It’s that time of the year when we can feel stressed from all of the holiday events.

This can be stress from family gatherings, missing a loved one or when participating in a holiday performance. Then there is the stress of over eating or eating those foods that we do not agree with us all which, can affect our health. No matter what the stress is, it plays havoc on our immune system, which may lead toward acute illnesses. Below are several homeopathic remedies that you may want to have on hand to help us get through the holidays.

Anxiety

The three remedies come to my mind when I think of anxiety are; Aconite, Gelsemium and Argentum Nitricum.

Aconite and Gelsemium use when feeling anxiety and anticipating how the event will go. Also used for performance anxiety.

Example – I wonder how the family gathering will go on Thanksgiving. You will take a dose of both Aconite 30c/x and Gelsemium 200c/x – (dry) 1-3 pellets on the tongue.

Argentum Nitricum is when feeling anxious and predicting what you think the outcome will be.

Example – I am making the turkey this year (first time) and no one will like it. Take a dose of Argentum Nitricum 30c/x – 1-3 pellets on the tongue.

Overwhelmed

Calcarea Carbonica is the remedy when one is overwhelmed. This can come from overworking, juggling too many things at one time, and feeling like don’t have enough time in the day to get everything done. Taking Calcarea Carbonica will help you to step back and see what needs to be done, rather than spinning your wheels and not being able to accomplish much of anything.

Example – making a list of what has to get done for the event and crossing one off the top and adding two more jobs on the bottom of the list.  Not addressing feeling overwhelmed, may lead to feeling anxious with what has to get done.  Then you will also need to take one of the above homeopathic remedies for anxiety too. Take a dose of Calcarea Carbonica 30c/x when feeling overwhelmed by placing 1-3 pellets on the tongue.

Grief

Holiday time can be a stressful time when missing a loved one, especially one that has recently passed away.  There are many homeopathic remedies for grief.  However, when we are having a hard time of letting go the death of a loved one and not being able to move forward the remedy needed is Natrum Muriaticum.

Example – During this time you may not want to be socializing with others, and find yourself avoiding events (keeping to yourself).  Not able to fall asleep at night, mind is dwelling on past events, usually negative events. Or wakes up during the middle of the night and not able to fall back to sleep, because mind starts clicking away with thoughts. Craving salty food (chips, olives, salt, etc.) or food tastes too salty.  Take a dose of Natrum Muriaticum 30 or 200c/x for the grief. And for problems falling asleep, I like to keep Natrum Muriaticum 200c/x under my pillow for convenience for those nights my mind will not turn off and will take a dry dose when have been laying there for half an hour wide awake. Repeat half an hour later if still awake and not yawning.

Sad, lonely and abandonment

Missing that loved one that may be away for a period of time or that has passed away is Pulsatilla.

You may be craving comfort food (cake, ice cream, mac and cheese, etc.), to help fulfill that void. Feeling sad, lonely, and or not included in what others are doing. Take Pulsatilla 30 or 200c/x dry on the tongue will help.

Gas and bloating

When abdomen is distended (bloated) and gassy, which may also be accompanied with lots of gurgling in lower abdomen take, Lycopodium.

These symptoms come from eating foods that do not agree with you (dairy, wheat, etc.) or from overeating.  Repeat 1-3 pellets of Lycopodium 30c/x every 15 minutes or 200c/x every 30 minutes until gas and bloating starts to improve.  Most case will only need a couple of doses to get results.

Heartburn and Indigestion

There are several homeopathic remedies that can be taken for heartburn and indigestion.  Select the remedy according to when you are having these symptoms in relation to when ate. When having heartburn and indigestion half an hour the after a meal you would select Carbo Vegetabilis.  Nux Vomica would be selected if you are having heartburn and indigestion several hours after eating.  If you should wake up during the middle of the night with heartburn and indigestion, you would select Arsenicum Album.

In most cases I routinely recommend Lycopodium to my clients.  They will be having heartburn, indigestion any time, along with gas, bloating, and may even be burping or trying to burp.  Whichever remedy you choose to address these symptoms, you would use a 30c/x potency.  Take 1-3 pellets on the tongue every 15-30 minutes until start to see improvement, and then back off the selected remedy and repeat the remedy if the symptoms start to return again.

Nausea

When we feel nauseated from eating greasy, and or rich foods think of Pulsatilla.

The stomach will feel queasy and would probably feel better if would vomit. You may notice feeling better with moving open air.  Sometimes you can have a pulsating headache that moves about the head. Pulsatilla 30c/x every 15 minutes or 200c/x every 30 minutes until nausea starts to improve.

Stress will always be there, it is how you cope and deal with it that makes a difference in your health. There are great tools to incorporate in your day on how to handle stress, whether it is around the holiday season or in your everyday life. Taking time to out from your day for a few minutes is a great way to handle stress; even for 15 minutes.  You can read, meditate, go for a short walk, do a few minutes of exercise or just take time to breathe, can reset your mind so you can handle the stress.  Be sure to have a few ways planned out on how you will handle the stressful times during the holidays.
Make the best of your holidays this year, by enjoying the love and laughter with your family and friends.
Happy Holidays
These homeopathic remedies are not just for holiday time, they can be selected anytime when someone is exhibiting the above symptoms.