Autumn problems and Gemmotherapy

Autumn problems and Gemmotherapy 

Flu and viral infections

Sorina Soescu MD, MPH, MFHom

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Gemmotherapy is a useful therapy in the treament of various health conditions. Every

period of the year has it’s special influence over one’s health. Autumn is a transition

season in North Hemisphere, between the warm and dry summer and the cold and wet

winter (in many countries).

The difficulties of the immune system to adapt to these changes may be seen in many

small epidemics of viral infections, of respiratory troubles, from allergic rhinitis to

chronical bronchitis and in more extended flu epidemics.

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Flu

The treatment is mostly the treatment of the symptoms and the support of the immune

system of the body.

Gemmotherapy could have an important role to play in the treament of flu cases. The

most common symptoms of flu are fever, general soreness of the body (painful muscles,

headache, painfull eyes etc) and catarhal symptoms.

Best combination of gemmotherapics to treat this picture is:

Ribes nigrum (Blackcurrant), young shoots, D1 - the biggest anti-inflammatory,

immune-stimulating and CSR protector of all gemmoderivates. It is the main preparate

indicate in the treatment of viral infections, in all acute local and general inflammatory

syndromes. Has a regulator action over the mucouse membrane of the respiratory tract,

being indicated in rhinitis, pharingites, tonsilitis and other –itis at the level of the

respiratory tract.

Quercus pedunculata (Oak), buds, D1 is a revitalising remedy for a tired body. It helps

the immune system, it supports the cortico-suprarenal (C-SR) gland (having an anti-stress

effect) and has a general detoxification effect. It is important in all different pains in

muscles, joints and other parts of the body (anti-algic effect), together with Ribes nigrum.

Has a slight euphoric effect and anti-alergic properties.

For prevention purposes, the two preparates can be used

- Ribes nigrum, 30-35 drops in water, in the morning, daily, 1-2 months (during the

cold season or during the epidemic of flu)

- Quercus pedunculata, 30-35 drops in water, in the evening, 1-2 months.

The use of the two preparates helped many of my patients, especially children, teenagers

and old patients to stay in good condition during epidemics of viral infections or flu.

In the case of acute episode of flu, the use of the remedy could be more frequent,

according to the evolution of symptoms.

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Clinical case:

November 2008, little girl, 9 years old, with astmathic antecedents, but presently in a

balanced state, acused sudden onset of acute headache, with high fever (39), pain in

muscles all over the body, aggravated when trying to lay on bed. The bed seemed too

hard and she became restless. Weakness, general state of lassitude, moderate respiratory

catarrh (congestion of eyes, sneezing, watery discharges from nose, moderate obstruction

of nose, moderate sore throat). The onset of troubles was sudden, at 10 pm and mother

had in the house only the gemmoderivates she had for the support treatment of the girl

(Ribes nigrum and Viburnum lantana). She remembered a disscution we had in the

past and started to give the little girl Ribes nigrum (Blackcurrant), 30 drops in water,

every hour. She managed to give 4-5 doses and the fever droped a little so the girl was

able to sleep. Then she continued with the hourly dose, until she reached my practice next

day, in the afternoon.

The little girl had a moderate fever, the general state was a little better, respiratory catarrh

was definitely better (according to mother), I saw no objective congestion, just some

watery discharges from nose. She drank a lot of water and already started to perspire (she

couldn’t ate or drank or perspire at the onset of problems).

We decided to continue the gemmotherapy and because the muscle pains were still

present, we decided to alternate Ribes nigrum with Quercus pedunculata every hour.

The girl slept much better the second night, fever was down after 48 hours. Mother gave

the preparates every 2-3 hours, in alternation, for the next 3-4 days.

Then she gave Ribes nigrum in the morning, Quercus pedunculata at noon and Viburnum

lantana in the evening, for the next 14 days. We wanted to protect the little girl during

convalescence, and we wanted to prevent her asthmatic bronchitis to flare up.

It was a good experience, to treat an acute viral infection (probably a flu-like viral

infection) only with gemmotherapy. In many other episodes we have used gemmotherapy

together with homeopathic remedies and other supplements.

From the above case and from other cases we learned that gemmotherapy can be used in

acute cases, as well as prevention during epidemics of viral infections.

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Viral respiratory episodes

In winter and spring, in our temperate climate countries, the main problems of our

patients are the viral respiratory infections. Symptoms are many and variable, according

to each person, but constant there is a nasal catarhh, in different degree (with or without

obstruction, with or without discharges), there is a throat problem (with or without cough,

with or without hoarsness, with or without discharges) and there is a general physical

weakness (with or without fever, chills or other symptoms).

We can use many gemmopreparates, in different combination, according to the symptoms

of the patient and their general health and constitution.

The gemmoteraphic pharmacy may have for us:

- Betula verrucosa (Silver birch), buds, D1 – very useful in the catarrh of the

respiratory mucouse membranes, in rhinopharyngitis and nasal catarrh, mainly

with watery or mucous discharges. It is mainly indicated in children and

teenagers. Can help with the fever and chills in many respiratory problems, due to

its cleaning general action of the body and its immune stimulation (at the liver,

spleen and kidneys level)

- Carpinus betulus (Hornbeam), buds, D1 is very useful in nasal catarrh, with

sinusal inflammation, in pharingeal and bronchical inflammation with catarrh and

discharges. One of the most important remedies in coughs, in acute bronchitis

with loose cough (with Lonicera nigra) or chronical bronchitis, with many

discharges, difficult to eliminate (with Fagus sylvatica). Very useful in spastical

cough, with spasm of the smooth muscles of the respiratory tractus (together with

Viburnum lantana).

- Lonicera nigra (Black Honeysuckle), young shoots, D1 is an important remedy

for acute bronchitis, with a lot of cough with discharges (with Carpinus betulus),

when the general state of the body is affected (fever, chills, some muscle pains).

Is an important remedy for flu, when the respiratory symptoms have already

evolved to spasms of respiratory muscles. Could be used also for the dry, spastic

cough, with Carpinus betulus and Viburnum lantana. In the same time, is a

remedy that protect and support the activity of the liver and the general immune

system of the body.

- Ribes nigrum (Blackcurrant), buds, D1 is the greatest systemic anti-inflamatory

and immunity stimulant preparate. The main use of the Blackcurrant

gemmotherapic is for the treatment of inflammatory states, viral or bacterian. Its

main indication are every inflammation of the respiratory level – nasal, throat,

ear, eyes, bronchitis, laryngitis etc. For its main action on the SR glands has an

important destressing action and a general tonic and supporting action on the

body. We tend to use it almost constantly in all the strategies of treatment of acute

respiratory troublems, with a frequency according to the intensity of the

symptoms. An important mention about the remedy is the following – is the main

preparate that increases the general resistance of the body to cold. So could be

extremely useful in the cold period, as a preventive, but also in the treatment of all

troubles triggered by cold weather.

- Rosa canina (Wild dog rose), young shoots, D1 is the main remedy for local and

recurrent respiratory inflammation. Has an important anti-inflammatory and antialergic action. It is useful in flu prophylaxis and the treatment of convalescence,

but can be used in acute episodes, whenever there are bones and muscles pains.

The remedy has a marked osteoblastic activity, so it increases the resorbtion of

calcium in bones and muscles and is able to support the anti-algic action of other

preparates. Usually it is combined with Ribes nigrum and/or other

gemmoderivates.

- Viburnum lantana (Mealy Guelder Rose), young shoots, D1 is an important

neuro-vegetative regulator, has an anti-spastic and anti-alergic action on the

respiratory system. It has a sedative action over the neuro-vegetative system of

the lungs and stops the bronchial spasm, normalising the respiratory functions. It

is indicated in all cases of strong, dry, spastic cough, with or without dyspnaea

(breathlessness), that could be associated or represent complications of viral

infections. For the dry, spastic cough could be associated with Lonicera nigra.

For the improvement of the general energy of the body during the episodes of viral

infection, one can use preparates such as:

Quercus pedunculata (Oak), buds, D1, considered a revitalising and general tonic for

weak bodies (after viral infections or flu).

Sequoia gigantea, young shoots, D1, with an energetic, tonic and general stimulation

action for the body. It increases the 17-cetosteroids, substances produces at the SR level,

with a slight euphoric (emotional well being) and eutrophic (improving physical function

of tissues) action.

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Other respiratory troubles

In the winter season, there are many other disturbing respiratory troubles, caused by the

cold weather, cold wind or wet and cold air.

Acute sinusitis

= represents the inflammation of the mucouse membrane of the nasal sinuses (the hollow

spaces in the bones, near the nose, that helps for reverberating of sounds)

Discharges, that are watery or pus-like could fill and block the sinuses, with unpleasant

symptoms such as headaches, local pains, nasal obstruction and chronical discharges

from the nose.

The main gemmotherapic strategy, according to dr. Pol Henry, to clean the sinuses

problem is the combination:

Alnus glutinosa (Black Aldertree), buds, D1, 30-35 drops in water, in the morning

Ribes nigrum (Blackcurrant), buds, D1, 30-35 drops in water, at noon and at night, for

21-30 days.

Acute laryngitis

= represents the inflammation of the larynx, manifested with hoarsness of the voice and

cough. Could come in the same time with a viral infection or could manifest alone, after

the exposure to dry, cold wind.

The main gemmotherapic strategy to treat the acute laryngitis is:

Ribes nigrum (Blackcurrant), buds, D1, 30-35 drops in water, 1-2 times a day

Rosa canina (Wild dog rose), young shoots, D1, 30-35 drops in water, 1-2 times a day

and

Lonicera nigra (Black honeysuckle), young shoots, D1, 30-35 drops in water, 1-2 times

a day, for 10-14 days.

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Convalescence of the viral respiratory problems

For the convalescence of the viral respiratory problems we have the best preparate:

- Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn), buds, D1, that is a general tonic and stimulator of the

body, especially after a difficult physical problem that affected its general energy.

It is indicated when there is a physical and emotional weakness after a stresfull situation

or disease, with or without anorexia or other apetite troubles. Is especially indicated in the

lack of apetite of children, after a viral infection or flu.

It stimulates the immune system, when this suffered a negative impact from different

environmental factors, pollution, chemicals, viruses and germs and helps to reduce the

convalescence period after flu and other severe respiratory troubles such as bronchitis or

pneumonias.

Has other important supportive action on heart, kidneys and digestive tract (on smooth

muscles from the structure of the above organs) with an important antispastic and general

relaxing action.

It has a mental and emotional relaxing action, being useful for diminishing the fear and

anxiety associated with acute illnesses such as flu and viral episodes.

For the convalescence after flu, there is a general strategy that helps children, as well as

adults:

Rosa canina (Wild Dog Rose), young shoots, D1, 30-35 drops in water, 1-2 times a day

and

Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn), buds, D1, 30-35 drops in water, 1-2 times a day, for 30

days.

The above combination improves apetite, helps the body to get rid of the last symptoms

of the viral infection or flu (discharges, cough, nasal obstruction etc) and protects the

body from other aggresive viruses or germs that exists in the same time in the colectivity

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