January 2007 Winter Colds and Ills

Winter Blues

Dark winter nights and Christmas can be, for many people, a time of melancholy and loneliness. These people may have no family or few friends and the thought of being confined at home because of the dark days and coupled with the onset of the holidays can be very depressing.

This feeling of isolation is one of the factors that have led the medical profession to recognise the condition that is now called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

This recognition was first made by an eminent psychiatrist, Dr Rosenthal, in 1984, although no doubt the illness affected people for many years before this. For sufferers, symptoms start at the onset of Autumn and result in an increase in the need for sleep, a craving for carbohydrates such as biscuits and cakes and a marked afternoon slump in energy. The mood of the sufferer is low and there may be a loss of interest in activities or hobbies, feelings of worthlessness and guilt and, in severe cases, thoughts of death. For people who are working, a reduction in concentration is another problem which the patient has to contend with. Weight loss or severe insomnia points to a deepening of depression and perhaps a movement from SAD to a more serious illness which may need treatment with antidepressants.

Recent research in the US confirms that the use of a light box for 30-60 minutes in the morning can significantly relieve symptoms of SAD. This research suggests that the light in some way stimulates that part of the brain which controls mood, known as the hypothalamus. Alongside this treatment, homeopathy can also help and a medically qualified homeopath, through the use of a questionnaire, can ascertain who may benefit from a complementary approach and remedies.

Lycopodium suits the type of person who becomes domineering and brusque when unwell, normally as a result of the anxiety that manifests itself from fear of failure.

In contrast, however, people suffering from SAD who will benefit from using Silica tend to become more withdrawn and reserved due to an increasing lack of confidence attributed to their depression. This anticipation of failure shows itself in a vicious circle of greater depression, fear of failure and so on. However, those people who will benefit from Lycopodium tend normally to succeed once they have overcome their initial fear and start on the task in hand. Headaches, caused by tension and anxiety, can be helped by the application of a warm pad or flannel to the forehead if the required remedy is Silica. Alternatively, those patients using Lycopodium will benefit from the application of a cold compress.  The daily dose usually suggested for either remedy is a 30C strength, or potency.

SAD affects different people in different ways and therefore there is more than one homeopathic remedy available to the patient. A person who is cold and aloof but is determined in their outlook will normally benefit from using Nux Vomica. Whilst the symptoms of SAD are usually universal, it is the subtle differences in the patients personality that determines what remedy a homeopath would recommend. Another example of this is Chamomilla, which has shown itself to be effective in helping those which SAD makes angry and restless.

A predominantly female remedy, but not exclusively so, is Pulsatilla, and it is particularly beneficial when the tendency is towards tearfulness and self-pity. These symptoms, together with a general lack of self-esteem, mean that these patients seek and require company because they feel less vulnerable. It is these features which makes Pulsatilla so beneficial.

SAD can be a complex and difficult condition to treat and in extremis, may need psychiatric help or anti-depressants. However, the depression that many people suffer through the long winter months can usually be helped by a programme of gentle to moderate exercise, fresh air and a bright and well-lit environment. These in themselves will help the sufferer immeasurably and coupled with a considered homeopathic remedy should ensure that the patient regains their normal life-balance more quickly.

Dr Jeni Worden
Jan 07