You know the aisle. Shelf after shelf of boxes promising relief from allergies, sleeplessness, aches, stomach trouble. Over-the-counter products are popular for a reason. They’re easy, they’re fast, and they do what they say for many people.
They haven’t always worked that way for me. More often than not, I felt the side effects more than the relief. A nighttime cold medicine would knock me into the most disturbed sleep I’d ever had. I’d wake up feeling worse than before, less like I had a cold and more like I’d been hit by a truck and dragged down the road. Maybe you’ve had that experience too.
For a lot of people, the quick fix either costs more than it gives or keeps needing a refill. You treat the symptom, it comes back, you treat it again. Somewhere along the way you start wondering whether there’s a different way to approach it. That’s usually how people end up in my inbox.
“What if it doesn’t work?”
I hear it all the time, and it’s a fair question. You’ve spent money and hope before. Alternative medicine has a reputation as a gamble, and nobody wants to feel foolish for trying it.
Here’s how I think about it. Alternative medicine works differently, so it needs a different question. The OTC aisle asks, “What’s the name of your problem?” I ask, “What exactly are you experiencing?” It’s very different.
“Seasonal allergies” isn’t enough
Say you tell me you have seasonal allergies. That tells me almost nothing. Is your nose running or stuffed? Are your eyes itchy or burning? Is it worse in the morning, outdoors, or at night? Is the mucus clear or thick? Do you feel hot, chilled, anxious, or wiped out?
Two people with the same diagnosis can have completely different symptoms, and the right choice for one may not suit the other. The more closely you notice what’s happening, the clearer the choice gets.
One target or the whole picture
Most over-the-counter products aim at a single spot: one pill for the sneezing, another for the congestion, another for the headache. Each one tries to shut off one symptom.
I look at things differently. A well-matched remedy is chosen for the whole picture of what you’re experiencing: the sneezing, yes, but also your sleep, your energy, your mood, and what makes it better or worse. A lot of small shifts in different areas of the body can add up to real change, instead of one symptom going quiet while everything else struggles to maintain balance.
That’s why my appointments are long. I want the details and ask a lot of questions.
But it gets better
I rely heavily on homeopathy, partly because it has a built-in safety feature that most people don’t know about. If you choose the wrong remedy, nothing happens. You won’t poison yourself by accident, and it won’t interact with your other medications.
If you keep taking the wrong remedy, you may start to notice new symptoms. This is called “proving” the remedy. If that happens, we just discontinue taking it. No harm done. Your body is simply telling you this wasn’t the right match.
“Nothing happened” is useful information
When I recommend something and nothing changes, that’s not failure. It’s feedback. It tells me we missed something, and we need to look again. Maybe we need a better description of your symptoms, or maybe I misread the picture. Either way, we adjust, and you don’t have to suffer through a long wait to find out.
You don’t have to depend on me
I explain everything I do, because the more you understand about why a recommendation fits, the more you can handle the small stuff on your own, if you want to. Some people love that and some just want me to handle it. Both are fine.
What you can do right now
Next time something comes up, before you reach for any product, stop and think about exactly what you’re feeling, when it started, and what makes it better or worse. Even that one habit will change how you choose to handle it.
If you want help figuring out what your body is telling you, start here. Sign up for my newsletter, ask me a question, or book a free Discovery Call. Whichever feels like the right first step.
Brenda Elving, ND / Board Certified Traditional Naturopath. This information is educational and isn’t a substitute for medical care. If your symptoms are severe or sudden, see a doctor.
