December is the time when Christmas preparations start in earnest – the shopping, the cooking, the decorations and the family gatherings.
We all aspire to the ideal of a happy, peaceful, and joyful Christmas, but sometimes it becomes anything but.
The reality is that Christmas can be the best and worst of times – and the way we react to its pressures determines our experience.
Don’t let your Christmas be spoiled by exhaustion, anxiety, irritability, sleeplessness, digestive upsets, hangovers or disappointment. We’ve compiled a list of the best remedies to help you though these stressful bits so your Christmas has the best possible chance of becoming a wonderful memory.
We even show you when and how often to take a Christmas remedy – just check the link at the bottom of the article.
What to Use, When
1. Anxiety
…. for when you:
- have to sit on a bearded man’s lap
- deal with Uncle Albert and his excessive drinking
- try to keep everyone happy
- can’t fit the turkey into the oven
- spend more than you have
- procrastinate and run out of time
- lose your marbles – literally or figuratively
Aconite napellus (Acon.)
Think of it if the person (child or adult):
– has a sudden shock
– is extremely anxious and fearful
– is very restless
– wants company
– thinks they might die
Argentum nitricum (Arg-n.)
Think of it if the person (child or adult):
– dwells on things that may go wrong
– thinks and does irrational things
– is restless with the anxiety
– craves sweet or salty food
Arsenicum album (Ars.)
Think of it if the person (child or adult):
– can’t sleep because of the anxiety
– is incredibly fussy
– worries about their health
– worries that something might happen to family members
– is critical and short-tempered
– can’t be reassured
– is very restless
Gelsemium sempervirens (Gels.)
Think of it if the person (child or adult):
– lacks confidence
– trembles with anxiety
– feels weak with anxiety
– feels helpless and incapable of doing anything
Lycopodium clavatum (Lyc.)
Think of it if the person (child or adult):
– has anticipation anxiety
– uses bravado or boasting to hide their anxiety
– becomes bossy or rude
– develops digestive upsets from anxiety
Phosphorus (Phos.)
Think of it if the person (child or adult):
– has numerous fears and anxieties
– hates being alone
– feels less anxious in company
– is bright, cheerful and friendly
– is easily reassured
2. Irritability and Anger
…. occurs when you:
- don’t get your regular quota of sleep
- run out of time in which to do everything
- don’t get any help from others
- have to deal with critical or rude relatives
Chamomilla (Cham.)
Think of it if the person (child or adult):
– screams and cries
– cannot be satisfied no matter what you do
– is cross, contrary, or quarrelsome
– demands to be carried or rocked
Colocynthis (Coloc.)
Think of it if the person (child or adult):
– is indignant and offended
– develops abdominal cramping
– has to bend double with the pain
– is restless
Nux vomica (Nux.)
Think of it if the person (child or adult):
– is very impatient
– competitive in games or activities and wants to be first
– sensitive to noise, light, sound, and other stimuli
– abuses drugs or alcohol when they relax
– does things to excess
– suffers from insomnia at 3 to 4am
Staphysagria (Staph.)
Think of it if the person (child or adult):
– trembles with anger
– stutters with anger
– tries to please others
– has trouble saying no
3. Exhaustion
…. occurs when you:
-
end up carrying bags and bags of Christmas shopping
-
try to cook enough food to feed China
-
subsidise the postal service with hundreds of Christmas cards
- generally do too much
Kali phosphoricum (Kali-p.)
Think of it if the person (child or adult):
– is mentally exhausted
– forgets things and finds it difficult to think
– is weak and fatiqued
– is exhausted from overwork, worry, or excitement
– feels irritable with the exhaustion
Phosphoric acidum (Ph-ac.)
Think of it if the person (child or adult):
– feels weak and feeble
– has been affected by grief
– doesn’t want to talk about it
– desires carbonated drinks or refreshing things such as fruit
– has had too much carbonated drinks
Sepia (Sep.)
Think of it if the person (child or adult):
– feels ‘sucked dry’
– shuts down on the emotional level
– is indifferent or irritable with family members
– feels better for being alone
– feels better for strenuous exercise
4. Sleeplessness
…. occurs when you:
-
become overexcited or expectant
-
overindulge in food or alcohol
-
worry about what has to be done
-
let your thoughts race
-
wait up to see Father Christmas
Arsenicum album (Ars.)
Think of it if the person (child or adult):
– can’t sleep because of worry and anxiety
– worries about their health
– is restless with their insomnia
– is sleepless between midnight and 2 AM
– worries that people might break in to the house
– becomes very fussy
Coffea cruda (Coff.)
Think of it if the person (child or adult):
– has racing thoughts
– is overly sensitive to stimuli such as noise, light, and pain
– overreacts to even pleasant emotions such as joy
– is excitable and restless
Ignatia amara (Ign.)
Think of it if the person (child or adult):
– can’t sleep because of grief or disappointment
– sighs frequently as they wait for sleep
– twitches or starts on going to sleep
Nux vomica (Nux.)
Think of it if the person (child or adult):
– wakes between 3 and 4 AM
– is alert on waking at night but groggy in the morning
– is irritable and driven
– overindulges with food and alcohol
– is a workaholic
5. Digestive Complaints and Hangovers
…. occur when you:
Carbo vegetabilis (Carb-v.)
Think of it if the person (child or adult):
– has tremendous bloating
– belches a lot
– feels weak and exhausted
– wants to be fanned
– has difficulty breathing
Lycopodium clavatum (Lyc.)
Think of it if the person (child or adult):
– has a distended abdomen
– digestive complaints that worsen between 4 and 8pm
– has an insatiable appetite, or
– loses their appetite after a few mouthfuls
– is irritable, rude and bossy
Nux vomica (Nux.)
Think of it if the person (child or adult):
– drinks or eats to excess
– belches sour fluid
– has a hangover (hopefully not a child!)
– is irritable, impatient, and competitive
– is obsessed with business
– urges and strains with bowel motions or vomiting
Pulsatilla pratensis (Puls.)
Think of it if the person (child or adult):
– suffers indigestion from fats, rich food, or pork
– has changeable moods and symptoms
– weeps openly and feels better for sympathy
– has a low thirst
– feels the heat
– avoids stuffy rooms and prefers fresh air
Sulphur (Sulph.)
Think of it if the person (child or adult):
– develops heartburn after eating
– has sudden offensive diarrhoea first thing in the morning
– lacks appetite in the morning
– is generally lazy or “domestically blind”
– suffers from skin rashes or itching
6. Disappointment and grief
…. occur when you:
- don’t get the present you were expecting
- find out that a favourite family member will be missing the gathering
- break your gift five minutes after opening
- remember what Christmas is used to be like before a friend or family member passed away
- recall past losses and heartbreaks
Ignatia (Ign.)
Think of it if the person (child or adult):
– cries, sobs, or laughs uncontrollably
– develops hiccoughs
– wants to be alone
– broods on the disappointment
– has a lump in the throat
Natrum muriaticum (Nat-m.)
Think of it if the person (child or adult):
– wants to be left alone to brood
– is easily offended by the slightest criticism or comment
– likes salt and fish
– avoids talking about their grief
– develops headaches with sun exposure
Phosphoric acidum (Phos-ac.)
Think of it if the person (child or adult):
– is exhausted and apathetic
– desires carbonated drinks or refreshing foods such as fruit
– becomes withdrawn
– wants to go home to be alone
Christmas and Beyond
The above remedies are just some that can return the joy of Christmas. They are safe and simple for all ages to use.
If the symptoms they treat are a problem for you not just at Christmas but all year through, make an appointment with a qualified homoeopath for a treatment plan to get to the bottom of things.
Have a blessed and happy Christmas.
Other Resources
How Often Should I Take a Dose of My Remedy?
