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**If you are experiencing severe symptoms of heat exhaustion or stroke, please seek emergency medical treatment immediately. 
This blog is for information purposes only.**

Summer is here, and before we know it, we will be discussing returning our kids to school, swapping swimsuits and beaches for sweaters and bonfires!  I’m not sure about any of you, but I feel like summer is going faster than ever before.  I’m also fairly certain each year goes faster and faster; how do we make it slow down?!

Before we talk about school and bonfires, we need to focus on today and today it is 84℉ and the humidity is simply put, gross here in Wisconsin!  Hopefully your air conditioner is working as it should be!  We will be heading to the pool later and enjoying this sunny hot day to the best of our ability.  But with the joyful experiences of sunny days, beach outings, and outdoor activities, also comes the risk of sunburns, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and dehydration.  We always hear ‘drink more water’ and ‘use sunscreen’; but what are our go-to’s when those options fail?  While conventional medicine offers treatments and when it is an emergency, is absolutely the first thing to consider, homeopathy and alternative healthcare can provide gentle and holistic options to prevent and manage these conditions. 

We are all familiar with sunburns and have probably suffered in agony a time or two.  Sunscreens and sunblocks are on shelves everywhere, but are also riddled with toxic chemicals.  Many brands also contain ingredients that are directly linked to skin cancer.  Yes, I said it...skin cancer and sunscreens have a bigger connection than you may be aware of.  READ THOSE LABELS!!!  If you see oxybenzone, octinoxate, retinyl palmitate, titanium dioxide or zinc oxide….AVOID!!!  There are numerous studies all over the internet that warn of these chemicals, but unfortunately, this is not common knowledge to the public and until companies are forced to remove the chemicals from their products, they won’t do it.  Many consumers will continue to blindly pick up their favorite brand or whichever one ‘looks cool’ and apply it repeatedly, daily, weekly and all summer long!  If you haven’t seen studies on the correlation between the rise in skin cancer and the introduction of sunscreens, please look into this!!

What do I do for myself and my children?  Be sun-smart!!  We avoid long exposures in the sun, we allow our skin to cool when we are getting too hot, we drink our fluids and when it’s too much we simply head inside.  With swimming, when the sun is constantly reflecting off the water, we have swim shirts and high quality sunglasses/goggles.  It’s actually much easier than many realize. 

We must not and do not need to fear Vitamin D!!

I am fully aware that for some occupations, it is impossible to avoid sun exposure and also impossible to take breaks from the sun.  I still encourage you to avoid sunscreens and blocks, but for this specific scenario I suggest limiting your use as much as possible and find the cleanest brand possible.  Wear a hat, wear sunglasses, and drink electrolytes!

Heat Exhaustion
This one you may or may not have personal experience with, but you probably know someone who has.  Heat exhaustion occurs when the body overheats due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures, leading to symptoms like heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, nausea, and headache.  Heat exhaustion MUST be taken seriously so it does not progress into Heat Stroke, a severe condition where the body's temperature regulation fails, causing confusion, rapid heartbeat, and potential organ damage.

Homeopathic Remedies for Heat-Related Illnesses

1. Cantharis: THE go-to remedy for sunburns!  Cantharis is fantastic at calming any kind of burn and I have personally used it on a very severe sunburn I had on my chest last year.  I immediately had blisters and pain with any movement.  Wearing a shirt was impossible and the only thing that gave me some relief was ice packs, but it hurt horribly if the ice pack touched my skin.  Cantharis was a true life-saver for me!

2. Sol: This remedy is a homeopathic preparation of sunlight (homeopathy practices on the principal of like cures like).  Sol works on any sunburn from minor to severe when there is an itching sensation involved.

3. Belladonna: Ideal for treating the initial stages of heat stroke, Belladonna is effective when there is sudden onset of high fever, flushed face, and throbbing headache. It helps in cooling down the body and relieving discomfort.

4. Glonoinum: This remedy is particularly useful for those suffering from sunstroke, characterized by severe headache, confusion, and pulsating sensations. It works by stabilizing the body's response to excessive heat.

5. Natrum Muriaticum: For those experiencing dehydration and fatigue from heat exposure, Natrum Muriaticum can help restore balance by regulating fluid levels and alleviating symptoms like headaches and dizziness.

6. Gelsemium: This remedy is beneficial for fatigue and weakness caused by heat exhaustion. It aids in boosting energy levels and reducing the impact of high temperatures on the body.

Hydration and Nutrition: Keeping hydrated is crucial. Drink plenty of water, and consider coconut water or herbal teas like peppermint and chamomile, which have cooling properties. Foods rich in water content, such as watermelon, cucumber, and oranges, can also help maintain hydration and provide essential nutrients.

Homeopathy offers a plethora of gentle and effective options to combat heat-related illnesses. By integrating these natural remedies and practices into your routine, you can enjoy the summer months while staying healthy and cool. Remember, prevention is key, so stay hydrated, seek shade, and listen to your body.  

Embrace what nature has provided for us to have a healthier and happier summer!

Disclaimer:

This blog serves solely for informational purposes, and Kaitlyn Junk is a practicing homeopath. While she offers valuable insights, it's important to note that she is not a medical doctor. Therefore, she does not provide diagnoses or guarantee cures for any ailments. The information provided on this blog is not intended to create a professional-client relationship, and any reliance on the content is at the reader's own risk. Kaitlyn Junk disclaims any liability for damages arising from the use or interpretation of the information provided on this blog. Prior to initiating any homeopathic remedy or introducing new supplements, therapies, or practices, Kaitlyn strongly advises consulting with your primary healthcare provider for personalized guidance.

Summer is working on being here, in between all this rain we've been getting!  With summer nearing, that means the kids are out of school, more warm and sunny days, and hopefully lots outdoor fun!  Whether you, the kids or the whole family are playing in the backyard, hiking, or splashing in the lake, summer is all about adventure.  But along with the fun come some rather annoying bugs ready to make a meal out of anyone they can find.

Mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers, fleas, and even bees and wasps are all more active in the heat, and their bites can be more than just annoying.  Don’t let these tiny troublemakers ruin your summer!  I want to give you some information today on common bug bite reactions, share the some homeopathic and natural products I have personally used and can vouch for that will provide fast and effective relief!  Let’s keep those bites at bay and make this summer the best!

Mosquitoes

If you are from Wisconsin or the Midwest area, you are all too familiar with mosquitoes.  Did you know they have an affinity to certain people over others?  Mosquitoes have a preference for acidic smelling sweat, body heat, different bacterial odors on our skin, people with type O blood, and dark clothing.  Although most mosquito bites will only cause a local reaction, the Itch can be unbearable if you are bitten numerous times.  There is also a risk of a handful of different illnesses that can be transmitted by mosquitoes that can be severe.  

Chiggers

These nasty things are quite possibly my worst enemy!  These tiny little bugs live in your grass (among other areas), but without being able to see them, it makes it impossible to know where you can relax and where you need to avoid.  Chigger bites, I'll spare everyone the details, but are kind of similar to mosquito bites in that they inject saliva into the person's skin.  The reaction appears within 24 hours and can be mistaken for hives.  To say the itching is intense, would be an understatement.  The chigger bites can stay reactionary for up to 3 weeks before healing.  

Bees and Wasps

Bees are wonderful for our flowers, plants and trees but they can sure be a pain when they get upset or we intrude to closely on their territory.  For someone like me who is allergic to bees, I have a tendency to only enjoy them from a distance!  Bees and wasps pack a nasty punch and with wasps having the ability to sting multiple times, it's best to just let them have their space!

A bee or wasp sting causes an immediate reaction of redness, swelling, burning/stinging pain, and itching.  It's important to get the stinger out as soon as possible.  After the initial reaction and depending upon your allergic response, you could experience a local reaction or a much more concerning systemic reaction.  A local reaction, most can handle with common household things like ice packs and pain reliever.  For a systemic reaction, it is always best to seek immediate medical attention at your closest emergency room.

Managing The Bites

Dealing with any bug bite is annoying.  Typically, they don't last too long and relief comes shortly after the bite.  However, for some bug bites and for some individuals, symptoms stay present for much longer that a short time.  Whether your bug bites disappear quickly or linger forever, homeopathy can help to keep the reaction minimized and shorten the duration of the reaction!  

• Apis: Apis is created from the venom of a honeybee, so it is a PERFECT choice for bee and wasp stings!

• Arnica: Arnica is the remedy of choice for swelling and redness caused by bug bites.  

• Calendula: I recommend this remedy in cream form.  Calendula cream is beneficial for soothing the skin from itching; it is also a great relief for burns, cuts and scrapes.  

• Ledum: Ledum is an amazing remedy for any kind of bug bite that breaks the skin!

• Urtica Urens: This remedy is created from the stinging nettle plant, so those stinging, burning pains; this remedy is sure to help relieve!  This remedy is also number 1 for hives!

Other natural products that I have personally used include:

• Summer Relief Salve by Lakota Made, LLC.  This salve has been such a relief for my family and myself!  We always keep a spare jar on hand and during the summer, you will often see it in the common areas of the house because it seems to always be being used by someone! 
  What I love about this salve is that it is made from phenomenal herbs and carefully prepared to be super effective! 
  
  Product link: https://www.lakotamade.com/products/summer-relief-salve-small

• BUGGINS Original gnat & mosquito Insect Repellent.  I try to avoid insect repellent whenever possible, but if I know it's going to be inevitable, this is what we use!  This is a plant based product that does help against the gnats and mosquitoes.  Personally, I have to respray regularly because I am a magnet to gnats and mosquitoes; but it does work!  I enjoy the lack of chemicals in this spray and the slight peppermint smell.
  
  Product link: https://bugg.com/repellents/

Summer Remedy Kit

If you are interested in leveraging more natural and healthy alternatives to pharmaceuticals this summer, I have been working on creating a special kit to be used as a first aid for summer!  In the Summer Remedy kit, there will be multiple remedies for bug bite relief, as well as remedies to help with sunburn, sun/heat stroke and heat exhaustion.  Watch the Remedy Wellness social media pages for more details on this kit!  If you are interested in purchasing a kit, mention this blog to receive $5 off!

By understanding more about summer bug bites, learning how to utilize homeopathic and natural remedies, you can soothe itching and discomfort quickly!  My goal is to help you enjoy your summer to the fullest while keeping those bites at bay.

Here’s to a fun, safe, and itch-free summer filled with wonderful memories!

These sources were used throughout this blog.

https://www.lakotamade.com

https://bugg.com

https://entomology.wisc.edu/extension/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-insect-bites/basics/art-20056593

Disclaimer:

This blog serves solely for informational purposes, and Kaitlyn Junk is a practicing homeopath. While she offers valuable insights, it's important to note that she is not a medical doctor. Therefore, she does not provide diagnoses or guarantee cures for any ailments. The information provided on this blog is not intended to create a professional-client relationship, and any reliance on the content is at the reader's own risk. Kaitlyn Junk disclaims any liability for damages arising from the use or interpretation of the information provided on this blog. Prior to initiating any homeopathic remedy or introducing new supplements, therapies, or practices, Kaitlyn strongly advises consulting with your primary healthcare provider for personalized guidance.

It’s April already, tax day has come and gone and the end of the month is not far off!  This year seems to be flying by so quickly!  

Last week, us in Southwest Wisconsin soaked up natural vitamin D in the summer temps; but these last few days have been cold, gray and rainy!  When you think of April, hopefully the first thing that comes to your mind is the saying, 'April showers bring May flowers' and not ‘allergies’, but for so many, it is!  According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, over 80 million people in the United States alone suffer from seasonal allergies!

If you are reading this blog, you are here because of your interest in homeopathy and the natural alternatives to healing your body.  So let’s think about those 80 million people and how much money is being spent by them individually and on a total scale for over the counter and pharmaceuticals to relieve their symptoms!  YIKES!!!  Common over the counter allergy medicines are helpful, there’s no denying it; but have you looked into the ingredients, the manufacturing practices, or the long-term effects?  Most over the counter and pharmaceuticals are tied to some pretty scary side effects, long-term effects and are owned by big corporations that are out there to make a buck.  Long-term effects found in one research study showed an elevated risk of dementia in frequent Benadryl usage and in the more broad category of antihistamines, there was data found of a 3.5 times greater risk of developing gliomas, brain tumors!  There is a clear link between antihistamines and our brains; again if you are reading this blog, I think you’ll agree, a safer and more natural option is probably best!

Homeopathy offers a multitude of remedies that vary depending upon the symptoms you experience as well as if you are experiencing an acute flare up or if you are someone who has chronic allergy complaints.  One positive to utilizing homeopathic remedies for allergies or any ailment, is you will not have side effects or long-term effects like prescriptions and over the counter medications!  

Here are just a few remedies out of the hundreds available that may be beneficial!

• Allium Cepa: This remedy is great for the itchy, watery eyes that are common with allergies.

• Arsenicum Album: When your nose won’t stop running and it’s burning, and the sneezing is unbearable!

• Kali-Bic: Kali-Bic when it’s thick (gross, right?!) When the congestion is at its full max and it’s difficult to blow it out, and it's draining down the throat…all signs are pointing to this remedy!

• Gelsemium: This is another remedy good for the running nose and sneezing, but also when you are having some general fatigue and exhaustion feelings.

Now homeopathy is my preference for nearly every ailment, but when it comes to seasonal allergies, here are some of other recommendations.  

• Find a honey bee farm that is local to your area (the closer to your home the better) and consume their honey daily.  

• Herbal supplements and teas.  Stinging Nettle, Perilla, Butterbur, and Turmeric are really good to incorporate into cooking, supplements, or teas.

• Purchasing air purifiers for your home and car are also options, but are more limited to only those spaces; when you head outside, they don’t help.

 
If you are someone who has never had allergies before or someone who has suffered all their life with allergies, let’s chat!  Homeopathy and alternative methods can be the safe, natural, cheaper option to eliminate all of your suffering!  And if homeopathy isn't something you want to explore right now and your comfort is with over the counter or prescription allergy medicines, that is just fine too.  With my respiratory background in healthcare, I'm happy to discuss other ways of keeping your respiratory system healthy this Spring!

I offer a free discovery call to anyone who is interested in chatting, as well as affordable consultations to find the root cause of your allergies!  You can book online through the 'Services' tab at the top of this page or you can call 608-412-5372!  

These sources were used for various data throughout this blog.

https://www.sinusandallergywellnesscenter.com/blog/allergic-rhinitis-6-herbal-remedies-to-try-sinus-allergy-wellness-clinic

https://www.news-medical.net/health/Long-Term-Effects-of-Taking-Allergy-Medications.aspx#:~:text=Tolerance%20is%20not%20a%20problem,antihistamine%20use%20for%20allergic%20conditions

https://aafa.org/allergies/allergy-facts/

Disclaimer:

This blog serves solely for informational purposes, and Kaitlyn Junk is a practicing homeopath. While she offers valuable insights, it's important to note that she is not a medical doctor. Therefore, she does not provide diagnoses or guarantee cures for any ailments. The information provided on this blog is not intended to create a professional-client relationship, and any reliance on the content is at the reader's own risk. Kaitlyn Junk disclaims any liability for damages arising from the use or interpretation of the information provided on this blog. Prior to initiating any homeopathic remedy or introducing new supplements, therapies, or practices, Kaitlyn strongly advises consulting with your primary healthcare provider for personalized guidance.

Whether you are in Wisconsin or around the world, there is a nasty bug going around and hitting schools incredibly hard!  If you have not had to experience this, you are one of the lucky ones!  I’m hearing people going to doctors to be told it’s viral and to just rest, some are told it’s strep throat and others told it’s influenza B.  One thing that is consistent though, it is packing a punch and staying to party!

Symptoms I’m seeing most commonly:

-Consistent fever over 101F

-Body aches

-No thirst or appetite

-Diarrhea

-Red painful and swollen throat

-Painful swallowing

-Pain in the ears

As you can see, it’s a special hybrid of a flu bug and strep.  Yay, for virus mutations (insert eyeroll)!

Natural Alternatives

• Boost that vitamin C

  • Naturally with fresh fruit is best, but not always possible and that’s okay.

• Zinc

  • Zinc has shown benefits in helping our immune system and reduce the severity of viral bugs.

• Echinacea and Elderberry

  • These two herbs are the ‘top dog’ of kicking bugs to the curb.  I personally love a hot tea mixture, but I know not everyone is into tea.  You can sometimes find a local source (not WalMart or a different big box store) for an elderberry syrup.  This can double nicely as a throat soother too!

• Honey

  • Local honey is super helpful for reducing the allergy-like symptoms and helps to reduce throat pain.

• Stay Hydrated!!

  • It’s hard to stay hydrated when your throat hurts or you just have no thirst.  It’s important to maintain your hydration with an electrolyte drink especially if you are throwing up and/or have diarrhea.

• Oil Your Feet

  • Sounds gross if you’re not a foot person (I am most definitely not a foot person), but oiling the bottom’s of your feet when you have a fever, experiencing vomiting and diarrhea can help to keep moisture in your body.  I recommend using coconut oil or an essential oil carrier like jojoba oil.  And don’t forget to put socks on after!

Homeopathy Remedies

Homeopathy can make a major difference in how sick you get and how long you are sick for; the bug I am working the most on is lasting 7-10 days and sometimes longer without homeopathy.  With homeopathy, I’ve been able to get kids back to school in 4-5 days!  Not that kids want to go back to school, but no kid wants to be sick!

• Aconite

  • Aconite is the first go-to, as soon as you are feeling a bit ‘off’, take it!  Aconite, similar to Zinc, can help to reduce the severity and length of an illness.

• Arsenicum Album

  • Does your stomach feel like it’s ready to explode or cramped up so badly you can barely stand?  From cramps to diarrhea, Arsenicum to the rescue!

• Belladonna

  • Belladonna is great when used as a natural fever reducer; especially those fevers that are 101F or higher.  It’s also one of the top remedies for strep throat symptoms.

• Gelsemium

  • Body aches are no joke; we’ve all experienced body aches at one point or another and the ones tagging along with this flu bug are horrendous!  

• Nux Vomica

  • When you’re irritable, everything hurts, you can’t think straight, you're hot and then cold, restless sleeping and you are just plain miserable…Nux Vomica is your go-to! 

• Oscillococcinum

  • And when you want to take the guesswork out of the flu, Oscillococcinum is coming in as the number 1 flu remedy for many years running!  

Are you ready to try the natural route?

I have flu kits available of homeopathic remedies if you want to try your hand at it.  But if you are just plain tired and ready for someone else to take over, give me a call and let’s get you on the mend!  An acute consultation may even be less than your co-pay at the doctor’s office and you get 48 hours of continued support!

Disclaimer: 

This blog serves solely for informational purposes, and Kaitlyn Junk is a practicing homeopath. While she offers valuable insights, it's important to note that she is not a medical doctor. Therefore, she does not provide diagnoses or guarantee cures for any ailments. The information provided on this blog is not intended to create a professional-client relationship, and any reliance on the content is at the reader's own risk. Kaitlyn Junk disclaims any liability for damages arising from the use or interpretation of the information provided on this blog. Prior to initiating any homeopathic remedy or introducing new supplements, therapies, or practices, Kaitlyn strongly advises consulting with your primary healthcare provider for personalized guidance.

What is homeopathy…besides the passion I didn’t know existed inside me!

Homeopathy is a form of medicine that evaluates a person (or animal) and their totality of symptoms, not looking only at the sore throat or the painful toe.  The evaluation is very similar to what most everyone is used to when going to the doctor, except completely different at the same time.

Homeopathy was founded in the 18th century by a gentleman named Samuel Hahnemann.  He began treating his patients on the theory of ‘like cures like’ and minimal dose.  It means that depending upon your symptoms, we will suggest a homeopathic remedy that would create those symptoms in a very small, minute dosage.  In fact, homeopathic remedies do not carry any of the original substance used in creating it, only the energetic vibration of that substance; this happens through a process called potentization which I reserve that conversation to the homeopathic pharmacists!

In comparison, conventional medicine (also referred to as western medicine or allopathic medicine) was founded in the late 19th, early 20th century.  

Homeopathy was considered the gold standard of medicine for many years throughout India, Europe and the United States.  At one point, there were over 20 homeopathic colleges in the United States.  As the pharmaceutical industry grew, the desire and acceptance for homeopathy declined.  

As society and the trust in conventional medicine diminishes, the acceptance for homeopathy is resurfacing and growing at a rapid rate!  Currently, over 6 million people use homeopathy in the United States and in the UK; in India, over 100 million people strictly use homeopathy.  The Royal family are profound believers in homeopathy and have considered it their first line of medicine for centuries.  

Homeopathic Remedies

As mentioned above, homeopathic remedies are created through a method called potentization and as much as I understand the process, I am not one to speak on the process itself.  What you will see in a remedy is a small little pellet.  These pellets are commonly made of milk or sugar and are coated in the liquid from the potentization process.  These pellets are considered energy medicine because they do not contain any of the material used to create it originally.  

Homeopathic remedies can be taken dry or wet and are also available in a liquid form.  So whether you are a newborn baby, a child or grown adult, there is a form available for you!

Consults

I pride myself on giving you the time and space necessary to fully talk about what is going on, so whether that is 10 minutes or 2 hours, that is the time you are given!  I offer two different forms of consultations, one is a shorter consult for illnesses that have been present for a short amount of time (think of a cold, flu, sinus infection, earache, etc.).  The other consultation is a longer appointment time that is for longer term or chronic issues (chronic headaches, arthritis, psoriasis, etc.).  

There is truly nothing that homeopathy cannot assist with, from the simple cold to a fatal disease, homeopathy has a proven track record of benefits.  If you are interested in learning more about homeopathy, have questions, or would like to schedule an appointment, please reach out!  I would love for everyone to experience the magic of this little sugar pellet!

Disclaimer: 

This blog serves solely for informational purposes, and Kaitlyn Junk is a practicing homeopath. While she offers valuable insights, it's important to note that she is not a medical doctor. Therefore, she does not provide diagnoses or guarantee cures for any ailments. The information provided on this blog is not intended to create a professional-client relationship, and any reliance on the content is at the reader's own risk. Kaitlyn Junk disclaims any liability for damages arising from the use or interpretation of the information provided on this blog. Prior to initiating any homeopathic remedy or introducing new supplements, therapies, or practices, Kaitlyn strongly advises consulting with your primary healthcare provider for personalized guidance.