This little gem of a book is perfect for anyone getting started in homeopathy, or for those who want a quick reference guide to first aid homeopathy.

If you want to manage accidents and common ailments at home as quickly, effectively and safely as possible then this book is for you. From boils, to sore throat, to vomiting many common ailments are listed. 36 remedies are described, each with an illustration to help you understand their unique and characteristic healing qualities.

It is written in straight-forward English with few technical terms, so new-comers to medical and homeopathic terminology will have no trouble understanding the content. The book examines the following topics: What is Homeopathy? Guidelines on what you can treat. How to prescribe. How to store and take the remedies. A directory of common aliments. Descriptions of 32 homeopathic remedies with illustrations. Suggestions for further help and learning.

An exhilarating and pleasurable journey through our Materia Medica.

Aconite

This is prepared from the poisonous Monkshood, but is rendered into a wonderful and safe healing medicine thanks to homeopathic pharmacy. These people, often babies and children, usually appear frightened, tossing about and the bedclothes may be thrown off. They may express a fear of dying, unaccountable fear, palpitation and tingling sensations throughout the body, but mainly the extremities. These symptoms come suddenly, as if out of nowhere. If restlessness, heat and redness are observed, ask yourself or the person if they have been out in the cold, especially on a windy day, or have recently had a fright of some kind. This remedy has gained its homeopathic laurels in the nursery as well as in disaster situations such as after earth-quakes. There may be a desire for cold water or bitter drinks.

Symptoms
Worse: from being out in the cold, midnight, tobacco smoke, light and noise
Better: open air, rest

Antimonium tartaricum

For respiratory problems with rattling mucus in wind-pipe, sleepiness and clammy sweat. The child cannot bring up the mucus, the cough turning into gasping and suffocation. Also for pustular skin eruptions, such as occur in chicken pox (cf. Mercurius & Rhus Toxicendron).

Symptoms
Worse: lying down, in cold, damp weather, in the evening and at night
Better: sitting up, from expectoration

Calcarea carbonica

If your child is a late developer, has been slow to teeth, to crawl and walk – a plodder, not a pusher, then this could be their constitutional homeopathic remedy. Like the oyster from which this remedy is prepared, they are similar to the vulnerable creature within the shell. Homeopathy abounds with such comparisons of states because this is how it works, like curing like because of intrinsic similarity.

Children needing this remedy are usually plump and easy going, happy to watch others or to play by themselves. Their heads may sweat at night, and their bowel movements and perspiration usually smells sour. They can also go without passing a motion for several days, without any apparent ill effects. They like bland foods, especially soft boiled eggs, milk and ice cream, although these may disagree with them. They generally dislike meat. They like cold food and though they are chilly, they do not enjoy hot baths. Cold weather can aggravate them, and they like their hats and scarves. They are prone to coughs and colds, swollen glands, tonsillitis and ear infections. Although they may be slow learners, these children are determined and independent and can be very stubborn. They may suffer from nerves and fear when they are unwell. They are afraid of the dark, and may wake up screaming from nightmares; also they have a fear of some animals, for example mice and dogs. They avoid the rough and tumble of the playground, at sport, they are apt to sprain their ankles. They are not outspoken in class, fearing that others will notice their confusion. Older children may develop a fear of death and become fascinated by religious ideas and the supernatural. This remedy should be considered if the child has had repeated fevers which have been helped by Belladonna.

Symptoms
Worse: mental and physical effort, cold/wet weather, on waking, morning and after midnight, full and new moon
Better: lying down, dry weather, hot applications, rubbing

Ignatia

This is the first homeopathic remedy to think of for teenagers, or anyone becoming hysterical after bad news, grief, fright, worry, disappointed love, jealousy, or old spinal injuries. Affects the nervous system producing on the physical level spasms, twitches and tremors, contradictory symptoms such as sensation of a lump in the throat better for swallowing. On the mental and emotional level this is seen in hysteria with emotional outbursts that are very quickly controlled: only tears in eyes, short sobs, sighing, constant swallowing, twitching around mouth, silent brooding. They may go off food or eat incessantly.

Symptoms
Worse: emotions, grief, worry, fright, shock, loss of loved one, air, odours, coffee, tobacco, yawning, waking, standing
Better: movement, urinating, company, swallowing, deep breathing, eating