April - ? on Homeopathic Remedy

My niece who has RA told me about Black Elderberry and how it is good for colds [echinacea causes her RA to flare so she can't take it] and for the immune system.

I've been checking it out and I can't see that there are any contraindications with it and ITP or any meds someone takes.

What do you think of it - thought I'd get it straight from the horse's mouth [so to speak ]

Thanks.

Hi Melinda,
I'm sorry to hear about your niece. It seems younger and younger people are being diagnosed with RA. Unfortunately, I can't be of much help for you in this regard. I am a homeopath, not a naturopath, and I primarily only use homeopathic remedies. Before I discovered homeopathy, I did use herbs quite a bit to treat myself and family for minor things. But, I've never had any formal training in herbology, and do not feel qualified to say if it would be helpful and/or safe for her.
I would treat with a constitutional homeopathic remedy that would be geared to that specific person. Of the few RA patients I've had, or that I've seen cases of at seminars, I have yet to see any two that needed the same remedy. I have seen good results with RA, though my experience with that is minimal.


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Dr. Roger Morrison MD is a homeopathic and naturopathic physician who has written a number of books. In one of them, he has these naturopathic suggestions for patients with RA:

Naturopathic suggestions for Rheumatoid Arthritis:
* There are several nutritional modifications which may be of benefit in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Strict avoidance of all animal proteins, including dairy, can have a very beneficial effect. Likewise, the avoidance of acidic foods and nightshade plants may be helpful (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers). While the goal of homeopathic treatment is to completely remove the disease, these temporary dietary modifications may enable the patient to decrease the allopathic medications, and thus respond more clearly and rapidly to the homeopathic remedy.

* Vitamins and supplements can aid some rheumatoid arthritis patients. Though less useful here, than in osteoarthritis, try:
Glucosamine (500 mg. TID)
Vitamin C (2,000 mg per day)
Bioflavonoids (125 mg. per day)
Vitamin E (400 units daily)

* Iron supplements should be avoided. If possible, try to supply iron through nutritional sources such as molasses, legume, cruciferous vegetables and fish.

* Other nutrients for rheumatoid arthritis patients should include:
Flax oil (1 to 2 teaspoons per day)
Apple pectin
Bromelain (or simply increase pineapple intake)
Alfalfa capsules

* Cayenne pepper poultices can give temporary relief to an acutely painful or swollen joint. Also, topical Arnica oil can be used without fear of antidoting the constitutional remedy. [Weleda makes a lovely Arnica oil—I love the way it feels and smells! But, if your niece is allergic to Echinacea, she would likely be allergic to Arnica, as they are in the same botanical plant family, the Composite. So, she should probably skip the Arnica.)
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Here is a recipe for an immune-boosting tea that I make and recommend, especially good for this time of year with all the flu and other illnesses going around. The herb Tulsi, has many wonderful properties to it. Tulsi, aka Holy Basil, or the Queen of Herbs is well known in India for its remarkable healing properties, improving the body’s overall defense mechanism. It is one of the most effective adaptogens (an agent that helps your body adapt more efficiently to stress), ever known. Tulsi’s unique chemistry contains compounds called “phytochemicals”. These are naturally produced by the plant, to protect themselves against bacteria, viruses and fungi—that interact and have strong antioxidant, anti-viral, anit-bacterial, and immune-enhancing properties that promote general health and maintain your body’s natural defense against germs, stress and disease.

I mix it with Elderberry and Rosehips for their flavor and medicinal properties as well. My kids LOVE this tea! They nicknamed it "Catnap" tea, because it has a very calming, warm and fuzzy, sleep-inducing quality to it. It is excellent for colds, flus and whooping cough. I've included this in my flu newsletter. I'm not sure if it would help your niece's RA or not, but it probably wouldn't hurt.

Delicious Tulsi Tea Recipe:
Make a tea by mixing these herbs together, in whatever quantity you like. I usually use two parts Tulsi to one part of each of the other two, but mix it to suit your taste.
Pour boiling water over herbs and let steep for 5-10 min.

Holy Basil leaves (aka Tulsi, is an adaptogen, an anti-oxidant, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and immune-enhancing herb)

Elderberries (Compounds in elderberry bind with viruses before they can penetrate the walls of cells. This inhibits their ability to spread.)

Rosehips (Rosehips are naturally high in Vitamin C, but they are also high in iron. The key to processing iron in the body is to couple it with vitamin C. For people that battle anemia, rose hips are a treasure trove of nutrition, besides being fragrant and delicious.)

Add honey to taste, and fresh lemon, for a delicious, fragrant tea. Enjoy!


Hope she finds something to help,
Best wishes,
April

April thank you so much - I really appreciate the time you took to answer me!

One of the reasons I asked you is because at the drug store I saw a bottle of elderberry tablets and on the label it said Homeopathic.

When I was in the grocery store today I went to their natural section and looked at a bottle of Nature's Way echinacea and there is a caution on the bottle not to take if have autoimmune disease - there was a bottle of Nature's Way black elderberry capsules or tableets and there was no such caution on it..

I am going to print your reply and send it to my niece as you have lots of good information in it. And I'm going to make sure I have a copy of it too, and the tea which sounds really good!

Thank you April!!
Melinda

I wonder if this depends on the person. I have an autoimmune disease we've been treating naturally and I use black elderberry all the time to boost my immune system when winter comes around. But I also use echinacea without trouble. I've never trouble with either increasing AI issues so I wonder if it depends on the AI or the person's personal sensitivity to it?