Supplements to Fight Stress and Depression

NONESSENTIAL SUPPLEMENTS

The following herbal supplements are not required in our diet. However, taking them may provide natural relief from depression and anxiety. Always remember to pay attention to suggested dosage and other information on bottle. 

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Ashwaghandha

"Another study in 60 people found that those who took 240 mg of ashwagandha extract per day for 60 days had significant reductions in anxiety compared with those who received a placebo treatment (Link)."

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Bach Flower Essences. 

"A just published scientific study conducted by researchers at the University of Miami School of Nursing in conjunction with The Sirkin Creative Living Center (SCLC) has found that Rescue Remedy®, an all-natural remedy created from flower essences, is an effective over-the-counter stress reliever with a comparable effect to traditional pharmaceutical drugs yet without any of the known adverse side effects, including addiction" (Link 1) (Link 2). To find out how Rescue Remedy works, check out my post on flower essences HERE!

Kava Kava (Link)

Kava kava is an amazing root that has been proven helpful in elevating mood and reducing anxiety: "A 2004 study found that 300 mg of kava may improve mood and cognitive performance. That is significant because some prescription drugs used to treat anxiety, such as benzodiazepines (like Valium and alprazolam or Xanax), tend to decrease cognitive function" (Link).

5HTP (Link)

"Some small studies indicate that 5-HTP may work as well as certain antidepressant drugs to treat people with mild-to-moderate depression. Like the class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which includes fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft), 5-HTP increases the levels of serotonin in the brain. One study compared the effects of 5-HTP to fluvoxamine (Luvox) in 63 people and found that those who were given 5-HTP did just as well as those who received Luvox. They also had fewer side effects than the Luvox group" (Link).

Chamomile

"Chamomile compared favorably with placebo on other outcome measures...and was well tolerated by participants. These results suggest that chamomile may have modest benefits for some people with mild to moderate General Anxiety Disorder" (Link). 

ESSENTIAL VITAMINS AND MINERALS

Diets that are deficient in the following essential vitamins and minerals often lead to depression and anxiety. Since attaining all of these essential vitamins and minerals through diet alone is difficult, supplementation may be highly beneficial.

Flax Seed or Flax Seed oil 

The Stanford University website states, "Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids necessary for human health...They are termed 'essential' because they cannot be produced by the body, and must therefore be obtained from the diet" (link). The University of Maryland Medical Center adds, "Symptoms of omega-3 fatty acid deficiency include extreme tiredness (fatigue), poor memory, dry skin, heart problems, mood swings or depression, and poor circulation" (link).

I personally take a vegetarian flaxseed capsule, and I notice it helps with my mood almost immediately. In her book called "Soak Your Nuts", long time vegan and raw foods expert Karen Calabrese says, "Flaxseeds are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acid" (p. 110). Some vegans also choose to take algae oil, which is rich in DHA Omega  (Flaxseed oil doesn't contain DHA, but it helps your body create enough DHA).

 Supplement Price? About $8 per month

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Vitamin D3 (Link). 

Many studies have linked a vitamin D deficiency with depression (Link). Vitamin D is available through sunshine - so if you spend 15 minutes in the sun every other day at least, with at least 1/3 of your skin exposed to the sun, your levels should be fine and no supplement is needed. However, winter months often make sun exposure nearly impossible, and most Americans do not exercise outdoors every day. As a result, "three-quarters of U.S. teens and adults are deficient in vitamin D" (Link). So in most cases a supplement may be beneficial. Wild caught fish and free range eggs are also a great source of vitamin D. In the United States, the US government mandates that farmers add a vitamin D supplement to milk. That being said, it is important to note that pasture raised dairy is healthier and much more humane than than factory raised dairy (Link). Though the RDA for vitamin D is at roughly around 500 IU for adults, many experts recommend doses of up to 5,000 IU per day (Link). 

Supplement Price? About $12 per month

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Vitamin B12 (Link). 

Check out my post on the best B12 supplements Here!

Vitamin B12 plays a pivotal role in a person's nervous system and energy level. B12 deficiency can lead to anxiety and depression: "B12 protects the nervous system. Without it, permanent damage can result (e.g., blindness, deafness, dementia). Fatigue, and tingling in the hands or feet, can be early signs of deficiency" (Link). B12 can be obtained through diet alone by eating yogurt, cottage cheese, Swiss cheese, fish, or other meats. Vegans can obtain enough B12 through supplementation and/or eating B12 fortified foods such as nutritional yeast and cereal. Supplement Price? About $12 per month.

B12 Rich Foods:

Food	B12 Content	Bioavailability
Beef Liver 1 slice Chicken Liver 100g 3 oz Salmon 1 large Egg 1 Cup Cottage Cheese 1 Cup Yogurt 1 Cup Plain Yogurt 8 oz. Cup of Milk 1 Oz. Swiss Cheese 3 Oz. Chicken or Turkey	63 micrograms  21 micrograms   2.4 micrograms 0.6 micrograms 1.6 micrograms 1.5 micrograms 1.4 micrograms 0.9 micrograms 0.9 micrograms 0.3 micrograms	60% (% goes down  for larger servings) 60% (% goes down  for larger servings ) 42% 9% 65% 65% 65% 65% 65% 60%

For a B12 calculator, check out this awesome link Here!

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"Whole Foods Multivitamin" (Link)

The nice thing about a great multivitamin is you cover most of your vitamin needs without trying very hard (with some exceptions such as Omega 3's). However, many multivitamins are not well balanced and contain glues and fillers that make them harder to dissolve. Personally, I'm a huge fan of the Megafoods whole food multivitamins, which are made completely from whole, vegan foods. They include great sources of B12, vitamin D, and most of the other vitamins that effect our sense of well being. 

If you take a great multivitamin like the one above (or a similar option) and eat a balanced diet that includes omega 3 DHA, you may not have to take any additional supplements (depending on your needs). If your stress persists even after your nutritional needs are covered, you may then want to consider taking herbal supplements, like some of the ones mentioned below. 

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Help for OCD, POCD and HOCD

Obsessive compulsive disorder comes in many forms. Traditionally, when people think of OCD, they might think of Jack Nicholson acting in the movie, "As Good As It Gets", where he is obsessed with his daily "checking" routines:



About 2.5% of all Americans are afflicted with OCD (Link). OCD usually goes in a cycle of obsessing, anxiety, compulsions and relief:

While checking locks and hand washing are common examples of OCD, the act of checking can occur in other areas as well. For example, three common forms of OCD among the OCD community include:

Harm OCD - "Harm OCD is a manifestation of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in which an individual experiences intrusive, unwanted, distressing thoughts of causing harm. These thoughts are perceived as being ego-dystonic, which simply means that the thoughts are inconsistent with the individual’s values, beliefs and sense of self. Harming obsessions typically center around the belief that one must be absolutely certain that they are in control at all times in order to ensure that they are not responsible for a violent or otherwise fatal act" (Link).

HOCD - In October of 2010, TIME Magazine ran a story about Homosexual OCD - a form of OCD where a person is uncertain about their sexual identity. In this story, author Jeffrey Kluger talks of a girl named Bethany, who wrestled with HOCD for 20 years: "Her anxiety grew from an increasingly common form of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in which people who may have no moral or cultural qualms about homosexuality suddenly begin despairing of the possibility of ever knowing with blood-test certainty just what their sexuality is" (Link). "Bethany's instinct that she was attracted to men didn't stop her from worrying about her sexuality for 20 years, until she finally found a website that described her symptoms, and entered cognitive-behavioral therapy" (Link).

POCD - POCD is a specific form of Harm OCD. Again, most people with OCD are good, law abiding citizens who have absolutely no desire to harm anybody, and their fears of doing so are almost always greatly exaggerated and extremely irrational. "OCD tells you your worst fears are going to come true, playing up whatever fears are floating around in society. A while back, there was a wave of AIDS OCD. Today, since people are terrified of pedophilia, we are seeing a lot of OCD playing into this fear" (Link).

Here are some tips for people wrestling with any form of OCD.

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I am not a Physician. Please visit your doctor for any medical advice

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1) See a Counselor or Therapist (if you have insurance or can afford it) -  Often people with OCD greatly exaggerate their own perceived "sins". An outside perspective encourages rational thinking for those facing the horrific fears that often come with OCD. A good counselor can also help you with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (a form of therapy that helps you to face, rather than run from your fears).

2) Join an OCD support group / online OCD forums (especially if you can't afford counseling) - Connecting with other people who have OCD can help reduce the feelings of being alone. Also, at these groups, people can learn mechanisms to help cope with their OCD. One popular online group, with a section devoted to sexual fears and anxieties, is here.

3) Practice Exposure Therapy 

The following excerpt is by Deborah Osgood-Hynes, Psy.D., Director of Psychological Services at the OCD Institute in Massachusetts

"Items on a hierarchy for people with intrusive unwanted sexual thoughts about children may include doing the following exposure tasks while making efforts to do response prevention, such as, resisting reassurance seeking, reducing mental rituals and eliminating physical rituals. They include looking at pictures of kids in a clothing catalog, going to a mall and walking past kids; and going to a playground or beach and watching the kids play. Then, after the exposure experience, write down a list of your intrusive sexual thoughts about kids; write out a more detailed script/story of situations which are the images and urges your OCD is telling you; record these scripts onto a tape recorder and listen to them repeatedly; visit family members with kids and practice having them close by while reading to them or playing a game with them; give a child a hug, change diapers, or play a game or go swimming with a child and deliberately think the unwanted intrusive thoughts and or listen to your recorded scenes of unwanted thoughts" (Link).

4) Practice Acceptance - People with HOCD or POCD are often seeking reassurance. This reassurance often brings a feeling of temporary peace. However, a more lasting peace can be achieved by accepting yourself as you are, despite your fearful uncertainties. Practice Acceptance by following these 4 steps:

1) Allow thought to exist (take no measures to counter it)
2) Go through the spike (it can't hurt you).
3) Slow down your breathing
4) Resist the temptation to ask for reassurance

5) Consider taking supplements and natural remedies - Extensive scientific research proves that lacking vitamins such as B12, D3 and Omega 3 can lead to severe depression and anxiety.

Also, Bach Flower Essences has a remedy called "Cherry Plum" that is specifically for the fear of losing control and hurting others. They also have a remedy called "Pine" which is for feelings of guilt. Many people with OCD have found great help with these flower essences, which can be purchased on Amazon or at your local health food store.

6) Exercise daily, preferably outside

- "A 1999 study published in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine showed that university students who walked and did other easy to moderate exercise regularly had lower stress levels than couch potatoes or those who exercised strenuously" (link).

- "Levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate our mood, rises when we are outside. One study found that regular outdoor runners were less anxious and depressed than people who ran indoors on a treadmill, and had higher levels of post-exercise endorphins, the feel-good brain chemicals associated with 'runner's high'" (link).

- "Exposure to nature reduces pain and illness and speeds recovery time. A study of post-operative patients, those who had rooms with a view of natural surroundings needed less pain medication and spent fewer days in the hospital than those who faced a brick wall." (link)

7) Try and avoid stimulants such as alcohol, caffeine and processed sugar - "In humans, a low dose of alcohol improved performance of a complex mental problem-solving task under stressful conditions. However, in some individuals, at certain doses, alcohol may induce rather than reduce the body's stress response. Much research demonstrates that alcohol actually induces the stress response by stimulating hormone release by the hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenal glands." (link)

"Caffeine injects adrenaline into your system, giving you a temporary boost, but possibly making you fatigued and depressed later. If you take more caffeine to counteract these effects, you end up spending the day in an agitated state, and might find yourself jumpy and edgy by night." (link)

Avoiding processed sugars is a good way to improve your sense of well being. “Processed sugars bind with and dissolve B vitamins in the digestive tract, causing resultant health problems in the skin, nerves, digestive and undesirable stress reaction” (link).

8) Meditate - Rest and meditation can be excellent practices for quieting an anxious and fearful mind.

- Allow yourself 2-3 hours of "recharge time" daily. Some ideas for how to spend this time might include reading, watching your favorite show, grabbing a relaxed meal with your family or a friend, walking in a nature preserve, taking a warm bath or simply meditating quietly in your room. This time is also available for napping or simply resting in case you did not sleep well the night before.

- Take a weekly "Sabbath". Allow yourself one day of rest per week. This means putting work and serious chores aside, allowing yourself some time to "smell the roses".

9) Eat for Energy – Many studies have proven that diet plays a huge role on health, especially mental health. A diet that is rich in whole, fresh, uncooked vegetables, fruits, nuts and legumes is a proven way to add the living essential vitamins and minerals into your diet that can help keep us both calm and vibrant.

10) Drink Green Juice and Green Smoothies - "Research shows that chlorophyll is effective in rebuilding the blood, stimulating liver function, strengthening immunity, and detoxifying chemical pollutants. Numerous recent studies have also indicated that chlorophyll has anti-carcinogenic and anti-mutagenic properties. In short, getting enough chlorophyll can help you feel more vital and less stressed, which equals less emotional eating. Chlorophyll is found in highest concentrations in green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale, as well as wheat grass and blue-green algae." (link)

How Do Bach Flower Remedies Work?

"Homeopathy cures a larger percentage of cases than any other method of treatment" - Mahatma Gandhi

"I can’t manage without homeopathy. In fact, I never go anywhere without homeopathic remedies. I often make use of them" - Paul McCartney

"The introduction of homeopathy forced the old school doctor to stir around and learn something of a rational nature about his business. You may honestly feel grateful that homeopathy survived the attempts of allopaths to destroy it." - Mark Twain

"The fruit will be good food, and the leaves will be used for healing" - Ezekiel 47:12

"Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food" - Hippocrates (Father of Medicine)

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In the early 20th century, a British homeopath and physician named Dr. Edward Bach created Rescue Remedy and other "Bach Flower Essences". Bach believed that plants had strong emotional healing properties, and that those properties could be transferred to water - similar to other homeopathic methods. To obtain his remedies, Dr. Bach would simply collect and bottle dew that was resting on different flowers.

Dr. Oz Recommended

"Does it work? I doubt we could prove it in a clinical trial, but not everything that’s measured is important, and not everything that’s important can be measured. I’m convinced it does. I squirt it on my own tongue — and, when they’re rowdy, my kids’" (Link).

Recent Study

"A just published scientific study conducted by researchers at the University of Miami School of Nursing in conjunction with The Sirkin Creative Living Center (SCLC) has found that Rescue Remedy®, an all-natural remedy created from flower essences, is an effective over-the-counter stress reliever with a comparable effect to traditional pharmaceutical drugs yet without any of the known adverse side effects, including addiction."(Link 1) (Link 2)

Popularity of Flower Remedies

The popularity of Bach Flower Essences continues to rise for people as well as for pets. One only has to go as far as Amazon to read the hundreds of positive reviews that Rescue Remedy is receiving (link). Celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston, Liz Hurley, Victoria Beckham, Cate Blanchett, Daryl Hannah, Salma Hayek and Ruby Wax have also claimed to use Bach Flower Essences (link). On a bigger scale, homeopathic medicine as a whole is becoming more popular. In India, for example, an estimated 100 million people depend on homeopathy as their main form of medicine (link). In England, 42 percent of physicians have referred patients to homeopathic doctors (link).

But can flowers really help heal emotional problems? 

It is no secret that a gift of flowers can help brighten someones day or even make up for some hurtful words. But do flowers contain properties that can truly help heal a person's emotions?

One recent study has found that simply looking at natural scenery can decrease recovery time: "[hospital] patients who could see trees from their hospital beds needed fewer painkillers and had shorter hospital stays than those who looked out on brick walls" (link).

Another study posted some amazing results. "Patients in hospital rooms with plants and flowers had significantly fewer intakes of postoperative analgesics, more positive physiological responses evidenced by lower systolic blood pressure and heart rate, lower ratings of pain, anxiety, and fatigue, and more positive feelings and higher satisfaction about their rooms when compared with patients in the control group." (link).

But can those healing properties be transferred to water? 

Dr. Bach believed that the dew found on flower petals in sunlight, while retaining virtually no particles of the flower, retained some of its properties. In the medicine of homeopathy, this is known as "water memory". While homeopathy is very popular throughout the world, the idea of water memory is often labeled as false science by American practitioners and pharmaceutical companies.  That being said, there has been some science to suggest that water indeed does have some sort of "memory".

In 1988, the highly prestigious scientific journal Nature published what was to become a controversial article stating, in effect, that water has some sort of "memory", or longer-lasting reflective properties. The article was written by a well respected French immunologist named Jacques Benveniste. In the article Benveniste described the action of very high dilutions of anti IgE antibody on the degranulation of human basophilis, findings which seemed to support the concept of homeopathy (link).

Math or Music?

Most of the skepticism about flower essences is related to the fact that it is difficult to explain exactly how they work. Prozac, for example, "works" because it adds extra serotonin (along with other chemicals) into your brain. Bach flower aren't quite as measurable. Rather, Dr. Bach once compared these remedies to music, saying that they can help "bring us peace and relieve our sufferings" (link). It is difficult to explain the relaxing effects of music using mathematical or even scientific terms. For example, when listening to a relaxing song, the music isn't specifically telling you to relax. Rather, it works on a deeply subconscious level that is harder to quantify. Like other relaxing elements found in nature, the relaxing effects of flower remedies are also hard to quantify.

Is there any danger in taking Bach flower essences?

Many people argue that homeopathic medicines are ineffective and can actually cause harm by preventing people from researching other medical answers. They also point out that there have been very few studies to measure the effects of flower remedies.

Those in favor of homeopathy such as flower essences argue that the side effects of pharmaceutical drugs are often not worth the benefits that those drugs offer. They believe that alternative medicines are a complementary option to those searching for a more natural approach for healing.

Edible Flowers

For most of human history, fast foods and processed foods were nonexistent. Rather, hunters and gatherers went into the wild and a wide variety of berries, seeds, nuts, meats, fruits, vegetables and even edible flowers. By eating edible flowers, our ancestors were "taking flower essences" without realizing it. Whereas lab-created prescription medications such as Prozac, Ritalin and Xanax are still very new to humans, we can rest assured that edible flowers (and therefore flower essences) have been a relevant - and perhaps integral - part of human history.

Note: Check out my other post: Is Homeopathy for Christians? (Link).

Reduce Stress and Lift your Mood Naturally

1) Consider Taking Vitamin D

If humans don't get enough sunlight (roughly 15 minutes a day), we can become vitamin D deficient. A vitamin D deficiency can lead to severe depression and anxiety (Link).  Fortunately, there are good vegan and vegetarian vitamin D3 pills that can instantly help boost your mood. Taking one daily may help bring your vitamin D levels back to normal.

2) Consider Herbal Supplements

  

In addition to vitamin supplementation, there are also many herbal and homeopathic remedies available. Two of my favorites are Bach's Rescue Remedy and Kava Kava. Check out my post on stress-busting vitamins and supplements Here.

3) Join a Free Support Group

Going to a counselor, a trusted friend or a free 12-step group may be an excellent way to release some tension while getting some valuable insight in a loving environment. 

There are support groups for many ailments these days, including depression, anxiety, OCD, codependency, PTSD, grief, etc. So if you do find a support group, try to find one that is focused on your main struggle. 

4) Daily Margin

photo by lisadragon

As a book needs margin on its pages, we all need margin in our lives. This is the area I have the most trouble in. Often my stress comes from saying "Yes" too much. Yet saying "No" to draining people or activities gives us the free time we need to recharge, relax and "smell the roses".

- Take a weekly "Sabbath". Allow yourself one day of rest per week. This means putting work and serious chores aside, allowing yourself some time to "smell the roses".

- Allow yourself 2-3 hours of "recharge time" daily. Some ideas for how to spend this time might include reading, watching your favorite show, grabbing a relaxed meal with your family or a friend, walking in a nature preserve, taking a warm bath or simply meditating quietly in your room. This time is also available for napping or simply resting in case you did not sleep well the night before.

5) Eat For Energy

Avoiding processed sugars is a good way to improve your sense of well being. “Processed sugars bind with and dissolve B vitamins in the digestive tract, causing resultant health problems in the skin, nerves, digestive and undesirable stress reaction” (link). Rather, a diet that is rich in whole, fresh, uncooked vegetables, fruits, nuts and legumes is a proven way to add the living essential vitamins and minerals into your diet that help keep us both calm and vibrant.

For a practical way to include more raw foods in your diet, check out my other post HERE.

6) Take a Break From Your Phone (and your computer)! 

Turning your phone off, or putting it on Airplane Mode, may help remind us of what life was like in the 20th century (and every other previous century), before the emergence of cell phones. "A new study has found that smartphones can actually increase people's stress levels, HealthDay news reports. The reason, as HealthDay explains, is that smartphones produce 'a relentless need to immediately review and respond to each and every incoming message, alert or bing'" (Link).

7) Take A Walk Outside

photo by ginnerobot on flickr.com

- "A 1999 study published in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine showed that university students who walked and did other easy to moderate exercise regularly had lower stress levels than couch potatoes or those who exercised strenuously" (link).

- "Levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate our mood, rises when we are outside. One study found that regular outdoor runners were less anxious and depressed than people who ran indoors on a treadmill, and had higher levels of post-exercise endorphins, the feel-good brain chemicals associated with 'runner's high'" (link).

8) Drink Green Juice or a Green Smoothie 

"Research shows that chlorophyll is effective in rebuilding the blood, stimulating liver function, strengthening immunity, and detoxifying chemical pollutants. Numerous recent studies have also indicated that chlorophyll has anti-carcinogenic and anti-mutagenic properties. In short, getting enough chlorophyll can help you feel more vital and less stressed, which equals less emotional eating. Chlorophyll is found in highest concentrations in green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale, as well as wheat grass and blue-green algae." (link)

9) Reduce caffeine intake.

creative commons photo

For many people, one cup of organic, black coffee per day actually has positive emotional effects. However, some people who are prone to panic attacks may find an improvement after quitting coffee. For example, a study published in 2007 found that 52 per cent of panic-disorder patients suffered a panic attack after drinking caffeinated coffee. Conversely, the panic-disorder patients drinking decaf did not suffer panic attacks (Link).

Many people who experience jitters from coffee are amazed by the "relaxed alertness" that green tea provides. There are two main reasons for this.

- First, green tea has less caffeine than coffee. 

- Second, "Green tea contains theanine, which helps promote sleep" (Link). 

This study proves the incredible relaxing effects of theanine.

"Caffeine injects adrenaline into your system, giving you a temporary boost, but possibly making you fatigued and depressed later. If you take more caffeine to counteract these effects, you end up spending the day in an agitated state, and might find yourself jumpy and edgy by night." (link)

10) Avoid large amounts of alcohol 

"In humans, a low dose of alcohol improved performance of a complex mental problem-solving task under stressful conditions. However, in some individuals, at certain doses, alcohol may induce rather than reduce the body's stress response. Much research demonstrates that alcohol actually induces the stress response by stimulating hormone release by the hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenal glands." (link)

11) Temporary Water or Juice Fasting

Occasional, controlled water or juice fasting can bring about stress relief. For more info, click here!

Homeopathy in America - a Love Hate Story

Homeopathy is becoming more and more common in America, as over 2.5 million Americans now use it (link). While homeopathy may have grassroots popularity, it is not popular among U.S. physicians. For example, "only about 500 of more than 600,000 physicians use homeopathic remedies" (link).

Some suggest that money may be one of the reasons why homeopathy has not caught on within traditional western practitioners. For example, as homeopathy grows, this may mean less money for drug companies, who now receive continual funding from over half of Americans (link). Americans spend over $200 billion a year on prescriptions, and that figure is growing at 12 percent a year (link).

Still, possibly to the dismay of some wealthy CEO's, homeopathy is on the rise. 

Interesting facts (Link)

• Mother Teresa added homeopathic care to the services at her missions. She opened her first charitable homeopathic dispensary in Calcutta in 1950. She had a special interest in homeopathy because of its effectiveness and low cost.
  
  
• Almost every pharmacy in Germany and France stocks homeopathic remedies.
  
  
• Celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston, Liz Hurley, Victoria Beckham, Cate Blanchett, Daryl Hannah, Salma Hayek and Ruby Wax are all fans of Bach's Rescue Remedy. (link).
  
  
• The most popular cold and flu medicine in France is a homeopathic medicine.
  
  
• India has over 120 homeopathic medical colleges, and 100,000 homeopathic physicians and practitioners.
  
  
• The British Homeopathic Journal has been in continuous existence since 1844.
  
  
• The prestigious “Alternative Nobel Prize” awarded by Uexkull Foundaton was given to George Vithoulkas, one of the world’s leading homeopaths, for his work in the spread of homeopathy world-wide.

Interesting Quotes

• "Homeopathy cures a larger percentage of cases than any other method of treatment" - Mahatma Gandhi
  
  
• "I can’t manage without homeopathy. In fact, I never go anywhere without homeopathic remedies. I often make use of them" - Paul McCartney 
  
  
• "The introduction of homeopathy forced the old school doctor to stir around and learn something of a rational nature about his business. You may honestly feel grateful that homeopathy survived the attempts of allopaths to destroy it." - Mark Twain
  
  In your view, Is homeopathy a viable medicine?