Valentine’s Day is often associated with the sweetness of love and chocolate. As with many holidays, it also can be a time that brings up feelings of loss or grief for many people. The reason I love homeopathy so much is the profound emotional healing it provides. I’ve personally experienced this. Over the past two years, my mother and father died, as well as my beloved kitty, Mimi.

When tragedy strikes, there are acute homeopathic remedies to help you process sadness and emerge with hopefulness. The remedy that was a lifesaver for me was Ignatia (see indications for use below). While it did not remove my sense of loss, it did curb my overwhelming grief and enabled me to function as I took time off to grieve my parents. This added support was invaluable to me.

It’s hard to explain how these little pellets work on such a deep emotional level if you have not experienced them before. If this is a difficult time for you, please know you’re not alone. I offer Discovery Sessions to learn more about what you’re struggling with, and how homeopathy may best support you.

Homeopathic Remedies for
Grief and Loss*

“Loss is part of the human experience;
an inevitable, if uncomfortable bedfellow of love.
For whatever we love, we can also lose.
Homeopathy can help support us through the toughest of times.”

 Misha Norland, Homeopath and Mentor

We usually associate grief with the death of a loved one. Yet feelings of grief can be triggered by many different situations, such as losing a job, moving to a new house, or a deteriorating relationship. Even moving through different life stages can sometimes bring about a sense of loss as we transition out of childhood, confront menopause, or come to terms with children leaving the nest.

Homeopathy offers a safe and gentle option, providing support for the toughest of times. Of course, it can’t bring back what we mourn, but it can help to stimulate our own ability to process the loss, accept and honor it, and allow us to gently step into our new normal.

Ignatia  (St. Ignatius Bean)

• Emotional symptoms: Sad and tearful after shock, grief, or disappointment. Moods alternate: laughing one minute, sobbing the next. Sensitive and defensive.
• Physical symptoms: Lump in throat, sighing or difficulty taking a deep breath. Headaches following a loss. Spasms, tics and twitches.

Nat-mur (Salt)

• Emotional symptoms:  Silent grief, suppressed emotions. Sad, yet unable to weep. Closed and private. Prefers to be alone and does not want consolation. May feel betrayed and bitter.
  
• Physical symptoms: Cold sores. Headache that feels like hammers are beating the head. Insomnia from dwelling on painful events and griefs from the past.

Phosphoric acid  (Phosphate Salt)

• Emotional symptoms: Feeling isolated, difficulty communicating. Exhaustion, indifference, and/or flat feeling, as if the spark of life has vanished. Feeling depleted or weak.
• Physical symptoms: Insomnia despite fatigue. Crushing headaches. Difficulty focusing. Profuse diarrhea. Craves fruit and refreshing foods.

Directions for taking remedies:

Choose the 30c potency at your health food store. Take 2 pellets, 3 times per day until your symptoms improve, or after 3 days, whichever occurs first. Do not take for more than 3 days.

As you can see, each of the 4,000 remedies available have a different profile that is individually matched to how each person experiences symptoms.

Quick Definitions

Homeopathy: Homeopathy is a 200-year-old holistic system of healing that uses natural substances to bring the body back into balance. Homeopathic remedies reset your internal healing mechanism and allow your body to restore balance from within.

Acute Remedies: For conditions that come on suddenly such as the flu, food poisoning, or motion sickness. The examples in this newsletter are readily available over-the-counter.

Constitutional Remedies: For chronic, long-standing symptoms that have lasted more than six months such as PMS, migraines, or endometriosis. A professional homeopath has the necessary training to act as a detective and select the best constitutional remedy for each person.

Food for Healing
Chocolate Makes Everything Better!

With only five ingredients, this chocolate shortbread recipe hits the spot! It’s not too sweet, and has just the right amount of crispness you expect from shortbread. For an extra chocolatey kick, dip half the cookie into a melted chocolate bar.

This is an easy recipe to double, so you can store extras in the freezer for a quick treat any time.

Chocolate Shortbread (Sablés)

• 2 cups almond flour
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon organic coconut sugar
• 7 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

-In a bowl, mix together the almond flour, cocoa, sugar, and salt. If there are clumps, crush them out carefully with a fork.
-Add the butter and mix with a fork or pastry blender until the mixture comes together.
-Divide the dough in half. Place one half on a piece of parchment paper and use the paper to roll the dough into a log, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
-Repeat with the second piece of dough.
-Wrap the logs tightly and place in the freezer for 30 minutes.
-Preheat the oven to 300° F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
-Using a sharp knife, cut the dough logs into 1/3-inch slices. Arrange on the baking sheet.
-Bake for 20 minutes, switching the sheet halfway through for even baking.
-Let stand for 5 minutes on the sheet, then slide the parchment paper onto a rack. Allow to cool completely.

Bonus recipe: Parisian Hot Chocolate (dairy-free)

• 7 ounces 70-80% dark chocolate
• 2 cups non-dairy milk: coconut, almond, rice or oat milk
• 1/4 cup almond butter

-Chop the chocolate finely with a chef’s knife (or in a food processor or blender) and place in a mixing bowl.
-Bring the milk to a simmer over medium heat. Pour one third the milk into the chocolate.
-Whisk well until you get a smooth and shiny consistency.
-Whisk in the remaining almond milk in two additions, then the almond butter. Divide among four cups and serve.

If you find yourself grieving or struggling right now, please know you are not alone, are worthy of love, and deserve compassion.

Sometimes the grace we can show ourselves is the most valuable.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The remedies mentioned in this article are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information in this article is not intended to replace any recommendations or relationship with your physician.