I am reading a book right now that is quite inspiring. It’s called Grain Brain, and it details how certain foods we commonly eat are damaging our brains and bodies, and leading to (among other things) chronic disease and Alzheimer’s. Reading the statistics on Alzheimer’s is shocking, and inspired me to recommend this book, and to let you know how homeopathy can help with this crippling disability. Read on to discover there is hope with homeopathy and with health changes.
If you know someone who is struggling with impaired cognition, confusion or frank Alzheimer’s, there is hope for improved quality of life with homeopathy. There are remedies that can be helpful in stopping or slowing the progress of Alzheimer’s, and can ameliorate symptoms of dullness and impaired cognition. A remedy can change someone’s life; increasing mental and physical vitality at any age. I have presented these mini remedy pictures for your consideration, however, do not try to home treat anyone with these symptoms. Please see a certified homeopath for chronic treatment.
Alumina
Alumina has an affinity for the central and peripheral nervous system, with slowing of neural impulses. Well-known symptoms of Alumina are disorientation, memory loss, confusion, slowness and dullness. Imagine a slow, very stubborn person who will not be hurried or chivvied along, and who gets very irritated when encouraged to hurry up. They may experience vertigo, worse on closing their eyes. There is extreme dryness of all mucous membranes, along with severe constipation.
Baryta Carbonica
Baryta-carb is a remedy where we see a picture of a dependent older person, who seems very fearful, almost childish. They may have difficulty making decisions and need a lot of reassurance. They can be very anxious; worried about the world and the changes that are happening so rapidly. They can be afraid of being mocked for their confusion. There is a childlike quality to the people who need this remedy. One will likely see constipation and vertigo in the picture.
Conium
In cases of Conium, you often see a depressed, apathetic or emotionally closed person. Advanced cases will have progressive mental deterioration, forgetfulness and senility. If someone’s partner has died, they may appear to have given up on life in the absence of a loving relationship. Conium often has symptoms of paralysis, starting in the lower limbs. You may see a progressive weakening of the limbs, beginning with an inability to walk well. They may have vertigo, worse from lying down.
Helleborus
Helleborus has symptoms of stupefaction and mental dullness. The mind is slow, and the memory is weak. Sometimes it may appear as if the mind is completely blank, with no thoughts at all. There is apathy and anguish, they may not even understand what is happening to them. Helleborus is particularly noted for complaints arising after a head injury, recent or not. Even old injuries can be treated, especially if a person has never been well since the event.
Book recommendation:
To avoid the above scenarios, I highly recommend reading and considering the suggestions in Grain Brain. The author, a prominent neurosurgeon, advises altering your diet to avoid the physical and cognitive repercussions he details in the book. This kind of thing always makes me excited. Maybe I am a masochist, but I am always open to restricting my diet in one way or another in order to improve my health. I see it as a challenge, and if there are long-term benefits like losing weight and remembering my children’s names, so much the better! For those of you already following a Paleo diet, you can let out the breath you are holding, because in Grain Brain, Dr. David Perlmutter suggests that eating a high protein, high fat, and low carbohydrate diet is going to improve your overall health and specifically your brain health tremendously.
I love his very methodical presentation of scientific studies and physiology to make his argument that eating a high carb, low fat diet will lead to (among other things) diabetes, impaired cognitive function, and eventually Alzheimer’s. It explains so much of our current health crisis, in which chronic disease is rampant, and there are extreme rates of type-2 diabetes. Just this morning, Tom Hanks announced he has diabetes, as a result of his extreme weight gains and losses for his acting roles! Dr. Perlmutter explains methodically that changing your diet will positively affect your brain – for life.
This is particularly inspiring considering that the etiology of Alzheimer’s is somewhat mysterious. There are many questions about how and why so many people develop it. It is scary to imagine losing your memory. It is also deeply worrying and stressful to care for a loved one who has lost their memory, or who has significantly impaired cognition. This is a reality that many adults face with their aging parents or aging spouses. The Mayo Clinic says that nearly half of the people over age 85 have Alzheimer’s. These are scary facts, and made even more frightening with the uncertainty of how it can develop and not knowing what to do to prevent it.
This is why this book is inspiring. Though he suggests a radical diet change (from a typical American diet), I love knowing that there is something I can do to prevent chronic disease, and especially Alzheimer’s. I highly recommend this book, including the diet and supplement changes he suggests to reduce overall inflammation, oxidation, and to normalize blood sugar.
Be well!
Practice note:
• Please give my name to mom’s groups or parent groups that you may know. I’d love to speak to your group of moms about how to use homeopathy at home for family wellness throughout the year.
