Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with homeopathy

Opportunities for my health business?

healthyliving — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:00:00 -0800

How can I reach potential clients and new avenues for my health business? Would love specific suggestions for online networks, writing and speaking opportunities, and individual consultations. My business revolves around holistic health, life coaching, homeopathy, and intuitive skills. Here's what I already know about:
- Contacting local places to speak at
- LinkedIn, Facebook, Biznik, self-growth.com, Starfish Partners, AHHA, BNI
- My website and blog

Also creating an online store to sell natural lotions and bath salts, know of any place to sell besides www.etsy.com?

Anything else is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Andropause or hypochondria?

markhu — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:08:15 -0800

I am about to turn 40, and the last couple years have not been great for me physically, so if this is middle-age, then I don't want it. In my case, the problem is dry skin, which has plagued me more or less all my life, but looking back, it seems like in former decades it was a relatively minor annoyance compared to the scourge it has become. Sometimes I go into an itching frenzy. Not good at night when I'm trying to sleep or when out in public. In a certain sense, you could consider my question a male version of http://ask.metafilter.com/59650/Hypothyroid-or-hypochondriac from last year. FYI, andropause is the medical term for "mid-life crisis" and is like a male version of menopause. In summary, the idea is that for various reasons your hormone levels begin to deviate from normal.

For me, about 2 years ago, at the age of 37, my dry skin started going from bad to worse. Before, my dry skin was made tolerable by simply doing extra dollops of hand lotion on my hands and face throughout the day. I grinned and bore the jokes if it happened to be scented stuff. But now, my skin is dry and cracked and flaky, and regular lotion doesn't help at all and some brands even make it worse. I've been trying lots of different creams and ointments, and have accumulated quite a collection. Then I developed a tenacious jock itch.

The skin between my fingers often erupts in a yellow-crusted rash. Sometimes something similar happens behind my ears, such that if I sleep on one side during the night, then I wake up in the morning with that ear plastered flat to my head.

The dermatologists only seem to offer stronger prescription creams with various side effects. Then they prescribed oral antibiotics which really messed up my digestion. I fired him and went to an Osteopath.

The Osteopath put me on a bunch of vitamin and herbal supplements and told me to avoid dairy and carbs/sugar in favor of protein and fats. She also put me on hormone -replacement therapy (testosterone cream) and oral hydro-cortisone capsules. The jock itch went away, but the rest of my skin is as dry and itchy as ever. In fact in some ways it seems worse and the rash has spread to the backs of my knees. Also, my shins are so itchy I sometimes claw them raw.

I started a homeopathic remedy last month, but the homeopath said it might take a year to work. Sometimes I wonder if I'll have any skin left by then.

The osteopath's next suggestion is for me to see an acupuncturist. Other un-tried suggestions include: 1. buying a $400 cranial-electrical stimulation device; 2. undergoing a $700 genetic test for hormone deficiency.

One thought I've had is to try hypnotherapy because I think I'm "addicted" to scratching myself. Sometimes it feels good (endorphins?). But I almost always regret it--sometimes within a few minutes, although sometimes it isn't until an hour or so later when the pain kicks in.

Another recent symptom is that I'm often cold and hungry in the afternoons: More so than just the snack-cravings from my younger years. These days I find it hard to wait until noon for lunch, and can still pound down quite a lot of snacks only a couple hours afterwards.

Pascal's wager for mercury homeopathy?

meijusa — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 05:59:19 -0800

just got some amalgam tooth fillings removed, do I really need the (homeopathic) selenium and zinc my dentist prescribed to get the mercury out of my system? Thing is, I just don't believe in homeopathy and asked a pharmacist about a regular supplement, but she didn't think that would be necessary. So, what should I take? Nothing? Supplements? Homeopathic sugar pills?

Is homeopathy good for society?

Arcaz Ino — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 04:42:45 -0800

Is homeopathy good for society? How should it be regulated? Are there any good studies to this effect? Possible pros: placebo, reduction of burden on healthcare system, economic benefits of the industry.

Possible cons: rejection of conventional medicine and science, exacerbation of untreated medical problems, scope for "fraud", reduction of money spent on conventional medicine.

How do these things balance out in real life? What are your experiences?

Info about PMDD

Newbornstranger — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 09:47:51 -0800

I'm looking for information on Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). Does anyone have any first or second-hand experience? Specifically, I'd like to find any reputable books on the subject, or any homeopathic, natural, or alternative treatments.