[watsonsh]

Went to pain doc today and i still have some inflammation from dec surgery and she recommended the cellebrex that the neuro recommmended but also mentioned Arnica Montana.. I looked it up on google and read about it. She said I could take as much as I wanted.

Has anyone tried it? Any suggestions? Any more reputable places to buy it.

She also recommended SAMe so I thought I would do a little reseach on that as well.

Lastly she recommended DGL licorice to help with sugar stablization and weight loss. Any try this option?

Thanks...off to google

[mrsD]

Here is the official evaluation of Arnica by Commission E:

http://www.herbalgram.org/iherb/comm...raph_0007.html

Arnica is a poison in large amounts.

We have a SAMe thread here, on this forum.

[watsonsh]

Thanks Mrs D! I will read this and think twice about using this...little scary

[orthomolecular]

Arnica is great, but homeopathy does not have an anelgesic (pain killer).

Homeopathy is great for any type of injury since it triggers the body's own healing mechanism. This would be useful for after surgery or from an injury. It would not be taken for long period of times like you would use Advil or other anti-inflammatories.

Homeopathy uses substances that in their crude form can be toxic; but homeopathy never uses the crude form of any substance but a highly diluted mixture of that substance. Homeopathic remedies are not toxic. They are safe for even new born babies.

Cellebrex is for arthritis. DLPA is great for RA because it helps with both the pain of RA and the inflammation of RA. DLPA is phenlylalanine, an amino acid.

Licorice can make you feel wide awake; it can prevent the breakdown of cortisol. I will be up for 48 hours if I take any licorice except the DGL kind for ulcers. People with high bp should not use licorice as it may cause problems with blood pressure. DLPA can help with weight loss. It can have the effect of controlling appetite. DLPA can also help with depression. But using amino acids does require some knowlege, so this is something you might talk to your doctor about in your next appointment. But it might be useful to try first.

For problems with low blood sugar I recommend that you take enough zinc and magensium. I used to have low blood sugar. I could not eat a bag of pretzels becauase that all carb snack would make my blood sugar lower a short while after eating. I don't have this problem anymore. I do have a zinc dependency that is corrected. I also take magnesium. Most people will tell you that magnesium and zinc are the two most important nutrients for problem with blood sugar.

How do you know if you are taking enough zinc? Use Zinc Status on a regular basis. Zinc Status tells you immediately if you have a zinc deficiency. This product is great to have to check and recheck your zinc levels to know what is the best dose for you. The magnesium is usually the dose that causes lose stools.

SAMe is hard to say. You might try some and see if it helps you. If it does then this is usually a good indication that you have high histamine levels. Most people who respond positively to SAMe are usually histadelics. So SAMe is really a trial and error thing. SAMe can help histadelics with joint pain.

[Chemar]

arnica cream is a very very effective remedy against bruising and helps bruises and sprains heal

It should NEVER be used on open wounds tho

[Jomar]

I used the homeopathic Arnica Montana- not a cream a tiny dissolveable pill.

[mrsD]

Homeopathic ORAL products typically have next to nothing in them. So poisoning is
not likely with them. If you read the labels of homeopathic products you will see things like 10X 30X etc. These are dilutions..the higher the numbers approach
infinestesimal levels of drug.. A 10X would be 10 decimal points in concentration!

Homeopathy is the field of medicine formulated by Dr. Samuel Hahneman, M.D., starting with the codification of the word Homeopathy in 1796, and which he continued formulating and modifying right up until his death at age 88, in 1843.

Key to the philosophy is the serial dilution of the remedies that get STRONGER "Biologically" as they get more dilute, or WEAKER from a "chemical" standpoint.

THE MORE DILUTE THE REMEDY, THE MORE POTENT THAT IT IS FOR THE PATIENT.

However, there is another key piece of the Potentization Equation. In-between each dilution step is a SHAKING step, known as SUCCUSSION.

A remedy that is diluted 1:10, involves one part of the remedy to 9 parts of the diluent (which is usually a 20% alcohol water solution). This 1: 10 dilution is called a 1X dilution. Making another 1:10 of the first 1X is called 2X. Doing it again makes it 3X.

If a remedy is diluted 1:100 (one part remedy in 99 parts diluent) it's called a 1C dilution. 1:100 of the 1C is called 2C; another 1:100 is 3C; etc., etc.

A series of 1000 1:100 C dilutions is called a 1M dilution.

A 1:50,000 dilution is called a 1LM Potency; 1:50,000 of the first 1:50,000 is called 2LM; etc., etc.

HOWEVER, in between each serial dilution, in order for the dilution to be truly considered Homeopathic, it has to be VIGOROUSLY SHAKEN against either a leather book (Hahneman used his Bible) or the palm of the hand. This vigorous shaking is called SUCCUSSION, and is an integral part of the Homeopathic process.

The number of "succussions" required for each dilution is not necessarily cast in Homeopathic stone, and is a matter of debate among homeopathic physicians, some of whom actually violently disagree on the correct numbers almost as much as traditional doctors disagree with the validity of Homeopathy itself.

from http://www.explorepub.com/articles/shelton_11_6.html

There is alot of controversy as to the validity of the actions therefore in these products.

It is not likely you will find oral arnica of poisonous concentration, but if you
take as much as you want or think you need as per that careless suggestion...you could poison yourself depending on what product you choose. For example a tincture that requires dilution could be dangerous.

[watsonsh]

Thank you everyone for your advice and insight. Much appreciated.

[Jomar]

I had to run before i could search and post this -
from-
http://www.abchomeopathy.com/r.php/Arn

Arnica Montana
Leopard's Bane, Arnica, Mountain Arnica

[ ignore this part - Produces conditions upon the system quite similar to those resulting from injuries, falls, blows, contusions. Tinnitus aurium. Putrid phenomena. Septic conditions; prophylactic of pus infection. Apoplexy, red, full face.]


It is especially suited to cases when any injury, however remote, seems to have caused the present trouble.
After traumatic injuries, overuse of any organ, strains.
Arnica Montana is disposed to cerebral congestion.

this part is what it helps, is good for-
Acts best in plethoric{Florid, red-faced}, feebly in debilitated with impoverished blood, cardiac dropsy with dyspnoea{shortness of breath}. A muscular tonic. Traumatism of grief, remorse or sudden realization of financial loss. Limbs and body ache as if beaten; joints as if sprained. Bed feels too hard. Marked effect on the blood. Affects the venous system inducing stasis{slowdown in the flow of blood (or other body fluid such as lymph).}. Ecchymosis and Hemorrhages. Relaxed blood vessels, black and blue spots. Tendency to hemorrhage and low-fever states. Tendency to tissue degeneration, septic conditions abscesses that do not mature. Sore, lame, bruised feeling. Neuralgias originating in disturbances of pneumogastric. Rheumatism of muscular and tendinous tissue, especially of back and shoulders. Aversion to tobacco. Influenza. Thrombosis. Haematocele.

[watsonsh]

Jo that sounds horrible...thanks for mor insight. Everyone is most helpful here