NATURAL HEALING GUIDE

An abundant mineral in the earth's crust, silicia has a profound cleansing effect on the body. Long neglected and persistent ailments respond well to silicea therapy.

Silicea, derived from quartz or flint and an essential structural component of cartilage and bone, is used to treat chronic conditions that progress slowly over time. It is also very effective against seasonal ailments, such as colds. Like other homeopathic remedies, silicea is typically prescribed to relieve symptoms associated with particular personality types. Those most likely to benefit from silicea show such character traits as lack of direction, pliability, weakness, confusion, fear of failure and the kind of mental burnout seen in those who overwork to the point of exhaustion. Silicea is said to impart qualities that reflect its rock hard origins, structure in one's life, clarity, steadfastness and reliability. Also referred to as silica, silicea has a powerful restorative and stabilizing effect on the human body.

Silicea Type

The person most likely to benefit from silicea has pale, delicate skin and thin hair; always feels cold; gets tired easily; tends to suffer from skin and bone ailments; is particularly susceptible to infections; and is often afraid of failure and of getting hurt.

To determine if you're a silicea type, Check these characteristic that apply to you

• You have symptoms that have gradually worsened over time.
  
• You are overly pliant, anxious and shy
  
• You are afraid to try new things or lack direction
  
• You get colds often
  
• You are terrified of public speaking or appearances
  
• You develop physical ailments if you're criticized or contradicted.

If you answered yes to more than three items, turn to the other side for important information about the kinds of complaints that silicea helps to relieve.

Therapeutic Effect
Silicea is the optimum remedy for people who are very sensitive to cold weather, suffer from nervous disorders or are susceptible to infections. Silicea is particularly beneficial to children, including those who have nutritional deficiencies.

Principal homeopathic uses
In its mineral state, silicea forms the basis of strong hairs and nails. Not surprisingly, the homeopathic remedy is commonly used to strengthen dry and brittle hair, fingernails and toenails, to prevent hair loss and dandruff, to treat skin inflammations and blemishes; and to heal scars. Silicea also strengthens the digestive tract and enhances absorption of nutrients.

Preparation of remedy
The form of silicea that is used to make the remedy is a loose and powdery extract of silicic acid and water. Silicea occurs naturally in quartz and flint and in many plants, such as the herb horsetail. It is prescribed in any of the following dosages; 12x, 30x, 60x, 12c or 30c.

Treatment for splinters
Silicea is said to be very effective in helping to rid the body of foreign objects, such as small glass shards or splinters that cannot be easily removed with tweezers. To dislodge a splinter or other object, take the remedy in its 6C potency four times a day for 14 days.

Symptom Gauge

To find out whether silicea is the right remedy for you, your homeopath needs to know whether your complaints are affected by any of the conditions listed below.

Prescribed for sinusitis, swollen glands, inflammations of the eye, skin blemishes, bone or joint disorders, migraines and other types of headaches, back pain, tootaches and frequent colds.

Indications

Mood

• Lack of assertiveness, excessive shyness and an ability to take criticism
  
• Self doubt and a lack of confidence
  
• Inability to take action; indecisiveness
  
• Exhaustion and mental burnout
  
• Stress related sleep disorders

Ears, nose and throat

• Vulnerability to colds
  
• Sore throat, upper respiratory infections
  
• Scratchy feeling in the mouth and throat, provoking frequent clearing and coughing
  
• Chronic ear infections, with discharges of pus
  
• Whistling, buzzing or ringing in the ears

Head

• Headaches accompanied by nausea, visual disturbances or dizziness
  
• Pain that begins at the back of the head and then radiates over one eye
  
• A sensation of mounting pressure in the head, causing you to feel as if your head will burst.

Torso and limbs

• Inflammations of the knee joints; bursitis
  
• Splinters or shards lodged under the skin
  
• Ingrown toenails or fingernails
  
• Corns or boils
  
• Copious underarm perspiration and excessive foot perspiration and odor
  
• Skin and bone ailments, including slow growth of bones in children
  
• General aching in the limbs