the analogy of a painting. The Artist stands back and holds up his thumb and looks at the painting and says, “Is that right? Is there too much yellow? Should I put more violet in there?” They even wait until the next day and come back and look at the painting or the writer comes back and looks at his writings and determines, “Did I put too much emphasis on this or that.” So for example, if the person has said I have joint pains if I eat wheat. But then they tell you, “But that hasn’t happened in years. It really doesn’t happen very often. It’s not really a big deal. I kind of noticed it a long time ago but it’s not a big deal.” You don’t want to give a homeopathic medicine specific for something that’s not in the hierarchy of importance. You want to figure out what is important and how can it best represent what you’re trying to do. Paola: So in the beginning, when you’re taking the case, you’re just gathering all the information. Joette: Right, just jot it down so you don’t lose your train of thought. Paola: And brainstorming protocols. Joette: Exactly. Paola: If you can’t remember the protocol, you can say, “Well, I know there’s a protocol for this like dysentery.” Joette: So you put dysentery and you go back and you look up dysentery and you find it. Paola: Then after you were thinking through the case, you’re going to say, “Okay, what is the biggest-?” Joette: What’s the big picture here? Paola: Yes. Joette: What’s keeping this person from being able to live their life? Paola: The biggest problem is the thesis, I guess. Joette: Right, exactly. Yes. What does this distill down to? If this is a grandma who can’t knit and all she wants to do is knit and maybe cook for her grandchildren and her family. She can’t because the arthritis is crippling her hands and the pain is horrible. That arthritis is keeping her from being who she is. If it’s a child who can’t eat and they’re supposed to be growing and they can’t eat this and they don’t like that. They’re really fussy and they bloat and they have distention and they have gas, et cetera. It is clear that the biggest issue has something to do with the gut on a deep level. So we have to go after what’s most important. Now, it doesn’t mean we go after only one important aspect of the case but we create that as I say hierarchy. What’s the most important? What might be the most second important? What might be the most third important? We do down primary, secondary, tertiary until we can go to maybe the third or fourth most valuable aspects of this case. Paola: Then, is part of that trying to figure out the root problem? Like in Allergic?!, you talked about how some people have a lot of mucus all the time and then they also have a cough or something. Then as you’re talking to them, you realize, “Oh, this is happening because you’re drinking milk.” Does it help getting to the root problem and prioritizing that? Joette: It helps when you go at it from that point of view. What could be causing this? We don’t want to know the entire mechanism. We don’t need to know that the person doesn’t have the enzyme or was deficient in that enzyme in their family tree that kept them from being able to digest and can’t release the toxins, et cetera. No, no, no, way too far. If it’s milk that causes the arthritis, if it’s milk ingestion that’s causing the bloating, that’s good enough. That’s plenty. That’s very good information. If it turns out that it’s more than milk and when it turns out that swell, it’s every time I have pizza. Well, pizza is more than dairy. It’s got more than cheese. It’s got red sauce. It’s got red. It’s got wheat. If you’re buying it from a store, it’s got MSG. So you have to think of that too or those kinds of anti-nutrients of sorts. But let’s say it’s homemade pizza. Every time the person has homemade pizza, this is what happens. They find that well I just won’t eat cheese on it next time. I’ll just have red sauce and some homemade pepperoni or something. I know it’s kind of depressing. Paola: I know. Joette: Well, actually my grandparents were Sicilian. My grandmother is used to make white pizza. It was pizza without red sauce and without cheese. You would just put spices and herbs and anchovy and you kind of stick it into the dough and let it bake like that. So it was a completely different kind of a pizza but it was pretty common in Sicily, I guess back in the turn of the last century. Anyway, once you find out that wow, I can have pizza as long as I don’t have the cheese with it. Okay, so that might mean that you’re okay with wheat. Some people go and have the testing done and they find out that it’s wheat. But I have to tell you, I don’t really trust the test so much for foods that people might be allergic to or sensitive to. I really like real, live, life experiences that help us determine this. Sometimes we don’t have enough information. Sometimes it’s too complex or sometimes it shows up and other times it doesn’t but I think it’s more reliable than having tests done. Paola: When I say looking at the root of it, you don’t want to go as far as like you have too many heavy metals or you don’t methylate your B vitamins. We want verifiable root of the problem that is actually causing this. So when you have milk then it causes your joints to hurt, verified. Joette: That’s right. Paola: But how do we know that if you obviously started taking methylated B vitamins that that’s going to make the issues go away. That often isn’t verifiable. You want to know this -. Joette: Well, the heavy metal thing is not always verifiable too. I get all the people who come to me and say, “I was told I have heavy metals. Now, that I’ve been working on it for, I don’t’ know, eight years doing chelation and the supplements, and enemas, and sweating, and saunas. I’ve done everything I was told to do. My heavy metals don’t show so high and yet, I’m still sick. So theoretically, it was wrong. Paola: Yes, I went through that with candida. I did the candida diet for over a year. I did all the supplements. I did everything perfectly. Then in the end, I still was sick with my chronic stuff. I thought, “Okay, that’s it. Candida can’t be the issue. I need to stop chasing these rabbit holes.” So, yes. Joette: I’m not saying it’s always wrong but I get the people for whom it is often wrong. It was a theory that was a good guess as to why this is happening. It really matters not why. The point is it’s happening. When you drink milk, you get bloating. Paola: So I remember when I saw a lot of naturopaths. It was kind of a gamble. They’d say well let’s see if we clean you out for parasites if your autoimmune thing is going to go away. Then I didn’t have parasites, so you know what I mean? So they try and find something wrong but yes, in the end nothing helped. Even though maybe I have these issues, maybe it wasn’t necessarily uprooting the issue and we’re just guessing. So with this, when we’re trying to look at the root as we edit down a case, we try and find something that’s verifiable. We know that if you could get over your milk intolerance or your gluten intolerance, these symptoms would go away. So that’s as far as we go for the root of the problem. Homeopathy transcends other methods of medicine Joette: It can’t be overstated enough and the message is that homeopathy transcends the other methods of medicine. I’m not saying they don’t have value. Please don’t get me wrong. Modern medicine absolutely has value, the diagnostics in modern medicine. We’ve talked about this before. Surgery can be a lifesaver in many situations. Naturopathy can be very useful. But I have to tell you homeopathy transcends it. Homeopathy goes 230 years ago. Right around the time the microscope was invented, so was homeopathy discovered by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann. It was before we thought, “Hmm, parasites,” although perhaps they thought of parasites. I’m sure they knew there were parasites then but not microorganisms that were so minute. Many of them probably didn’t even imagine that there were parasites that were so small, they were unseen by the naked eye or that there were heavy metals, et cetera. They simply used symptoms. Symptoms, and I can’t stress this enough, never lie. Symptoms don’t lie. Symptoms are a representation of what’s going on. I can’t eat milk. It causes bloating. I can’t eat grains. It causes arthritis. Hello, there it is. There’s the entire case. Paola: That’s the language of homeopathy. Joette: Yes. It’s simple. It’s elegant. It’s uncomplicated. It’s straightforward. It’s not politically correct. It is what it is. My favorite clients/students are the people who come to me like the old time farmer or the Amish folk who say I’ve got an ache in my hip. When does it happen? Well, it seems like I’ve milked these cows and I drink it all the time but it seems like I don’t know. I’m beginning to think it’s the milk. So I stopped for a while and I found it didn’t hurt so much. End of discussion. He’s not thinking about his B vitamins being methylated or that he can’t release his toxins or that he’s inherited -. No, forget that. He doesn’t go that far. He’s not intellectualizing. He’s being honest with you. This happens and it happens when I do this. Sometimes we don’t even know when it happens. I mean, I’m giving you the extra benefit of saying, “Well, it happens when I drink milk or eat grains or something.” It might not be that at all. Someone might say, “I’ve stopped all of that. It still doesn’t make a difference.” That’s important too. Paola: So it’s imperative to know that if you do have a simplified root of the problem like a farmer we described like we’re saying milk intolerance then that’s good to add to your notes. But if you don’t know what is causing your arthritis, it’s okay. Joette: Yes, drop it. Drop it. Drop it. It’s unimportant. Dig around a little bit but if it doesn’t come up, don’t theorize, “Oh well, then it must be mercury. Oh well you still have amalgams in your teeth. It’s got to be that.” Not really, it could be a gazillion thing. It could that you had strep. It could have been the antibiotics you took. It could be the gas leak at your basement. It could be the radon in your basement. It could be the change in weather. It could be your bad marriage. I mean the list goes on and on and on. Paola: It could be all of the above. Joette: Yes, yes. Well, conventional medicine often says, “Oh, it’s stress.” Not everything is stress for crying out loud. That’s such a blanket statement. But on one hand, they’re right, yes. But which stressor is it? To figure that out is like finding a needle in a haystack. Do you know what it feels like to me, Paola? It seems like an attempt to give answers to people who are desperate for answers. I understand because I’ve been that person who’s been desperate for answers. Paola: It seems like both parties might feel a little desperate. Joette: Yes. Paola: Not that whoever really wants to help and they can’t figure it out. Joette: That’s right. That’s right. So let’s try this out. Let’s try this theory out and see how it goes but homeopathy transcends that and that’s really my message. Paola: The promise is that it’s expensive to try and check this out, check that out, $100 here, $100 there. It adds up quickly. So let’s review it. It’s brainstorming, listening to the case and throwing down. Joette: Jotting down the case too, you’re listening and jotting of course. Paola: You’re listening to the case and you’re jotting down the protocols that might apply. Joette: Jotting down the case, too. You want to write that down what the person is saying because I can guarantee, you won’t remember in eight weeks. Paola: Even sometimes, verbatim is really helpful. Joette: Absolutely, as per the person’s words. Paola: I know you like to put plus, plus, plus when something’s really, really bad or the greater sign is better from, the less than sign is worse from, yes exactly. So then, what’s the next step to edit down a case? We’ve kind of compiled all the information. It’s on our case-taking sheet. So then what? Assessing the case Joette: Now, you’re assessing, like we just said. We’re looking at what is the impediment to this person’s life. They can’t ever eat out. They can’t ever go to someone else’s house. They can’t eat wheat and dairy because they have this terrible arthritis and bloating. Those two protocols are important then, the arthritic one and the gastrointestinal one. Now, let’s say the person is up all night, can’t sleep because of this bloating or because they’re thinking about the bloating or they’re worried the next day now what are they going to do. They don’t have anything to eat or they have to go to an event tomorrow and they have to be forced to eat certain foods. Now, they’re up all night, worry, worry, worry. The next day, they’re totally exhausted and beat up. That means we have to use a medicine that’s specific for inability to shut the brain off. So we’re also jotting that down. Now, if you remember or if you know my blog because I write about all of these subjects on my blog, for example, Coffea 200C, twice daily is the medicine that we often use for people whose brains can’t shut down. So that might be something we use or if it’s worry, of course Coffea does have a lot of worry and anxiety associated with the use of that medicine. But let’s say it’s someone who overthinks, overthinks. It’s just not in bed at night. It’s not that they’re stepped up. They’re just worriers and anxiety, anxiety then we might think of Ignatia. We might use Ignatia 200C. If it sounds more like Coffea than Ignatia then you put Coffea up at the top as one of the other considerations that we’re going to add to this picture. Paola: We could put Coffea/Ignatia? Joette: Yes, yes, yes, right, right. Now, when we go back and look at it, now let’s say there was also some eczema and there was itching. It’s behind their knees and it’s bothersome. Then they also have hair loss. If we know the protocol for eczema, it’s usually the Banerji Protocol is Antimonium crud with Arsenicum album. You might jot that down. They also have hair loss and that’s the Banerji Protocol for that is Ustilago 200C and so we write all that down. Now, we look at the whole thing and we go, “You know? We’ve got a lot of remedies here.” Paola: Right. Joette: We don’t want to use all of them unless it’s absolutely necessary. So, how awful is that hair loss? You start asking those kinds of questions. Are you talking about where a woman lost so much hair that the scalp is now exposed? Are we talking about someone who’s had really thick hair and it’s not so thick as it used to be but no one else would notice? Now, we start backing off and saying, “Look, it’s not a life threatening consideration.” Some of it, you’re making a decision on your own to a certain degree and you’re also conferring with the person because you want to ask her. Sometimes women say, “Oh my gosh, it’s hair loss. It’s absolutely driving me out of my mind. I’m very frightened by it. I couldn’t care less about the eczema behind my knees.” So let’s focus on the hair loss, the bloating and anxiety, food intolerances. Now we’ve got a case. Now, we’ve got three to four homeopathic medicines that are within reason to use. Paola: So now that you’ve taken a case, you’ve brainstormed. You’ve written down all the protocols and then you’ve decided which ones take priority, which ones are going to be the topic sentence for each paragraph. Joette: Yes, right. Paola: We’ve decided that -. I like the metaphor. I’m going to keep going with it. Now, it’s time to commit really. This is really important especially if you’re taking your own case and you’re suffering yourself, it is really discouraging when you have setbacks which you will. As you progress, there are setbacks. So you really have to commit. So tell us about that, Joette. Joette: About commitment? Paola: How long does it take a remedy to act? How long before a remedy acts Joette: Oh I see. I see what, okay. Now, you start. You start with the medicines. When it’s a chronic condition and that’s what we’re talking about here, you want to give it at least six weeks if possible. I even like eight weeks because this is chronic, remember. This person didn’t just suddenly get bloating, hair loss, eczema, food intolerances last Thursday like you would perhaps with a bee sting for an acute. Paola: It feels like it does sometimes Joette. Like one day, you’re going along and then the next day, your bladder is really hurting or your joints start hurting. It kind of creeps up on you and it does feel like it hits overnight. But we have to remember that it didn’t. Joette: Well, if it didn’t, it didn’t. But if it did, it did. We don’t want to put words into people’s mouth. You know what I mean? We don’t want to make an assumption. There is the line that I draw on the sand between homeopathy and other medical modalities. I want reproducible results. I want this to be scientific. In other words, I want this to be very clear. Don’t make assumptions. If it’s not there in the history, don’t assume that it was. If it only came a month ago, it only came a month ago. Let’s not make the assumption that well, it had to be from your parents. Oh really, did it? No. Let’s see where it started. We want to be honest upfront and very simplified. I don’t like theory. I like numbers, science, reproducible clarification because otherwise, it becomes for lack of a better word, crunchy. Paola: Crunchy? Joette: Yes and we don’t want. This is not about I get the feeling that perhaps -. No, no, no. It’s either this or it’s that. This is not intuition. I could go off on a whole tangent on that. You know that I’ve talked about this many times before. This has nothing to do with intuition, absolutely nothing. If you’re good at homeopathy, it’s not because you have intuition. It’s because you have experience because this is all science. I probably should not get started on that because it gets me into – teasy. Paola: I guess, why, why is intuition so bad? Because you want to really look at the person’s case and not impose your own prejudices into it? Joette: Well, that’s a big part of it, number one. Number two, it borders on that fuzzy area where people think that homeopathy is mind, body, spirit. Paola: Oh, like new age type medicine. Joette: This is not new age. This is not spiritual. This is medicine. It’s science. When I say reproducible, I mean when I teach this class and then these people who are in my class teach their children or their constituency, whoever that might be or their patients and their clients and their practices, I want it to be five people down the line are coming up with the same answers for bloating and food intolerances and eczema and hair loss and sleeplessness as what I taught. Not because I know all but because no one said, “Gee, I have the feeling that perhaps, it’s because of this, this, or that so I’m going to throw this medicine in there. No, no, no, no, no. Paola: It almost sounds like a palm reader or something like that. Joette: Yes, yes. I mean there’s nothing wrong with intuition but not when it comes to science and medicine. I’m sorry. It just doesn’t. When a lot of times people say, “Well the reason you know this is because you have good intuition,” I say, “No, I don’t.” I mean I might have intuition about my children, about life in general but not when it comes to my students, clients, homeopathy. No, I’m using hard, cold, evidence-based facts that I have learned and studied that are reproducible for the last 200 and some years. Paola: So then going back to the original topic. Joette: What were we talking about? Paola: It was how long does it take a remedy to act. Joette: Okay. So because it’s a chronic condition, let’s make the assumption. We’ll go with both scenarios. Let’s make the assumption that it’s new and that you’ve just gotten this. Suddenly, you’ve got eczema and sleeplessness and joint pain, et cetera. You might look at this as an acute because it just started. I’m assuming though with arthritis and eczema, and hair loss, those are generally not acute conditions. They’re more often chronic. But if you use these medicines that are specific for these conditions, it will likely finish up in very short order, say within weeks, sometimes even a few days in certain circumstances, weeks, months, and very short order. Now, let’s say if it’s a long time condition. This food intolerance has been going on since this person was six years old and now they’re in their 40s. The hair loss is happening in the last three or four years. There’s eczema that’s come and gone through the years. There’s bloating and distention and gas and all of that that comes and goes. That’s chronic. So how long does it take to complete this? You want to see a shift, not necessarily completion but a shift within two months, eight weeks. We’ve talked about this in these podcasts in the past. We want to see those three magic markers being met. We want to see less intensity to the symptoms, lasting for a shorter period of time, and a larger space between each time they present within that two month period of time. Now, we don’t want an update in a week. No, no, no. That’s too soon. It’s like walking on a painted floor, too soon. You got to allow that pain to cure before you can start walking at it. You might get away with it but it could end up with tacky foot marks, prints all over the floor. You want to wait for it to completely cure over a period of two months. Now, the information is useful because now we can see over a period of two full, almost two full months. For women, that’s particularly valuable because we want that 28-day period to pass at least once because of menses. Paola: That’s right. Yes, because hormones influence so much. It’s not that you’ll be completely cured in the two months. Joette: We want to see a shift. Paola: Yes, now you have enough information to determine if there has been a shift. Joette: Yes and so in what area? Oh my hair has stopped falling. So that was an important consideration last time. My hair stopped falling. I don’t see it growing back yet but it has stopped falling. Now, if the hair was not very thin to start with, it was simply just falling but it was freaking her out then we can stop Ustilago and instead concentrate on other areas that are perhaps more important. If however, the hair had gotten very thin, we want Ustilago to thicken it up and not just stop its fall then we would stay with it. But now we have an indication that Ustilago is absolutely correct. Paola: But Ustilago is really for hair loss and not just wanting to thicken someone’s hair. Joette: It’s for thickening hair when there’s been hair loss. So in other words, there has to be a pathology first. Paola: Right. Not just I’ve always had thin hair and now I want thick. Joette: Yes, I’d like it to be thick. Paola: I think the problem you probably see and I experienced this when I was getting better from a lot of my chronic stuff is in those six weeks, you can get discouraged and you want to jump around and try a different route. Joette: I’m so glad you brought that up. Paola: Try a different modality. I’m going to start doing, I don’t know, like more herbs or more vitamins or more supplements on top of it. So what’s the problem with that? Joette: Well, I don’t have a problem with herbs. I think herbs are great. I would discourage someone from starting herbs while we’re waiting to find out how the homeopathics have acted because we don’t want any interference good or bad. Of course, we want the person to get well. No doubt about it. But at the end of the mark, at that two-month mark, if the person has improved and they started adding herbs, newly added herbs say at week 2 along with the homeopathics, now at the end of the eight weeks, what did it. Was it the herbs that were added in? Was it the supplements? Was it the new yoga class? Was it et cetera, et cetera? We want to know what did it so that we know what to do because if we don’t, we don’t have a pathway. We don’t know where to go. Paola: I tell people all the time. The reason you’re here with homeopathy is probably because nothing else has worked. Joette: Yes, we’re always the last resort, unfortunately. Paola: We are. It’s so true. I mean, one gal came by last week. Her daughter had strep throat and it had gone five days, five days of strep throat. You don’t want strep throat for five days. She was pretty sick. She’s like, “We’ve tried everything else.” I’m like, “I know. You didn’t even have to tell me that because you’re here. If you’re here, it means that you did try everything else because everyone goes to homeopathy last.” If you’re finally here, give it a chance. I tell people all the time. Yes, if you feel like you like putting coconut oil on your eczema or whatever it is, I don’t think that changes too much the pathology. But if you’re going to do something deeper that you think might help, you’ve got to give homeopathy a chance because the homeopathy will cure this too well. Joette: To be honest, it’s true for any modality. If you’ve been using supplements and you want to try an herb, to try the herb on top of the supplements, you have a baseline established so you can probably figure that out. But if you start supplements and herbs at the same time, which one is acting? How do you know? Paola: The other problem too is and I’ve done this one. This is a little confession was after a miscarriage, I was having so many hormonal fluctuations. I was desperate to get them under control. So I started taking this herbal tincture to prevent just that. I was taking it as directed but I totally overdosed on it, totally. It caused a worsening of symptoms. So then, I was thinking that the homeopathy wasn’t working. Joette: Right. You don’t know where you’re going with this. Paola: Right. So then when I stopped this herb, everything calmed down. I was like, “Oh shoot. I was messing it up. I was making it worse.” Joette: One modality at a time unless you’ve been using it all along. Now, what I mean by that is if you have a chiropractor and I love chiropractic, so please understand that I hold them in very high regard. If you have a chiropractor you’ve been seeing for a year and you see him or her once a week and you’re going to start homeopathy, stay with that chiropractor. Stay with that modality because that’s your baseline. You know what that’s done for you so far. The same thing with herbs; if you’ve been staying, stay with those herbs by all means or essential oils or whatever else you may be using. But don’t add a new modality in at the same time you’re starting with homeopathy, if you can, if you can. Paola: Right. Because you know what it feels like right now as is with all that you’re doing, with your diet, with everything. Just keep it all the same and then [0:34:34]. Yes, very good. So I have talked to people, Joette, who have a lot. Some people don’t have one chronic illness. They’ve hit the jackpot. They have it all. They have diabetes. They have lots and lots and lots of things. Then I ask them. So what is worse to you? They say to me, “All of it, all of it is the worst.” And you’re like, “Oh shoot.” Figuring out the conditions Joette: Well, you have to pick it apart. You have to pick it apart and say, “Okay, so how’s your energy? Oh my gosh, the fatigue is horrible. It’s hard. I can barely get up in the morning. I’ve got three kids. I can’t be with them. I can’t help them. It’s awful. So you have to put an underline under that. You got to make sure that that’s noticeable, that that’s remarkable, I mean. Paola: So go through each condition that they’ve even narrated and based on how they share -. Joette: Then you go back and ask them because really, remember, this is their case not yours. This is their case. When it’s all said and done, you go back and say, “Okay, let’s try to boil it down to four main conditions.” More often than not, you can boil it down. Paola: You can figure it out. Joette: Yes. Paola: Should we prioritize life threatening conditions? Joette: Oh definitely, holy cow, yes. Paola: Diabetes and then I guess it’s obvious. Joette: Well, not necessarily. No, now that you say that because if they’re on insulin, you’re not going to try to get them off of insulin. I’m not saying that it can’t be done homeopathically because I’ve seen it done or at least starting to minimize some of the insulin. I’ve seen it many times in India. But they’ve got a solution for that. They’re taking insulin. Leave that alone. Leave that alone so that’s been satisfied with conventional medicine. Now, let’s say they’re having insomnia and no matter how many drugs they take, it doesn’t help. That’s pretty important if the insomnia is horrible and it’s making them crazy. Serious insomnia can be life changing. It could really ruin a person’s life. Paola: That’s awful. Alright, what about thyroid then? I feel like thyroid is -. Joette: Now, let’s say they’re taking a [0:36:50 Nature-throid], something like that. They’re not talking Synthroid. You still have the hair loss, the bloating. They’re worse from milk and wheat and anxiety and insomnia and eczema and they’re taking Nature-throid, Nature-throid is not an answer. It’s a temporary solution is the way I see it. But it’s certainly better than Synthroid. Synthroid has side effects. I don’t see side effects with Nature-throid, at least not that I’m aware of. So they’ve got a solution for that. So you can eliminate some of these that you have to work on immediately. Go after those areas that conventional medicine and naturopathy have not helped. Make those the priority. Then eventually, as you work with this person through the months and even over many months, even into a year. Now the eczema is gone. The hair has been restored. The bloating is not an issue unless they really overdo it. The anxiety is only occasional. The insomnia only happens once a month before the period. Now, let’s go after that thyroid. Now, let’s try to help work with the thyroid condition. Beautiful, that’s the way we shave away the aspects of the case that are the most trying all the way down to the hierarchy of discomforts and conditions. Paola: But what if you feel like if you treat the thyroid, all of those issues would have resolved, the insomnia, -? Joette: Well, you have to ask that. A lot of times, people will report that the Nature-throid has been miraculous. I mean, I’m not fatigued or in this particular case, we’re not using that example. But sometimes people report that their fatigue is gone, the hair loss doesn’t occur any longer, the skin is no longer dry. They’re not overweight. The Nature-throid has really fit the bill. So to go after it seems a little bit superfluous. Now, on the other hand if they’re taking the Nature-throid and those conditions nonetheless still exist even though they’ve been on it for six months, now it makes sense to go after that homeopathically. Paola: What if the person is just, “Fine, I get it. Nature Thyroid isn’t that bad for you. Joette: Right, it’s a supplement. Paola: What if you just want to be off of it? What if you just don’t want to have -? Joette: Oh sure, absolutely. I know a lot of people don’t want to take that. They want it corrected. I don’t want to say it’s the promise of homeopathy but it is often doable with homeopathy and so why not. But if there are other issues that are more sobering than the thyroid condition in general that’s being addressed by the Nature-throid then let’s put that aside for a while and work on what’s most sobering. Paola: So let me review here. Basically, if you have a condition that’s life threatening that needs to be addressed, you just prioritize that right away. But if it’s being managed safely like with Nature Thyroid or even like the insulin example under control. Look at the other stuff that you can deal with for now. But if the Band-Aid you’re using like the Nature Thyroid or the insulin or whatever is not working and it has a lot of pitfalls that are affecting you then maybe you do want to go in that direction. So I was just trying to organize. Joette: I also don’t want to give folks the idea that we’re going to try to cure life-threatening diseases here. We are working with allergic conditions here in this particular course and in other areas as well. That’s something for a true expert to go after. Not that you can’t. I’ve had many students come to me and tell me that their child was going into anaphylaxis from a bee sting. They’ve used the homeopathic even though they have their EpiPen right there, right at the ready. I always tell people. Don’t be foolish. You get that. You make sure you’ve got an EpiPen if you’ve got a child who’s got this condition. But they were able to and felt confident enough to be able to utilize the homeopathic medicine instead and indeed that was life threatening. But that’s an acute sitting on top of a chronic by the way. Parenthetically, let me add that in so that there’s some representation of that here. Paola: So what you’re saying is -. Joette: Be careful. Don’t think you’re going to be curing cancer in this course. Paola: Right, exactly. You don’t even really address diabetes in -. Joette: Right, that’s right. Paola: I was just giving that as an example. Let’s review here. When we talk about editing down a case, we’re talking about writing down the person’s words and how they’re expressing the illness. At the same time, you’re making a list of the protocols that may apply. The importance of note taking to determine one’s improvement Joette: Let me just interject just for a second, Paola. Because the reason you’re writing down the words as the person is saying them is because in eight weeks, when you ask that person how they’re doing and they say, “Oh, I don’t know that I’m that much better.” You say, “Okay, let’s go back.” You go back to the notes and you say, “So how about that insomnia? How is that going? How is your sleep these days? Paola: Oh, ruining your life. Joette: Right, right, right. You don’t give them the words yet. You ask them to tell you. Just tell me how the sleep is now. How’s your sleep these days? “Oh sleep, yes, it’s been okay. Once in a while, I stay awake and it’s bothersome but it’s not a problem.” Any anxiety around that one? “No, no, really the anxiety is okay.” So now, even though they have declared that they are not improved, you read back to them precisely what they said. Oh my gosh, this anxiety and insomnia are going to drive me out of my mind. I don’t know what I’m going to do about it. Now, they recognize that there’s been a shift. It’s not the people are stupid. It’s just human nature to not remember how serious or how horrible or how sobering those symptoms were two months earlier because they have no symptoms to remind them of it. So that is why we use their words because you’re not interpreting for them. She said it’s not good. When what she really said was holy cow, the sleep and anxiety is going to drive me nuts or lack of sleep. That’s important. Paola: Right. Because so much can be lost in how you interpreted what she said. Joette: Exactly, exactly. Your words don’t matter. It’s the person’s words that matter. Paola: Right. So then once you’ve written down all the possible protocols, you’re going to pick apart like you said what is the most important. And you go through and try and understand what is most affecting this person’s life that is impeding their ability to be a successful human basically, right? Joette: Right. Paola: Then, you narrow down these protocols. Then once you’ve selected the protocols, three or four, you are going to commit to that for a minimum of six weeks, preferably eight. Especially for women, they need to go through a whole cycle if possible, if they’re having a cycle. By sticking to that, we are able to measure improvement. Then when we go to measure improvement, we look back at the original notes and specifically at their words. You try not to feed it to them. Joette: Just ask them. So how are you sleeping these days? Paola: Let them present it back to you again, maybe just prod them. How’s the sleep and then do the protocols. Let’s just try like one more quick case here. Let’s say there is a little girl who complains about a tummy ache every time she drinks milk. She has eczema and bloating. Those are the three main issues. Joette: How about temper tantrums? Let’s throw that in because that’s really common with kids who have allergies, food intolerances. Paola: So then, you start jotting down possible -. Joette: Yes. Now, it’s a little girl so you don’t have as many complaints generally. Paola: That’s nice, why? Joette: Well, because they haven’t gathered through the years. You know what I mean? She doesn’t have hormonal problems. She didn’t take the pill for five years. She didn’t have miscarriage. She didn’t have all of that. She didn’t have all those life experiences or her mortgage. You know what I mean? Generally speaking in the western world, little girls have nice lives. Paola: Right, right. So then, as you take that case and you start jotting down possible protocols, we’ve thought for the milk problem, we think of Aethusa. For the bloating, we think of possibly LycoArs or just Lycopodium. Joette: Yes, ma’am. Yes, you got it. Paola: For the eczema, Antimonium crud mixed with Arsenicum. Joette: Arsenicum if it’s itchy, yes. These are all Banerji Protocols, beautiful, beautiful Banerji Protocols. Paola: Then for the temper tantrums, we think of Stramonium but that is one, two, three, four protocols. That’s not too many. Joette: No, it’s not. It’s gorgeous. It’s gorgeous. Now, let’s say this little girl gets bronchitis frequently. She’s always getting colds. She’s always getting sick. She’s getting bronchitis. It’s not a chronic condition but it happens frequently. Every winter, she gets three, four colds and it turns into bronchitis. Now, what we want to look at is the fact that she gets colds too frequently. We can also add in, particularly because she’s a child, we can add in Calc carb 200C for example, every other day or even 30, once a day for a child. Now, we’re dealing with the immunity and because she’s growing, we like Calc carb. But when the bronchitis presents or the colds present, you might want something to use at that moment. So what do you do when she gets sick? Well, you might want to add an SOS, so to speak to save our ship. What do we do on top of that so that she’s got all of these baseline medicines? Now, we need something for as it occurs. Now, we might look at for example Aconitum and Bryonia that are really great medicines. That’s also a Banerji Protocol for when a cold or a cough comes on especially in the beginning. If you use that every six hours, sometimes every three hours if it’s severe enough, you can abort a cold or a forthcoming bronchitis or whatever cough that’s coming on. So you might put that in the case but it’s only an SOS. She’s only going to use that should the bronchitis present. Now with all of these other medicines working to uproot the food intolerances and the allergic state and the immunity condition, she may not even get bronchitis this winter especially if you’re starting in spring. She’s got several months before it comes along. So she may not even need it or if she does need it, she may not get as sick. That’s the goal is to get her to the point where her immune system is so built and so corrected through all these protocols that even the acutes will not be needed as often. Paola: So it’s that Calc carb that you’ve introduced, that fifth protocol especially if she started in the spring and bronchitis doesn’t come until the winter. That might be able to make it [0:48:20] so that she’s going to be okay. Joette: Yes. It’s not a supplement. I’m going to remind you again. Everyone thinks oh well we’re supplement. No, no, no, no. We’re supporting. No, no, no, no, no. We’re correcting the fact that this even presents. This child should not get sick that often. Children are supposed to get sick. They’re supposed to get colds and flus and fever once in a while and an occasional ear infection and an occasional chicken pox. That’s all normal within the range of normal in the western world but not every month, maybe once in the winter. That’s pretty much the way it should present or once in the spring with chicken pox. But if it’s happening all the time, we want to correct that. That’s where not only will the whole picture that we’re doing correct it but particularly with Calc carb. Paola: And also, they’re supposed to be getting better within about a week, right, generally speaking? Joette: You mean if they get the cold? If they get cold then she should be better within a couple of days. She should see at least some improvement within a couple of days even a day, sometimes within a couple of hours. Paola: Wow, okay. And Calc carb because I’ve heard people get sick often and some people, they get sick but they’re sick for a long time. Is that something that Calc carb, if they’re that type of person who when they get sick, they’re really sick? Joette: Yes. Paola: So for a child, it’s Calc carb 30, twice a day but if this is in an adult, it would have been 200. Joette: I would do it once, perhaps once a day, yes. For an adult or even a child, 200 every other day. There are two different ways to use it, again a Banerji Protocol. Paola: Right. So 200, every other day, Calc carb. Joette: Or 30, once a day for a child. I like that often. I often use that for a child but it depends. Paola: Right. Very good. Joette: We just built a whole case. We built two cases, the mother and the daughter so far. Paola: Very good. Joette: Yes, yes. So where do we go from here, that’s the question. What do we do now that we’re at the eighth week? We see that there’s improvement. There’s the bloating is almost gone. It only shows up if the child has two and three glasses of milk or maybe we’re not that lucky or that person. Excuse me. We’re not at the child. We’re talking about the adult again. Now, let’s say the person has stayed away from this milk and wheat for years. We’re still going to use these concepts because they can’t have it. In spite of staying away from it, they still can’t have it. So now, they still have some of the symptoms. They still get some bloating. They still get some eczema. They still have some anxiety, et cetera. In two months, at the end of two months, we want to see some of that softened a bit like we said with the mitigation and the three magic markers. So once there is some improvement, generally we back off of the medicines. If the condition is gone, if the eczema is gone, there’s no reason to continue with those medicines. In fact, you should not. Paola: Right. Joette: Remember this is not like supplements where you’re going to take them for the rest of your life. This is all about correcting and saying goodbye. Now, it could come back. That eczema could come back. No doubt about it. It could come back in six months. What do you then? You don’t say, “Oh no. My body’s falling apart again.” No, it means that you need to go back to the protocol for the eczema. It just means you’re not done. Paola: You’re pulsing it basically, pulsing it if needed. Joette: Yes, yes. You’re using as needed at that point. The same thing can be for the bloating. If the bloating is gone then you stop the medicine, if the bloating is only partially gone then you continue. I mean it’s just like anything. It only makes perfect sense. Paola: You don’t take an Advil until you need it. Joette: Right, exactly. Paola: Very good. I guess the fear here, Joette is that if you don’t know how to take a case properly and you don’t take the notes properly and you don’t select, brainstorm through the protocols and then prioritize the protocols and then if you don’t give it enough time for the remedies to act, the problem is in the end, you might accuse homeopathy of not working when it’s actually just the user. Joette: It’s pilot error. Paola: Yes, pilot error, exactly. Joette: Homeopathy works, end of discussion. Homeopathy works. If it’s not acting, it’s very likely, you’ve chosen the wrong medicines or you’ve misinterpreted what you’re treating or you haven’t used them in the right potencies. You haven’t used them in the right frequencies. You haven’t waited long enough. You’ve misinterpreted. That’s all about the pilot. Paola: You don’t want to blame the airplane or in this case homeopathy when it was running. Joette: It’s not the vehicle. It’s often pilot error that gets into the crash. It’s not the plane’s fault. Paola: Right, that’s true. Joette: So the more you learn, the better off you are. Paola: Right. I think, I really think it comes down to just getting yourself some practice and allowing yourself to have more kids or something so you can practice. Joette: Right. I’ve got a quote. Paola: Oh, let’s hear it. Joette: Yes, it is about practice. Bruce Lee once said, “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” Paola: Absolutely. Joette: Knowledge or acquisition of knowledge is all about repetition, over and over. The more children you have, the more livestock you have, the more friends you have, the more patients you have, the more clients you have, the faster you will learn this. It’s like anything else. It’s all about numbers. Paola: It is very true. Joette: Today, I was putting together some frames and some images for my family for their Christmas gifts. I was putting together, I think there were nine frames. I had to take them out of the paper. Pull out the backings and then put the little image in and then tape it to the matting and then lift off the little pieces. The first one, I got it upside down. I wasn’t sure how to do it and where to put the tape and everything. The second one, I learned from the first one so I got a little bit better at it. By the time I got to the fourth or fifth one, it was bam, bam, bam, bam, bam. It was like I had a factory going. I could do it so fast. Paola: An assembly line. Joette: It was. It was an assembly line but it took the repetition of about two to three good tries and figuring out which is the most expedient way to do this. I learned how to do it. That’s the same thing with homeopathy. Once you get this and once you get going and start using and using and using and using and using and using, that’s how you learn it. Paola: Right. That’s exactly right. So listen to this podcast more than once I think and be very clear on the steps of taking a case and how to execute and do it properly. I know I’ve learned a lot again. Some things I already knew but it’s really important to be reminded of those. Thanks, Joette. Joette: You’re very welcome. What we just need to remember to do is just get all these strands. Braid them together to form the perfect braid. Paola: Yes, I love it. Joette: That’s it. Paola: Awesome. Okay, until next time. Joette: Thanks, Paola. Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com and schedule a free 15-minute conversation.
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| Podcast 21-When to Use a Doctor; When to Trust Yourself | 07 Nov 2016 | 00:50:51 | |
In this podcast, we cover:
Paola: It’s podcast number 21 at joettecalabrese.com, and here’s some upcoming highlights! Joette: There’s a lot you can take care of on your own with your family. You know, yes, cancer; yes, AIDS; yes, rheumatoid arthritis but you have to know your stuff. You can’t go say, “Oh, I can treat this” and just go by a protocol. You have to be sure you know what it is you’re treating. There does come a point when you may need more expert opinion. There are times when the people who do not know enough homeopathy that they really do need to go to someone and get perhaps conventional care, just in case. It’s nice to have that second opinion. Paola: What I like about this podcast is that it gives you another layer of self-empowerment. Those of you who have been reading Joettes blog for a while have come to know the Banerji Protocols which greatly simplify homeopathy. Basically if you have a diagnosis or a clear pathology, you meet it with a protocol to uproot that disease, but it’s important to remember that just because you have a protocol, doesn’t necessarily mean that you have the skill or the tools that you need to progress through that illness. So in this podcast, Joette gives us four key components to help us determine whether or not we are able to complete the healing at home ourselves, or if we should seek out conventional medical advice. Joette also gives us some great suggestions on how to find a medical doctor, should you need one. So if you’re ever in a situation where you do want that conventional medical advice, how do you go about selecting the right doctor for you. You are listening to a podcast from joettecalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. Paola Brown Joette Calabrese
Alright, here we go. Hi Joette, I’m excited to be talking with you again. Joette: Hi Paola. I love this too. Paola: I love this podcast. It really is like talking to my wise girlfriend. Joette: Friends, yup. Paola: Exactly. So today’s subject that we’re going to talk about is discernment and we’ll go into what we mean by that and also selecting a doctor, an allopathic traditional doctor, right? Joette: Yes, yes. Paola: So let’s get started. Tell us. What do we mean by discernment? What does that mean? What is Discernment? Joette: I think what you and I have tried to, what we want to convey today because you and I have talked about this in the past is that we want people to understand that there’s a lot you can take care of on your own with your family. You can take care of your children, yourself. You can take care of yourself, your husband, your pets, your livestock, et cetera. But there does come a point when you may need more expert opinions and even care. I always talk about how important it is to be self-empowered but let’s not be so foolish either. We have to know what we’re capable of. When we start learning homeopathy, it is a heady experience when you start curing your family. There’s no doubt about it. Paola: What do you mean heavy like stressful? Joette: No, heady, heady. Paola: Heady. Joette: Heady experience. Well, to speak in the 70s terms, it’s a rush. It’s a high. It’s a very exciting experience to be able to cure someone. No doubt about it. But we also have to know our limitations. So homeopathy has the ability to cure all diseases. This is an actual quote that Dr. Prasanta Banerji said to me once. He said, “Homeopathy can cure all diseases but it can’t cure all people. So it means that it can. Yes, cancer; yes AIDS; yes, rheumatoid arthritis but not all people with those conditions will be relieved of them completely. So it means that it also depends on the person. There are a lot of factors involved here. I wish I could say that this medicine is linear and is super simple and it is. We have gotten a very complex medical paradigm, homeopathy and distilled it. By we, I mean the Banerjis have done this. I have some protocols of my own as well as most homeopaths have been in practice for any period of time. But we’ve distilled it down to some real simple protocols. But you have to be sure you know what it is you’re treating. If you’ve got a urinary tract infection and we’re going to talk about that, if you’ve got a urinary tract infection and you’ve got some urgency and some burning and you’ve had this before, even if you haven’t, you can go right to the remedies that are specific for that: Cantharis 30, Medorrhinum 200, that kind of thing and start using them. You should see some improvement within, some people report improvement within a couple of hours of taking the remedy; some people, not until the end of the day; and others not for a day or so. But if it feels like it’s going to the kidneys, holy cow. Paola: That’s usually in your mid to lower back. Joette: Right, right, right, right. Not that homeopathy can’t uproot that, it certainly can but you many not know the protocols well enough. You may not have the confidence or the ability to know how often to use them. There are times when people who do not know enough homeopathy that they really do need to go to someone and get perhaps conventional care. Now, I always talk about how I didn’t take my kids to the doctors while they were growing up. They’re all adults now. But it was also because they never got very seriously ill. There was one time though. I shouldn’t say I never took them. That’s really not 100% true because my eldest son broke his nose. Literally, I mean his nose was off to the side of his face. It was not in the center of his face. Paola: Oh no. Joette: It went off to the side. I actually was not home that night. My husband called me and said, “Oh my God. You should see our son.” So my husband is a professional skier and has been taking professional skiing. He teaches professional skiing and as all of our children. He knows what to do about a broken nose. You just push it back in place and there it is. I know it sounds horrible, doesn’t it? But you push it back in place. My son was able to breathe and he was all right. The pain had come down. We had given him Aconitum and Arnica and things were pretty good. But I said, “Are you comfortable with this?” I asked him. He was about I don’t know 17 at that time. He said, “Yeah, I’m comfortable. I feel like this is okay.” Using Arnica was something that I knew enough to use in case there was hematoma that was internal bleeding. Who knows what could happen? The nose is awfully close to the brain for goodness sakes. Pituitary gland is right behind there. I said, “Do you want to see someone?” He said, “Well, not really mom. I trust that you and dad know.” But then we said just in case. So we went to an emergency room that’s not too far from us. Now, we live in Farm Country. So we went to this particular one where they see a lot of farm accidents. We walked in and I said to the nurse, “This is not serious. I think he’s fine but it would be really nice if we could just have someone take a quick look.” The doctor looked and said, Yeah. It’s fine.” Nothing was done. It was just a confirmation that yes, indeed, there wasn’t anything more that we needed to do. I mean, we looked and I looked. I looked up in there with a flashlight. My husband looked. He looked fine. But nonetheless, just in case, we did use another opinion. It’s nice to have that second opinion. Paola: One of the things that I tell people. If you go into the hospital or the ER or the doctor’s office with a situation, you do need to steel yourself to some degree because obviously a broken nose wasn’t an emergency. But I was talking to my girlfriend in the Moms with Moxie podcast that her son had a febrile seizure. She’s like, I don’t know. It was like a coordinated effort. One nurse and another nurse, and one doctor and another doctor were all trying to push Tylenol on her son. She said, “I’m sorry but he doesn’t need Tylenol. She’s a tough cookie.” But if you go in there kind of loosey-goosey and you don’t steel yourself and bolden yourself to know, I want to understand what he needs and what he doesn’t need and she didn’t feel like he needed Tylenol because she felt like the fever was actually trying to kill off an infection. Joette: She had confidence. The reason she had confidence is because she had been doing her reading. You have to read. You have to educate yourself. You have to know your stuff. You can’t go and say, “Oh, I can treat this and just go buy a protocol.” You better know your stuff. If your family suffers from, let’s say this child suffers from febrile seizures, you better know all about febrile seizures. Better read up on them. If you give Tylenol, are there any side effects? What will Tylenol do? Are we trying to reduce the fever? Are we curing the febrile seizures? You want to know what the goal here is. Is it to treat symptoms or is it to correct the condition? There is no doubt that all of this, the discernment comes in my estimation for finding that tipping point where when it’s intelligent to make decisions on your own for your family and yourself and when it’s foolish. Paola: Right. In her case, she had read all the books that you recommended, How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor by Dr. Robert Mendelsohn. He does talk about febrile seizures. So the first time it happens, you don’t know it’s going to happen until it happens, right. But then she already knew and had done some homework. But going back to the benefit of going to a doctor, they told her, “Well, your son had strep throat.” Joette: Yes, good information. Paola: Great information, very helpful information especially because he was pretty little and he probably couldn’t articulate very well. Joette: Right, right. He’s got a strep throat. Now this mother knows what it smells like because there is sometimes an odor to strep throat. Now that she’ll recognize that. Now she’ll say, “Okay, let’s see your throat.” She looks in there and she sees the redness with the white spots or she doesn’t see redness. Sometimes it doesn’t present that way. But if she can get that information down, now she’s learned something. Paola: Right. Joette: Something of true value not only for this child but perhaps the subsequent children that come along and have similar situation. Paola: Guess what? Some of my students in my study group class, because I run a little study group class, they’re telling me that you can get rapid strep test on Amazon. Joette: Yes, it’s a beautiful thing. Paola: It’s really cool. Joette: There you go. Now, if your child is prone to strep throat then you get those strep tests. Find out. Paola: Right, I did. Joette: Absolutely. Paola: I have my box right here. That’s what this is. It just came in the mail because you’re all going to get it at some point. Joette: It’s very likely, sure, sure. Paola: So going back to that discernment, are there any guidelines we should have to know okay, this is okay for me to stay at home and wait it out. Obviously the anaphylaxis, those are very obvious that we need to go to the doctor now. But sometimes these illnesses creep up on us one day. Then you just wait a little longer and you wait a little longer and then you might be doing something foolish. So do you have some guidelines? Have The Knowledge Joette: Well first of all, one of the things you want to do and you just mentioned it a moment ago is make sure you’re doing your reading. You want to read Dr. Mendelsohn’s book, How to Raise A Healthy Child In spite of Your Doctor. Everyone, every mother who takes any of this seriously, who wants to do this themselves needs to buy that book. It’s a dollar on Amazon. Before you even get it in the mail from Amazon, go online and find Dr. Robert Mendelsohn and watch him on YouTube. He was an amazing man. Unfortunately he passed away a couple of decades ago. He was a pediatrician and he was a stalwart in the alternative pediatric community. Of course, he was a given a lot of heck for it. But his information is like gold. When you finish reading that book, now, you underline the areas that are the most valuable to you and your family. Go back and look at it again and again and again. Meanwhile, he was not a homeopath. He was an MD but he did not know homeopathy. Now you figure out which homeopathic medicines can be used for that particular condition. Own them, that’s number one. Oh actually, it’s number two. To be able to discern whether or not you can do this is first of all, you have to have some knowledge and that’s what I’m talking about now. Not just homeopathic knowledge, although that’s invaluable but you need some knowledge from other people who’ve stepped outside of this proverbial box. If you haven’t done that and you haven’t done any reading like that then don’t step outside of the box. Then you still do need modern medicine because often, you got to do something, not always, not always. Before I started learning homeopathy, I knew that there was nothing wrong with a fever. I knew that it’s okay if a child gets a cold. I didn’t have to treat them. I used essential oils here and there. I used herbs and that kind of thing and a little bit of homeopathy because I was just learning it. But I also knew you could do absolutely nothing for most childhood illnesses and they would be just fine, chicken pox and all. Paola: I always talk about my mother in law, that her, she had the ten kids. Cumulatively I swear, they have probably, between all 10 children, taken a total of like six antibiotics while they lived with her. I don’t know what it’s been since they’ve grown up. She didn’t have homeopathy. She didn’t have essential oils. She did a little bit of garlic drops for ear infections but she just waited it out and let it go. Let the fever do its thing. Joette: But you see, a big part of what you’re talking about here is 10 kids. In the old days, women had larger families. The families were just innately larger. So the mothers had a lot of experience. But in today’s world, if a woman has one child, she freaks over that one child. It is something that I see consistently in mothers who have one child. They cannot get over the fact that their child is sick. There’s nothing wrong with a cold. There’s nothing wrong with chicken pox. Actually there’s nothing wrong with measles. I wish my kids have gotten it. There’s nothing wrong mumps. I wished my kids have gotten. Can we get very, very, very sick with those? Of course, we can. A cold could kill you but that doesn’t mean you think it is. You just make sure that the person’s getting bone stocks and drinking properly, et cetera. There are some pretty simple common sense methods here. Paola: Right. And just waiting it out can be -. Joette: Yes, it can be valuable in and of itself. Now, when do you wait it out? If you’ve got a kidney infection, you don’t wait it out. That is not going to go away by itself. So you need to do something about a kidney infection for example or if it feels like it’s going into the kidneys. It’s one thing to have a urinary tract infection that’s in the bladder or the ureter or the urethra but not when it starts going into the kidneys. Now, does it mean that homeopathy can treat it? Of course, it can treat it. Of course it can uproot it. But if you don’t have that information, it can’t do it for you. So, you’ll have to have the knowledge. Paola: I have to be honest with you. My bladder has been my struggle for many years before I met you, Joette. I talked to women who will say, “Oh, I’ve never had a bladder infection before.” My joke is always, “Well, God loved you more,” because it’s terrible. I also feel like if you’re a woman and you’re listening to this and especially if you have a daughter, count on it. Someone you know, your daughter, your sister, your cousin, someone close to you will have a UTI. So brush up on that. That’s something every woman should understand as something because our urethras are shorter so we’re going to get it easier. Joette: Yup, yup, yup, there are a lot of yes. Certainly, honeymoon cystitis, when a woman first gets married and there’s a lot of activity sexually, that is often a time when that occurs. So we have to be prepared for that. Paola: That was when I got my first one and boy do I wish. The remedy for that is Staphysagria. Joette: That’s right. Paola: Gorgeous. I’m just kicking myself that you bet you, when my daughter goes off to get married, she’s going to take Staphysagria with her. Joette: On the honeymoon. Paola: Yes. Joette: A whole little kit, absolutely. So that’s the first rule in my experience. Paola: The first two rules, knowledge and remedies. Own The Remedies Joette: The second rule with remedies is I often get people who call up and say my child has got this, this and this with a cold or something acute. I say well, I’ll tell you what the remedy is but if you don’t own it, what good is it or if you contact my office and it’s 5 o’clock on Saturday night and we close at a little bit after 5, Eastern Time and now what? The stores are closed. All day Sunday, your stores might be closed. And you’re certainly not going to get mail. Then you order it on Amazon or wherever from Boiron directly. It will be Tuesday when you get it. Paola: I mean at least Wednesday I feel like. Joette: Maybe even Wednesday. Paola: Because they don’t even ship it out – they don’t prepare the package until Monday afternoon. Joette: You’re lucky if you get it on Tuesday or Wednesday. That’s right. So you have to own a kit or two or three. I tell people they should own the top 100 remedies in which the potency is mostly 30s and we sell those in the office. Paola: That’s the red kit. Joette: The red kit, yes. Then own a 200 potency kit. That’s a little grey kit. There are 50 remedies in that. You should own every cell salt. We sell those kits too. You don’t have to buy them from me. You just have to own these remedies. We make it easy but you really need to own them. Then if there’s a remedy that’s not in those kits and of course there will be because there are 6000 remedies and we’re only talking about 150 here or 172 or something, 62, when you total all those three kits up, if you have a remedy that you know you’ll need, you better own it. Paola: So going back to women, you’d have to have Medorrhinum. That is a big part of the protocol for bladder infections and that’s not in those kits. Joette: That’s right, Medorrhinum 200 absolutely. It’s a beautiful remedy. It’s very important to own. Paola: I’ll tell you what more that’s not in those kits that people often wish they had is Sanguinaria 200 for sinuses. Joette: Yes. Camphor 200 is not in those kits too. Paola: Those are the three that I run into the most that aren’t there. Joette: Yes ma’am, absolutely. We need to have those. But there are plenty more. There’s Chelidonium 6 and there’s LycoArs. We can go on and on about the remedies that I use that are Banerji Protocols or even that are not Banerji Protocols that you absolutely must own, if you have proneness for one thing or another or you think someone in your family will. Here’s the problem. Most people say, “Well, I already own a lot.” You’ll never own a lot. You’ll never own enough. When I say there are 6000 homeopathic medicines out there. I mean it. When we had to memorize materia medica when I was studying for the exams to become a professional homeopath, we had to study, we had to memorize 300, 350, something like that homeopathic medicines. We had to know them inside and out. We had to know our medicines. To not own them would be kind of goofy because then if I needed them, I certainly knew all about them. I knew what to do but I didn’t have it to use it. So that’s kind of a non sequitur. The point is that you want to own as many as you possibly can. Here’s the thing. When people start saying that this is expensive, I want to just smack them. It’s not expensive. They’re not expensive. When you buy a kit that has 100 remedies in it and the cost is $257, that means each bottle costs $2.57. Can you find anything anywhere, essential oils, herbs, vitamins? God forbid, we’re talking about drugs. I mean EpiPens are now what, $600 or something and they are stale dated. With homeopathy, nothing is stale dated. They may put a date on it because the FDA requires it. But to be honest, I’ve got remedies here in my office that are from 1918 and they still work. I mean the bottle has stamp on it, 1918, Belladonna 30X. I have used it and it still works. So these remedies will be passed down to your great, great grandchildren. So it’s an investment. Paola: Speaking of the FDA, the controversial with Hyland’s Teething Tablets, Hyland’s decided to remove the teething tablets from the US. Own your remedies. Joette: Yeah, you better own them. That’s right. Paola: You’ll never know. Joette: That’s right. Paola: You’ll never know what new controversy is on the horizon. Own your remedies. Joette: That’s right. That’s right. Paola: So let’s say, let’s go back to the UTI example. Let’s say I’m struggling with the UTI. I have the knowledge. I have the remedies and still struggling with it. What’s the next step in discernment? Know What You’re Looking For Joette: What you want to know is what you’re looking for. Once you’ve taken the medicine, you got to know what it is you’re looking for. If you think that it’s going to take four days for it to correct itself and you’ve got a urinary tract infection, you’re incorrect. That’s not the way it works. You should be able to take it about every, if it’s very severe, every hour even or maybe every three hours and then watch for improvement. It’s really better generally speaking to use it every about three to four hours. But if it’s screaming horrendous, there’s a lot of pain, a lot of urgency then you take it every hour for a couple of hours or a couple of doses and then you open it up to every three to four hours. If you don’t see a change after a few doses, I mean, we’re looking even for a little bit of a change but if you don’t see a change, you know what, you may be wrong in the remedies that you’re choosing. If that’s the case, you might indeed need to get to a hospital or to a doctor because we don’t want to take a chance with an infection of that potential magnitude. Now, if it’s a cold, that’s something else. But when we’re talking about urinary tract, we don’t want it going into the kidneys. Paola: Let me explain why I think some people don’t even realize that. When it gets to your kidneys, your kidneys are what filter your blood. So if your kidneys are infected with E. coli or whatever it is and your blood is going through those kidneys, your blood is picking up the infection and you’re going sepsis phase all over your body. Now, I’m not trying to scare people but you do need to know what we’re talking about. Joette: Right, right. I will tell you. My next suggestion is you get your remedy kit. If you’re not sure what to do and you’re thinking, “I wonder if I should get to an emergency room, I’m really scared,” whether it’s UTI or going to the kidneys or your child or a head injury, whatever it might be, you grab your remedies. You get into the car with your child and you get to an emergency room. Oh you should bring a little bit more than that. Bring some water, maybe some playing cards, a bag of popcorn or something and you stand. You go to the emergency room but you don’t go in necessarily. I mean if you need to, of course. I mean if it’s really, really obvious, of course you’re going to go in. But park in the parking lot of the emergency room with a blanket, a deck of cards, and hang out and see how the remedies are acting. If the remedies start to act, you can go home and if you start seeing the things are moving along. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve done that with my father who thought he was having a heart attack and then in the end, turned out that he actually was not having a heart attack. Paola: Like terrible gas. Joette: Meanwhile, I’m in the car with him. We’ve got a blanket over his lap. He’s got his nice, warm water that he’s drinking with say Mag phos in it in a 6X and he’s sipping it. We’re talking and we’re playing classical music so we can calm down. I’m administering the remedies. I said, “Dad, at any time, we can go in but why don’t we just sit here and hang out.” He knows that he’s only 30 paces away from that emergency. How comforting is that. Now, you’ve got the best of both worlds. Paola: It’s true. Joette: The beauty of this is that you might be able to turn it around, go home, and he’ll never get all the drugs or she will never get all the drugs that are automatically given regardless of what’s happening, almost. You lose control in the emergency room. Sometimes you need to do that. We’re going to concede on that. Sometimes you need to do that. But too many times, it’s fear that brings you there. Paola: Yes. Joette: It’s not the logic. If you can see the remedy is starting to act and you’re only 20 paces away, you got the best of both worlds. Paola: Well, I have to say -. Joette: Park in the parking lot of the hospital. Paola: The worst decisions I have made about my health were when I led with fear. Fear we know, it dilutes your thinking, your logic. So that’s why it goes back to step number 1, you have to have the knowledge because if you know that knowledge really well, it kicks in when you need it. It just hits. I know what to do. So the rule number three is basically following the rules of what you should expect as far as improvement goes, the length of time. Joette: And know those, know those rules. Paola: And know those rules. So for an acute condition, I can’t say this enough when I teach my Sunday group classes, for an acute condition, you should see some sort of shift within three to five-ish doses. Joette: Doses, right, yes, absolutely. Paola: That shouldn’t be spread out every 30 minutes unless you’re having some sort of anaphylactic. Joette: Unless it’s very severe, unless the symptoms are extremely severe. Paola: Life threatening. Joette: Yeah, life threatening, if they’re not very severe and you’re doing, you’re administering this on the way to the hospital folks. I am not saying that you should ignore life threatening conditions and not go to the hospital. If you feel that you can’t do this then by all means, you get to the hospital. On the way, you’re administering. Maybe your husband is driving and you’re administering. Paola: So you need to know when improvement should be, what it should look like, and how soon to come. Joette: Right, right exactly. Paola: What’s the fourth guideline? Diagnosis Joette: The fourth guideline is diagnosis because if you don’t know what it is and it can be very useful to know what it is obviously for many reasons. I mean, if it’s hemorrhaging, you need to know it. If it’s septic, the infection has gone septic, you need to know that. So a diagnosis is very valuable not only because it tells you, “Uh-oh, I need to get to an emergency room or a doctor or something.” But it also tells you if it’s not that severe and you feel as though you can handle it, what homeopathic medicines to use. Paola: Right, right. It goes back to that story we were talking about the Moms with Moxie interview where her son had a fever seizure. When she realized it was strep throat, she was like oh. First of all, the fever seizure (and everybody agreed) wasn’t life threatening. It was just it happened. Now, I know how to take care of whatever illness this is. It’s strep. I got it. I’m going to go home. She took care of it. Joette: Those febrile seizures are very, very scary. There’s no doubt about it. If a parent has never witnessed one, it can freak them out. So that is something to be reckoned with but really more from a psychological point of view for the parent because by the time you get to the hospital with a child with a febrile seizure, the seizures are gone. They only last a few minutes. Then when they get there, then all that is done is they just give him his Tylenol. Really, Tylenol? It’s a seizure. Well no. But the seizure’s over with. A febrile seizure is only – if we’re talking about normal childhood illness now, we’re not talking about head injuries that causes seizure, that may cause a seizure, or a fever of 108 which is only from a head injury, or 107 that it could go that high because fever have their own level. They can’t go any higher than generally 105, 106 even for a normal childhood illness. That’s within reason to allow that to occur without treatment, without even homeopathic treatment for that matter. I will refer you to go online and check out what American Academy of Pediatric says about fevers. They say finally, I might add, finally -. I mean the homeopaths have known this for 230 years that a fever is curative and that you should not treat the symptom which is the fever. You should allow the fever to cook off the disease, the bacteria, or the virus, so that the child can heal. But if you’re always given that Tylenol or acetaminophen every single time a child has something like this, they’re never going to be able to learn. The body’s never going to learn how to cook off a disease. You’re constantly suppressing it and not allowing it to occur. Paola: For her, getting the diagnosis was actually helpful. He had a fever and it helped her understand the illness more fully to finish the illness. Of course the next morning, he was perfectly fine. Joette: Yes, yes. Paola: This reminds me of the time my son, this is like very embarrassing. He’s not going to listen to this podcast. He’s nine. He had a pain in one of his testicles, really bad pain. It just came out of nowhere. It was so extreme. He was even having to walk weird. So, I picked a remedy for him. I actually gave him Pulsatilla. It helped. We’re in the middle of getting ready to move and over I think five days, it had improved significantly but it wasn’t totally done. I was just getting a little leery. I called the 800 that our insurance gives for the nurse line. She says it could be testicular torsion. You need to take him to the emergency room immediately because it can cut the blood supply off to the testicle and basically become gangrene. I was kind of aware that maybe this could be a big deal so I finally just said we’re going to go in. We’re just going to do an ultrasound and let’s just look. It was right before we moved. When I moved, I wouldn’t know where to go if it got serious, where to drive to. It was nice to kind of know it’s going to be fine. And they looked. She said whatever it is, his body’s working it out. I thought it was going to be torsion but it’s not based on the symptoms Paola: It is. Joette: Yes. Paola: It doesn’t hurt to know a little more. Joette: Right, right. So that’s what I like doctors for. It’s diagnostics or nurses. They’re very good at that. They don’t always get it right but they often do. They see a lot of the same cases over and over again. So I like that diagnostic. What I don’t like are some of the treatments. So we have to be careful of that. Paola: That’s what I was saying. Steel yourself when you get in there. Embolden yourself. Know what you’re going to be okay with and what you’re not. So going to doctors, we’re saying that we are going to want a relationship with the doctor. How? Do you have any suggestions for selecting a doctor? Joette: Yes. Get an old one. Paola: Al old guy. Selecting the Right Doctor Joette: An old guy, no one under 60. Maybe I’m being a little facetious here but you want someone who doesn’t have a mortgage anymore. You want someone who doesn’t pay tuition anymore. You want someone who’s not pressured by his financial constraints in his own life and feeling overwhelmed that he has to make a decision that is in line with what the pharmaceutical rep is saying to him every couple of days in his office. You want a guy who is willing to step outside of the box. That comes not only from not being pressured financially to make decisions that are more about his state of being than yours but you also want someone who clinically speaking has seen these cases time and time again and will after a while say, “Febrile seizures, so we give the kid a Tylenol. I don’t know what good that does. That’s what I’m told to do. I learned that in medical school.” You give a Tylenol. You give acetaminophen. Then he starts asking himself what’s the point. Why am I doing this? The child’s not in pain. The seizure’s over with. He starts asking questions because he’s seen it so many times. But a doctor fresh out of medical school is very impressed and I can guarantee here she is with his or her education. You know why they’re impressed because they spent a darn fortune on it. So when they get out of medical school in residency and internship, they have committed themselves to doing every single thing they’ve been taught because it cost so much. Now, they’re not saying it because it cost so much. They’re saying because what are you kidding me? I just spent all these money? He’s got to be right. I mean, that’s the way we all think. It’s like telling a guy who just bought a Ferrari, “No, you know? You shouldn’t have bought a Ferrari. You should have bought a Maserati.” He’s never going to say, “Oh my gosh. You’re right. I just spent $100,000 on this car and I should have bought another one.” No, it took him a long time to get to that car. He’s not going to give it up because somebody said there’s something else out there. Paola: It’s like they’ve chosen to become indoctrinated which is funny, indoctrinated doctors. Joette: Right, right. It is a choice. It absolutely is a choice. Look, I’m not saying medical school has no value because anatomy, physiology, pathology, all of that is very important information for a doctor. What I don’t like that they’re learning is the stuff that they get that is pharmaceutically based. That is what their professors are doing. They are teaching them the pharmacy directly from the pharmaceutical companies. That is what makes me nervous. So they think that there is a drug for every ill. They know nothing else except they do know diagnostics, pathology, as I said. So they’re good for that but what I don’t like generally speaking are the methods that they use to treat. Paola: Actually, my friend went to school to be a doctor. She’s about my age. What am I, early 30s? She quit medical school. She went into it for a while and she said, “Paola, they give us one semester of pharmacology. So we are not taught to understand the drugs. It’s just one semester. Beyond that, it’s just here’s the drug that we use, here’s the drug that we use directly from the pharmaceutical reps.” Absolutely and she quit because she said this is ridiculous. This isn’t medicine. This is me just being a monkey. Joette: Right. It’s very disappointing. Paola: It is. It is. Joette: Very, very disappointing stuff. As I said earlier, when I had to take my test to get my degrees, we had to memorize 300 some homeopathic medicines. We had to memorize them inside and out. I had to know my medicines. I had to know what they were capable of touching as much as I could possibly memorize. I don’t know the key notes and some of the lesser conditions that they would touch. Conventional doctors, I’m going to be honest with you don’t know their medicines. How come they don’t know them? Well because my medicines haven’t changed since 100, 230 years ago. Their medicines change every two years. Why? Because they’re yanked from the market. They’re yanked out and now they’ve got another one that they have to learn. So they don’t learn them. It’s just the drug rep. I’m sorry to be so – I don’t mean to be condescending here but it is a paradigm that I know a great deal about from many different angles. But they know what drugs to use for one condition once they’re in practice because the cute drug rep with the short skirts bearing the donuts twice a week and giving the classes to the medical staff there is telling them what it’s used for. So what’s happening is that they’re learning from the industry instead of learning from their clinical experience. That’s the wrong paradigm. Paola: You have said that before about the pharmaceutical rep being this cute person. I would always think deep down like, “Oh, maybe Joette’s a little outdated with that because now we’re so aware of sexism and all that stuff.” Joette: Oh garbage, absolutely. Men love young, gorgeous girls. Paola: I’m watching a TV show. Megan Fox is like the epitome of – she’s like the prettiest girl around. I’m watching her TV show. She comes in a short skirt. She’s a pharmaceutical rep. I fell off my chair. I was like Joette’s been right this entire time. Joette: Let me tell you how I also know. Not only do I know because I was married to a doctor in my 20s, neurosurgeon but also because when I was about 30, I had been working in real estate in Washington DC. I had moved back to my hometown. I needed a job. I had been in sales. Yes, I did ma’am, absolutely. Paola: You were a pharmaceutical rep? Joette: No, I didn’t get the job. Let me tell you how this works out. I applied for a job for one of the major pharmaceutical companies. They were located in my area. I applied and I was the second runner up for the position. Now, I got to tell you. In college, I was an English major. The only discernable value I got out being an English major to be honest is to know how to spell discernable. But I never took a single biology, anatomy, physiology, pathology course in my entire life at that point. I had never even touched the course. I never even took biology because it was not required. I went to a very liberal college, I might add. There were no requirements like that. So for them to even be considering me was absolutely ridiculous. Paola: That’s your key. Joette: Yes. I was cute. I wore short skirts. I had sales experience. I had no understanding of medicine at that time in my life whatsoever. Now, the woman who got the job because I came back for two interviews, the woman who got the job was a nurse. She should have gotten the job. I should never have been considered. In a million years, I was absolutely the wrong profile in my mind. I was laughing all the way thinking, I can’t believe this. These people actually think I can do this. And I didn’t lie. Paola: Right, right. Joette: I told them what background. I said I was in real estate for crying out loud. Paola: Well you dodged the bullet, lady. Joette: Well, I don’t know. It might have been quite the experience. But that woman deserved that job, not me. I should never have even been considered. Paola: Right. You should never have been -. Joette: So, I know how the system works. I also have been in business and many businesses and many industries through the years. I’m in my 60s. I’ve done it all. I’ve been there and done it. I will tell you those young svelte girls who dress stylishly in high heels sell. That’s the way it works. That’s what sells. End of discussion and if anybody wants to think differently, well you’re welcome to do so. But that’s what sells to doctors especially when they’re exhausted and they’re just about had it and she comes in with the donuts or the chicken wings. Paola: So you want the doctor that has been through it all, and is at the end of it, and can think critically, and doesn’t care. My neighbor is actually, he’s an older gentleman just like you’ve been describing. His children are put through school, financially independent. I’m sure he doesn’t have a mortgage anymore. He is a child psychologist. Do you know what he does? One of his first lines of attacks when he’s treating someone with ADHD or something, he says we start with the placebo. I sit the parents down. I say placebo is actually a real cure. Here’s a bottle. It’s a sugar pill. Give your kid this. Let’s see if placebo acts. If it cures them, it’s a cure. It’s a real cure. Why wouldn’t I do that? It works. I forgot the number he gave me but kind of a big enough number for him to want to do it. Joette: Now, I wondered where he learned that. That’s a smart man. Paola: Yeah. Joette: You know what it is? It’s more than smart. That’s a wise man. That is a wise man. That’s the kind of doctors we need. We need those with wisdom, not the kind of smarts that got him into medical school because I’ll tell you, the kind of smarts that gets you into medical school is compliancy. You have to memorize this. You have to please the professor. You get to do that in undergrad. Now you get to medical school like a compliancy study. This is what you study, you idiot. And they’re really unkind to them. They really can be pretty mean in medical school. So this is what you read, idiot. This is what you study. This is how you do it. Study this. Memorize it and spew it back to us. So what we’re getting out, what we’re educating them to become are compliant soldiers. I believe that that is where what we’re doing is that we’re training doctors to be compliant to an industry. They are just drug reps in the end. That’s what they’re doing. Just being the job is being passed on to the doctor. Then that is the training ground especially if we’re talking about pediatricians, the training ground for parents. Paola: You just see the pattern, no one’s questioning. The drug rep isn’t questioning. The doctor isn’t questioning. That’s our job then. Then we need to question. Someone needs to break that pattern. Joette: I hate mediocrity. I hate mediocre thinking. I think we should all excel at what we do. I love doctors who excel. There aren’t an awful lot of those that are out who are incredible like Dr. Robert Mendelsohn. There are others too that I have met throughout the country at conferences, et cetera and they do exist. Paola: So how do we find them? Finding the Good Doctors Paola: Your natural store. Joette: Yes, your natural stores and ask people. You want to hear the same name again and again and again. One of the words is, “Oh, he’s a young doctor.” Forget it. You don’t generally want a young doctor. As I said, they’re too impressed with what they’ve learned. Paola: Well, I have to say one of the big things people say is, “Oh my doctor is great. He really listens to me.” It doesn’t matter if he listens to you. I mean it does matter. But to some degree, it doesn’t matter if he listens to you. What matters is what he’s telling you and if you guys are working together. I agree. You go to your local, especially the locally owned natural health food store. They have a lot of resources. Joette: Yes, they have. The owners of those stores really have their hands on the pulse of what’s going on in the medical community. Paola: In your local area. Joette: Don’t expect that it’s going to be someone around the corner. You may have to travel an hour. So what? So what? Paola: Another tip I’ve heard is you can also try and find the doctors that don’t force vaccinations. The government pays doctors some sort of a bonus check. Joette: A stipend, right. Paola: Right then, so if a certain percentage of their patients are vaccinated. So the doctors that opt out of that are the ones that aren’t going to compel parents and the ones that don’t compel parents to vaccinate. Now whether or not you vaccinate, that’s up to you. But I’m saying if you’re a doctor, it’s okay in bringing you into the conversation and having a relationship and a partnership over your child’s health. That’s probably a good doctor. So I say find the doctor who doesn’t push vaccines. It’s a good way. Joette: Right, exactly. Now, that could be a naturopath, a doctor of naturopathy. It could be a good chiropractor. Paola: Yeah, I like that. Joette: It can be also, it can be a conventional doctor who’s thinking a little differently. Don’t assume that if it’s a woman that she’s going to be any more open than a man is. But if it is a woman, you want one that has a lot of kids because she’s already seen what’s happened. Paola: She’s comfortable. She’s okay. She’s been there. Joette: Yeah. Paola: I like that about chiropractors. People take their kids to chiropractors for ear infections. Joette: Yes. Paola: I never knew you could do that. That’s great. Joette: Yes, absolutely. Paola: Chiropractors tend to be a little easier to find, I feel like. Joette: Well, what I like about chiropractors too is they palpate. They actually touch you. They don’t send you for tests far in the distance way. Then you have to come back two weeks later. Then let’s analyze, et cetera. Not that we don’t like tests. Please don’t get me wrong. I really believe that there is a time for tests. No doubt about it. Diagnostics, having that in your hip pocket can be very, very valuable. Let me just give you a quick example. You got a lump around your breast and you don’t know what it is. It’s not something that’s getting larger and smaller every month or if you eat too much chocolate or something. You not it’s fibrous tissue. Something is off. You want to know. Is that an abscess? Is that a fibroid? Is it cancer? Paola: So you do a thermal scan. Joette: At some point, you do thermography and find out what it is. If they still can’t tell you with thermography, yes, you would go for a mammogram. Of course, you would go to the next step. You’re not foolish about this. On the other hand, to go straight to mammography just because you turned a certain age sounds to me like relining someone’s pockets. Paola: I also tell people when they’re trying to find a good OBGYN, not everybody is comfortable doing home birth or birth with a midwife or sometimes it’s the husband. The husband is not comfortable with it. So you’re trying to find a compromise. I tell people, well find a great midwife and find out who her attending physician is. Joette: Good idea. Paola: Oftentimes, they have a good relationship. Joette: Yeah, that’s a great idea, Paola. Yeah, I like that. I like that. Absolutely. Paola: Then I have to say. My husband had a little skin thing. We weren’t sure if it’s a wart. It just popped up out of nowhere. I was worried it was like a mole. If it’s cancer, I don’t know. You told me, go find an old guy. Go find an old dermatologist. So, I sat at my computer. I was like how do I Google this? Joette: Somebody’s who’s got his own warts. Paola: I was like old guy, dermatologist. I was looking through pictures of local dermatologists. I was like this one looks old. Joette: Find the guys without hair. Paola: Right. So I did. I found this old guy. Joette: Oh yeah, absolutely. Paola: Of course, he’s not covered on our insurance. He’s out of network. I told my husband. You have an appointment with this guy on this day. Just so you know, it’s going to be out of pocket so you’re going to pay 100 bucks. Joette: Right. Paola: My husband is like, “What?” I was like, “Trust me on this. Just go.” Of course, he didn’t have to do a biopsy. He looked at it. He knew exactly what it was. Joette: That’s what we want. We want somebody who’s seen a couple of thousands of those. They can say after a while, that’s what this is. Another thing I like about the old guys is they don’t fall into line with the political correctness of the AMA or the medical society in their area or the department of medicine in their state. So they don’t follow the rules quite as much. I’m going to be retired in another five to eight years. I’m going to do what I know is right, not what is required by some organization and some rule that tells me that I have to have everything biopsied. Paola: Right, right. You’re right. Joette: They’re not worried about the litigious nature of society. They’re ready to retire. Paola: Right. They want to do what they think is best. Joette: Right, right. Paola: Don’t tell them what to do. Joette: You may not get any alternative information from them but you may get something that’s a little more conservative. That’s what we’re looking for. Paola: Right, you’re right. That’s it. So let’s review. When you’re trying to discern about whether or not you should stay home or you’ll see a doctor or go to the emergency room, you told us about the four steps. We need to have the knowledge. Joette: Knowledge, yes. Paola: About homeopathy, about the remedies about how to do it. You have to own the remedies. You’ve got to have them in your house. Then you need to follow the rules of what you should expect as far as improvement goes with homeopathy. Joette: That’s right. Paola: You must have three to five doses. I usually say if it’s not extreme, the three to five doses should take about a full day so like 12 hours. Joette: Depending on the condition and of course, we’re talking about acutes here, not chronic. Paola: Right, acutes. Thank you. Then finally, when in doubt or if it’s persisting, go for a diagnosis. Find out. Make sure it’s not any seriouser than you think it is or whatever. It’s not a real word but you know what I mean. Joette: Yes. Paola: Then when you do need to go to a doctor, have one in place that’s a good one, an old one. Joette: An old one, an old one that takes it in his stride. Oh yeah, I have seen this 100 times or whatever. That’s what we want, clinical experience. It can’t be beat instead of oh boy, what’s the insurance company going to say. Oh I got to have this tested when he knows darn well, it doesn’t need to be tested because it’s just a [0:49:22] or something. Paola: Right. [0:49:24]. Alright Joette, this is really great information. I think we need to put it on our study group curriculum and make people listen to it for homework because it is very helpful, very important to protect yourself and make sure you’re making wise choices as you go through. Joette: Yes, it’s always fun Paola. I love it. Paola: I know. Thank you, Joette. Joette: We’re both so enthusiastic about this method that it’s just too much fun. We enjoy it every time. Paola: Sorry, it’s so long now but it’s good information. We love it. Okay, thanks. Joette: Thank you. Paola: You just listened to a podcast by joettecalabrese.com where nationally certified homeopath, public speaker, and author Joette Calabrese shared her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com and schedule a free 15-minute conversation. | |||
| Podcast 128 — Moms with Moxie: The Body Can Repair Itself, Given the Correct Stimulus | 13 Oct 2024 | 00:27:46 | |
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IN THIS PODCAST, WE COVER:
01:00 Introduction: The Body Can Repair Itself, Given the Correct Stimulus 03:09 Diving Right In and Going to Classical Homeopathy School 04:02 The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® 05:26 Going into Practice 07:22 Taking Academics into Practice 08:38 A Tincture of Time 11:47 Success Story: Severe Abdominal Pain 16:30 Success Story: Torn Meniscus Make It Stop! Escape From the Prison of Chronic (and Acute) Pain Using Practical Homeopathy®: Learn Effective Methods to Uproot Pain, Often for Good 19:00 Success Story: Bee Stings and Hives 22:04 A Homeopath is a Detective 22:27 Closing Advice A Materia Medica: Practical Homeopathy® for Busy Families Gateway to Practical Homeopathy®: A Guided Study Group Curriculum The Antibiotic Alternative: Balance Your Bugs Without the Drugs Skin, the Ugly Truth: Safe, Effective Treatment of Skin Ailments, Chronic or Acute, with Homeopathy Good Gut, Bad Gut: A Homeopathic Strategy to Uproot Seemingly Unrelated Illness in Body and Mind The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:Joette’s Study Group, Find Your New Study Group Friends
Kate: This is the Practical Homeopathy® Podcast, episode number 128. Joette: Hi, I’m Joette Calabrese, and I welcome you to our health care movement — yours, mine and the countless men and women across the globe who have re-taken control of their families’ health with Practical Homeopathy®. So, for the next few minutes, let’s link our arms as I demystify homeopathy — what was once considered an esoteric paradigm — into an understandable, reproducible, safe and effective health care solution available to all. This is the medicine you’ve been searching for — my unique brand of homeopathy, PRACTICAL Homeopathy®. INTRODUCTION: THE BODY CAN REPAIR ITSELF, GIVEN THE CORRECT STIMULUSKate: (01:00) Hi! I am Kate, and welcome back to the podcast. I’m so glad that you’re here joining us today to learn more about homeopathy. I can’t wait for you to meet our special guest today. Actually, for those of you who have listened to some of Joette’s podcasts, you may have already heard our next guest on Podcast 60, but she is going to share so much information. Really, if you are at a desk or somewhere where you can take notes, you want to do that. And if not, you can always catch up later with the podcast on JoetteCalabrese.com where the transcript is also available. So, don’t worry if you’re driving; you can take notes later or read the transcript. So, with that, I want to get started … dive right in. Lisa, welcome to the podcast. Lisa: Thanks, Kate. Lovely to be here once again. Kate: Yes. I can’t wait for you to tell us what’s been going on since the last time that we talked. So, tell us a little bit again for those students who may not have heard Podcast 60, who you are, and a little bit about your story. Lisa: Love to. My name is Lisa Heinrichs. I am a Practical Homeopath®. I am a wife; I am a mother; and I solely use homeopathy for my family. I am located in Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Canada. And so, my journey began actually with Joette when I was reading in a Weston A. Price magazine years ago. And she had said, “We need to be the healers in our family. We need to be able to take care of them.” And that resonated with me very deeply because I had always been interested in health and wellness. I did not have a family at the time, which was … I do have an advantage over some people because I was able to start fresh with my kids and know that I didn’t want to raise them using medications … unnecessarily, of course. Because there’s a time and a place. I always say that. Okay? So, I listened to Joette. I got all of her recordings and her little books and just dove right in. Got myself a Top 100 homeopathic kit and just was practicing on anybody who would let me. DIVING RIGHT IN AND GOING TO CLASSICAL HOMEOPATHY SCHOOLLisa: (03:09) So, fast forward a couple of years, I decided that this is what I wanted to do. Loved it. And so I started to research schools. I wanted to go to a Canadian school. I wanted to go to a reputable school, obviously, and found one in Ontario that I went to. So, I went to this school. It was the only option. Joette did not have her school then. And most of the time I was simply just doing my best to get through it, as we call it. And some of us have mentioned in The Academy, classical school is kind of like busy work. It’s like, why are we doing this? But we have to do it, and I’m sure we’ll get to the meat of it soon. So, I just plowed through, and I did actually very well because I like school. I like learning. But it was also very slow going, and it was lonely. I had a tutor, sort of, that I can call on if I needed to, but I was essentially by myself. THE ACADEMY OF PRACTICAL HOMEOPATHY®Lisa: (04:02) So, when The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® came out, I put a pause on my classical school, and I went immediately into The Academy to the pioneer year, I think. Hey, is that we’re calling it? The “pioneer year”? Kate: I think so, yes. Lisa: So, I went into APH. And we were essentially forced — in a very good way — to be in study groups with other students so we could study together and work together, which is great. And so, a lot of these ladies that I met in the first year, I followed into Mastery™ and then, now, into Mastermind. And these people are my friends and it’s just … I cannot tell you how important it is to stay linked together. And I’m so grateful for Joette and the team who came up with “You need to have study buddies,” right? What a great concept! Kate: Yes. Study buddies! Lisa: No, as I was doing — I just got to say this funny thing — because as I was doing my passport renewal, it was like, “Oh, you have to give a couple of references who you’ve known at least two years.” And I’m like, “Oh, these people could be my references!” Kate: Awwww. Lisa: So, I cannot imagine not having these people in my life because I think no matter how much you think you know, you could always learn more. And these women are in it, right? And are sharing, and it’s … I love it. GOING INTO PRACTICEKate: (05:26) What is going on in your life now, Lisa? What does it look like? How are you applying all this knowledge that you gained in school? Lisa: Well, as soon as I graduated from The Academy, I opened up a practice. And so before, when I was in classical school, you weren’t allowed to see people. You were not allowed to treat people … nothing. But at the same time, I was taking all these courses from Joette. So, I would secretly be helping people and be learning as I went with taking classical at the same time. So, when I was ready to go into practice, I already had a network of people who knew me, who knew about me, and so it was quite easy to start up. So, I see clients Monday to Friday. Also, I’m very active on my social media, so I take a page out of Joette’s book when she just shares the information. She freely gives it away. So, every other day I am sharing a reel. I’m sharing tips. I do a free blog to all my subscribers every other week. And so, I really stay active. I really try and stay on top of everything. And I really am so passionate about promoting homeopathy, and how you can use it, and how you can exchange it for your OTCs (your over-the-counters). Right? That’s kind of my focus right now, which I love. It’s like my stress relief. Go check me out. Kate: Well, a little tidbit that people probably don’t know about you is that you have a passion for acting, and you’ve done some acting. And so, really, you’re very animated and creative in the social media things that you share. So, I know we enjoy them. Lisa: Right. Yes. That was my first love … was theater. So, yeah, I get to be on the stage writing my own scripts. It’s lovely. Okay. And using it for good! So, yes, that’s what I am doing right now. I’m in practice and balance between home life and work life. TAKING ACADEMICS INTO PRACTICEKate: (07:22) What are you seeing from what you learned … now, taking that to practice? I know we were talking a little earlier about some things that you’re noticing that Joette taught, and now, you’re seeing it. So, what are those things? Lisa: Because I have been with Joette for so long — I would say, like, gosh … 13, 14 years now … something like that — everything that she has said, now, I see in practice with everybody. Things people say; the things people do. It’s like, “Oh, oh, okay, this is just … I’ve “arrived” because … So, lemme just say, lemme just really stress this because it’s so important to be … you know, we’re all starting out. We’re all learning. But never stop taking classes, taking courses, stay with the people who have taught you. Read! Read, read, read, read, read. Because you need that confidence moving forward because it’s so easy to get knocked off balance. I would not be the confident prescriber I am if I didn’t have Mastery™, if I didn’t have Mastermind. Right? And learning from my colleagues now is so important. Because when people say to me — and what Joette had always said — people say to me, “I don’t see change.” A TINCTURE OF TIMELisa: (08:38) “I don’t see change. Really, Lisa. I don’t really see anything.” It’s water off the duck’s back. “Okay, well, let’s just look.” And 99% of the time, there is change, but it’s so subtle. It’s so gentle; they don’t even notice it. And human suffering, like Joette says, we forget it. We forget our sufferings as we get better, which is a beautiful thing. But the homeopath has to be completely in control because they took good notes, took a good case, used the correct remedies because of what we’ve learned. And generally, we see lovely changes just giving it time. Lemme also say this too, about the time thing … because I will say at the beginning of every case (if it’s a fungal case or if it’s a skin case) I will say, “Give me a year.” Now, it won’t take a year to see change, but I need a year so that it takes the pressure off of the client; it takes the pressure off of me; and it takes the pressure off of homeopathy. We have to give it time. What is it? A tincture of time. Kate: Yes, that’s what Joette says. Lisa: Yes. And I was actually learning about that phrase, too. It’s an old English phrase. (I think so. Somebody’s going to correct me, I think probably. But that’s okay. So, that means they’re listening.) One of the biggest things that I will always remember in my mind is when I was working with a fellow who had toenail fungus. I always make sure to get my clients to take pictures. Okay? You need pictures for skin cases, fungal cases, warts. Anything that you can see, take a picture of so we can measure change. Okay? It might be subtle, but it’s there. So, I always say, “Take a picture. Show me these pictures.” And they have it in their files. He messaged me at two months when we had our follow-up. “I don’t see any changes.” I’m like, “Okay, well, it does take time. It does take time.” Now, this is a guy who had been on medications for 20-odd years … trying to deal with this. TWENTY years. He gave conventional medication 20 years. Now it’s been two months with me. Two months! And I was a student then, too, right? Everything was very cost-efficient. And yet he said, “Okay, I’ll give it another two months.” Okay. Gave it another two months, messaged me back before our next follow-up and said, “I don’t see change. I’m going to cancel our appointment.” And I said, “Okay, I’m sorry that it did not meet your expectations. Would you mind just sending me one picture of your foot now?” I use this as an example all the time, Kate, because there was drastic change. Drastic. Kate: Really? Lisa: “Okay,” I said. “I understand, and I’m not trying to get you back, but do you see that there’s a change?” “Yes.” And yet, not enough — not fast enough. He left. He stopped. Kate: I wonder how much change there was in that 20 years. You know? Lisa: Right? They were bad. Anyway, so that’s the kind of things. It’s just like for me, it’s like … and like Joette said — here’s another thing — “You are going to lose people. You’re going to lose people, and you just got to move on. It’s just how it is.” Right? Thick skin … rhino skin, right? That’s what you sort of have to have doing this, right? Yeah. SUCCESS STORY: SEVERE ABDOMINAL PAINSKate: (11:47) So, share some more with us, Lisa. I’m sure you have a lot of stories. Can you share a few more with us? Lisa: Oh, yes. I would love to. Okay. The first story I want to share with you is about a client, and we’ll call him Bill. Now, I was actually supposed to see Bill’s son first, but his situation was so intense that he asked if I could see him first. Now, with Bill, he had been suffering with extreme abdominal pain to the point where he had to take time off of work, and he had a very important job. Not only was it an important job, but he’s also providing for his family. So, it’s a big deal if he can’t go to work. His pain was at a 10 out of 10 every single night, and he had been to every specialist and tried everything. He had been through the wringer to try to bring himself — get himself — some relief. The last specialist he told me about, he said that this specialist … when they were trying, these doctors, they’re trying to help him and going through every single test. And the last test was about … he told him that we want to do a, oh, gosh, it was an MRI on his stomach, and we want to see if there’s sufficient blood flow to the abdominal area. I’m like, “It sounds a little desperate like they’re grasping at some straws there.” And he said, ‘Yeah, yeah, he totally is, right? But at least they’re trying. I got to give them that, right?” So, he comes to me, and so you can imagine there’s a lot of pressure on me. Right? It was Thursday. This is a Thursday I talked with him, okay? And I had his schedule, and I knew exactly what he needed to do. But again, this is a lot of pressure because he’s in excruciating pain; this is his first time using homeopathy; and it’s a Thursday; and he needs it immediately because he is in so much pain. So, he’s paying for drop-ship like the airplane — which is very expensive from the pharmacy — because he can’t have pellets. He has to have it in liquid, too, right, because he has such an extreme sensitivity to dairy. So, I called the pharmacy. I make sure — like, if anybody knows me, they know I’m thorough. After the case, I order these right away because — and thank God — I had been studying for so long, it didn’t take me long to figure out this case and what he needed. I immediately wrote it up, immediately made the order, called the pharmacy: “Will it get delivered tomorrow?” Because after tomorrow, we’ve got the weekend, and he’s just, like, he’s in so much pain. This is insane, right? “Yes, it will be delivered tomorrow, overnight, drop-shipped.” Awesome. And so, then he gets them the next day. “I got them.” Great. I don’t hear from him over the weekend, and it’s like … Kate: You can’t see her right now, but she’s making a face like thinking, “Oh my goodness, what’s going to happen? What’s going to happen?” Lisa: Right? He messages me … ‘cause he is so polite. He messages me over the weekend … after the weekend … Monday, and said, “As soon as I started taking them, I felt immediate relief.” I was like, “Oh, thank God.” Like, I was so grateful. And I’ve worked with him since, now, because it was a long way back. It was a long way back because of the drugs … because of the drugs that he had to be subjected to for years and years and years and years and years. And we can talk about that ad infinitum … how it’s the drugs that is causing this. But anyway, I digress at this moment. And he wrote me a testimonial, and I was just telling you, Kate, that I’ve yet to read it. But when people write test… I only ask for testimonials when it’s been kind of an extreme case. And the people who give me the testimonials, it’s very lovely. And it’s when they’ve been through something that everything else failed them. But homeopathy. Homeopathy. Kate: It’s really sad that people have to go through all those other things to get to homeopathy. I wish more people knew about it in the beginning so they didn’t have to go through that suffering. So, those of you who are younger and listening to this podcast really commend you for studying this and learning more about it. It will save you so much in time and suffering and expenses. Lisa: Oh, yeah. So much. I’m so grateful. I always prayed for wisdom. Before I had babies, I always prayed for wisdom, and this is it. This is it! We don’t use any of that. We don’t use that. We use homeopathy. And my kids know homeopathy, right? It’s beautiful thing. Yeah. Again, again, again. And in Podcast 60 will talk about how modern medicine saved my son’s life. So, I will always be grateful for that. But mismanaged acutes? Ooof. SUCCESS STORY: TORN MENISCUSLisa: (16:30) But anyway, let’s move on to the next one. Do you want to talk about the next one? My next one? Kate: Yes, let’s. Lisa: This one is more so, so important to keep studying and keep learning. If you really want to get it, right, you have to keep learning and understand how these medicines work. So, the next story I want to tell you about is a case of a torn meniscus. Now, this woman I was working with, we’ll call her Flo, had other things going on like we normally do. How often? And so, as we’re working on other parts, everything’s falling into place. She’s doing great, but it’s this knee, right? And at first, she didn’t even know what it was. So, I’m using all of the pain remedies and torn meniscus remedies that we learned about in the pain course — great course. (They’re all great.) But that one specifically is where it talks about the torn meniscus, and what to use and what to try, and that it takes a long time, right? It takes a long time. We were getting nowhere. The pain was, as she said, “12 out of 10” with what we were using. But she refused to give up. She had faith in homeopathy. She’d seen it work in other areas of her life. She had faith in her practitioner — me, that I would find something. It took time. It took time. Now, because of the training that I had through Joette in how to study materia medica, repertory, I was able to find the remedy that she needed within — she said, oh gosh — days? The 12 out of 10 went to zero, ZERO out of 10. Kate: Wow. Wow. Lisa: I was like, what!? Now, because she stayed with it and trusted her “detective,” I was able to solve that case. And she’s good. No pain, still to this day. If she gets a twinge, she’ll take the remedy, and it’s gone. Kate: Wow. Lisa: I know. Amazing. Kate: So incredible. Yeah. So thankful for these medicines. Lisa: Yes. And she is older, right? She’s older. She’s probably late sixties, early seventies. Doesn’t matter how old you are, right? The body can repair itself, given the correct stimulus. Kate: Yes. SUCCESS STORY: BEE STINGS AND HIVESLisa: (19:00) Oooh, oooh, oooh! This one’s fun. So, this is a friend of mine. We’re calling her Sally, and Sally uses homeopathy all the time. I help her all the time — her and her family and her animals. She just can feel free to message me and say, “Lisa … okay…” Because tried it! So, she doesn’t call me and say, “Lisa, what do I do for this?” She’ll say, “Lisa, I’ve tried this, this, this and this, and nothing’s acting.” And I said, “Okay, give me the symptoms.” “Okay, it’s burning. Yeah, super itchy.” I should back up. She had a bee sting — several bee stings. She has hives, and she had several bee stings. And she had done the Ledum, right? She had done the Apis. She had put the Calendula on. Can’t remember what else things she’s tried … just other things she was trying to try. I think there’s, like, her cousin said, “Put a copper penny on it,” or something! She did everything. I said, you [inaudible] with me before that. And so, I said, “Okay.” I’m thinking in my brain, remedies. Because that’s what we do. The more you learn, I love it! It’s like one of the other APH students or graduates had said, “It’s like a superpower.” And sometimes it feels like. I loved that. Kate: I love that analogy. Yeah, that’s great! Lisa: This is what I do day in and day out, right? I’m immersed in it, like Joette says. I just am. I’m immersed in it. I don’t have a whole lot of a social life. When you see those reels, those are like my late-night socials. That’s what I do. That’s my social. Anyways, back to the story. So, I’m thinking about remedies going on in my mind, right? Okay, what this and this and that. And I said, “Are you restless?” And she sends me back a meme of an ostrich dancing up and down, dancing up and down, losing his mind. And I went, “Oh! You need Arsenicum album?” And she’s like, “Okay, I’ll try it.” Totally worked. She said, “What potency?” I said, “What do you have?” “200?” Now, normally, I probably would’ve gone a little bit lower to start, but that’s what she had. So, you use what you have, right? Give it a go. She said, after the second dose, brought it all the way down. All the way down. And she had to go to a party where there was a vet there. And the vet is very, very medical. She didn’t want to show up freaking out about these bites because she would be quite restless and be told, “You need to take this antihistamine,” or “You need to take this med. You just need to.” She wanted to prove that homeopathy could do it. And I said, “You could just say nothing.” She’s like, “No!” So, she did. She went there. She’s like, “Oh, no, I’m good. I don’t need anything. I have my homeopathy.” So, love it. Love it. So that was a fun story. And again, it’s like you have the symptoms. If the obvious remedies aren’t doing it, then you go to the next one. You’ll always find it. You will find the one. There’s got to be the one. I always say that too, right? When Joette would pick up the materia medica and be like, “The answer is in here, or the repertory. The answer is in here. I just got to find it.” The more you learn, the more you get into practice, the more you see that’s what starts to happen. You don’t get the obvious ones anymore. Right? Those are the patterns, too. A HOMEOPATH IS A DETECTIVEKate: (22:04) That leads us to being a detective. You mentioned that earlier, that that’s what your job is. You are a detective. Lisa: I’m Miss Marple. Kate: These are great stories, Lisa. I am thrilled with what is happening in your life and what you’re accomplishing. And can you just share with us some final thoughts as we wrap up the podcast? CLOSING ADVICELisa: (22:27) Yes. You know, the biggest thing that I’m seeing, that I’m hearing right now from people, is that — and again, I’m going to quote Joette because she would say, “People will say, ‘I didn’t want to use the drug. I didn’t want to use the antibiotic. I just didn’t know there was another way.’ Well, now you do!” So, I ran into a mom. This is one of many kind of encounters that I see. And she said, “You know, I take for granted that my family and I … we’re in good health. So, when my daughter had an ear infection, I didn’t know what to do.” So, in my mind, of course, I’m going through the remedies for ear infections: Chamomilla, Hepar sulph, Pulsatilla, Calc Phos. And she’s telling me now, “Well, I didn’t know. So, we went to urgent care.” And they’re saying, “Well, here’s your antibiotic. They have to take this antibiotic.” And she’s thinking to herself, this mother, “But I don’t want to use this. I know there is another way. There’s got to be another way.” And for me, that’s my tagline. There is another way, and this is it. And I said to her, “Yeah, you’re in good health now. But mismanaged acutes will lead to chronic illness later in life. You have to learn this stuff if you want to take care of your family. If you’ll want to avoid those chronic conditions later in life, it is so important to learn this medicine. You have to start somewhere. You can’t just learn by osmosis and have the book next to you. You have to … Yes, it’s a lot of work. I know! I’ve done it! It is, but it’s so worth it.” Imagine being that mom now — being like me, where when people told me that they went to the hospital because of croup, I was like, “Really? People go to the hospital because of that? I just used Spongia. Worked like a charm. I don’t get it.” Learn this medicine. Learn this medicine now. Just start now. Buy a book. Just start reading now. Kate: And if you want to know where to start, Joette’s blogs are free and a great resource. And she also published a materia medica book called “Practical Homeopathy for Busy Families.” This is great to own because you can study the homeopathic medicines and how to use them. And Joette also shares some homeopathic protocols throughout for various conditions. So, if you want to go a bit further, the Gateway to Practical Homeopathy Study Guide is where you can learn about homeopathy in a group. And you can put together a group, or you can join another group. It’s a six-week guided curriculum with a discussion guide. And of course, Joette has many courses, so check those out on her website, such as Antibiotic Alternative; the Skin Course; Good Gut, Bad Gut; and many others. Now, I know Lisa mentioned a little earlier in the program about The Academy of Practical Homeopathy®, which is a year-long immersive educational curriculum allowing you to take your pursuit of excellence in homeopathy to the next level. It’s a more formalized education. You can help your loved ones, church members, and even the broader community by opening a practice should you desire after going through this year-long study. And if you want to, you can go on from there for a second year called Mastery™. It’s an immersive postgraduate education involving extensive repetorization and casework. And I know that you went through that, Lisa, and you did a great job. And all this information will be linked in the podcast notes on the website if you want to know right where to go. Lisa, thank you so much for sharing all these stories with us and your life and what’s going on, and how you’ve applied the knowledge that you’ve learned. And it’s so wonderful that you’re able to help so many people. So, thank you for sharing. Lisa: Thanks for having me, Kate. Such a pleasure. Joette: It’s my honor to share many lessons on this simple method of using homeopathy for free —without affiliates or advertising — here in my podcasts, but also my blog posts and Monday Night Lives. But it’s critical that you learn how to use these medicines properly. These podcasts should serve as only the beginning of your training. Peruse JoettesLearningCenter.com to find fun study group opportunities and in-depth courses developed by subject. So, with the proper training, you can join the thousands of students before you in developing the confidence and competence to protect the health of your family and loved ones with my brand of homeopathy, Practical Homeopathy®. Kate: You just listened to a podcast from internationally acclaimed homeopath, public speaker and author, the founder of The Academy of Practical Homeopathy®, Joette Calabrese. Joette’s podcasts are available on all your favorite podcast apps. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit for your health strategy, visit PracticalHomeopathy.com. Lisa Heinrichs, PHom M, is a graduate of The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® and Mastery™ programs. She is also a member of Joette’s Mastermind group. You can find Lisa on social media @heinrichshomeopathy. | |||
| Podcast – 20 – Moms with Moxie, A New Miniseries | 31 Oct 2016 | 00:41:10 | |
In this podcast, we cover: 3:19 Why we love homeopathy 5:30 Gaylyn’s story 18:33 It’s a gift 20:15 Teaching it to our kids 23:06 Being homeopathy missionaries 25:16 Success stories We’ve got another podcast for you here at joettecalabrese.com. We’re introducing a new miniseries called “Moms with Moxie.” All the way from my desk in New York, I get to see how homeopathy is transforming lives all over the globe. Some of my students have really caught my eye. Some of you have done all you can to learn how to cure those around you using homeopathic medicines. Your successes inspire me. They’re glorious and powerful. I can’t keep your successes a secret any longer. So with help from my roving reporter, Paola, we bring you this mini podcast series that I call “Moms with Moxie.” It’s actually grand moms too but it’s Moms with Moxie. See how regular mothers and others, average people who want to cure those around them have gone from freaking to fabulous with homeopathy. Today’s podcast, we meet Gaylyn, a busy mom of seven. What I really like about Gaylyn is that she is very normal. She reminds me of myself before I got sick with chronic health issues. She really just set out to heal her body. I can really relate. She intermittently fell in love with this awesome form of medicine that we call homeopathy. At the end of this podcast, Gaylyn shares some success stories she’s had with homeopathy and protocols she’s learned from my courses. We wanted to share some of the protocols she likely used! Here they are: Sinus Infection: Sanguinaria 200 mixed with Belladonna 6, also consider Kali Bichromium 30. Kidney stones– While there is a protocol for this condition, it may be easier to try this combination remedy first. So, for kidney stones, some people swear by a homeopathic combination remedy called Renelix manufactured by Pekana Homeopathics. Snoring- Sanguinaria 200 Seasonal allergies- consider Bovista 200, taken for many months, and look for progress over a few years (as your ‘allergy season’ returns, assess improvement). Gall Bladder- (Drs. said Gall bladder needs to be removed) Carduus marianus mother tincture—which is like an herbal tincture. Anxiety- Ignatia 200 Fever Seizure- Since Gaylyn’s son’s fever was not high, Gaylyn likely used Cuprum met 6 and then later for Strep Throat: Hepar sulph 200.
You are listening to a podcast from joettecalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition.
Paola: We’ve got another podcast for you here at joettecalabrese.com. We’re introducing a new miniseries called “Moms with Moxie.” Joette: All the way from my desk in New York, I get to see how homeopathy is transforming lives all over the globe. Some of my students have really caught my eye. Some of you have done all you can to learn how to cure those around you using homeopathic medicines. Your successes inspire me. They’re glorious and powerful. I can’t keep your successes a secret any longer. So with help from my roving reporter, Paola, we bring you this mini podcast series that I call “Moms with Moxie.” It’s actually grand moms too but it’s Moms with Moxie. See how regular mothers and others, average people who want to cure those around them have gone from freaking to fabulous with homeopathy. Paola: Today’s podcast, we meet Gaylyn, a busy mom of seven. What I really like about Gaylyn is that she is very normal. She reminds me of myself before I got sick with chronic health issues. She really just set out to heal her body. I can really relate. She intermittently fell in love with this awesome form of medicine that we call homeopathy. Also, towards the end of the podcast, Gaylyn gives a lot of success stories that she’s had in using homeopathy with her friends. If you go to Joette’s website under podcasts, you can find Gaylyn’s podcast and its transcription. So Joette has taken the time to write out some of the homeopathic protocols that Gaylyn likely used when she was helping some of her friends. So be sure to head to Joette’s website and find her reposted Gaylyn’s podcast to view the protocols that Joette added in. Hi there. I’m here with Gaylyn Scholes from Texas. She is our first interviewee for our new series that we’re calling Moms with Moxie. Hi Gaylyn, welcome. Gaylyn: Well thank you. I appreciate you taking the time. Paola: Gaylyn, you’re a girl after my heart. We could chat all day. I love getting to know you and how you do the homeopathy in your life. So let’s just get started here. Tell me, do you love homeopathy? Gaylyn: Oh I do, I really do. As Joette would say, it just simply works and I love it. It’s empowering. It’s the essence of liberty. It’s the knowledge that keeps on giving. I love how I can send kids out to play and just feel confident that they’re going to be able to come back, and they always do with bruises and bumps, and I’ll know how to take care of them. I love how we can take of Texas fire ants [sugar bites 00:02:48]. I love that I have everything I need right here in my own house. I don’t have to go anywhere. I just have it ready to go. I love that the remedies can speak for years and years if we take care of them. I love that they don’t have to depend on the refrigerator to stay good. If you want to note them [00:03:04]. You’ll probably really enjoy that. Paola: Okay. It’s a book? Why we love homeopathy Gaylyn: It’s a book. It’s one of those fun books that get you pumped to be prepared. I love that I have something to offer my friends and family when they’re suffering. I love that it takes the things of the earth and makes them our medicine. I love that it gives meaning and purpose to all those noxious and poisonous plants, those nasty insects and infestations even because they can be utilized for good. I love that I can keep my family from toxic drugs that will damage their immune systems. Paola: Yes. Gaylyn: Right? I love that it follows natural law. I love that it empowers individuals and families to take care of their own. Really, how can you not love all of that? Paola: I know you’re right. When you say how can you not, I feel like the people who don’t love homeopathy, it’s only because they don’t yet understand it. Gaylyn: Most definitely. Paola: That’s the only reason because once you get it, there’s nothing not to love. Gaylyn: Oh you can’t back. It is so wonderful. Paola: So something you said here that kind of caught my eye was you said here is the essence of liberty. What does that mean to you? Can you kind of explain that for a second because that caught my eye? Gaylyn: You know what? When can you start going down the path of liberty? You keep fighting more ways in which you want to delve into it more. The freedom to not have to go to the hospital, that’s freedom. I mean maybe we might need to at some point but we don’t have to. We know enough that we can stay home and we can take care of it. That is freedom and that’s liberty. The knowledge that homeopathy gives to us, it really is truly powerful. It’s powerful that you know what to do. Paola: Right. Gaylyn: It’s only when we don’t know what to do that we feel powerless and then thus, our liberty is diminished. Paola: When you know what to do, you have the power. So Gaylyn, tell us about how you found homeopathy because it really feels like you’ve been doing it for at least 10 years. How did you find it? How long ago was it when you embarked in your journey? Gaylyn’s story Gaylyn: Okay, I’d love to tell you all about that. Let me give you the background for it. At about 38, I felt like I looked like the epitome of health. I was enjoying lifting weights as I always had throughout of my life. I was doing triathlons. I had done some marathons. I had also been following a no fat diet then for about 10 years thinking that I was doing a good thing, right. Health and fitness had always been my interest. In fact, when I went to college, that was my minor. But anyway, I started throwing out my back about every four to six months and it would just take me down. I hated stopping work to heal up. But I had to do it sometimes. I always got back right into my workouts. But soon the ache in my back didn’t really go away. My hips and my spine then started to hurt more and more. Finally, I realized I had that arthritis thing. So I was like, “Oh my gosh. How was it even possible that I have arthritis being as active as I am?” So I went to an arthritis specialist to see what he could do, what I could do. He told me that it was osteoarthritis and that I could take pain meds. There really wasn’t anything to cure it. Paola: Modern medicine is so incredible. The way they can diagnose is really impressive. I mean, that impressive. Gaylyn: It is wonderful. Paola: But when you have something like arthritis and we talk about how amazing medicine is and they come with you like, “Well you can have painkillers.” I was like, “Really?” Gaylyn: That’s it? Paola: Yeah, where is the ivory tower of great modern medicine? That’s it? Gaylyn: Exactly, exactly. I was really kind of surprised because I hadn’t really looked in obviously to that, yet. Yeah, there was nothing to cure it. So I was like, “Surely someone has something for me. Someone’s got some answers.” So I went into another specialist and he said the exact, same thing. The pain meds were apparently the answer. I told them I’m too young to start taking pain meds. These aren’t even going to heal me. I plan to live another 40 years. 80 would be nice. Paola: Right. Your kidney and your liver won’t hold out having to go through all those drugs. Gaylyn: Right. Right, exactly. I was like, “There’s got to be something else for me.” I just wasn’t satisfied. So anyway, I kind of left that out to the side and stood over it for another, almost a year. It was at this point that I went to a Christmas party, when I was walking around, chitchatting with all my friends and then the pain in my hips just jumped out and grabbed me and made me almost fall down. That really scared me. For me, it really was the last straw. I needed to figure out what was going on. I needed to figure out how to heal because I was getting worse. Paola: You were convinced that your doctors didn’t have it all. I remember you told me you asked him, “So I’m drinking soda, right?” You had a soda habit like a Big Gulp or whatever, a soda everyday. Gaylyn: Right. I even said, “Look. I’ve been drinking, I don’t know how many ounces, 32 probably for a long time.” Then I went down to like maybe just two sodas of diet sodas every day since I was about 14 or 15 except for when I was pregnant. Mind you, I have been pregnant eight times. Every time that I would get pregnant, for some reason, my body knew that I shouldn’t have that drink in me. But the rest of my whole life, I was like, “Oh, it’s probably bad for me.” But I didn’t really think about it too much. Well, I started getting sick. I asked my doctor. I was like, “Do you think that habit has anything to do with me being sick with this arthritis?” He was like, “Ahh, no. It’s probably not the best thing but it’s not a big deal.” Then I really knew. I was like these guys, they don’t know what they’re talking about. At least in this level, they don’t know anything about nutrition. Even though I had studied a lot of it, it was the regular, conventional nutrition. So I’ve come to find out, I really needed to look. In my little bits of looking here and there, I found some information on raw milk. I was like okay, I’m going to try this out, finally after this situation at this party. I was like, “I’m going to go see if it’s actually true that it has some anti-inflammatory factors that I heard about.” I heard about this information. I listened to a talk from this lady. She had mentioned a book called “Nourishing Traditions” by Sally Fallon and found myself a raw milk farmer in our area. I was quite excited. At that point, I decided that I would kick my daily soda habit for real, for good. Mind you, I had quit about a thousand times. This one though was for real and I did, six years ago. Paola: Well and the thing is you were talking about how you were educated with the traditional sense of nutrition. You were taught, I mean not directly but you infer that you can outrun that soda pop. You know what I mean? Gaylyn: Oh right. Paola: Burn off the calories or whatever, you’re fine. So you didn’t have that motivation? Gaylyn: I wouldn’t have done anything different had I not gotten sick. I would be doing the exact, same thing as I was doing had I not gotten arthritis. I’ll tell you that right now because that was not a motivation to change. Paola: Then, I’ll be so impressed with those people that are changing and they’re not sick because I can relate. I got sick and then I woke up. Gaylyn: This is true. If you could be someone that’s not sick and then do these changes then you’re a rock star, so good for you. Paola: Yeah, good for you, not us. Gaylyn: Yeah. But even in a couple of weeks, I thought, “You know what? I think, I feel a little, tiny bit better.” You know how you’re not totally sure but you’re just like I think I am feeling just a slight, little bit less pain. I wasn’t sure if I was imagining. But anyway, I just kept at it and I experimented with all the main points in that book. It really became a permanent fixture in my kitchen. I read dozens and dozens of other related books. I mean you name it, I was reading it. Food was and I was convinced at this point that food could be my savior. I was so convinced that this was going to heal me. So I was just very, very motivated. I kept at it for a couple of years, really, not losing a beat until my big change which was my sinus infection. It came and got me and just threw me down. I tried every home remedy I could find on the internet and really nothing helped. In my studies, I had learned that I really needed to avoid antibiotics and steroids because those only weaken my immune system. I knew I wanted to stay away from that but my sinus pain got so bad, I really didn’t know what to do. Paola: It is true. When you change your diet, it takes so much energy out of your life that you really hope. Like, “Okay. Well at least, I’ll probably never get sick.” But the second you think that you’re like, “That’s not possible. I’m going to get sick someday.” Gaylyn: No. You really get sick. It is going to happen. And then what are you going to do? I mean that’s something that I was thinking. I’m going to be getting better, better, better, better. I was thinking, “Oh, I’ll be able to take care of it. I’m using home remedies.” Paola: Yeah, like herbs and stuff. Gaylyn: But no. It made me realize that I had a gap, a huge, huge gap. Fortunately, I had been a member of the Weston A. Price Foundation. I have been getting the Wise Tradition journals that the Weston A. Price Foundation puts out. Really, those come in the mail and I’m like just reading the whole thing. Nobody better disturb me right? But I did remember that in those journals, there was a lady named Joette Calabrese and that she was talking about the healing power of something called homeopathy. So gosh, I was desperate and so I called the number that I found. It turned out to be her son, of all things. Paola: I love it. Gaylyn: He assured me that he would give her the message to call me. Yeah. I mean, I was in a ton of pain. My ears were exploding. My sinuses were just killing me. Anyway, so my sweet husband, he felt so bad for me. He couldn’t understand why I just didn’t go get a prescription and get better. We had several friends that are doctors and they’re like, “Just let us throw in a prescription for you. It’d be so easy.” Rob’s like, “Oh yeah. Go do that.” So he went ahead and picked me up whatever my friends thought that I needed. I was like, “No, I don’t want to. I’ve done all this work to get my gut where it’s in a good spot, where it’s in a good place. I don’t want to ruin it.” Anyway, after I got them, I was speaking with Joette. We’ve had a little 15-minute chitchat. I was just telling her my story. She was so kind and understanding but my husband really wanted me just to take the meds. He didn’t want to see me suffering. We didn’t have any experience yet with homeopathy. Paola: I tell people all the time, the worst time to get started with homeopathy is in the middle of a crisis. Gaylyn: Oh definitely. I mean it’s good but it’s bad at the same time because you want to get pushed in, get started. But what I ended up doing is taking kind of a shortened version of the antibiotic but I did throw away the steroid. I was like, “No, I’m not doing that.” I was like, “This better work with a little bit antibiotic that I’m going to take.” Paola: Right, right. Well, sometimes it took the antibiotic. You could probably look forward to an opportunity to treat it with homeopathy pretty soon. Gaylyn: I did. Of course, I did. So, there were about four more episodes of that. By the time those came around, I knew what to do. That was what was so exciting. Paola: Four more sinus infections that you treated each one with homeopathy. Gaylyn: Exactly, exactly. That was the thing. So I kind of got started with Joette’s right after that. We set it up. She was helping with all my chronic issues and really, I just got so excited. I mean, it totally bit me. I loved it. I just couldn’t read enough. I couldn’t get enough of it. Every birthday and mother’s day, anniversary, Christmas, that was just for me an excuse to buy another one of Joette’s courses. I just loved it. I mean I was like, “Yeah, I have another birthday coming up. I get another course.” I can tell I was healing faster and faster all the time, so very motivating. Paola: Sure. Gaylyn: One day, I just remembered realizing that I didn’t need to waddle. You know how we get when we’re like towards the end of our pregnancies where you have that waddle. Well, when I had this arthritis, I was doing a lot of that waddling because everything hurt. One day, I realized I’m still waddling but I don’t really need to. I was like, “Oh. I think I could stand up straight. I can kind of walk in a nice, regular way.” I was like, “That is really funny.” It strikes me as really funny. Paola: That is funny. I can relate. I remember one time when my children were very young and I was always bouncing a baby at church. One day, I didn’t have the baby with me and I was bouncing. But you do. You get so used to compensating for an illness. Then you’re like, “Wait. I’m better. I don’t have the baby. I don’t have the arthritis.” Gaylyn: I know. That is so funny. So yeah, I mean I got to the point where I was able to start running again. I was able to start lifting weights again because I had gotten to a point where I was like, “I guess that part of my life is over and done with.” It really made me sad because that was my emotional outlet. That’s how I dealt with stress. That was such a gift to be given that back to me. Paola: Yeah. Gaylyn: Yes, most definitely. Paola: Very good, yeah, great. So I guess, I mean this question is kind of obvious at this point. But what do you think your life would be like now had you not found homeopathy? Gaylyn: That is a really great question. Let me start by saying what we wouldn’t be able to do. Well, we wouldn’t have been able to go buy our new bigger farm in the country. I’ll tell you why because I wouldn’t have had the health to do all the hard labor. Yeah, I know our husbands just go off to work all day. They’re doing such big stuff at work. So we’ll get to do the hard work. I wouldn’t have felt confident to be able to do that. I wouldn’t feel comfortable taking care of my animals or my garden. I use homeopathy with both. It’s so wonderful to have options for sickness. We don’t have to resort to the antibiotics and the regular, conventional drugs. I really just would not have felt as prepared. I would have felt more limited. Paola: I asked you this before. How long have you been doing homeopathy, Gaylyn? That’s like a long time when we look at the story in this journey. There is so much that has happened. Gaylyn: Right. But you know? Homeopathy and I have only been hanging out for about 3 ½ years. Paola: Wow. Gaylyn: Yeah, 3 ½ years but it really does feel longer. It feels like a whole decade or two. I mean it feels like I’ve really been studying it for so long. But it’s just because it completely changes your paradigm. Paola: Yes, that’s exactly right. I’ve been doing it for about the same amount of time. Maybe a little bit less. I refer to it as my other life. Because people will talk to me and they’ll say, “Oh of course.” They’re apologetic. “Oh, I had a C-section or I had an epidural.” I’m like, “Oh girl, I had epidurals with all my children.” I have another life. Gaylyn: Right, exactly. Thank goodness I had all my children before all this. Paola: Right, right, props to Joette, props to Joette who talks about her course. So now that you have homeopathy, you’ve made a resolution for yourself. So tell us about that. It’s a gift Gaylyn: Well, I just felt like I was given such a gift. To me, it felt like a mystery unveiled that changed my life forever. I love the study. Now, I make sure that that’s a big part of what I study personally. I also, as a homeschooling family, make it a huge part of what I study with my children in our homeschooling time. I do have seven children, six at home. I make sure until the day they leave my home, feeling confident in their homeopathy skills. That way, they could take care of themselves and others. I have a lot of boys in our family, all involved with scouting which is kind rough and tough. I made homeopathy emergency kits to take with them on their scouting adventures. These kids can take care of most of these emergency situations. I write little simple instructions on each one of them, so that they know exactly what to do and how much. I make sure that everything’s at my house and I keep it all stuffed up, definitely. Paola: Don’t you have a son who recently has left home? Gaylyn: Yes, I have a son that is serving in a church mission. But I made sure I spent a whole night before he left getting his homeopathy arsenal ready in case of anything. I mean, I would say in anything. So I put those options after options in that kit. I wrote it all out. I don’t know how many pages of writing things out. It’s like if this happens, do this. If this happens, do this. Knowing that he’s going to be out there, eating just whatever foods and just given to him. My visions of him getting sick are like highly likely. I just felt like I needed to send him prepared. Paola: I love it. So I’m intrigued. My kids are a little young. My oldest is starting to kind of be intrigued by homeopathy. What do you do to teach your kids at home? What does your curriculum look like? Teaching it to our kids Gaylyn: My curriculum is everybody gets sick every now and then. That’s our curriculum because that’s when you learn. If someone gets their head knocked, we all say out loud. What is it we’re going to go get? They’re going to run and grab it. Paola: Oh, you don’t tell them right away? You basically have them guess ahead of time? I love that, Gaylyn. You told me once that you actually read Dorothy Shepherd, the homeopath. Joette loves her books. You read them for bedtime. Gaylyn: We read Dorothy Shepherd and we’ve read two of her books so far. I’m planning on reading a whole bunch more because it’s awesome, really fun stories and lots of situations. I don’t know. It’s just really awesome. Then we use Joette’s courses too. We just go straight to the courses. Paola: I love it. Gaylyn: What else could be better? What other science, health, section could be better than that, really? Paola: I know it. It’s true. We actually have an animal out here on our farm that got sick. We checked him. He had a fever. My son was like, “Oh good.” I was like, “What do you mean good? He was like, “Mom, fevers are good.” I’m like, “Oh my gosh.” Gaylyn: Is that awesome. Paola: I’m like, “You’re right. You’re right. It is good but I would rather him just be healthy and not be sick at all.” Gaylyn: But it’s at those moments that we realize that what we’re trying to help them understand is sinking in. Paola: So when someone at your house gets sick, you don’t necessarily blurt out the right remedy. You turn to the kids and you say, “What should I give her or him?” Gaylyn: Yeah, definitely. Let’s figure it out. Maybe I do already know. Paola: Okay. So Gaylyn, tell me about homeopathy and you said it turns back time for you. Gaylyn: Yeah. Well, you know, I feel like I’ve been given a second chance. I’ve seen in my own life how my arthritic symptoms are slowly being resolved just as Joette taught me. The most recent symptom, this is one of the things that she teaches, that the most recent symptoms are the ones that go away the first. That’s what’s happening. I am solely working backwards to my very, very first symptoms that showed up that are now my chronics. I don’t know. I’m hoping that I may be on a five-year plan, six year plan. That eventually, I will be able to say goodbye to most of my arthritis situation. The thing that makes it really cool is when an acute shows up, when we know how to deal with those using homeopathy to actually accelerate our progress with our chronics because it’s boosting our immune system. Now our system knows more. Just the same thing, now our immune system has more power. Paola: I had a pretty bad case of strep throat once. It was bad. I stuck with it. It got bad because I didn’t have the remedies in the house. I am so glad I stuck with it because after that strep throat got better, all of sudden my chronic stuff was really moving out. Gaylyn: It really is how it happens. It’s amazing. Paola: So you and I have kind of joked that we’re homeopathy missionaries. A lot of these moms with Moxie are. Man, they are little missionaries. So tell me about that. Being homeopathy missionaries Gaylyn: Yeah. I mean, once you’ve seen the power of homeopathy, boy it carries you on. You cannot keep your mouth shut. You just want to tell everybody all about it. I’m really involved with my church. I had numerous opportunities to share what homeopathy has done for me and my family with people of my faith. I’m also very involved with a homeschool group that we put together that meets once a week. Likewise in that group setting, I’ve had lots of opportunities to sharing health. I’m also looking around. Everybody’s got something. Either it’s acute, chronics all over the place. Many don’t want to go to conventional meds but they just don’t know of any other options. So these are opportunities to share. I share homeopathy with random people, too. Just the other day, a serviceman came to work on the tractor. He started telling me about his asthma. I was like, “Well oh, let’s talk about asthma.” So I got to take a moment and fantasy with him that there are other options than going back to his regular meds. So for a year and a half now, I’ve been able to gather my friends around me and do a homeopathy group at my house. We’ve been able to support each other in our quest for health. In my little meetings that we have here, I also tried to share demonstration of Sally Fallon’s “Nourishing Traditions” doing some nutrient-dense cooking in my kitchen for my friends. If you put those two things together, you just have a winning combination. Paola: You do. I tell people this. With homeopathy and a high quality diet, you can have pretty incredible health which means resources at your fingertips. It does go back to what you said at the beginning about liberty. You don’t know you have any other option. You really are bound by the mercy of if you have a smart doctor who tells you to take vitamin C or whatever. Gaylyn: Yeah, exactly. Paola: Or the drugs that they’re used to doling out. So let’s get to the fun stuff, Gaylyn. I want you to tell me some of your experiences. Think of some stories that our listeners might appreciate. You’re just a regular mom who has been doing this for just over three years. What kind of transformation have you been able to do with your own two hands? Gaylyn: I could go on and on and on but let’s see. Success stories I’ll tell you about a friend that came to me with kidney stone issues. She ended up in the ER. Her doctor found a 5-mm size of stone that was giving her lots of problems. For weeks, she had been suffering with pain and the need to urinate that result in only like a trickle. These symptoms would come and go. But the doctor offered a drug. In the same breath, he mentioned that it wasn’t even very effective. He ended up giving her the pain meds which she took when the pain was really bad. Then we were able to set her up with remedies for kidney stones and waited for it to just do its magic. It really didn’t take long. Within three days from talking to me and giving those remedies, she felt that she felt this zing, kind of a sharp, quick, painful zing in her lower left abdominal area. Instantly, that constant urge to urinate was just gone. It was just completely gone. She hasn’t had any issues with that since. Paola: Wow, so where did it go? Who cares? Gaylyn: Who cares? Right, I know. It’s just gone. Without these symptoms then it’s gone. Paola: Right, symptoms don’t lie. That’s great. I love that. Gaylyn: There’s another friend that came to me with concerns that her daughter was snoring every night. She was worried that her daughter might also have apnea during her sleep. She had actually several things. She had chronic nose bleed. She had ear pain and motion sickness. She had taken her daughter to the doctor. After about 15 minutes of conversation, he offered to schedule her daughter for a tonsillectomy. I mean is that just kind of crazy? Paola: Yeah, you know what? Your tonsil is out, kid. Gaylyn: No. Paola: He has strep throat right now and I was like, “Well, your tonsils will swell up.” She was like, “Oh I don’t have those.” You don’t want that bacteria getting to your heart. Gaylyn: No, [00:27:06] for sure. Well, my friend, she knew. She didn’t want to have her daughter have that happen to her. Anyway, they did a sleep study and they found for sure that she did have sleep apnea going on. Then knowing that I was in the homeopathy, she came to me. I was able to use the knowledge I gained through Joette’s courses to choose remedies that worked. So after two weeks, there’s a big difference in the intensity of her snoring. It wasn’t gone yet but it had lessened. That cute girl, she forgot to take her remedies for a few days and the family noticed. So they told her, “Hey, you need to get back on the remedies.” A few months later, the snoring was just gone. She got to keep her tonsils. Paola: Oh, I love that. I’m thinking now. You have the sinus infection. I’m thinking about her with her sinus issues especially when you were telling me about. She had the dizziness and a lot of those other symptoms, the ear pain, the nosebleeds, the motion sickness, that all sounds kind of the sinus, fluid in the ear and the sinuses. So did her remedy involve Sanguinaria? Gaylyn: Sanguinaria was one of them. Yeah, I chose a couple of other ones too, to make sure we got it and whatever, it worked. It even surprises me even after seeing this over and over now that it worked so well. That is amazing. Paola: I love it. Gaylyn: There was another friend that just blew me out of the water, too. Actually it was her husband that came to me. He was just telling me all about his wife’s allergies and she had them for years. She was a daily Zyrtec taker and actually other meds just to be able to go to work and function. Her symptoms would get worse every fall and every spring. I started off how magical homeopathy was and how it’s worked in our family. He decided to try it out. So I set him up with just one remedy and how to take it and thought nothing of it for months. Well later, they come to me and he told me that her allergies were just gone, completely gone. That’s amazing. In a year and a half, they were gone. I don’t know if that’s normal in everybody’s situation. I don’t think it is. But for her, that one remedy was enough. Paola: That was the one and she did it for about a year and a half before it was completely gone. Gaylyn: A year and a half. Paola: I tell people, it’s not that she was miserable during that year and a half and then boom, she was better. You see all that improvement during that time. It’s just enough so that you can stay off the allergy meds as you kind of improve. Gaylyn: Right. And as Joette teaches, there are those three elements. There’s the intensity of it, there’s the duration, and the frequency. With those three and if you’ve seen any improvement in any of those situations, you know you’re on the right track. Paola: You stick with it. There is that podcast, the Magic Markers podcast. Gaylyn: Right, yeah, exactly. But just to have that result was just – it’s simply amazing. Paola: Tell us another one. I enjoy this storytelling. Gaylyn: Okay. Well, definitely. Since we moved on to our farm about six months ago, we also acquired a lovely Great Pyrenees livestock dog. He is just an awesome dog. Anyway, when we bought him, we bought him off of Craigslist of all place. He was just in this tiny little place. He had been covered in fleas. He had scratched up a huge section of his behind, all the hair and stuff. So he created a bunch of sores back there. Using homeopathy and specific remedies for him and eating some nice, raw food, and some nice raw bones and good quality nutrition for him also. Paola: Wasn’t it great for dogs. Gaylyn: It really is. He’s had like some nice, raw eggs from our chickens. Then he’s got bones from goats and yam. He’s great. He looks really great. He probably got rid of about 10 lbs. He was way overweight. They had just left the bag of feed there. So he might have eaten whenever he wanted. All I know is he’s gotten so much better. There are some hairs back on his behind and there aren’t any more sores. I can keep going on though. I’ve got a couple more. Paola: Yeah, tell me a couple more. Go ahead. Gaylyn: Okay. I have another friend. She was concerned about her gallbladder. It had been giving her problems for the last couple of years but she also was one that’s like, “I don’t want my gallbladder taken out.” Don’t take the gallbladder out. Paola: Right. Gaylyn: But in the last six months, she was having so many issues that she was like, “Is that my only option to have that taken out?” So anyway, about that time, I came to her basically because when you’re a homeopathy missionary, you’re just like, “Blah, blah, blah. I vomited all these wonderful information out there.” I told her definitely don’t get your gallbladder taken out. Let’s figure it out. So found the right remedies for and within a few weeks, she was having less and less issues with that gallbladder. Now, months later, she doesn’t have any issues. Her bladder lives to see another day. Her gallbladder is going to be okay. It just was sick. I could tell you, taking out the gallbladder, that’s pretty much bread and butter now. For some reason, everybody’s gallbladder is getting sick. Paola: It’s almost like when you start thinking like it’s not important but then I hear about people’s lives when their gallbladders are removed are difficult. Gaylyn: It’s not easy. It’s not a good place to be. Yeah, you need it. You need it, definitely. I can go on. Here’s another one. This was a friend of a friend that had heard that I was doing homeopathy stuff. Well this gal, she had a ton of issues. She had terrible allergies crippled in anxiety where she literally couldn’t function, chronic headaches, migraines. She would only have two periods a year. This was since she started on her menstrual cycle. We worked on her situation and just a few months of taking a remedy, she’s had huge, huge changes. This is kind of how it happens too. She almost forgot that she had them. I had to remind her that she had allergies. [00:32:54]. That’s right. That goes back to, let’s make that clear, Joette always says take your notes. Take your notes like good notes. Make sure that you label them with numbers and intensity. That was a situation where it was a good thing that I did take good notes because she totally forgotten that she had allergies. This was another thing. Her anxiety, we started with her with a whopping 9 for her anxiety and we got down to about a 4. The headaches were coming less and less. This was a really big one, too. Within a month for four months like aligned with the stars and her body was able to start having a period every month. Her whole life, she had only like two a year. Then once we got the right remedy in there -. Paola: It probably affected her fertility too if she was -. Gaylyn: Well definitely. She had had one. She had had to plummet beforehand to even get pregnant with her other children. What a gift is that to somebody that’s been trying to have children. So it really was miraculous. One of the things that was really interesting with this one was even at the end of our discussion, she’s like, “Well I still have anxiety.” I was like, “Yes. But you went from a 9 to a 4.” Sometimes that’s the way it is. I mean like even for me. Do I still have arthritis? I do. But I went from up here like I can’t remember what I started at but now I’m down to a 1 or a 2. So that’s a huge deal. So we cannot throw the baby out with the bathwater just because it’s still there. Paola: Joette says that. We get greedy. Gaylyn: We are. We definitely were so greedy. Paola: Yes. Gaylyn: I’m greedy. Paola: Yeah, me too. My chronics are so much better. Then I want this. Gaylyn: That’s right. I want it even more Paola: I want more. I want more. Gaylyn: I do. I do. Paola: Joette does say that in her classes. She’ll say, “You’re not going to get perfect health. Nobody has perfect, perfect health. You always are going to have some. But you can live a robust, busy life, good life. That’s what you want.” Gaylyn: Definitely, most definitely. Here’s one more. This was like the clincher. Paola: Yes, go for it. Gaylyn: So just this past week, we have kind of a scare. Like I had mentioned, I have seven children and my 17-year old calls me up. I was a half hour away at a meeting. He called just obviously upset and was telling me that our little one, Jam, who is 3 years old was having a seizure. I’m thinking of how I would have reacted four years ago, five years ago, ten years ago. I mean I really would have probably freaked out, right. But very calmly, I was able to say run over to such and such place and grab this. He ran and grabbed it and gave him the dose. Then I said, “Now, tell me what else is going on.” He was able to tell me and I was like, okay. Paola: Wow. Gaylyn: I knew one of the two remedies in my head but I had to send him to the books to get the other one for the seizure. I was like, “Run and go grab the book. Go find it. And you know where to find all the remedies.” So within about two minutes, he was able to find it, find the right remedies and give them to our three-year old son. Even though he was upset, he wasn’t freaky because he knew. He felt confident in himself and he felt confident in me, I think and the books that we have and the remedy. Everything was just there. If any of that wouldn’t have been set up just perfectly like that, we could have had a nice freak-out session. Paola: Yeah. Gaylyn: Seizures are kind of scary. We have never dealt with that before. Paola: So that was new. I keep ordering different kits. I have my 30C. I have my 200C. I just got my 1M. I keep getting them in different colors. Go get me my red box. Go get me my blue box. I need my green box. The kids were like, “Okay.” They all know where it is and they run. Gaylyn: You got to have it. That’s the thing is that it creates such a security to have those things right there. I keep telling people get it anyway because at certain times, you will always go to it. You just have to have it at your house. If it’s too far away, if you need to go to a vitamin shop, the local drug store, it’s just too far away. Paola: It goes back to liberty. It does. It gives you freedom of choice, freedom of option. Gaylyn: And you’re limited when you’re not prepared. Paola: You are. Gaylyn: You really, really are. So this is a part of this story with my son. My husband really, really wanted to take him to the hospital and get him checked out at the emergency room. Knowing the situation that we were going to be in, I was just a little bit leery. I was like, “Oh shoot. I don’t want to have to deal with this kind of stuff today. But I was like okay. We’ll go in and deal with conventional opinions and so we can figure out what’s going on with him. So we took him in. Of course, I was the black sheep because I rejected right off the Motrin and the Tylenol. I had to do that multiple times, mind you, sending new people in all the time to see if they could convince this stubborn mother to sanity. Hey, just take it because we want to bring down his fever. I was like, “It’s okay. He’s all right. He’s going to be okay. I just want you to test him. See what’s going on.” So they tested him and found out that he had strep. For me, the light went on. I was like, “Oh yay. He’s got strep.” Paola: I can do that. Gaylyn: I can do that. So they probably thought that was kind of weird, too. Paola: That you smiled at them. Oh. Gaylyn: That you smiled and that you’re not afraid. You’re not any of that. But the light went on. I was like, “Oh, the strep run on a super-fast fever that didn’t cause the febrile seizure.” I was like, “Oh, now I can connect the dots.” To me, this was a relief because I knew exactly what to do for that. So those diagnosis, oh thank goodness we have those because I have the right remedy right there in my purse. I had brought my kit with me. As soon as they went out to go get my bill, I gave him a dose. $800 later, I had a diagnosis and I got to leave the ER followed by shaking heads and disapproving looks but me, fully confident in my wonderful friend, homeopathy. Really, one more dose that night and by morning, the fever was just a memory. He was back to his lively self by about 12 the next day. Paola: If you’re listening, Joette has a study group curriculum that is coming out. There is a large chunk in that. It’s in the first four weeks. I can’t remember which week. We ask you to read Dr. Mendelsohn’s chapter on fevers. He talks about febrile seizures and how they’re not dangerous but they are scary to witness. Gaylyn: Yeah, exactly. Paola: That knowledge is so empowering. Gaylyn: It really is. It really is. The thing that was so fun about this one is that the few times that the light went on, instead of feeling anxiety about the situation, I felt happiness. I felt exhilarated. I felt confident. So that is a huge gift right there. Paola: It is. Gaylyn: You can’t replace that. Paola: I tell people. Can you imagine what it feels like to generally speaking? I mean, maybe meningitis is going to really freak me out if someone has it. You know what I mean? That’s not common. But generally speaking, illness does not scare me. It’s opportunity. Gaylyn: It’s an opportunity for sure. Paola: Gaylyn, you are so cool. I want to move in next door to your -. Gaylyn: I know, right. Come on over. Paola: Oh, you’re awesome. I love these stories. Thank you so much for taking the time. Gaylyn: Oh thank you for having me. It’s been so much fun for me. Anytime that we get to talk about homeopathy and fun things like this, oh it’s certainly a pleasure. Paola: It’s a winning formula for success. Thank you so much. Gaylyn: Thank you. Joette: Are you or someone you know a mom with Moxie? Well, we’re on the hunt for you. Of course, we don’t want to hear just from moms but from anyone who uses and loves homeopathy. Reach out to my podcast team and let us know why you’re a mom with Moxie. For more information, contact podcast@joettecalabrese.com.
Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com and schedule a free 15-minute conversation. | |||
| Podcast 19 – My Skinny, Little Arm Got Allergy Shots | 02 Oct 2016 | 00:59:11 | |
In this podcast, we cover: 1:58 A Allergic, Joette’s new course 6:50 B How the allergies started 20:42 C Miasms or inherited taint 36:54 D Who should take the course and why 46:36 E Kali bichromium for allergies You are listening to a podcast from JoetteCalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition.
Paola: We’ve got another great podcast for you at joettecalabrese.com and here’s what’s coming up. Joette: Then they test you for it. I don’t know of any conventional allergist that tests you for nail polish, or cigarette smoke, or fumes in the truck ahead of you in the traffic. I’ll be honest with you. I think this is more insidious, this pharmaceutical industry because it gets you when you’re down. You’re already sick and scared and you say, “Oh my gosh, what am I going to do?” And now it’s telling you, not now, it’s been in the last decade, they’ve been encouraging people to go to the doctor and pressure their doctor. They don’t use the word pressure but that’s what it is. About every two weeks, I would go for these shots. As a small child with a skinny, little arm and they were giving me 16 shots, I mean I used to freak when I saw that. Paola: In this podcast, Joette is going to talk a lot about allergies. Be sure to stick around to the end of the podcast when she gives a great remedy for sinus problems. It’s funny how this comes full circle because we recorded this on a Monday and now it’s a Friday and I have just suffered from a terrible sinus infection. You can tell from my voice I’m still a little under the weather. Lo and behold, the remedy that she talks about in this podcast just a few days ago is the remedy that cleared out that sinus infection for me. So here we go. Hi Joette, I’m excited to be doing another podcast with you. Joette: I know. I love it too, Paola. Paola: We’ve got a really great topic coming up because it has to do with the course that you’re going to launch pretty soon here. Joette: Yeah. Paola: The course is called Allergic with a question mark and an exclamation point. So why is it called Allergic? Why isn’t it called allergies? Allergic, Joette’s new course Joette: Yeah, good distinction. When we first brought that word up, we weren’t really sure how to put it but I think that it makes it different. The two are different because most people think of allergies as something that they have seasonally, seasonal allergies or animal allergies, or food allergies. But allergic seems more encompassing. It’s a broader umbrella. So it incorporates not just allergies to the conventional ideas of what allergies are but also to having chemical sensitivities: food intolerances, allergic to perfumes, allergic to tobacco smoke, or even the change of weather, the change of seasons, barometric pressure changes. So I think it’s a broader term. We wanted to make sure the people understood that we get that, that I get that that it’s s broader term that people are suffering from these days. Paola: Yeah, that’s absolutely right. It’s true that the conventional side just really sees kind of anaphylaxis than your allergic or histamine issues. Joette: Right and they test you for it. I don’t know of any conventional allergist that tests you for nail polish, or cigarette smoke, or fumes in the truck ahead of you in the traffic. I knew years ago that that’s what I had. I could feel it instantly. I knew right away when somebody sprayed pesticide. I stopped wearing nail polish, those kinds of things. I didn’t need to be tested. It was pretty clear. Paola: Right, right, exactly, which leads actually to my next question. You have a history of allergies. Isn’t that why you started homeopathy in the first place? Joette: Yeah. I would say it goes even further back than that, further back from homeopathy. Rarely does the person come from illness directly into homeopathy unless you live in Europe, South America, or India. But in North America, people have to travel down this long, circuitous path from I don’t feel well to conventional medicine and all the drugs to gee, I don’t think I like these drugs anymore. They’re making me sicker in a new way to the health food store, vegan, macrobiotic, vitamin therapy, synthetic vitamins. Oh maybe synthetic is not a good idea, okay, now we go to natural vitamins and supplements. Oh my gosh, by the time people get to homeopathy, they’ve spent a good decade. Paola: And they’re pretty desperate. You are right though, I’m from Brazil. When my parents moved us as little immigrants to the United States, she brought her homeopathy kit. I told her, “So you understand [00:4:50].” Like, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. When you got sick, I just looked it up in my little book and I gave you the remedy.” I thought that was great. But listen, so then we’re here for 10 years. My mom throws away her kit. Joette: Oh no! Oh, she Americanized in the wrong way. Paola: Yes! Joette: I know about being Americanized but I got to tell you, that was the wrong way to go. Paola: It was and it goes exactly to what you just said. It’s like she got influenced in doctors and so she threw. Joette: Culture, the culture shifts you. Paola: Yes, it did. So you’re absolutely right. Joette: Yes, yes, yes. Culture is huge. There’s no doubt about it. When you look at a women’s magazine, you can see who’s paying for all the advertising of the magazine. It’s all the pharmaceutical industry. Then you go on television. Oh my gosh, there it is again. Oh my gosh, it’s in the news. Oh, I can’t get away from this stuff. It’s ubiquitous. Every billboard and magazine and newspaper and radio, it’s the way it used to be with the tobacco and the alcohol industry. That was made illegal. They actually got after those two industries. I’ll be honest with you, I think this is more insidious, this pharmaceutical industry because it gets you when you’re down. You’re already sick and scared and you say, “Oh my gosh. What am I going to do?” And now it’s telling me, not now, it’s been in the last decade, they’ve been encouraging people to go to the doctor and pressure their doctor. They don’t use the word pressure but that’s what it is. Pressure their doctor, “Why don’t you find out if this is right for you?” So it’s not even up to the doctor anymore. It used to be just the doctors of journals that would have all these advertisements. They got smart. They got sleek. They now advertise to the general public. Paola: Well and they’re so good at it. Joette: Oh they’re brilliant. Paola: I mean case and point, look at the GARDASIL vaccine. Joette: Oh my gosh, it’s brilliant. Paola: And how they’re marketing. Joette: Absolutely. Paola: It’s on MTV. It’s on all that age group. It’s everywhere. Back to allergies, tell me, you had it as a kid, right? Joette: Yes. Paola: Your whole life, you say it was your middle name? Joette: Right, yeah, my middle name used to be allergies. But now, it isn’t anymore. I’m just back to Josephine. That’s actually my middle name, Joette Josephine. I know. I know. They just had to make sure that they got their Jo in there. How the allergies started I wasn’t a kid, I was an infant. I was six weeks old when my mother stopped nursing me. We’re talking early 50s, folks. I mean, I’m not a young woman. I got a vaccine. I reacted to this vaccine. I believe it was polio because I don’t know that there was anything more than polio, maybe small pox in those days. I do have my records but I forgot which one it was. Shortly after that, I got an ear infection. Of course, antibiotics were used. Shortly after the antibiotics, up came eczema. It started out on my cheeks. It was pretty rough and raw. Then another ear infection came along and you know the story. This is everybody’s story, another round of antibiotics. In those days, it was an injection of penicillin which does the same. So then that second otitis media was met with antibiotics. Then lo and behold, eczema that was at every flexor, behind my knees, inside my elbows, on my neck, behind my ears and then I was plagued. So I was plagued with it. Every time I got another ear infection, this is the way my mother remembered it, it seemed to be the ear infection, what she was thinking. That’s what of course what the doctor was saying because the doctor is not going to say, “Oh, it’s got to be the drugs I used on you or on her.” They’re not going to say that. They’re going to say, “Oh, it must be these ear infections.” Then they go, “Tsk, tsk, tsk, that old inheritance.” They’re not saying that but that’s the implication, there’s something wrong with your inheritance. This is a newborn for goodness’ sakes. Paola: It’s not his fault or her fault. Joette: No, absolutely. So it was my mother’s fault, of course, my father’s fault. Paola: All your ancestors. Joette: My ancestors all the way back who had never had, by the way, never had antibiotics. I was the first, pretty much the first generation. My father had had a couple of antibiotics by my mother never did. My parents were born at home. They were of that generation where the families couldn’t afford going to a doctor. They mistrusted them. They didn’t believe that the doctors would be helpful to them. They thought they would be – well, they were immigrants – they didn’t trust. So they stayed away. Instead, they used their herbs and their home methods. Well anyway, then I became a child that was not just one with eczema, I was blanketed in eczema. I mean, there were very few parts of my body that didn’t have it. I didn’t have it on the bottoms of my feet or the palms of my hands. I didn’t have it in my scalp. I didn’t have it in my ears. I had it behind my ears, in front of my ears, down my neck, across my face. It was everywhere. I didn’t have it on my shoulders and my chest but my stomach, my legs, big, huge patches, very uncomfortable, unsightly, embarrassing, and I was always told to stop scratching. So that’s like, for those of you who are out there and have babies, that’s like when the doctors says don’t push in labor. Don’t push. Are you kidding me? Do you think I’m like Herculean or something? Paola: What? Joette: When you’re in transition or when you’re past transition, you’re pushing. I’m sorry, doc. There’s no way. I’m pushing. Paola: My girlfriend, she had her baby in the car on accident obviously on the way to the birthing center, whatever. And her husband kept yelling, “Stop pushing.” Joette: I know. Yeah, right. Paola: She’s like, “I’m not doing it. It’s the body’s doing it.” Joette: This is a conscious effort, folks. So, to stop scratching was ridiculous. We got steroid creams and they were just coming out at that time. All the miracle drugs were coming out in the early 50s. So we were told to use it sparingly because it would cause trouble later in life. So we used it only when I was in a horrendous flare and my mother was very careful about it. One jar lasted many years because she was very afraid of – my cousin was our doctor – what my cousin warned her about regards to the detriments of using the steroid creams. Paola: Tell us. How does this relate to allergies then? Someone might be new to this. They may not realize the connection. Joette: One of the things that was found out by my mother taking to an allergist and getting my 16 shots. I’ll never forget it. I’ve actually written about it on my blog. I remember getting the shots. I’m sorry going off in this tangents but I think it makes it more interesting when you hear stories about how this happens to people. I remember seeing the tray that would come in and I knew what was in that tray. It was covered with a cloth but I started to recognize it because I would go about every two weeks, I would go for these shots. As a small child with skinny, little arm and they were giving you 16 shots, I mean I used to freak when I saw that. Paola: The steroid shots? Joette: These were shots to determine what I was allergic to. What is causing this, they were asking themselves. So was it orange juice? Was it feathers? Was it chocolate? Was it dogs? Was it eggs and milk? So they determined it was yes, all of the above. It was all of that. It was all of that. So, no matter what it was they tested me for, it was that. So basically I was allergic to everything. The more antibiotics I got, I became more and more allergic. But nobody ever tested me interestingly for antibiotics, the stuff that they were doing. That was the invidious for all of this, the etiology. So I don’t know if it would have shown up that way to be honest because it wasn’t that I was allergic to it. It was that it had changed my gut essentially. It changed the architecture of my molecular makeup, so to speak. So I lived my life not being able to have chocolate and dairy and eggs and no feather pillows and no wool. In those days in the 50s, there were no such, I mean we lived in New York State so we had to wear wool coats. No wool for me. It was very hard to find something that didn’t have down or wool. My mother went crazy trying to find all these things. They were allergies. Even as abstinent as my mother and later I was from these substances, it didn’t make any difference. It might have caught back on a flare but it would not have kept me from being allergic consistently all the time. Paola: That’s what makes your message so unique is that you say fine, if abstinence helps a little bit to it. But that is not a goal. Joette: It’s not the goal. That’s not a life. That’s not a lifestyle. To abstain from all those things, I mean and the list was longer than that. I mean, it was pretty long because if you can’t have eggs then you really shouldn’t have chicken in many cases. If you can’t have dairy then you shouldn’t have beef. It’s the same species. I’m not saying that’s so for everyone but it depends on the depth and breadth. It’s a little different for everyone but when you have sensitivity to one thing generally, more come down the pike. There’s nothing in conventional medicine that I’m aware of that corrects that. So I went through my life feeling really ugly and homely. People looking at my legs and my arms, I know I was horrible, horrible. Paola: You’re the bubble girl. Joette: Yeah, I was the bubble girl. I wore long sleeves in the summer and pants in the summer so nobody could see my legs and my arms and all that. Then I hit puberty which was pretty interesting because then it was a big shift. It kind of dissolved. It went away. The eczema went completely away when I was about 12, maybe more like 13. I had one big, bad experience at 12 years old because my father bought a new car and we travelled down to Florida on a trip. It was the one vacation we ever had in our whole lives. I got really sick because it was a brand new car. It was loaded with chemicals. I got very, very, very sick. It took weeks to get over that. But after that, about a year later, that was the end of it. I never got it again. Then instead, what I had was gut problems. The gut problems were I have lots of pain after I ate. I had a very low appetite. I was really thin. I had lots and lots of stomachaches. So those stomachaches were a problem because they kept me from living my life. I missed school. I missed social events and those kinds of things. I kind of [00:15:43]. Then in my 20s, it was like a grace period. Then I got hit hard again in my 30s. Doctors often say, “Oh, they’ll grow out of it.” No, no, no, you don’t grow out of these things, not if they’ve been treated with medications. Paola: It’s almost like it retreats and creates a new plan and then attacks again with a new way. Joette: Right, right. Speaking of this course, I just want to say that when we talk about these things deeply in homeopathy, we talk about the direction of disease and then the direction of cure. That is something we’re going to be covering in this course that you’re talking about. I know that some people might worry, “Is this going to be an overlap with the gut courses that I’ve given?” Paola: Exactly. That’s exactly what I was thinking. If someone buys the Allergy course and they already own the Good Gut, Bad Gut course, would they want to buy this course? Joette: There will be overlap. But thank God we have overlap because if there is an overlap, really, you’ll never get this whole picture of homeopathy because there are homeopathic medicines that work in many different ways and also need to be repeated so that you can understand it with a different set of circumstances, with a different kind of case. Here is how we make this fresh. Now, look at it from this point of view instead of that point of view. Whereas in the gut course, we taught it strictly from a gastrointestinal point of view, in the skin course (we have a skin course too), we talk about it strictly from a skin course. But with this Allergic course, we’re talking about kind of my whole picture because first, it was eczema and ear infections and also, I might add susceptibility to strep throat. Then my tonsils were extracted, I mean we go on and on about how this is all related. It’s very related. So, I want to spend or I am spending a lot of time working on trying to make this new course as in depth and as fresh as possible but there has to be overlap. Paola: Well, I think the perfect example of this is just a single homeopathic remedy, how it can be used for many different things like you’re just saying. Here’s a quick example, Ipecac, when you look at it from a female perspective, you think of it maybe during morning sickness. Joette: Yes. Paola: We’ve got Ipecac again and if you look at it from a food poisoning perspective or a gastrointestinal, you think of Ipecac that way. Then you can also think of Ipecac with diarrhea and dysentery, from that kind of a perspective. Joette: And a cough. Ipecac’s great for coughs. Paola: You’re right, right. I remember one time we met and you said, “Oh Paola, take some Ipecac.” So it’s just approaching the same remedies but from different directions as we get a complete world view -. Joette: Yeah, we’ll be still using some of the same protocols because it’s kind of foolish not to use it just because I mentioned it in another course. It got to be repeating. There’s no doubt about it. Paola: But definitely you’re saying even though it’s coming from a different perspective and there may be some repeated protocols, there’s going to be plenty of new information. Joette: Yes, ma’am. Paola: Okay. Joette: Absolutely. Paola: I love that. So you really do have to let go of the allopathic model when you use homeopathy. When you think of one remedy treating one thing, no, it treats many things. Joette: Yes. You know how you learn this, Paola? You go online. Let’s say you look up Ipecac. You go online and write Ipecac homeopathic materia medica. Look it up on a materia medica. It’s usually Boericke, Dr. Boericke’s material medica who died decades ago or Dr. James Tyler Kent. He died decades ago, half a century ago. Those are the kind of people you want to read about Ipecac. Now, look at all the indications. It’s sweeping. Each of these remedies is pretty sweeping. If you get a good material medica really like the Concordant, Frans Vermeulen’s Concordant for example, look it up online. I don’t know how much of that is online. But you look at them and you’ll say, “My gosh, Sulphur has six pages of indications. Holy cow.” Now you say, “Well, I thought Sulphur was only for hot flashes.” No, it’s for many, many conditions. If you know Sulphur and you’ve read it and you understand it has something to do with heat, not always but often, it has to do with heat or burning. Now you can think outside the box and say now I get why we use that for let’s say rectal burning. I get it. Now I understand why you can also use it for hot flashes during menopause. Paola: Right, I like that. Now, there is a specific subject in this course which I’m really excited about because you haven’t discussed it in any of the other courses. That was miasms. So tell me a little bit about that. Miasms or inherited taint Joette: Let’s go back to my story because I think that will be instructive. When I got that vaccine and that antibiotic, why didn’t I get seizures? Some kids get seizures after vaccines. I mean, there are all kinds of these. Why didn’t I get an eye infection? Why didn’t I get conjunctivitis? Paola: Some people get nothing. Joette: Some people get nothing, absolutely. Why was I even affected at all? Good point. Well because we have miasms. Miasms is another way of saying inherited taint, T-A-I-N-T, inherited taint or the inheritance. If we look back at my parents, they didn’t have eczema. Actually, my mother had a tiny bit of eczema behind her ears and a little bit around her elbow when she was a young woman. But that was all it was. So nobody thought to take her to an allergist. That would be the last thing my grandparents would have done. My father had some allergies to certain insects, these sandflies that fly around the neighborhood where he grew up and so his eyes would swell up. We had allergies in the family. So once you have a child, you can assume that that’s going to be a potential concern are these allergies. Interestingly, both of them, one was on the skin for my mother and the other one was around the eyes and swelling. That’s what showed up in me later in life was swelling. Oh actually, when we did that trip to Florida, that’s exactly what happened and my eyes swelled up, not from insects but from the chemicals in the new car. Paola: Which would have been probably Apis, right, Apis 6 (Apply the discount coupon code – “Joette”– at check-out for an additional 20% off!)? Joette: Yeah, yeah, it would have been, absolutely. Apis, especially when it looks there are bags of water. It’s edematous, really, really swollen with fluid inside. So that would have helped. It would have helped my father all those years, too. So at any rate, what we’re looking at is when I was given the vaccine, the miasm was stimulated. The inheritance, the lowest level of the inheritance, the weakest link in the inheritance was let loose or was weakened further. So had I not had those allopathic methods administered to me at such a tender age and at the same time my mother stopped nursing, it was like boom, boom, boom. Really, when you think about it, it’s huge. No more nursing, vaccine, and antibiotics. No! I mean I was an infant. Paola: It’s the alarm clock for the sleeping giant. Joette: Yes. Paola: It’s like wake up now. Joette: Yeah, somebody kicked him in the gut and said wake up sleeping giant. All the bad stuff that’s in your inheritance has just been awakened. So I wasn’t going to get toenail fungus. I wasn’t going to get seizures. I was going to get what was already there lurking in the background that needed to be protected and unknowingly, my parents didn’t do that. Paola: This is so funny. People will say, “Well, we have pretty good genetics. Nobody in my family has cancer or whatever.” And I just want to say you’re not perfect. You’re not a Spartan, okay? Everyone has something. Joette: We have a lawyer here, folks. Paola: I know. You do no know. Everyone has something and you want to know what it is? Joette: Take a drug. Paola: Keep doing what you’re doing and don’t listen to me. Joette: Keep taking those drugs and you’ll see what the weakest links are in your family. But will this happen to everyone? Like you said, no, it doesn’t. There are many people who can get past all of this stuff pretty easily. But I was very sensitive and have been a good part of my life to chemicals, to heavy metals, to additives, to preservatives. So I think that had a lot to do with how I reacted as well. But who knows? Who know? You could analyze that until the cows come home. I don’t know that it’s worthy of that. Was it the adjuncts in the polio vaccine or was it polio vaccine. Was it the live polio that was injected? Was it live or was it dead or killed? I can’t remember now when they were. I don’t know what they were using in early 50s. Was it killed polio or the live? It was the sugar cube versus the injection? I would not have remembered, of course, what was done to me but I could certainly look it up and find out which one it was. Paola: So you’re saying the miasms that you’re going to talk about then look at correcting your genetics, basically? Joette: Yes. Now, that’s a big sweeping statement, isn’t it? Nobody can release that. What do you mean? If it’s inherited, I’m stuck with it, right? No, no, no, no, no. It means that you will always have the propensity for that but we want to correct the condition, the disease. It can be done. I’ve seen it done. I’m not going to tell you that it’s everyone. It can be done. I’m not going to tell everyone that they can all be cured because I believe and this is actually something that the Banerjis told me and I was thinking this all along but they put it so succinctly. They said every disease is curable, not every person is curable. So cancer is curable with homeopathy. AIDS is curable with homeopathy. I’ve seen it at the Banerji clinic. I’ve seen it. I’ve watched it. I’ve observed it. I’ve gone back looked at the records. I’ve checked it out. I want to see it for myself. I believe it. I see it. It’s data that is reproducible data. But it doesn’t mean that everybody with AIDS will be cured because it depends on how far they are, how deep the miasm is, how many the drugs they’ve taken. Paola: Their vital force, basically. Joette: Their vital force, absolutely. Their circumstances, there’s a lot to be included in this. Then a lot of people say, “Well so, what about my vital force? What are the chances of my getting past this?” Well we still don’t know. Paola: You just got to do it. Joette: We do the best we can. That’s right. We do the best we can. Of course, we want to put our ducks in order. I always tell people, “Look, make good choices. Before you have the baby, get married.” That makes life easy, right? It’s simple. It makes life super easy because now you’ve got two people taking care of one person. But make sure you’ve also got food on the table and you’ve got a roof over your head. I mean that’s just logical to me and it should be the right person to marry, too. That’s a big deal, huge. Make sure that person doesn’t have cocaine addiction. Paola: I always joked. I used to work at the bank when my husband and I were dating. He had an account at the bank that I worked at. Do you think I looked it up to see if he was in debts or whatever and what kind of places he was going to? Absolutely. Joette: I know. In the old days, you’d have to prove – the woman’s family would have to prove the dowry value. So you’re just using it in the modern way. Paola: Just doing my due diligence and I’m not ashamed. Joette: Yeah, you don’t want to live in abject poverty. You don’t want to do this alone. You want to do this. A partner makes a big difference. A husband makes s huge difference. So now you also want to make sure that you’re eating good food. Now, how can you do that without the other underpinnings? It’s possible. Please don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that mothers out there who don’t have husbands are naughty or anything. I’m just telling you that it certainly makes it a lot easier in the long run if you’re doing this with someone else. Paola: Sure. So, kind of eating a high quality diet, that raw milk. Joette: Absolutely, absolutely. Paola: Reducing your stress. Joette: Yes, fresh air. Try to buy a house that doesn’t have pesticides sprayed all around it. Try to get into a school where you feel comfortable with where it’s a good school or you decide to homeschool. These are huge decisions and you want all your options available to you. Paola: Right, right. If your immediate family is exhaustingly stressful, move a few hours away. Do what it takes. Joette: And if standard family is good for you, by all means, take advantage of that. You need that extended family. Grandparents are key. Paola: Going back to the concept of genetics, there’s this hot new word out there called epigenetics. So we know about genetics but now it’s epigenetics. I’m not sure if all our listeners know what epigenetics is. It’s basically the modification of gene expression rather than the alteration of the genetic code itself. Joette: So we’re trying splitting hairs here. We’re moderating not changing. Paola: Right. So genetics, they’re saying, can change completely the code. Then epigenetics is saying is instead the code is the same, it’s just how it’s expressing itself as that. Joette: Yeah, yeah, so the expression of it, not the underlying molecular level of it, the makeup of it. Well and miasms have to do with what we’re talking about. There’s no doubt about it. I think we’re kind of splitting hairs, although it would be fascinating to find that out homeopathically. But here’s the thing. Modern science is always digging around to find out these kinds of answers. I’ll be honest with you. I don’t think we have any answers. I mean we know that there are certain inherited taints in the family. Whether you look it up and you go through blood tests or saliva tests or other kinds of molecular tests, there are specific diseases that you’re likely to get when you learn about miasms. That’s already determined. That was determined by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann back in the early 1800s, 1801, 1810, 1805. That was all figured out, not with microscopes, not with testing of saliva but it was determined through clinical experience. It was seen time and again. It’s a fascinating study. I won’t go into it too much here because we’re all going to talk about it in this course. I mean, we could talk about this all day long. Miasms are very fascinating. But you can see that it’s coming from the family. What I love about this is it’s not saying, “Oh jeepers, now I’m doomed.” I’d rather say, “No. Look at your health. Look at your parent’s health. Look at your husband’s health and his parent’s health. Now, you know where your kids are going if you’re not careful, if you are imprudent, if there are drugs that are used for every sniffle and sneeze or even for not every sniffle and sneeze, for diseases or conditions that can so readily be corrected and aided or even softened if nothing else with methods that do not drive the pathology to a deeper state.” That’s the phrase. It drives the pathology or the family inheritance to a deeper state, a more sobering state. So that that next generation because now we’ve had three generations, four even, four generations depending on which family we’re looking at, of vaccinations. Now the kids are getting, I think the last tally was 69 vaccines by the time they reached college. By the time I reached college, I had maybe, I don’t know four. Paola: Wow. Joette: So it’s something to think about. Paola: So you’re saying, when it comes to homeopathy, who cares if the actual genetic code is different or if it’s expressing itself differently. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that it came from your family and you’re sick. So now we treat it with the protocol. Joette: Right. Now, we use homeopathy to uproot it. Now we can look down the pike and look at our children and say, “Ho, ho, now I better watch out for that because my husband had asthma and I had eczema. That could come down the pike.” It doesn’t take much to turn that on or as you said, kick – put the alarm clock next to that sleeping giant or I said kick him in the gut. Suddenly, he wakes up and all the wrath of the family inheritance comes out. Paola: They wake up mad. They don’t wake up happy. Joette: Right, right. Paola: So I, myself was allergic or intolerant to it. It wasn’t so much chemicals for me but it was food. If any of the listeners are listening, you might have heard of the Autoimmune Paleo diet. So I couldn’t have milk, eggs, soy, beans, nuts. I couldn’t have any form of -. Joette: Grains. Paola: Oh, no grains, no rice, that goes without saying. I couldn’t even have nightshade vegetables, so tomatoes. Joette: Tomatoes and eggplant, and yeah, all the things that you love, that I love. Paola: Right. And I was slow and avocado, I was trying to crop out and that was a big one for me because it gave me all the fats that I needed and so I started living off of coconut products. I could tell that sooner or later that was going to get added to the list, too. Joette: The more myopic or the more narrow we become in our food choices, the more narrow we have to become on our food choices. Paola: Right, right. I have to say, Joette, all I avoid right now is gluten. I believe that I could probably start working on that but I’m just so happy that all I have to do is avoid gluten. So I’m just taking a break right now and just avoid gluten and I love it. Joette: Yeah, it’s a beautiful thing. I say that later on in life, I had eight, nine foods. I keep forgetting. I think I’ve said eight. I think I’ve said nine. So just to correct that, I’ve said both ways. Nine foods that I could eat and I called it my sad little diet. Paola: This was in your 30s? Joette: Yeah, when I was in my 30s. The more I couldn’t eat, the more I couldn’t eat. It was an exercise in my poor husband. We couldn’t go out to dinner. We couldn’t travel or if we did, we had coolers. I mean, I had the state of the art coolers, I have to tell you because when we were on road trips. That’s now what I want to be known for, my coolers. Paola: Right. Don’t. Joette: We went out to dinner last night. I didn’t even give it a thought. I mean I’m not going to eat stuff with MSG in it. But tonight, we’re going to meet with some friends and they’re going to have hotdogs and hamburgers and I’m going to eat it. Believe it or not, I’m going to eat on their free range. You know what I mean? These are not hotdogs that are high quality hotdogs. So actually, I will probably just have the hamburger but it’s certainly not from a free range cow. I can pretty much guarantee that. So I’m bringing the salad. I’m bringing an avocado salad and tomatoes. So I’ll eat a lot of my stuff and then I’ll have one hamburger, maybe without the bun. Paola: Right. Joette: I still eat. I want to be part of the group. Paola: That’s my point. That’s what’s so exciting. Had I only found you now, I think maybe I would have taken this over even the Good Gut, Bad Gut because I have to tell you, my biggest fear, Joette was that I was going to starve. Joette: Yes, oh yes. Paola: I will have to have that bag that goes straight. I mean that was my biggest fear. Joette: Yes, absolutely. That’s the way I felt, too. I got to the point where I was afraid to eat anything because I didn’t know whether or not that was going to trigger it. Paola: Right, right. Joette: Being for me, it was asthma later on. So it went from skin to stomach to asthma. Paola: For me, it was my bladder. It would make my bladder bleed and that goes back to the whole genetics, whatever we’re predisposed to. So Joette, why this course? Who should take the course and why Joette: Because I feel as though there’s something in the other courses and that was just what we’re talking about, the genetic. So I feel that we needed to go deeper. I had not done that in other courses as deep as I’d like to. I want to explain how this has an inheritance value. It will give a lot of insight into what homeopathic medicines can be used but also what’s coming down the pike for folks, families. So this course is not for everyone. A lot of times, it’s so for all of my courses where everything I talk about is not for everyone. There are many people who really don’t have any interest in this. That’s their decision. But this course is not for someone who feels that they can’t take another course on, that they just don’t want to go this deep. They don’t need to understand why this is happening or how this is happening and what homeopathic medicines are connected to it. But it is for someone who says I can’t get enough of this stuff. I know that many of the folks who are our students are of that ilk. They can’t get enough, just like me. I still can’t get enough. I’m in my 60s. I can’t stop reading this stuff. I can’t stop learning that’s why I go to India every year. I mean, I just got back a month ago. I’m ready to go in January. I just said to my husband, “Let’s go back.” I want to go back. He says, “Really?” Yeah. Why does it have to be once a year. Why can’t we go twice a year? I can’t get enough because it’s so fascinating. It’s the only that I can equate this to is music. When you first start learning music and you find out where Middle C is and then you have one hand in the scales and then the arpeggios and then you can learn a little tune. Then you start playing little simple sonatas. Then by the time you turn into an adult, you really learned a lot but there’s always more to learn. You don’t even think to learn of the romantics or maybe you didn’t even think to learn about the jazz that came in the 20th century. I start learning rhythms. How cool is that? You could keep going on and on. How about country rhythms and how about comparing that to rhythms that were used in just a cappella or back in the 1600s by the monks? It’s just too cool. There is so much to learn and that’s the way homeopathy is. Paola: Well, I really relate to this. When my kids, and I play a little bit of piano, but my kids play piano. When they start off, they’re frustrated. It’s hard and I don’t get it. Joette: Because there’s no beauty to it, yet. There’s no fun. Paola: And that’s how I felt when I started off with homeopathy. But then as you progress, in piano, it takes a couple of years but with homeopathy, it’s much quicker than that. As you progress, you get your kid looking at you, “That was really fun.” My son’s playing this little song called Happy Farmer and it has this really fun scale. He loves it. That’s how I feel about the homeopathy. It’s no longer frustrating. I kind of passed the beginner stage and it is fun to cure people. Joette: Oh my God, it’s such a heady experience. Here’s the thing I always tell people. We, humans are always looking at what the goals is, looking ahead, looking ahead. I got to cure this. I got to get to that. I got to be able to take care of my child’s this and my aunt’s that. I say, “No, no, no, no, no, no. Don’t look at what’s always ahead.” Of course, you don’t always want. You want to have goals. But turn around, look back, and look at what you have accomplished. Look 80% back. You won’t realize how much you’ve learned until you look back and say, “Wow, my child doesn’t have constipation anymore. My neighbor doesn’t have those arthritic knees any longer. My mother doesn’t have the weeping any more. My father doesn’t have shin splints.” I mean these are things that homeopathy corrects, not treats, remember. We’re not treating symptoms. We are correcting. So it is a heady experience. I always say it’s deliciously intellectual. Paola: I love that. So there is one thing I want to talk about, Joette. That is your mission. Your mission is to get homeopathy in how many homes is it? Joette: I think it was a million. Did I say million? I keep forgetting. I think it was 100,000. Paola: You wrote it down somewhere. Joette: Yeah, I know. I have it written on a little slate at my desk. Paola: There’s a number. Joette: By 2020. That was the number, by 2020. So I don’t know if we’re being really ridiculous in thinking that. Paola: Yeah, we can do it. Joette: In four years, whether we can do this but with the help of the internet and people and really more than anything, mothers spreading it to mother to grand mom and to neighbor. Paola: At the rate people are getting sick with not very good options at their fingertips, I mean this is going to keep spreading. Joette: Yeah, it comes along faster for many, yes. Yes, that’s right. There, we want to get it out there. I always wonder whether or not I should do this podcasts about a course. I believe very strongly in this medicine, this medical paradigm. So my passion is to get it to people and so we create these courses. The courses are not necessarily for everyone. Not everyone wants to put out the money or doesn’t have the money to do this. So I have developed or we, as a group, my whole group and my team around me including you, Paola have put together tiers, levels of ability or interest in learning more. So I suppose the top tier would be working with me one on one. So that if you have a problem and you don’t want to take course or you’re taking a course and you just can’t move fast along, enough along in it then you can work with me one on one. That’s certainly very acceptable for many people and it’s not for others. But let’s say that’s not affordable then I also have CDs and people can purchase CDs. They can also purchase the courses. So the courses are I think reasonable but some might not agree with that. But for what’s in them and for the fact that this information is so unique, I think that the value is there. But let’s say people don’t agree with that. The value isn’t there. Now, what I suggest you do is you spend time on my blog. I’ve been offering this blog for nine years. Paola: It’s awesome. Joette: It is every single week. In the beginning, I give a lot of classical information. So there are some information that it would be valuable but I say the last four, five years is the information that I’m the most proud of since I started working with protocols and the Banerjis. I give you, I come back from India. My assistant collates all my information for me, puts it together. Then I give this away on my blog. I teach people. I do this for free. Paola: Yes. I just want to, case in point, it costs money for you to get this information from India, here. It costs money to put these courses together. It’s a lot of work. I’m on the back side of that. I see how much work it takes. So obviously, you want to support those endeavors but I’m going to say it, Joette. I don’t think you’ve ever come out and said this before. But when I realized that this was what was going on, I just thought, “This needs to come out.” When you buy a course from Joette like the Good Gut, Bad Gut or this Allergic course, you get access to a pharmacy where you get a discount. If you take even her study groups, which is kind of cheaper, it’s just like 50 bucks for that course, you do get a smaller discount but you get a discount and access to our preferred pharmacy. Anyhow, I was asking Joette once. So, why do we get this discount? It’s because Joette is waving her commission? For anyone who buys a remedy, she would get like 30%. But what she did is she turned that around and is giving it to her students because she didn’t want to have her hand in that way of making money. Joette: That’s the paradigm of conventional medicine where the doctor gives you a drug and he gets, I don’t know if I call it a kickback, I don’t know what it’s called these days. It’s changing all the time to protect the interest of those that are involved. But I don’t want to tell people, “Yeah, take this homeopathic medicine.” And then I’m getting a buck on it. I want you to just take it because it’s going to help you. I don’t want to make anything on it. It’s the same thing. We’re doing this with Boiron, too. When you click on it, on the medicine that’s on the blog and it takes you to Boiron, the pharmacy. It’s an international homeopathic pharmacy. Paola: Wonderful. Joette: You get a 20% discount if you use my name. I don’t get anything. I don’t want anything. Paola: That’s how we can make that possible is because you’ve given that up. That is your goal, Joette, is you want to help people and cure them. This isn’t about building some empire. It’s about building some empire. It’s about making people well. Am I allowed to say that? Joette: Well, it’s awfully nice of you to say that. But I still, I want you to know that I still make a living. That is part of this too. But I also know that people who come to the blog often can’t afford. So I don’t want them to say, “Oh my gosh. I have to send $15.” Some people can’t. They really can’t. So I want this to be available to all. If this is the way it’s best done, that’s the way we’re going to do it. Paola: Right, right. Well very good. Getting back to the Allergic course, how to conclude that idea. Tell me the Kali bichromium. Kali bichromium for allergies Joette: Oh yeah, yeah, bichromium, yeah. Because I want to give at least a protocol so that folks can go away with knowing something about how to use homeopathy for allergies. Quite a while ago, I used to have tremendous headaches and I used to think they were migraines. But I didn’t really know. I just knew the pain was horrendous. It was every single time the barometric pressure changed. Now, I lived in right downtown Buffalo, New York at that time. There was a barometric pressure change twice a week for crying out loud. Paola: So what is that exactly? I’m not sensitive to that. What is a barometric pressure? Joette: It means that the clouds have either come in and the sky is low. It’s actually the clouds are low. Then behind them, it might be a front or a clearing and as they blow through, it changes. The barometric pressure actually changes because now the clouds are lifted or they’ve dissolved or they’ve evaporated. The wind just blown them away and now it’s changed again. So it has to do with humidity too but it’s also pressure. Paola: So that’s what Chicken Little was referring to when the sky was falling because of that barometric pressure thing? Joette: Maybe, maybe. So every time a little storm would come through or a cloud cover would come through and it was imminent and I could feel that it was coming along, I would get these tremendous headaches. Well, these headaches were specific. That’s what I’m going to talk about, the specific kind of headache that was across my face, behind my eyes, above my eyes. It often started above my eye or between them and then it would just spread across. Sometimes it would go into my ears and it almost felt like it could be allergies. At one point, I went to an allergist at that time. They said, “Oh yeah, it’s allergies.” Of course, he wanted to give me steroids. But I just started to learn about homeopathy and I said no, no, no, no. I’m going to have to stop. Thanks for the information and no thanks. So I went home and I just started to learn about homeopathy. At that time, I had a simple book and I looked up barometric pressure change or headaches or sinus. I think it was sinus. I looked at sinus pain and that’s what it was. So I took Kali bichromium 30, Kali, K-A-L-I, bichromium, B-I-C-H-R-O-M-I-U-M, bichromium 30C or 30X. Either one would probably act just as well. Because of my naiveté, I took one dose. I thought well, no change here. I guess that’s the end of that. Then I learned a couple of weeks later, no, no, no, when you’ve got something like this, you take several doses. You take them until it works. So I did it again. Paola: Just let’s remind people. It’s three to four doses and then the cue is not just end this. Joette: Yeah, you don’t take it forever. You give it a chance to act. It’s usually about four doses that will determine whether or not that will work or not. Yeah, so I took it maybe three times then it took the pain away within I don’t know, a couple of hours. Normally, I would suffer for days. So I was elated. I wasn’t going to take drugs at that time. I already knew at that point no more drugs. I knew that I was as sick with drugs as I was without them. So I said I’m stopping this stuff. I’m stopping spending the money on it and stop making myself sicker. So then the next barometric pressure change came along and that was about a week later as usual or two weeks later. I took it again. I started to feel the pain, I took it again. That was it. I never had another headache, sinus pain headache or any headache for that matter now that I think of it except for maybe if I had a flu or something. I never had it again. I had suffered with these headaches for years, every week, every ten days. For years, I had suffered. It took two rounds. Now, I want to parenthetically tell everyone it doesn’t always work like this. I love to tell the stories that are exciting like this because they illustrate so beautifully. There are lots of stories in which it takes months for conditions to correct but this was stunning. So I still have that bottle of Kali bichromium. No one else in my family has suffered from this except me. I can see how much I used. I used two rounds. Maybe what, four, six, eight doses altogether, I’ve never had another one since. Paola: So it’s like you were allergic to the barometric -. Joette: Oh, I was just allergic to the environment. I don’t know that you call it allergies. Yeah, it was in the environment. Yeah, maybe it is an allergy. Maybe some people do consider weather change as an allergic response. There’s no doubt about it. Some people say, “Well, it’s just because of the mold or that’s because of the pollen.” It can also be the change in weather. A lot of people suffer from allergies in spring or fall. They’re fine in the summer or they’re worse in the winter. Certain seasons bring it on. It doesn’t have to be that’s just because the heat went on and there’s dust or those kinds of things. It doesn’t have to be that. It can simply be weather. So yeah, I was allergic to – it seemed like so many darn things. It was just one more thing. Paola: So you’re saying as barometric pressure changes, Kali bichromium is the first one to think of? Joette: To think of when you have pain in the sinuses especially related to that. Now, there are other characteristics to this medicine. One is that the mucus is stringy and it’s Plasticine. I didn’t have any of that. All I had was the face pain, had pain into my ears above my forehead. I mean, it was the kind where I just had to lay down. I used to take this drug before I decided I wasn’t going to do this any longer. I used to take this drug called 222. I live in New York State and I used to travel. You couldn’t get it over the counter in New York State. I was so desperate for relief that I would go over the bridge to Canada and buy these things over the counter. They had codeine in them. I was creating like this codeine habit over this stupid barometric pressure change pain that I used to have then I’d be groggy. Then I’d get constipation from it. I mean, the list went on and on because of what the drug did. On one hand, I was thankful it got rid of the pain but it never cured me. It only caused the potential of a new long-term problem. Paola: It’s interesting how if the stars line up, something like a barometric pressure change can really bother some people. Joette: Oh you bet. Paola: I have a cute sister in law who delivered at the hospital. But she delivered in the hallway because there was some big, barometric pressure change and it put all these women into labor that they didn’t have a room for. Joette: Wow. And they recognized that. Isn’t that interesting? Paola: Yeah, they told her. Oh well it was the nurse. The nurses will know. Joette: The nurses are really astute. Really, nurses get it because they’re in the trenches. They see everything. Paola: They do, yeah. Joette: And they’re moms. They’re often moms and grandmothers. They’re observant because they’ve been watching their own for a couple of decades or so. Paola: Very good. Well thanks, Joette. This is a great treat. I’m so glad to talk with you. I’m really looking forward to your upcoming course. Joette: Oh Paola, I love doing this with you. Paola: Oh thanks. Joette: That’s really great. I hope it helps folks. Remember folks, if this doesn’t turn you on, you don’t want to go to courses, no problem. Go to the blog. Just use it. Use it. That’s what it’s there for. Just use that little search bar. Look up the condition that you or someone in your family is suffering from and including your dogs and cats and birds and wildlife. It’s the same thing for animals. So just look it up there and find out what I’m recommending for that particular condition and there you go. It’s free. You just click on it. Go to amazon and you buy it yourself or you go to your local store or you go to your homeopathy kit. Paola: You can get it from Boiron because we have that discount now. Joette: Boiron – that discount, Boiron, yeah, absolutely. Paola: Awesome. Thanks, Joette. Joette: Okay, my pleasure, Paola. Take care. Paola: You just listened to a podcast by joettecalabrese.com where nationally certified homeopath public speaker and author, Joette Calabrese shared her passion for helping families stay healthy, do homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition.
Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com and schedule a free 15-minute conversation. ” If you have allergies, remember that modern medicine has written you off. The CDC itself will tell you: “There is no cure for allergies. Strict avoidance of the allergen is the only way to prevent a reaction.” I lived decades living in a bubble, dealing with my allergies. Things improved when I stopped taking prescription drugs and changed my diet, but I was not cured. So I kept searching until I found the thing that changed my life forever:homeopathy. Want to learn the same homeopathic steps I took to clear myself of allergies? Learn them today and use them tonight with my newest course: Allergic: http://allergies.joettecalabrese.com/allergic/ and download a free infographic, and start learning what remedies could help uproot your allergies. “ | |||
| Podcast 18 – Study Groups and Flame Retardant Pajamas | 29 Jun 2016 | 00:31:54 | |
In this podcast, we cover: 1:50 A The origin 7:14 B Being prepared 12:54 C A little history 19:00 D The importance and content of the study group 27:40 E Motherhood Today we look at the heart of Joette’s mission, which is to make homeopathy very usable and accessible to moms and families. In this podcast, we talk about Joette’s brand new system she is launching called, A Gateway to Homeopathy: A Guided Study Book Curriculum If you’re new to JoetteCalabrese.com or even if you’ve been with us for a while but haven’t known how to get started, this episode is pretty exciting because it’s your launch pad into the world of homeopathy. Listen here or download to your personal device. If you are on the fence and just can’t decide if this is what you should do…listen and hear what motivated Joette and so you can make an informed decision for you and your family. Joette: And it was just coming to light how dangerous antibiotics were. We really, truly don’t want these drugs in our kids’ precious little bodies. It falls onto our shoulders. Paola: Yes. Joette: And I love when someone comes pre-skeptical, already skeptical, “Ah, really. You’re going to have to prove it to me because really, homeopathy? If it was so important, why isn’t my doctor using it or how come I’ve never heard about it?” I embrace it. I loved it. I have this vision of mothers linking arms across the globe. It is transformational. Paola: We’ve got a great episode today and we really look at the heart of Joette’s mission which is to make homeopathy very usable and accessible to moms and families. In this podcast, we talk about Joette’s brand new system she is launching called Study Groups, A Gateway to Homeopathy. If you’re new to JoetteCalabrese.com or even if you’ve been with us for a while but haven’t known how to get started, this episode is pretty exciting because it’s your launch pad into the world of homeopathy. So let’s talk Study Groups. Hi. I’m here with Joette Calabrese. How are you, Joette? Joette: I’m doing well. Hi Paola. This is really fun. We’re going to do this to make this really extemporaneous, right? Paola: Yes, we are just going to talk like we’re in my kitchen right now. Joette: Right. Paola: I’m excited about this topic on Study Groups. It’s near and dear to my heart and I know it’s near and dear to your heart. Joette: It is. Paola: So tell us about Study Groups, what with homeopathy. Tell us about why you started your first homeopathy study group? The originJoette: Well, I started my first study group back in the 80s, when of course, there was no internet. It was very hard to find books on homeopathy. Most of them were from England and Germany and they had to be translated and all of that kind of stuff. I’d found a homeopath who I liked very much and she was helping me with conditions that my children might come up with here and there. And then, I asked her if she would teach a group of us. So we got a group together and I got my friends together. Many of them didn’t know what homeopathy was. They thought it meant home remedies, that kind of thing. I had to do a little bit of selling but not much because around that time, it seemed to be a big interest, at least in my neck of the woods in New York State with the problems with drugs in children. It was just coming to light how dangerous antibiotics were. It still didn’t get out into the general public but it was just coming to light if you’re paying attention. So I got this group together and we met in my living room every Thursday night for four years. It was a blast. And at the time, I had only one child. I wasn’t working outside of the home. I wanted to be home with him and I didn’t have time outside of the home. My whole life was our home, my parents, my child, my husband, my family. It was all about family and it was really nice to have kind of a night out. Well, it wasn’t really a night out because it was in my living room. But then after a while, we started to go to other places. Paola: I don’t think any group would meet for four years every Thursday night. Joette: Right, every Thursday night. I know. Exactly. Paola: If they didn’t love it. Joette: Right, right. Paola: If it wasn’t. Joette: Oh, we absolutely loved it. And sometimes, we actually veered off and said, “Maybe not homeopathy for the next month of two. Let’s come up with some recipes that we know are inexpensive, very wholesome, and easily made.” So we shared that kind of stuff. Every once in a while we take a little break. But the true focus was we, mothers all wanted to learn how to take care of our children without being dependent upon pharmaceuticals. That was the bottom line. That’s really what it was all about. So for those who came to the group, I’m going to go on and on. I’m sorry, Paola. I just – you only asked me one simple little question. Paola: I love it. You’re fine. Joette: Yes. For those who had children who were prone to ear infections, those mothers really studied the ear infection remedies. They wanted to know those, well they should. They wanted to know that handful of homeopathic medicines, what potency to use, how frequently to use it, what the indications were, what the differentials were between this homeopathic and that one. Those who had kids who were more prone to skin conditions, those mothers really made a point of learning all the skin remedies that were based on those particular conditions, of course. So we all became experts in our own little areas based on the maladies that were happening in our families. Paola: That’s exactly what I like about this because busy moms don’t have time to know deeply all those conditions necessarily. Joette: Right. Paola: But when you have a little band of mothers who all know a piece of the puzzle; if he has an ear infection, call the ear infection mom. Joette: Exactly. So what it did is it broadened our understanding because we were sharing information. So even though my children, my child, I only had one at the time, was not prone to ear infections, he was prone to croup so I learned the croup remedies. I mean, I just said I better learn this. I better know cough remedies. But he did get an ear infection once. I went to a friend who did ear, who was our little ear infection specialist. Paula: Right. Well, I have a girlfriend whose son, every time he gets a cough, it becomes a very asthmatic cough. She came to me super stressed out, “What do I do, homeopathy?” And I told her, “Honestly, I don’t know but call my friend Bessie.” She is my asthma. Joette: Bessie is the cough, yes, the cough person, right? Paola: And Bessie is off in some other state, far away but my friend here calls her, “Hi. Sorry. Paula said I could call.” And they went for that. Joette: Right, right, right. It is mothering at its finest. It’s integrating mothering and community and like-mindedness. I have this vision of mothers linking arms across the globe learning how to use homeopathy but not just mothers, grandmothers and fathers can be involved too. But it’s usually mothers and grandmothers. I have this little vision of actually seeing women linking across the whole globe because homeopathy is ubiquitous except in North America. People don’t know about it here. But it’s all over Europe and Asia, India, South America. You’re from South America. It’s from South America, too. Paola: That’s the thing. If you live in those countries, maybe moms don’t need to be as versed because they can go to the neighborhood homeopath down the street. But out here, we don’t have an option. Joette: Right, right. So it comes down to our, it falls onto our shoulders. Paola: Right. It does. Joette: If we really take this seriously, if we really, truly don’t want these drugs in our kids’ precious little bodies. Being preparedPaola: So if you’re a mom listening to this and you’re thinking but why, why do I want to learn all of these? Why can’t I just wait until my kid gets sick and then learn it? Then you just need to read Joette’s blogs and listen to her podcast on antibiotics because you want to be prepared if someone gets sick. Joette: You do not want to scramble at two in the morning when your child wakes up with a screaming ear infection or a strep throat or something, you don’t want to say, “Ah, what do I do now and where do I get these medicines?” No, no, no. You want to be prepared. Paola: I hate getting the phone calls from friends who’ve heard from a friend that I do homeopathy and they’re calling in the middle of a crisis. I hate that because now, then I spend an hour going through things, selecting a remedy with them. And then next thing I know the kid’s on antibiotics because the mom didn’t even know what homeopathy was and was scared to use it. They think maybe the antibiotics are safer. [08:08]. This is safer. That just drives me crazy. That’s my study group is it gives you the forum to get a leg up on this before it happens. Joette: Right, exactly, exactly. Paola: So my next question to you, Joette is what you guys talked about in your study group meeting. I mean, you just said at the beginning of the interview that some of the textbooks were pretty complicated, I think especially back then the homeopathy books to learn from were not easy. They were medical. Joette: Yes, they were medical books and they were books to learn classical homeopathy. So we got, I don’t even remember which book it was but we got a simple little book. It taught us how to use homeopathy for acutes, for those strep throats and ear infections and conjunctivitis and bee stings and that kind of thing. Then the more we learned about that, we realized well wait a minute. There’s more to learn here. What about the chronics? What about the eczema? What about the food intolerances? What about the allergies? And that’s all stuff that has to be learned, too. What’s great about this is that – and I’m sure mothers will understand when I say that it seems like when I first had my first baby, I had my baby a little later in life. I was in my mid-thirties. Up until that time, I had a career. I wasn’t married and I’ve gotten married then suddenly I wanted to have children immediately. So my life was much different than a young mother’s life. When I had my baby, it seemed like it was one bodily function after another. It was the pregnancy and gaining weight and swelling and then the milk coming in and then the birth and the placenta and then the baby spitting up and the diapers. It was just one bodily function after another. Homeopathy for me was like my intellectual nourishment. It was so smart and so intelligent and so much fun to learn. It countered all of the physical bodily functions that I was dealing with on a day to day basis. It was the perfect counterbalance to it. It then allowed me to feel free to spend money, for example, on buying homeopathic medicines because I wasn’t buying shoes and jewelry for myself or getting a great new hairstyle. I was buying and investing in my family’s health. I could justify it so that my intellectual pursuit was focused 100% on the care of my family. It felt not only justified, it felt lofty. It felt great. I love opera. I love Italian opera and I’ve always said one day I’m going to really study it. I mean, really. I mean, I know some but I want to really take a deep, several courses on it. I actually thought when I was pregnant with my fist baby, that oh maybe I’ll do that. Maybe this is the time to do that; kind of an intellectual pursuit when I’m going to be so physically involved in my baby. Then it hit me that I didn’t want antibiotics, et cetera in my baby’s body. I said, “No, no, no, no. This is going to be my intellectual pursuit, this homeopathy.” It was very satisfying. To this day, it’s satisfying. It’s been 30 some years, still satisfying to me. Paola: Well, there is nothing like curing your own kid by yourself. I remember my son had an asthmatic cough that just developed out of nowhere. He never had it before. We moved to a new state. The allergies in that state were terrible. He started coughing and just [wheezing sound] and I remember I sat for a night. I picked the remedy. I gave it to him. Within two or three days, it was gone. I just felt like king of the world for those [12:03 crosstalk]. Joette: Yes. Oh, yes. It’s the ultimate experience to be able to cure your own child. Paola: It is. It’s almost like, it brings giving birth to the next level. Joette: Yes. Paola: Not only have I given him his life but I’m maintaining his life to the best of my ability. Joette: Well put, Paola. Well put. Paola: Well and that’s why homeopathy is so exciting to study. It feeds that intellectual side. Joette: Right, right, right, right. It satisfies the mothering side, of course. Paola: It is. It is. Something I love about you, Joette is that you are always – everything you produce, every educational material you put out has mom in mind because you’re trying to simplify it and make it useable and ready to go. So tell us about study groups that you’re getting out there. A little historyJoette: Well, let me just step back for a moment because there’s a little history to that moms, the focus on moms. Because I started out as a mother and I found it very frustrating in that I could not learn how to treat my family, my children for chronic conditions like a food intolerance or an allergy or something unless I was willing to devote many years and a lot of money, tens of thousands of dollars going to homeopathy school, a lofty pursuit, no doubt about it, but nonetheless something that and I actually did it. But I felt as though I was being cheated out of something that I thought could be taught to mothers in a simpler way. Then I became a tutor at an international homeopathic school. As these students came in, I recognized them, as time and again, they were mothers. I know what they wanted. They wanted what I had wanted. They wanted to be able to treat their families. They had no idea what they were getting into. They did not realize that homeopathy is extremely in-depth, extremely complex. It is medicine. You often need to know anatomy, physiology, pathology in order to go to homeopathy school. So, I found that many of these mothers who joined this school who I worked with closely as their tutor never graduated. They never completed their studies. And I know why. It’s because they thought they were going to learn how to treat their families. They didn’t realize they were being trained to become homeopaths out in the world and become a professional homeopath. That’s not what they wanted at all. So I found it irritating and frustrating that that was not made clear to them. Perhaps it was and they just dismissed it and believed no, no, no, it’s got to be easy. It’s got to be like essential oils because essential oils is really very easy. It’s got to be like herbs. Herbs are pretty easy. Paola: Right. Joette: But homeopathy is not. In my travels, so to speak, in my professional travels, I’ve been digging and searching for these 30 years for homeopathic medicines that are specific to the condition not necessarily to the person. Classical homeopathy which is what people learned to use when they are being trained as a homeopath in homeopathy school (it’s actually medical school of sorts) does not teach this. And so, I ferreted it out until I found a lot of them. Then I started to utilize these practical methods. Then I learned. I went to the Banerji’s in India and studied with them. They have an entire system around practical homeopathy. So to me, it’s important that mothers have this information. Paola: I understand why doctors do it the way they do because it’s so easy. Have a diagnosis and then a protocol. Joette: Right, exactly. Paola: Drugs. But I can understand what you were grabbing at so go on. Joette: Yes. So I wanted the same thing not only for myself but later on I recognized that I wasn’t the only one who wanted this. This is what all mothers want. If the child has a strep throat, what’s the remedy? Don’t tell me I’ve got to crack open a medical book and go digging around and find, sift through 30 homeopathic medicines and depending upon the position that the child is sleeping in, et cetera, et cetera. Give me the remedy. What is the remedy? Now it doesn’t mean to see only one but give me the one that’s going to work in most cases. I’ll hedge my bet and that’s what I teach. That’s what I use in my practice. That’s what I teach in my classes. That’s what we want to teach in these study groups. This is what we teach in the study groups. It’s what I teach on my blog. It’s simple. It’s fast. You can teach anyone to use these protocols. Anyone can learn this. Paola: Well, and that’s the thing. I think today, you’re right, anyone can learn this. But I do feel that today, I mean, I can’t compare. I don’t know what it was like to be a mom in the 80s. I know what it was like to be kid in the 80s. But I see my friends today and I see these moms dealing with so much more. Most homes now are dual income so usually mom and dad are both working. Joette: Right. Paola: And then you’ve got kids who almost all have chronic illnesses. My kids were watching this TV show or movie I think, something Monsters or whatever. This grandpa was babysitting the kid and the mom on her way out the door said, “Don’t forget to give him the nebulizer before he goes to bed and his breathing treatments.” I mean for this to put that in a cartoon shows you how mainstream and common chronic illness is. Joette: It is mainstream, I know. Paola: Today, chronic illness is normal. It is so stressful to be a mom nowadays to juggle the chronic illness plus the work plus all those other responsibilities. Joette: Right. Paola: And so you’re right. We need practical homeopathy that’s straightforward and to the hearty of it right away. Joette: Right. It’s all about speed and efficacy and then of course, I hope it goes without saying that it is also about no side effects. That’s what, of course, homeopathy is noted for. Of course when I say efficacy, I mean cure. I want to see cure. I don’t want to see that we’re postponing this problem for some time in the future when it’s going to come back only this time with a vengeance. No, I want it uprooted. That’s the whole idea. Paola: Call it the end of it. Joette: Right. Okay. So, Paola, you ran our pilot program, actually two pilot programs for the study groups. One in Virginia and then you ran the other one in Texas where you are now. I mean, what motivated you to do this? I mean, I know what motivated me. Tell me what your experience was and what your motivations were. The importance and content of the study groupPaola: Well actually, you motivated me, Joette. Any mom who has friends and that’s everyone, right, if you don’t figure out on your own, you go to your girlfriends when your kid has a problem, right? You go to them first before you go to a doctor. You always talk about it to your girlfriends. So I’m very drawn to this group setting learning because I really appreciate the wisdom that other moms give. I love the camaraderie we have in raising our kids. I don’t care if you’re 45 or 25, if you both have a one-year old baby, you’re instant friends and you instantly have something to share with each other. Then I remember you mentioning that you did a homeopathy study group and I thought that’s what I want because let me tell you my whole family came down with strep throat that you’ve mentioned and I had diarrhea the entire time. I was so stressed out. I remember thinking who can I call, who can I talk to that’s been through this, that can hold my hand and say you’re going to be fine, you’re going to get through this, I treated my kid with strep last month. Do you know what I mean? Joette: Yes. Paola: I didn’t have that. I was utterly alone and I hated it. Now my husband is very supportive. But I even have girlfriends whose husbands are not very supportive of this. And then you’re left to yourself, I couldn’t imagine. Joette: Right. Paola: That’s why I want my own study group. I want my own little group of moms who are in the know that can back me up and I don’t want to be alone anymore. Joette: Well yes and it’s not only for those events that are trying such as that but it also makes it easier when someone says I can’t find this particular remedy in the US but you know, I found this great place in England and you can buy it online or it’s like the same thing with the whole organic food movement. I love when my friends started to get involved in that with me because then I knew that I was going to have more organic foods available to me. There’ll be more resources, more brains involved, more brawn moving it along. Obviously, team work makes a big difference. Paola: Right. So I think that that first pilot that we did came together organically. We really started looking out what did moms need to know to get started with homeopathy. What are the basics, the ABCs and that’s what the first half of the study group ended up being that Joette wrote. Then the second half of these study groups really looked at chronic illness. So the first half, the ABCs, we looked at acutes and then the second half, we looked at chronic. I have to say that when I gathered these friends over to my house the first time, I was begging them. There’s this thing called [21:25 crosstalk]. It’s really awesome. I really like you. I want you to love this, too. My friend calls me a homeopathy missionary. [21:35 crosstalk]. Joette: You drew a lot of your friends from your church, right? I mean, this was all through your church. Paola: Yes. Well, mostly in that. Joette: Well then they saw you every Sunday so they had no choice, the poor kids. Paola: I know. Not all of them. A lot of them were interested, too and some from my home school group. Then I felt like I had something to prove to them that this really is awesome and I crossed my fingers. I hope someone gets sick. Joette: You’re a cruel woman. Paola: Then by the end of study group, by the end of the eight weeks, it’s eight classes and so we divided them weekly but you could do them twice a week or whatever. By the end of the eight classes, these moms, I mean there was this transformation. It was amazing. I loved to see that transformation and that’s when I told Joette, I said, “Joette, we need to document this in videos. We need to document this transformation, what has happened in a matter of eight classes to these moms.” And so we did. We have seven little videos of these moms talking about that transformation to them. Joette: That’s the word. It is transformational. Paola: It is. And we’re not exaggerating one iota. Joette: Yes. And I love when someone comes pre-skeptical, already skeptical, “Ah, really. You’re going to have to prove it to me because really, homeopathy? If it was so important, why isn’t my doctor using it or how come I’ve never heard about it?” I embrace it. I loved it. I like a nice, a good, solid discussion on those kinds of subjects or on that subject, I should say. Paola: Right. Joette: I know that in that group I think you had a couple of skeptics. Paola: Oh, I sure did. I’ve actually done three study groups now. I’m done with the two pilot studies that we’ve carefully watched and took records and even statistics. But I love it now. Before, it used to intimidate me, that skepticism. Joette: Yes. Paola: Now I feel like I just say whatever you say. I say, “You know what? That’s okay. You don’t have to believe in this. It will still work if we pick the right remedy.” Joette: Right. Paola: I just love being that confident and it does. It just keeps working and working. By the end of my second study group, I had one mom who was on fibromyalgia drugs for I think four years now and she’s completely off of them, completely off of them. Another one has all of this physical pain like fibromyalgia but different and she is tons better. Joette: Well and the gut people. There are all the gut people with the food intolerances. That’s so big today, so big. Paola: So it’s getting to the point now where I feel like my telephone, my email, and my door is being beaten down. “I heard about your group. When are you going to have another one?” I’m like, “We just had one. For heaven’s sakes, it was eight weeks and I’m exhausted.” So I mean this study group curriculum is wonderful because it’s going to hand it off to everybody else. Joette: Oh and the other part of this, Paola is for you. I found this for myself too when I taught homeopathy in different venues. Just like anything, you think you understand it. You think you have a good understanding of it. Then someone throws you a curved ball and you say, “Wow! I don’t know. I don’t know the answer to that question.” It forces you to research it and find the answer. So it forces you to learn your craft, so to speak, even better. By taking on this course, these classes, you’re not actually on teaching level, you did do a lot of teaching. It’s unnecessary because we have the curriculum now, right? I mean, you wouldn’t say that you have to actually be teaching. But being a part of it and organizing, you’re putting, you’re bringing your friends in, in a way, you’re still teaching on some level or another because you’re going to offer your experiences. It rounds out your understanding. It fleshes it out in such a more in-depth way. It’s not boring if you already know all of this stuff. Well first of all, it’s not boring because you’re teaching all this and that’s exciting. But it’s also not boring because we’re using protocols that no one else knows about. Really these protocols that we use are pretty much unknown in the Western world so there’s always something new to learn. Paola: You’re right when you say that you don’t have to be the teacher and know this. Think about my first study group, I knew very, very little about homeopathy. I knew very basic stuff. So between the first, the second and then by my third time that I did study group, I mean there’s a lot of information. So what we did is we constructed a study group booklet that has everything that I wish I had had. They say from soup to nuts. It has a chapter reading that gives you the background information and then it has a guided discussion guide. Number one, say this to the group and they just read it and say it. Then it just hand walks me through it and that would be, that would have been so nice because I can read, I can follow step by step instructions. Joette: Well, especially as a home schooling mother. As you know, there are a lot of times when you’re home schooling your kids and you don’t know the subject. But if you read it the night before, in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. Paola: Yes. Joette: Even if you’re just one step ahead. Paola: Another, that’s exactly how I keep my sense in Math curriculum. Joette: Yes. That’s how I did it with my kids, too. Paola: No, I hate Math. I hate Math. Joette: Yes. You learn it the night before and you present it the next day. Now it’s yours. Now you get it. Paola: Yes or even, I’m not going to lie, the morning I would sit down, okay, open the book, hammana, hammana, okay. Here we go. Joette: Right, hammana, hammana, exactly. Oh, Paola. Paola: Yes and I love that. I love that about this curriculum. I love that you always have moms and regular people in mind. Joette: Yes. Paola: So I am, I’m really excited about these study groups. I feel like we’ve been working on it for a really long time. I just, I really think it’s going to bless a lot of lives. Joette: I agree. Paola: We have to have that moxie. Joette: The moxie? Gut? Paola: Yes. Joette: Spunk and moxie. MotherhoodThat’s what it’s about. But that’s what it takes to be a mother anyway. You really can’t be too flexible. I mean, flexible certainly with mothering and understanding your children. But you have to have a posture when you raise your kids in disciplining them, in what you’re going to serve for their foods, what kinds of education, what their spiritual life is going to be, how you’re going to carry this all out. You really have to have some pretty definitive ways of looking at life. If you haven’t gotten that far before mothering or just as you’re mothering, then it’s really time to start muscling up and figuring it all out. Paola: I mean, nowadays you do. I feel like everything in the world today is so extreme. The morals are so extreme. The medicine especially is so extreme, it’s not you know. When I was a kid, “All right, just let the cough wear off, it’ll be fine.” Now you can get in trouble if you haven’t taken them to the doctor, you haven’t gotten your vaccines. Everything is so, so extreme. Joette: Number one, there’s a lot of paranoia about health in children and illness in children. Interestingly, there was a study, there have been many studies done showing that really the danger in children’s lives are not childhood illnesses but accidents. That’s where the true danger lies. It doesn’t happen very often particularly if you’re living in North America or Europe and in countries where there’s good sanitation and decent food and families that can care for their children well. But it takes a certain amount of flexing. I think it comes naturally for women for the most part. Once we have a baby, obviously there’s no turning back and you become the best that you can be. You become the mother lioness and you flex your muscles, you flex your mothering muscles and your intellect. You put that together and make it the best mothering. I call it becoming a mighty mom. Paola: Yes. Joette: We really want to make this act of mothering more than something quiet and serene, although that’s good, too. We want it to be powerful. We even want it to be a political statement of sorts. We, mothers can change the world if we decide it. We really have the power. We’ve the buying power. We have the resources. At least in North America, women are I believe, the most privileged group ever known in society. We have everything at our fingertips. We have the ability to become and do whatever we want and if we’ve chosen motherhood as our chosen vocation, we should be great at it and why not? Mighty moms. Paola: I love it. Well thank you, Joette. If you’re listening to this and you’re thinking about wanting to get that mightiness that Joette is talking about, study groups is your gateway. It’ll get you right in there and it’ll get you started. I’m really excited to send this out to the world. It’s been a very meaningful project for me and I know it’s been for you, Joette. And it is. It’s your gateway to be a mom, a mighty mom. I love it. Joette: Well Paola, I’d have to thank you too for putting this all together and making this happen from a distance, from state to state. It’s really great. So thank you too, Paola. You just listened to a podcast from JoetteCalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese shared her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. Like Joette says, “Homeopathy works.” Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com and schedule a free 15-minute conversation. | |||
| Podcast 17 – Homeopathy Can Help Mothers Care for Their Children – New (and Not So New) to Homeopathy Part l | 08 Feb 2016 | 00:35:27 | |
I share in this podcast the harrowing experience I had with my firstborn child and how that changed the way I raised all of my children. I explain that Homeopathy is more than home remedies, herbs, and vitamins; how it used to be prevalent in the US and is still widely used in Europe, South America, and India. Homeopathy is a simple – yet intelligent and elegant – way to physically help your family.
Jendy: This podcast is sponsored by the book, “Backyard Farming on an Acre (More or Less).” Whether your goal is to eat healthier, save money, live more sustainably or a combination of these, “Backyard Farming” helps you get there. Comprehensive and detailed, it covers everything you need to know to plan, purchase, plant, raise, harvest, preserve and enjoy your own backyard farm. Narrator: You’re listening to The Mom Prepares podcast, a feature of momprepares.com, which is a modern guide to self-sufficiency, and a place to learn how to keep your family safe, fed and healthy. Jendy: Hello, this is Jendy, and I am here with Joette Calabrese from JoetteCalabrese.com, and she is an expert on homeopathy and has several courses coming out that I believe our listeners would be very interested in. So hello, Joette. How are you? Joette: Hi, I’m very well. Thanks for inviting me, Jendy. Jendy: Would you tell us a little bit about yourself? Joette: Yes, certainly. I’m an American homeopath. I’m a public speaker and an author, and I’ve studied and practiced homeopathy for about 27 years. But I was not always a homeopath. I raised my children and homeschooled them for 15 years while studying to become a professional homeopath. And I also made all my family’s foods from scratch and raised chickens and ducks, and we have bees, and we have a pond. And so, my children are all grown now. They’re adults and away from the home, but I raised my children solely with homeopathy. They just never got an antibiotic, never had a Tylenol, not even an aspirin. My oldest is 27, and we have two others just under his age, and they’ve never had any drugs at all because I counted 100% on homeopathy and homemade foods and some botanicals as well. I have been very involved with Weston Price Foundation. I’m on the honorary board of the Western A. Price Foundation, and I’m a professional speaker and present at many of their international and regional conferences. I’ve spoken internationally and have authored not only my own blog where I try to give mostly women … I skew towards moms because I feel very strongly about what I was capable of doing with my education, and I want to be able to share that with others. Jendy: I think for me, when I became a mom is when I became much more interested in what I was putting in the body. Before that I didn’t think about it, for me personally. And I love what you said about that, about antibiotics. One time I took my child to the doctor, I think for an earache, and they gave him antibiotic. And they said, “Well, that’s not really going to take it away. You’re going to have to come back and get something else.” And I was kind of like, “Well, then why do I want this?” Joette: Right. Good question. What I want to do with moms is I want them to question the authorities and not just … once you homeschool your children, for example, you can’t help but start questioning other traditional methods of raising children. Once you step outside of one box, you can’t help but note that, “Boy, that’s not right either, and maybe I should check this out; maybe I should look into this instead of that.” And it just snowballs into a lifestyle that is pure and noble, as far as I’m concerned. Jendy: So how did you first get interested in homeopathy? Joette: Well, I went to a lecture offered by a doctor, an M.D., about 27 years ago. He was traveling through my hometown of Buffalo, New York, and he was giving a lecture on vaccines, and I was pregnant with our first son. And I went to the lecture to learn a little bit about vaccinations, because I wasn’t sure. I’d read a little bit and just wasn’t certain about it. And I had no idea that this man was also a homeopathic physician. And so when I went and listened to him, I was astounded by the numbers and his data and the information that he gave this small band of mothers in regards to how every single illness that vaccines are supposed to protect us against, there’s a homeopathic medicine that’s been used for close to 200 years that has been shown to be even more efficacious. I was blown away that night. And I went home and told my husband about it and was very excited. And I bought a book, a simple homeopathy book, and a little homeopathy kit, which meant that I had a number of remedies that I could use if something happened to someone in our family, and then this book to help me determine it. And then I went and met with a pediatrician to determine who I was going to have as my pediatrician for my child when he was born. And I told the pediatrician that I was thinking about the idea of vaccination and that we were considering postponing vaccinations, or at least maybe minimizing the number in the very beginning and slowly adding them. And he kind of rolled his eyes a little bit, that should have been my first clue, but it wasn’t — I wasn’t savvy enough at that time to pick up on those nuances — but he rolled his eyes. And all my friends told me, “Oh, he’s a great guy. He’s very open-minded.” Which was another clue I should have listened to, because when you hear “open-minded,” that’s not what you want. We don’t want an open-minded doctor; we want a doctor who really gets it — not someone who will consider. No, no, you want somebody who’s already done the homework. So, my son was born, and I took him for his well-baby checkup. That was mistake number three now, okay, because there was nothing wrong with him. He was well! What did I need a doctor to tell me that he was well for? So, I foolishly did that and in trotted the nurse with a little vial and tossed it in my son’s mouth. I said, “What was that?” She said, “Oh, just his polio vaccine.” Now, he was six weeks old. He was as healthy as can be. He never had anything wrong with him; he had been nursing vigorously; he was the right weight. And there was nothing I could say. There was nothing I could do. I said, “Well, I guess that’s the way it went.” I decided though, I was pretty disturbed by the fact that they didn’t recognize the fact that on my chart, it was very clear that we were going to postpone, and we were going to talk about it before, et cetera, et cetera, and no one bothered to do that with me. And I went home deciding I am not going back to that pediatrician. Well, two days later, my son got very, very sick — 105.5 fever — he was listless. It lasted for two and a half days. And I said, “I am not going back to that pediatrician because I know what he’ll do. He’ll want to put him on an antibiotic and Tylenol, and I will be down the road that I did not want to travel ever in my life.” And he was only six weeks old, it would’ve been just the very beginning. So, I had this book — this homeopathy book — and this kit. And nothing in the book indicated where to go with something such as vaccinosis or injury from vaccine, but what it did have was a chapter on high fevers. And so, I can’t tell you precisely why I chose this specific remedy that I chose. It was an embryotic decision, but I decided to use the remedy Sulphur 30. And my mother was with me; my close friend was with me. They could see how sick my son was. He was laying in my arms, lethargic. He looked all dried out. Later, I realized I should never have been without forcing some kind of fluids in him. And he probably should have been on an IV — he was so sick — to get at least saline solution. But I lucked out. And I put the pills, four little Sulphur 30C — that’s a homeopathic remedy — directly into his parched little mouth. And honest to goodness, Jendy, it was less than 40 minutes. He became firm in my arms; he commenced nursing, and the fever was completely gone. I was flabbergasted. My mother said, “What just happened?” My friend said, “Holy cow, this is amazing.” And that’s what turned me. I said, “I must learn about this medicine. I must know what this is.” Had I gone the other route, he would’ve had an antibiotic, like I said, and Tylenol. Tylenol’s very dangerous for the liver, especially a little baby’s forming liver. Antibiotics ruin the gut, even long term. I’m not talking about even if you give them probiotics, it takes a long time to undo what antibiotics can do to a baby’s — to anyone’s gut, for that matter. And I found the answer myself in this book. I did it. I cured my son. I can’t tell you the pleasure that I had in having accomplished that. So, I got every book I could find, and there were not very many. We’re talking back in the ’80s, there were not very many books. So, I dug and dug until I found a woman who had studied homeopathy in England — because homeopathy has been big in this country since the 1940s. It’s very big in Europe and England and Germany, France, Switzerland, Greece. But she had studied there. And I begged her — she did not want to do this, but I begged her — to teach me and a band of mothers how to do this, so that we could treat anything that came our way. And we studied for four years — we met every Thursday night — studied for four years, and finally I decided to go to school in Toronto. And the rest is history, for my life. Jendy: Wow. No more antibiotics or vaccines after that? Joette: Well, he never had the antibiotic, and he certainly never had another vaccine, and we never went back to those pediatricians. Now he’s a 27-year-old man, and as healthy as can be — rarely ever gets sick, and if anything, it’s very mild. It’s a little cough once every four years or something. And so then I raised our subsequent children in the same fashion, and we just lived on the foods that we grew and the homeopathic medicine that I was learning about consistently. Jendy: So, if our listener doesn’t know what homeopathy medicine is, how would you explain it? Joette: Okay. Well, most people think that “homeopathy” means home remedies because of the prefix home in the word, but it doesn’t mean that at all. “Home,” in the word homeopathy, actually means homonym or like or similar. And “pathy,” of course, means pathology or illness. So, it means similar illness. So, let me give you an example. Let’s say we get an onion, and we chop it up. And most folks, when they’re exposed to an onion will have a cluster of symptoms: their eyes might run; their nose might run; their upper lip might excoriate; and they might even become a little jittery. So, that is a cluster of symptoms associated with the gross exposure to an onion. Now, let’s say there’s someone who says, “Every spring when the tree buds blossom, my eyes run, my nose runs and my upper lip excoriates, and I’m a little bit jittery.” That’s a similar cluster of symptoms as what an onion will cause in the gross form. But it’s not exact pathology, it’s homeo or similar pathology. Because the difference is in the first scenario, the cause of the eyes running, et cetera, is as a result of being exposed to an onion. In the second scenario, the etiology or the cause of the illness is as a result of being exposed to tree buds blossoming. So, in a homeopathic pharmacy (I might say parenthetically, regulated by the FDA — this is not underground, but in a homeopathic pharmacy), the pharmacists get a drop or a tincture — a drop of onion (of juice) and in alcohol, so now it’s called a tincture — and they dilute it many times. They dilute it and dilute it and dilute it. So, when I said that I used Sulphur 30 for my son, it was Sulphur, in that example, diluted 30 times. In the onion example, we might dilute that 30 times and “C” or “X” after it, means that it’s been diluted to the hundredth or the 10th power. So, it’s quite dilute. At a certain point in dilution, homeopathy — excuse me — the original substance becomes curative. It might cause illness in its original form, causes symptoms such as eyes running, nose running, et cetera. But after it’s been diluted a number of times —and it’s a mathematical number — once it gets to a certain level, the toxicity is minimized, and the curative aspect of the onion (or whatever plant or whatever mineral we’re using) comes to the fore. So, for that person who has the tree bud blossoming allergies, if we give them homeopathic onion that has been highly diluted — and of course we don’t use “onion,” (we don’t use that as the name). We use the Latin name because this is medicine. So, we use the name Allium cepa, which means onion in Latin. And then it gives us a number as to how many times it’s been diluted. We give that to that person with the tree bud blossoming allergies, and it uproots the allergy. It uproots it — doesn’t treat symptoms — it gets rid of it. It’s done. We’re done. I’m not saying one dose, sometimes it needs to be repeated over a period of days, and depending on the severity of the allergy for that person, it might be weeks, could even be a couple months. But when it’s done, it’s generally done. Now, we might find that two years from now when the tree buds are blossoming again, that person might again have that problem, but it will be a much lesser level. They won’t suffer nearly as much. It will last for a shorter period of time. So, then they use Allium cepa again, and it goes even deeper. So, it’s almost like pulling up the weeds in the garden. Each time you see the presentation of the weed, if you pull it up by its roots, you might find that there’s a little bit of a root left behind. And the next time round, it’ll be a weaker level of that dandelion. That’s what homeopathy is. So, I warned you. I warned you, Jendy. I told you it’s a long explanation. Particularly because most folks still believe that it means, “Oh, it means vitamin C or using home remedies or taking raw honey and vinegar for indigestion or something like that.” And all of those have validity, but that’s not what homeopathy is. It is a very specific medical paradigm. And I might also add that I think is rather interesting, is that homeopathy was very big in this country at one time. The homeopaths had 100 hospitals in our country, in about 1940. And at the same time, the conventional doctors had fewer hospitals. Homeopaths were bigger and more impressive hospitals. There were not more homeopaths than the medical doctors — about 40% of the doctors in this country were homeopathic physicians. But there were more hospitals, and they were the big, big important hospitals that you still see all around. They’re no longer homeopathic, but it was very big in this country. And then we had an infighting in medicine back in the 1940s, and it was abolished in U.S. and Canada. Again, not so in Europe, South America, India, just North America. Jendy: Is it coming back at all? Joette: I think it is coming back. I believe that the way it’s going to come back is grassroots this time. Although it was grassroots last time, too. It was mothers who wanted to learn homeopathy, wanted to be able to use it for their families because they were tired of the same old stuff we’re tired of today: the antibiotics, and at that time they didn’t have Tylenol, but they certainly had aspirin. They didn’t want to see their stomachs all turned inside out from aspirin poisoning. They were tired of the old ways, and they wanted something that was gentle, but very, very effective. And that’s the description of homeopathy. Jendy: Yeah. For you personally, do you take something from your homeopathic medicine every week, or is it just kind of like when you get sick? Joette: Well, if it’s something that is an acute — such as an ear infection, for example — then you would just take it for a few days or less than a week, and it would be resolved. And then the next ear infection — that had been historically repeated, like you said earlier, every couple of months it can happen again and again, and again and again. No, it aborts it. It stops the whole process because the body doesn’t need to show that any longer. But if it’s something that’s chronic, like allergies or food intolerances or long-term illnesses like arthritis, behavior problems in children, now we have to use it for a longer period of time. But again, there are no side effects. No side effects. Can you imagine a medicine that only does good and no bad? We didn’t even know there was such a thing, did we? Jendy: No. And it’s always with the end goal to completely stop taking it. It’s not like some medicines you get on, you’re just on forever. But this medicine is to finish and be done with it. Joette: That’s right. Precisely. Precisely. That’s exactly how it works. Jendy: And at the very root, it is all natural substances. Joette: Well, it comes from plants, animals, minerals, elements on the periodic table. There are close to 6,000 homeopathic remedies that are made today. The difference between homeopathy and botanicals or herbals is that homeopathy utilizes things in nature that are toxic … because you can … because it’s so dilute that it eliminates the toxicity and allows the curative aspect to come to the fore. So, we can use something like poison ivy. So, herbalists can’t use poison ivy; it’s too toxic. But if you get poison ivy — the plant — and get a drop of its juice and put it in alcohol, now we’ve made the tincture (like what I said earlier with the Allium cepa). And dilute it and then dilute it again and again and again and again — say, for example, 30 times to the hundredth power — it’s called Rhus tox (that’s the Latin name for poison ivy) 30C, for example. And we use that for chicken pox. Why? Because poison ivy acts just like chicken pox: pustules, itching, oozing, restlessness; it’s the same picture. So, it’s “homeo pathology.” It’s similar illness, but it’s similar enough that it will resolve it, but not exact. Because if it was exact, then you would have to get chicken pox pustules and dilute them and give them to the child who has chicken pox. No, no, no, we use similar illnesses. It’s quite elegant. It’s simple and intelligent. Jendy: Yes. It’s like, “Oh, that makes so much sense, but oh, wow, there’s so much more to it.” Joette: There is more to it. And many teachers of homeopathy … and I will be honest with you, I too (and I’ve taught at colleges and universities and online and at seminars, and I do presentations all over the world), and I used to teach that it is extremely complex. And then I realized — it took me a long time, I’ll be honest with you, Jendy. It took me a long time to realize this — that there is a way to do this for chronic issues that’s very easy for moms and families to learn. And that’s what I’m teaching now, how to do this very simply with simple protocols. Jendy: And you teach this through your website, right? Joette: Yes. I have CDs and books that I have authored that are available on my website. But right now, we’re running a course called Good Gut, Bad Gut. And you can go right to the front page, click on the image for Good Gut, Bad Gut, and it gets folks to learn a little bit more about it. And the reason I call it Good Gut, Bad Gut is because of my nutritional understanding. And because I’m so very much against the use of antibiotics in most illnesses — particularly normal childhood illnesses — I find that people gravitate towards me who have had problems with their children or themselves having been put on antibiotics. And we find that the ills that come from having used them — even one round of it can do this — are not just about the gut. It doesn’t just disorder what’s happening in the gastrointestinal system, but it also changes children’s personalities. We see ADD in children, we see behavior disorders. We see moodiness and fogginess in adults, as a result of antibiotic poisoning. We see arthritis in older people. I mean, the list goes on and on, and I go into all of that. So, what I teach is how to uproot all of those issues in this Good Gut, Bad Gut course on my website. Jendy: And that’s all centered in the intestinal area? Joette: Yes. Sugar addictions and menstrual issues, and I’m just looking at some of the … chronic bloating, food intolerances. If I don’t get one call by noon every day regarding food intolerances, that’s an unusual day for me. Most people suffer; they can’t have wheat. Why can’t people eat wheat anymore? I mean, wheat has been around for thousands of years, for goodness sakes. Jesus broke bread that way. Why can’t we eat wheat? Well, some people say it’s the kind of food that’s been grown, and I will concede that it is. A lot of the food is industrialized and is difficult to digest. Nonetheless, we can digest it until we have the antibiotics, and then it’s almost like a timeline. We can say, “I’ve not been well. I’ve been bloated and have sugar addictions, et cetera, et cetera, ever since last December.” And then my question is, “What happened in October or November?” “I had a sinus infection.” “Oh really? Let me guess what you took.” And now that sinus infection that was a short-term acute illness … that had it been even left alone (I’m not saying that you would leave it alone), but had you left it alone, it might have lasted perhaps three weeks, two weeks, now has become a chronic illness because of the treatment that was used to uproot the sinus infection. So what I teach is what do you do if you get a sinus infection? Let’s learn a homeopathic remedy so that you can uproot it, and you don’t have to think about antibiotics. But if you’ve already taken them, now what do you do? So, I approach it from the very beginning, the beginning thinking process and all the way to the end when we perhaps have already done damage … because it can be undone, and I’ve seen it many, many times. Jendy: Because the body can heal itself if you give it what it needs. Joette: Absolutely. Absolutely. But not if it’s been poisoned. Sometimes, it can’t be done on its own. And even with probiotics, they can be helpful here and there, but it depends on the person. Some people, a probiotic can make all the difference in the world, and they can get back on their feet. But what if it’s a child who’s had an antibiotic? Let’s say my son had been given an antibiotic at six weeks old. And then he had another bout of another high fever or ear infection, would’ve had another one and another round and another round and another round, another round. Then maybe acne when he was 18, and then by 21, he had a sinus infection. Now how can we possibly expect that poor body to be able to respond properly after it’s been poisoned so many times? It’s very hard to do that without the help of high quality food (which is also, of course, important) but particularly, with homeopathy to uproot that. Jendy: Do you have an idea of cost? You mentioned something about you bought a kit when you first started, and then you said there’s FDA pharmacies. Are you buying the medicines or have you gotten to the point that you make them, and is there a lot of cost involved? Joette: Well, I don’t make homeopathic medicines, generally speaking, but I do teach it in my … I’m going to be teaching it in my Survivalist course using homeopathy. Where who knows if we’re in a storm or there’s a catastrophe of some sort, one may need to make a homeopathic medicine, and so I do teach that. But for everyday use, given that we’re living in a comfortable world and things are not at that level, then I urge people to buy these remedies. You can buy them in health food stores, I sell a kit out of my office where they are 100 remedies. And that costs about 200 — I’m going to take an approximation — I believe it’s about $255 for 100 homeopathic remedies that are very commonly used in every day family care. [Editor’s note: 100 Remedy Kits are no longer available through Joette’s office.] You can get them at Walmart; you can get them at drug stores; just watch for them. They have homeopathic remedies for teething, for sleeplessness, for restless legs, for muscle cramps, et cetera. They’re ubiquitous. I mean, you can find them most anywhere. Now when I work with someone one-on-one as a client, then I arrange for a pharmacy … for them to work with a pharmacy that makes the remedies specifically for that person. But it’s unnecessary. You don’t have to go that far in order to get the kind of reaction that you want, just by having a kit or getting to Walmart or a health food store, Whole Foods. They all carry them. Jendy: That’s so interesting, because you said about the hospitals not doing it, and it not being so popular anymore. But we can go anywhere and actually get them. So, there’s not the education. Joette: Yeah. The education is now in the hands of the mothers. That’s the bottom line. It’s not in the education of the doctors. They’ve stopped doing this. There are no more homeopathic medical schools in this country. So, that’s why I had to leave this country in order to study this. And so now there are homeopathic schools that are starting up again. There’s the American Medical Homeopathic School in Phoenix, Arizona, and I’m on the faculty of that school. But they’re far and few between, whereas they used to be two or three of them in every large city. So, it’s not the doctors who are doing this — although in many of the courses that I give online, it’s jam packed with nurses. And we do see doctors, too. I have doctors who join my classes. But for the most part, you’re not going to find any doctor who knows what this is, who’s staying within the guidelines of what he was trained to do in medical school. He’s going to have to, or she’s going to have to step outside of the box in order to have gone this far and learned another medical science. Jendy: And you mentioned you sell a kit, and can they get that through your website, too? Joette: I don’t sell it on my website, but if they contact me through the website — either through contact or they can call my office — we sell them directly out of my office, yes. [Editor’s note: 100 Remedy Kits are no longer available through Joette’s office.] Jendy: And you said that’s 100 different remedies? Joette: Yes. Jendy: About how long would that last an average family? Joette: Well, I work with very large families often. I work with a lot of homeschooling folks and a lot of families have many children, and these kits can last for many years. Now, I own a kit — I own a couple of different kits — but I own one kit in particular, my favorite, which is the one I sell to people who are interested. I’ve owned mine for 19 years. And so, I raised three kids, my husband has used it. We have a dog, a cat, chickens. We’ve used it on our chickens. We used to have goats; we used it on our goats. And this kit will last, I’ll probably be able to pass this down to my great-grandchildren because the remedies never go bad. They don’t have stale dates. They don’t go bad. I actually have (if we were live where you could actually see me on this), I’m going to point to a shadow box that I have up in my office here with remedies that were given to me by a man who was in his 90s when he came to see me about 15, 18 years ago. His mother was a homeopath in Chicago, and he had some of the remedies that she had still left over from her practice. She was an M.D. And he gave them to me. And some of them are from 1910, 1918. And just to be certain that they worked, I used them for my family, and they worked. They still worked! So, they’re a century old almost, and they still are effective. So, in a survivalist setting, I can’t think of a better kind of medicine to have on hand. Jendy: If you compare that to the cost of antibiotics, it’s way cheaper. Joette: Oh, it’s infinitely cheaper. Meeting with me as a consultant, one-on-one, is not inexpensive, I’ll be honest with you. But that’s why I write this blog that I write every week, is I know that people can’t afford to work with someone one-on-one all the time. So, I write a free blog that is skewed directly towards mothers and their everyday issues. So, I deal with breast infections and teething problems and croup. And I’ve written about what the remedies are, what to use — exactly the precise remedies, the protocol — exactly how it’s to be used and where to purchase it. So, I have a little link back to someplace on Amazon or someplace else where we know that they can purchase these remedies. So, they don’t have to go running around Walmart or Wegmans or wherever in the country to try to find these. Jendy: Yes. And I saw you had a signup thing that you could get a free first aid chart or something, like a very simple one. And then you said you have courses, and those are probably a little more cost effective than the one-on-one consulting? Joette: Yes, of course. Absolutely. And so, these are all online courses, or they’re CDs, or they’re downloads. I have it in every format possible. No one has to travel to Buffalo, New York, to study with me, they can do it all. And we also have live forums at all times, we have students who are constantly studying and asking questions, and we’re always there to answer questions. Jendy: Awesome. So there’s a lot of ways they can learn through your website. And you said you have the Bad Gut, Good Gut course, and you have the Survivalist course. Joette: Yes. That’s coming up. Yes. Jendy: And are those the two main ones, are there more? Joette: No, we have another course that’s going to be coming up that’s called just Skin. And it’s all about anything on the skin (including chicken pox), but it can also be psoriasis or warts or skin tags, acne. So, I’m going to be teaching just about skin, so that’s another one. We’ve got another one that’s now in the works, that my writers and I are working on called, Feminopathy, all about women and homeopathy. And it’s not even women, it’s actually starting at birth, baby, young girls, all the way through to old age, and what remedies are best used for each of the maladies that a girl or woman might encounter. We also have, what are the other ones, I said Survivalist, there’s Good Gut, Bad Gut. We just finished, How to Cure Yourself and Family, which is another very important book. That’s the goal! That is my goal is to teach families how to cure themselves. Jendy: So, if our listener is brand new to this topic but intrigued, what would you recommend that they do or start? Joette: The first thing that I would do is go to my website, Joette Calabrese, J-O-E-T-T-E, Calabrese, C-A-L-A-B-R-E-S-E, JoetteCalabrese.com and sign up for my blog. And it’s free. No one ever badgers you; there’s no advertising on it. I’m doing this just to get the word out. You’ll get a blog every week, it’ll be specific to the needs of most families. Even though I direct everything towards moms, to be honest, I know that dads are interested in these things, too — because I talk about shin splints and tendonitis and frozen shoulder and a lot of athletic issues that men might suffer from. But more often than not, it’s about children and families in general: the cold, Ebola (I’ve covered that as well). So, that’s a good place to start. And once you’re in learning about that, I guarantee you’re going to be hooked like I got hooked. I guarantee it. Jendy: I know I’m going to go sign up for it because I’m intrigued already. Oh, my. Well thank you Joette, so much for taking the time to talk to me and our listeners today, because I know you’re busy with lots to do. And you know so much about this, I can tell I barely scratched the surface of the topic. Joette: Oh, we could go on this forever, Jendy. Jendy: I’m going to go have to dive into that blog there. Joette: Yeah, yeah, please do. Jendy: Thank you so much. Joette: You’re very welcome. Jendy: Thanks again to our sponsor, “Backyard Farming on an Acre (More or Less).” If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with a friend and leave us a good review. We always appreciate them. Our Mom Prepares community really is a great community, and we’d love for you to connect with us on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook and YouTube. Narrator: Thanks for listening. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss a show. Visit our website, momprepares.com for show notes and more great information.
Warmly,
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| Podcast 16 – Shut UP! How Taking Drugs Shuts Up Symptoms and Causes New, More Sobering Ones Later On | 07 Dec 2015 | 00:44:06 | |
In this podcast, we cover: 0:46 A Taking prescription drugs starts in the pediatrician’s office. 3:06 B Statin drugs on lowering cholesterol. 19:40 C Rooting out cardiac problems with Arsenicum album. 35:14 D Lachesis for heart problems during menopause. 40:30 E Heart conditions could be symptoms of other health conditions. 46:10 F Learn to say no. Shut UP! How Taking Drugs Shut Up Symptoms and Cause New, More Sobering Ones Later On: Cardiac Disease Can Stem From This Abuse While Homeopathy Can Resolve It You are listening to a podcast from JoetteCalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. Jendy: Hello! This is Jendy, and I’m here with Joette Calabrese. And today, we’re going to talk about drugs, silencing symptoms, and heart conditions. Now I was a little taken aback from the title that is on here, Joette. Using “shut up” is a little rude, don’t you think? Taking prescription drugs starts in the pediatrician’s office Joette: Yes, it is. It is. But it’s an important subject given the number of people who take drugs pertaining especially to the heart. Let me give you a quote here from the Mayo Clinic that will open this up. It says that seven out ten Americans take prescription drugs. I find that absolutely shocking. And it all starts in what might surprise many people to hear. Now I believe it all starts in the pediatrician’s office. Jendy: I’ve heard you mention that in the past. You’re not very fond of pediatricians and you blame them for a lot of things. Can you tell us why? Joette: Yes. Yes. I blame them for ISIS too. Oh, just kidding, just kidding. The problem I have with them is that they’re paradigm for using an antibiotic for every infection, whether it’s bacterial or not; an analgesic for any pain; ibuprofen to shut up a fever; suppress symptoms that are simply signs of an illness instead of the illness itself. That it’s a model that needs to be turned on its head. And because in thinking this way, it becomes the training ground for mothers, young mothers and middle aged mothers. Not to mention that the child has now learned when you’re sick, you go to the doctor for a drug. It’s early training for compliancy, as far as I’m concerned in a modern drug lifestyle. My favorite pediatrician who is unfortunately no longer with us on Earth is Dr. Robert Mendelsohn. He once said that the key to health is to stay away from doctors. He went on further in my favorite book of his and he’s written a few of them – was called How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor. He says the best way to raise a healthy child is to keep them away from doctors except for emergency care, in the case of an accident or an obviously serious illness. And if your child displays symptoms of illness, monitor it closely but don’t seek medical help. Don’t seek medical help until there are clear indications that he is, here’s the word – seriously ill. So it all starts there. That’s the end of his quote. It all starts there. Then add to the chronic bombardment of commercials on TV and women’s magazines. Jendy, I can’t even look at those magazines anymore because they’re fundamentally drug promos with some nice photos of interiors and a few good recipes. What this has done is culminated into a lifestyle that is so drug-filled that no one considers it unusual to not be taking drugs. I have to say that the guidelines are constantly changing so that more and more of the population come under these guidelines. Jendy: I think you have a recent study you can tell us about, right? Statin drugs on lowering cholesterol Joette: Yes. There was a study that was just published online. Actually it was just this past week on Wednesday and by the New England Journal of Medicine. It was published by the American Heart Association, the study itself and the American College of Cardiology. What they’ve done is publish new guidelines for what percentage of the population ought to be taking statin drugs. And so it recommends that believe it or not, almost half of Americans ages 40 to 75 and nearly all men over 70 qualify to consider cholesterol lowering statin drugs. These new guidelines put less emphasis on cholesterol and more on drug treatment. So what they’re doing in my estimation is planning to put many people on statin drugs who previously would not have qualified for that. I’ve a background in marketing and sales. I worked in NBC and I worked in an independent TV station years ago and I know marketing. I can smell a marketing campaign from miles away. Let me tell you what other doctors who are not in this camp are saying. For example, in the book, The Statin Disaster by Dr. David Brownstein, he says that statin drugs fail for nearly 99% of those who take them. They neither prevent heart attacks nor have they been shown to show that people live any longer. Jendy: Can I ask you what would define a statin drug? What would that be? Joette: Oh, yes. Good question. I always assume people know what that means but they might not. It’s the drug that lowers cholesterol. When your cholesterol is at a certain range, they automatically put you on these drugs. Jendy: Instead of saying change your diet and exercise? Joette: Yes, yes, exactly. They might also give that information. But I think the message is very clear to people that if they’re not going to do that then they just have to take these drugs. But my contention is that we don’t even need to reduce our cholesterol in many situations. Jendy: Yes. So now they have these new guidelines. Joette: Right. And these guidelines are increasing the number of people who only months ago, before Wednesday, before they put this out, they were considered healthy. Now they throw them into a pool of people they now can call patients and buyers. Once you’re a patient, you’re a customer for life. But as I said, this has been orchestrated since early childhood when the mom takes the child in for fevers and coughs and tummy aches and rashes. I always say never expect the disclosure of the dangers of medical procedures from those who use them. Upton Sinclair said, “It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.” Jendy: But you don’t have to take drugs for life, right? You’re only supposed to take them until you get better. Joette: Well, you’d think that was the case but it’s not because once you started drug for so-called chronic condition, the guideline the doctors are taught by the ubiquitous drug rep is that this is a drug that’s used indefinitely. When I talk to people, I mean, we just had a loss in our family. Someone just passed away in my extended family and I’ll be going to the wake and funeral this coming week. I know that we’ll be talking about health, et cetera. And when I talk to them who have been taking drugs and many, I’ve a lot of cousins, lots – a big, fat Italian family is where I come from. And so I’ll be with a lot of people this next week. When I ask people how long they’ve been taking the drugs, “Oh, yes, 10 years, 12 years.” And I always ask them, “So are you cured, yet?” Really? Isn’t the idea of taking a medicine to cure not to keep someone on the conveyor belt for life? But let me go back if you don’t mind. Let me go back because these drugs are used for cholesterol and I don’t believe cholesterol is a disease. High cholesterol is not a disease. It’s simply a marker. And it’s a marker for the lipid theory and I believe the operative word here is theory. With this new guideline, they’re going to increase the population by 56 million people. But only half of the people will be so-called protected from heart attacks in the next years. That’s 0.89%, less than 1%. We should be absolutely outraged. But anyway, the lipid hypothesis of heart disease has been the darling of the medical establishment for I don’t know, maybe 60 years. Clogged arteries is their sacred dictat. This hypothesis, arguably without scientific merit, often has managed to influence and harm generations of people in my opinion. In contrast, there’s another theory – the myogenic theory of heart disease. That asserts that heart attacks occur as a result of a cascade of stress-induced conditions in the heart muscle cells themselves. It’s not the arteries is what this theory says. There is indeed compelling evidence to substantiate this therapeutic approach, too.; And if there are opposing views on the same condition, oughtn’t we to know about both of them and perhaps a third or a fourth or a fifth theory? But as often as the case in medicine as in most subjects that we find where there’s a big profit behind, that the only view that’s considered is the view, is one view. Let me propose another consideration, the homeopathic take on this. The homeopathic take on cardiac disease does not speculate on the various functions of the vessels of the tissues, their uptake ability or the extent of their occlusion, et cetera. Jendy: So homeopathy doesn’t do any speculation at all? Joette: Well, it’s well-established aphorisms in homeopathy. Aphorisms are the rules that homeopathy follows. They’ve been put out before us by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, the founder; well, I wouldn’t call him the discoverer but the founder of today’s homeopathy as we know it and back in the late 1700s in Germany. He believed that once the disease is suppressed by outside means such as a drug that it drives the illness to a deeper state and that’s a basic aphorism. He had many aphorisms. This happens to be Aphorism 201. I mean, if you ever want to look it up – Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, Aphorism 201 in the Organon. It emphasizes the externalization of internal symptoms. See, what we’re talking about, the externalization of internal symptoms are symptoms. The symptom is something that presents on the outside. It’s an instinctive reaction when disease is present which naturally creates less risk to more vital organs that are threatened from the originating disease. In effect, it could be described as an innate response by the body’s natural defenses to survive and reduce resulting impact on the internal organs and system. So we consider one of the main causes of heart disease for example, we as homeopaths to be a result of suppression or deepening of some less serious illness from the past or even at the present. In other words, illness that originally presented in a less crucial organ is forced into a more vital organ, the heart; less crucial might be say, the skin, as a direct result of suppression by a drug and other heroic medical measures. Iatrogenic, by the way is a great term for a disease because it means that a disease or a condition that is caused by medical mismanagement. And that’s exactly what we believe happens. Let me give you an example. Imagine a skin condition such as acne or eczema. The person wants to fix it to silence, to shut up the symptoms via drugs such as topical steroid creams or antibiotics or such. So the illness must either beg to return as soon as the ointment or other suppressive method is halted. But it reappears with symptoms more severe than before or if not allowed to return, will and this is the pivotal moment, drive more deeply into a more critical organ. The illness has the opportunity to be freed from the bondage of drugs but only if it’s not suppressed. At this time, if the vital force of the person is capable, it will simply put the pathology right back where it belongs, on the skin where it started. That’s not a serious place. I mean, it might be uncomfortable. It might be horribly uncomfortable. But it’s not serious. The heart is more vital organ. If the person is not of great resiliency because of inherited factors or overuse of previous suppressing treatments, then pathology will travel to the more crucial organ and this might include the lungs. Even pediatricians recognize it. Asthma follows eczema. But what they don’t recognize is that it’s the treatment of the eczema with the suppressive drugs that then drives it to the lungs. The gut, and here’s another example, the gut is also a place that is affected especially after a skin rash has been held back by a drug. Oh and then of course, the heart which is what we’re going to be talking about today. A new illness compensates for the suppression of the old is more serious and it can make it very difficult to eradicate this. I want to mention this to folks who have skin conditions particularly eczema and psoriasis, et cetera. I just found this website. Actually a client, student told me about it. It’s called itsan.org, I-T-S-A-N.org. It’s a not for profit organization that is designed to help people understand that skin afflictions that have been treated with topical or oral steroids cause an addiction. If you or someone you know has used or is using steroids, check out the site. It is really fascinating. There’s a great video on it. I will tell you, I don’t agree with their solutions to the problem with the topical steroid addiction but at least it’s a group of doctors and patients who have accepted that there is a serious problem that needs awareness. Jendy: What does this mean to us and to our listeners? Joette: Well, if you go to ITSAN, I-T-S-A-N.org and watch their short video, this is really a great video. What it talks about is the resolve to keep your children away from medications for fevers, eczema, allergies, diarrhea and anything easily treatable with wiser food choices for example, homeopathic medicines. In the case of a normal fever, doing nothing other than leave the small issues alone; stop using drugs. Shut up the drug use instead of shutting up the symptoms with the drugs. The goal always is to protect our children from damage that can be thrown into their future. Remember when Nancy Reagan, well you don’t remember Nancy Reagan or you barely remember Nancy Reagan. Well, I was in high school when Nancy Reagan was around and she said that slogan, “Just say no to drugs.” And people made fun of her. But she was right. The resolve is that simple. Say no to drugs. Now she was talking about street drugs. Well, but also prescription drugs to a certain degree as well but just say no. No, thank you. I’m not going there. Jendy: What about the people that have already taken years’ worth of medication? Joette: That’s a good question, Jendy. Do you know anyone who isn’t taking or hasn’t taken a drug in the past? Really. Jendy: I don’t think so unless it’s like… not even a newborn in these days. Joette: Right. That’s right. Even newborns come into the world with Pitocin, spinal blocks, pain relievers, antibiotics and such. That’s from a simple so-called natural birth, born in the hospital. What if the mothers had a C-section? It’s ubiquitous. Jendy: How does that affect the heart conditions? Joette: Well, let me give you a story to illustrate my point. Let’s take Arnie, okay? His digestion or intake of questionable ingredients in his meals has triggered something in him. He’s been getting these heart palpitations and pounding and restlessness and apprehension. It could be from the MSG and his Egg Beaters that he has for breakfast every morning or the gluten in corn syrup. He loves bagels. We often blame what we’ve eaten and it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t look at it. But then again, we put a timeline together and I’ve talked about this many times. If he would look back at what happened in the past several months or even years but particularly in the last several months because now this is new for him, he might recall that he took antibiotics just a few months previous. And his habit, he had this habit of sinus infections. I don’t mean to call it a habit but he had these sinus infections that were repetitive. And after the sinus infections, he suffered from indigestion and bloating. So if you were to put it together, you might think well, it’s the sinus infections problem, so that its the fault of his own body. It means that there’s something wrong with his body. But of course, I’m going in a different path right now. A few months ago, Arnie woke up at three in the morning with pain in his chest. His heart was racing and in a panic and it scared the bagels right out of him. No, because he had diarrhea. A visit to his doctor and days off from work from all the tests revealed that Arnie was suffering from angina. Well, to be honest, he already knew that except he called it pain in his heart but they got to give this medical term. Along with Arnie’s angina also came a sense of urgency and overwhelming anxiety and racing thoughts. During all of this time, he had this painful heart spells. He also found himself pacing the room with angst and couldn’t quiet his mind. But when he visited the cardiologist, no questions with the intent of shedding light on such information were opposed. His doc simply offered tests that revealed of course, a need for prescription. Because folks might think of the meds they took as a culprit but when they asked their doctor if the meds could be the culprit or be the source of the problem, the doctor usually says no, that’s not possible. Doctors believe in their paradigms. They’re not going to tell you what they gave you is going to cause a problem. Jendy: Yes. It sounds like maybe he’s just prescription deficient. Joette: Yes, I know. That’s what I think the way the modern medicine, medical world looks at it. That’s well said, Jendy, a prescription deficient. In the end, the answer he received went something like this. You’re not young anymore, Arnie. No more steaks for you, Arnie. No more eggs. You have to take these pills. Oh, and for how long? Yes, yes, Arnie, for the rest of your life. Jendy: What would you prescribe for him using homeopathy? Rooting out cardiac problems with Arsenicum album. Joette: Well, the considerations of his cardiac reactions to MSG would necessitate the remedy Arsenicum album 30. Now we don’t know that that’s for sure that it was MSG but that’s certainly something to think about. It has a reputation for being able to remove the immediate poisoning effects of such additives. It would not be taken – you don’t take Arsenicum album 30, however unless there are clear indications that it is the reason for the influence, so it’s influenced this problem. In other words, this is not a time for speculation. If you look into antidote the effects of MSG, let’s say it wasn’t from his Egg Beaters even though he’d been eating them for a long time, Arsenicum album would certainly be the remedy. Arsenicum album 30 would be the remedy to bring down the palpitations, pounding, apprehension and restlessness. It has the ability to allay fears and panic and to abort the potential of ensuing cardiac pathology. We’re not treating symptoms here. We’re not just getting rid of the problems that are presenting. We’re rooting it out. Jendy: And would he still need to stop eating the Egg Beaters? Joette: Well, I would do that if I were Arnie. If he thought that was the cause, certainly; just to calm things down a bit. I mean, Egg Beaters, really? Nobody should be eating Egg Beaters. You should be eating eggs. Jendy: True. Joette: That’s the way they were intended to be eaten, the whole egg. So eventually, Arnie snapped to his senses. He realized that he was probably relying on drugs more often than was prudent. So he consulted with a homeopath. And the homeopath told him to take the nitroglycerin that the doctor had ordered for a while longer but to follow it with a specific homeopathic medicine within a few minutes of each episode. That would likely take care of the racing heart and his anxiety. Jendy: So this is where the ‘like cures like’ in the homeopathic philosophy? Joette: Yes. Yes. This is where it comes in. As its paradigm, what better remedy choice than something that in its gross form causes symptoms such as what Arnie was suffering? So we might also use the remedy, the homeopathic remedy that might be prepared from coffee because that’s exactly what he was experiencing, that raciness and stepped-up heart, et cetera. So he took the remedy Coffea cruda 200. That’s homeopathic Coffea that’s made originally from coffee. And after a few nights of taking Coffea cruda, Arnie was able to calm down. And he started to return to sense of himself again. The remedy helped him minimize the need to use the nitroglycerin. This is what his homeopath counted on, of course. But Arnie didn’t listen to his homeopath. The next time he experienced that horrible anguish and jumping heart with pain, he skipped the drug altogether – the nitroglycerin and instead only took Coffea cruda 200. To his relief again, he not only came down from that anxiety but the pain and pounding heart vanished in about the same amount of time as he would have experienced with the use of the drug. Jendy: Does that mean he could wean himself off the nitroglycerin? Joette: Well, no homeopath in the US is willing to overstep in the situation like this. The homeopath was cautious and she’s told Arnie that she would like him to meet with his cardiologist regaining this decision. But Arnie didn’t do that. Arnie’s got this kind of personality that he just does what he wants to do which is actually very good in many ways. After using Coffea cruda, after the span of about two weeks, his confidence completely returned. He reported that now he keeps the nitroglycerin in his medicine cabinet instead of his hip pocket. And just as homeopathy is intended to work, he requires Coffea cruda less and less because his problem is resolving. It’s happening fewer and fewer times.Here’s the most important part about homeopathy as far as I’m concerned is that we’ve used symptoms as signs; signs that there is something wrong. And if the signs are not there then the disease isn’t either. So I’d like to be clear that because homeopaths no longer have their hospitals in North America nor the climate within which to practice freely, I, too would not recommend to clients that they eliminate a drug without the oversight of a medical doctor. Removal of any prescription medication is never a decision to be taken lightly especially blood pressure drugs, et cetera. But you have to consider the possibility of a boomerang effect when you do this, when you do get off of the drug with the guidance even of the doctor and even if it’s done slowly and judiciously. Remember, the body has habituated and compensated for with these drugs and remission should be carefully monitored, if possible. Jendy: Did Arnie just stop the drugs? Is he still taking the Coffea 200? Joette: Yes. Well, he no longer takes either one. He doesn’t take the Coffea cruda and he doesn’t take the nitroglycerin. Now, I also want to say here that if these were a more serious condition other than simply palpitations and some angina, this is not the answer. But this is the answer for Arnie and that’s why I’m giving a specific example. But the homeopathic remedies do something most people don’t even expect. They cure the condition so that even the homeopathic remedy is no longer needed. That’s the best part. Jendy: So you are saying that homeopathy cures all diseases? Joette: Well, I worked with Drs. Banerji in Calcutta and Dr. Prasanta Banerji once told me that homeopathy has the ability to cure all diseases but it may not cure all people with diseases. Jendy: What about diseases like AIDS or cancer? Joette: Yes, even those and more. I’ve actually seen it in Calcutta. But some people, depending on the amount of drugs they’ve taken, the depth and breadth of their involvement to such methods, their age, their history, the inherited taint, how late they came to homeopathy, all of those will influence the outcome in whether or not this person can find the cure. But even now after being a homeopath full time for 20 plus years and having studied and taught it for 29 years, I’m still amazed even flabbergasted by what this medicine is capable of accomplishing. I tell people regularly, you must allow the medicines to act. It often takes time with little steps forward and perhaps a small one back again. I know we’ve got more with Arnie. So let me go back because we were talking about the bagels and his food, his Egg Beaters and all that. Let’s look at another homeopathic medicine that would have benefited Arnie; Lycopodium 200 mixed with Arsenicum album. This is the combination that I learned from the Drs. Banerji while in Calcutta. And it’s usually taken twice daily. It’s a great antidote to the ills that result in bloating in the sense of uncomfortable fullness in the gut even including the lower chest. It’s not for heart necessarily but it certainly is for gastrointestinal bloating. Of course, Arnie should improve his diet. But remember, not everyone is willing to do that and Arnie’s strong willed. He might be one of those people who don’t want to change his diet. But just doing that is a good step towards guiding him to excellence in his food even if we just discussed it. That alone can perhaps change his thinking a little bit. Jendy: Can you tell us more about a homeopathic medicine that would help a cardiac condition? Joette: Yes. Yes. Let me give you an example of one that I have taught about a few years ago. Several years ago, for some reason, I received a rush of desperate phone calls. They were all from women and they were all about 45 years old. I don’t know why it happened like that but it just happened that way. They were complaining of overwhelming anguish and anxiety and their heart was quickened and their heart was thumping and they were having atrial fibrillation occasionally. None had been asked by their family practitioners what they had eaten just before their cardiac incident. I think it’s important that we ask those questions. None were asked whether they regularly drank coffee or how much. None were asked whether chocolates especially, a lot of sugar, MSG laden foods, even wheat or other such foods for daily fare or consumed prior to their cardiac palpitations, their incidences. The Mayo Clinic, I just want to include this little statement, says that palpitations can be frightening but they are not always dangerous and that’s something to remember. Now obviously, we don’t want to be foolish about this. But if you start looking at okay, they’re not always dangerous and what did I just eat, it’s really important to break it down. A lot of women who have this are certain they’re going to die of a heart attack when this happens. And especially at that age, 45 years old, I see this happening more and more and I believe they’re entering into menopause. They run to the ER where they submit to a battery of tests and they’re exhausted and frightened and then they whimper home with the prescription that suppresses all of their symptoms. Jendy: These are pretty interesting. I’m sure you have another example you could share about shutting up symptoms. Joette: Yes. Yes. I also want to mention that these calls that I started to get, a couple of them were women who were just eating a lot of chocolate. One of them was, actually two of them had just eaten. It was Halloween. It was after Halloween and one of them, when their kids went off to school, just got into the chocolate that they don’t normally eat that much of. And my guess is when it’s Halloween candy, I’m sure there’s MSG and all kinds of other kinds. Jendy: You would think that would to raise a red flag. Joette: Yes. Yes. But you know what? It gets so scary for people that they just can’t think straight. And another time was the same situation. This woman had eaten those coffee beans coated with chocolate and her heart was racing. In both those cases I might add, I used, specifically I used Nux vomica. I told them to use Nux vomica 30 or 200. Jendy: And why doesn’t the doctor ask? Joette: I know. They don’t think about it. It’s not about rooting out the illness. It’s not about uprooting and getting rid and getting to the bottom of things. It’s about simply, here’s the prescription, next; next person. Let me tell you about Jane, okay, so another person. Jane was an empty nester and she didn’t like to speak about it too much. She suffered silently. She felt as though she was probably overreacting. But she was secretly weeping a lot. She would get into the bath tub nightly, night after night after night and she would just weep. To everyone else, it appeared that she had strolled seamlessly back into her previous world. She was a real estate agent but it helped her get her mind off the fact that her last baby, who is now 21 years old was out of the house. And after raising four kids, the change required as usual significant shift in her nature. I know the feeling. I know that it’s an awful feeling. You know when they say empty nester, the real operative word here is empty. It’s a horribly empty feeling when your last child leaves. But she would get into the bath tub to calm her nerves and she would whisper to herself all soaking in the tub, “I used to be a mom and now a real estate agent. I hate this.” So it was right about this time that not only did her daughter leave but her menses did, too. Isn’t that unfortunate that everything happens at once? In its place, of her menses came sleepless nights, heart pain, anxiety, palpitations, and even a little vertigo. But her brother-in-law was from England and he was a homeopathic physician there. And England has many homeopathic physicians, very common. She contacted him. And instead of drugs, this is what he said. Instead of drugs to restrain the warning signals; do you hear that folks, again? I’m going to say it again. This physician in England knows; instead of drugs to restrain the warning signals. Jendy: It’s so different than homeopathic view. Joette: It is. It is. We’re not going to use drugs to restrain the warning signs. We’re going to use homeopathics to correct the problem that the warning signs are telling us about. We don’t believe that symptoms ought to be shut up. I’m going to say it again and again. As I mentioned earlier, take in to a deeper level of illness. Instead, remember those symptoms. Everything that Jane is experiencing are indicators as to how to treat the problem that we are intended to make a point of. So we want to uproot the problem so that symptoms will not be required to present and the drugs will become superfluous. Jendy: So did her brother help Jane? Joette: Yes, brother-in-law. Yes. Jane didn’t favor hormone replacement methods either. Those are those bioidentical hormones that we euphemistically are calling natural but she might have halted some of her menopausal symptoms with that. There’s no doubt that those drugs would have done that. But what she would have done, she would have accomplished a suspension of her ills. It would not have cured her problem. Jendy: And I’ve heard that you have a course out now called Feminopathy? Do you cover this information about the bioidentical hormones? Joette: Yes, yes, I do. I’m happy you brought that course up. It’s called Feminopathy: How You Can Correct Female Ailments Using Safe, Inexpensive, and Effective Homeopathy. It’s not that I want everyone to run and get this course. But what I do want people to do is to start thinking about learning how to do this themselves. Lachesis for heart problems during menopause Anyway, let’s get back to Jane. She went to these remedies that her brother-in-law sent along, her brother-in-law sent along. The first remedy was Lachesis, twice daily. Lachesis 200 is chosen probably because to calm Jane’s heart, palpitations, and the angina. It’s nearly specific for women during and around menopause. Interestingly, it’s particularly well-chosen for this particular combination of heart symptoms during menopause. Lachesis 200 taken twice daily. hDr. Gibson in his studies of homeopathic remedy says of Lachesis; now remember here’s a doctor again. So for those of you who believe that I’m anti-doctor, I’m not. There are plenty of doctors out there who get all of these. He says, syncopal episodes are associated (this is under the title of Lachesis and how it is associated with the heart) with cardiac pain or accompanied by nausea and vertigo. Now she didn’t have the nausea but she did have vertigo. Heart thumping, palpitations, he says are associated with the sense of tightness in the chest. The remedy is of special value in relation to the throat and affections and menopausal disorders. Now again, Jane didn’t have all of these symptoms. She didn’t have the throat problems yet the remedy picture here fits in other important ways. So then he added another remedy, Ignatia 200 taken twice daily. And this is the best bet for the deep sadness Jane felt for the loss of her life as a stay-at-home mom. It has a reputation for lifting sufferers from grief and relentless sadness. I’ve written about this remedy on my blog and I urge folks to read about it. You just use the little search bar in my blog and put in Ignatia. Just read about how valuable this remedy can be. Jendy: It sounds really interesting because that brings the whole emotional side and not just physical which we always separate like mental health, physical health. Joette: Right. Right. The Lachesis is dealing with the heart issue and the hormonal issue that’s obviously or apparently appears to be the ideology, the cause of all of these. But now we also have this emotional aspect and we give Ignatia to help with that as well. I totally agreed with her brother-in-law, by the way. They were very well chosen remedies. And later on, he added Crataegus, C-R-A-T-A-E-G-U-S, Crataegus and it was a mother tincture that he gave her. It’s mother tincture. It means it’s not made into homeopathic medicine yet. It’s still in the gross form and so it’s a botanical. It also covers cardiac maladies. It’s just a great remedy for any cardiac malady and I believe she was taking that twice a day as well. There’s another bit of information here that I want to read and this is from Frans Vermeulen’s Concordant Materia Medica, a medical homeopathic medical book. He talks about Crataegus with valvular murmurs, angina pectoris, cardiac dropsy which is swelling (dropsy’s the old word for edema), aortic disease, pain in the region of the heart under the left clavicle and under the left scapula, pulse accelerated and irregular, feeble intermittent valvular murmurs, and angina pectoris. That’s the end of his quote. That’s what gives us this information as homeopaths to determine which remedies to choose. We use this book. We don’t just pick these remedies out of the sky. We use this kind of information that’s been collected through the sentries. Jendy: And did that help Jane get over her bath tub crying and her palpitations? Joette: Yes, her bath tub crying. Yes. Yes. In a mere couple of days after Ignatia 200 and it’s her daily routine, Jane’s anxiety and sadness and depression just melted away. Then she started baking cookies and did something positive to send back to her daughter away at school. A lot of times, simple gestures will bring people back to themselves. But previously she couldn’t get there. She just wasn’t in that frame of mind. She was weeping and so saddened that she couldn’t move forward. By the third or fourth day of taking all the remedies, she noted that the palpitations have gone and her sleep was re-established. By the end of the two months that rolled around and that’s when she was supposed to Skype call with her brother-in-law, nothing that was plaguing her previously remained. Instead, she asked if he had a homeopathic remedy for weight gain. But that’s the subject of another article. What that means is it finished everything though homeopathic remedies took care of every single aspect of what she was suffering. Jendy: Yes and you said it was like fours days. It was fast. Joette: Yes, it was fast. But it doesn’t always act that fast. I got to tell you that, Jendy. It also again depends on the case and the person. But to get an idea of what to look for so that you can know that the remedies you’ve chosen are correct and that you’re moving in the right direction, I always want to tell people – our listeners to go to our podcast titled Podcast #12 and Why You May Be Disillusioned with Homeopathy. Jendy: So what’s the upshot? Heart conditions could be symptoms of other health conditions Joette: Okay. The upshot is that many cases that present as a heart condition may indeed be a reaction, a symptom of something else that just necessitates our attention. This means that all symptoms represent something. Hence, they should never be shut up with drugs. Sometimes it’s easy to figure out what they signify. Sometimes it’s not. But the examination of them is worthy of our effort, particularly if we have homeopathy to address each one of those and not just to cover them up. This is also true when we take into account that these concomitant conditions that may appear unremarkable by ignoring them might easily miss the most telling information. The importance of taking superfluous drugs that shut up the symptoms or merely silence the condition away from our bodies can’t be emphasized enough. It is an off-missed piece to the puzzle of not only heart disease but many other chronic conditions. Jendy: We need to switch our thinking to look strategically and long term. Joette: Yes and from a health standpoint, our lives are simply timelines. The more time on a drug, the darker the hue of the graph. Each onslaught affects our health on some area or another. Jendy: But it is encouraging to know that homeopathy can still help someone that has a burdened timeline from years of medication. Joette: Well, who doesn’t have a burdened timeline? Would it not be wise to keep the assault to a quiet murmur now from the time that you know this though, instead of allowing it to get to a roaring tsunami before you start doing something about it? Less is more. Not when enjoying healthy saturated fats but when considering taking a drug. I believe and I want to mention that healthy saturated fats. I believe in taking saturated or eating saturated fats. We need to remember that we save drugs as Dr. Mendelsohn said earlier for rare life-saving emergencies not for common ear infections, fevers, birth control pills or birth control I should say, eczema, menopausal shifts, or chronic conditions. But if you’re on them, don’t just slip off imprudently. I always tell folks, be careful. We have to seek a better way and put your life in order first and then move out of them quietly and gently. I want to remind you that you mustn’t count on the doctor however, who prescribed the drug to offer that alternative solution. If he had one, he would have given it to you. I suggest that people find the doctor with compatible convictions. If you have to go to a doctor, find one who is in agreement with you, or work with a homeopath, or better yet learn how to use homeopathy for the small potatoes so that you don’t have a bigger one to pick later. So try to learn to treat your family, yourself for those acutes. Learn how to really treat fever. Know how to root out eczema instead of driving it to a deeper state. Know how to address asthma yourself or with your homeopath. As your knowledge deepens, you’ll be able to take on more complex conditions and you’ll become more confident. Then you’ll be able to go use such foods, good foods as nourishing traditional foods and homeopathic medicine. And just be unstoppable in your resolve because it’s important. Jendy: You can learn how to do a lot of these on Joette’s blog. For our listeners, we go to joettecalabrese.com. I just am learning she has written a weekly blog post for about nine years and you can go there. There’s a search bar in the top and you can type in what your problem is and it’ll bring up a list of things to read and check out for. I’ve gone there many times. Just recently, we went through a bout of fever and flu at our house and she had a free eBook download. I think it’s called Ahh Choo! The Flu! I downloaded that. I was reading that. You still have it up, right? Joette: Yes. I believe so. I mean, things are always changing here and I’m not the one doing it. I have my family members mail that for me. Jendy: Well, you can check in the search bar on the blog and then there’s also like if you want more in-depth courses and you really want to study it, Joette has things, the courses you can buy, the CDs you can download to put in your car. You can even get somebody to work with you one on one. Sometimes people feel better talking to somebody. But there are all levels of information if you want to learn more. Joette: Yes and I’m not the only one out there teaching homeopathy for these everyday ills to families. For those who are just starting, take a look at our quick start guide on the front page of my website. It will help you get going on all of these. Then take advantage of every article I write on this blog. I teach how to use homeopathy instead of antibiotics and I teach how to treat acne using our medicines. Not our, meaning that you buy the medicines from me but homeopathic medicines. I teach how to address even Lyme disease and anxiety, et cetera. It’s all there for free so take advantage of it. Jendy: Yes, that’s the first place I go. I don’t go to the over the counter drug shelves in the store anymore when we’re sick. I go to Joette’s site. Joette: Yes. Well, thank you. Thank you for saying that. Oh, yes. There’s no need to spend money here, folks. Just take it all for free. It’s a course in and of itself. Jendy: All right. Do you have any parting word for us this time? Learn to say no Joette: No. Well, actually not that I don’t have a parting word. But the word is no. That’s my parting word. I think I’ve said this before but the word is no. Say no. You could always say yes later but start with no first. It will buy you time to figure out what you need to do. It will also allow you to tuck in. Figure out what needs to be done after the blush of the doctor’s office has worn off. No is the most powerful word in our vocabulary. No thanks, Doc. I need to give this some thought. Then run. Don’t walk to your search engine and look up the side effects that will help you understand what it is you’re about to take or give to your child and the homeopathic medicine that can be used instead. No. Not today, Doc. I need to discuss this with my husband. My rule of thumb is don’t be a good girl. Be a good mother. Be prepared to fight to the finish for your family. Don’t be a compliant patient. Be a force. Don’t accept mediocre food. Don’t accept the mediocre life. In fact, don’t just step outside of the box. Gain enough knowledge so that you can kick the box away. Jendy: Thank you so much, Joette. I know you’ve told us this before but it’s always good to be encouraged and hear it again. Joette: Yes. Thank you, Jendy. Nice conversation.
Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com and schedule a free 15-minute conversation.
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| Podcast 15 – You Must Fail | 07 Sep 2015 | 00:31:55 | |
In this podcast, we cover: 0:50 Joette failed 17 times on a real estate exam 7:43 Don’t eat defeat 12:29 Perseverance and commitment in treating your family 17:30 Antibiotics and why we should avoid them 27:23 Change your way of thinking when it comes to treating common diseases This is my favorite subject: how to defeat failure.It helps to know when somebody else can (or has) overcome something, no matter how big or small, because only then can you start to believe you are capable of doing so, too. Failure is not a shameful word. In fact, we must fail in order to find the right path to success. Stopping or giving up before you reach success is what separates the mediocre from the mighty. I invite you to listen to/read my story and hopefully gain some inspiration from it. Here’s the Banerji Protocol take- away from today’s podcast: Lycopodium 200 mixed with Arsenicum 3, twice daily for bloating and a belly that’s distended. Warmly, Joette You are listening to a podcast from JoetteCalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. Jendi: This is Jendi and I’m here with Joette Calabrese from JoetteCalabrese.com. And today, our topic is on failure and how to get out of a rut of failure especially pertaining to curing your family. Hello, Joette! How are you? Joette: Hi, Jendi! I’m doing pretty well. Thanks! Jendi: Are you ready to talk about failure? Joette: Yes, yes! This is one of my favorite subjects, yeah, how to defeat failure. I love this subject. Joette failed 17 times on a real estate examJendi: So of course, the first thing we want to know is if you have ever failed, and can you tell us about that? Joette: Oh, never. I’ve never failed. That’s always interesting, isn’t it? It’s fun to know who’s failed and who hasn’t, and it makes our shortcomings seem a little more tolerable, I think. Jendi: Yes, it does. And it helps to know if somebody else can overcome something, then I can, too. Joette: Yeah, yeah. Well, let me tell you about a failure that I experienced years ago. It was back when I was in my 20s and I lived in Arlington, Virginia just outside of DC, and I absolutely adored Washington, DC. It was vibrant. It was a great city. It was cosmopolitan, chic. It was so cool. At the time, I lived in these [Murphy – 00:01:34] apartments that looked like World War II barracks and so much wanted to live in the great city of DC. So I made the decision that I wanted to become a real estate agent to be a part of that excitement of DC. And it was going to fulfill two issues and that was one, to get out of this little apartment that I didn’t like, and also to be able to be a part of what was going on in that vibrant city. So this was back in about 1975. And if anyone was around during that time, any of our listeners, they might remember that there was a real estate boom in Washington, DC that was absolutely over the moon. So I wanted to be involved in that. So I studied first for the Virginia Real Estate Exam because, of course, I was living there, and I passed the exam right away. No problem. And then because Maryland State is adjacent to DC also on the other side, I studied and sat for that exam as well, and I passed that right away. But what I wanted more than anything was to practice real estate in DC. But I had been advised to take the other state exams first. I wondered why this would happen. I asked, “Why would that matter?” Well, they gave me the example of the brokers for whom I was about to work for. Because the DC exam was particularly difficult and I might not pass it the first time. So to get started on my new career, I decided I should at least be able to sell in Virginia and Maryland. So indeed, I got hired by a real estate company and I set my sight on that exam, on procuring that coveted DC real estate exam. So I took the exam and I failed it. “No problem,” I thought. “I’ll take it again when it comes around in a few months.” I decided to do that again. So I did it again. But then, when I took it the second time, I failed it again, and then again, and again. Now, allow me to set the stage a little, perhaps to soothe my frazzling ego at the time. This exam was understandably tricky because there was such a boom market in DC. And I mean, contracts were being flipped within days, and even sometimes hours before going to closing while selling the contract two and three times. It was super intense. And that’s how hot it was at that time. People were making huge profits, agents were not excluded, and so the word in the real estate market was that the DC board wanted no more agents to be licensed. So they made the exams irregularly challenging. And I mean irregular, but nonetheless. The wording in the exams was strange and it was difficult to decode and I don’t really know whether that was the case or not because I knew people who were also indeed passing their exam but for some reason, I just couldn’t get the hang of this thing. I took it so many times, I was beginning to think there was something wrong with me. I had made the dean’s list for many semesters at college at the University of Buffalo and other schools that I non-matriculated back to. And I didn’t consider myself extraordinary but it wasn’t as though I was incapable. So I took the exam repeatedly. Jendi: My husband took a real estate exam before we had our first child and he had to pay a fee. So did you have a fee then? And did you have a choice how often you could take it? Joette: Well, I actually don’t remember the cost, but for a young person in her early 20s, it seemed like a lot of money. And no, the exams were not given very often. I think it was every few months or so. It was a long time ago so I don’t fully recall. But see if you can guess, Jendi, how many times I took that exam. Let’s see if you can figure it out from what I’ve told you. Jendi: At the most, I would guess like four or five. Joette: Yeah, well, you’re being kind. You know, Jendi, I took that odious exam – get this – 18 times. I failed it 17 times, and not until I took the 18th try did I pass it. Can you imagine? I mean, it was insanity. Jendi: I can’t imagine going back 18 times. You must have really, really wanted it. Joette: It was really important to me. There’s no doubt about it. Actually, it was more than important. It became an obsession. I studied, I cried, I was embarrassed, I kept paying, I was furious with myself and with the City Board of Realtors. I was a failure. We even went to a shrink because I thought only a sick-in-the-head person could fail time after time. I mean, why could others pass this exam and not me? Why could I pass the state exams of Virginia and Maryland and then later New York State but could not pass this stupid DC city exam? No amount of rationalization soothed my mutilated, and I mean mutilated, ego. Jendi: Did the psychiatrist come up with anything? Joette: Well, I actually don’t remember. All I remember was the feeling of defeat. For crying out loud, it wasn’t the law boards, for goodness sakes. Jendi: But on the 18th time, you did pass it. Joette: Yes, I did. I finally passed it. And what happened then changed things for me. At the age of only 24, something like that, I became a real estate hotshot. I don’t mean to be so bold, but I listed, I negotiated, I loved every minute of real estate sales. I popped out of bed at 4:30 in the morning like a piece of toast from a toaster, and I was in my office often by 5:30 in the morning. I had the key to the office because I was the only one who would start that early. I was so grateful for having that darned license that I took my work more seriously, I think, than anyone else in the office. I studied, I focused. I never allowed myself a diversion. It was complete immersion. And I became more successful at this new craft than I ever imagined. I worked myself like a workhorse and it was a blast. Jendi: Sounds like it was worth all those tries then, and you really loved it. Don’t eat defeatJoette: Yeah, I did. I really loved it. But I think a big part of it was the number of failures I had racked up. I think it was the fact that I decided that I was not going to eat defeat. And my determination was so embedded in me that I couldn’t stop. Even if I had to take it 38 times, not 18, I was not going to be conquered. Jendi: This reminds me of how you told me you learned homeopathy when your kids were little. Joette: Well, in a way, it really is not unlike that. I don’t know if this single experience or my consistent ability to fail did it or if it was in my genes. My father was a professional musician. He played jazz trumpet for many decades. And when I was a teenager, he decided that he was going to learn to play flute. And I always emulated my father. He took lessons for flute and he practiced for a few hours daily in spite of owning and running his own business. And I remember that when I was a teenager, not more than 10 years before this event of the failures in DC, he’d pick me up from school and on the front seat of the car, his silver flute would be nestled in its open case and at every red light we approached, he’d pick up his flute and play a few scales or a particularly difficult lick and parts of pieces he was trying to conquer for his next performance. He was obsessed. Jendi: Very committed. Joette: He was. He was committed. And I believe that this is what it takes. We have to become obsessed. We have to become committed. The only way to accomplish what you want to accomplish in your corner of the world is to bite in, sink your teeth in as deeply as you can and not let go. Anything less, in my estimation, will produce less than satisfactory results. In fact, it’s perfectly proportioned. You know the old saying, “Garbage in, garbage out”? Well, I think it’s, “Garbage in, garbage stays.” I don’t think it goes out. Once it comes in, it’s there. So the inverse, in the way that I look at it is, “Quality in, quality remains.” And so quality has to do with commitment. Jendi: And of course, we can apply this to committing ourselves to studying homeopathy even when at a stoplight. Joette: Right. Why not? Only you can decide how far you want to go. But when you lead a charmed life with no problems or no ills and your kids are not sick, it’s not compelling to figure out what you can do to change things. But if you’ve had a life of one medical problem after another that your child has, or your husband, or someone in your family, you get to the point of deciding that you must take things into your own hands. So I fully understand. I don’t want to get this wrong. I understand that mothers and grandmothers have busy lives. But I got to remind you, so did my father. And as I said, he had a business to run, a family to provide for, but he had a desire. And that’s what it takes, a deep, boiling desire. And remember, he used his driving time to his advantage. That’s what I did when learning homeopathy, too. And to be honest, it’s also how I studied for that darn exam back in 1975 or whenever it was. Jendi: So did you have podcasts or audio CDs available for you to learn homeopathy? Joette: Well, of course, there were no podcasts back when I was learning homeopathy in the ‘80s. When I was learning this as a student, I’d go to my classes in Toronto and New Jersey and New York and I’d take notes. And when the kids were in bed, I’d read these notes into a tape recorder. That kind of gives you an idea of how long ago this was. And then I’d listen to them in my car. So I was listening to my notes and my own voice over and over again while I was making meals, while I was making bread, whatever I was doing, laundry. Not only did I benefit but my kids did, too, by listening to this. So not unlike my father’s passion rubbing off on me, my passion then, in turn, rubbed off on my kids. They not only learned some homeopathy, which is an important enough tool, but they learned time management and the importance of diving into what you love and taking it seriously. So it gave me a chance to teach them three levels. Jendi: And you demonstrated the importance of continually gaining knowledge. Joette: Yeah. That’s very important. It should never stop. Who doesn’t love learning and stretching your brain? There’s more pleasure in that than most activities in life. Perseverance and commitment in treating your familyJendi: So we heard about perseverance in real estate exams and in playing music. Can you tell us about perseverance in relation to homeopathy and in treating our family? Joette: Okay, let’s see. I’ll give you one example that caused me a great deal of concern when my kids were little. One of my children was a bad sleeper. He would keep me up at night. Night after night, I’d walk him and then after a while, my husband helped me and we would take turns walking him all night in two-hour shifts, not unlike a night watch on a boat while on their way. It was pretty tough. Jendi: Yeah, it sounds tough. Do you know what was wrong with him or what was keeping him up? Joette: Well, at the time, I didn’t know, probably for two reasons. One was that I was not seasoned in homeopathy and the other was that I was so sleep deprived and overwhelmed that I didn’t put two and two together. Jendi: But now you know what the problem was? Joette: Well, sure. In hindsight, it always offers clarity. Jendi: Yeah, and you’ve learned a lot since then and practiced and trained. Joette: Yeah. When you see this in other children, after a while, it becomes pretty focused on what the deal is. And that’s what I want to impart to our listeners and readers tonight. My experience is not unlike what many mothers suffer with their children. It took me a very long time to figure out that my baby had gastrointestinal problems even though it was glaring me in the face from nearly day one. His belly was tympanic and he had a very small appetite. And I finally gave him Lycopodium 200 twice a day for a few months and his belly took on kind of a better profile. It wasn’t as swollen. And his sleep was improved. It had restored somewhat. But then I was afraid because I didn’t know enough about homeopathy at that time to know what to do next. So I stopped giving it to him because I was afraid I was going to use it too frequently. Now I know better. Now I know we do need to continue with it for sometimes many months. And so within a month of having stopped it, it all started again, and the sleep, and the swollen belly, and the low appetite. So I began using Lycopodium 200 twice a day again for another several months. Years before this, I would not have known to repeat this if the condition returned or even how to do so. Jendi: So how did you decide which remedy to use and how much to give him and how long? That’s the big thing with me. You spit out so many different remedies and I go, “I don’t know what to use.” Joette: Well, you’re right. That’s right. Determining the correct remedy can be hard enough without having to decide on the potency, and the frequency, and for how long, and what to look for, and even how to interpret what you’re witnessing. So back in those days, I employed classical homeopathy. But today, I’ve changed that. Now, what I use is what I call practical homeopathy based on Doctors Banerji protocols. They’re called the Banerji protocols, which I talk about a lot on my blog. And this is why I love teaching this practical method. Because it takes all the guesswork out of it. The Banerjis have ironed out the kinks and they’ve handed it all over to us. They’ve handed it to me on a silver platter. In fact, on my course called Good Gut, Bad Gut, I teach how to use Lycopodium 200, but the Banerjis mix it with Arsenicum 3 twice daily. And that’s for bloating and a belly that’s distended, and I’ve used that now for several years and I find it’s even better than just plain, old Lycopodium. Because Lycopodium helped my son, but knowing what I know now over the last few years, I believe it would have worked much more thoroughly, and maybe even faster, had I employed it as per the Banerjis’ protocol, mixing it with Arsenicum. Then I also would have added Bovista for my son’s food intolerances because I assume that’s what was going on and his low appetite that I was actually unaware of at the time. And a Banerji protocol that I would use today for my son had I known about this many years ago would have been Coffea 200 to help him sleep. So that’s what I wish I had known back at that time. Jendi: So then you were just treating the effect. But to add these other things, you’d be treating the cause as well as the effect. Joette: Yes. That’s the best way to approach this. And in many kinds of cases such as this, that is the best approach. Since this occurred over 20 years ago, I’ve worked with thousands of students and clients across the world, and this has become a specialty of sorts of mine. Jendi: You mean, dealing with the children who don’t sleep? Joette: Actually, no – children and adults who have problems that seem unrelated to the main issue which is actually a gut problem in the long run. Antibiotics and why we should avoid themJendi: And I keep hearing that these days in a lot of different things. It’s kind of like the buzzword, that it’s a gut problem. Joette: Right. Well, I agree. And I blame it not only on the foods that are eaten but more importantly, much more importantly in my estimation, on the drugs that are taken. Antibiotics cause long-term illness, and they’re handed out like candy. And the new way of dispensing antibiotics is for the pediatrician to now say something like this – I’ve heard this; the pediatricians haven’t told me themselves, of course, but the mothers relay this to me – the pediatrician says, “I know. I agree. Antibiotics are bad. But this one I’m giving you for your child’s ear infection is different. This is a mild one.” So they’re catching on to this fact that mothers have caught on that the jig is up, basically. So I call this sugar-coated drug deal. I’m sorry, but an antibiotic is an antibiotic. Listen, if it kills bacteria, it kills bacteria. It’s like saying, “This pesticide is a mild pesticide. It only kills gently with rainbows and flowers and things.” It’s all malarkey. The next thing they’ll try to sell you is the hottest new vaccine to protect your sexually active 2-year-old. Jendi: Oh, my. And when is it going to stop? Joette: It never stops. It doesn’t. It’s not going to. Why would it? If you’re willing to buy once from this kind of thinking, then the pattern has been developed. And then the expectation is that you’re willing to buy again. So upsells are profitable at a pediatric practice. I know because I know marketing and I know upsells. Upsell such as vaccine sales if properly utilized can represent a large percentage of profits for an otherwise not very profitable practice. In case you don’t know, pediatricians represent the lowest incomes in the medical world. They make less than most accountants. Jendi: I did not know that. But I’m also interested into why would that matter to mothers? Because doesn’t that mean the pediatrician isn’t as worried about money and would make his advice more pure? Joette: I don’t agree. I don’t think so. I think it makes him more worried about finances. He, or it could be a she, has spent approximately as much time in medical school as the cardiologist or the surgeon has, maybe a year less. Spent just as much in tuition and has less to show for it now. It matters that mothers know what drive their experts. We should know this, what drives your car salesman, your real estate agent, so that you can discern what part of what they say is benevolence and which part is self-driven. Jendi: It makes them sound like very selfish animals. Joette: Well, they’re really not though. It’s just the reality of the world. This is my take on it. Live your life and think the way you want, but I believe that it’s time that mothers come to realize that no one except your family is out there protecting you and your child. No one. Not the government, not the food industry, not the education system, not the doctors. As soon as you recognize this simple but important fact of life, you’ll be able to step back and make much, much better decisions about your health and your family’s health. Jendi: And that’s why you want to get your message out to mothers to learn how to take care of their families themselves. Joette: You bet. And I offer no apologies, Jendi. If you decide to purchase my courses, certainly, I make a profit. I do, indeed, have fixed cost and a number of staff members but I also offer other information for free on this blog and this podcast. And if our listeners do nothing but use these resources, buy a few books, they’ll be far, far ahead of where I was when I began my journey treating my kids, my family, myself some 29 or 30 years ago. So I tell folks all the time, “Don’t buy anything from me. It’s okay. Just pass this on from one mother to another, from one grandmother to another, from one neighbor to another.” I know it’s cliché but I want to change the world one family at a time. And I know that sounds goofy but it really is the truth. Jendi: So let’s get back to the subject at hand about how failure is not an excuse. Joette: That’s why I need you, Jendi, to keep me in line, to keep me straight here now. Okay, so let’s get back to the idea of what we’re talking about. So the way to succeed is not just to persevere but to do so with your eyes wide open and learn to play the game better than anyone. It took me years to pass that real estate exam but once I got it, I was unstoppable. And I wasn’t deluded into believing that it was owed me or that others were there to help me pass it. There wasn’t anyone there to help me pass it. They wanted me to not pass it. Instead, I learned early in that career that the goal of the industry was to keep me out of the loop. But if you break down the issues or the aspect of what you want to learn into small parts, manageable parts, it’s of course, more doable. So as I say, it’s a free blog, it’s a free podcast, inexpensive CDs, downloads, more involved courses, and all of that. And all of that can be broken down and you use each piece as you need it. And if you don’t want to go any further, that’s fine. Unfortunately, the goal of keeping mothers and others out of the loop is not so much for modern medicine but especially pediatrics. Jendi: So I’m getting the impression that you really don’t like pediatrics. Joette: Sorry to say, Jendi, but yes. I’m cross that they have stripped young mothers of their mothering dignity. I believe they teach mothers that they don’t know how to take care of their children without running to the doc for every sniffle and sore throat. I don’t like that they upsell drugs. I don’t like that they dole out antibiotics at every turn. I don’t like that they put little boys on Ritalin. They act too boyish. They don’t want to sit still in school. And they put little girls on birth control pills if they get acne. I don’t like that they send the mothers out of the examining room while they entice, and I mean, yes, entice girls to take birth control pills. I’ve heard far too many stories. I don’t like the whole racket. Jendi: Previously, you have said that to understand how to approach taking your child to the doctor, you need to think of it like a game of chess. Can you elaborate on that? Joette: Yes, sure. Well, you don’t put your queen out on the middle of the board and remove your hand from her. You look around. What will happen next once you make that move? What will your opponent’s posture be? What will they do after you lift your hands from that precious queen? Then what will you do after that? You have to know that. What are you going to do next? You must know the game, and that includes the players, the motives, discerning your goals, and how to move forward. Jendi: So do you intend for us to look at the doctor as an opponent? Joette: What it means is that if you take your child to a doctor for an ear infection, you need to know what he will do about it. If you don’t agree with that move, then why make the first move? Jendi: How do you know what he’ll do? Joette: Well, to be honest, it’s fundamentally the same for everyone. That’s the way I see it. If there’s an infection, you get an antibiotic. If it’s viral in origin, antibiotics are still administered, just in case it turns into a bacterial infection. There seems to be a casual regard about these drugs. If you have an allergic reaction, you give a steroid. If it’s on the skin, it’s smeared. If it’s in the lungs, it’s inhaled. If your child has a cough, it’s suppressed with a suppressant. If it’s a behavioral problem, it’s also suppressed but this time, with psychotropic drugs to numb down the behavior. If it’s a combination of all of these, the child gets all the drugs. But if he doesn’t know what it is, he’ll send you to someone else. There you have it. That’s it in a nutshell. I can’t tell you how many times people tell me they have this inflammation on their skin and they go to the dermatologist and he tells them, “You have dermatitis.” Well, -itis means inflammation of, and derma- means skin. You already know that. That’s why you went there. Why did you need to ask someone else about what it is? He’s just giving you the same words back again but it sounds so, I don’t know, clinical. People are too easily impressed. And if you’re going there just to find out whether there’s an ear infection or a sore throat or not, I’d think, “Hmm, really? You mean, you didn’t know that already?” It’s not difficult to determine if there’s an ear infection, or a urinary tract infection, or a rash, or a fever. If you know what it is and you know that you’ll not submit to an antibiotic and steroids, then why would you go? You can do this yourself. Now, I’m not saying you can just do this yourself without preparation. And I also am not saying you should always avoid the doctor. I want to get that straight. But after a while, it comes into focus that this just isn’t that difficult to figure out yourself for most common childhood illnesses. It’s a matter of a learned skill. Change your way of thinking when it comes to treating common diseasesIf you agree with that thinking, then carry on. But if you don’t, it’s time to make the change and use your head. You learn the top three homeopathic medicines for ear infection. Just know them. Look them up. Look them up on my website, look them up online. Know those top three homeopathic remedies and have them on hand. And then if your child is prone to rashes, then you learn and have the top three homeopathic remedies for rashes. This is not complex. And you learn how to put it all together. It’s a matter of some fascinating reading that you’ll never regret having read and of taking your life on yourself. Not compromising, because compromising always has the potential of bringing you to your mediocre side. Jendi: Can you give us a specific example? Joette: Yes. Let me give you an example of strep throat. Pediatricians believe that strep throat is an automatic call for antibiotics. Why? Because they call to our attention that they can cause rheumatic heart disease. But when you lay their argument alongside the one for not using antibiotics, it begins to break down. Antibiotic use, particularly repetitive use, but sometimes not even repetitive, has been demonstrably shown to cause not just a little bellyache that some little probiotic would remedy, but often causes long-term chronic illness such as eczema, asthma, behavioral issues, even neurological conditions. Really, to fend off strep infection? More importantly, it all sounds like strep is serious. And indeed, it has the potential of being serious. But if you know what to use homeopathically for strep infection, it’s a slam dunk. It is not difficult to treat strep infections with the correct homeopathic medicines. So you see, you need willpower to withstand this kind of thinking, and then have a solution in the wings. You can’t do one without the other. But once this step is taken, the hardest work is done, the kind of self-discipline you will need to stay the course and learn for yourself. Jendi: So how do you see that this fits into our failure theme today? Do you think we all tend to do the mediocre? Joette: Yeah. I think accepting failure is not only somewhat innate in humans but it’s reinforced further with this kind of medicine, for example. What else can we do? We’ve got to accept the antibiotics, do this or that, or know that’s what kids get. So what do you expect? So I guess you just have to do it. Well, my answer is that I expect a medicine to make my family and me, well, not short-term more comfortable only to slam us in the long run for years, if not a lifetime. I’m in this for the long haul. So are you. So are all our listeners. Mothering is a lifelong commitment. My kids are adults now. I’m still just as committed now as I used to be when they were little. Actually, I’ve come to expect that my medicine has a reputation for being curative and it leaves my family in a better stead than when we started. I don’t want something that’s going to beat them up in the long run and is going to cause long-term illness. The human body is equipped with the ability to repair and defend itself against most infections. All it needs is the proper stimulation to activate self-healing. And concurrently, the human will is equipped with the ability to withstand defeat. All it needs is the proper motivation to activate self-mastery. Jendi: So are those your parting words of encouragement for us today? Joette: Now, now, Jendi, you’re always trying to rush me. One last thought. I want to tell you that fail you must. We all must. But to not continue until success is reached is what separates mediocre medicine from mighty medicine, and further, a mediocre mother from a mighty mother. Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com and schedule a free 15-minute conversation. | |||
| Podcast 14 – Question, Defy, Compartmentalize | 31 Aug 2015 | 00:28:53 | |
In this podcast, we cover: 0:59 Question, challenge, defy accepted ideas and practices 6:55 The mother’s role in her child’s life 17:54 Convincing your spouse on the wisdom of using homeopathy 19:48 Joette becoming accomplished in homeopathy 23:17 Arm yourself with knowledge to decide for yourself what’s best for you and your family I realize I am going to receive some staunch differences of opinion regarding this blog for the position I take and the philosophy I espouse, but I offer no apologies. This week I talk about a lifestyle change; one that takes courage. I personally have a set of rules, and have found that if I abide by them, they rarely fail me. Listen to learn about the sense of self-satisfaction you will experience once you understand how to take charge of your family’s health and well-being. With this podcast, I will be introducing a new feature; a full transcription providing more reasons than ever to listen, learn and pass on to others. Warmly, Joette You are listening to a podcast from JoetteCalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. Jendi: Hello, this is Jendi and I’m here once again with Joette Calabrese. Today, we are going to talk about being a mighty mom and grandmom. And I personally love that idea, and I imagine that you, Joette, are not going to be discussing mothers working out and getting rippling muscles, right? Joette: Well, yes and no. And I don’t mean physically working out but I do mean muscles. We’re talking about learning to flex the brain muscle and more importantly, the muscle of the will. Jendi: You mean willpower? Question, challenge, defy accepted ideas and practicesJoette: Yeah, but it sounds a little trite, that term willpower. I want to talk about having guts, spunk, and moxie. And I’ve said this before but I’ll say it again and again, that living this kind of lifestyle takes courage. But I have some rules, and I found that if I abide by them, they rarely fail me. So let me give you some rules. We must defy the practices of our peers. This doesn’t mean you become their foil. It doesn’t mean you forget polite society and bash them down with your ideas. It means you find a way to speak pleasantly and with respect and then direct yourself in your own path. And the second rule is you must question, even challenge, every idea that impacts your family’s health. This most often comes from pediatricians, other doctors, media, and of course, the rest of society that has profited from these ideas emanating from these sources. So this group might come in the form of in-laws and neighbors, too. And then the third rule that I adhere to and I urge others to do is at least question, usually challenge, and in many instances, downright defy. The world is filled with assumptions that are false and it’s up to you to tether your sails and set your family off on a different tack. So the upshot is that you must, and I mean must, set yourself on a path that is directly in conflict with what you see around you. The more you see an idea around you, the more you should resist it. Jendi: That seems a little bit counterintuitive. Joette: Well, the reason that I say this is because I believe most ideas are wrong, or at least, need refining. For example, read the billboards in your locale and whatever they say, do the opposite. Common horse sense is not found on billboards, in magazines, in doctors’ offices, on TV. Instead, those are marketing tools for an entity, either an industry or a government program trying to convince you of something. Jendi: And there is no doubt that the internet has opened up our knowledge base and we can find out several sides of an issue through the internet. Joette: Yes, yes, we can. But it’s useless unless you put it to good use. I know I’ve said this again and again and I’ll do until I have barnacles hanging on me. You must do your homework. You must look up every drug and procedure that a doctor recommends and I guarantee, he has not done this. But you, my friends, will do this because before you put a fragment of any stuff that is derived from an industry in your or your child’s mouth, you must do your homework, or you must submit to a test that is unnecessary. So there’s no doubt that we’re smarter now, we mothers. There it is, all the information we’d ever need, and yet, most people don’t even think about using it to its capacity, I mean, the internet. Not you though. You do your homework. And how do I know this? And I’m not talking just to Jendi. I’m talking to those who are listening. Because I speak to those who follow me every single day. Jendi: And the internet is a wonderful research tool. Joette: Yes, but without the master behind the tools, nothing is possible. So remember, the internet is only a marketing tool for big industry and government. So you must sniff out the answers in coy ways, because we as mothers and grandmothers and those who care for others are the masters of our and our family’s lives, and that takes a certain posture. You have to make a decision. Like if you decide you want to become a lawyer, you have to commit to taking the LSATs and commit to going to law school. I mean, it’s pretty simple. If you decide you want to become a concert pianist, you must pledge to practicing piano for hours daily. It’s that simple. Whatever you want to do, whatever you want to accomplish, it must be chosen, focused upon, and gone after myopically without even a glance back, regardless of others’ opinions. Jendi: And that’s how we all move forward and learn things in any pursuit. Joette: Well, that’s right. And the question always is, “Are we comfortable allowing the current to take us along, or are we made of the stuff that pushes us in the direction we know we ought to follow?” Jendi: I think we all agree that we ought to sometimes buck the system but that can be hard to do when you’re a mom, especially of a little baby or a new mom, and when the doctor tells you to take an antibiotic or something and you don’t know what to do for sure. You might be scared for your child and you just simply do it knowing that the antibiotic is not going to do any better than the last one but not knowing what else to do. Joette: Yes, but you know, it’s only hard to buck the system if you’ve not educated yourself. Once you know better because you’ve done your homework, that gives you confidence. The more you learn, the more confidence you acquire, the firmer your footing, and so on. And more importantly, once you learn how to treat that illness with homeopathy instead of the drug, you gain indelible confidence one illness at a time. Then you become the expert. Jendi: That can be a daunting feat. Joette: Well, Jendi, you and I have these discussions every week, don’t we? But the most satisfying and most important, the reason you’ve become a mother has nothing, and I mean nothing, to do with compliancy and everything to do with your legacy, responsibility, and integrity. The mother’s role in her child’s lifeJendi: Yes. And of course, sometimes doing what you personally think is best can be difficult, especially if your family doesn’t agree, like your in-laws, your friends, or even your spouse. Joette: Okay. Well, let’s talk about spouses. This is a concept that I’ve taken on through the years and I’ve espoused to younger women. It’s most important that your spouse and you share the same philosophy. In fact, it should have been discussed before marriage. The problem is that most marriages occur outside of ill health and it’s often when a sick child comes along that inspires the move to take this on your own. That’s when the spouses must begin a different kind of a journey. Jendi: It’s like no one gives a thought about the kind of healthcare the family is going to practice until something happens. And age comes into play, too, right? Joette: Yes, I believe that’s right. I have a philosophy about parenting and marriage and I see the opposite of this philosophy played out every day, and it’s this. This is my philosophy. Marriage is like a corporation. There are department heads for each division. And each division has its specialty of capabilities – the marketing department, the finance department, the personnel department. They all have their responsibilities and specialties. And each department head is expected to know their craft inside and out to keep up with their craft so that they are always on top of their game. They’re the experts. So let me give you an example. When I worked at a TV station years ago, we had a comptroller who used to hang around the marketing and sales department way too much. I was in marketing and sales. Granted, we were more fun than the pencil pushers in her department, but when she came in for her daily visit, she’d often put her two cents into the way our department was run. What became obvious in no time was that she was out of her element. Her suggestions were off-kilter because she wasn’t a marketing or salesperson. She was a number cruncher. She didn’t live the life daily. She hadn’t read a single book on the subject, nor had she gone to college for it, nor taken a weekend seminar on it. She had nothing but an opinion. Her expertise was in accounting. Now, that was something she could sink her teeth into. Her entire life was spent studying and accruing knowledge on that subject. Jendi: And probably equally as important is the fact that when she was nosing around in your department, she was inadvertently neglecting her own work. Joette: Well, that’s right. It took our department head to finally put a stop to this less-than-welcome daily interference. Jendi: So I think I might know where you’re heading with this with spouses. Joette: Well, if you know, then our listeners will also know, too, I hope. So marriage, yes, of course, is the same. When a woman gets pregnant, everything in her life turns to that, everything she eats, lives, and breathes, everything there is about the baby. She reads constantly. She ponders. She daydreams. She researches about babies’ health, what’s good, what’s bad, what kind of food, supplements, exercise is important. She talks incessantly about it with her friends who have children. She deliberates with her mother and her neighbors, and everyone offers advice and she soaks it all in. She researches all about the baby – birth, wellness, etc., on the internet. She’s consumed by the baby and its wellbeing. What does the father do? He takes on the protective responsibility for his forthcoming family. He works harder to make certain that the finances are in place. He makes certain that the investments he makes have longevity. He gets the house repairs in order, make sure the car is safe, asks his buddies about insurance, then starts researching the best way to protect his new family. It all makes sense. Each parent takes on their roles and often with alacrity and aplomb. And once the baby comes, mom is literally attached to the baby with nursing, staying up at night with every sound. And during her waking hours, she generally is reading or at least, referring to books and sites that will teach her to become a better mom. Dad’s at work making sure the family is provided for. Now, I know we’re going to get rebuttals to this on the blog about how women are perfectly capable of making a living and men are perfectly capable of taking care of children, but I offer no apologies. What I’m describing here is the way it more often falls together than any other. No matter how capable the woman was before the baby, she could be the comptroller of a Fortune 500 corporation, once that baby arrives, she changes in a profound way. It’s pure biology. She wants to be with her child as much as possible, all day, all night. And suddenly, the career she strove for for decades seems trite. Am I describing all women? No, but I believe it’s the majority of them. And this is one of my major complaints with Western lifestyles that women rarely factor in marriage and babies into their plans. It becomes a distant event that isn’t in the least bit focused upon in their teens and 20s and, of course, in college. But I divert here. This pet peeve of mine is something that is a subject for another blog. Jendi: I hadn’t thought about that much before now but I think colleges don’t really talk about marriage or motherhood, the two big M words. Joette: Right, yeah. It’s approached like a side dish of scalloped potatoes or something instead of the main dish of pot roast that actually is in many a woman’s life. So let’s get back to marriage as a corporation theory. So when the roof leaks, the dad usually swings into gear and talks to his buddies. He checks out roof products online. He decides what kind of tiles he should replace them with. Or he calls around for contractors. He’s the buildings and grounds department head. When the mortgage rates go down, it’s usually the dad who has done his research to find out if a better rate can be secured and then goes at it. He becomes the buildings and ground department head and the comptroller. So when baby gets an ear infection and mom wants to use essential oils, homeopathy, or whatever and not subject the baby to an antibiotic because she has studied the possibilities for many months, if not years, she has made herself into an expert, just like the dad making him into the family expert on his subjects. So even if she has not researched, her hormones dictate in most cases she’s best suited for taking care of the ills of the children – the food they eat, the nutrition they take in daily, and the nightly care. After all, who does the grocery shopping? Who’s preparing the meals? In most cases, she’s best suited for the job as he is for his. And so mom becomes the personnel department and health and welfare. Jendi: And that’s a very traditional position to put out on the internet and I think it’s a good position but I’m sure you’re going to get some disagreements in your comments on the blog. Joette: Oh, I couldn’t care less. Being politically correct is not only not my concern but it’s so passé. I call it ever so ‘90s. And this is 2015, for crying out loud. We have learned something since then. Society needs to get with the program as far as I’m concerned. This is not your women study class here. This is biology, something that’s been conspicuously missing from those angry classes in the first place. I remember those women studies classes. I took them back in the ‘70s, and nothing has changed. This is the real world. When was the last time you met a lactating father, for crying out loud? Jendi: I don’t think I ever met one and I don’t think I ever will. Joette: I hope not. So when dad spends hours researching the roof tile and decides to take time with his buddies in the industry or his father about vapor barriers and he concludes that he’ll do this or that with the roof, and then if mom chimes in and says, “Hmm, I don’t think that’s what we ought to do,” she’s sticking her nose into the buildings and grounds department’s decision without the requisite research, inclination, and effort it takes to make a good decision. And if she gets too involved, then her health and welfare department suffers, too. Jendi: Yes. And I think an argument would be that the child does belong to both of them. Doesn’t the father have the right to ask questions? Joette: Well, certainly. If his understanding is unclear though, if it hasn’t been fleshed out by his own research and study, then it’s terribly inefficient and undermines the ability of the health and welfare department’s confidence. And certainly, both can study together. But asking both to do the same work twice seems a little bit of a waste of precious time, and time is of the essence. It’s an important commodity in a family. And when you’re running a corporation, or more importantly, a family, productivity, effectiveness, and efficiency matters. For if not there, then where else would it matter? It all starts with the family. In fact, everything starts with the family. Family is the team. And an extra quarterback is not only superfluous, it’s conflicting to the success of that team. Jendi: So you were actually using nice words to say that the father should just butt out. Joette: Well, not actually butt out but he needs to trust his wife. Isn’t that why he married her, because he trusts her and holds her in high regard? Well, of course, all bets are off that this is not the state of the marriage, but it certainly is the goal of a good marriage. Jendi: So basically, what you’re saying is that when the mom spends hours, weeks, years learning how to treat a fever without drugs, or how to implement her knowledge in using homeopathy or any other method for that matter, the dad ought to step back and trust her. Joette: Well, yes, unless she’s incompetent, completely incompetent. He needs to bow to her knowledge and dedication. That leaves him to pursue his areas of expertise. And that’s what makes a marriage whole and efficient, as far as I’m concerned. Jendi: Can it be the other way around? Can the father take over the healthcare role? Joette: Well, certainly. And after teaching homeopathy for 30 years to thousands of students, I have to admit, however, that in my recollection, I’ve had maybe five men join in my classes. Online, we have tens of thousands of social media correspondences and the same holds true there as well. I’ve learned that women are more interested in taking this job seriously and are better at nurturing while men are generally better at protecting. And yes, it’s certainly a generalization but I don’t for a minute think that it’s our culture to blame. Instead, I see, as I said earlier, that it’s human biology. That’s why I believe this pattern spans across the globe. Convincing your spouse on the wisdom of using homeopathyJendi: What about if the father is worried, really worried about counting on homeopathy or nutrition or essential oils? Joette: Well, I have an answer that includes two parts of this. The first part is that if it is a concern, he needs to do his own homework then, like what his wife did, and to the same extent. He needs to spend hours daily thinking about it, looking up solutions, calling friends, just like what she did, taking the kids to the chiropractor or the doctor, talking to school administrators, asking his mother and grandmother for advice. Jendi: So do you have much faith in this happening? Joette: No, I haven’t. I can pretty much guarantee that that’s not going to happen. I mean, it does occasionally, but generally speaking, not to the same degree. In my experience, the best way for men to catch up with enough information so that they can let go and let their wives do the job at hand, instead of asking them to read books, I’ve learned through the years that they won’t do it, so the alternative, the fastest way to get him up to enough speed that he gets what the mom wants him to get, is for the mom to amass videos on the subject, then you barter with them. So from one mother to another, I’ll let you in on a little secret. You make a big batch of popcorn, whisper sweet nothings in his ear, and promise him the world if he’ll sit through the video and the subject at hand, a video of, say, the value of homeopathy, the importance of nutrition. That is the way to get men to learn. Jendi: That sounds like a big project. Joette: Yeah. And what in life has any value that doesn’t have a big commitment attached to it? I can think of nothing that comes easy in life that’s of any value. It takes a vow to be the best we can be. Jendi: And also, if he has a long commute, he might be interested in listening to some podcasts. Joette: That’s right. And why not this one? Joette becoming accomplished in homeopathyJendi: So can you give us a peek into how you became accomplished in homeopathy? Joette: Well, I’m an accomplishment freak. I want to learn more. I always want to know more. I want to experience more. At first, when my first child was an infant, I already knew how to make many foods from scratch. It was my interest since my early 20s. But then, I wanted to know how to find wild foods on my property, how to make herbal medicines, how to find the most nutrient dense foods available for the least amount of money. It was like a game. It became a compulsion, kind of an inner competition. And my pregnancies and births thrust me forward into an even higher gear. So then, once I learned of the power of homeopathy, I wanted to know how to treat every little problem my baby might suffer. I wanted to know how to treat first aid with homeopathy, infections with homeopathy, emotional and mental conditions with homeopathy. I wanted to be the expert. I did not want a condescending pediatrician telling me what to do. I kicked my mothering act up a notch. So I want to know every homeopathic medicine for every ill. That’s why even today with my kids grown and out of our home and now in my ‘60s, I travel to India where homeopathy is used as a mainstay of medicine. In fact, I’m going there again in about a month and a half. Jendi: And I think this is what many of us mothers think but we wonder how to get it all done. Like for me, I have a book on it and I know stuff on your website and then it’s just hard to cram it in to my schedule. And also, I wonder what others are going to think about this. Joette: Right. Well, when you become a mother, and even if you never do, and you’re taking care of others, animals, livestock, etc., but most importantly when you become the caregiver, you must not care what others think. That’s the first thing. I decided a while ago that I don’t care about what kind of an opinion others have about me. Some women say this happens in menopause or after menopause. I actually think it happened even earlier in my life. So if you don’t agree with my position on medicine or traditional values about how to take care of a family, the importance of a mother being at home to take care of her children, about the importance of going to church or synagogue, I couldn’t care less. And I don’t mind if that causes us to part ways. In fact, it’s even better that way. Each person needs to find their path. But my posture is arrow pointed in one direction – the importance of the family and of the mother being the nucleus of the child’s and family’s healthcare. And accomplishing that goal is after all I’ve examined can’t be done fully if you depend on large companies to make decisions for you, and a reminder that that’s what using drugs is all about. It’s a fierce and mighty instinct in me and in all of us. I’m not alone. Most mothers and grandmothers come equipped with it naturally, but they need to beware because there are factions that are perfectly happy allowing mothering and grandparenting to become a spectator’s sport, of allowing mothering to take on a mediocre hue. Jendi: It sounds like you would like to change the world. Joette: Well, a girl can dream, I guess. Jendi: Lots of food for thought there. I guess this is across the board with many industries, right? Arm yourself with knowledge to decide for yourself what’s best for you and your familyJoette: Well, when we follow the road of least resistance and we just say, “Well, I don’t have time and I can’t do this,” then we’re just going to follow along with an industry that calls us something in particular – customers for an industry, whichever industry is behind it, the education industry, the medical industry, the food industry. Don’t think, folks, for a minute that someone hasn’t thought through every decision you make for your family and self and determine the best way to get you to comply to their ways of persuasion. That’s what Madison Avenue is all about. I know because I’ve been in the world of marketing. And how often you get your child a flu shot is orchestrated down to the month – what the doctor says if you don’t comply, the demeanor he takes on, the nurse’s attitudes when you resist. It’s orchestrated. And by the way, it’s orchestrated using human emotions. Guilt and fear are the most powerful emotions when it comes to parenting. Watch carefully. Observe. Once you discover this, you’ll see it being used again and again. Jendi: If we think about it, we all know that this is the way things are. Do you really think this is the essence of how humans behave? Joette: Well, we must understand that rarely are people and entities out there protecting your interest. People can be nice but they’re protecting their own interests. So as soon as I hear that this or that is for the sake of “the children”, I prick up my ears. The words “the children” are used in marketing campaigns and educational schemes that have nothing whatsoever to do with the welfare of children. Jendi: So if we hear the word children, we naturally kind of join in the empathy? Joette: Yeah. You can’t help yourself. It’s a powerful word. I’ll never forget a friend reporting to me years ago that when she was in labor with her first child, and she was in labor for several hours, that her smarmy doctor was pressuring her to allow him to chemically induce her, and she was resisting it. Finally, he said, “Do you want this baby or not?” What? What kind of a thing is that to say to a mother in labor? What possible meaning was behind that? Guilt for not wanting the baby to be born? This was the guy that all my friends went to for their births. They all thought he was the bee’s knees. Can anyone imagine that? That is beyond depressing. Jendi: And if I were a paranoid person, I’d say it almost sounds like a conspiracy. Joette: No. I’ll be honest, Jendi. I don’t believe it’s a conspiracy. I might add that this has nothing to do with capitalism, too, and everything to do with human nature at its worst. The same behavior is witnessed, only to even a worse degree, in Cuba – I’ve said this before – and the Soviet Union and China. Don’t think for a single minute that it’s better somewhere else. Government officials are usually worse in these situations than those in the free market because they don’t need to satisfy customers. And with government rules and mandates, we haven’t any choices. You can, however, decline to take the antibiotic or whatever is being encouraged or sold to you. Jendi: So to wrap up this podcast, can you give us maybe some encouragement? Joette: Yes. I don’t want to leave us on a down because it sounds a little sad. Instead, I want to encourage everyone. Allow me to share information that I’ve gleaned by being in full-time practice for 20 years, and from studying homeopathy for 29, and from traveling all over the US and Canada and to India to build my knowledge base. I offer a lot of information on homeopathy and how to use it for free. And yes, I also sell courses for those who want to delve deeper. But I urge you to take advantage of my free information as often as you need it on this blog. So my closing words are this: Don’t engage in average anything – mediocre movies, mediocre literature, unexceptional magazines, one-of-the-mill medicine, unremarkable food, conformist conduct. Low-level anything is an act of compliancy, compliancy with our innate laziness which, by the way, we all possess, compliancy with our low-level anything. Instead, pursue the good. And I want to read this in our final words here, the great words found in Philippians. It says, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Jendi: And those words are great words to live by. Thank you so much, Joette. Joette: My thanks to you, too, Jendi. Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com and schedule a free 15-minute conversation. Interested in learning more practical, proven protocols for women’s health? Well, you are in luck! My popular course,Feminopathy: How you Can Correct Female Ailments Using Save, Inexpensive and Effective Homeopathy, is ON SALE through Mother’s Day! Order now and get additional freebies: http://feminopathy.joettecalabrese.com/mothers-day/ | |||
| Podcast 13 – Why Homeopathy Trumps ‘Em All | 14 Jun 2015 | 00:29:34 | |
In this podcast, we cover: 1:35 Acute vs. chronic conditions 6:58 Drugs are antithetical to true health 16:10 Drugs suppress while homeopathy cures for the long-term 23:16 Rousing the sleeping giant 24:13 Learn homeopathy to cure diseases Just last week on the phone, Skype and through emails, I met and spoke with over 80 people in my practice. What I heard from mostly moms and grand moms is that they have used homeopathy for their family’s illnesses from their collection of homeopathy books they’ve purchased from health food stores and online, but they can’t seem to treat the eczema their son or grandson has. They can’t seem to get a grip on food intolerances or chronic constipation, arthritis, asthma, ovarian cystic disease, or severe acne etc., because they can’t find anything on these chronic conditions. In this week’s Podcast I can tell you why and more…
It’s not good enough to strive to be the best in the world, you must be the best FOR the world. Join me and change your world first, then the rest by spreading the message. Warmly, Joette You are listening to a podcast from JoetteCalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. Jendi: Hello! This is Jendi and I am here with Joette Calabrese and today, we’re going to talk about acute versus chronic. Hello, Joette! How are you? Joette: Hi, Jendi! I’m well. Jendi: I know you talk about this a lot and we talked about it in some of the previous podcasts but why does acute versus chronic matter so much? Joette: Well, let me step back a little bit. Just this past week, I’ve had a very busy week on Skype and emails and on the phone. I met with over 80 people in my practice. And what I hear from mostly moms and grandmoms is that they have used homeopathy for their family’s illnesses from their cadre of homeopathy books and courses they’ve taken that they found maybe at health food stores, etc., and online, but they can’t get to the eczema their son has. They can’t seem to get a grip on food intolerances or chronic constipation, arthritis, asthma, ovarian cyst disease, acne, etc. They can’t find any of these conditions. And, why not, they ask. Jendi: Yeah, why not? I hate to ask you this but is it because homeopathy doesn’t help in those conditions?
Acute vs. chronic conditions Joette: No, no, not at all, a resounding no. In fact, it’s these very conditions that homeopathy does its best work. It’s because in homeopathy, and all medicine for that matter, we categorize conditions into two main classes, but especially in homeopathy because it’s so perfect. First is acute and second is chronic. Those are the two main classes. And the difference is noteworthy. In fact, it’s downright vital. So in classical homeopathy, which is not what we’re talking about here, we are taught that an untrained homeopath can cure her family herself when it comes to acutes. But it requires years and years of study to be able to cure a chronic condition. Jendi: So in case someone doesn’t understand, can you give me an example of a chronic and an acute condition? Joette: Yes. Let’s start out with that. So acutes are illnesses that have a natural beginning and a natural end. They end. They are usually short lived, but not necessarily. They can last for weeks, months, but generally, they’re short lived, and they show a great deal of vitality. If you have the flu or strep throat infection, there’s a great deal of fanfare that accompanies it. The body gets super hot with fever, perhaps there’s vomiting. There might be weakness. Especially with the flu, we might even see depression. But this is the big distinguisher – you know it will go away at some point. Flu doesn’t stick with us forever. It resolves or you die. But it’s not going to last for years. By the way, acute conditions don’t always resolve. I want to make that point. Death can be the outcome. So otitis media, conjunctivitis, strep throat, lacerations, bug bites, injuries, they begin and you know that you won’t have that bug bite or laceration forever or even a few years, right? Jendi: For most bug bites. In this area, we have a lot of Lyme disease, so I’m not sure about that one. Joette: Well, that’s right. Lyme disease is a little different. Sometimes an acute or short-lived show of symptoms such as a bug bite can turn into a chronic condition, and that’s precisely what we’re going to talk about today. Jendi: So that’s the acute conditions. Can you tell us about chronic conditions? Joette: Yes. So with most chronic conditions, it often shows a lower level of presentation. So it’s not screaming-in-the-bed illness necessarily like a flu would cause but it’s in a lower level and it’s pretty much forever. And this is key: It doesn’t go away. Jendi: So like people assume with allergies. Joette: That’s right, exactly. But let me set the stage first. We’re all made from DNA. No matter what your politics are, the bottom line is that at the moment of conception, that blessed moment – sorry, I had to toss that in – the DNA is mixed between the mother and father – dad’s blue eyes along with his anxiety attacks, mother’s propensity for rashes, his grandfather’s over affection for alcohol, and we haven’t even gotten to the full extent of the entire family yet. So does this mean that the baby will be hampered with all these maladies? Of course not. But they are lurking in the background like a sleeping giant. The sleeping giant can be poked at and taunted, so beware. It can be roused. And we want to do whatever we can to not have to face this monster. Jendi: And most people say that we should eat well and live a healthy life, right? Joette: Yes, but that’s too vague an answer, as far as I’m concerned. That’s a woman’s magazine answer. Living a healthy life is meaningless if you’ve got the idea that that means eating a low-fat diet and submitting to mammograms every year. Jendi: So what does it mean to you? Joette: Well, what it means to me is that we want to minimize shocks to the system. What are they? Well, shocks are inevitable – the loss of a loved one, financial loss, plus those are psychological shocks, an automobile accident, a severe bout of bronchitis, terrorist acts. That’s the stuff that brings us down to a lower level. Modern day doctors talk about stress all the time but they miss one important piece, and that is that the medical methods they themselves employ are often the stressor. By medical methods, I mean drugs, medicaments, invasive tests, surgery, vaccinations. These are the stressors and I use the term lightly here, but this is what rouses the sleeping giant. It stimulates the weak link in our DNA. And what comes up is what is related to us and what’s in our family tree. Jendi: The first thing that comes to my mind is I know a lady that was just fine until her son died and now, she has a bad nerve disease or condition. And that kind of explains that or how some people say they were fine until their dog died or they lost their job. Joette: Right, right, and those are psychological. Yes, and then chronic problems set in – chronic fatigue, eczema, arthritis, chemical sensitivities. But mind you, the most common shocks to the system is pollution. Jendi: And most people think of pollution as acid rain and pesticides on our food, right?
Drugs are antithetical to true health Joette: Well, certainly, we need to stay clear of those kinds of poisons. Of course. And that’s practical. But more importantly, the poisons we put in our mouths daily. Now, I know I’m going to turn a certain number of people off by saying this, but I view all meds, drugs, and such as poisons, because they are. Drugs, no matter their value, what they were intended to be used for, they were never truly intended for mankind to ingest or smear on. They are antithetical to true health. Jendi: So that statement is pretty extreme. Can you explain it a little more? Joette: Yes, certainly. All poisons come with a label, a warning that this or that will happen on taking such. Have you ever read the inserts on the side effects of drugs, any drug including aspirin, Tylenol, birth control pills? Have you ever looked online what could happen to you if you take an over-the-counter or prescribed drug? As far as I’m concerned, it reads like rat poisoning. It warns us that it can cause hearing loss, bleeding, fetal damage, rashes, loss of normal vision, diarrhea, anxiety, convulsions, and my all-time favorite, death. I wouldn’t wish this on a rat. Well, maybe I would but not my child or my husband, my parents, my brother, certainly not. So why do people take these drugs? Why do we even consider these? These are the questions that I always wonder about. There are a couple of reasons. Number one, because their doctor told them to do so. And most folks have a long umbilical cord still attached looking for someone to plug it into. I don’t mean to be rude or unkind but we humans look to others for our answers. And certainly, that is a prudent thing to do to a certain extent but we must be certain that what we plug into is the correct socket. Jendi: So what’s number two? Joette: The second reason, I believe, is because they think there’s no other way. Once the doctor says, “Here, take this,” they say to themselves, “Well, I don’t really want to take drugs.” I mean, everyone tells me, “I don’t want to take drugs.” That is how they open practically every appointment I’ve ever booked. “I don’t want to take drugs, but what else can I do? I must do something.” And so they submit. And number three is because they don’t think the side effects will really affect them. It’s that old “That will never happen to me” attitude. But I have to say they’re wrong. I was wrong when I counted on drugs and others who still depend on them are also wrong. And what’s more, the long-term effects are the worst part and are never spoken of. Remember the sleeping giant now. These long-term effects are only noticed by the sufferers, not the drug companies who publish the studies. They often happen too long after and sometimes people don’t even recognize that that drug five years ago caused this gut dysbiosis today. Jendi: So I’m wondering if you have an example or possibly even a story for us. Joette: Well, I’ll give you a personal and very sad example of a short-term side effect. I had an aunt who I was very close to. She was my godmother. She sprained her ankle and went to the doctor to see if it was broken. I wish she had called me. I mean, I talk to her pretty frequently, maybe once, twice a week for years. And she didn’t call me about this, probably because she thought I was too busy. She always said that. So she went to the doctor. The ankle was not broken. Which was a prudent thing to do. She should know if it’s broken, certainly. And the doctor gave her a pain reliever. What he gave her was Darvon. But what happened was that night, she took the Darvon and died from Darvon poisoning. Now, how do we know that it was Darvon poisoning? Well, they told us that the cause of death was heart attack. And just about a week or two before she had taken this, had had this incident, she went to the doctor and they checked her heart and they said her heart was fine. She never had any heart trouble at all. And she had never had any illness in relationship to going unconscious or strokes or anything like that. So interestingly when I researched this incident with Darvon, I mean, it was the first thing we thought of because the Darvon pills were right by her bedside and that’s all she had taken. She wasn’t taking any other meds, by the way. She wasn’t being treated for anything else. She had some arthritis years previous but I had pretty much worked that out with her with homeopathy and she wasn’t suffering from that any longer. I went online and checked out what was going on with Darvon. There’s a lot of information on Darvon. And the gist of the story about Darvon is that it causes heart attacks in people without a history of cardiac arrest. So my aunt passed away as a direct result of taking a painkiller for a sprained ankle. Now, this is not uncommon. Let me tell you, I hear these stories all the time. And I come from a big, fat, Italian family. And I’m not going to go through all of my other cousins and aunts and uncles who have been affected by these drugs, but I’ve watched it through the years, and I am suspicious of all drugs. That’s just now the way I [unintelligible – 00:12:26] myself in life. Jendi: That is so sad. Joette: It was sad. It was very sad. It lets you think that drugs that are harmful are taken off the market. Certainly, there’s all this hullabaloo about Darvon causing these problems. The drug my aunt took was cheerfully placed and did swimmingly well since 1957. It’s been on the market for as long as I’ve been alive and then some. So you know how you have to be mindful and a little suspicious when choosing your kitchen contractor and when buying a used car? Well, that’s nothing, folks. Caveat emptor. Buyer beware when it comes to your medicine. There’s nothing more personal than your body. Who cares if your cabinets turn out to be cheap particle board or if your car is a lemon? But when it’s your body and mind, you better consider it sacred because no one else is watching over you. Jendi: But Joette, most people believe that the FDA or the Food and Drug Agency in our United States is there to protect us and why can’t we count on them? Joette: Well, Dr. Herbert Ley was an American physician and the 9th Commissioner and head of the US Food and Drug Administration back in the 1960s. And this is a direct quote from him, “The thing that bugs me is that people think the FDA is protecting them. It isn’t. What the FDA is doing and what the public thinks it’s doing are as different as night and day.” So by the way, as I said, this was not just any old, ordinary doctor. He was a Harvard graduate. He was an undergraduate in medical school. This man was very bright and capable. So I urge people to take heed. Jendi: So what is the FDA doing then if they’re not there to protect us? Joette: Well, I don’t want to spend too much time on this subject because it’s a vast one. But consumers, like my Aunt Mary, for example, don’t have lobbying power. The FDA doesn’t even know my Aunt Mary or how she died, but I guarantee that they know the lobbyist from the pharmaceutical industry that produces that drug. I’ll bet they just had lunch with them in Georgetown’s most fashionable French restaurant just last week in DC. So who do you think is going to get the ear of the FDA official, the guy who’s picking up the $200 lunch tab or my Aunt Mary’s relatives?
Jendi: Yeah. Unfortunately, money talks loud. Joette: Yes, it does. We always say that it’s greed but we are talking about human foibles. It’s not just our country. It’s all over the world. It’s everyone. It’s in the Soviet Union. It’s in Cuba. It’s not just capitalist countries, for goodness sakes. It’s about human behavior. So we have to understand that. So that’s why it’s so important that if you’re going to choose a medicine, you better choose it wisely. But let’s get back on track. I want to give our listeners concrete, practical, common sense help here. So let’s get back to acute versus chronic, shall we? My Aunt Mary had an acute problem. Her ankle wasn’t going to be sprained forever. It would have healed. And I certainly recognize that this is an extreme situation and that women take birth control pills, for example, for years without dying from blood clots. But remember what I said about the sleeping giant. Well, the weakest link in the person’s DNA is usually what is weakened further. I can’t emphasize that enough.
Drugs suppress while homeopathy cures for the long-term Jendi: So what should we do when somebody gets sick? Do we just try to live with it? Joette: Oh, that’s a good point, Jendi. In many cases, the answer is an unquestionable yes. There’s nothing wrong with a fever and a child’s illness. What’s wrong with it is the mother’s lack of knowledge of the subject. That’s what needs to be changed. She doesn’t know that a fever in normal childhood illness is curative. It’s what cooks off the infection. And by suppressing it, even with a warm bath, it’s not in the best interest of the child. Okay, maybe for now the discomfort from the fever is addressed by giving them Tylenol or something, but it isn’t in the long run. And isn’t that what we’re aiming for, is the long run? We’re not raising our kids for the next week. We’re raising them into adulthood. Isn’t that why we make soup for dinner instead of a quick fix or brand-name cookies and Kool-Aid? We’re in this for the long haul so we have to know what will affect our family, our children in the future. Jendi: So if they are in terrible pain from an ear infection or something, does that in itself cause stress on the system like we talked about earlier? Joette: Well, yeah, I have an answer for that and I believe I have the answer. And that, of course, is homeopathy. What homeopathy has to offer is a way to stay away from the drugs. Look, before I found homeopathy, I studied essential oils. Before that, I studied herbs. Before that, it was vitamins. I recognized that these tools have value but homeopathy trumps them all. So for my Aunt Mary, for example, the solution was ironically only about 15 feet away from where she passed away. The solution was in her medicine cabinet. It was her homeopathy kit that I had given her as a Christmas present years prior. What happened here is that my aunt went to the doctor to see if her ankle was fractured. Good plan. That’s decent. That’s a good thing to do. Of course we need a diagnosis. If we don’t have the knowledge, certainly we need to know that. But as soon as it was determined that it was a sprain and that she was in pain, the prescription pad was whipped out and off she went to the pharmacy. So what remedy would have made the difference for my aunt, would have saved her life? It would have been Arnica montana 200 every few minutes. And as soon as the pain had subsided, that’s when she would have stopped taking it. If the pain had been horrendous, really severe where she was crying out from it, then we might use Arnica 1M or Hypericum 1M every few minutes until the pain subsided. It would have been completely effective and most importantly, safe. And even more importantly, it certainly would not have caused long-term effects, in my aunt’s case, death. So let me give you an example of how this works. Just the other night, I was pulling out a frozen chicken from the top shelf of my freezer and it fell out and landed directly on my three toes. I had no shoes on. I was barefoot and at the time that it happened, the pain was so extreme, I felt nauseous and woozy from it. I was certain I had broken at least one toe. The pain was pretty high on the pain scale and I screamed out and my husband ran to me with a bottle of – he knows what to use – Hypericum 1M. And quickly, between my screeches, popped a dose of it into my mouth. Within three minutes or so, something like that, the pain went from a screaming, horrendous 10 to about a 6. And not long after that, maybe another 10 minutes, it completely went away. But it came back 20 minutes later or so. So guess what? Jendi: Oh, I’m sure you called the doctor to schedule an x-ray and prescribe a painkiller. Joette: Oh, Jendi, you’re so funny. I took Hypericum 1M again. And the whole incident was over. Today, my toes are a lovely hue. This was just a few days ago. It’s kind of a bright azure with a touch of blackish green but I have no pain after that second dose. Let me also mention this. Toes, if they were broken, there’s not much that can be done, at least not that I’m aware of. So I didn’t need to know whether or not they were broken. Had it been something like my ankle or tibia or a wrist or something, then I might have gone to have an x-ray to find out whether or not it was broken and then I would have treated it homeopathically. But for the child with a painful ear infection, the remedy would have been one of two or three remedies. Sot it might have been, for example, belladonna, if the pain was absolutely over the top and it was accompanied by a very high fever of, say, 105. Or another remedy choice might have been chamomilla 200 if the child was angry and teething. And if none of these, then Hepar sulph 30 or 200. How hard is this? Now, for those who are new, these words are all Latin to them because that is what they are. They’re all Latin words. But it doesn’t take much to learn this. I mean, I teach this on my blog for free regularly. I also teach it in my courses should you want to go that far. There’s no need to go crying to the doctor’s office and waiting until someone calls you in, no visits to the ER to catch the bug du jour while you’re sitting in the chairs that are rarely scrubbed down, to the doctors for a prescription, no need for a copay, only a bottle of homeopathy that costs about – get this – about $2.50 if you want a homeopathy kit, and about $12 if you buy it at your health food store one at a time or online. Jendi: It really sounds like a no-brainer. Joette: It is a no-brainer. And that is my message. You can cure your family yourself, folks, and that’s what I did and there’s no reason you can’t either. So I want to remind people, I teach this all the time, that in Greek, symptom means sign. So we actually consider the symptoms or signs of a condition or an illness to be gifts. Jendi: Gifts. Wow. That’s hard to accept when a symptom is pain or anxiety or something like that. Joette: Well, certainly. But remember, a headache is not just a headache. It means that something else is happening on a deeper level. It can mean allergies, sinus inflammation. It can mean change from barometric pressure changes in the weather, or hormone imbalances, or gut dysbiosis. It could also mean more serious underlying conditions as well, of course. So to throw a drug at it is not only imprudent, I think it’s downright archaic. Unless, of course, you don’t mind living for the now and don’t give a care about the future.
Rousing the sleeping giant Jendi: So what you’re saying is that if you know how to cure an acute cold, menstrual cramps, otitis media, strep throat, etc., then later in life, you’ll not bring out the weakest link that is in your family bloodline.
Joette: You’ve got it. If dad was prone to eczema and depression and mama’s prone to depression and the child is given an antibiotic, what do you suppose will happen? It will likely turn into eczema or depression. Now, I don’t mean to oversimplify it but think about it. If the sleeping giant is roused, he’s not going to present with toenail fungus because that’s not found in the family. So if you look at the list of side effects from these drugs, you better look at those that are already in your family. So when the pediatrician blames your DNA, he’s partially correct. The part he doesn’t get is that it’s the drugs he prescribes that cause the DNA to weaken.
Learn homeopathy to cure diseases Jendi: So what happens if the chronic condition is already well established? Did we lose our opportunity for good health? Joette: Good question. No, no, no, no. This is also where homeopathy comes in. Remember, modern medicine treats symptoms. And when we suppress the symptom, we cause a more deepening of the condition. So a little eczema will often result in asthma later if it’s been suppressed. That’s not a coincidence. As you suppress the skin condition with a steroid or such, it will cause the pathology in a more vital organ to become ill. Jendi: So the eczema moves inward like into the lungs? Joette: Yes. Well, it’s not actually eczema itself. The pathology has been driven deeper. The skin clears up but now the lungs, a more important and vital organ that when ill can cause much more serious illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis, or pneumonia, is now what we have at hand. Jendi: But everyone just goes and takes drugs, don’t they? Joette: Yeah, pretty much. I want to remind you that I, too, believed in that drug paradigm and certainly took my share of meds but I’m a reformed medical drug taker. As you know, that makes me a zealot. I’m happy to be considered one, by the way. So now, instead of living with a continuation of the ills that drugs were supposed to eliminate and the side effects that I suffered from my lack of knowledge and the long-term effects that brought out my family’s worst traits in me, I teach folks how to treat even chronic conditions. So that’s a big part of the message that you’ll not find anywhere else. And that’s an answer that I did not answer earlier to your question. Unless I’m unaware of this, I don’t know anyone else who’s teaching homeopathy for chronics. And if you are thinking of going to homeopathy school, by all means, that’s where you would learn this in more depth. And I certainly hope that you would do that. But if you already have a full life and a family to raise, it’s not practical to go to homeopathy school. That’s why I teach practical homeopathy for chronic conditions to moms and grandmoms. I use the Banerji protocols as well as my own protocols that I’ve learned through the years and that other homeopaths will admit that they as well have, and I can get this information out very easily because they’re protocols. And I often give it away for free on my blog every week. I teach as much in depth on my online courses and CDs and guides as I possibly can but I still love to give it away for free on my blog. Jendi: So the upshot is that you need to cure your family yourself when an acute condition comes along but if you are already stuck with a chronic condition, don’t worry about it. Homeopathy can help root it out, right? Joette: Yes, yes, but I also want to point out that acute moves exceedingly fast using homeopathy, not unlike my toe injury. But with chronic conditions, it can take months. I always say one step forward and a half step back when we’re dealing with a chronic condition. So if a child is screaming with an ear infection and a fever and you give belladonna or chamomilla, then you’re going to see a change probably after the first, second, or third, maybe even the fourth dose of the remedy given every several minutes or so, every 30 minutes or so. And that will likely be the end of it. It could happen the next day, it could come back again and you start again, use the remedies and it’s over with. That’s pretty fast. That’s a great response. But with chronic, it can take many, many months, slow and steady until the chronic condition is uprooted and the person can get back to taking care of others in her family instead. Jendi: So I think I’ve got it. I need to make sure I have the information on how to deal with infections like flu, sore throat, injuries, etc., so that I won’t have to say I have to do something and go get drugs. Joette: That’s right. I don’t want to leave our listeners with the idea that drugs are never useful, however. Certainly, first I’d say if someone is already on a medication, it would be very imprudent to simply hop off and there are times when all that will do is withdrawal. But I must add that this is the part that most don’t understand. There is always a risk and it must be evaluated in relationship to the benefits. Jendi: I understand that. Joette: So here’s my motto: Cure an acute, a true cure with homeopathy, and avoid a chronic. Suppress an acute and cause a chronic. Jendi: That’s a great motto. Thank you so much, Joette. Joette: Yes, thank you, Jendi. I just want to leave with one last message and that is it’s not good enough to just strive to be the best in the world. You must be the best for the world. Join me and change your world first and then the rest by spreading the message.
Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com and schedule a free 15-minute conversation. | |||
| Podcast 12 – Why You May Be Disillusioned With Homeopathy | 23 Apr 2015 | 00:26:53 | |
In this podcast, we cover: 0:36 Keep copious notes for future reference 9:13 Antibiotics act like a bulldozer 10:59 Always compare using previous notes 14:56 Joette’s headaches and how she got rid of them permanently 24:47 Pass on the knowledge and help others Once they are over, we humans don’t generally ponder all of our previous sufferings. Soon we let them go, otherwise we’d be doomed to chronic thoughts of misery. Hence, it is the duty of the homeopath/mom to keep careful notes. This is the only way clear comparisons between past and current symptoms can be drawn when assessing a chronic condition. Without this information, you might be tempted to think (on the sufferer’s recall) that the remedy did not work. And this could lead to premature abandonment of the remedy that simply wasn’t used long enough. This ability to draw clear comparisons of the symptom picture is vital. For this is where too many people become disillusioned with homeopathy because they don’t understand that it often takes time for a remedy to fully act. There is a practical way to approach this and how to interpret the remaining symptoms that I teach it in my classes. One story I tell in this podcast is a personal one. Learn the remedy Kali bichromium 30 that cured my chronic, sinus headache. Over 25 years ago…and never returned. You are listening to a podcast from JoetteCalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. Jendi: Hello! This is Jendi and I am here with Joette Calabrese, and today, she has a story for us about a homeopathy cure. Is that right? Joette: That’s my plan. Yup. Jendi: I like to hear a good story. What do you have for us? Keep copious notes for future reference Joette: Well, I could write a book on the subject of cures from using homeopathic medicine and I could actually author volumes on this subject of how and when homeopathy works when all else has failed. I actually had forgotten about the one I’m going to relate today because it was a personal suffering that was so old. We humans don’t generally ponder all of our sufferings. We let them go. Otherwise, we’re basically doomed to chronic thoughts of misery and that’s not a good human condition. Jendi: Yeah, I understand that and I think it’s probably a good thing that we don’t remember all the sufferings. Joette: Yeah. And it’s not only so in forgetting these kinds of sufferings. It’s demonstrable. So before I begin my story, let me share with everyone what I witness every day. And although it may at the onset seem an uninteresting fact, it holds a great deal of information for those who are using homeopathy. So I’d actually like to share a little something on that particular subject, the subject of memory. Jendi: And in particular, memory of suffering? Joette: Yes. That’s exactly it, the subject of the memory of the suffering. And so on a day-to-day basis, I speak with clients and students and they report that they or their loved ones are very much better, of course, after using the homeopathic medicines. But there are also those who tell me they are no better after taking the remedies. We’re, of course, discussing more chronic conditions here, not an ear infection or a strep throat. So let’s stay with the chronic idea for a while. The first thought might be when you hear something like this, I know better, is that the remedies were ill chosen. But homeopaths need to keep copious notes. And I always ask this person if they’re reporting when taking a case to give me not only the symptoms they suffer but to assign a number to each of them. So the person might report, “I get headaches.” And the question would be then, “How often?” And then you write that down, of course. “How long do they last? And let’s allocate a number to the pain on the scale of 1 to 10 so that we have a clear record of how you’re suffering.” This is all recorded in the notes now. Okay, on to the next symptom. “Oh, you have anxiety.” “Yes, I have anxiety.” “How often do you get it?” I will tell you, I can often read someone’s anxiety by listening to their voice and demeanor. It’s not hard to do this. So I might put my two cents in there as to how it sounds in their voice. So then we ask, of course, for the frequency and the number again on the scale of 1 to 10 of the intensity or the anxiety that they’re suffering in numerical value. So the next symptom reported by the person, let’s say she’s got arthritis in her knees. Jendi: And you write all of this down, all the symptoms and all the numbers and everything? Joette: That’s right. And on the left side on the margin, I’m writing joints, I’m writing about knees, or mind. I’m writing about how her emotions are, or sinus issues, and I’m putting that in the sinus category so that I can review it quickly in my notes. Otherwise, when the assessment is made in two months after this person’s been taking these remedies during that period of time, it will certainly be forgotten or it will be muddled in our memories and only the present sufferings will remain clear to this person. So the person might report that her anxiety is an 8 on a day-to-day basis and it lasts about three hours every night. All duly noted in the notes, mind you. Rarely is there only one issue, so they might also report, “I have arthritis in my knees and the pain is every morning for about two hours.” We must know how long the pain lasts, remember folks, because next time it might be different and you have to have that comparison. Because if we don’t know that, we don’t know if a 2 is good or a 7 is good. The person might also say, “I have food intolerances and can’t eat gluten and dairy or else, I get fatigue and bloating right away.” Okay. Now, I have a fleshed out disclosure of the depth and breadth of the case. So when two months have passed after the person has taken the remedies, they report back. This is when we learn how the remedies have acted. It’s the telling moment. It’s when we determine whether or not we choose a different set of remedies or we stay with this. And invariably, most people don’t recall what they experienced two months earlier. So if I were to leave it up to them to summarize whether they were improved or not, I would be left at the mercy of their memory. So when I ask, “How are you doing?” they might say, “There is no change. I’m no better.” But the duty of the homeopath, the mother who’s taking the case, the friend who’s taking the case of the neighbor, is to go back and review what was happening two months later with perfect numbers and assessments. So we ask, “What is not better?” And now, let’s say, the reply is, “Well, I can’t eat bread or dairy or else, I get tired and bloated.” Well, of course, this is of interest. We jot this down, too, because we want to know where we’re going to be from here two months from now. And so again, it’s jotted down to compare for the next time. Then it’s the homeopath’s turn. “So how are your knees?” “Oh, my knees are good.” “How about the sensations of angst? The anxiety, is that still occurring?” Pause. “No. I guess that’s gone.” “So the anxiety is gone?” we ask. “Pretty much. Well, except I did feel some anxiety before boarding a plane a few weeks ago. But in general, I guess that’s better.” Jendi: So she had originally told you that she wasn’t any better. Joette: Yeah. And now, we’re left with this information that we think, “Oh, no, I’ve done it all wrong.” But no, with that information, one would certainly be tempted to think that the remedies didn’t act and would lead us to abandon them. And I believe it’s human nature – I’m going to repeat this again and again – to not recall all of our sufferings in detail. And when the entire constellation of symptoms is much lessened or removed, what remains becomes paramount. So we need to know that. It’s very important. Jendi: So what do you do next? Joette: Well, what remained was her food intolerances, right, and this is not surprising. It can often take many months, even as long as a year to see remarkable results from homeopathy and rooting out allergies and food intolerances and such. This is not to say though that there won’t be improvements here and there. But in general, allergies are deep, often inherited and then driven in deeper with each transgression of antibiotics and steroids and allergy medications. But if we can find that the person whose complaint is a food intolerance has improved even in a small way, then we are likely to be on the path of correction. So then we might say, “Have you had any cheese lately?” “Oh, yes, I have.” And has that made you ill?” “Well, I can get away with eating cheese about once weekly. But if I eat more than that, I get bloated.” “Lovely. Because last time, you reported that every time you ate cheese, you felt swollen and bloated and couldn’t even sleep.” Now, the person might respond, and I hear this all the time, “Really, I did?” You see, the person is still sensitive to the cheese but we’re chipping away at the problem. Now, some might find this is far too slow, but I contend it’s better than any other method with which I’m familiar, anyway. I, too, had food sensitivities in years past and I could eat very few foods without sufferings. But today, I can eat anything. And I’ve not taken remedies for food intolerances for a very long time, maybe even, I don’t know, 10, 15 years or so. Jendi: So homeopathy doesn’t finish the job in short order or real quick, is what you’re telling us. Joette: Well, it depends on the condition at hand. If someone has an ear infection, of course that’s an acute, remember, and they employ Hepar sulph, for example, every three hours for a few rounds, it’s likely the pain will disappear and put the person right within about a few hours, 12 hours perhaps, sometimes much less, sometimes even within the hour. And why? Because the ear infection was short lived. It wasn’t inherited. It was caught, so to speak. It was likely a bacterial infection that was just [founded – 00:08:54]. On the other hand, when someone has recently contracted food intolerances such as gluten or dairy, say within the last few years, it’s a matter of drawing out a timeline and looking back at what may have triggered such a state. So what do you suppose, Jendi, might have caused this state of affairs? Antibiotics act like a bulldozer Jendi: Well, from what I’ve learned from you today and in the recent past, I would guess that they took antibiotics. Joette: Well, that’s often the case. Yes, it often will cause gut problems and gut dysbiosis. Jendi: So then why didn’t the round of antibiotics that they took 10 years ago not cause the same problem that the one they took a month ago caused? Joette: That’s a good question. I believe that it can be cumulative. I think the human body can only take so much and perhaps for that particular person, one round is able to be withstood while more than one might be just one too many. Jendi: I’ve heard you use an image of a bulldozer in relation to antibiotics. Could you tell us about that? Joette: Yes. I liken antibiotics to a bulldozer. A bulldozer goes into the virgin forest and it wipes it clean and then it exits. And now, the forest has to start up on its own again. It doesn’t have the plants. It doesn’t have the trees that it had before. It doesn’t mean that it won’t grow again. Of course, it will. We see little sprouts coming up within a few days if there’s moisture and warmth and sun. But it takes many months for a bush to grow and it takes many years for a tree to grow. And so all of that has to be reestablished. And even 10 years after the bulldozer has left, the land is still not virgin. It will take a long, long time for it to come even close to its original virgin state. Of course, it will never be considered virgin ever again. So once that bulldozer leaves, just because someone’s not on antibiotics now or it only happened five years ago, it doesn’t mean that those antibiotics haven’t changed the gut and created something new. Always compare using previous notes Jendi: It’s always good to have the visuals and that does make it a lot clearer and that helps me to remember. Joette: Yeah. I want to make it clear for those who are treating their families, and those who are students of mine, or those who simply use my blog from which to learn, that you must always keep copious notes. Not long ones, just detailed in the correct fashion. We must always remember the phrase, “Compared to what?” How are you now? Compared to what? Now, you’re not going to ask the person, “Compared to what?” because they’re not going to remember. That was your job to know the comparison. When they say, “I’m the same,” “Compared to what” is what’s going on in your mind. And the only way you can answer that is if you give it a numerical value, length of time and space between each episode of that particular symptom. Because I practically guarantee if the person were to look back, they have forgotten it. They often say, “It’s the same. I’m the same.” And when I hear someone say, “I’m the same,” I say, “Tell me what you mean by the same.” Now, most people think you’re supposed to remember that along with them but we can’t remember it. Even if we’ve written it down, we want to know that there’s a change. And they are the ones who are not going to remember it, generally speaking. Jendi: The comparison aspect sounds like it is very key. Is that right? Joette: Yeah, it is. It’s paramount, vital. It’s the most important aspect of being the person who’s curing their family. This is the place where too many become disillusioned with homeopathy, even other medical paradigms as well, thinking that snap, and it’s all done. Because even doctors complain about this, too, after someone is using a drug. Sometimes, they’ll tell the doctor the exact same thing. Even though they’re using drugs, they still have to keep notes to determine how it was before and compared to how it is now. Homeopathy will take their woes away but I don’t want people to think that it is magical. You must know how to approach the case, how to interpret the remaining symptoms, and assess their degree of change and help them recall what they were suffering with last time so as to match it appropriately. Remember, this is medicine we’re talking about. Homeopathy is elegant medicine. It’s efficacious and well-documented but particularly in chronic conditions, it is not often rapid. For long-term illnesses, sometimes we must be patient. Sometimes, we must be happy with two steps forward and one back. Even with this pace, it is a better stride, in my estimation, than drug medicine. Because allopathy doesn’t claim to be able to cure gut dysbiosis or food intolerances and allergies. All they do is treat the symptoms. With homeopathy, it has a history of being able to do this but we might have to give it some time. Jendi: It sounds as though it’s all about perspective. Joette: Yes, it is. And I use numbers to assess that perspective. So it was a 9 in pain that lasted three hours and it was daily. Now, it’s a 5 lasting 30 minutes and it occurs about once a week. That tells us we’re moving in the right direction and we don’t change the remedies. We stay with them. Sufferers are not going to put it to you in that fashion. It’s up to the homeopathic mom to draw it out and write it down. So we must also use our measuring stick that is in a macro way of viewing it, not unlike the commodities market. When we’re in it, we experience daily ups and downs. “Oh, no, it’s going up.” “No, it’s going down.” We don’t know what it’s doing. It’s not until you pull back from a distance and view it from a macro perspective that the ups and downs become less significant. Because remember, we’re always aiming at long-term resolution, so we don’t want to get caught up in the day-to-day, “Oh, no, it’s doing this. Now, I’m doing that. Now, this is happening.” Give it a couple of months and then you’ll get a much, much better perspective. Joette’s headaches and how she got rid of them permanently Jendi: All right. I think I’ve got it. In the beginning, you mentioned you have a story to share with us. Joette: Oh, yeah. Let’s get to that. I went on and on, didn’t I? It’s a personal story that will help demonstrate something that I hope will help our listeners understand what to expect when using homeopathy. So here’s my story. Many years ago – and this is a true story – I suffered from repeated sinus headaches. I never had any infections, just headaches. They were debilitating. No infections, just pain every time the barometric pressure made a change. Well, I live on the Great Lakes, on Lake Erie, and the barometer changes nearly biweekly. So I lived with these pains nearly chronically. So I foolishly took analgesics and after a while, they didn’t help enough. I just wanted to live my life so I went to Canada – I live right on the border of Canada and the US – where I could get over-the-counter products called 222s. At the time, I’m talking back in the early 80s, they were not legal in the US, this drug, without a prescription, so I’d scoot over the bridge to Canada, a stone’s throw away from my home, and stock up on these little “dolls”, reminiscent of Valley of the Dolls. I thought I was clever to have figured this out. Well, it turned out I wasn’t in the least bit clever because the more I took them, the more I took them. I was becoming immune to them. And after a while, my stomach began to bother me, and constipation set in, and too many woes to mention here. So I decided one day to stop, not just those but stop everything, simply stop. I recognized that I was pretty sick with the drug and I was pretty sick without it, just with a different set of symptoms. It was kind of like an epiphany for me. I was also taking other meds for other issues, too, you know, Maalox, because of what the drugs were doing, and plenty of others. I’ll admit it. I was foolish. Jendi: Did you just stop the medication cold turkey? Joette: Yes. And I rarely do anything just a little bit, to be honest. I suffered for many months, it might even be close to a year, dragging myself to work with this awful pain but at least having ceased the use of one drug and the side effects that went along with it. Jendi: Once you stopped the use of the drugs, did the side effects completely stop also? Joette: No, they did not. Parenthetically, I have to add that side effects don’t just always melt away just because you’ve stopped the drug. They can often, and do, become a permanent fixture in the body. Well, anyway, it was about this time that I had learned a little homeopathy and stumbled upon a remedy that is specific for the kind of pain I was experiencing in my face, head, and sinuses. The pain was worse on the left side and actually began above my left eyebrow and then it radiated and went across the whole front of my face. I mean, it radiated like a migraine-type pain across my forehead and then down under my eyes. And by the way, I don’t know if I mentioned, I don’t think I did, I had seen many doctors about this and no one could help me other than just giving me pain relievers. Jendi: No, you hadn’t told us that yet. Joette: Okay. Well, anyway, they were always eager to offer their advice which was written on a prescription pad, of course. And at first, I always remained hopeful that this doc would find the answer to my painful head but it took me years to get with the program. It took me an extravagant amount of time to catch on to what they could offer and I finally learned they could offer me nothing but more drugs, and I had had it with that paradigm at this point. So in one of my first homeopathy books, I read about a remedy called Kali bichromicum 30X. It seemed to fit the picture of the kind of pain I was experiencing. So I took a dose and nothing happened. There was no change in the pain. So then after suffering with the pain for another few days or so, I reread the chapter and kind of realized that you often have to repeat a remedy a few times for it to take effect, so I did that. And to my delight, it went away after about three doses separated by three hours between each dose. So it took a day’s worth but it went away. Now, I knew what to take for each headache that descended upon me every week or 10 days or so. But something happened. Instead of getting the horrible pain the next time the barometer changed, I became an expert on weather, I might say, because of this malady. I arranged my life around it. I didn’t get a headache at the next change. And the clouds came through and then they lifted to reveal the blue sky and the sun and nothing happened. No pain. This was the first time I’d been without this pain for years ever since I had moved back to my hometown of Buffalo, New York. Jendi: So did you get any other headaches after that? Joette: Well, I did. About a month later or something like that, remember this was 25 years or so ago so I don’t exactly recall, but the barometer dipped and I got a headache. But this time was a little different. It was not as painful, kind of like a shadow of its former self, not as debilitating. But I took the Kali bichromicum 30 again. And while I was waiting to take a second and a third dose, I forgot all about the pain. It was gone with only one dose. And that was that. Jendi: So what do you mean? It took away the pain then? Joette: Well, yes, but permanently. That was the last time I ever had a sinus barometric headache again. In fact, I’ve never had any kind of headache ever since that time, not any kind of headache. So I can’t even say that well, it moved to another part of my head and it was dismissed for this kind of pain but now it’s that kind of pain. Never again. Jendi: That’s amazing. Joette: It is. A little $10 bottle of Kali bichromicum 30 with a total of only four doses completely cured my chronic, debilitating, years old, drug treated, silly-decision-making-around-it headaches. Jendi: That’s awesome. And you could have avoided all those trips to Canada and to the doctor and everything. Joette: Yeah, absolutely. This is one of those gobsmacking stories. And now, I don’t want to give you the impression that this is what will happen to everyone in every case. After all, again, it’s not magic, it’s medicine, in spite of the fact that it seems that way sometimes, and this one certainly seemed magical to me. But I want to remind people, homeopathy is honest. It’s polite. It didn’t hit me in the head. It didn’t cause liver problems. It didn’t get me addicted to codeine. It’s unlike much of modern medicine that is beguiling, leading us to believe that the steroids on the eczematous skin is an answer, or that a child’s fever requires an antibiotic or Tylenol. But I want to differentiate between a functional problem and an architectural one as well. That is, the architecture of my sinuses was intact. They were not distorted that I knew of. There were no growths as far as I knew. But what was occurring was that they were ill-functioning under the circumstances of weather changes. Now, my guess is probably at the same time, I was also probably eating foods that were adding to this picture to a certain degree, too, but it mattered not because it was completely done. Additionally, this illness was not a very old one. That is, it was not something that had plagued me since I was a child or that I had inherited but rather, only for about four years since I moved back to Buffalo, New York on the Great Lakes. Jendi: In your case, if you had to report to a homeopath what had occurred, you would have been able to remember the success of that remedy. Joette: Oh, there’s no doubt. This was such a memorable event. I doubt anyone would be incapable of its recollection. And I hear this from clients and students on a regular basis. But had my results been less impressive, it would have been important that the homeopath had kept a record of how often my headaches repeated, how severe and how long lasting they were so that all the important comparisons could be made. And again, why is this comparison important, Jendi? Jendi: Because it gives information as to whether the remedy is correct and needs to be used for a longer period of time or if it has to be changed. Joette: That’s right. That’s exactly right. So having said this, I have witnessed the same results in others with sinus pain on the left side. It simply vanishes after using this remedy. So little to no investigation is even necessary in this particular case. Jendi: So what if you have sinus pain on the right side? Will that remedy work? Joette: Oh, good question. Yes, but usually only if the pain begins on the left side or is above the eyebrow and is accompanied by tenacious mucus. Now, I didn’t have the mucus but some people do, and that’s when Kali bichromicum acts best. But there’s also another remedy called Sanguinaria and many others, too. Sanguinaria happens to be one of the remedies that I choose that I find that works for sinus infections or postnasal drip or other nose and sinus allergic conditions. It’s a great remedy as well. And as I said, there are others but these are my two top remedies specific for sinus issues. Pass on the knowledge and help others Jendi: So to wrap up today’s session, what are your closing words and how will you tie it all together? Joette: Well, some might say that this story I relay is simply anecdotal. And their aim often when they do that would be to make it sound useless or nonscientific, without merit; hence, dismissible. And I say that to look at this kind of evidence dismissively is incandescently stupid. This is how we learn every day, all day. We learn from others. We share experiences. We pass along something that has helped us to others who can benefit. We lend a hand. So from my personal sufferings and triumphs to your hip pocket, I urge people to tuck this away to help someone who has sinus pain that either begins on the left side or even stays on the left side, for someone who has tenacious mucus and is painful from the barometric pressure shifts. Then if you find that this helps, pass it on to others. This is how we learn. This is how we do this. Six hundred million people in the world depend on homeopathy. Today, there are 100 million people alone in India who depend on it and it is vastly on the rise. In fact, it’s said that it will double by 2017 in India. Is it any wonder that the competition is worried and coming out with their dukes up? Make note, folks, this is the medicine of the future and I urge all our listeners, students, my clients, and people who I will never meet or hope to meet, make it yours and your future, too. Jendi: Thank you so much, Joette, for all your information, for sharing it freely with the podcast and all the information on the blog. Joette: Oh, it’s my pleasure. Thanks for doing this with me, Jendi. Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com and schedule a free 15-minute conversation. | |||
| Podcast 11 – Essential Oils and Homeopathy | 28 Mar 2015 | 00:26:46 | |
In this podcast, we cover: 0:48 Using essential oils 5:25 The healing powers of homeopathy 6:34 Essential oils that are also used in homeopathy 9:03 Differences between homeopathy and essential oils 12:53 Rules in using homeopathy with essential oils 15:17 A protocol using homeopathy and essential oils 22:58 The Banerji protocols Before I learned homeopathy 29 years ago, I used whatever means I had at the time. When someone got sick, I employed botanicals. I wild crafted herbs from around my property, like St. John’s wort, coltsfoot, nettles and such and made them into tinctures so I always had a store of quality homemade herbal medicines. Listen to today’s podcast where I answer the question, “So if you know that essential oils have therapeutic value, why don’t you use them in your day to day work?” I know you are going to like the answer. And don’t miss today’s new protocol to add to your growing homeopathic tool kit. Ultimately it comes down to you having the tools to buck the system when necessary…transforming meek moms into mighty moms! Warmly,
PS I recently gave an interview as a participant in an on-line summit called The Essential Oils Revolution Summit. Erica, of Homestead Bloggers Network, introduced me to Dr. Eric Zielinski, one of the two organizers of the Summit. Check it out as I discuss the subject of essential oils and homeopathy. You are listening to a podcast from JoetteCalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. Jendi: This is Jendi and I’m here once again with Joette from JoetteCalabrese.com. Hello, Joette! How are you? Joette: Good morning, Jendi! I’m well. How about you? Jendi: I am well also. And part of that is due to your recommendations. Joette: Oh, great! Jendi: I have a lot of friends that use essential oils and I would like to know what you think about them. Using essential oils Joette: Well, essential oils bring up actually a broader question and that’s what is my opinion of other methods of alternative health? So I’ll start from the beginning because of course, it’s a very good place to start. Before I learned homeopathy, I used whatever means I had at the time. I depended on my homemade bone stocks, my homemade meals, common sense methods to protect my kids, their immune systems, for when I got sick or my husband. I employed botanicals. I even wildcrafted. And I still do some of that today, too. I wildcrafted herbs from around my property out in the country like St. John’s wort, crowfoot, nettles. I made tinctures out of that. So I always had a store of quality homemade herbal medicines. So I spent a lot of time learning about the herbs that are indigenous to my area. But I also had a store of essential oils for my old-fashioned vaporizer. Now, you’re too young to remember this but there was a vaporizer that we used to use in the ‘50s and ‘60s that was green glass and you plug it in. Now, when I look at it, I think, “Wow, this is a firetrap.” There’s no grounding plug on it. There it is, electricity extending directly into water. But it worked for all those years and so I used it when my family was in need to. So as far as essential oils go, I began using my old fashioned vaporizer and I would put lavender, etc., in that. But I began making this lovely concoction that was not unlike one of the formulas produced by the large essential oil companies. Many people know it as Thieves. But a friend of mine got restarted on it and she named it Scoundrels which is such a great word, with of course, reference to the product Thieves. So now my father makes it for most of us in our family today. And when he puts it in a mist bottle, which he does so that when we travel, we can mist our hands and wash them up, he cleverly calls it Scoundrels in the Mist. So it conjures up this image of these interesting old characters from the Middle Ages. So anyway, it’s clove oil, lemon oil, cinnamon oil, eucalyptus, and I think rosemary’s in there, too. And we use it to clean the air and on our hands when we travel, as I said, and we put a few spritzers on in the cold season and spritz it all around the room and I love it. But I didn’t stop there. Jendi: So you use it actually on your skin and you use it in the air, like just wherever? Joette: Yes. I like to put a few drops in bathwater or on a handkerchief and I used to take sniffs or give it to my children to take sniffs. And I might add a drop of oil into a carrier oil such as coconut oil and rub it into the skin, the bottom of their feet. But generally, I didn’t give it to them internally. I just wasn’t a hundred percent sure about that. I used mint to make mint ice cream when I was making my own ice cream but I’m particularly concerned about using essential oils internally and in great concentration for children. So I’m rather conservative about the concentration, even for the concentration that anyone inhales. So with essential oils, I believe a little goes a long way. Now, I know there are those who disagree with me but I just don’t know the science about it and perhaps it’s out there. I just haven’t put my mind to studying it. Jendi: So as a homeopath, did you work with essential oils with the clients or is it just kind of a personal thing? Joette: No, no, I don’t use them professionally. I have no degrees in the use of essential oils, nor am I interested in acquiring one at this time since I find homeopathy to act so fully and efficaciously that I have no interest, nor do I need to go further. But I do encourage folks to take up whatever it takes to stay away from drugs as much as possible. But as you said, I’m a homeopath and homeopathy has no connection to essential oils despite the misnomer. A lot of people think when they first hear the word homeopathy that it means home remedies. The word hom– in the prefix throws everyone off. It’s a Greek word and homeopathy is not a general term for [natural remedies – 00:05:09]. It does not mean that at all. Hom- means homonym or similar or like and of course, -pathy means pathology. So the meaning of the word homeopathy is in the word. Its definition is actually in the word itself. The healing powers of homeopathy So I’m particularly attracted to homeopathy because of one very important reason. I’ve seen it resolve an enormous amount of pathology. Osteomyelitis. I’ve seen it abort strokes right before my eyes, angina, panic attacks, mend broken bones in half the time. I’ve seen it abort a flu in its tracks. I’ve actually seen it turn a baby in the womb as Dr. Mercy Jackson taught us, we homeopaths, many years ago. I’ve seen it remove food intolerances. I’ve seen it eliminate long-time, lifelong allergies. I’ve seen it restore sleep, abort colic, arthritis. I mean, I can go on. I won’t because that will be this whole session. But what I’ve seen in homeopathy is nothing less than astounding because it’s a complete form of medicine with a compendium of scientific data to back its claims. I felt that essential oils can be useful but I’ve just never seen anything quite like homeopathy. Essential oils that are also used in homeopathy Jendi: Are there essential oils that have been made into homeopathic remedies? Joette: Oh, yeah, good question. That’s interesting. Yes. They say that there are between three and six thousand homeopathic remedies and it’s kind of broad, isn’t it? How many are there then? We don’t really know. I don’t know how many the FDA categorizes in the United States but there are remedies that are used in other parts of the world that we have not begun using here and in Europe and South America. So of course, the delivery is different in essential oils than in homeopathy. Homeopathy is more subtle and it’s on a minute level. But there is a remedy that’s one of the most common, that most people who understand essential oils and those of us who use homeopathy look at and say, “Gee, I wonder what the connection is.” So camphor is the remedy that I’m thinking of in the essential oil as well. So it’s an essential oil that’s often used as an antiseptic or disinfectant, sometimes even an insecticide in the world of oils. But in homeopathy, once it’s highly diluted using that mathematical process called succussion as well, dilution and succussion and potentization, it becomes a wonderful medicine that antidotes the ill effects of previously used drugs and also incorrectly chosen homeopathic remedies. When I teach homeopathy, I teach that we open a case with camphor 200C. That means it’s diluted 200 times to the hundredth power. So it can work on the ill effects of previous drugs, as I said. The power of that alone is worthy of our attention, given the amount of our population who’s propped up with drugs. So for example, I specifically used this remedy after my father had surgery years ago to antidote potential ill effects, side effects of the drugs and procedures he was subjected to. Of course, I used other homeopathic medicines to aid in the quickened healing of the wound he sustained as well as helping him readily come out of the anesthetic. So this is the stuff of my blog. I have tips and tricks that I learned by traveling the world for homeopathic methods and having raised my family on this. Bottom line is that homeopathy is a very complex medical paradigm but I take pride in being able to distill it so that anyone can get the hang of it. Differences between homeopathy and essential oils Jendi: Since we looked at a little bit of how they’re similar, what is the main difference between homeopathy and essential oils? Joette: Well, there are many different ways to approach this question but I am going to take a user-friendly approach. So you know a little bit about my background with essential oils now but I wanted to know how people who follow my blog are using it today as well because I do get mentions on my blog. People ask me questions about it and tell me that they’ve used this or that oil for a condition in which I’ve recommended homeopathy. So I gathered a team of my employees and canvassed many of my students who use both homeopathy and essential oils, and they also reached out to several essential oil communities online and interviewed a few pros. So from our sample of research, generally speaking, it appears that the vast majority of essential oil users use the oils to prevent disease such as infections. And the benefits in this area, they report, are far reaching, the blends that they call immunity boosters, for example. So that’s one of the main differences, is how it’s used. Expectations are different so the effects and the usage are different as well. Homeopathy consistently, however, goes beyond prevention of disease and it has been recorded to uproot infections and illness once it has been contracted. That’s not to say that essential oils may not do the same. I’m talking about usage here. You see, homeopathic medicines are intended to stimulate the body’s ability to correct itself. So it’s often illness or condition specific. This means that we use the homeopathic medicines for the actual illness, not usually for prevention. There are exceptions but in general, that’s how it’s done, such as mending broken bones, as I said, eliminating allergies, not just addressing them as they occur but actually rooting them out slowly but certainly. So in homeopathy, if someone is prone to colds and communicable illnesses like constantly getting ear infections or conjunctivitis and sore throats, that’s reason enough to employ a homeopathic medicine even when they don’t have it upfront to help root it out. We’re supposed to get colds. I believe we’re supposed to get colds. And children are supposed to get child illnesses such as chickenpox. But if the person is sick every month with one thing or another, it’s time to get to the bottom of things and that’s time for correction. And I see that correction made most frequently with homeopathy. Jendi: And if someone was prone to colds or sore throats, they could use an essential oil, too? Joette: Well, when we use essential oils, most folks use them for each and every sore throat but a homeopathic medicine would be used over a period of time to root out the problem – I guess I should make that a little bit clearer – instead of having to fix it each time. In other words, its intention is not to have to use anything after a while. That means what’s been done is that the person is essentially fixed. This also means that meanwhile, while the person is suffering from a cold, certainly you could employ both methods. You could use an acute remedy, not the one that we’re using specifically to root out the potential for these chronic colds or allergies, but something that’s also used for an acute. And then you can also use essential oils because I believe they’re compatible. Some people believe they’re not. I disagree. But if you’re going to do that and do what I did, if you’re going to take this on yourself and not depend on prescription drugs for every turn, you certainly want to be fully armed with knowledge of both of these paradigms. Rules in using homeopathy with essential oils Jendi: So if I understand correctly what you’re saying, homeopathy can work alongside essential oils. So they can have a synergy? Joette: Yes, yes, they can work together. I don’t know that I would call it a synergistic effect because I believe each one stands on its own. But they can be used side by side. But there are some rules. If you’re going to engage in this, you really should know some of the rules that you have to follow. Jendi: So can you tell us those? I don’t want to do something that would hurt my kids. Joette: Yeah, yeah. This is how it works. You will antidote a homeopathic remedy or neutralize it or render the homeopathic useless with particularly strong odors. A mint-based oil such as peppermint and menthol if used in its full strength, camphor, tea tree oil, eucalyptus, those very strong aromatics can indeed antidote. So this is how you incorporate the two. Consider separating the oils from the remedy, which means that you take the remedy, then wait 15 minutes, and then use the oils, and don’t use these particular ones in full strength, the ones I just mentioned, those aromatics. So I like to use the combination of oils in a vaporizer as I said and those that may contain these particular oils. You may remember that Scoundrels in the Mist contains some eucalyptus and I think that’s acceptable as long as it’s not directly under the nose, directly at the face, on the skin. So those particular ones are the ones that I find can indeed antidote. Now, I might want to say, however, that not everyone is antidoted by essential oils so it depends on how sensitive the person is. That’s why it’s so ambiguous. That’s why people say, “Well, does it or doesn’t it?” Well, in certain cases, it does in every situation. In other cases, some people don’t have any of these. So the more sensitive a person is to, say, fragrances, they can’t stand the smell of cigarette smoke, it makes them sick, or they can’t be around fumes, those are likely the people who are going to be most affected by the essential oils and may indeed be antidote. Jendi: That really makes me think about once again how good it is to keep that notebook or those files of what you are giving to your kids and how they reacted to it. Joette: Yes, yes, absolutely. Absolutely. A protocol using homeopathy and essential oils Jendi: Is there a protocol you could teach us today that maybe would have the homeopathic and then the essential oil? Joette: Yeah. I’ll give you a really easy example. I love giving people takeaways and let’s start with something that most people who may be listening may already know about but I’ll show you how you integrate it. Here’s something that everyone should know how to use, too, and that’s Arnica montana 30 or 200. That remedy, Arnica montana is used at the onset, or at least as close as possible, for a soft tissue injury or a head injury. Of course, if it’s serious enough, you certainly head to the emergency room, obviously. But on the way, you’re administering Arnica montana 200, preferably. If it’s serious enough, you may even want to go higher with IM or 200 every few minutes if it’s very serious so that you allow the action of the medicine to begin right away. This remedy has a reputation for reducing shock, it softens hematomas, accompanying anxiety, the person usually calms right down, and if there’s an open wound, it can often even protect from infection. This is all taken orally, mind you. These are little pills. So my children have done a great deal of skiing in their lives and we’ve tended animals on our property. So there was always some injury or another. My kids who are actually now adults grew up knowing how to use Arnica montana 1M. Each of them had a bottle of Arnica montana in their ski jackets. They knew how often to use it and when to stop administering. They were often on the slopes together and so if one was injured, the other one would come to his aid and get his bottle out of his pocket and treat his brother. I mean, it never really happened that it was necessary but I wanted to be sure that they never had a problem. Jendi: So what might you use alongside of Arnica montana as an essential oil? Joette: You could certainly use frankincense for a head injury or [cypress fir – 00:17:14]. These are essential oils to support in a broken bone. But I have seen homeopathic Symphytum 200 mixed with Calc phos 6X work quick magic on bone healing in my own family and Arnica montana. Arnica montana, by the way, is used by professional ski teams in Switzerland and Germany, etc., and other areas of the world. And I also might add parenthetically that plastic surgeons in the US and throughout the world count on Arnica montana for hematomas and ecchymosis after surgery. Ecchymosis is the black and blue marks that occur as a result of it. So you could use [cypress fir] or frankincense as the essential oil. And in addition to that, start administering your Arnica montana, Symphytum, etc., Calc phos. Jendi: So you obviously know that essential oils do have therapeutic value. So what is behind your decision not to use them in your day to day? Joette: Well, professionally, my reason is in my experience, I find homeopathy to be so sweeping in its ability, so easy to learn when I teach it, at least the practical way that I use it and I teach it, so inexpensive and wholesome that I simply focused and dedicated the last 29 years of my life to it. It’s that simple. It’s been my experience and I’ve seen it work. So I have mastered as much as anyone can master in 29 years of study and family use and my practice. So I dropped essential oils in lieu of it. I mean, basically, that’s what I’m telling you because homeopathy rarely fails me. This is not to say I don’t use my Scoundrels as a preventative measure and I wouldn’t consider frankincense. But for example, I used to see clients in my office and someone came in once who had infectious disease. If they had a cold or a flu and I knew my employees would be coming later, I’d spray the office with my mixture. So I certainly used it but not really in as much of a therapeutic method as many might expect. I have also used essential oils for my family. And when people tell me that they want to use essential oils, I tell them, “Certainly, go ahead and use it.” But it’s not my foundational go-to. My firmament is homeopathy. Jendi: Professionally, you are a homeopath but personally, you are more than just a homeopath. Joette: Well, I find that this path upon which most of us in North America travel before we get to homeopathy, when we finally get to homeopathy, what I consider truly the ultimate medical method, we pass through many towns, so to speak, if we’re on this road. Some of them are worthy of holding onto and using in tandem with homeopathy. Others may fail us and they’re pushed to the wayside so that the superior methods become more and more the focus of our study and our usage. It’s a matter of evolutionary process is the way I see it, my own personal evolutionary process of moving down the chain of what works more thoroughly and more consistently, more cost-effective, and is more learnable. The problem with homeopathy is that while it fulfills all of this criteria I mentioned here, it has not until now been an easy method to use because it has been historically difficult to determine the correct remedy to match the condition. So until I learned many of the methods and gleaned enough protocols that I could have an answer at the tip of my fingers instead of having to study a case for an hour and a half or until I gathered enough by learning from my colleagues and going to India and studying the great masters, I did use other methods here and there as well. Jendi: So essential oils and botanicals and vitamins, they seem easier to learn about, easier to find and choose from. Jendi: Yes, they are. With essential oils, if you’ve got a cold, you would likely choose from two or three oils, perhaps you blend them together and start sniffing. But with homeopathy, you have to do more reading in some circumstances and a lot more than choose the most fitting remedy. But that’s the classical homeopathy. That is, you need to observe nuances of the sufferer to determine if this remedy or that would fit best. And I’m not saying that I don’t draw from my classical background. Certainly, after all these years of studying it and teaching it and writing about it, I certainly still draw from it. But it can be frustrating for those people who are new to this and it becomes too complex in the world of homeopathy. So that’s why people, I believe, one of the reasons they are drawn to an easier method such as essential oils, botanicals, and vitamins, for example. Jendi: But you share an easier way of homeopathic remedies, right? Joette: Yes. Well, actually, every homeopath who is seasoned has eventually come up with shortcuts. Some glean simply by being observant and practice, others by reading the books of the great homeopathic masters. We’ve all done this. This is what I do. This is what I read at night. On my lap when my family and I are traveling and my husband’s driving or my sons are driving, I’m studying the great homeopathic masters of the last two centuries. Attending post grad, of course, is sharing with and learning from my colleagues. But you can accumulate, to be honest, only so much over the limited amount of time that we’re in practice. Human conditions and suffering is vast and we homeopaths have a finite amount of time to observe and collect data that is simple and in our fingertips. The Banerji protocols So let me step back and make it clear that homeopathy works and it works thoroughly and often to complete resolution. But I want to make this clear. It’s not a hundred percent guaranteed. Its capabilities are often astounding even to me after seeing results time and again. The glitches that the system of choosing the remedy has complexity to it and has stymied many a neophyte, even those who are more experienced. But I’m here to say that this has changed. Enter the Banerji protocols. Some people might believe that the Banerjis are paying me to say this but it absolutely is not so. I am so grateful to the information that they shared with me. The reason I keep giving accolades to these incredible doctors in Kolkata, India with whom I worked for two consecutive years is because they have gotten what would take other homeopaths a lifetime to accumulate and distill. They’ve gathered their [errors – 00:23:56], accumulated data, and offered them to me, to the world. Additionally, their model is extraordinary in that they don’t see the average number of patients as other doctors throughout the world. No. They each take – get this – 100 cases per day, and there are 10 of them. And they are open six days a week. That means they’re seeing a thousand cases per day and six days means 6,000 medical cases per week. I’m sorry, I don’t know any other medical paradigm that does that. Now, some might argue, “Well, how can they possibly take a case in just 10 to 15 minutes?” Well, it’s because they have junior doctors who have taken a good portion of the case, gathered the information, looked at the x-rays, checked out the sonograms, blood tests, etc. So I don’t care what kind of medicine you practice. No doctor that I know, and I was living in that medical world for many years, takes that many cases. So there’s no data anywhere that can boast these numbers. Of course, what’s so great about numbers, well, it offers irrefutable evidence and this distills down to specific remedies for specific conditions. It’s clean, efficacious, and again I’m not going to say every time, but it often is efficacious and if nothing else, it’s indisputable. Jendi: So if you kind of wrapped up everything we said so far, can you give us an overall picture? Joette: Yes. The upshot of this message is this: Do what you need to do to get your family and self as far away from drugs as possible. I’m not saying we never use drugs. I want to make clear that people understand that. I also don’t mean that you just stop taking medications and flat out just start using another method. But the fewer drugs you take, the better off you and your family will be, generally speaking. I know it’s sweeping but it is generally correct. Employ botanicals, essential oils, whatever means to get a handle on keeping things simple. Get the protocols I teach in my blog, tuck them in your hip pocket, and start using homeopathy as often as you need. Jendi: Thank you so much, Joette. I’ll keep my essential oils in my cupboard to use occasionally and keep learning about homeopathy as well. Joette: Thank you for doing this with me, Jendi. I can’t resist alliteration so I’m going to put it this way. It’s my method of making mighty moms. Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com and schedule a free 15-minute conversation.
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| Podcast 127 — Effective Homeopathic Remedies for Back Pain | 27 Sep 2024 | 00:15:50 | |
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IN THIS PODCAST, WE COVER EFFECTIVE HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES FOR BACK PAIN:
01:00 Introduction 02:29 Back Pain Caused by Kidney Issues 03:29 Back Pain From Dehydration 05:18 Homeopathic Remedy for Back Pain: Rhus toxicodendron 07:26 Homeopathy Is Not a Supplement 08:27 Homeopathic Remedy for Back Pain: Symphytum officinale 09:46 Homeopathic Remedy for Back Pain: Arnica montana 10:51 Homeopathic Remedy for Back Pain: Bryonia alba 12:14 Homeopathic Remedy for Back Pain: Mag phos Advanced Disease and Back Pain ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:Gateway to Practical Homeopathy®: A Guided Study Group Curriculum Joette’s Study Group, Find Your New Study Group Friends The Academy of Practical Homeopathy®
Kate: This is the Practical Homeopathy® Podcast, episode number 127, with Joette Calabrese. Joette: Hi, I’m Joette Calabrese, and I welcome you to our health care movement — yours, mine and the countless men and women across the globe who have re-taken control of their families’ health with Practical Homeopathy®. So, for the next few minutes, let’s link our arms as I demystify homeopathy — what was once considered an esoteric paradigm — into an understandable, reproducible, safe and effective health care solution available to all. This is the medicine you’ve been searching for — my unique brand of homeopathy, PRACTICAL Homeopathy®. INTRODUCTIONKate: (01:00) Hi, I am Kate, and I’m here today with Joette. Joette: Hi Kate and friends. Kate: Hi. We want to thank you — all of our listeners —for taking the time to be here with us today. This is so important, and we commend you for taking these steps towards deepening your knowledge with homeopathy. This will help protect you and your family and your loved ones. So, welcome! Joette: Knowing how to use these medicines will keep you not only on par with what’s going on in your family on a day-to-day basis, but as you age, it keeps you relevant. “Grandma, what do I do for a back that aches?” “Grandma, my ear hurts. What should I do?” That’s where we want to be. We want to be in that position as we age. Kate: All right, so today we’re going to talk about back pain. So, Joette, let’s just dive right in. Tell us about what we can do when we have the pain in our back. And maybe it’s something that’s just mildly irritating, or maybe it’s something debilitating that stops us from our daily lives. And I also want you to talk about thinking outside the box and what might be causing the back pain. Because sometimes, it truly might just be muscles or something with our spine, but it could also be some other things. So maybe let’s start there. BACK PAIN CAUSED BY KIDNEY ISSUESJoette: (02:29) Yeah, let’s start with that because it could be the kidneys. If you know where your kidneys are — and you should know where they are — it’s the rather lower back right around the waist on either side. And … could be kidney stones. Could be kidney colic (which doesn’t really tell us much of anything. It just tells us that there’s pain in the kidney or kidneys). Could be a kidney infection, and that’s something that we don’t play around with. You want to make sure that that gets attention right away. But you can also get back pain — I know this is going to sound strange to some people — from eating foods that are not good for you. Some people are so sensitive to wheat that if they eat a sandwich, they get back pain. And that doesn’t mean that they’ve had it all their lives like that. Could have just been developed since they were given antibiotics. Because antibiotics are often the cause of food intolerances — subsequent food intolerances — after their use. So, it could be any of those. BACK PAIN FROM DEHYDRATIONJoette: (03:29) And interestingly, years ago, I was in my thirties, and I was nursing one of my babies. I don’t remember which one it was. And so, I did not drink enough water. I know I didn’t because you lose your thirst sometimes. And when you’re nursing, you really have to pay attention to drinking a good amount of good water. And so, I went to the chiropractor, and he adjusted me. And I was going about twice a week, and the pain was really … wasn’t excruciating, but it certainly was a nuisance-plus. And so, every time I went to him, he would adjust me, and I would feel a little better. And it was fine, but then I’d have to go back again. It was going on like this for weeks, many weeks. And then, one day, I got a newsletter that I used to subscribe to. In those days it was snail mail. And in the newsletter, it said, “Back pain. Are you sure you’re not dehydrated?” So, I thought, “Wow, that’s awfully simple.” And so since I’m nursing and perhaps the reason … maybe that is it … because I don’t drink much water at all.” So, I started to … I actually flooded myself with water for a day, which is not a good plan to do on a regular basis. But for that first day … and by the second day of drinking a good deal more water, the pain went away. It was simply melted away and never came back. After having suffered from that for many weeks, if not months. So, we want to always look at what is the simple way of looking at something. If your garden looks wilty, you might want to water it. If the tomato plant looks like it’s not doing so well, perhaps it’s not enough water. Perhaps it’s the shade, that you planted it in the wrong place. Perhaps it’s crowded by other tomato plants. Whatever the reason is, let’s use common sense first. And then we can move from there to, “Okay, what can we do homeopathically?” HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES FOR BACK PAIN — RHUS TOXICODENDRONKate: (05:18) Good. So, there are many remedies that we could think about for back pain, but maybe just talk about a few of them so our listeners have a place to start. Joette: Of course, it depends on which part of the back. Is it lumbar? Is it cervical? What started it? At what point did it begin? You want to try to think of that because sometimes it’s as simple as, “Well, ever since we started sleeping on that new mattress, I’ve had that problem.” Or “Ever since that plane flight when my neck was crooked, and I fell asleep there, it’s been uncomfortable or stiff or painful ever since.” So, we do want to look at the possibility of the etiology, meaning what could have caused this in my day-to-day life? Kate: And sometimes it might even be that “Oh, I tripped, and I just stepped the wrong way and moved my back and just did something to those muscles when that happened.” And we really need to think about that because in the day — the day that we’re having that pain — we may not remember that that happened. So, it’s always good, like you said, to look back and what was happening or what happened the day before. “What have I been doing? Have I been drinking water? Have I been all of a sudden exercising? What’s going on in my life?” Joette: Are my exercises more rigorous? Am I eating more wheat? And again, I don’t want you to think that wheat is a bad food. But for some people, it is. It’s like a poison of sorts. So, you want to take that into consideration as well. So, what I find is that often there are two or three main remedies here that are most commonly used. One of them is when the person gets up in the morning, and their back is stiff … or it’s more painful, or they feel crooked, or they feel old. Those first few steps are very uncomfortable, if not frankly, painful. And then once they limber up … “I must stretch. I have to stretch. And so, if I don’t stretch, then my back bothers me.” That generally is a call for the remedy Rhus tox. And so, it’s Rhus toxicodendron … for short, it’s Rhus tox. And we can use that in a 30 or a 200, and we can use that a couple of times a day until the pain goes away. HOMEOPATHY IS NOT A SUPPLEMENTJoette: (07:26) Now, let me also say this: that when I say we use a medicine twice a day, it’s not like a supplement or a vitamin where you take it forever. No, these are medicines. Homeopathy is medicine. So, when we take a medicine for a specific condition, when the condition is resolved (or at least quite nearly resolved), we don’t keep taking it. We stop and allow the body just to carry on from where it was before and allow the medicine also to carry on. Now, if it comes back again, we’re not going to say, “Oh no, it’s back again!” Instead, we say, “Oh, cool. Oh, this is really great. It’s back again. I know exactly what to do because I did it last time. I go right back to my Rhus tox 30, twice daily, until the pain is resolved once again.” So that’s the first medicine. HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES FOR BACK PAIN — SYMPHYTUM OFFICINALEJoette: (08:27) The second medicine that is very common that can be used even alongside Rhus tox is Symphytum, S-Y-M-P-H-Y-T-U-M … Symphytum 200C. And that, too, may be used twice daily. And that is an overall muscular and bone and joint pain. So that covers a lot of different kinds of conditions related to the back. And sometimes, we can actually use Symphytum 200 mixed with Rhus tox, meaning taking them in the mouth at the same time, twice daily. I don’t know that we need to go that far. If what I’ve described is that feeling very old and wretched on first movement and then getting better as the person limbers up. If that is there, then Rhus tox is probably the medicine for that particular condition. Kate: So how would one know if they should use the Symphytum AND the Rhus tox? Joette: I would use Symphytum and Rhus tox mixed together when it feels like Rhus tox is sort of helping, but it’s not doing enough. It’s a little improved. It was a screaming 8 every day. Now, it’s down to a 5, so it’s not moving it along enough. Then, I would add Symphytum 200 along with Rhus tox 30. HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES FOR BACK PAIN — ARNICA MONTANAJoette: (09:46): Now, there’s a medicine that is very useful for back pain from having picked up something that’s too heavy, lifting the sofa, or working too heavily in the gym, or digging in the garden too vigorously. Then we’re going to use something like Arnica. And Arnica montana can be used in a 30 or a 200 … and that’s from having been overused, maybe even abused. So, when we abuse the back by overusing it, then Arnica montana 200, twice daily, is an excellent medicine. Now, let me also point out that Rhus tox sometimes comes into play in this kind of a situation as well. But, in general, if someone has overused their body, overused their back, too strenuous an exercise program, et cetera, we often use Arnica 200 all by itself, twice daily, until very much better. If there’s no improvement in somewhat short order — days, maybe even a week or so — then it’s time to reassess and look at something else. HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES FOR BACK PAIN — BRYONIA ALBAJoette: (10:51) Now, there’s another medicine that I favor for back pain, and that is, again, when the body is overused. And if Arnica doesn’t help, then we go to Bryonia. Now, Bryonia has a very distinct kind of pain. It’s the kind of pain that hurts only on movement — not first movement and better on limbering up, like Rhus tox; not overall pain, like Symphytum — but rather pain that is very specific. Every time the person moves, it hurts. And a movement could be as simple as coughing. The person coughs, “Oh my gosh, there’s that pain.” Or when they get up out of bed, there’s pain. And they continually have pain throughout the day. It does not relieve from limbering up. So, that’s Bryonia. And I like Bryonia in a 30 and, again, twice daily. And these medicines, what’s so lovely about them is that what I’m describing here is kind of for an acute situation, having slept on the plane the wrong way, or having overexerted themselves in the garden, or et cetera, et cetera. But these medicines are just as valuable for a chronic condition. This back pain could have been going on for weeks, months, maybe even on and off for years. It matters not. These are still the same medicines, the same frequency, the same potency. HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES FOR BACK PAIN — MAG PHOSKate: (12:14) Joette, what about Mag phos? Could that be useful for back pain as well? Joette: Yes. Mag phos — Magnesium phosphoricum [Magnesia phosphorica] — is particularly valuable when we find that the person wants to have heat exerted or pressed up against the back. And the more pressure exerted with the heat, the better the person feels. So, someone might say, “I feel a tremendous pain in my back, and if you would just hold that hot water bottle right there and press it really hard, that could help me feel a little more comfortable.” That is a call for Magnesium phosphoricum [Magnesia phosphorica] or Mag phos. And that can be used in a 6 or a 30 and used two to three times a day if it’s a chronic condition. If it’s an acute, you could take it every 15 minutes for the first hour and, after that, every hour that follows that. Kate: Yeah, and then you would gradually space that out as the condition improves. Joette: Just like any medicine, you don’t take it “just because.” You take it … well, actually, I should say, there are a lot of drugs that are given “just because” you hit a certain age. So, let’s put it this way, if you’re going to be taking a Tylenol for a headache, you’re not going to take it twice a day, every day forever more. It’s a medicine. It’s a drug. It’s intended to take care of the condition and move you on to your life. That’s the same as homeopathy, generally speaking — and there are extenuating circumstances occasionally. But generally speaking, we’re going to use the medicine until it’s no longer needed. And then we’re going to open it up and use it less frequently … less frequently. Still okay? Okay. Even less frequent than that. So, instead of maybe three or four times a day, you’re going to go to twice a day. And as it improves, okay, now only once a day. Okay, now how is it? Okay, it’s gone. Great. Then we stop. We halt the use of the medicine, and then we resume it as needed in the future, should it arise again. Kate: There’s also a blog that you had written in 2023 called “Advanced Disease and Back Pain.” So, that’s another good reference for those of you who want to read more about back pain and see some of this information written down in a blog. So, today’s podcast was short and sweet, but I think we covered a lot of remedies, and I’m sure this is going to help you or someone that you know. So, thank you so much Joette for the valuable information that you shared today. Joette: Thank you, my friends. Thanks, Kate. It’s my honor to share many lessons on this simple method of using homeopathy for free —without affiliates or advertising — here in my podcasts, but also my blog posts and Monday Night Lives. But it’s critical that you learn how to use these medicines properly. These podcasts should serve as only the beginning of your training. Peruse JoettesLearningCenter.com to find fun study group opportunities and in-depth courses developed by subject. So, with the proper training, you can join the thousands of students before you in developing the confidence and competence to protect the health of your family and loved ones with my brand of homeopathy, Practical Homeopathy®. Kate: You just listened to a podcast from internationally acclaimed homeopath, public speaker and author, the founder of The Academy of Practical Homeopathy®, Joette Calabrese. Joette’s podcasts are available on all your favorite podcast apps. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit for your health strategy, visit PracticalHomeopathy.com.
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| Podcast 10 – Defiant Mother | 20 Mar 2015 | 00:27:04 | |
In this podcast, we cover: 0:36 Joette on pediatricians: “Yikes!” 2:17 How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor 7:54 Examples of drugs that are dangerous to us 12:04 Trust in your ability to mother 18:07 “I’ve had enough!” 22:12 Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa believed in the powers of homeopathy 25:26 Be a defiant mother Today’s podcast is a bit more personal than previous ones. I offer no apologies. I am a defiant mother. While raising my children, my thinking went something like this: If I was going to bring children into the world, I ought to be able to identify whether they were well or not. In fact, not unlike any of you mothers reading this now, I checked my baby (who was generally in my arms anyway) pretty much by the minute so I felt pretty capable of conducting my own well baby check-ups. I also read unceasingly. Additionally, I put a lot of time into homemade, organic, pasture fed foods, so it seemed stupid (excuse the sophomoric word, but it’s so fitting!) to forget all that when the baby got a common illness and defer to someone with whom I fundamentally disagreed. I hate drugs, he loved ‘em. Ultimately you have to be willing to buck the system. Listen to the podcast for more reasons why mothers need to be vigilant and defiant. And why my parting word is NO!
You are listening to a podcast from JoetteCalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. Jendi: This is Jendi and I’m here with Joette Calabrese. Hello, Joette! How are you? Joette: I’m doing well, Jendi. How about you? Jendi: I am good. I am glad for a nice, sunshiny day today. Joette: Finally. Joette on pediatricians: “Yikes!” Jendi: I’ve been looking at your site and I am particularly interested in how you raised your children. I know that your children are adults now and out of the house but my children are still at home and I am interested in learning how others who have already been through this did it successfully. So did you ever give your kids any medicine and what did your pediatrician think about this? Joette: Well, for any mother, the most important aspect of their lives is, of course, their children. And then let me say most emphatically, pediatrician, yikes! I’m being a little flippant here but there’s a measure of truth to my reaction. I didn’t need a pediatrician. Those ubiquitous well-baby checkups were something I never bought into. Excuse my skepticism but they’re just a calendar-building technique for an otherwise not very busy medical specialty. Perhaps they fulfill a need in mothers who don’t trust knowing whether or not their children are well. But I always felt that I was happy to buy things when I needed them but I don’t really like to buy services and products that are redundant. And I found from years previous to having children and having been married to a doctor back in my 20s before I remarried and then had my children a decade later, you can learn a lot in a decade of going to doctors, that they’re always looking for something to do. And I interpreted that something to do meant prescribing drugs or ordering tests and I was already clearly against that from the very onset. How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor I guess I don’t care for nor do I trust drug fundamentalists and I prefer those who are looking to protect the sanctity of the human body and not taint it with questionable drugs, particularly during the susceptible years of childhood. And I think a drug fundamentalist is someone who says, “Ear infection? Oh, antibiotic. Eczema? Oh, steroid. Got a little issue here on your skin? Let’s remove it.” So the more I read, the more I found this medical specialty to be a disappointment. I loved Dr. Robert Mendelsohn and his book, How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor. Love that book. So my thinking went something like this. If I was going to bring children into the world, I really ought to be able to identify whether or not they were well. In fact, not unlike any mother, I checked my baby pretty much by the minute because they were always in my arms when they were babies. And when they weren’t and they were at my feet as I was doing my work around the house, I felt pretty capable of knowing what was going on with my children. I knew when they were sick. And I felt and still feel that common horse sense that what I was applying trumped any pediatric drug-laden scheme every time. Jendi: I personally really like this kind of thinking but it seems like it’s hard to carry out and there’s a lot of fear around mothers today when we hear about the medical community coming and taking the kids and it just seems like the fear takes away the confidence and it’s hard to rely on yourself as the mother. Joette: Yeah. Well, I think we should be getting our PhD in mothering. I really believe it’s important that we know what we’re talking about. We should not say, “Oh, I can just do this,” without doing some homework. Mothering should command our full attention. The act of mothering should be civilized and respected and resourceful. After all, we are raising a human being, our offspring, our worldly and spiritual legacy. So if you’re not up to the task and you need a pediatrician or another person to tell you to put chemicals into your baby’s mouth, then well, I guess, in a way we may even part ways and our conversation is over because that is my philosophy. I’m being a little blunt but I believe it needs saying. Jendi: So what did you do when your kids got sick? Joette: Well, the problem with modern pediatrics is that drugs opened a door to overuse. And I believe there are long-term ethical questions to be considered here. But then, worse yet, the door closed behind and slammed shut. And once I recognized that that was the paradigm that pediatricians adhere to and that it was based on, I believe, a cavalier, smearing-on, injecting-in, and tossing-about suspicious chemicals, it was easier from there on because I knew that wasn’t what I wanted. So that was my first step. For crying out loud, I put a lot of time into my whole homemade, organic, pasture-fed foods. I sourced them carefully. I bought directly from farmers. I grew my own. It seemed downright stupid to me to forget all that and suppress a fever with an antibiotic. So there’s a point of view that needs a discussion here, one that’s not heard frequently enough, and that is is it possible that we are being systematically altered and manipulated with substances that have never been proven to be safe? I mean, drugs aren’t tested on children, mind you, only adults, for obvious reasons. Children are not supposed to be legally tested and at least not in the conventional way. So how scientific is that? In a circuitous way, however, we eventually find out how dangerous these products can be. And remember, that is what they are, products of an industry. We find out after the drug has been on the market for a few years, sometimes months, sometimes much longer depending on the frequency of the prescription of these drugs, but eventually, we learn that this or that drug is not only doubtful but sometimes can even be lethal. That makes our kids lab rats for an industry. When I recognized this, that’s when I begged out. And I realize I haven’t answered your question. What was your question again? I get so caught up in this. Jendi: What about when your kids got sick? What do we do then? Joette: Oh, okay. Well, around the time that I started to have my children, just before I had them, I started to realize all of this. And so what I wanted to do was to learn another way. And the other way was first, what I learned was naturopathy – clean clothes, warm room, leave your window open, fresh air, high-quality foods made at home, sourced well, stay away from foods that are manufactured, stay away from foods that have ambiguous or unpronounceable ingredients, make everything myself. But when they got sick, I did more than that, of course. That’s when I started to learn about homeopathy. Examples of drugs that are dangerous to us Jendi: So you learned that the drugs were dangerous to kids and you were trying to raise your kids naturally. Can you give me an example of a drug that is dangerous for kids, maybe something we should avoid? Joette: Well, in my estimation, they all have dangerous aspects to them. It’s just a matter of balancing what is more important. There are certainly times when the dangers of a drug can be put aside for the advantage of something that is more looming. If someone needs surgery, obviously, we need to have anesthesia. It’s a risk. Anesthesia is a risk but it’s worth taking if the surgery is absolutely necessary and I am a proponent of surgery. I believe surgery can be very valuable. Not to remove tonsils, mind you. That’s absolutely ridiculous. There are so many other ways that are easier. But when surgery is truly needed, of course. But that gets us into the question of unnecessary surgery that is performed on our children. But today, taking birth control pills, giving it to children over the course of years for acne when they reach puberty or because a pregnancy would be an inconvenience so that the child is taught very early on to use something like that to keep from getting pregnant – I’m going to probably turn a lot of people off by saying this – I find that odious. There are so many intelligent, clean alternatives to these kinds of over-the-top methods. There’s always an alternative. You just have to ask the right person, you have to ask the right questions, and not someone who’s promoting that drug. That person’s already convinced that their methods are worthy of touting. I’ll give you an exact example. That famous drug that opened the public’s eye, at least when I was growing up because we used to see kids that were so horribly affected, was thalidomide. It was way before your time but it caused limbs to not develop in utero. I used to see children when I was a child who didn’t have fully formed arms or legs or missing fingers. But then there’s Darvon, for goodness sakes. It’s a ubiquitous drug that’s been regularly prescribed for pain up until a few years ago. And its claim to fame is now how brilliantly it was aiding humanity, but now it has countless deaths by cardiac arrest in people who – this is the most important aspect – who had no previous heart disease. It was merrily selling on the market since the late ‘50s. I think it was like 1957 when Darvon came on the market. And it was recently removed from the market after nearly 60 years of causing these deaths going untraced. Then there’s Accutane that was specifically targeted at teens. It has been linked to serious side effects like birth defects – get this one – thoughts of suicide, depression, and bowel disorders. For goodness sakes, we’re talking about acne. It was removed in the market back in 2009 and there was no official recall. You see, it’s not that there was a conspiracy of evil out there like some people might suggest. It’s simply a market square that says, “Here’s a drug if you want to take it. If you don’t, then okay, too.” But meanwhile, it’s up to us as mothers, as members of the public to make sure that we have done our homework. The public for some reason, well, it’s not for some reason, it has certainly been directed at us in this way, that there’s an erroneous idea that our government is out there protecting us, and it just simply isn’t true. It’s up to us to determine if we want such a chemical in our or our children’s bodies. There are just too many instances to name here but it’s worthy of attention of any conscientious parent to ask what kind of thin gruel are we giving our children. Jendi: So I know a question on my mind, and probably a lot of mothers, is if I stop asking my doctor, how do I know enough to take care of my children? Trust in your ability to mother Joette: Well, I’ve been asked that question many times and I always say, “Do you really have to ask that?” I mean, I realize your question’s rhetorical and you’re interviewing me but how does anyone know how to make any decisions of substance in their lives? How do you know what house to buy, how to educate, examine? Who should you marry? What church should you go to? Really, for goodness sakes, have we lost our ability to make good decisions? Do we not have the control in our lives to be able to decipher what’s best for us and our family? I worry about what’s wrong with the world that the most fundamental work of an adult must be run by another. If we really don’t know, ask your mother, ask your grandmother. That’s where wisdom lies. Now, there are those circumstances, of course. If they have fallen into lockstep with the lopsided way of dependency on a doctor for every little fever, then start studying. If your mother is saying, “Go to the doctor, go to the doctor, check with the doctor, call the doctor,” then you know it’s time to start doing some work on your own. Jendi: I have thought about that and I do believe we are way too dependent on the doctors and what the medical community thinks. Joette: And not just the doctors. I think many industries in general because they’ve done a very good job of marketing. I work with clients who hail from all over the world on a day-to-day basis from far-reaching places such as Mongolia, the Philippines, United Arab Emirates, in my fellowships in Kolkata where I’ve worked with Hindus and Muslims and sheikhs, in the US. I worked with Amish Mennonites, Hasidic Jews, Fundamental Christians, you name it, Conservative Catholics. I’ve also lived in many areas of the US and attended school in England and have done extensive travel. And I don’t say this for any other reason than to say that I’ve observed a great deal in my 63 years on this Earth. I’ve gleaned a perspective, I think, that’s sweeping. And what I’ve consistently noted is something that is going to fly in the face of the narrative of the Western World and that is – it’s a sweeping generalization but I can’t help but note it time and again – that the greater the formal education of the mother, the less she trusts her ability to mother. And the flip side of it is that the more conservative the family values are, the more involved and less likely the mother is to run to the ubiquitous experts for caring for her children, not just pediatricians but the educators for the child’s education. So for the educated mother, the common horse sense, I believe, has been educated right out of her. I’m not talking about intelligence here. I mean, higher education. Just try for one minute to see if you can convince a mother who has a law degree that she should know how to treat a fever herself without drugs on one hand and a phone to the doctor on the other. It might just throw her into a fit of disgust with those who don’t respect the education of doctors with the mere mention of it. And I don’t mean to condemn women who are attorneys. In fact, I took the LSATs myself and was on the entry list to join law school many years ago with a real strong desire to join the legal ranks. But I have to tell you that I have noted this phenomenon playing itself out in educated women. It’s prevalent in mothers with demanding careers. They simply don’t have the time to learn this stuff. But I say we must make the time. It’s that simple. Priorities need to be set with children at the apex and the career well below that. Ultimately, if you have to buck the system, you have to do that, and yes, the feminist manifesto in order to take on this way of thinking. I defiantly taught my children and I still say to them as adults that they would most likely succeed in life if they watched everyone else and what they did and then did the opposite. That’s when they’re likely to get it right just about a hundred percent of the time. Jendi: So did they follow your advice? Joette: Well, unfortunately, my kids don’t always listen to their mother. But I’ll share something with you when I didn’t follow my own advice. My first son was in a school for a few years before I homeschooled him through the rest of grammar school age. And I was being told by his teacher that he should not be taught how to play piano until he was older. It was the philosophy of that particular educational program to relay such intellectual pursuits. Now, my father and my brother are both professional musicians. I have played piano most of my life. I took classical music training in college. So it took some convincing for me to be convinced of this. But she did. She convinced me for a short time. What the heck was wrong with me? The teacher was almost half my age. I considered her education to be superior to my years of life, my family’s values, and more importantly, my undying devotion to my child. Yet, I took her advice for about a year. So I have to admit, I, too, am prone to being sold. I still kick myself today for having fallen for that pitfall. And I do call it pitfall. Soon after, I woke up though and I decided that I was not going to pay attention to that kind of thinking and I took him out of that school, the so-called experts, mind you, and then we started homeschooling from that time on. As mothers, we must step back outside of the situation, gain a common sense perspective. The world is brimming with ideas and lifestyles that are lacking in common horse sense and we must sift through that rubble. Jendi: It looks like your situation is different. It looks like you are a homeopath and have studied all this so you have confidence to take care of your kids that the rest of us don’t have. So was it your training that gave you the guts to take on curing your family yourself without a doctor? “I’ve had enough!” Joette: No. Actually, it was the other way around, Jendi. I knew nothing about medicine, even alternative medicine until I decided it was important enough to learn. I didn’t learn about homeopathy until I got sick at the hands of modern medical treatments – antibiotics and those god-forsaken birth control pills. That’s when I said, “Okay, I’ve had enough.” And that was just about the time my husband and I were married and we started looking into having a family. And that’s when it became crystal clear that if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. Jendi: I’m sure there are naysayers that will say, “Well, your kids probably weren’t as sick as others and that’s why you could handle it.” Joette: My kids were no different than anybody else. They got the usual coughs, colds, croup, stomach flus, bronchitis, ear infections, cold sores, food intolerance, you name it, strep throat, injuries galore. I have never been completely opposed to seeing doctors. I just knew I could handle most any condition that came our way. And the more I learned homeopathy, I preferred it to not be interfered with, thank you very much. But if something serious happened, of course, I would take them to a doctor, something that was beyond my understanding. Certainly, I wasn’t going to be foolish about this. We lived on a small farm. We raised some chickens and had a couple of goats for a while. We had bees and we not only didn’t depend on others but we rarely even needed a veterinarian because I learned enough about livestock and tending for them as well with homeopathy. But it was a process. I believe that we Americans have been hoodwinked into believing that all germs are bad. And the truth is that exposure to bees, germs, etc., and eschewing the stifling process of employing drugs is what actually keeps our children healthy. There is a beneficial purpose to acute illnesses and so I wasn’t afraid of them. I really believed it was important that my kids got chickenpox, that they got the flu, they got colds. I celebrated it when they got it. Stumbling on these fundamental discoveries, I sighed a sigh of not just relief but belief. I believe in myself that I could do this myself and then I set off and started to work on it so that I could prove to myself that I was worthy of it. So I did it the other way around. Jendi: I really love those ideas and I really want to do them in my own family. And I do think we’re often worried about pleasing others, but of course, our first duty is to protect our family and so until that is accomplished, nothing else matters. Joette: Well, we have to aggressively seek answers in our lives. They’re not just going to come to us. And I find that most of the answers that come too quickly are often planted there by media, marketing, etc. I used to be an account executive for NBC back in the 1980s. That means I was a member of the sales and marketing department. I know marketing when I see it because I used to write the local TV commercials. So I can identify motives and who’s behind what we read and hear very easily. I wish that everybody could. In fact, I assume many people do, and yes, I was one of them. And what I see in media is that they, the media themselves, are the stenographers for the government and health agencies, the self-promoting medical organizations and out-of-control big pharma. So when I got out of that field and began raising my family, I used my experiences as my guide. Far too often, what I witness in the general public is apparent indifference, kind of an injurious way of living, a way of thinking that is far too accepting of status quo. And I believe that leads to mediocrity, which is the one word that scares the wits out of me. Those who are listening today are certainly not of that ilk. Otherwise, they’d be watching a reality TV show instead of learning how to take care of their families, or at least considering what I have to offer here. Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa believed in the powers of homeopathy We need to get back to traditional values of commitment to our craft, whether it be as a parent, a grandparent, an engineer, a pianist, no matter, a commitment to excellence and not depending on others’ opinions. That’s why I look to those people in the world who have made a mark that lives beyond their time on Earth for their inspiration. And since I have a [unintelligible – 00:22:35] feeling towards India, I’ll use two of my favorite Indian citizens – Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa. I saw evidence of both of these two great minds during my time in Kolkata. There’s evidence of them everywhere in statues and bulletin boards, etc. And as a Roman Catholic, I appreciate that Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity depended on homeopathy and treated the poorest of the poor in Kolkata with homeopathic medicines. Jendi: So it’s a known fact that Mother Teresa and Gandhi used homeopathy? Joette: Well, I don’t know that Gandhi administered homeopathy but he held it in high regard. He is quoted as saying – I’ve got this quote right here – “Homeopathy cures a larger percentage of cases than any other form of treatment and is beyond a doubt safer and more economical.” And yes, the sisters were not fully trained homeopaths but they knew how to use the medicines and administered them to the sick and dying. Dr. Prasanta Banerji, the wonderful man who trained me in his methods, knew and personally acknowledged that to me. Jendi: The wide world has a lot to offer us if we seek for it. Joette: Yeah, there’s no doubt. There’s no doubt. And the reason I mentioned this is because it demonstrates that homeopathy is so very poorly underrepresented in the US today, yet highly valued in the rest of the world. In fact, it’s valued everywhere but the US and Canada and oddly enough, the communist countries, too. But more importantly, I share this because what I have unearthed are what I believe the answers to so many homeopathic protocols that can be learned by families to treat themselves. These protocols take away the trial and error found in both classical homeopathy and even what an essential oil or an herb can provide. I love to say, “Here’s how you do it. Here’s the condition, here’s the remedy, here’s the potency, and here’s where you can purchase it if you don’t have it. And now, this is how it’s employed.” Jendi: And I love that you share so much free information on your blog and I love to go there and search for something that is bothering my family instead of going to the drugstore. And if I don’t find something right away, I try to pick a synonym or another way to describe it and search that way. So I was looking up acne for my daughter. I didn’t find a lot so I put in pimples and it brought up some information about that. And I reference it to other people. “Oh, I learned about this on JoetteCalabrese.com,” or “I was reading about this on JoetteCalabrese.com.” So it’s a great resource. Joette: Yeah. I’m glad you’re using it. And that’s the way to do it. You may have to come up with synonyms. Jendi: Do you have any parting words for us today? Be a defiant mother Joette: Well, actually, I just have one. My parting word is “No”. The most powerful word in a woman’s vocabulary is no. You can always say yes later but start out with no first. “No candy right now, honey.” And more importantly, “No, thanks, doc. I need to give this some thought.” “No, not today, doc. I want to discuss it with my husband.” “No, not Tylenol for fever. Thank you very much.” When it comes to our posturing, dealing with health and welfare, this includes dealing with education administrators, too, by the way, my general rule is no. Don’t be a good girl. Be a good mother. Be prepared to fight to the finish for your family. No, don’t be a compliant parent. Be a self-respecting, well-informed force. Be defiant. Unapologetically, take control of your destiny. Instead of bumping around the bottom in mediocrity, get to the top of your game. Go ahead and tuck away some of the protocols and the homeopathic tricks of the trade into your hip pocket, then take your family by the hand and face the opposite direction from the rest of the world and that’s when you say, “Yes, yes, I can do this myself.” That’s when you’re likely to get it right. Jendi: Thank you so much, Joette, for all your encouragement.
Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com and schedule a free 15-minute conversation. | |||
| Podcast 9 – The Worst Kind of Pollution | 27 Feb 2015 | 00:19:04 | |
In this podcast, we cover: 0:45 Joette as an anti-pesticide activist 2:32 Medicines: The worst kind of pollution 7:52 Don’t rely on your doctors to tell you the harmful effects of medicines 11:05 Transitioning from conventional medicines to homeopathy Today’s podcast is about pollution, but not the first kind that comes to mind. Years ago, I was an anti-pesticide activist. I met with local hospitals and school boards in my community and got them to stop spraying dangerous pesticides on their lawns and school grounds. We are all too familiar with that kind of pollution, and the ability of grass roots activism to create positive change. This podcast, I want to talk about one that may be much more important than the sprayed kind. It actually might be the most vicious, as its overuse has become the number one killer in the U.S. today. Remarkably, we not only willingly accept this kind of pollution, we agree to it, so it’s not enforced like taxes. Instead, the public is convinced to respect it enough to pay for it! It’s even bold-facedly standing in your medicine cabinet every morning. Listen, as I tell a story of a young girl named Dolly, who experiences the devastation that occurs in the wake of having taken only a round or two of one of these pollutants… on the recommendation of a trusted college physician. There’s a little Dolly in each of us, but failures teach. Don’t we all wish that someone, be it a doctor, our mother or SOMEONE, would just tell us what to do, what to take and be on with our lives? A life well lived is one that requires that we unapologetically take control of our own destinies. For if we don’t, we will likely fulfill someone else’s instead, and it might be the way of industry promoting, pharmaceutical pollution. In the end, knowing how to use homeopathy before or even after poor choices can be transformational. You are listening to a podcast from JoetteCalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. Jendi: Hello! This is Jendi and I’m here with Joette Calabrese. Today, we’re going to be talking about pollution and what we can do about it to protect our families. And I’m excited to learn about this. So Joette, is there something we can do about pollution other than getting involved in grassroots and community movements? Joette as an anti-pesticide activist Joette: Yeah, there certainly is. Years ago, I was an anti-pesticide activist. I met with local hospitals and city groundskeepers in the city of Buffalo and school districts, etc., because I was concerned about the amount of pesticides that were being sprayed on the lawns where children played and in the hospitals where people who were sick were adjacent to the lawns. So given the amount of pesticides spewed on the lawns or on our food supply, fluoride in our water, the GMOs, the mercury in vaccines and dental fillings, you’d think we were doomed. But consider a different take on pollution. That’s what we’re going to look at today, one that may be much more important, I believe, actually, than the randomly emitted sort, not the kind that is sprayed on the trees in the summer by the city workers, and that’s exactly what I was working against. And actually, by the way, I might say parenthetically that I was successful. Buffalo was the first city in the nation to stop its use of pesticides on city properties. So it did work. It was back in the ‘80s and it was very effective. We made the national news and Reuters picked us up and we went all over the country with this information. But at any rate, what we’re going to be talking about today might be the most vicious as its overuse has actually become the number one killer in the US today. And remarkably, we’re not only willing to accept this kind of pollution, but we agreed to it, and it’s not enforced like taxes. Instead, the public is convinced to respect it enough to pay for it. And it’s bold facedly standing in your medicine cabinet every morning. Jendi: So I worry about all those other things you said. So if this is worse, this scares me. Medicines: The worst kind of pollution Joette: Well, you might have guessed what this is anyway if you thought about it. The pollution is the medicines and over-the-counter drugs, pharmaceuticals. And they’re euphemistically christened as medicine instead of what they often actually are, and that is pollution of a most personal nature. Jendi: So why is it more serious than DDT and all those other things? Joette: Well, because it’s what I call personal pollution. The spraying of DDT with all its side effects was only done once every summer, and the same thing with lawn pesticides. They’re sprayed once a month. I actually remember DDT being sprayed on the trees on my street growing up in Buffalo, New York. We were often playing outside while it was being done. But with drugs, we actually place them into our mouths. We spray them into our nasal cavities or smear them directly on our skin every day, often for many years. Jendi: And we’ve all heard about the dangers of drugs and I don’t like using them at all but I never thought of them as pollution. Joette: Well, let me demonstrate the devastation that occurs in the wake of having taken in many cases only a round or two of one of these pollutants. Here’s a typical story. I love to give stories. This is so common that it’s become the new normal. It’s a story about a 19-year-old girl whose name is Dolly. Dolly attends an Ivy League university and she studies piano performance. She has lived her rather healthy life with nary a thought towards health. She’s typical of the kids in upscale universities in the US today. Actually, most universities in the west. She eats organic fare at the school’s trendy cafeteria and she sups on whole, organic yoghurt, and wouldn’t dream of consuming a Big Mac. Yet, when her skin breaks out, she becomes worried. Each month, she gets visited by blemishes and since she performs regularly on stage, of course, she wants to have flawless skin. So what does Dolly do? She takes a trip to the infirmary on campus to get an expert’s opinion. If you’re anywhere near where I am in this thinking, we already know what the doctor will say. But because of her age, Dolly is unsuspecting. She leaves the clinic with two predictable prescriptions, one for an antibiotic and the other for birth control pills. Her “acne”, that was in reality a little more than a monthly show of pimples on her cheeks, disappears within days after commencing the drugs. Jendi: And that sounds like a typical teenager. I’ve known many people that have gone and got those prescriptions. Joette: That’s right. But then, wham! Jendi: I think I know what you’re going to say next. I think I know what’s going to happen. Joette: Yup. Dolly begins to not feel so well. Her bellyaches after eating. She gets some constipation and she begins to notice a creeping sadness. Well, actually, it’s more like a frank depression. Small matters that never troubled her before become dismal and heavy. And she also notices that certain foods cause embarrassing gas, one of which is her beloved yoghurt. So what’s happened is Dolly’s developed chronic illness. And these sufferings may not dwindle over time regardless of how soon she stops taking the drugs because side effects don’t always go away just because you’ve stopped using them. If they’re not fully addressed, they will be commensurate with the amount of time she indulges in this lifestyle. Jendi: So if I’m understanding correctly, Dolly traded minor skin conditions for a lifetime of gastrointestinal discomforts and depression. Joette: Yes. Now, it may not be a lifetime. Hopefully, if Dolly gets it straight and gets off of this quickly enough, she may have years to undo this. But she’s essentially traded a minor skin condition, just as you said, that would easily be uplifted with a homeopathic protocol for an illness that is likely not going to simply melt away by itself. Not unlike most North Americans and others throughout the world, Dolly, as bright as she is, has been well trained to dash off and get drugs for every ill. By the way, did I mention that she now suffers fatigue, too? She drags herself back to the prestigious clinic and her prestigious university where more up-to-the-minute drugs are prescribed and again is lulled with a little paper for yet more prescriptions for the new conditions. Jendi: Okay. So let me guess. This one, she got one for her stomachaches and she got another prescription for depression and a pain reliever for her gastrointestinal pain. Joette: That’s right. You’ve got it. A pain reliever and a psychotropic drug. There is simply, in my estimation, no responsible argument for the use of a psychotropic drug for a young woman who is having a response to birth control pills and antibiotics. This I believe, my friends, is debauchery and pollution of the most sobering sort. It’s shocking and more conspicuously, one issue that actually is avoidable. Don’t rely on your doctors to tell you the harmful effects of medicines Jendi: And we are raised up to trust our doctors. Wouldn’t Dolly’s doctor tell her about the potential harm that she could get from these drugs? Joette: Well, it’s a rare doctor now that takes the time to inform patients and patients don’t get that part. This is where it’s important for folks to take their healthcare into their own hands. And thank god for the internet because there’s a good way to acquire this information. It really takes only a visit to Drugs.com or such to accumulate only a small portion of vital facts regarding side effects of drugs. But this is where the official effects are listed. To find out what I call the unofficial short and long-term effects takes only a few keystrokes more and the realm of forms of people suffering from the fallout of drugs congregate and share their misery. Had Dolly thought to do this or to be honest, in many ways more importantly, if the clinic doc conscientiously warned her, she would have found that the side effects read like side effects expected after DDT spraying. The long-term effects are rarely listed and they, too, often ought to be taken into account. But that’s usually not what’s listed. Knowing what these might be takes some experience and plain, old horse sense that we gain after living life a little longer than Dolly has. Jendi: So can you tell us more what you mean about that? Joette: Well, it’s only logical that when you take an antibiotic, it will rearrange, transform the interior of the gut. After all, they’re not called antibiotic or anti-life for nothing. And they don’t target only the bad microorganisms. They’re like napalm. They kill the beneficial organisms along with the bacteria that has overgrown. Jendi: And we mentioned Dolly was taking birth control drugs also. Are they a problem, too? Joette: Well, we’ve not yet observed the full effects, as far as I’m concerned, of the birth control drugs that Dolly is ingesting daily. But if the last 50 years plus of birth control sorrows is an indication, we can only imagine what they may superimpose on Dolly’s life in the next decade. I don’t want to go too far into that but if you’re at all interested in that, you might want to check online the sorrows and the problems that have occurred as a result of birth control drugs. And so why do I say a decade of Dolly’s life? I mean, I bring that up for a reason. The reason is because most women stay on the pill for about a decade. Jendi: So what should Dolly do? Joette: If I could yell out to her, I’d say, “Stop, Dolly! Stop!” Dolly must stay clear of drugs that pollute the body and that throw off symptoms into the future only to compound them. The way to do this is to consider food changes, add some tincture of patience and time and perhaps a homeopathic remedy, and drop that idea that drugs are okay even when taken in moderation. Jendi: What plan do you have for her? Transitioning from conventional medicines to homeopathy Joette: Well, the first step is for Dolly, of course, to get off the drugs. This can be done by offering homeopathics first. So if Dolly had known about homeopathy, that would have been much easier to deal with her skin so that the need for the drugs then become obsolete. This would include employing a protocol for her now gut dysbiosis as well as one for depression and aiming backwards towards her original complaint of the blemishes. And each of these conditions will thoroughly be completed via homeopathy, then we can place Dolly back on wholesome firmament. Jendi: Do you think that everyone should get off of any drugs that they’re taking, and wouldn’t that be potentially dangerous for some people, depending on their circumstances? Joette: Absolutely. You have a very good point, Jendi. This is not to say that all drugs can or ought to be stopped abruptly by everyone in all circumstances. Such a sweeping generalization carries potentially dangerous consequences because the body accommodates the drug. And sometimes, drugs prop people up in such a fashion that it can really cause trouble and the boomerang effect after stopping the drugs or for other reasons as well. But in Dolly’s situation, antibiotics, birth control, and psychotropic pills are at best superfluous. So the next step is for Dolly to consider taking a dose of nux-vomica 200, and that can be taken once daily for three days and then, of course, stop. This will help settle the chaos that’s going on in her body now. It’s likely that her stomach pains and gas and even depression, once off the drugs, will soften enough that she can begin moving to a more intelligent way to treat each of her now varied conditions. Jendi: What about her diet? Does she need to change the food she’s eating, like leave out gluten or dairy? Joette: Depending on how Dolly suffers, to give her gut a little reprieve, she might want to lighten the burden and abstain from these foods if she thinks they may be contributing. But the aim of homeopathy is to root out even food sensitivities so that this step will become unnecessary in the near future. So a dose of nux-vomica 200, that can be taken once daily for three days, this will help settle things. It’s likely that her gas and pain and depression, once off the drugs, will indeed soften. But once Dolly’s gastrointestinal tract has responded to the antibiotic, she will need to tighten up the purity and choices of her food, probably, for some time while taking up a homeopathic protocol to right the wrongs. And so what may accompany it is that her stomach, she may still have constipation or other issues. And if that’s so, a good remedy that she might want to consider is Chelidonium 30 mixed with nux-vomica 200. And that would be taken twice daily for approximately six weeks, and that would be after she had been using the nux-vomica. Jendi: Okay. I grabbed my pencil. Can you repeat the remedy name again? Joette: Yes. It’s Chelidonium 30 mixed with nux-vomica 200, and it’s taken twice daily for approximately six weeks. This is actually a Banerji protocol. And they mix them together. They do a lot of that in Kolkata at their clinic and I have used this many times for my family members and many students. But remember, it covers stomach pains that’s associated with an incomplete bowel movement. And that’s what Dolly was complaining about, was an incomplete bowel movement. Jendi: Now, what about her acne which was the start of the whole thing? Joette: Right. Well, what Dolly could have done to take care of her minor problem of acne, only this time with homeopathy, would be to use a remedy called Hepar sulph 200 mixed with Arsenicum album 200 taken every other day for about six weeks. I’ve written about this method on an earlier blog. So just plug in the search bar on my blog and insert the word “acne” or “pimples” and you can do this for many maladies, by the way. And that article will give you exactly how Dolly should have utilized these remedies before going for heavy duty drugs. So I want to remind folks that I give this information out free for my readers to learn and pass on. In fact, all I ask if readers go to this, if this information is helpful to you, is that you pass it on to friends, neighbors, relatives, and colleagues. So anyway, back to Dolly. Often, that’s just enough to eliminate the problem permanently in that amount of time. And as I said, I learned this little trick in Kolkata at the side of the great doctors Banerji, and they assured me of the efficacy of this medicine for acne and boy, were they right. I witnessed the success of this protocol acting time and again. And after I wrote that blog, I got many responses from people about six, eight, ten weeks later, who reported that indeed, it actually helped them, their daughters, their nieces, their nephews, etc. So in fact, for nearly any medical condition that Dolly might encounter, with a little effort, she might easily have rooted it out with homeopathy. This is not the forum for an in-depth discussion of chronic illnesses, of course, such as serious food intolerances, allergies, Crohn’s, hormonal imbalances, constipation, eczema, gut dysbiosis, and depression. But had Dolly been interested in learning how to tend her gut garden with these kinds of illnesses, she would need to consider taking a course or two or simply owning a good homeopathy book. Jendi: And it would certainly be helpful if Dolly learned how to use homeopathy and common sense methods while she’s in college because at some time in the future, there’s a good chance she’ll have a family and she’ll have a head start on already knowing a lot of these things. Joette: That’s right. This is when young people should learn about it. She’ll want to know that fever is normal when she has her children. It’s normal in childhood diseases, that acne is not something that we quell, pains are warning signs that something is remiss and they need to be rooted out at the cause, not covered up by a drug. And she’ll need to know what is trustworthy of treatment, homeopathic or conventional, and what is normal and ought to be left alone to avoid this labyrinth of complications that she found herself in. Jendi: Thank you, Joette. This story helps put it into perspective and Dolly is like a lot of us, I think. Joette: Yeah. There’s a little Dolly, I think, in each of us. Don’t we all wish that someone, a doctor or a mother or someone would just tell us what to do, what to take, and be on our way with our lives? But I have to say failures teach and Dolly will probably learn. A life well lived is one that requires that we unapologetically take control of our own destinies. If we don’t, we will likely fulfill someone else’s instead and it might be the way of the industry promoting pharmaceutical pollution. So in the end, knowing how to use homeopathy before or even after poor choices can be transformational. Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com and schedule a free 15-minute conversation.
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| Podcast 8 – Stopping and Changing Direction | 04 Feb 2015 | 00:17:35 | |
In this podcast, we cover: 1:09 Conditions that take longer to treat 2:11 Antimonium crud mixed with Arsenicum album for itchy eczema 7:41 Petroleum for eczema that’s worse in the winter 9:22 Use camphor in between the wrong protocol and the new protocol 10:16 Coffea helps with sleep 12:08 Food intolerance, the root problem Herein I finish the three-part series What to Expect When Using Homeopathy. In my previous two podcasts (and blogs) I covered acute illness, general guidelines for selecting dosage and chronic illness, what to watch for (the three magic markers) to determine whether the remedy was well chosen. Now in Part 3, I cover what to do if you recognize that the remedy is not the best selection for the case. Here are my guidelines:
Remain confident in your skills, knowing even the wrong remedy choice can give us information that may have gone unnoticed or perhaps wasn’t available at the time the first remedy was selected. I know you know what it means to have your child feel better after months of suffering. Now imagine what that must feel like knowing that it was at your hand…that YOU cured your child, husband, mother, friend. Many of you know this feeling. I know this feeling. Is there anything on earth that is a better high than this? You are listening to a podcast from JoetteCalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. Jendi: This is Jendi and I’m back with Joette Calabrese from JoetteCalabrese.com, and this is our series of What to Expect When Using Homeopathy. So far, we’ve covered the number of doses, the spaces in between, and the other important details and kind of focused on acute conditions. That was part one. And part two, we talked a little bit more about chronic conditions and we covered how to watch for what Joette calls magic markers to determine whether the remedy was well chosen. Now, this is the third and last part of this series of What to Expect When Using Homeopathy. And I’m looking forward to hearing about what to do if I choose a wrong remedy for a condition. Conditions that take longer to treat Joette: Okay. Let’s talk about some conditions take longer than others, sometimes even remedies. Certain remedies are slower acting. But generally, it’s the conditions and in the corresponding article, I mentioned vitiligo. And for vitiligo, the Banerji protocols have been shown to alleviate this problem in a certain number of people. It’s not a hundred percent for everyone. But it’s generally a very long process with slow results. You know, I like to use musical terms. I know that you play instruments and I play piano. And so I love to use musical terms. And it might be called adagio, adagio. That’s a very slow snail’s pace. And although homeopathy has a history of being able to treat psoriasis, it, too, has an elongated pace. And here is how it often fleshes out. I’ll explain this to you. Pun intended, by the way, Jendi. Jendi: And you have another story for us about a little boy today. And I love it when you share the stories because I understand and I find I remember the example better. Antimonium crud mixed with Arsenicum album for itchy eczema Joette: Yeah, it does help. Yeah, there’s nothing like a story to demonstrate a point. So I’ll tell you about Joseph who’s 10 years old. This is a case of a mother who’s been taking my online courses and she’s been following my blog for a few years, and also, she’s had other interest in homeopathy through other homeopaths as well, and then decided to take my course, Skin: The Ugly Truth, and later, Good Gut, Bad Gut. And this is where she learned how to master the Banerji protocols which is who I promote indirectly. And she implemented them with her son. So Joseph had a few things going on. He was irritable, he had food allergies, but most importantly, he had kind of mid-level eczema until a few months ago. And then around that time, probably two or three months ago, his skin worsened and so did his behavior. His rashes got very itchy and his mother, Millie, figured it was something he was eating. He was allergic to something. She kind of knew that all along anyway but didn’t have to pay too much attention to it until a few months ago. But she wasn’t sure it was anything more than dairy and wheat. So the family had been on the GAPS diet kind of loosely. And if you’re not familiar with the GAPS diet, it’s a good diet to help eliminate food intolerances and build up gut flora. So the whole family was pretty much on it but she was a little more strict with Joseph, particularly when he had some flares. But this was the worst that he had ever had. By the way, for those who don’t know about GAPS, it’s a great therapeutic diet but it’s pretty difficult on moms, especially for kids such as Joseph’s age who sneak candy bars and such. It’s pretty tough but for the most part, Joseph, even though he was a little difficult as of recently, he was a rather compliant boy. So based on the information that she found on this blog, she gave Joseph Antimonium crud 6 mixed with Arsenicum album 6 twice daily for about six weeks. This is the Banerji protocol that is pretty specific for itchy eczema. Now, not all eczema is itchy. But it’s a really good place to start when you see eczema coming forth. Jendi: And then she had to check Joseph’s skin over and over to see how it was doing? Because I know I get impatient and I want to see how things are moving along. Joette: Right, right. Certainly, it’s difficult not to check Joseph’s skin day by day, even by hour. Most moms want to see how things are progressing. But I urge parents to not get too caught up in this when it comes to a chronic issue because we need to look at the net gain in the long run to know where we stand. I was in touch with Millie at the time and she was my student and I cheered her on, “Hold off from assessment, Millie, hold off; you can do it,” which is, as I said, difficult to do. Jendi: But in this case, the Arsenicum album and the Antimonium tart, they weren’t right after all? Joette: Well, that’s right. It’s easy to get muddled in the process of ebbs and flows. And what I mean by that, this could be a step forward and a half step back, etc. So after the prescribed approximately six to eight weeks, Millie then decided to change course. And the reason is that when she assessed at the end of that time period, she noted that Joseph had a little less itching, as she was keeping kind of a record of it somewhat, here and there. So based on the magic markers and determining the progress, she admits that the only change was that he was itching less frequently and that when he scratched, he would go into a frenzy. Now, that hadn’t been happening previously. So it looked as though things were not really moving ahead as she had hoped. So she concluded that there was no net gain in his condition, nor was there also any change in his demeanor. And that matters, too. We want to look at the whole person as well, even though we’re dealing with eczema and food intolerances. So Millie was most concerned because his skin was vulnerable and now he had cracks that oozed and bled a serous fluid. And this was as tough on Millie as you can imagine as it was on her son. Even her husband was also worried about infections since his skin was open in so many places. But Millie resisted because she, too, had eczema and experienced a lifetime of steroid use and she had decided that she wanted to protect her son from sufferings that she endured, and still to this day, as a matter of fact, from the fallout of the steroids. And she also had noted that they never cleared up the problem and caused only new ones. So she was determined not to use steroids. I had nothing to do with this decision. This was because of her own experience. Once the six weeks had passed, she felt it was time, of course, to at least start looking at another protocol. And as I said, she looked back at the course, Skin: The Ugly Truth and the Good Gut, Bad Gut course. And I mention this because this is where I teach how to use these protocols very specifically. So she referred to her notes and Millie remembered petroleum 200. Now, this is homeopathic petroleum. We’ve had people who have commented on the blog and said, “Petroleum is the worst thing you could use on skin.” Well, that’s precisely why petroleum 200 is so valuable because it’s highly diluted and what causes illness removes illness when used homeopathically. Petroleum for eczema that’s worse in the winter She remembered the petroleum 200 as a remedy that is specific for eczema that worsens in the winter and presents with cracks. And of course, this was just a few months ago that she relayed all this to me when it all began. So it had started to get really bad on his skin back in late November, early December. So she hadn’t realized until she read the description of petroleum in her notes because she had been thinking that the problem was not because of going into winter as much as the fact that the children had gone to their grandparents who routinely served heaps of cookies, breads, and soda, sometimes even diet soda, she mentioned. So that makes things a little difficult and it kind of scrambles up the information. Jendi: And so then she figured that that diet was the cause of Joseph’s skin flare up. Joette: Right, exactly. So Joseph was not getting a full night’s sleep because of the skin or maybe vice versa. So then she was thinking well maybe, having checked her notes again, Coffea 200 might be indicated because it is the perfect remedy, specific actually for itching that keeps the sufferer up at night. And again, here we go with Coffea. You would think coffee, that’s from which it’s made, would keep someone up. And indeed, if we use it homeopathically, it does the opposite. So this is when Millie decided to change gears. She stopped using the Antimonium crud and Arsenicum album and instead, switched to petroleum 200 and she used it every other day and Coffea 200 once at night, probably just around bedtime or after dinner sometime. Use camphor in between the wrong protocol and the new protocol However, Millie didn’t take an interim step that I believe she should have taken. That is, it would have been a little bit cleaner, and I can’t prove this but I mean, we see this all the time, that camphor 200 one dose for one day between the wrong group of remedies and a new fresh protocol is a part of the Banerji protocol that helps clear the way and it allows for a smoother transition into the next remedies if the previous medicines didn’t produce results. And when I say I can’t prove it, as you understand the story and how it unfolds, you’ll see things worked out in the long run even without camphor. But I’ll be writing more on this subject soon, the subject of camphor and antidoting. So Millie’s new choice of remedies was right on in spite of this misstep, what we might consider a misstep, in not using camphor. Coffea helps with sleep Jendi: But the Coffea got him to fall asleep, right, like a perfect remedy for insomnia even though it’s coffee. So the like cures like was illustrated with her use of that. Joette: Right, exactly. You’ve got it. And he promptly fell asleep and stayed peacefully asleep the very first night after taking Coffea 200. And the reason I emphasize that is because sometimes it takes two, three, four nights, sometimes even a week or so, sometimes even longer than that for a remedy to act when it comes to something that’s chronic. But that’s what’s interesting about this remedy, is that it’s even more specific for those who suffer not just from inability to fall asleep but who suffer from itching and the itching keeps them awake. So it’s kind of a dual remedy. It’s really great for when the itching causes that insomnia. So little-to-no scratching ensued. Joseph’s mom knew this because she had always had her ear glued to her son’s bedroom one room over and the sound of his scratching used to keep her up nightly, worrying with angst. I mean, that’s what it’s like. And on that first night, the only sound she heard, she told me, were nothing but the soft sounds of a sleeping breath drifting from his room. So you can imagine how Millie must have felt that night. You know how mothers are. We sleep better knowing that everything is moving in the right direction and our children are well. I call Millie now a homeopathic mom. It’s been over two months of taking the new Banerji protocols with petroleum and Coffea and Joseph’s skin is not what she’s reporting as perfect but the itching is now about a 2 out of 10 and the condition of the skin overall in appearance and comfort is what I would call a triumphant 3. Food intolerance, the root problem Jendi: So now, she has to figure out about the food intolerances? Joette: Yeah. That’s right. We are not finished here just because we’re seeing some good conditions here. The remedies will help with the skin but unless we address the essence of the problem, which is the food intolerances, his skin will likely never fully recover. And we don’t want him to live a life of abstinence in terms of his diet. His skin still responds to his diet. But remember, before he embarked on this method, it mattered not how carefully restrictive his diet was; his skin still tortured him. So Millie plans to refer to her notes in Good Gut, Bad Gut hoping to address this problem so that he will slowly be able to incorporate the more important aspects of his diet, especially dairy. Jendi: That’s a great story because it not only illustrates that the wrong remedy doesn’t hurt them, it helps you find the other problems. It illustrates kind of slow and steady. You got to keep track of it and watch it. Don’t get impatient. A lot of things in there. Joette: Right, right. Exactly, exactly. That’s why I love telling these kinds of stories. It really does help a lot. This is what I call a return to traditional family values where mothers and grandmothers cure their families themselves and throw away the drugs of commerce that have never been shown to cure such conditions in the first place. Remember, the first remedies Millie used didn’t really fail. They weren’t exactly right. They did something. We did see a little something. They were simply ill chosen. Jendi: It was very important for her to pay attention to the details of the skin and also what he was eating and know what symptoms she had to address first. So she had to draw out the telling of most important systems and conditions from the case. And that’s something any mom can learn, right? Joette: Right. It’s a skill learned and it’s the case in point. Even the wrong remedy choice can give us information that may have gone unnoticed or perhaps unavailable at the time. For those who are moms or grandmothers, I know what it’s like to have your child feel better after months of suffering. And now, imagine that feeling of knowing that it was at your hand. So the thing is that a lot of times, if we use a remedy that’s incorrect, it brings forth the awareness that, “Oh, my gosh! This is really worse at night. He can’t sleep.” So then we have to look at a remedy that’s specific to that. In fact, she didn’t. She had not even noticed that until she had used those remedies and recognized that, “No, we’re not only not moving forward but boy, this is a nightly issue, an insomnia issue as well.” And then, of course, she started to look at it in the overall scheme of the timing and that it perhaps wasn’t grandma’s cookies and baked goods and diet soda perhaps. It had more to do with the time of year. That’s when petroleum came to mind. So I know these feelings. Is there anything on Earth that’s a better high than curing your own child? I know many of you who listen to these podcasts have done it and there’s nothing like it. You get hooked. You can’t stop. Once you cure a bee sting, once you cure an ear infection, once you resolve a horrendous fever or eczema… eczema, for crying out loud. That doesn’t have an end naturally. Dermatologists tell us that children outgrow it. Well, no, it doesn’t. It’s not outgrown. It just shifts and becomes something else. You still have now the gut issue. And then in teenage years, what we often see is then there’s acne related to the food intolerances or there are stomachaches that are related to the food intolerances. So no, it’s not presenting as eczema for a dermatologist to deal with. But indeed, we have not gotten to the bottom of the pathology. Jendi: And I do want to remind the listeners, if you like what you’re hearing in this podcast and the other ones, please share it with your friends, neighbors, your family, your coworkers, whatever. And I know whenever I learn things, then when another mom starts complaining about how their child’s feeling or they’re not feeling good, this all goes through my mind, like, “You need to learn about this from Joette.” Joette: Right, right. Well, the goal of a good homeopath is to give just enough guidance so that at some point, as soon as possible, you as a mother or grandmother can gain the knowledge from the new protocols to be able to follow through on your own. That’s my role. So the role of the mother and grandmother is to do your homework and question, question, question. Even question me. I don’t have all the answers. I’ll be honest. I do the best I can in just getting out what I know. But just like Snowbell said to Stuart Little in the movie Stuart Little, I’m dating myself here, he said, “You’ve got guts, Stuart. You’ve got guts. You’ve got guts, spunk, and moxie.” And that’s the way I want mothers and grandmothers to approach their family’s illnesses. Jendi: Thank you so much, Joette. This one again is full of information. I hope that they had a pencil and paper ready. If not, they can replay it and write things down, or there’s an accompanying blog post at JoetteCalabrese.com, right? Joette: That’s right. Jendi: Thank you so much. Joette: No, thank you, Jendi. Nice talking with you. Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com and schedule a free 15-minute conversation. | |||
| Podcast 7 – Treating Chronic Illness | 01 Feb 2015 | 00:23:10 | |
In this podcast, we cover: 1:01 Length of time needed to treat a chronic condition 5:00 Take copious notes 8:58 Homeopathic remedies for vomiting 10:13 Take note of the improvements 16:21 Joette’s magic markers of improvement “Being able to take responsibility for your family’s care in such a meaningful and committed way is the substance that makes for a life well lived.” This week’s podcast is about starting and using homeopathy for your family’s chronic conditions.
Being a wife and mother is one of the noblest jobs on this earth. Use this free blog and incorporate my homeopathy tips, and you’ll accomplish this like a sovereign. Podcast 6,7 and 8 are supplemental to blog articles that are titled: What to Expect Using Homeopathy Parts 1-3
You are listening to a podcast from JoetteCalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. Jendi: This is Jendi and I’m back again with Joette Calabrese and I am looking forward to learning more on the subject of what to expect after using a homeopathic remedy. So in our last podcast, we talked about using homeopathic remedies for acute conditions and I have used them for colds and headaches for my kids. So I now turn to the homeopathic remedy instead of a store-bought drug, and I’m looking forward to hearing what happens when there’s a condition that continues or has been for a while, as you call it, a chronic condition. Length of time needed to treat a chronic condition Joette: Yes. So last week in part one, we covered the kind of results we would look for when using homeopathy to address acute situations such as fever, like you said, otitis media, sore throats, headaches, bee stings, things like that. So acute problems are relatively straightforward compared with what to expect when dealing with chronic conditions. That is, it only takes a few minutes, hours, or maybe a couple of days to know that you’ve chosen the remedy correctly. But in a chronic condition because it’s a longer lasting one, it’s different. Certainly, there are also signs along the road that we can look for to reassure us that we are in the correct path or to redirect us if we’re on the wrong path. So here’s the first one. When addressing a chronic illness, the length of time that we need to stick with the protocol is generally about a month to two months. So that gives us information in and of itself. That tells us that it is a matter of pacing. Think of it this way. Allegro is the acute pace and adagio is the chronic pace. So we don’t expect something that’s a chronic illness that’s been going on for many years or decades, sometimes months, but more often it’s years or decades, to completely clear up overnight like we would a headache that just started three hours ago. So in general, it’s usually best to observe a chronic protocol over that two-month period of time before there’s an assessment. And to give you an idea of what this means, for a 4-year-old, expect sleep to be reestablished within a few weeks, whereas someone who’s older, it might take a lot longer for it to be reestablished. Someone who’s had insomnia for, say, five years, it might take many weeks. So it will be a couple of months. Mind you, these are examples of what might occur so don’t hold these degrees of length of time to specific scrutiny. I’m kind of giving you an overview. So it can take time, perhaps months, but it is a march in the direction of wholeness. So we have to remember that along the way, that we’re looking for improvement, prompting you to continue with your remedies in the same fashion. So if you’ve decided to use a remedy twice daily and you’re going to use that every day for a full month, you need to stick with that. Don’t waver because if you waver, you’ll certainly question yourself and wonder whether or not you’ve made the correct decision. So when a remedy is working, we must not tinker with success. And this is one of the catches that most people get stuck on. As much as we want the remedy to move quickly because we’re so, again, accustomed to seeing an acute situation resolve so quickly, we must hold our ground. Once the remedy no longer acts and there’s no improvement at all and there’s nothing left to be realized, then and only then is it time to abandon it and move on. So undeniably, there are three steps forward with a step or two back. So you might see, “Oh, my gosh, I’m doing so well! But oh, no, now it’s not doing so well again.” So if we think of it as a moving up the ladder and we’re getting closer and closer to wellness, we might take a couple of steps forward and a step back. But we’re looking for greater and greater strides over this time that holds vital evidence. And what I mean by that is if this information is not realized simply because the information wasn’t logged properly and referred to with accuracy, it will toss the prescriber and the sufferer about like a schooner without a rudder. So what I mean by that is you need to keep really careful notes when it comes to a chronic illness, and even acutes, for that matter. Take copious notes Jendi: How do you keep track of all this? And I know you said write it down. Is there any way that I can make it easier because I’m a busy mom doing all kinds of things through the day? Joette: Right. This is where I stress how important, how absolutely crucial it is to take notes at the onset of taking the case. Don’t think you’re going to remember this. And also, you want to, along with numerical values, compare them to a two-month outcome. So what I mean by numerical values is you’re going to be asking yourself if it’s for yourself or for a family member, on a scale of 1 to 10 how severe is this pain, for example. Ten is the worst; zero is no pain at all. You want that number. Let’s say it’s a headache. We want that by the headaches that are coming. On a scale of 1 to 10, it’s, let’s say, a 7. We have to know this because if in two months the headaches are still occurring but now they’re a 4, that shows improvement. We have to make the assumption that the remedy did that. Now, we don’t always know that it’s the remedy that did it. It could be, indeed, the sun is out. It could be life is better. But life does that. It has its ebbs and flows and this is the only constant, the remedy. So we at least have to consider that as our baseline and always be open to the possibility it could have been something else. But since we have no way of holding life to a constant, it’s all we’ve got. So I want to remind folks that we’re prone to that forgetfulness and inaccuracy, especially when it comes to illness. This is particularly so when dealing with the suffering of loved ones. If your child is suffering and they say they got another headache, “Mom, it’s another headache,” you can’t help but say, “Okay, well, I guess the remedy is not working.” When really, you have to go back to your records. So when we have clear proof in the form of our notes showing us that yes, things are getting better, not only does it let us know that we’re on the right track and that we should stick with it but it reignites our hope, of course, for the future of it being resolved completely. Hence, when taking notes for the case, the questions to ask and then compare every two months need to include, again, on a scale of 1 to 10, what is the intensity of the symptom, number two, how often do the symptoms occur, and how long do they last? But remember, don’t force this to fit. In other words, be honest with yourself. If you blew it, own up to it. We don’t want to pretend that the remedy worked when it didn’t. We really want real science here. We want this as close as we possibly can to the truth. So don’t encourage the person or yourself to believe that they are better if they’re not. Jendi: And sometimes, if it’s a kid and they’re in the middle of vomiting or diarrhea and I’ve given them the remedy but you want them to feel better right away, you think that there should be more that you should do, right? Joette: Right, right. And the hardest part of being a mother/homeopath is the pressures that arise by simply being available to the person, to their child. Just by being there, they entreat you. This is where being a mother and holding their head, giving them a hot water bottle, encouraging them with gentle words can make the difference until the remedy kicks in. Now, again, what we’re talking about here is closer to an acute problem. I just talked to someone who said her mother used to distribute cuddles instead of drugs, and it’s a great way to look at it. If someone is vomiting relentlessly – let’s go back to an acute for a second – if they’re vomiting relentlessly and they want you to give more remedies or a different remedy because it hasn’t stopped even though you’ve just administered it, you want to hold firm to it and give it a chance to work. We have to give it a chance. Homeopathic remedies for vomiting Speaking of relentless vomiting, I always like to give a remedy if I can in these podcasts and a little information that you can kind of tuck away. My two top remedies for horrible vomiting. The first is Arsenicum album 30 and the second one is Veratrum album 30 every hour or so. And you use only one. You choose one and stick with it. So these are good ones, and they’re worthy of writing down. So it’s Arsenicum album 30 or Veratrum album 30. They’re not the only ones but they’re my two top favorites for horrible vomiting. Jendi: And those are for acute symptoms. But if it’s chronic, then we have to be patient even longer, right? Joette: That’s right. You have to stick to your guns, unless of course, the person is worse. We need to give it a few weeks at least. But when someone you love isn’t treating, it’s awfully difficult to stay firm but firm you must be. So I urge listeners today to be sure to read my corresponding article to this podcast called What to Expect When Using Homeopathy Part II for further details. There’s a little bit more information in little areas that I’ve gone off on tangents here that I didn’t in that article. Take note of the improvements The problem is that expectations are sometimes unrealistic. Some who are familiar with homeopathy’s swift results in an acute condition expect the same for the chronic and I can’t emphasize this enough. So here’s another common occurrence after administering the medicine to a loved one. Folks often don’t take full notice of the degree of their improvement. So when someone is suffering, they’re saying, “I’m vomiting, I’m vomiting. I’m still vomiting.” The reason for this is that we want to get better so much that we entreat those who we believe are in power over us, our mothers or our wives or whoever it might be, to do something sooner. I’ll give you an example. I’ll use the example of my cousin Maria in my article. She was suffering from anxiety and insomnia and some hot flashes for approximately 10 years. So, of course, this was a chronic issue. And when asked to give me a number as to how severe she’d rate her insomnia now after having had the remedies for a couple of months on a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 being horrible, referring to my notes because I asked her the same question two months earlier, she responded, “Oh, it’s about a 4, and I was hoping it would be gone by now because I’ll be in a play next week.” So her expectation was based on the fact that she needed to be in a play. Now, it’s up to me as the homeopath to note that she had said it was a 10 before. Now, it’s 4. We’ve got a 60% improvement. So my notes – and I might not remember this readily so that’s why I have my notes – revealed that she rated it as a 10 last time. And when I asked her how often she’s sleepless, she reports that she’s able to fall asleep most nights now with the exception of the night before the dress rehearsals. And I’m thinking that’s great. She’s thinking, however, “No, no. You don’t understand. It’s before the dress rehearsal.” But when someone is sleeping consistently after complaining that insomnia was one of the biggest issues, and there is a night or two without restful sleep, then we have to be satisfied with that. We can’t expect necessarily perfection. And so her anxiety, when I asked her about that, she said, “Oh, I forgot about that. I guess I haven’t had any since the first week of using the remedies.” So it’s easy to forget, you see, when you’ve taken these remedies, that this is how we used to suffer, this is how I used to suffer, compared to how you feel now. So my job is to put things into perspective, just as it’s the homeopath’s job to put it in perspective, remembering that we might have to face that things are indeed not improved. And remember, we’re not going to guide them to lead us to believe that things are better when they’re not. We don’t tell them what it was last time until after they’ve given us all this information so that we can compare. Because we may have to go back to the drawing board. We may have chosen the wrong remedies. There’s no doubt about it. And we have to be honest. I’ll be talking more about that, actually, next week, when we’ve chosen the wrong remedy and what to do about that. So there’s no doubt that folks are impatient to feel well. So dates or goals are set as though gaining health is like a financial goal. But the nature of the human body simply doesn’t work that way. And if it’s clear that Maria has improved, I have to point that out to her. That’s my job. And my aim is to uproot the problem, not mask it with drugs or supplements or with synthetic vitamins. We all know all about that. Even if we take two steps forward and a half step back, the goal is we’re going for the gold. Hence, our standards are solid and they may take a little longer to achieve. But meanwhile, we can at least enjoy knowing that improvement has been shown and there’s more to come. Jendi: So we need to not be an average person in our microwave society that wants everything fast. We need to learn that slow and steady is sometimes the only way to achieve genuine health, right? Joette: That’s right. That’s right. And having said this, interestingly, there are plenty of others who report to me that they’re very much improved after two months of taking the remedy. And once you see that happening in your family and your neighbors and your relatives and friends, you gain a little bit more confidence and the anxiety is melted away and you can start saying, “Okay, I’m really getting this.” So it’s the job of the homeopath to assess the problem, choose the remedy and its application, keep high-quality notes, and gently remind the sufferer how things have improved, if they have, and tell them that you’ll make the adjustments if they have not. Jendi: You mentioned about seeing improvement in other areas. That’s an indicator that the person is improving. Like emotions or energy, mood, or overall vitality. Can you explain that a little bit? Joette: Yes, yes. In other words, what we want to see is that perhaps vomiting is not better. We’ll use it as an acute for a moment. Perhaps the vomiting is not improved. The person is still in the bathroom. But they’re not as frightened, or they’re not as cold, or they say, “You know, mom, I think I’m okay now. I think if I just sit here for a little while, I should be better.” When it’s a chronic problem, they might still have that insomnia. But it doesn’t seem to bother them as much. There’s maybe fewer emotional discords. They may need fewer naps. There might be even improved mental acuity. And again, you’re observing, always observing this in people and not telling them. You don’t want to tell them that they’re improving unless you absolutely need to. But you want to allow this medicine to act properly without giving them too much encouragement into believing that it is working when indeed, it may not be. Jendi: And I know you have some kind of markers or rules. Would you share them with us again? Joette’s magic markers of improvement Joette: Yeah. I call them my magic markers of improvement and if you want to jot them down, you may do so. But certainly, that’s in the article that accompanies this. The first marker, and I’ve already discussed it, I touched on it just a few minutes ago, but the first marker is that the symptoms now appear, once the remedy is given and it’s correct, appear with less intensity. So on a scale of 1 to 10, it’s no longer an 8. Now, it’s becoming more like a 6 and then maybe like a 4. So we want to see that pain scale reduced. The second magic marker is a shorter duration of the event of the sufferings. So in this scenario, for example if it’s vomiting, that it’s not happening for as long. And so it’s shortening up. And even though the person may have vomited two days ago and then yesterday and then today, now we’re seeing that it’s only lasting a few minutes instead of hours. So we want to see it lasting for a shorter duration. And the third magic marker is that there are larger spaces between each event. So if someone again is vomiting and they’re in the bathroom and you’re noting that they’re actually actively doing so, that after they’ve taken the remedy, now it’s been three hours since they’ve had the last episode. So we want to see a larger space between each episode. Jendi: These are such good things to write down and to keep with the remedies. Because when you’re in the middle of dealing with the sickness or the condition going on, then there’s something to look at. And of course, they can listen to this and write them down or they could print them out probably right from JoetteCalabrese.com. Joette: Yes, certainly. That’s right. But I’ve had these techniques through the years and I’ve fine-tuned them, but you should have seen my medicine closet, what it looked like when I was raising my kids. I had all my notes pasted all over the inside of the cabinet door. No one would ever see if the door is closed, of course, but when I opened it up where my remedies were, there were all these reminders and notes and remember to do this and remember to watch for that and be aware of this or that. And that’s how I learned a lot of this. I mean, I want the inside of your closet door to be plastered with protocols, too, like this information. Otherwise, it’s easy to forget this kind of information. We really need someone nudging us and it’s really us reminding ourselves. Jendi: I kind of have the things in a kitchen cupboard and I don’t know if I would be able to keep that very organized because it’s like open-shut a lot. But I definitely want to have a notebook or something that I can have the information that I collect and I already have a book to read. So I would like to keep the things I print out from your blog and the books that I get on homeopathy and keep them together. Joette: Yes. Yeah, it’s great. It’s very important to keep yourself organized. Otherwise, when in a crisis, you won’t know where to go. You won’t know what your resources are. Jendi: And I really liked your idea of having the file folders because you said if you scribbled it on a napkin, you could just throw it in the right file folder. Joette: Right, right. I have sons and so I was always thinking, “How can I make this easy?” And I color coded the file folders. So my oldest son was a blue folder, my next son was a light blue folder, and then my youngest son was a green folder, so that I knew instantly to grab their file folder when something was going on and I could find out what happened last time. Because a lot of times, what we see happening today in someone, let’s say it’s nausea and vomiting, etc., we might see that one person is prone to that. And if we open up that file folder, we might find that, oh my goodness, we did this two years ago. And look here, Arsenicum album really did it, 30, and I only needed to use it three times. I have a record of it happening at that time. It makes it so much easier than to start from scratch because you have a history already. So I think it’s very valuable to have as much organization as possible. Jendi: An organized home is a less stressful home. Joette: Yeah. Jendi: And I’m working on it. You constantly have to work on it, keeping it straightened up and organized. I do have a question about what if you are working on a chronic condition and you missed a day. Does that affect the duration at all? Joette: No. I don’t believe it does. Many times, people ask me that question and I said, “Just continue where you left off and you’ll see it just pick up. No, it’s not a problem.” Sometimes, it’s difficult to remember or you leave for the day and you don’t get home until late that night and you were supposed to take the remedy. No, it really has very little bearing on it. The timing is more critical when it’s something that’s acute because you’re going to want to deal with it and get it done as soon as possible. Jendi: The next thing that I’m wondering about is what happens if I choose the wrong remedy. So will we talk about that soon? Joette: Yes. I wish we had more time today to do that but it really is another subject in and of itself. So yeah, we’re going to cover that in our next meeting. Jendi: All right. So I am looking forward to hearing part three in our next podcast. Do you have any parting words for us today? Joette: Yes. What I always want to tell moms is that this is a great place to be ambitious. We can be ambitious mothers, we can be ambitious grandmothers, and you want to find like minds. You want to find other moms and grandmothers who are also ambitious in treating and taking care of themselves and their families. And they can be found everywhere. You can find them in your church, in your synagogue, in your homeschool group, in your local PTA. They’re everywhere. So I urge you to find like minds. If you don’t find them readily, just go to my blog. Hang out there. There are lots of people there, a lot of mothers, families there. And I believe my blog is brimming with motivated mothers. Just read their responses to some of these blogs. They share their successes and failures after having taken classes or if they’ve only just been reading the blogs. Find like minds. This is the way you will accelerate your understanding of this and encourage your life forward in this way. Procure those friendships. Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com and schedule a free 15-minute conversation. | |||
| Podcast 6 – The Secret of Getting Ahead is Getting Started | 02 Jan 2015 | 00:31:01 | |
In this podcast, we cover: 0:54 Open your doors to homeopathy 4:17 What to expect with homeopathy 10:19 The harmful effects of using antibiotics 13:44 What dosage to use and how to know if treatment is working 26:08 Get started with homeopathy The Secret of Getting Ahead Is Getting Started – Mark Twain This week’s podcast is about starting and using homeopathy for your family’s acute illnesses.
In 1890, Mark Twain was quoted in Harper’s Bazaar: “The introduction of homeopathy forced the old school doctor to stir around and learn something of a rational nature about his business. You many honestly feel grateful that homeopathy survived the attempts of the allopaths to destroy it.” Good old Samuel Clemens’ words were prophetic. But he had no idea that only 50 years later homeopathy was indeed attacked and destroyed in North America. You are listening to a podcast from JoetteCalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition.
Jendi: Hello! This is Jendi and I’m here again with Joette Calabrese. Hello, Joette! How are you?
Joette: I’m well, Jendi. Here we are again. I think this is the sixth podcast we’ve recorded. This is becoming a habit.
Jendi: But it’s a good habit.
Joette: Yeah.
Jendi: And I did hear a statistic that most podcasts don’t make it past about number eight. So we’ll see how we do.
Joette: We got two more to find out.
Jendi: Yeah, yeah. I hope the listeners enjoy it and follow along with it and it becomes a habit with them.
Joette: Yeah, exactly.
Open your doors to homeopathy
Jendi: So I am learning a whole lot and thinking about a whole lot of new things. And everything I learn just opens up like more questions and more ideas of more things that I want to learn about. And it is so exciting. We went for many years without health insurance and I wish I would have known some of this then. It’s just like I can do this and that’s very exciting for me. I was able to meet a lady at church who grew up on homeopathic remedies, raised her children that way, and it’s just like, wow, more and more people the more I learn about it.
Joette: Well, you know, I think what happens is that we don’t know anything about it. We have never heard the word before. And then once we learn the word and recognize what it is, because most people misunderstand what homeopathy means and what it is, then suddenly you start using the word and you find out there is a whole another world. It’s like what I always said before. It’s like you know that under the water in places like the Caribbean, you know it’s beautiful under there. You’ve seen it on television. There it is, this vast, beautiful world.
But it’s not until you put that snorkel on and you go there on the surface and hang out over a coral reef do you realize the depth and breadth of the subject or the depth and breadth of the beauty and the vastness of what’s below the surface. That’s what homeopathy’s about. It’s not until you open up this door do you recognize how fabulous this is. And, “The secret of getting ahead” always “is getting started,” by Mark Twain. That’s one of my favorite statements by Mark Twain. So yeah, let’s get started.
Jendi: So one of the questions that I wonder is I get the homeopathic remedy that was advised. How long do I use it before I change that remedy? And I’m used to a society that’s an instant society and microwave society like they call it and give me one pill and I’m fixed. So how long should I stick with a remedy before I move to a different one?
Joette: Yeah. That’s a good question. I get asked a lot of questions that demonstrate beginners and even those with more experience that there’s confusion about what kind of results to expect if they use one dose or two doses or whatever. And when they begin relying on homeopathic methods, now, what do I do? And that’s really the essence of the question, is people want to know how long they ought to continue with a particular remedy, how many times to administer it, and how to tell if they have chosen the correct remedy or protocol. And sometimes, folks make the mistake of not sticking with the protocol long enough. Other times, the error is sticking with the protocol for too long.
I might add that the former is the one that’s most common because most folks get impatient. They say, “Well, shouldn’t it be working by now? I’ve already given two doses.” So they get impatient. And they also don’t trust their decision on the remedy choice that they’ve made. They say, “I don’t know. Is this right? Is it wrong? I can’t tell.” And another problem is that they don’t know how to read symptoms that are presenting before them and their changes. And so if you don’t recognize that there’s improvement, you might easily jump off of that remedy and say well, there’s no change. Well, it depends on what you mean by change.
What to expect with homeopathy
So I will lay out some guidelines to help you get a clearer idea of what to expect. So we begin with the difference between, first of all, acute illness and chronic. So we’re going to be talking about acute and it’s something that is generally short lived on its own. For example, a bee sting, a sore throat, otitis media which is an ear infection, urinary tract infections, etc. Usually, there’s a great show of vitality, meaning there’s a lot of symptoms and they present pretty intensely sometimes, such as pain, fever. There could be exhaustion. There could be swellings. But even if you don’t treat it, it would eventually, and sometimes in short order, just go away on its own.
If it’s more serious, like a very serious urinary tract infection, then it might end up in something more dire. Pneumonia can certainly end up in death. But it’s not a long-term illness. You don’t have pneumonia forever. It’s an acute so it has a beginning and an end. But chronic conditions are issues such as allergies. You don’t just have allergies and then they go away. Cancer, food intolerances, long-term constipation, long-term anxiety or insomnia.
So as you can see, the word “long term” is key here when it comes to chronic, but we’re going to stay in the realm of acute today because the rules that we’re going to learn today can be used somewhat with chronic but we have to start with acute just to get a better idea and I encourage people to treat their acute problems as often as possible. So when treating an acute illness with homeopathy, we should expect to see results within hours, sometimes minutes, or a few days, depending on the type of malady we’re addressing.
So for example, with nausea from food poisoning or vomiting, we would expect to see results within hours, meaning the person is no longer vomiting relentlessly. They might still have nausea. They may not be well. They may not be perfect after a few hours but at least, the relentless vomiting has backed off. While with an elongated cough or a sprained ankle or a urinary tract infection, it’s more reasonable to expect results within hours or even days. So for example, with a urinary tract infection, we don’t want to wait many days before we say, “Oh, gee, maybe this is the wrong remedy. We need to move on.” But before it’s completed, it could take a couple of days. Usually, what we see with a urinary tract infection is we see a shift within a couple of hours after taking the first dose.
So it would obviously be silly to expect months of treatment to clear up an acute problem since in the normal course of events, acute conditions would clear up on their own and within that timeframe, with or even without homeopathy. So we do expect it to happen fairly quickly. I laid this out today and I wanted to go over this, and there are five main goals we expect to accomplish when using homeopathy to treat an acute problem. The first goal is to alleviate, of course, the distress of the illness or condition. Now, we’re not suppressing the symptoms. We’re rooting out the problem. We’re not trying to cover up the pain. We’re going to get rid of the pain because the illness is going to be resolved as well with the remedy.
Number two, to aid the body at regaining health more quickly or more fully than it often can on its own. So even though yes, many conditions, a bee sting, etc., could be not treated, you just leave it alone and it just takes care of itself, eventually it will just go away, but by using homeopathy, we not only get to the bottom of that particular bee sting, but we’re also helping the person build an immunity to bee stings so that in the future, instead of the whole arm being swollen from that bee sting, next time, it will be more concise and it won’t be as extreme. So we’re going deeper than that.
And the third goal to accomplish is to root out the potential for the problem to recur. Or if it does, then it does so in a less flamboyant manner, just like that bee sting. So you might still get the bee sting next time around, but now, instead of the whole arm being swollen, now it’s a nice, neat, tidy, little bee sting, and it stays localized.
And the fourth goal is to avoid the negative repercussions of drugs and other suppressive treatments. And this is what most people come to homeopathy for in the first place. They want to get away from the drugs and suppressive treatments. They don’t recognize that you can also get all these other benefits. Those are all the bonuses.
But probably, in my estimation, one of the most important goals and that which is the hallmark of homeopathy’s ability to work on us, is to keep an acute illness from turning into a chronic one. Because if we get an acute illness such as an ear infection and we treat it with antibiotics, it is very likely that your infection will return. And then we treat it with antibiotics again. It’s likely to return again. Because we’ve not rooted out the propensity for ear infections. We’ve not addressed the essence of the problem. All we’ve done is kill bugs. I’ll get more into that in a little while. But this is where homeopathy surpasses modern medicine and in contrast, often makes modern medicine look almost foolish.
Jendi: Do you mean because homeopathy is so much simpler, so much more elegant?
The harmful effects of using antibiotics
Joette: Yes. What I mean is that although using an antibiotic may seem the only solution, it is instead, often shortsighted. Now, that is if we use an antibiotic for let’s say urinary tract infection or ear infection, set your watch, folks, or refer to your date or your calendar because it’s likely, and I mean very likely, that it will return. And why? Because the infection wasn’t cured with the antibiotic. Instead, the symptoms were treated. The bugs were killed. The bacteria were killed. But not all of them, and when they mutate and come back for that next skirmish, they return with more virulence.
It’s not unlike using pesticides on our garden. Those of us who don’t want to use drugs certainly understand the importance of organic. And when you use pesticides on the garden, it kills the bugs. But it weakens the plants and makes them vulnerable to further decay and problems. The bugs recognize that weakness and take advantage of it and those are exactly the plants that are gone after by the insects. The same thing for a human.
So one of the greatest threats to our health, I believe, is that we are susceptible to more serious conditions after the use of drugs. One lone urinary tract infection too frequently turns into repetitive urinary tract infections, met with, of course, antibiotics that suppresses the symptoms and drives the illness to a deeper state. And sometimes, after years of these kinds of treatments, we see interstitial cystitis. In fact, if you met anyone who has interstitial cystitis, just ask them their history. The history almost is a slam dunk for repeated urinary tract infections met with antibiotics. Had the antibiotic been forgone the first time, and instead homeopathy had been used, the one and only UTI would have been just that, only one UTI.
By offering a drug – this is the way I see it anyway – by offering a drug when you’re sick, it’s like kicking the person when they’re down. It’s an oversimplified method and now in the last few years with increasing evidence, it is known even in conventional medical circles that it is a dangerous one. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not altogether advocating for the elimination of all antibiotics on the market. But to use them for something that is mild, particularly otitis media, sore throats, conjunctivitis, acne, boils, I think it’s stupid. Yes, stupid. It’s not a word I use very often. It reminds me of grammar school. But to be honest, it is.
When there are homeopathic medicines that will take care of the problem often more adroitly and without instilling more serious ones, I just don’t think there’s a reason to use these big guns on illnesses that can be treated at home, or even by a doctor if they knew anything about homeopathy. That’s not likely to happen very often. But if you take it on yourself, you can do this yourself. Actually, I think we’ve gotten a little bit off track here, haven’t we?
What dosage to use and how to know if treatment is working
Jendi: Yeah. We wanted to talk about how long should we take one remedy, how many doses of a remedy should we take, does one dose do it, what if it’s just a small improvement, do I need to change it, all that kind of stuff.
Joette: Right. So when I use the term results, in other words, when you see that there are results, what I mean is a movement towards improvement. So for example, back to the urinary tract infection, one might not achieve a perfect result within minutes. In other words, if there’s some pain and urgency and frequency, it won’t be necessarily totally gone and life back to normal within minutes, obviously. On the other hand, one might find that after two doses of a remedy over the course of hours or three doses, the urgency is not as great. So we’re getting results and the pain is minimized. We still have a urinary tract infection. This is not a magic wand. We’re reversing and rooting this out. So this is an indication that the remedy is working, but we don’t stop there because we’re not done. It’s that simple.
So now what? Well, this means the remedy is acting but it has not completed its action and ought to be continued until it has done so. Let’s take even an acute rash for an example. We’ll use something else so that we can use this across the board, maybe an outbreak of, let’s say, contact dermatitis from using a really strong detergent that you wouldn’t normally use and now your skin is all broken out and it’s itchy and it’s going on for days, maybe even a few weeks. Something that you don’t experience daily but here it is.
So results in a case like this would often mean that after a few days, the rash is still visible after taking the correct remedy but the itching has become less intense. In this case, I will continue with these remedies until the rash was fully healed. But I might reduce the frequency. So instead of using it say every three hours because it’s not so extreme, instead, I might use it twice daily. I know that’s your next question because we actually have a little key here as to where we’re going with this. You want to know, “How many doses ought I use?”
So generally speaking, the number is about four doses but this is only to make the determination that it is the correct remedy. Remember, this is considered an acute condition at this point. And that means that if by the fourth dose no improvement is seen, the remedy ought to be abandoned and replaced with another. So the reason to count those four times is to determine whether the correct remedy has been chosen. So once you’ve made that determination because symptoms are abating, that’s when we stop counting. We don’t use numbers anymore now. We just use it as needed because we’ve determined that it is correct. From this time forward, just simply continue offering the remedy until the job is done.
Jendi: I think I have a pretty good example. This week, I had a sore throat. So I went and got the Coldcalm and I actually took three every 15 minutes and then my throat felt better and I got sidetracked and I forgot about it. But then the next day, it was kind of sore again in the morning so I took it again. But then I questioned, should I go ahead and take four the next day, like do the first thing again?
Joette: No, you’re not counting anymore because you know the remedy’s acting. You know it’s working. You’ve already seen results so don’t count anymore now. Just use it as needed. Now, if that sore throat was horrendously painful, you might take it maybe every 30 minutes. I mean, if it’s a child and they’re screaming with pain, every 30 minutes is acceptable. As the child calms down, now we go to every three hours. And if it’s still coming down even further yet after a few doses of every three hours, now you go to say twice or three times a day. So you’re always looking for the opportunity to lessen the number of times you use this.
You see, the misunderstanding, I believe, often, especially in those folks who are new, arises when folks get the impression that homeopathy is like a supplement and that it needs to be taken forever. But that’s not so. Homeopathy has nothing to do with supplements. Its goal is to put the problem to rest which means that your remedy should continue being useful and put to task until the job is done. And at any time there is wellness, the UTI or the rash is gone, then of course, logically, you stop using it. You don’t continue on it for the rest of your life. I also think confusion arises when folks think that one dose of a remedy will cure.
Those are the stories that we love to tell because they’re fun and they’re dramatic and it can happen. But it’s more likely that it will take hours, if not days, of repetitive use of the remedy. So if improvement is realized, even in a small amount, don’t abandon the remedy choice. Continue with the fifth dose and sixth dose, etc. So you’re really not counting. I’m just giving you kind of an example. And as improvement ensues, the space between each episode might be better placed approximately every six hours or every twelve hours. In other words, we use the remedies when needed. As the symptoms return, the gentle stimulus is used to move things along.
Jendi: That makes a lot of sense. That’s very helpful. So how fast should I expect to see results?
Joette: First, let me give you something that I think is a writer downer. And I know that many folks who listen to these podcasts are doing so on their walks in the morning and in their car. But if you can write this down, I know you’ll find this helpful in the future to help you know if your remedy is working, if it’s acting. And then that will determine how often to use it. Here are the criteria for knowing if the remedy is acting. By the way, this criteria can be used both for acute and chronic conditions. So here’s the criteria that needs to be met. If one, two, or all three of these criteria are met, then we know that the remedy is good and it’s acting properly.
The first is that the symptoms are not as severe as they were before you started taking the remedy. If the pain, for example, of the urinary tract infection was a whopping eight on the scale of 1 to 10, and now after using the remedy, it’s a 4, then we know it’s going in the right direction and we’re set. That’s a good way to get started.
The second criterion that we need to incorporate is if the symptoms last for a shorter period of time. In other words, that pain may not last for three minutes after urination like it did before. Now, it only lasts for a few seconds or so. Beautiful. We’re moving in the right direction. This is how we know.
And the third is that there’s a larger space between each episode of the painful urination or urgency. So if it was happening that someone was urinating every five minutes and now they’re urinating every three hours, we are definitely moving in the right direction. So if all three of those are met, it’s a slam dunk. If even only one of them is met, it is an indication that we need to stay with that remedy.
Jendi: When we are watching our children and they can’t really tell us the pain because they’re a small child, we just watch their symptoms and the amount of time.
Joette: That’s right. And with a child, you’re always observing. You’re better off not asking and just observing. And this certainly hones our observational skills. And it really is the watchful eye of the mother that picks up on all this. Anyone else who hops in and comes to visit, a friend or something, they may not see anything that you’ve seen because you’ve been watching. And you’re recording this. I’m going to repeat this because I think this is so valuable and I’ve never seen this in a book anywhere. I’m not even sure where I learned this.
So symptoms are not as severe. So if it’s pain or if there’s itching or something like that and it wasn’t 8 on a scale of 1 to 10, now it’s a 4, it doesn’t have to be exactly that, but even if it was an 8 and now it’s a 6, we know that we’re moving in the right direction, so we stay with the remedy. But also, if the symptoms last for a shorter period of time. That is, the pain may not last for three minutes after urination but for only a few seconds or so. And the third is that there’s a larger space between each episode of the urgency or pain. Now, remember, we’re using urinary tract infections as our prototype here but you can do the same thing with itching of a rash. You can do the same thing with pounding of a headache. You can do the same thing with the swelling and pain of a bee sting.
Then there’s the speed with which the remedy acts. Here’s another general rule of thumb. The more intense the symptoms, often, not always but often, the faster the remedy acts. For example, that bee sting again that is very severe will often respond within minutes to up to an hour. Now, it’s not going to get rid of the swelling but the pain and the freaking out of the person who’s had that experience. The child is now outside running around after only 30 minutes.
Previously, he was freaking out in your arms with pain. That’s how you know that you’ve definitely chosen the correct remedy. And as always, we look to cure, not suppress. This, I believe, is the colossal appeal of homeopathy. Because regardless of the length of time it takes to resolve the condition, in the end, we will more likely have genuine health instead of covered up symptoms that often return with renewed vigor. And the vigor is in the person, not the illness. Now, that is the kind of medicine that we want to use in our lives.
Jendi: So how long do you think it will take me to learn all this stuff, that I won’t have to constantly look it up online or in a book, that I will be able to have it in my memory and know what to do?
Joette: Well, I will tell you that it’s a great idea to go online. And that’s why I put that blog out there, so that you can learn this stuff yourself. And you will be using books and other people’s ideas for quite some time but it doesn’t take long to fine tune your observational skills, and you’ll soon be able to pick up on the signs that improvement is ensuing. Because wellness leaves hints. It leaves little clues.
Jendi: Clues. What do you mean by clues?
Joette: Well, you’ll see that your child’s sleep is restored even though he’s not yet a hundred percent. You’ll see that she has more energy and she’s not as needy. There are signs that it’s likely that the remedy is acting. And I teach my students to keep a file on each member of their family and keep notes with the date, of course, the chief complaint, and any other pertinent issues, and then of course, the remedy that you chose. And after the remedy has acted, it needs to be logged. You want to know what remedy you used and how many times and just get a little idea within a sentence or two.
And this information will become your record that will serve you when dealing with your child for the rest of her life. It’s surprising how often certain things are repeated, whether it’s her or her sister. One of my little hints is don’t keep a book for each family member or even for the entire family. You’ll often be without that book. Instead, just get different colored file folders. Pink for your daughter, blue for your son, brown for your dirty dog or something. That way, when you’re away from your home, you can easily write it out on a paper napkin or a little sheet of paper with the date on it, what happened, what you used. And then when you get home, you just toss it into the file and now you’ve got it forever. And it keeps very good records.
Jendi: Thank you so much for all the information you have shared and for the clarification on the finer points of when to use the remedies. And you even mentioned that the one, two, three things to look for are not in homeopathy books. There is so much that we can learn through these podcasts. Is there something else that you think would be valuable to our listeners to wrap up this podcast?
Get started with homeopathy
Joette: Yes. I must hear every day, and mostly from mothers and grandmothers, that they don’t want to use drugs. And then what follows saddens me, sometimes even angers me. But they say, “I didn’t want to take the drug but I didn’t know what else to do.” The part that angers me is that homeopathy was a threat to conventional medicine back in the 1940s. It still is today. It was taking away market share from the conventional medical doctors and the constituents of the AMA. And as a direct result of this, it was systemically – and I hate to sound dramatic, but it’s really true – annihilated through a well-funded, well-organized, and well-executed smear campaign. And as I said, it continues even today.
And so unless you happen to be tenacious in searching for this medicine, unless you have guts, spunk, and moxie, unless you or someone in your family has suffered at the hand of drugs or overuse of surgery, you will not have made a point of seeking it out or making it your mission to find this great medicine called homeopathy. Hence, it’s a feat to even learn that there’s another way, a way that for every disease known to mankind, there is a homeopathic medicine or protocol. So will it cure everyone every time? No.
But if the remedy is chosen correctly and the principles are observed and you have a burning interest to keep your charge and yourself away from the world of drugs, homeopathy is a viable, sophisticated, elegant solution, particularly for families. Because once you learn how to treat an ear infection for one baby, you’ll know what to do for another and another. And it’s likely you’ll never forget it. One illness at a time, one child at a time, one pet at a time, you’ll become the healer in your home. So there is power in words in general. The words, “I don’t know what else to do,” it means, “I can’t.” There’s power in that word. “It can’t be done,” says modern medicine. “You can’t cure strep throat without antibiotics.” “You can never cure allergies,” they say. “There is no way,” says the doctor.
But I submit to you, don’t fall for that canard. This kind of thinking holds you at bay, never allowing you to enter the great oceans of life. It keeps you from moving forward or even trying, and it subjects you to forfeit yourself to drugs. My message is that you can cure your family of what appears to be recalcitrant conditions. And again, I’m not saying that every illness can be cured. But you might be astounded at how many illnesses and conditions you’ll wipe out of your home, many of which confounded the pediatricians and family practitioners in your life. You’ll know what the doctors wish they knew but will not.
And speaking of Mark Twain, I kept this little quote. He said back in 1890 in Harper’s Bazaar, he said, “The introduction of homeopathy forced the old school doctor,” he’s talking about conventional doctors, “to stir around and learn something of a rational nature about his business. You may honestly feel grateful that homeopathy survived the attempts of the allopaths to destroy it.” Now, of course, he didn’t know that indeed, 50 years later, the allopaths did end up destroying homeopathy. The marketplace really did that.
Well, anyway, my promise to you is that once you know how to put these pieces of the puzzle together, it presents in a tidy fashion and works admirably. And this way of thinking will keep you from feeling as though illness is implacable. Instead, when presented with illness, you’ll approach it nimbly and eventually, with confidence. By the way, I want to mention that given the depth of the subject on this podcast, we’ll have written a blog with some of the same information and slightly different so that you can get a more in-depth understanding of it and that will come up in the next few days after this is placed on our website.
Jendi: Thank you, Joette. It’s good just to know that there are options and it gives hope that we can have a good and a healthy life.
Joette: Yes. And it’s certainly worth the effort. Happy New Year, Jendi, and everyone. Now, get to curing your family yourself.
Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com and schedule a free 15-minute conversation.
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| Podcast 5 – What Can Homeopathy Do For You and Your Baby? | 16 Dec 2014 | 00:23:48 | |
In this podcast, we cover: 1:08 Homeopathy is universal 5:06 Benefits of homeopathy 10:36 Remedy for colic 16:10 Happiness that homeopathy brings 20:59 Organizing one’s life This week’s podcast should have been titled: “What can homeopathy do for you and your baby (and other ages too)? Plus 3 benefits that you can take to the bank.” This is the take-away.
Don’t be dissuaded. Like a good piano teacher, my methods and the Banerji Protocols can have you treating your family’s ills in no time. You are listening to a podcast from JoetteCalabrese.com where nationally certified American homeopath, public speaker, and author, Joette Calabrese, shares her passion for helping families stay healthy through homeopathy and nutrient-dense nutrition. Jendy: Hello! This is Jendy and I’m back with Joette Calabrese. Today, we’re going to talk about What Homeopathy can do for you and your baby. Hello, Joette! How are you? Joette: Hi Jendy. I’m well, thanks. Homeopathy is universal. Jendy: You have about three remedies or three benefits of homeopathy that we can use for babies? Joette: Yes, that’s right and other ages, too. So I’m trying to bring it into both babies and adults, so that those who don’t have babies can also be helped. It’s not of course not everyone has them. So you might have a baby cat or a baby dog or your neighbor might be struggling with a baby and this will apply across the board. Homeopathy applies for babies, infants, the elderly, dogs, cats, livestock, wild birds, you name it. So, homeopathic remedies are universal. That’s my point here in teaching you that it says for babies but we can use it for anyone Let’s get back and give you some benefits while offering kind of a practical tip so you can talk these tips away in your mind for future reference. Many of you are just entering this profound world of homeopathy. While others have recognized intuitively the importance of health independence, autonomy, and particularly now in the glaring light of the changes our American health system is going through, I always try to make the information I give here on my blog as practical as possible. So I’m going to use my personal experiences as a springboard. It will help define the best way to use the remedies. It gives you stories and a little narrative so it’s more easily remembered. Today I’ll give you what homeopathy did for me, especially when I was first starting and I had young children. Of course one at a time and it was with my son that I recognized the importance of homeopathy. Then you can extrapolate how this might fit into your lifestyle. Let me clarify that you needn’t go as far as I did. Although I secretly hope you will. That is I never used Tylenol in raising my children or aspirin or antibiotics in the two and a half plus decades of my mothering years. Instead, I bought a kit with the top 100 remedies in it. I used it. It became my, I don’t know maybe my arsenal. I took my kit with me on road trips, on family vacations. It was quietly present in my home at all times. At first it was in the linen closet in our city home. Then when we moved to the country, it had its own little place in a chest at home as well. In fact, I could barely resist using it. But I always encourage moms now to hold back and not jump into using remedies too quickly. But I also want to mention that I actually still own the same kit and replaced only a few remedies in it. Jendy: So those remedies, they are still good even though your children are grown up and adults? They still have the same amount of potency? Joette: Yes, yes. They don’t go stale. These remedies, I’ve owned in my kit – this particular kit for about 20 years. I have remedies that are even older than that. They last for decades. In fact, I’ll share with you that in my office I have a shadow box with four remedies in it given to me by an elderly man who was a client of mine many years ago. His mother was a homeopath in Chicago when he was a lad. As a gift, he gave me four bottles dated from about I don’t remember now, but about 1919 to around 1930 something. I’ve used these same remedies, the ones in these bottles over the years and indeed they still work. So that means that these remedies, some of them are 100 years old and yet they still have their ability to do exactly what they did back in 1919. So when I purchased my first kit, instead of looking at it as a financial stretch, I considered it as an investment in my family. I don’t know. Can you think of anything greater value than a box of cures that it can be used for decades? I can’t think of anything that could be as valuable as that. Jendy: The medicines in the stores are expensive if you go in to buy Tylenol and stuff like that. Homeopathy for pain and better sleep Joette: Oh yes. That’s not even getting into prescribed drugs which can be hundreds if not thousands of dollars per month. So here is the first benefit of homeopathy to babies and others. It’s a remedy that I gave my entire family a good night sleep and let me explain. My first baby started teething and my goal was to never give my children Tylenol or antibiotics. So instead of Tylenol when he was teething, just to mention – Tylenol has been implicated in studies to cause asthma, sometimes even within an hour of taking the stuff. At that time, I didn’t know that but I knew that it was not a good thing to give my baby, particularly when he was already down. To give him a chemical on top of it was counterintuitive to my thinking. So instead, I learned about a remedy called Chamomilla, like chamomile, like chamomile tea only Chamomilla is the Latin word because it’s made into homeopathic remedy and we use it as Chamomilla 200. Now, you moms out there with babies, this is a writer downer. This is an important remedy for teething. So, Chamomilla twice daily for about three or four days and sometimes a little longer depending on the severity. If very severe, the baby’s really screaming and arching his back then you can give it three times per day for a few days. So not only did this end the particular bout of teething the first time I use it but the next time a tooth came in for my older son, it was less of an ordeal. So of course I went back to giving him Chamomilla 200 when the next tooth was coming in. But now, the pain was not as grand. It was only needed for a day or so and it was over with. But what was most interesting was that he never again needed another dose. Even though he had suffered for a long time with teething until I found Chamomilla, it ended it. Why does this happen? Well let me make it very simple because this is homeopathy folks. It cured the teething problems. It didn’t just cover up the pain. I could have kicked myself for not having learned this earlier because we had all suffered. We were up all night, my husband and I with this screaming baby. This particular son had months of those painful and sleepless nights until I learned that he was irascible and fractious. He was arching his back and screaming sometimes. Sometimes he would scream out in the middle of the night. That of course was the pain of the teeth coming in. So I turned a crying, sometimes screaming baby into a sleeping angel and allowed him and my husband and I to fall back to sleep and that was the end of it. What we did it with was a $9 bottle of Chamomilla 200. But wait! That’s not all. I’ve used the same remedy for when adults suffer from teething, too. Adult’s teeth? Yes! Think about it. That’s about the time in the early adulthood. It’s about the time when wisdom teeth begin to emerge, right? Of course, the dentist wants to yank them out. No! I say. Put those teeth back. Let’s just see if we can save those teeth that are coming in with Chamomilla 200. So, the very same son who had the teething problems when he was a little baby now is an adult and this was a few years ago, began to have pain in his wisdom teeth as they emerged. He reminded me, “Mom, all my friends are having those extracted.” Nasty old teeth, what do you need those for? Well, I happen to think they’re beneficial to keep. So we employed Chamomilla 200 again in exactly the same fashion as we had 25 years earlier. What’s interesting about this story is that I actually used the same bottle, the one that I used in the 80s. It worked like a charm in 2013 just like it did in 1988. What do you know? It wasn’t taken off the market because of its horrendous side effects like so many conventional drugs are taken off. You can’t find the drug that did something for you years ago. No, these remedies stay consistent. Homeopathy isn’t capricious. In fact, we could go back even further and the very same remedy was likely used by the British Royal family for their teething babies and young adults back in 1801, as I used it 200 years later. Jendy: So the British Royal family was using homeopathy over 100 years ago? Joette: Yes, yes. They have used it for close to 200 years from my understanding. Not just used by the Queen Mother but the entire family. She actually travelled with her homeopathic physician. She was said to have enjoyed longevity. I believe she lived to about 102, 103, some place between 101 and 103 years because of homeopathy. That’s what she has told many of her followers of what’s the reason. So I guess if it’s good enough for royalty who can demand any kind of medicine and travel anywhere in the world to get it, I suppose it’s certainly good enough for the rest of us, right? Jendy: Oh I think so, sure. Joette: Yes. Remedy for colic Jendy: Let’s move on. What would be a second benefit for baby? Joette: Of course, colic is very common complaint in babies. So at first when my baby was a newborn, I used gripe water. I don’t know many mothers may know about this. At the time back in the early mid-80s, I even had a hard time finding gripe water. I lived near the border of Canada. So I used to have to travel to Canada to get it.
But then I instead learned about two remedies with my babies. My births were without drugs. I’m going to step back so that you understand a little bit. My births were unmedicated. But when a baby is born after a medicated birth, this particular remedy is even more clearly indicated because it’s the ultimate remedy to clear drugs that I know of. Many of you who already know homeopathy may know that it’s very famously named Nux vomica. I should also mention that you’ll be able to read about these remedies and find them online. We’ll connect them to you online so that after this podcast, you’ll see it written so that in case you don’t know what I’m saying, it will be written out. So the first time I used this for my infant was when I had eaten a lot of garlic. Since I was nursing, it affected the baby. So he began pulling up his legs in pain and crying. It was obvious that there was something gastrointestinal going on. I gave him Nux vomica 30. After three doses, over a period of maybe I don’t remember exactly but maybe it was six hours, he fell into calm and sleep. But another time with another child, Nux vomica didn’t do it for my next child. So what was I to do? Sometimes the remedies are right on and sometimes there’s just enough differential that it makes it a little confusing. So I refer to a little priceless book that I owned. Actually it wasn’t even a book. It was more a pamphlet. Back in those days, it was very hard to find homeopathy books. It said when a child has colic, the remedy that should be employed is Colocynthis 200 or 30. So for this second child, when he had colic, this Colocynthis worked better than Nux vomica did. The way that I knew that it was slightly different was that in the second child, if I pressed his belly or I laid him on my arm like football hold as they say and the pressure of my arm was up against his abdomen, he was comforted a little bit. It didn’t make it go away but you could tell that he was a little more comforted. That better from pressure issue was something that I had not noticed in my first child when he was younger. So now I added these two remedies. I had these two remedies from which to choose for colic. That’s around the time and it was vague now, it was 25 year ago that my husband came home one night after eating out for lunch and complaining of stomach pain. He said that he wanted me to give him both remedies. Well I was just studying homeopathy in those days. This was the time when I adhere to the strict laws of classical homeopathy. And I said, “No, you can’t do that. You can’t add two remedies together, particularly two remedies that I don’t know well enough to know whether or not they do come together.” But he wore me down. He said, “Look, give them both to me. I don’t want to wait for one to work and see if it acts and then go to the next one.” So we did it. I guess I’m here to tell you that of course it worked like magic. The pain in the stomach was gone in about 15 minutes. But this isn’t the end of the story. This is just the beginning and it’s really fascinating, to me it is anyway. When I had my fellowship with Dr. Banerji in Calcutta, I learned that they had been doing the same thing, putting these two remedies together, these precise remedies together. In fact, their protocol for colicky babies is Nux vomica 30 mixed with Colocynthis 200. I couldn’t believe it. Across the other end of the earth, some 25 years later independent of each other, I and the Banerji’s had come to the same conclusion. Now, in the homeopathy world, I’m sure that there are other homeopaths who have figured this out as well. But for me, it was interesting because I actually even use the same potencies. Theirs was probably more trial and error because they see so many thousands of patients per week. But while mine was the insistence of a suffering husband but it’s pretty remarkable given that there are thousands of homeopathic remedies and probably 100 just for the use of stomach pain alone. So that makes it pretty unique. Jendy: It is. We’ve talked about Royals and Americans and Indians. It’s like across continents, across social stratum. It’s decades and hundreds and centuries of years. It’s so applicable. It’s just amazing. Happiness that homeopathy brings Joette: Yes, it is amazing. As I said it’s not whimsical. It’s founded on the bedrock of solid medical principles. It surpasses what might be boundaries and limitations that might otherwise detour us from understanding its capabilities. So let me give you the number three of the benefits of homeopathy to a baby and a family in general because of course it’s going to affect everyone. What I found to be one of the most compelling aspects of homeopathy is that it made me happy. I will explain in a moment. But when I was happy as a mom and satisfied, of course I was a better mom in many ways. So it offered me the satisfaction of an intellectual feast. As a mother and as most mothers, I tended my children. I made meals and I was insistent on making my meals from scratch. I even made some herbal tinctures from the property around me, from the fields, et cetera. I tended a small garden. Later as my children we growing, I homeschooled my kids, and sometimes for my personal enjoyment I played the piano. But that was the extent of my intellectual pursuit. But all women I believe have ultimate pursuits in which they yearned for a little more intellect in their lives. I’ve always disliked mediocrity and intellectual sluggishness in society but especially in myself. So what homeopathy offered me was a clever pursuit that absolutely ignited me. It kept me sharp and concomitantly gave me information that was useful, no, downright lifesaving in some instances for my entire family. So of course it brought me to where I am today as a practitioner and a teacher. And I never dreamed it would take me so far. But homeopathy has been the best investment of my life. It saved my family tens of thousands of dollars in doctor’s bills and drug costs, time missed from work for my husband, my father, my brother, and now as adults, my sons and of course myself. It has given us, my family immeasurable piece of mind and comfort knowing we had the answers that no doctor has. Well, I shouldn’t say no doctor. There are occasionally a doctor or two in North America you might find who know a little bit about homeopathy but certainly not the run-of-the mill or the garden variety of doctors. When I saw some of my friends struggle with not wanting to give their children drugs but simply didn’t know what else to do, well I did know what to do. In fact, when I learned of someone I knew who had had a problem, I’d go home and study up on that problem and what I would have done and what remedy I would have used for this or that. Jendy: So were you able to help those friends? Joette: Well, here’s the thing. Because homeopathy especially in those days, back in the 80s was such a different paradigm, I usually offer to help. But many were grateful for what I taught them but others were not so interested. It was something they knew nothing about. So they were unwilling to try something new. Remember, if they were asking their doctor about it, the doctor would say, “Homeopathy, no, no.” Most doctors especially then and even now don’t even know what homeopathy is. Remember, this was back away when the word homeopathy was unknown. Before the internet allowed us also to readily discover the horrific side effects of antibiotics and acetaminophen and asthma and drugs and such that are related to that. So it was the harder sell back then. But today, mothers have had about had it with drugs. Doctors have to do a lot more convincing especially to those mothers who are willing to do their homework that their methods are useful. So this pursuit of learning to cure our families, ourselves fits seamlessly into mothering and homemaking. It always just felt right to me to have this intellectual side to myself brought to the fore and allow it to work nicely with being a mother. Jendy: It’s so interesting to me when I start learning about it. I start cringing now when people say, “Oh I went to the doctor and got an antibiotic.” And then I have to share with you that yesterday I was in Wal-Mart. The cashier was complaining about her allergies. And it just came out. I was like, “Oh! I’m learning about homeopathic remedies for allergies. I can cure it.” She was like, “Oh I heard about that.” I was like, “Go to JoetteCalabrese.com.” Joette: Oh aren’t you sweet. Jendy: But it just comes out. I don’t know a lot how to help them. I like how you said you went home and learned about it. So then you could tell more. How would you wrap this all up in your farewell words, so I can go off and repeat all this to my husband? Organizing one’s life Joette: All right. Well I always tell moms or anyone for that matter, anyone who will listen. Plot out your life. Don’t let life just happen. Actually lay it out. What do you want in life? Plot it out one step at a time. You know how you learned to make soup from scratch? There was a time when you didn’t know how to do that. But you learned. You know how you know how to make your home lovely and organized and tidy, this is not that different. This business of learning how to cure your family really is very innate in all of us and becoming a healer in your home is really not that complex. So as I say, plot out your life one step at a time. Know how to cure just one ailment. Know how to use Hepar sulph for example for ear infections that we discussed last week. Know that remedy now. Read up on it. Go online. Read it in the material medica, material medica, Hepar sulph. Look that up. Use that as your stepping point. Then read my blogs. So okay, there it is. There’s one remedy under your belt. There’s one illness that’s under your belt. Now add how to cure your baby’s teething pain in fractiousness. That’s Chamomilla 200 every three to six hours depending on the severity. Now you’ve got two remedies. So what about if your husband shovels the snow too vigorously like mine did last week. Remember I live in Buffalo. My husband was shoveling snow all day long for three or four days. Arnica montana 200, Arnica montana 200 every three hours. He just came in the house and just took it. He doesn’t ask me any longer. He just knows what to take now. This is not unlike learning to play the piano, one hand then two and you begin with scales and Arpeggio. Soon you’re playing melodies and eventually, if your passion is ignited enough, sonatas. Learning to play a sonata can take a lifetime to perfect. But not so with the method of homeopathy that I teach moms. Not so with this practical method called the Banerji protocol. You’ll not only be playing a sonata, you’ll be the piano in the concierto. You’ll be the violin in the first position. You’ll take the lead in your family’s life. You become the virtuoso. So I urge families to be relentless in your pursuit of beauty, genuine health, and a masterful, robust life. Thank you for listening to this podcast with Joette Calabrese. If you liked it, please share it with your friends. To learn more and find out if homeopathy is a good fit in your health strategy, visit joettecalabrese.com and schedule a free 15-minute conversation. | |||