Managing the Holidays

Whilst many look forward to the Holidays for all its festivities… the twinkling fairy lights, the decorations, the food, the music, the gifts, the gatherings, the Office’s Secret Santa, the children’s concerts at school, the hustle and bustle in the shopping centres… and oh so much more.

Others completely dread the Holidays and feel a sense of doom and gloom especially if they have suffered the loss of a loved one that deeply affected them or are navigating the end of a special relationship. Some may not be on good terms with family members and prefer to skip the gatherings all together or feel intense stress at the thought of attending these family reunions.

Many feel anxiety due to the cost and pressure of buying gifts, entertaining, crowds everywhere and not to mention the end-of-year deadlines at work. The Holidays is also a time when many feel unwell from too much alcohol, too much food and let’s not forget little Jimmy who brought his tummy virus from school and passed it on to the whole family!

Here are some homeopathic remedies to help “survive’ the Holidays!

Indigestion

Indulged in too many mince pies? With a little homeopathic help, you stomach will feel settled in no time.

  • Nux Vomica - stomach upsetness from overeating/overindulgence (too much food/drink); irritability; heartburn; constipation

  • Carbo Veg - gas and bloating; burping; feeling ‘stuffed’; wanting fresh air

  • Lycopodium -gas and bloating; feels worse from 4 to 8pm; craves sweets; noisy flatulence

Hang over

Not feeling great the day after? No judgement here - just relief!
These remedies will hopefully help you face the day feeling bright again.

  • Nux Vomica - heavy stomach; headache; nausea; irritable

  • Cocculus - Dizziness, nausea worse from motion or smell of food

  • Sulphur - sensation of fullness; acid reflux, heartburn; diarrhea in the morning

Stress/Anxiety

Too much to do? Dreading some gatherings?
The Holidays do not have to leave you feeling overwhelmed and anxious.

  • Kali Phos 6x - sense of dread; nervous; lots of worry; fear of being alone

  • Gelsenium - Dread of upcoming tasks/events; trembling; heavy limbs;

  • Arg Nit - ‘Will I get everything done on time?’; anticipatory anxiety; performance anxiety; diarrhea from nerves

Grief/Sadness

One can be feeling low when you have lost someone special or the Holidays remind you of happier times.

  • Ignatia - grief from a loss of a loved one; tearfulness; lump in throat

  • Nat Mur - an ongoing sadness; dwelling on past disappointments; craves salt, emotionally shut down

  • Pulsatilla - feeling weepy, desires to be comforted by others; feeling of being forgotten

Sore Throats

Do not deprive your family of your best Karaoke performance because of a sore throat! Here are some remedies that will soothe the pain.

  • Aconite - sudden onset; after being out in cold/wind; throat feels dry & tight

  • Belladonna - sudden onset; redness and heat; throbbing pain; pain when swallowing; lack of thirst and may desire lemons/lemonade

  • Hepar Sulph - feeling of splinter/pain in the throat; sensitive to cold/cold drinks; irritable; swollen glands

Flu & Colds

Just when you thought you dodged little Jimmy’s germs - you get the sniffles! These remedies will help you remain merry and not just mucus-y.

  • Aconite - sudden onset, could have gotten chilled by wind/cold; very thirsty

  • Gelsenium - heavy eye-lids, trembling,

  • Belladonna - redness and heat; throbbing pain; lack of thirst

  • Ferrum Phos 6x - early inflammation stage

Coughs

That tickle in your throat took no time to turn into a cough?
These remedies can help turn the cough into a carol in no time.

  • Aconite - sudden onset after cold wind, dry croupy cough after being in the cold,anxious, Drosera - barking-type cough, coughing fits, worse lying down

  • Bryonia - dry, painful cough, chest pains from coughing, irritable and wants to be left alone

  • Spongia - dry barking cough, throat feels very dry; dryness of airways; worse at night

  • Ant Tart - for wet cough with rattling sound in the chest, lots of congestion, coughing fits

  • Pulsatilla - loose cough with yellow phlegm/mucus; patient feels needy and wants company, thirstless

Insomnia/Restlessness

When the mind just won’t switch off and you go to bed making mental lists… The following remedies will help to calm the mind.

  • Coffea Cruda - racing mind, being over-excited

  • Kali Phos 6x - nervous exhaustion

Injuries/Aches & Pains

Little cousins chasing one another and bumping their heads… accidents happen quickly!

  • Arnica Montana - best known injury remedy; sore muscles; bruising; injuries

  • Ruta - Tendon/ligament sprains; deep aching pain with restlessness; helped by warmth and gentle movement

  • Rux Tox - helped by heat; worse on the first movement/better by continuous motion

  • Hypericum Perforatum - ‘Arnica of the nerves’; Nerve-rich area injuries (fingers, toes and nails), excessive and shooting pain;

Wishing you a joyful Holiday season; whether you’re celebrating with loved ones, enjoying some quiet time, or heading off on a break. May your 2026 be vibrant and full of wellbeing!