We recommended the remedy Natrum muriaticum, as it applies readily to Roy's symptoms, including his responsiveness to massage, his suppressed emotion, and his tendency to keep his feelings concealed from those around him. We asked that Roy not alter anything about his exercise regime during the course of treatment. Six months after Roy started taking the remedy, he returned to us for follow-up. Roy's posture was noticeably improved and he sat upright in spite of having returned from a business trip just that morning. When asked, Roy stated that he had been increasingly aware of his negative emotions and was making a conscious effort to consciously own up to his feelings by being more assertive at work, and by simply admitting to himself that he was angry. Roy's back problems had waned; although last week he had a sudden relapse, he could readily attribute the setback to a stressful incident at work. Case Study 6: Judy is a thirty-five-year-old journalist of Cuban and Sephardic Jewish descent. Five years ago, she began suffering from digestive problems, ranging from constipation to loose stools. Flatulence, bloating, and cramps were also common for Judy, whose symptoms worsened over the past year. She saw a doctor five times since the initial onset of her symptoms. Two years ago the doctor administered a series of partially invasive tests to determine if there were any serious conditions or tumors. No abnormalities were found in her colon, and the doctor diagnosed Judy with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Since the diagnosis, Judy has performed research on her own, through books and internet articles. The research has helped her to change her diet, which has eliminated some of the severity of her symptoms. However, the IBS persists; Judy still experiences bloating, cramping, constipation, and diarrhea, especially when she eats foods that irritate her. Through her reading, Judy also realized that her chronic fatigue might also be related to the IBS, and that her stressful job might be adversely contributing to her symptoms. Judy started seeing a naturopath three months ago.

We recommended that Judy take Lycopodium, which is indicated for general symptoms related to irritable bowel syndrome including bloating, gas, and cramping. Six months later, Judy returned. She claimed no alleviation of symptoms, in spite of keeping her diet relatively free from allergens. We elected to start Judy on a different remedy: Natrum carbonicum, as it also pertains to general IBS symptoms associated with persons who have significant food intolerances.

Case Study 7: Sandra is a twenty-five-year-old African-American female who leads an active, outdoorsy lifestyle and who works as communications director for a local company. Sandra has suffered from persistent bladder infections (cystitis) since she was a teenager. Aware that bladder infections are often related to having sex, she has taken the recommended precautions such as urinating immediately after intercourse or oral sex and drinking plenty of fluids when symptoms occur. Sandra's symptoms have lessened since she has been taking these precautions. However, she notes occasional but slight burning upon urination that comes on usually at night. She would like to eliminate these symptoms and does not wish to take any antibiotics. Sandra is not in a committed relationship and although she has multiple sex partners, uses condoms religiously. In fact, Sandra is concerned that she might have developed a mild latex allergy.

Because Sandra has multiple sex partners, we recommend continued use of condoms to protect her from sexually-transmitted diseases. We initially considered administering the remedy Staphysagria because of its applicability to sex-related cystitis but because Sandra emphasized that the burning sensation in her urethra occurred randomly and not necessarily in conjunction with sex, prescribed the more general remedy Borax. Borax is used to treat conditions related to inflammation and can be especially helpful for relieving the pain associated with bladder infections. We asked that Sandra return to us in six months. When she did, she claimed no significant improvements, and we then administered Sarsaparilla, which is equally as general and which can be effective especially when other homeopathic remedies for the infection failed to work. Sandra called us two months after she began taking the Sarsaparilla, and noted that she was free from the pain associated with her cystitis.

Case Study 8: Michael is a twelve-year-old Caucasian boy whose parents claim comes down with the flu about once a year in spite of being otherwise healthy. His parents had recently been urged...

Aware of its potential drawbacks, including allergic reactions, the parents are hesitant to give Michael the inoculation. Instead, they are seeking to incorporate natural preventative and treatment measures in their already wholesome lifestyle. Michael takes a multivitamin daily, eats plenty of fruits and vegetables, and is generally active. Michael is a cheerful, well-mannered young man whose interests are broad and varied. For a twelve-year-old, Michael is mature and calm, perhaps owing to his parents' skills.
However, several other kids at school recently came down with the flu, and yesterday Michael woke up with a sore throat. Michael's parents are seeking both a homeopathic adjunct that will stimulate Michael's immunity to the virus as well as a remedy that will reduce his current symptoms. We selected Oscillococcinum, one of the most general and common homeopathic remedies used for flue treatment and prevention. We asked that Michael and his parents check in with us the following day and then six months later. The following day, the parents told us on the phone that Michael's symptoms had progressed into common cold symptoms such as runny nose but that he didn't need to take any time off of school. Six months later during the interview, Michael reported having had no flu-like symptoms in spite of the fact that his best friend was sick at the moment.

Case Study 9: Max, who was recently divorced, has suffered from intermittent insomnia throughout much of his life. After the divorce six months ago, Max had insomnia nearly every night. The insomnia manifested mainly as not being able to fall asleep for hours on end, but sometimes Max would wake up in the middle of the night or early morning after he finally fell asleep and would then be again unable to sleep. The insomnia was particularly troublesome since he had a regular nine-to-five job as an insurance adjustor. When asked about his job, Max appeared noticeably distressed and relayed stories of feeling incompetent as well as under-appreciated. The divorce and his job together were the main causes of Max's stress but he claimed that he suffered from insomnia at least occasionally throughout most of his life. Anxiety and depression had been chronic problems for him too.

A thirty-year-old Caucasian male, Max was overweight and admitted to eating too much. We recommended a thorough lifestyle change in addition to any homeopathic remedy we would recommend, and referred Max to a naturopath who might be able to tailor a diet for his needs. We recommended that Max take Kali phosphoricum, as it applies to cases in which the individual experiences depression and anxiety along with their insomnia.

Max appeared anxious and cheerless when we saw him first. Slouching in his chair, he breathed heavily and answered questions sluggishly. When Max returned for the six-month follow-up he seemed lighter, and more cheerful. He even made a few jokes and noted that he had been more satisfied at work. Moreover, Max had been dwelling less on his divorce over the last few months and claimed feeling far less depressed than he had before he started taking the remedy. He had noticeably dropped some weight, and when asked, Max claimed that he had changed his diet in accordance with the advice given to him by the naturopath. Max still experienced insomnia and some anxiety, but he had taken to reading books at night to help him relax and take his mind off of his problems.

Case Study 10: Jennine, an attractive Caucasian female with long blonde hair, complained of severe menstrual cramps. A vegan and a dancer, Jennine's diet or lifestyle did not seem to be an issue, and she also did yoga and other exercises that were indicated for alleviating menstrual cramps. However, her cramps became so debilitating that she would often have to stay home for the first day of her period each month. A lesbian, Jennine was not on the birth control pill. Although she preferred not to, Jennine sometimes took an over-the-counter analgesic to relieve her pain, on days when she could not simply stay home and rest. Jennine's periods were irregular. She was thin but not dangerously underweight and had no history of eating disorders. She simply wanted a remedy that would regulate her menses and prevent the severe cramping that occurred once a month. The cramping not only consisted of abdominal pain but also of a "cloudy head" feeling, extreme fatigue, general malaise, and some lower back pain. Jennine reported no emotional symptoms that are commonly associated with PMS such as irritability or depression, and also did not experience…