Gelsemium Sempervirens is native to warm temperate and tropical America from Guatemala north to the southeastern United States. It has a number of common names including yellow jessamine or jasmine, evening trumpetflower, and woodbine. Yellow jessamine came into regular use from the middle of the 19th century chiefly as a treatment for nervous disorders such as sciatica and neuralgia.

In its homeopathic form, gelsemium is prepared from the fresh root, which is chopped, soaked in alcohol, strained, and diluted to the desired, highly dilute potencies. Homeopathic physicians prescribe dilute solutions of gelsemium for many type of ailments. Homeopathic uses for gelsemium mainly affects the brain and spinal cord, the motor nerves, muscles, eyelids, and mucous membranes. Gelsemium alleviates  headaches that intensify with movement or bright light and feel as if there is a tight band around the head; a sore scalp due to nerve inflammation; muscle pain associated with fever, nervous disorders, uterine pain and painful menstruation, achy right-eye pain, a sore throat with red tonsils, difficulty swallowing and earache and summer colds. It is given for feverish symptoms, such as a sweaty, flushed face, an unpleasant taste in the mouth, a furred, trembling tongue, twitching muscles that feel cold and tingly and chills with waves of heat along the spine. Gelsemium is also used for fears, such as surgery or going to the dentist, and fear after a shock. All are accompanied by trembling. Overexcitement that causes the heart to miss a beat, drowsiness, and insomnia are also helped by Gelsemium. At times the remedy has been given to strengthen courage on the battlefield, and it is often used for phobias, exam nerves, stage fright, and other anticipatory terrors, which cause trembling, weakness, diarrhea, and frequent urination.  In addition, the remedy can be given for hay fever if accompanied by these symptoms.

The Gelsemium plant is toxic.  All parts of this plant contain the toxic strychnine-related alkaloids gelsemine and gelseminine and should not be consumed. Children, mistaking this flower for honeysuckle, have been poisoned by sucking the nectar from the flower.  Homeopathic gelsemium is safe for consumption because it is highly diluted.

Background:

Sabadilla was first discovered as a medicinal plant in the 16th century by natives in Central and South America. Upon its discovery, it was first used mainly for lice and parasitic intestinal worms. Around the turn of the 19th century, Sabadilla was also used as a palliative for hay-fever.  Exposure to this plant results in symptoms that are similar to those due to cold or hay fever,.  A theory suggests if you take enough Sabadilla, in diluted forms, that you will develop resistance and immunity to allergens that cause hay-fever and sinus congestion.

Homeopathic uses:

Sabadilla is a homeopathic remedy for hay-fever, allergies and sinus congestion. This herb was also used to help cure fever, tonsillitis, children’s diphtheria diarrhea, sore throats and parasitic worms, both in humans and in dogs. Sabadilla was also used in Europe for acute rheumatism, gout and inflammation. It was also used as a topical anesthetic.

In homeopathy, Sabadilla is extensively prescribed for treating hay fever, allergies and other health conditions. The symptoms of these health conditions include sporadic sneezing accompanied by runny nose, reddish eyes, acute frontal pain, diarrhea associated incessant splitting. These conditions may also be accompanied by a burning sensation in the eyes, watering from the eyes and a tearing headache, dry and tender throat making it difficult to swallow anything.

This homeopathic medicine is also used to eliminate thread worms in kids. Sabadilla is a useful medicine for treating intestinal worms that brings about nausea, which, in turn, results in vomiting.  Homeopathic medicines may prove to be very effective in treating intestinal worms and occasionally they are sufficient to get rid of such worms. Nevertheless, homeopathic medicines are also effective and safe when they are used concurrently with conventional medicines while treating intestinal worms.

Possible Side Effects

Poisoning symptoms may include retching, muscle spasms, slowed heart beat and decreased blood pressure. Currently, the EPA does not expect that Sabadilla will have high mobility in soils and only presents minimal risks to small mammals.  Sabadilla in a diluted form has no poisoning risks.

Homeopathy in double blind placebo trials have shown to be more effective than a placebo for ear infections.  The first trial was done in 1997 by the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.  The trial had 131 children.  They were divided in two groups.  The first group was the placebo group.  The second group was the homeopathy group. The homeopathy group recovered almost a day faster from the ear infection group. 

The second trial in England was done by the British Homeopathic Journal.  There was 231 children.  This study showed that 72% recovered 2.4 times quicker than the placebo group.  

A recent trial compared antibiotics against placebos for ear infections. This sudy was conducted by the journal of the American Medical Association.  The results showed that the group taking the antibiotics improved slightly.  However, many patients experienced adverse side effects such as rash and diarrhea.  The meta analysis concluded that antibiotics were no better for treatment than a placebo.  

Homeopathy may be good for mild ear infections.  More research is needed.  Two successful homeopathic trials had a small sample group.  A trial with a larger sample group should be considered for future trials. 

References

Natural News For Ear Infections

This blog entry we are going to answer some questions from our homeopathy forum.  Some are simple questions, some are more complex.

1. Are Bach Flower Remedies really helpful?

There have been many trials with bach flower remedies.  Bach flower remedies have not been shown to be successful to treat anxiety in 2 out 3 trials.  The 3rd trial showed bach rescue remedy seems to lessen stress slightly.  All these trials were quite small.  No conclusive evidence can be drawn if these flower remedies help people with mental conditions.  

2. Is there any Side effects that i should know about?

Bach flower remedies have no side effects.  You can safely take these medicine with out any worry.

3. Can Bach Flower Remedies and homeopathy remedies be taken together? 

Yes, they may be taken together.  Many people use both to treat mental conditions.

4.  What are symptoms of kidney stones?

Symptoms of kidney stones include painful urination and intense pain in the groin and kidney area.

5.  What is the best treatment of kidney stones?

Drinking plenty of water will help most kidney stones pass.  These homeopathic remedies also help dissolve kidney stones.  Berberis Vulgaris, Magnesia Phosphorica, and Cantharis helps the body with pain managment of the kidney stones.

Dr. Andrew Wakefield study that vaccines can contribute to autism is considered fradulent by the British Medicial Journal.  Dr. Wakefield through his research found that vaccines contribute to autism if too many vaccines are taken at once.  He recommends the infacts get a couple shots a time every month.  14 other studies performed after this one found no evidence of vaccines causing autism.  The doctor still stands by his study today.  He said the data was not manipulated in any way.  Many of the people that had peer reviewed this study do not support it anymore.  However, other doctors that peer reviewed this study still stand by the results.  They still support  some of these findings.  How accurate is this trial is still under debate?  Many Americans and UK parents are not vaccinating their children due to this study.  Autism in children is at an all time high.  No one has been able to figure out why as of now.

There is a misconception that homeopaths recommend not giving infant's vaccines.  This is a fallacy.  There are certain homeopaths that recommend against infant vaccines.  However, other homeopaths have differing opinions.  Peter Fischer, the homeopathic physician to the royal family, says vaccines should be taken by infants.  Homeopathy does not offer any substitutes to childhood vaccinations.

In conclusion, homeopathy is not against vaccines.  Homeopathy offers no substitutes to vaccines.  Some homeopaths may be against vaccines but that is their opinion.  Wakefield's study have made people look for alternatives to vaccines.          

The most popular articles for 2010 on our homeopathy blog are as follows:

Homeopathic Remedies To Help You Stop Smoking

Zicam Recall Update

Homeopathy Treatment For Plantar Fasciitus

How To Choose The Correct Sunblock

  The popular articles seem to be tips that people can use for everyday life or warnings that consumers should be aware of.

The articles with the most comments for 2010 are as follows:

Homeopathy Critic Stephen Barrett and Quackwatch Busted 

Homeopaths Without Borders Makes Trip Number 5 To Haiti

7 Simple ways To Avoid Poison Ivy

Protecting Yourself From Swine Flu Outbreak with Homeopathy

Homeopathy Wins In the UK

  I see quite a bit of comments from skeptics.  I do not see too many comments from proponents of homeopathy.  Most of the articles with the most comments are about homeopathy usage in countries and homeopathic information or misinformation.  Comments are always welcome whether they are from proponents or skeptics.  

All Time Most Popular Articles On The Blog

Homeopathic medicine and weight loss

Poison Ivy Treatment and Remedies

Side Effects of Homeopathic Medicine

Homeopathic Remedies To Help You Stop Smoking

Poison Ivy Treatment and Remedies

  Homeopathic Remedies To Help You Stop Smoking for 2010 has made it to the top 5 all time articles on this blog. 

The Articles With The Most Comments All Time

Homeopathic medicine and weight loss

Side Effects of Homeopathic Medicine

Current Situation of Homeopathy In the United Kingdom

Losing A Little Weight Is Beneficial For Your Health

Homeopathy Critic Stephen Barrett and Quackwatch Busted

  Homeopathy Critic Stephen Barrett and Quackwatch made our all time list of comments.  This article was the only one from 2010.  Most of the other comments of all time had to do with weight loss or side effects of homeopathy.

  We appreciate everyone interest in our blog.  Hmedicine wishes everyone a very happy and prosperous 2011.