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Christmas Survival Kit

Homoeopathic remedies to help you survive the stress of Christmas.

December is the time when Christmas preparations start in earnest – the shopping, the cooking, the decorations and the family gatherings.

We all aspire to the ideal of a happy, peaceful, and joyful Christmas, but sometimes it becomes anything but.

Some cope by pretending Christmas isn’t happening and dropping out altogether, while others keep their rose-tinted glasses firmly in place and power on regardless.

The reality is that Christmas can be the best and worst of times - and it’s the way we react to its pressures that determines our experience.

So, to help your Christmas become a wonderful memory we have compiled a ‘stocking list’ of remedies to see you through the stressful bits.

What to Use, When

1. Anxiety occurs when you:

  • have to sit on a bearded man’s lap
  • deal with Uncle Albert and his excessive drinking
  • try to keep everyone happy
  • can’t fit the turkey into the oven
  • spend more than you have
  • procrastinate and run out of time
    • lose your marbles - literally or figuratively
    Think of Aconite napellus (Acon.) when the person or child:

    - has a sudden shock - is extremely anxious and fearful - is very restless - wants company - thinks they might die

    Aconite napellus available at our online shop

    Think of Argentum nitricum (Arg-n.) when the person or child: - dwells on things that may go wrong - thinks and does irrational things - is restless with the anxiety - craves sweet or salty food Argentum nitricum is available at our online shop

    Think of Arsenic album (Ars.) when the person or child:

    - can’t sleep because of the anxiety - is incredibly fussy - worries about their health - worries that something might happen to family members - is critical and short-tempered - can’t be reassured - is very restless Arsenic album is available at our online shop Think of Gelsemium sempervirens (Gels.) when the person or child: - lacks confidence - trembles with anxiety - feels weak with anxiety - feels helpless and incapable of doing anything

    Gelsemium Sempervirens is available at our online shop

    Think of Lycopodium clavatum (Lyc.) When the person or child: - has anticipation anxiety - uses bravado or boasting to hide their anxiety - becomes bossy or rude - develops digestive upsets from anxiety

    Lycopodium clavatum is available at our online shop

    Think of Phosphorus (Phos.) when the person or child: - has numerous fears and anxieties - hates being alone - feels less anxious in company - is bright, cheerful and friendly - is easily reassured

    Phosphorus is available at our online shop

    2. Irritability and anger occur when you:
    • don’t get your regular quota of sleep
    • run out of time in which to do everything
    • don’t get any help from others
    • have to deal with critical or rude relatives
    Think of Chamomilla (Cham.) if the person or child: - screams and cries - cannot be satisfied no matter what you do - is cross, contrary, or quarrelsome - demands to be carried or rocked

    Chamomilla is available at our online shop

    Think of Colocynthis (Coloc.) if the person or child: - is indignant and offended - develops abdominal cramping - has to bend double with the pain - is restless

    Colocynthis is available at our online shop

    Think of Nux vomica (Nux.) if the person or child:
    - is very impatient - competitive in games or activities and wants to be first - sensitive to noise, light, sound, and other stimuli - abuses drugs or alcohol when they relax - does things to excess - suffers from insomnia at 3 to 4am

    Nux vomica is available at our online shop

    Think of Staphysagria (Staph.) if the person or child: - suppresses their anger - trembles with anger - stutters with anger - tries to please others - has trouble saying no

    Staphysagria is available at our online shop

    3. Exhaustion occurs when you:
    • end up with bags and bags of Christmas shopping
    • try to cook enough food to feed China
    • subsidise the postal service with hundreds of Christmas cards
    • generally do too much
    Think of Kali phosphoricum (Kali-p.) when the person or child: - is mentally exhausted - forgets things and finds it difficult to think - is weak and fatiqued - is exhausted from overwork, worry, or excitement - feels irritable with the exhaustion

    Kali phosphoricum is available at our online shop

    Think of Phosphoric acidum (Ph-ac.) when the person or child: - feels weak and feeble - has been affected by grief - doesn’t want to talk about it - desires carbonated drinks or refreshing things such as fruit - has had too much carbonated drinks

    Phosphoric acidum is available at our online shop

    Think of Sepia (Sep.) when the person or child: - feels ‘sucked dry’ - shuts down on the emotional level - is indifferent or irritable with family members - feels better for being alone - feels better for strenuous exercise

    Sepia is available at our online shop

    4. Sleeplessness occurs when you:

    • become overexcited or expectant
    • overindulge in food or alcohol
    • worry about what has to be done
    • let your thoughts race
    • wait up to see Father Christmas
    Think of Arsenic album (Ars.) if the person or child: - can’t sleep because of worry and anxiety - worries about their health - is restless with their insomnia - is sleepless between midnight and 2 AM - worries that people might break in to the house - becomes very fussy

    Arsenic album is available at our online shop

    Think of Coffea (Coff.) if the person or child: - has racing thoughts - is overly sensitive to stimuli such as noise, light, and pain - overreacts to even pleasant emotions such as joy - is excitable and restless

    Coffea is available at our online shop

    Think of Ignatia amara (Ign.) if the person or child: - can’t sleep because of grief or disappointment - sighs frequently as they wait for sleep - twitches or starts on going to sleep

    Ignatia is available at our online shop

    Think of Nux vomica (Nux.) if the person or child: - wakes between 3 and 4 AM - is alert on waking at night but groggy in the morning - is irritable and driven - overindulges with food and alcohol - is a workaholic

    Nux vomica is available at our online shop

    5. Digestive Complaints and Hangovers occur when you:
    • eat the wrong food
    • each too much
    • drink too much
    Think of Carbo vegetabilis (Carb-v.) if the person or child: - has tremendous bloating - belches a lot - feels weak and exhausted - wants to be fanned - has difficulty breathing

    Carbo vegetabilis is available at our online shop

    Think of Lycopodium clavatum (Lyc.) if the person or child: - has a distended abdomen - digestive complaints that worsen between 4 and 8pm - has an insatiable appetite, or - loses their appetite after a few mouthfuls - is irritable, rude and bossy

    Lycopodium is available at our online shop

    Think of Nux vomica (Nux.) if the person or child: - drinks or eats to excess - belches sour fluid - has a hangover (hopefully not a child!) - is irritable, impatient, and competitive - is obsessed with business - urges and strains with bowel motions or vomiting

    Nux vomica is available at our online shop

    Think of Pulsatilla pratensis (Puls.) if the person or child: - suffers indigestion from fats, rich food, or pork - has changeable moods and symptoms - weeps openly and feels better for sympathy - has a low thirst - feels the heat - avoids stuffy rooms and prefers fresh air

    Pulsatilla is available at our online shop

    Think of Sulphur (Sulph.) if the person or child: - develops heartburn after eating - has sudden offensive diarrhoea first thing in the morning - lacks appetite in the morning - is generally lazy or domestically blind - suffers from skin rashes or itching

    Sulphur is available at our online shop

    6. Disappointment and grief occur when you: - don’t get the present you were expecting - find out that a favourite family member will be missing the gathering - break your gift five minutes after opening - remember what Christmas is used to be like before a friend or family member passed away - recall past losses and heartbreaks Think of Ignatia (Ign.) if the person or child: - cries, sobs, or laughs uncontrollably - develops hiccoughs - wants to be alone - broods on the disappointment - has a lump in the throat

    Ignatia is available at our online shop

    Think of Natrum muriaticum (Nat-m.) if the person: - wants to be left alone to brood by themself - is easily offended by the slightest criticism or comment - likes salt and fish - avoids talking about their grief - develops headaches with sun exposure

    Natrum muriaticum is available at our online shop

    Think of Phosphoric acidum (Phos-ac.) if the person or child: - is exhausted and apathetic - desires carbonated drinks or refreshing foods such as fruit - becomes withdrawn - wants to go home to be alone Phorphoric acidum is available at our online shop

    Christmas and Beyond

    The above remedies are just some of those that can return the joy of Christmas. They are safe and simple for all ages to use.

    If the symptoms they treat are a problem for you all year through (and not just at Christmas) make an appointment with a reputable homoeopath for a treatment plan to fix things permanently.

    Have a blessed and happy Christmas.