As the name suggests, chilblains are small, itchy swellings that appear on the skin due to exposure to cold or humid conditions over a period. The tissue gets inflammed, and the symptoms of damaged capillary beds in the skin are usually visible. This condition affects the extreme parts of the body that are more susceptible to cold, like the fingertips, toes, nose, ears, and heels. Chilblains rarely cause any permanent damage and tend to heal within weeks with proper precautions. A homeopathic remedy for chilblains like Agaricus works to reduce the swelling and inflammation, and also provide relief from painful symptoms.
Chilblains are also known as Perniosis or Chilburns.

Causes of Chilblains

Chilblains are usually considered to be an idiopathic condition which means that there is no particular cause behind it. The most common reasons that are thought to cause this condition are as follows:

It can be related to body’s abnormal reaction when an individual is exposed to a cold or humid environment, followed by sudden rewarming. The superficial blood vessels become narrow when exposed to extremes of temperature. These usually expand to their usual size with slow, gradual and steady warmth. But if sudden rewarming of the affected part occurs, the blood vessels expand quickly. This leads to an increased blood flow which the superficial blood vessels cannot handle. The blood then leaks out into the surrounding tissues, resulting in itchiness and swelling.

Chilblains can be hereditary too; a positive family history can be a risk factor.

A long-standing history of chronic chilblains indicates a disorder of the connective tissue.

Chilblains: Risk Factors

There can be many risk factors involved in the occurrence of chilblains, like:

Environmental factors, which are usually noticed in people living in extremely cold or humid areas.

Seasonal changes, moving from warm weather to cold, like during the months from November to April.

Poor circulation in an individual makes them susceptible to chilblains, as it may lead to an increased sensitivity to the changes in temperature.

Autoimmune diseases like Lupus cause swelling in the body’s tissues and affected people become more prone to develop chilblains.

Raynaud’s disease is a condition in which the small arteries that supply blood to skin becomes narrow, resulting in decreased blood flow to the affected area. It usually affects the blood supply to fingers and toes. People who suffer from Raynaud’s disease are more susceptible to develop chilblains.

Gender: Women are more likely to get chilblains as compared to males.

Body weight is another risk factor; people with low body weight are more prone to developing chilblains.

Clothing or shoes that are too tight, worn in cold, damp weather can hinder the blood circulation and predispose a person to develop chilblains. Also, not wearing sufficient warm clothes in extremes of weather can increase one’s susceptibility to chilblains, especially on the parts exposed to the cold or dampness.

Chilblains: Symptoms

The most common symptoms of chilblains include:

Color Changes of the affected area of the skin:
The condition can lead to general redness or blueness of the affected areas of the skin, or it can cause patchy discoloration. Changes in the color are usually visible through naked eyes. These color changes occur as a result of the body’s abnormal reaction towards repeated exposure to extremes of temperatures. Erythema, with blanchable redness of the area, may also occur.

Swelling:
Swelling may occur as a result of an accumulation of leaked blood in the surrounding tissues. The blood gets leaked from the capillaries when sudden rewarming happens after exposure to cold or humid conditions.

Pain:
Pain is a common symptom experienced by people suffering from chilblains. Pain due to chilblains can range from mild, moderate to severe. It may be a sharp, tearing, prickling, throbbing or dull, aching pain in the affected parts.

Itching:
An individual can experience an irritating or uncontrollable itching sensation in the affected part, as a result of chilblains. Usually, this itching occurs when the affected area becomes warm.

Burning:
A burning sensation usually occurs as a result of underlying nerve damage in the area affected by chilblains. Nerve damage also leads to tingling and numbness in the affected part, which feels like a burning sensation.

Complications from Chilblains

Chilblains do not usually result in permanent injury, but if not treated well within time, it can cause severe damage. Recurrent and non-healing chilblains should be reported to a doctor to rule out more serious medical conditions.

Complications include:

• permanent discoloration of the skin.
• scarring of the skin.
• formation of the painful blisters, which can further lead to ulcers and infections.

Homeopathic Remedy for Chilblains

The best treatment for chilblains is a natural science. Homeopathy takes into consideration the fact that the symptoms of disease occur as a result of the body’s inability to combat an infection. Homeopathy helps in boosting an individual’s immune response to fight the infections and restore the body to its healthy state. Homeopathic remedy for chilblains is a completely natural, non-intrusive, and safe treatment method. Made of natural substances, homeopathic medicines are used to get rid of chilblains quickly.

Homeopathic Medicines for Chilblains

Agaricus: Best Homeopathic Remedy for Chilblains

Agaricus for chilblains is the top grade homeopathic remedy for chilblains. It is used to treat common symptoms of chilblains, like a burning sensation and intense itching on both the hands. The affected person may feel as if their hands were frozen. The hands appear blue and cold, and painful swellings of the hands and toes may be present. A sharp, prickling pain may also be present.

Petroleum: Homeopathic Remedy for Painful Chilblains

Petroleum is a homeopathic remedy used to treat chilblains where there is a lot of pain. The parts affected by chilblains itch terribly and feel like they burn (like fire). Inflammation usually appears with the cold weather.

Lachesis: Homeopathic Remedy for Chilblains with Pus

Laches is a homeopathic remedy for chilblains that can help in treating the cases of old chilblains that become inflamed and suppurating. This medicine is used in cases where the circulation in the capillary is affected. It helps to renew the circulation without sloughing off the skin. Dark blue swelling of the cellular tissue on the hands gives a mottled appearance, and a purple discoloration may be seen on the feet. This is an excellent homeopathic medicine for blood circulation.

Abrotanum: Homeopathic Remedy for Chilblains that are Itchy 

Abrotanum is a homeopathic remedy for chilblains where the condition causes itching. There can be associated coldness of the fingertips with a presence of prickling pain in the fingers.

Rhustox: Homeopathic Remedy for Chilblains with Formication

Rhustox is a homeopathic remedy for chilblains that helps treat inflammation of the fingertips with formication (sensation of insects crawling over the skin). There is visibly red, smooth and shining swelling of the hands and feet. Rubbing the affected parts increases the eruptions. This medicine is used to treat vesicular eruptions.

Sulfur: Homeopathic Remedy for Burning Soles of Feet due to Chilblains

Sulfur is a homeopathic remedy for chilblains that helps reduce swelling of the toes, especially those that tend to suppurate. There is purple discoloration of the feet, along with thick, red chilblains on the fingers. There is intense itching in the toes that were frozen, and it usually gets worse by the warmth of the bed.

Pulsatilla: Homeopathic Remedy for Chilblains

Pulsatilla is a homeopathic remedy for chilblains which are hot, have bluish-red swelling, and itching. Purple discoloration of the feet along with an inflammation of the toes is also there.

Preventing Chilblains

Preventive measures can be taken to avoid the occurrence of the chilblains, which include:

• reduction in exposure to cold or humid climates.
• keeping the hands and feet warm.
• avoiding tight clothes and shoes that restrict circulation of blood to the feet, toes, and extremities.
• keeping a check on the condition of the feet in case one is diabetic. People with diabetes may get infected by chilblains without realizing it.

Tips to Manage Chilblains with Homeopathy

Apart from using the best homeopathic remedy for chilblains, there are a few management tips that can help manage, and eventually reverse the condition:

• maintain a regular exercise routine so that the circulation is not compromised.
• soak the affected parts in warm (never hot) water.
• keep the affected area dry.
• keep a regular check on associated health issues like blood pressure or diabetes, as they affect healing.
• rewarm the affected parts gradually to avoid any sudden rewarming and its side effects.

Detailed description of top two Homeopathic Remedies for Anxiety

In my last fifteen years of homeopathic  practice I might have dealt with hundreds of patients with anxiety problems and have realized the great  efficacy of homeopathic remedies in anxiety disorders.   Here are the details of my top two Homeopathic remedies for anxiety. Aconite as a Homeopathic Remedy for Anxiety I would rank Aconite as one of the the top homeopathic remedies for anxiety   as it covers the acuteness of anxiety attacks . It has rarely failed me in treating acute anxiety attacks or in other words acute panic attacks .It is also helpful in treating anxiety issue which are a part of  depression .  The key symptoms of aconite (aconite napelus ) to be used as a homeopathic remedy for anxiety is the ‘suddenness of symptoms’ . Anxiety or distress will come very suddenly and without any premonition and can come at any time . Feeling of impending doom and also fear of death is there.Anxiety attacks happen out of nowhere , at any time and there might not be any perceptible trigger or a reason for it to occur. Aconite can be used in low potencies eg 30 c at an intervals of  few minutes in treating acute anxiety attacks or acute panic attacks . the conclusion is that aconite  tops the list of the best homeopathic remedies for anxiety , especially acute anxiety disorder.

Argentum Nitricum as a Homeopathic remedies for Anxiety                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Although I am  putting Argentum Nitricum  at number 2 in the of top homeopathic remedies for anxiety  , but it actually leads the list of  homeopathic remedies for  anxiety disorders that are chronic . To be more specific it is more suited to people who suffer from ‘Generalised Anxiety Disorder ‘ . For a aperson who requires Argentum as a homeopathic remedy for treating anxiety,  the symptoms are  – there is constant sense of anxiety – here it differs from Aconite as it is used more when the attacks of anxiety are sudden in nature and are violent. In argentum patient the anxiety is not violent  but is constant . the patient is more of  a “worrier type ” and this is what leads to a state of constant anxiety .  The patient that requires Argentum lives in a world full of fear, irrational impulses and a forsaken feeling. They  are always in a state of worry. They anticipate all kinds of worrisome things . What if my car breaks down? What if I get late for my exam? ; They suffer suffer from a severe anticipatory anxiety – the thought of meeting a new person gives palpitations, trembling, a cramping pain in the abdomen and at times a strong urge to pass stool.Argentum patients suffer from all kinds of phobias claustrophobia , acrophobia etc. they usually  Avoid crowded places, parties, narrow streets and alleys ; fear of height is very strongly marked and looking down even from the second floor sends shivers down the spine.thus Argentum covers all aspects of chronic anxiety disorder and  hits the top in the  list of  homeopathic remedies for anxiety , especially when it comes to generalized anxiety disorder

Other good homeopathic remedies for anxiety disorder that require a notable mention are  Arsenic Album , Ignatia Amara and Natrum Mur.

If your child is between the ages of two and three years and his development is keeping you worried please check with these following signs and symptoms. The child is withdrawn, avoids social contact even with kids and avoids playing with them; has no language or is losing language which he had already acquired; Fails to respond to his name; has poor eye contact; moves Constantly; shows patterns of repetitive behavior like rocking, spinning and hand flapping. If some or all of these signs are present in your child please make sure that you consul t a developmental specialist and have him evaluated for Autism.

Autism or Autism spectrum disorder also called as pervasive development disorder (PDD) is catching our world by surprise. The Incidence of autism is on rise. This rise is very fast. The Centre for disease Control in United States also known as CDC has recently come up with their changed statistics and are showing that 1 in every 110 children In United states have Autism. This is very alarming and what is even more alarming and disturbing is the fact that this trend is on the increase. Although , we don’t have any clear data on the incidence of autism in India, but we know that Autism is on rise in India too. And what is more Troublesome is that, till date, no cause has been identified for Autism.

Autism is Usually diagnosed between the ages of 18 months to 3 yrs. Although signs and symptoms of autism may be present earlier but are very difficult to identify. The Symptoms can range from very mild to very severe, hence autism is better known as autism Spectrum Disorder. This means that not every kid will develop the same amount of autism. Broadly speaking, Autism mainly affects the Verbal and non-verbal communication, social interaction and the behavior of the child. Communication is affected by delayed speech development, less speech, difficulty in using speech, repetitive speech and to a level where there is no speech. Nearly 40 percent of kids with Autism never develop speech. Social Interactions are affected by failure to establish friendships with children of same age, showing withdrawn behavior, lack of interest in sharing enjoyment, activities and achievements with others. They can also lack emotional understanding and reciprocity; this means that it is difficult for kids with autism to understand feelings of pain, sorrow and emotions of others. Autistic kids can have marked disability in expressing their own emotions whether verbally or non verbally. Behavior is usually affected signs of repetitive behavior or stereotyped behavior like hand flapping, spinning and can also signs of hyperactivity. Kids with autism show addictive tendency towards certain topics or objects like looking rotating objects, television advertisements, sticks , soaps or a particular toy.

Homeopathy has help for kids with autism. Although not all kids with autism respond to homeopathy but a certain segment of kids with mild to moderate level of autism at times show great signs of Improvement and recovery. Autistic kids with speech (however little) and less hyperactivity show very favorable improvements with certain homeopathic medicines. Age of the child also has major affect on the homeopathic treatment outcome – younger the child better are the chances of improvement with homeopathic medicine.

HOMEOPATHY is much more of a choice than people often think it to be. One of its philosophy’s greatest breakthroughs is the realization that the body is not an object but a process with no pre-ordained limits.

[Read more…]

Is It a Behavioral Issue or an Appetite Problem ?

I had seen plenty of poor eaters in my practice, but this one had left me with no doubts that he was the worst amongst all. . With a history of bird’s appetite, this time he was breaking all records. It was nearly three days since he had taken a morsel. It looked as if he had taken recourse to some kind of Satyagraha. Any attempt to feed him forcefully would end up in a vomit. The young parents were nearly on the verge of a breakdown, when on the fourth day he ended his fast.

[Read more…]

AND YOU THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS DUE TO TEETHING

In this ever-changing world of medical researches, a part of the old concept on how infant?s go through their teething periods has changed. A new study helps confirm what most modern day pediatricians and physicians now strongly believe, that fevers greater than 102infections and diarrhea should not be attributed to teething. So before one attributes any infants’ signs or symptoms of a potentially serious illness to teething, other possible causes must be ruled out. This change in concept, basically aims at making teething safer and dispelling myths associated with it.

[Read more…]