Since a couple of months old, my twin girls suffered from eczema which got progressively worse as they grew older.  At age three it had got to a point where I was having to keep them permanently covered in various creams prescribed by the doctor and was finding the situation unbearable.  I was having to use vast amounts of cream throughout the day and night, and even had to put them in bandage-like bodysuits in order to allow any of us to get a couple of hours sleep at night.

The doctors then decided that we were using too much cream, and decided to stop our prescriptions, and said we had to go on to steroid creams.  We were already using a very mild steroid cream, but they wanted us to use stronger steroid creams, and said they strength would need to be increased as time went on.  I was desperate to avoid this, but my daughters were in constant pain with the eczema, and I didn’t know what to do.  I decided that I would try to find some way of improving the state of the girl’s skin, to try and avoid the steroids.  After a lot of research, I found Mary-Jane.  I have to say, I was quite sceptical about the whole idea of using homeopathic methods to solve health issues, but decided to give it a try.  The situation could not get much worse with the girl’s skin anyway!

At this point my kid’s skin looked as if someone had attacked them with a razor blade.  They were in constant pain and forever itching their skin (head to toe)!  It was a really miserable situation for us all.  And this was 24/7…  But my children’s lives were changed forever by Mary-Jane.  Her knowledge and expertise has cleared my girl’s skin of eczema!  I cannot believe how amazing their skin is now.  Unless they have a cold (or something of that ilk), you would never know they ever had eczema.  I never dreamed that their eczema would be as good as it is now, and it’s all thanks to Mary-Jane.  My only regret is that we didn’t find her sooner.  I’m just so pleased that my children can get on with being children now, instead of being in constant pain.  They are like new people.  I wish there was a way I could tell get the word out to everyone suffering with eczema that there is hope.  You don’t have to suffer.  There is a way of feeling better without using vast amounts of drugs.

Thank you Mary-Jane.  You will never know how much I appreciate what you have done for my children.  You have made it possible for them to have normal, pain-free lives.  Thank you so much.

The post Thank you for changing my children’s lives appeared first on Sussex Homeopathy.

I recall one particular episode, many years ago. At the time one of the characters, Lynette, had a handful of challenging children as well as a high-powered career. Her twins had been diagnosed with ADHD and were prescribed Ritalin.

When faced with the task of making costumes for one of the children’s school play, and making cakes for another, Lynette asked one of the other ‘super-mums’ how they managed to get everything done. The reply was that they took their child’s Ritalin which enabled them to stay up all night and still feel fine in the morning.

Homeopathy works on the principle that ‘like cures like’, so in this example, a stimulant such as Ritalin, which enables a healthy person to stay up day and night, is given to people who are hyper-active because it will have a calming effect on them.

Of course there are various homeopathic remedies which can be used to treat ADHD and lots of other considerations when treating someone with this condition, but I love the fact that a main-stream television series inadvertently explained homeopathy so effectively.

The post Desperate Housewives explains homeopathic principles appeared first on Sussex Homeopathy.

This article was written by homeopath Steve Scrutton, and is shared here with his permission.

It would appear that our woodlands, indeed our entire countryside, is going to be devastated by a new disease facing our Ash trees. Just how devastating ‘Chalara Die-Back’ is going to be can only be imagined. I am part of a ‘Friends’ group to an area of Ancient Woodland close to where I live, and walking through the wood in recent days, I have taken noted the number of Ash Trees making up this wood, and they must make up well over 50% of it.

Dutch Elm disease has already destroyed most of our Elm trees, an estimated 25 million trees in the UK alone. The Elm was once one of our most distinctive trees, a single tree growing to almost 50 metres tall. Since a virulent form of the disease hit the UK in the late 1960s, they are now, mostly, gone. Is this now about to happen to our Ash Trees? And do I hear reports of similar diseases threatening our Oaks?

Is this a medical issue? It certainly is! Trees and plants generally are living organisms, and they live in the same environment as we do. And their health is probably as important to our health as the food we eat, and the exercise we do. Indeed, whilst we are busy polluting our environment, it is our trees that are working hard to undo the damage we cause.

Our response to Ash Die-Back, just as our response to Dutch Elm disease was several decades ago, appears to be little more than a ‘scorched-earth’ policy.

At the first sight of the disease, cut them down, destroy them, and then burn them.

This is certainly the policy of the Government. The discussion, at present, appears to revolve around the culpability of the Government (in not acting sooner), and whether, in view of this, Tree Nurseries need to be compensated. So is this all we know? Is this all we can do? Certainly, if it is then our Ash Trees are doomed, even now.

This is not an unfamiliar story for Conventional Medicine (ConMed). For instance, ‘Foot and Mouth’ disease was ‘treated’ in exactly the same way. In the UK outbreak of 2001 it is estimated that about 7 million sheep and cattle were killed, not just those with the disease, but those who may have come into contact with them (thought to be about 80% of the culled animals). In total the outbreak is said to have cost the UK about £8 million.

This is surely the medicine of the mad-house? Indeed, should it really be called ‘medicine’ at all?

As usual, ConMed is good when it comes to diagnosing disease, and its cause (we apparently know what is causing Chalara Die-Back) – but short of destroying what we want to save it seems to have little or no effective treatment. I wonder if we would be happy to be told, when we are diagnosed with an ‘infectious’ disease, that we would have to be killed in order to save other people? Yet the failure of ConMed can be seen in medical treatment of humans. For instance, BBC News today has featured a report that a celebrity has, by choice, had a double mastectomy “as a precaution against further cancer”.

This kind of response is the response of a medical system that has few successful, or effective treatments to disease, in either its prevention, cure, or transmission.

To cut down and burn a tree is not treatment – it is just a last-ditch attempt to stop the disease spreading. Ultimately,this is going to mean the prospect of total destruction for our Ash Trees.

Vaikunthanath Das Kaviraj (Kav for short) is a Homeopath who has been leading developments in our knowledge and understanding of the homeopathic treatment of plants. In his book, “Homeopathy for Farm and Garden: toward a homeopathic agriculture” he has identified several remedies that can treat Die-Back in trees, notably Silicea (also known as Silica). This is a remedy made from flint, and I have taken parts of the description of this remedy straight from this book.

Clinical (what the remedy is used for).

Die back. Premature flowering, herbicide, germination aid, general tonic, transplant shock, soil remedy, weak straggly plants, puny growth, bark and sheath diseases, chlorosis, aphids, bud worm, citrus mite, dried fruit beetle.

General

……. A large proportion of the Earth’s crust is composed of Silica…… Silica is taken up by plants and is deposited on the interior of the stems as well as forming the sheath or bark that holds the plant upright …….Silicic acid is a constituent of the cells of the connective tissue. The epidermis forms the protective sheath around the cambium where silica gives strength to the long molecules of the bibre. Silica will cripple bark in health trees causing death (remember, Homeopathy = ‘Curing Like with Like’)……….. Its indication in dieback has been confirmed in practice with remarkable results. A sapling with dieback, which had only one quarter of the bark left, which was loose asnd drying out, was given one dose of Silica 6x and ther next day the bark was reattached to the cambium, and after one week, the top branches were growing new shoots and leaves.

I have absolutely no experience of using Silicea for Ash Die-Back but it seems, from what Kav, is saying here, is something the Government, the Forestry Commission, and the various Environmental Charities who manage woodland, and tree nurseries, should be examining seriously. It is certainly a much less destructive treatment. And if we can prove its value, perhaps initially in small pockets, it is something well worth considering.

I have asked Kav for guidance in this matter, especially as it relates to the 70 plus acres of Ancient Woodland close to where I live. He has recommended that Silicea, in aqueous form, is applied to the ground around each tree – about 1 litre of liquid for each tree. I am currently in the process of seeing whether we can get together sufficient people together to treat the Ash trees in this wood.

But more focused, and comprehensive trials need to be undertaken as a matter of urgency to see if Chalara Die Back can be successfully treated with Homeopathy, and I would certainly urge the Government, DEFRA, the Forestry Commission, and other Environmental Agencies to get involved in this process.

The post Ash tree die-back: Can homeopathy help? appeared first on Sussex Homeopathy.

Arnica is a small plant with a yellow flower that grows at altitude in Alpine regions. It is a very useful remedy for all aspects of trauma, hence its reputation as a bruise remedy. For an accident which has caused pain, such as a bang to the head or a fall from a bicycle (did Bradley Wiggins have Arnica to hand after his recent accident?) it is exceptional.

As well as physical trauma, I often recommend it for emotional shock and trauma too, which is something that can go with a physical shock. The typical ‘homeopathic picture’ of an Arnica patient can be summarised by this tale.

I was riding Olly, a very large horse, in the field one day when it started to rain. The two accompanying riders decided to return to the stables, whilst I thought another canter around the field would be a good plan. Olly preferred to stay with his friends so did a handstand to get rid of his annoying rider and trotted back to the yard.

When my friends ran out to check how I was, the answer was “absolutely fine, don’t worry about me”. (This refusal to acknowledge something is wrong is typical of someone needing Arnica – they may have blood running down their face, but will insist they are fine.) When someone suggested I ride another horse out on the South Downs it seemed like a good plan. It was only whilst we were riding and I felt sick and saw stars in front of my eyes that I realised I had mild concussion.

Fortunately Arnica is a very handy remedy for concussion and head injuries so I dosed myself up when I finally arrived home.

So when should you use it? Obviously for falls from large horses, but in fact for any trauma injury, such as a pulled muscle. If you bang your head and get an egg-shaped lump it is very useful – I have seen such lumps visibly reduce in minutes after a dose of Arnica.

Some years ago my husband was trying to impress me with a fast tennis serve. Unfortunately he pulled his hamstring and fell to the floor. I was still a trainee homeopath in those days but I gave him Arnica at regular intervals for several days. It appeared to bring the bruising out and he had an impressively black leg but scarcely any pain or mobility impairment.

Arnica is a lovely remedy and probably the most useful one to have handy, especially if you have young children or are keen on sport. It is useful even if you have overdone it in the garden and feel a bit achey.

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But over the past week it’s come into its own. Even those of us who work in the natural healthcare profession sometimes become ill and last Wednesday I awoke with a sore throat which developed into a delightful streaming nose within a few hours.

Whilst I spend my days prescribing for others, I’m not terribly good at choosing the best remedies for myself which seems to be a common affliction among homeopaths. I consulted the excellent booklet which accompanies the kit and chose Nat Mur as the best remedy, as I desperately wanted fresh air. It certainly helped and I had good quality sleep, aided no doubt by plenty of Vitamin C supplements.

By Friday my nose was more congested and I felt a bit deaf so took Ferrum Phos to help it on its way. On Saturday the congestion had pretty much gone but I seemed to have been joined by a sea-lion – you know the delightful barking cough. Spongia is the best remedy for this and it helped immensely during a very busy day and evening (this remedy isn’t in the kit).

I probably overdid things on Saturday and this was the first night I was unable to sleep for coughing. My trachea felt burnt and a quick check in the booklet confirmed Belladonna as the best remedy. One dose and I was asleep and feeling much more energetic the following day.

I had a couple of days taking it easy and a week later I feel better than I did before the cold.

Of course I could have taken an over the counter medicine loaded with paracetamol and ibuprofen but I suspect I would have merely suppressed the cold which would have either rumbled along or come back with a vengeance later.

Generally speaking I think a cold a year is a good way for your body to detox. People with very low immunity or chronic illness tend not to have short severe acute colds because their body can’t handle them so it is a sign of good immunity and should last no more than a week.

During a cold I recommend a diet low in dairy, refined sugar and bananas (they are mucus forming), a good quality vitamin C supplement, freshly squeezed juices and lightly steamed veggies. Your body is telling you to take it easy so give that run or exercise class a miss, and get plenty of rest and sleep. Essential oils such as eucalyptus, thyme and lemon are excellent for keeping your nose clear. And of course, your homeopathic remedy kit will ease the path and aide your return to health.

My saviour was the wonderful Merry at Frootie Juices in Haywards Heath who kept me fully dosed up with freshly made juices all week.

The post My cold-fighting green box appeared first on Sussex Homeopathy.

Dairy is not the only source of calcium, nor is it the best. Huge numbers of people across the world can’t digest dairy and still get plenty of calcium. Three quarters of the world’s population don’t consume cow’s milk or dairy products at all. Contrary to popular belief, many non-dairy foods contain calcium, while (pasteurized, homogenised) milk actually has a relatively low amount. Children and calcium: A major review of recent scientific studies on calcium and bone health was published in the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2005. It shatters the misleading notion that children need cow’s milk for good bone health. This review examined the effects of dairy products and total dietary calcium on bone health in children and young adults and found that dairy products are NOT needed for strong bones. The consumption of too many acid producing foods such as dairy, eggs, poultry, meat, fish grains, legumes, sugar, coffee and carbonated soft drinks decrease the body’s ability to absorb minerals and other nutrients. Furthermore, in an attempt to neutralise the acid, the body leaches calcium from its bones. Worth mentioning is that absorption of calcium (and magnesium) is also interfered by sugar intake. (alkaline forming foods include: most fruits, green vegetables, peas, beans, lentils, spices, herbs and seasonings, and seeds and nuts). Research suggests that physical exercise is the most critical factor for maintaining healthy bones, followed by improving diet and lifestyle (getting enough sunlight). For dairy-free sources of calcium please see under Calcium. Dairy-Free sources for calcium include: Nuts such as Almonds, Brazils, Hazelnuts, Pistachio. Almonds contain more calcium than any other nut, and they are also good sources of fiber, folic acid, magnesium, potassium and protein. Use Almond butter instead of peanut butter Enriched Ricemilk, Soymilk and Oatmilk, many replacement dairy products are enriched with calcium and other minerals. Use calcium-fortified non-dairy milk (like soy, oat or rice milk) instead of water in recipes such as pancakes, mashed potatoes, pudding and oatmeal. Blackstrap Molasses (the darkest grade syrup) contains many minerals, such as calcium, iron and potassium. Stir a drizzle of blackstrap molasses into your oatmeal. Fruits dried figs, currants, lemons (esp lemon peel!), oranges). Figs supply almost 100 milligrams in just 4 figs, also high in iron, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorous. Vegetables: Dark leafy greens are excellent sources of calcium:kale, mustard greens, spinach, pack choy, watercress, lambsletters etc. also found in parsnips, swede, turnips and olives. Kale contains more calcium per ounce than milk! (Spinach though has high amounts of oxalic acid which can inhibit the body’s ability to assimilate the calcium, so it should not be eaten as a main calcium source all of the time. To increase the body’s ability to absorb the many nutrients found in spinach, adding foods high in vitamin C helps to cancel out the effect of oxalic acid.) Broccoli is high in calcium as well as iron, magnesium, potassium and vitamins C and E, this cruciferous vegetable is one nutritional powerhouse! Add steamed and minced greens like collards and kale to casseroles, soups and stews. Cook a vegetable stir-fry and toss in diced tofu made with calcium sulfate. Pulses: soya (used to make tofu, soya burgers, soya milk etc) red kidney beans, chick peas, broad beans, baked beans, Add calcium-rich beans like black-eyed peas to soups, pasta sauces, salads and burritos, Use in cooking and baking mixed/mashed into favourite recipes or canned beans as a side dish. Sesame seeds exceptionally high in calcium, a quarter cup contains about 35 percent of the recommended daily value, as well as magnesium, iron, b-vitamins, and zinc. (Hummus a dip, contains Tahini-sesame paste and chickpeas. Tahini can be used in sweet & savoury foods, sauces etc.). Salmon with Bone (canned salmond with the bones) eating salmon with bones is an excellent, tasty, way to enjoy this fish, also high in healthy Omega-3 fats and protein. Use Salmon to make pâté’s, burgers and replace tuna in salad or casserole.

The post Milk Allergy? Worried about how to get calcium appeared first on Sussex Homeopathy.

Researchers at the NAET Autism Treatment Center in Buena Park, CA, hypothesized that major contributors to the development and symptoms of autism include food and nutrient sensitivities. They applied NAET, a combination of a special form of acupressure and kinesiology, to desensitize subjects to multiple allergens as a way to treat symptoms of autism. Their findings were published in the just-released October/November 2011 issue of Integrative Medicine-A Clinician’s Journal, and the study is now available for review.

The improvements were life changing. Twenty-three of the 30 autistic children in the NAET treatment group were able to return to regular school classes with their healthy, non-autistic peers after 1 year of treatment while all of the 30 children in the untreated control group continued to require special education.

The study included 60 children (2.5-10 years old) with a diagnosis of autism who were randomly assigned to either the treatment or control groups. The treatment group consisted of 26 boys and 4 girls and the control group included 25 boys and 5 girls. The 30 children in the treatment group received NAET treatments for 50 key allergens for 1 year. The children in the (non-blinded) control group did not receive any NAET treatments. Each group was allowed to continue with any other therapies they had been receiving. The NST (kinesiology/muscle testing) was used to determine which substances triggered sensitivity reactions in each child and NAET acupressure treatments were then used to eliminate the sensitivities.

Fifty-six children (26 in the NAET-treated group and 30 in the control group) completed the study. After 1 year, the children receiving NAET treatments exhibited clinically dramatic and statistically highly significant improvements in performance (p<.0001 vs the control group), including a:

Mean 68.4% decrease in the total Autism Research Institute Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ARI-ATEC) Score

64% to 82% mean decreases on the 4 ARI-ATEC subtests

47.4% average increase in the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and

Decrease of 85% in the total Allergy Symptom Rating Scale (ASRS Score)

“We found that NAET is an effective, safe and simple treatment for children with allergy-related autism,” said board certified internist Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, the lead author of the study. “In human terms, NAET can provide profound and dramatic benefits, giving children with autism and their families their lives back.”

Dr. Teitelbaum, whose foundation funded the research, became interested in NAET after his severe hay fever symptoms were eliminated by a 20-minute NAET treatment, and never recurred. After witnessing an autistic girl become normally verbal after receiving an NAET treatment by his wife Laurie Teitelbaum MS, who practices NAET in Kona, Hawaii, and discovering that this was the experience of many autistic children, they were inspired to design and underwrite the study.

NAET was developed by Devi S. Nambudripad, MD, PhD, L.Ac., DC, in 1983, and since then, she has trained over 10,000 licensed medical practitioners in the protocol.

The full test of the study can be seen at http://www.endfatigue.com/documents/Autism-NAET-full-study-IMCJ_10_5_teitelbaum-Published.pdf

The post NAET treatment for autism appeared first on Sussex Homeopathy.

A mother-of-one has a good excuse for avoiding housework – because she fears using everyday cleaning products could kill her.

Mary-Grace Milner from Rochford in Essex is so allergic to bleach and other cleaning agents that the slightest whiff can send her body spiraling into a severe allergic reaction.

Her symptoms include inflamed skin, soaring blood pressure and blurred vision.

The rare chemical intolerance – known as Multiple Chemical Sensitivity – is so bad Mrs Milner cannot even set foot in the cleaning aisle at her local supermarket.

The 40-year-old was first struck down with the condition last November when an anti-bacterial wipe triggered blurred vision and sore lungs.

The bizarre reaction has since forced her to change every aspect of her life. She has had to throw away items from carpet cleaners to deodorants and toothpastes – for fear they will spark a debilitating reaction.

Mary said: ‘I have a list of 400 cleaning and personal care products that I need to avoid.

‘I tend to steer clear of the chemical aisles in every store. I can go fairly near them but I cannot walk down them still to this day – the stench is overwhelming.

‘I have collapsed before, and get blurred vision, severe nose bleeds, sore lungs and a cough – sometimes all at the same time – after a bad exposure.

‘Most women think it sounds great to have a medical excuse not to do the housework, but it can make life very difficult when you are a busy mum.’

The clinical support officer first realised all was not well when a solvent used by a handyman caused her heart to begin racing uncontrollably and plunged her blood pressure to a drastic low.

Then the following day an anti-bacterial wipe used in the kitchen by husband Lee sparked an even more catastrophic reaction – despite Mary being upstairs.

Mary said: ‘My eyes became puffy, vision became blurred and scarily my breathing slowed right down.

‘It’s like your throat is closing up and when that happens you can’t breathe properly.

‘I can’t be in the same building as the chemicals let alone the same room.’

The condition baffled doctors at first and it was only after visiting a homoeopath, who spotted the symptoms, that she was finally diagnosed with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity.

‘My body never felt right and I was left with no doubt in my mind that the chemicals were the root cause of my problems,’ she said.

Lindsey McManus, from Allergy UK, said: ‘It is a 21st century disease. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity is a chronic condition and usually occurs in response to a chemical exposure.

‘Often people have a low immune system which cannot cope with the harshness of the chemicals.

‘I’ve known of people in extreme cases who haven’t been able to work ever again, and others who can’t leave the home or go shopping in supermarkets.

‘It is an uncommon and misunderstood condition.’

Mary said she had improved her condition by using all natural and organic products as well as turning to homeopathy and acupuncture.

She said: ‘Despite the condition, I’m very house proud and my home is probably the cleanest anyone will ever see.

‘I now have to use all natural products like eco-cloths and water instead of sprays and potions.

‘Cleaning the loo means mixing some bicarbonate of soda and vinegar, and instead of deodorising sprays I have to use organic lemon oil.

‘My family has been amazing and so supportive throughout.’

Despite being a recognised illness, Mary still experienced difficulties convincing doctors that everyday products caused the reaction.

She added: ‘I would dearly love for this disorder to be recognised properly. There are no blood tests to check your body for a chemical intolerance.

‘The biggest problem is those who react in a negative way. Just because you have no visible signs of an illness doesn’t mean you suffer any less.’

Keith Enever, 58, who treats Mary and has practiced homoeopathy for 28 years, said: ‘She has a severe intolerance to petrochemical based products, so any cleaning agents, room sprays and even products like make-up could set a reaction off.

‘The big problem is these kinds of products are everywhere, which made her quality of her life almost non existent – but she has taken massive strides in coping with it.’

The post Extreme allergies helped with homeopathy appeared first on Sussex Homeopathy.

Happiness is contagious, spreading among friends, neighbors, siblings and spouses like the flu, according to a large study that for the first time shows how emotion can ripple through clusters of people who may not even know each other.

The study of more than 4,700 people who were followed over 20 years found that people who are happy or become happy boost the chances that someone they know will be happy. The power of happiness, moreover, can span another degree of separation, elevating the mood of that person’s husband, wife, brother, sister, friend or next-door neighbor.

“You would think that your emotional state would depend on your own choices and actions and experience,” said Nicholas A. Christakis, a medical sociologist at Harvard University who helped conduct the study published online today by BMJ, a British medical journal. “But it also depends on the choices and actions and experiences of other people, including people to whom you are not directly connected. Happiness is contagious.”

One person’s happiness can affect another’s for as much as a year, the researchers found, and while unhappiness can also spread from person to person, the “infectiousness” of that emotion appears to be far weaker.

Previous studies have documented the common experience that one person’s emotions can influence another’s — laughter can trigger guffaws in others; seeing someone smile can momentarily lift one’s spirits. But the new study is the first to find that happiness can spread across groups for an extended period.

When one person in the network became happy, the chances that a friend, sibling, spouse or next-door neighbor would become happy increased between 8 percent and 34 percent, the researchers found. The effect continued through three degrees of separation, although it dropped progressively from about 15 percent to 10 percent to about 6 percent before disappearing.

The research follows previous work by Christakis and co-author James H. Fowler that found that obesity also appears to spread from person to person, as does the likelihood of quitting smoking. The researchers have been using detailed records originally collected by the Framingham Heart Study, a long-running project that has explored a host of health issues, to construct and analyze detailed maps of social networks.

The findings, Christakis and others said, provide striking new evidence of the power of social networks, which could have implications for public policy. Happy people tend to be better off in myriad ways, being more creative, productive and healthier.

“For a long time, we measured the health of a country by looking at its gross domestic product,” said Fowler, a political scientist at the University of California at San Diego who co-authored the study. “But our work shows that whether a friend’s friend is happy has more influence than a $5,000 raise. So at a time when we’re facing such economic difficulties, the message could be, ‘Hang in there. You still have your friends and family, and these are the people to rely on to be happy.’ ”

Other experts praised the study as a landmark in the growing body of evidence documenting the influence of personal connections and the importance of positive emotions.

“It’s a pathfinding article,” said Martin E.P. Seligman, a University of Pennsylvania psychologist. “It’s totally original, and the findings are striking.”

Stanley Wasserman, who studies social networks at Indiana University, said: “We’ve known that one’s network ties are important, but we’ve never looked at anything on this scale. The implications are you can’t look at individuals as little entities devoid of their social context.”

Others, however, questioned the findings, noting that it is difficult to account for every variable that might affect the outcomes of such studies.

“Researchers should be cautious in attributing correlations in health outcomes of close friends in social network effects,” wrote Ethan Cohen-Cole of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and Jason M. Fletcher of Yale University in an accompanying study. Their research used data from a large federal survey to show that acne, headaches and even height could appear to spread through social networks if not analyzed properly. “The methods of detecting ‘social network effects’ of health outcomes commonly found in the recent medical literature might produce effects where none exists.”

But Christakis said his analysis took other possible explanations into consideration.

Ed Diener, a psychologist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, said the findings could explain why people in some countries tend to be happier than others. “This is an extremely exciting study — interesting, provocative and important,” Diener said.

While obesity appeared to spread even among people who lived far apart, happiness appears to be transmitted only among people who live within a mile of one another. The influence was also greatest among people who considered themselves mutual friends.

Because the researchers did not find the effect for people living on the same block beyond a next-door neighbor, they were confident that the positive mood was not the result of living in the same good neighborhood. Because people tended to get happier if someone they knew became happy, the researchers could rule out the alternative explanation that happy people tend to be drawn to each other.

“We know it’s not a ‘birds of a feather flock together’ effect,” Christakis said.

Surprisingly, happiness had no such effect at work. The researchers speculated that work relationships may have different dynamics. One worker might become happy because he or she got a raise or a promotion at the expense of another, for example.

Unhappiness also appeared to be catching, but not as strongly: An unhappy connection increased the chances of being unhappy by about 7 percent on average, while a happy connection increased the chances of being happy by about 9 percent. While having more friends is important for a person’s happiness, the benefit of having more friends appears to be canceled out if they are unhappy, the researchers found.

The researchers and others speculated that the emotion may be important on an evolutionary level by helping people cooperate. Seligman likened happiness to an orchestra tuning up.

“Laughter and singing and smiling tune the group emotionally,” Seligman said. “They get them on the same wavelength so they can work together more effectively as group.”

The post Happiness is contagious appeared first on Sussex Homeopathy.

Homeopathy really does work and doctors should recognise its healing effects, say researchers.

A study found that allergy sufferers who were given homeopathic treatment were ten times more likely to be cured than those given a dummy pill instead.

Doctors should be more positive about the alternative medicine, which is the only complementary therapy available on the NHS, the researchers said.

Their study attempts to settle the controversy over homeopathic treatment, which critics say is not effective because of the tiny level of active substance used in most remedies.

It works on the principle that a substance which in large doses will cause the symptoms of an illness can be used in minute doses to relieve the same symptoms.

Critics argue that the active substance is so diluted that homeopathic remedies have no more effect than placebo or dummy treatment.

The study put homeopathy to the test in 50 patients suffering from nasal allergies. They were given either a homeopathic preparation or a placebo.

Each day for four weeks patients recruited from general practices and a hospital in London measured their nasal air flow and recorded symptoms such as blocked, runny or itchy nose, sneezing or eye irritation.

Both groups reported that they got better – but on average patients who received homeopathy had a 28 per cent improvement in nasal air flow compared with 3 per cent among those in the placebo group.

The study was carried out by doctors in Glasgow, led by Dr David Reilly of the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital, one of five specialist hospitals in Britain. He said the difference in results from the two treatments was statistically significant.

Dr Reilly said this was the fourth trial carried out by his hospital, all with similar results. In addition, there were positive findings in 70 per cent of a further 180 clinical trials.

‘I hope this will encourage doctors to examine the volume of evidence supporting homeopathy – they might be quite surprised at the positive outcome in many trials,’ he said.

He added that it would take consistent scientific investigation to persuade some doctors, but attitudes were changing.

About 20 per cent of doctors in Scotland have basic homeopathic training compared with one per cent 15 years ago.

‘It isn’t just about the remedies, which can be put to the test in trials, but about a greater holistic approach in encouraging self-healing and self-recovery.’

Dr Bob Leckridge, president of the Faculty of Homeopathy – the body for doctors, vets, nurses and other health professionals – said: ‘This latest research builds on existing evidence that homeopathy works, something that hundreds of doctors and their patients have known for 200 years.’

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