<![CDATA[Compassionate Holistic Health Tailored For You

<![CDATA[Compassionate Holistic Health Tailored For You - Blog]]>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 20:12:38 +0000Weebly<![CDATA[When we miss home - Natural Support for Homesickness]]>Sat, 22 Aug 2026 19:57:33 GMThttps://www.dawnwaterhouse.co.uk/blog/when-we-miss-home-natural-support-for-homesicknessWhen you or a loved ones needs to move away for work or education, or perhaps some other reason, it can be heart breaking and affect how we cope and function on a day to day basis.

In this FB Live recording, we explore some self help and a top remedy to help you.

For a more in depth workshop, please sign up to the Natural Health Empowerment Community, where you will find the recording of my workshop on Homesickness, along with all of my other Natural Health Empowerment workshop recordings. The sessions started in 2024, so that is a lot of great content for you to catch up on. (and it is excellent value too).

Natural Health Empowerment Community

]]><![CDATA[Letting Go Of Stuff]]>Sun, 09 Aug 2026 08:40:04 GMThttps://www.dawnwaterhouse.co.uk/blog/letting-go-of-stuffI have spoken with quite a few mums over recent weeks about their struggles with letting go of “stuff” that they no longer want, but find emotionally difficult to part with. The conversation usually turns to how their partners are quite able to throw it away / take it to the charity shop for them, as they are more logical about the clutter, and the fact it no longer serves a purpose at this point in time.

It got me thinking, letting go of stuff on a physical level is quite similar to letting go of emotional stuff (such as thoughts, memories, emotional pain etc). So in this post, I will share some thoughts on letting go of physical clutter, but bear in mind, it can all apply to the emotional clutter in your mind too.

Before I share some of my thoughts on how to process your mind on the clutter, I just want to share a quote I heard from a Buddhist monk. “We are all born with nothing, when we die, we take nothing, in our life we have to learn to let go of everything at least once”

I also want to add in that more is less, and therefore, by default, less stuff is more (in terms of space in the home and mind).

The chances are, when you are clearing “stuff” you will reach decision and emotional overwhelm or fatigue. So to start off, focus on letting go of three things a day. When you are ready, tackle one box / draw / space a day. This helps minimise the room looking like a bomb site and feeling like you are creating more problems than you are resolving.

When letting go of stuff, consider if there is an organisation that would want your stuff ( for example, a local school may want your craft supplies, the Men’s Shed Charity may want your old tools, a local Crafting Bee may want craft supplies, or charity shops will take most things (not duvets, pillows or coat hangers).

Do you want to sell things, do hold in mind that you may be holding on to the stuff whilst you try to find a buyer, so if you want quick wins on space, this may not be the best option.

When letting go of things, here are a few questions to ask yourself:
1 – if I had my time again, would I buy it again? If no, then let it go.
2 – Do I actually like it? If no, let it go
3 – How long since I have used this, and would I ever actually use it… let it go
4 – If it is something that someone bought you and they are no longer here, then you may want to keep it from a sense of grief / duty / respect, but ask yourself, “will it bring them back?”, “will it change anything”, “is it time to move on”. If you are not ready to process the answer, but it to one side for now, your mind will process the answer and make a decision at some point soon.

I probably should have put this point in at the beginning, but all the thoughts I have feel quite important. It is really helpful to have a vision or sense in your mind of how you want the room / home / space to feel. This is an image you need to keep coming back to when you are deciding what you want to keep and let go of.

Cut yourself some slack, if you are mentally struggling, have a break. Keep the areas in bite sizes and clear away stuff to charity shops / good will organisations / friends who may say yes please to something you no longer want, but their children are just about ready for.

Clothes… go through these one draw / shelf etc at a time. Better to do a little regularly than loads at once and not want to face returning to the activity again. Ask yourself – do I like myself in this, do I like how it fits, how I feel, what it reminds me of. Be honest with yourself. Also, will I ever wear this again. Maybe it was you in your 20’s, but is it you in your 40’s? Also, shoes… are they comfortable? Are they worth the cupboard space. If yes, then keep, if no, let them go. If you get rid of one thing from each space, your will have probably cleared a bin bag of stuff from your home. One thing is generally easy.

Let’s look at art and children’s makes, and also children’s clothing. I know I have kept quite a number of pieces of art and cute clothes from my children. When I have returned to them, art has faded, peg dolls have crumpled and the elastic in clothing has degraded or stains that were not visible have aged through. I had to let them go in the end, and had I known that would happen, I would probably have let them go sooner. If there are special items you want to keep, store them carefully, make sure clothes are stored with acid free paper to minimise age damage and sore paintings in a dark acid free place, or take good photos and create an album so you can look back at it all when you are ready.

As a sewist, I have pared down my fabric pile a little, I have passed on some beautiful fabric to people I know will appreciate it and make something, I have given lots of scraps to a local school for their art projects, I have passed on some to a charity, and I have promised myself to stop the fear that most sewists hold. The fear is what if I ruin the fabric. My flip side of this thought is “what if I never get chance to sew all this fabric”. It has certainly changed my creative outlook, one day, all of this will have to go, I want to enjoy all I choose to have, and not hold on to stuff in case.

What about you, do you have any tips to share on decluttering and letting go of stuff (physical clutter). In letting go of the physical stuff, you let go of quite a bit of emotional stuff too. But we will explore more of letting go of emotion in a future post.

]]><![CDATA[Accountability For Recovery]]>Sun, 26 Jul 2026 11:23:52 GMThttps://www.dawnwaterhouse.co.uk/blog/accountability-for-recoveryAccountability, in the context of improving your health naturally, means having a person, system, or routine that helps you consistently follow through on the habits you've chosen. It's not about being judged or punished, it's about creating support and structure so you're more likely to do what you said you would. I go into this in more detail in the video below, but here is a summary for you.

For someone working on their health naturally (through nutrition, movement, sleep, stress management, hydration, and other lifestyle changes), accountability can take many forms:

A health coach or practitioner to check in with regularly.
A friend or family member with similar goals.
A journal, vlog or habit tracker.
Scheduled progress reviews with yourself.
A support group or online community.

How accountability helps
It keeps you consistent.
Most health improvements come from small actions repeated over time. Accountability encourages you to stay on track even when motivation is low.

It increases awareness.
Tracking meals, exercise, sleep, or symptoms helps you notice patterns. For example, you may realize you sleep better after evening walks or have more energy when you drink enough water.

It provides encouragement.
Changing habits isn't always easy. Having someone acknowledge your progress and remind you why you started can help you keep going during setbacks.

It helps you overcome obstacles.
Instead of giving up after a difficult week, accountability helps you identify what got in the way and adjust your plan.

It builds confidence.
Each commitment you keep strengthens your belief that you can make lasting changes. Small successes build momentum.

It creates realistic goals.
An accountability partner can help break a big goal like "get healthier" into manageable steps, such as:

Walk for 20 minutes, 4 days a week.
Eat vegetables with two meals each day.
Go to bed 30 minutes earlier.
Drink 2 litres of water daily.

What accountability is not

It isn't perfection.
It isn't guilt or shame when you miss a goal.
It isn't someone controlling your choices.
It isn't comparing yourself to others.

Good accountability focuses on learning and making progress, not on being flawless.

Here is a simple example
Imagine someone wants to improve their energy naturally.
Without accountability:

They start strong for a week.
Life gets busy.
Healthy habits gradually stop, often with the thought of, I am busy / tired / needed elsewhere, I can do it tomorrow.

With accountability:

They check in with a coach every Monday.
They review what went well and what didn't.
They adjust goals if needed.
They celebrate improvements, such as better sleep or increased energy.
They stay committed over months rather than days.

In simple terms
Accountability is having someone or something that helps you keep the promises you make to yourself. When approached with encouragement and flexibility, it can make healthy habits easier to maintain, leading to more sustainable improvements in overall health and wellbeing.

We all need to be accountable to ourselves, and sometimes we need support to help us do that. If you want me to support you on your journey, please do get in touch.
.

]]><![CDATA[Some Top Tips For Treating Depression Naturally]]>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 09:33:25 GMThttps://www.dawnwaterhouse.co.uk/blog/some-top-tips-for-treating-depression-naturallyWhat is Depression?
Depression is a common mental health condition that affects how a person feels, thinks, and behaves over time.

It involves a persistent low mood or loss of interest in things, along with other symptoms such as tiredness, changes in sleep or appetite, difficulty concentrating, and feelings of hopelessness or guilt. It’s more than just feeling sad or going through a rough patch, it can last weeks, months, or longer and can interfere with daily life, relationships, and work.

Depression has multiple causes, often a mix of biological, psychological, and life factors (such as stress, trauma, or genetics). It is not uncommon for individuals to be unaware they are depressed, as they may put it down to feeling low from tiredness, overwork etc. (Remember, being too exhausted to live is quite a depressing situation!)

When working with depression, I like to explore what is not working in life, and then explore what is working, and what needs to change to start working towards a better life, and feeling happier. Of course this is not the entire fix, but it is an important step on the road back…. Via hope and understanding.
Along side an action plan, I also look at lifestyle changes. Are you looking after you? That means the basics, such as fresh air, exercise, loving yourself and feeding yourself wholesome food. Mental Health Hygiene is also important, as is meditation and sleep.

Then we can look at supplements to help you. I often see clients benefiting from B complex and they may need B 12 too to help them after prolonged stress, or errors in eating. There are a lot of nutrient deficiencies that can be linked to depression, along with heavy metal imbalances (and of course, that means higher specific nutrient needs to help support the natural detox process).

Three Top Bach Flower Remedies

Mustard: This is traditionally used for sudden, unexplained periods of deep gloom or sadness. Feelings may come in waves without any apparent clear reason.
Gentian: This is often chosen when discouragement, setbacks, bad news or disappointment have led to low mood.
Gorse: This is associated with feelings of hopelessness or giving up, feeling that any improvement is unlikely to happen.

Four Top Homeopathic Remedies

Ignatia amara: This is often chosen for grief, emotional shock, or mood changes after loss. The person may be depressed as a direct result of the grief and loss of a loved one or possession, or from the loss of home (eg, depression since leaving home / moving away etc)
Aurum metallicum: This is traditionally used for feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, or severe sadness. The client may prefer being shut away in their room, maybe listening to music. They may want to sleep during the day, and struggle to sleep at night.
Natrum muriaticum: This remedy is commonly selected for people who are withdrawn, dwell on past emotional hurts, or suppress grief. They are caring people who do not like asking for help, and often help others, though over time, they may become bitter and resentful as a result.
Sepia: This remedy is a good remedy for depression linked to hormone imbalances; it may be teenage depression, postnatal depression or menopausal depression. It is also really useful for men too. There is often a quality of indifference about the person.

What I have shared here is just the tip of the iceberg, I go into a lot more detail on my Natural Health Empowerment Community.
The workshop is FREE via Zoom on Wednesday 15th July at 7.30pm (via Zoom).
If you miss the free class, you can always catch up, and receive the notes too, via the Natural Health Empowerment Community Membership. (it costs a lot less than you would expect!)

If you would like an appointment for yourself or a loved one, please get in touch using the contact form.

To book your free place on the workshop, or any of the future workshops, please go here.

IMPORTANT NOTE
Always seek professional help and support when struggling with depression, and/ or suicidal thoughts. Make sure you reach out for help.

]]><![CDATA[A few special photos]]>Sun, 05 Jul 2026 19:06:10 GMThttps://www.dawnwaterhouse.co.uk/blog/a-few-special-photosCapturing a Beautiful Moment with Chelsea

It was a beautiful mild late spring day, the sun was warm and comfortable, and the breeze was welcome and comforting.

I met Chelsea at Cudmore Grove for a relaxed business photo, I was really not sure what to expect, and I had certainly not been sure what to wear – so I went with a simple light blouse and my Jeans with a sleeveless jacket (because whilst it was a comfortable temperature, you never quite know what the sea breeze temperature will be).

Chelsea’s gentle calm nature just made me feel at ease, her gentle guidance and suggestions on poses, options, exploring the environment, noticing the little details of the surroundings to help create photos that work with my business (I am a Homeopath, maybe I should have shared that with you earlier).

We walked on the sea wall, enjoyed the breeze by the shore, looked at flora and fauna, all the time chatting, simple chat, but relaxed and comfortable chat.

My favourite of all the photo moments was when I was sitting on the ruins further along the shore. Sharing my favourite books (Repertory and Materia Medica – every Homeopaths essential books), remedies and meditated for a moment. The location is special, it is a place I enjoyed taking my children to when they were little, and the place I used to run my coastal school sessions from many years ago.

Taking photos in a place dear to my heart, with so many special memories was another lovely conversation to share whilst Chelsea took her amazing pictures, capturing a moment.

I was impressed with how quickly Chelsea shared the final photos with me, and was pleased with how easy they are to download, with photos ready for FB and Instagram.

Chelsea offers an amazing package, puts you at ease, and is so calm, gentle and professional. I could not have asked for a better photoshoot – and I really should not have been nervous; it was a fantastic experience that I highly recommend.
Thank you Chelsea

If you would like to see more of Chelsea's work, please do follow her on Instagram, where you can also contact her if you would like to book a session with her.

]]><![CDATA[When your hair suddenly starts to fall out.]]>Sat, 27 Jun 2026 13:36:49 GMThttps://www.dawnwaterhouse.co.uk/blog/when-your-hair-suddenly-starts-to-fall-outWhen your hair suddenly starts falling, maybe you see loads in the sink or shower or your hair brush seems to have more hair than you do, you naturally are concerned as to what is going on. Sudden rapid hair loss can have many causes, including stress, illness, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal changes, medications, scalp conditions, or more significant medical issues. If you're losing hair in large amounts over a few weeks or noticing bald patches, it's worth seeing professional therapist or your GP to identify the cause. A diagnosis can help you find the right natural treatment to deal with the root cause.
I covered this topic in a lot of detail over on my Natural Health Empowerment Community, and if you would like to join, you can enjoy comprehensive notes/ slides and videos on this and a wide range of natural health Subjects. You can cancel at any time (so binge watch in a month, or watch at your leisure and enjoy fresh monthly detailed content.
Back to a few of the natural remedies for hair loss….

1. Common Nutritional Deficiencies
Hair shedding is often linked to low levels of:

Iron
Vitamin D
Zinc
Protein
Vitamin B12 (if you are a vegan, please make sure you supplement)

Natural sources include:

Lean meats, fish, eggs
Lentils, beans, chickpeas
Pumpkin seeds
Spinach and leafy greens
Nuts and seeds
Oily fish

2. Increase Protein Intake
Hair is primarily made of keratin, a protein.
Good sources:

Eggs
Greek yogurt
Fish
Chicken
Tofu
Beans and lentils

3. Rosemary Oil
Rosemary oil can stimulate hair growth when massaged into the scalp.
How to use:

Mix 2–3 drops with a tablespoon of a carrier oil (such as coconut or jojoba oil).
Massage into the scalp 2–3 times weekly.
Leave for 30 minutes or overnight before washing.

Never apply essential oils directly to the scalp without dilution.

4. Gentle Scalp Massage
If you do not want to use a massage oil on your head, try a daily 5-minute scalp massage it helps:

Increase blood flow to hair follicles
Reduce tension and stress
Improve scalp health

5. Manage Stress
A common cause of sudden shedding is telogen effluvium, where stress or illness pushes hairs into a resting phase.
Some helpful practices help:

Walking
Yoga
Meditation
Adequate sleep (7–9 hours)
Regular exercise

6. Avoid Hair and Scalp Trauma
If you are losing excessive hair, it is wise to temporarily avoid:

Tight hairstyles
Excessive heat styling
Harsh bleaching or chemical treatments
Aggressive brushing

Instead, be kind and gentle with your hair (but do keep it clean and tangle free).

7. Support Scalp Health
Natural options that may help if the scalp is healthy and not irritated:

Aloe vera gel
Coconut oil applied before washing
Oatmeal-based scalp treatments for dryness

8. Homeopathic Remedies to Consider
I have a lot of remedies that I can use for hair loss for my clients. When considering which remedies are appropriate, I look at the whole case, so what is happening in life, what the hair loss is like, and how the patient is as a person. There may be layers to the clients

Fluoricum Acidum - Is often considered for hair loss with brittle, dry hair and premature balding.

Phosphorus - Used when hair falls out in large handfuls, particularly after illness, anaesthetics, stress, or emotional upset.

Lycopodium Clavatum - Is a common remedy for early balding, especially when associated with digestive issues (such as IBS) or hormonal concerns.

Silicea - Silica helps with assimilation, so in a low potency should help you have better absorption. This remedy is good for brittle hair and slow hair regrowth. It is a slow acting remedy.

Natrum Muriaticum - This is often used when hair loss is thought to be linked to grief, stress, or hormonal changes.

When to Seek Professional Advice
Arrange to see your GP if you have:

Hair loss that started suddenly and is severe
Bald patches
Scalp redness, pain, scaling, or itching
Hair loss following a new medication
Fatigue, weight changes, or menstrual changes
Hair loss lasting more than 2–3 months

If you would like an appointment, please do get in touch using the contact form, you can also sign up to the Natural Health Empowerment Community Here.

]]><![CDATA[What is the Homeopathic Simillimum?]]>Sun, 31 May 2026 15:48:05 GMThttps://www.dawnwaterhouse.co.uk/blog/what-is-the-homeopathic-simillimum

In homeopathy, the similimum is the remedy that is believed to match a person's total symptom picture most closely. The term comes from the homeopathic principle of "like cures like" (Latin: similia similibus curentur).
Homeopathic practitioners use "similimum" to describe the single remedy they think best corresponds to:

Physical symptoms
Emotional and mental symptoms
General characteristics (such as temperature preferences, sleep patterns, food cravings, etc.)
The individual's overall constitution

For example, two people with migraines might be prescribed different homeopathic remedies because their complete symptom patterns differ. A homeopath would aim to find the remedy that most closely resembles each person's unique presentation—their "similimum."
In homeopathy, the simillimum is considered the ideal remedy for an individual patient.
To identify the simillimum, homeopaths typically use a process called case-taking, which often involves:

Collecting detailed symptoms

Physical symptoms (pain, digestive issues, skin conditions, etc.)
Emotional and mental symptoms (anxiety, fears, mood patterns)
Factors that make symptoms better or worse (temperature, time of day, movement, food, weather)
Sleep patterns, energy levels, and personal habit.

Looking for characteristic or unusual symptoms

Homeopaths place particular emphasis on symptoms they consider distinctive rather than common.
For example, a headache that improves from firm pressure or occurs only at a specific time each day might be considered more useful than "headache" alone.

Repertorization

Homeopaths may consult a homeopathic repertory, which is an index of symptoms linked to remedies.
Many practitioners use software to compare the patient's symptom profile against hundreds or thousands of remedy entries.

Studying materia medica

After repertorization narrows the field, the practitioner reviews descriptions of potential remedies in homeopathic reference texts called materia medica.
The Homeopath then looks for the remedy whose overall profile appears to best match the patient.

Assessing constitutional patterns

Many homeopaths believe remedies correspond to broad personality, behavioural, and physical "constitutional" types.
Constitutional prescribing aims to match the person's overall pattern rather than a single disease diagnosis.

Testing and follow-up

Practitioners usually monitor the patient's response over time.
If the expected improvement does not occur, they may revise their analysis and select a different remedy or potency.

So, in practice, homeopaths attempt to find the simillimum by matching a detailed, individualized symptom pattern to remedy descriptions contained in homeopathic repertories and materia medica, then refining their choice based on the patient's response.

How Do I Apply This Principle As A Homeopathic Practitioner?
I always aim to find my clients constitutional remedy, however, some clients have very complicated health situations, with many layers of health problems that have accumulated over the years, as such, I will also use organ support remedies, therapeutics, miasmatic, tissue salts etc alongside the upper most constitutional picture. I also work with testing methods to fine tune my remedy choices to support your health as quickly and as accurately as possible.
My aim is to always work towards the finding the constitutional remedy, which then arms my client with understanding of the acute and support remedies that will work well alongside it.

]]><![CDATA[Women's Health Let's Talk about Prolapse]]>Tue, 12 May 2026 12:39:12 GMThttps://www.dawnwaterhouse.co.uk/blog/womens-health-lets-talk-about-prolapseThis is a subject that is not discussed enough. Women’s Pelvic organ prolapse.
Medically there is little that can be done than offer Kegels (which is rarely taught well), pessaries or surgery.

This is not helpful, and yet there is so much more you can do to support, manage and work towards healing this part of your life. Pelvic prolapse causes a constant discomfort, and can get in the way of enjoying a physically active life for some.

This month’s free natural health class explores holistic support for your prolapse, we cover prolapse types, diet, herbs, homeopathic remedies and some supplements together with exercise and more.

I will be adding the full class and handouts to the peri-menopause and menopause workshop, and also to the natural health empowerment community.

There is so much to share, but here are a few summarised tips that may help you:
1 – get plenty of rest and sleep – these are great healers

2 – make sure you breathe properly when you do Kegels and lift, so that you do not strain

3 – Eat sufficiently, but light, heavy carb meals will slow your digestion, which may already be compromised by the prolapse

4 – keep hydrated, but gently throughout the day, so there is less bladder pressure

5 – Avoid sugar, this will weaken your muscles

6 – consider popping some calendula tincture or flowers into a 15 to 20 minute sitz bath a few times a week

7 – take probiotics to support your gut health, and ease pressure on the pelvis.

8 – make sure your diet is nutrient rich, you can not afford to have lazy meals, as they will slow you down. Eat to support your collagen too.

9 – look at homeopathic remedies (I cover this a lot more in the workshop). Sepia is a common remedy for prolapse from childbirth

10 – look at homeopathic tissue salts to support the body. Calc flour supports connective tissue health

To book future FREE Natural Health Empowerment workshops

To sign up / sign in to the Natural Health Empowerment Community (low monthly subscription - you can cancel at any time)

To purchase / sign in to Peri-Menopause and Menopause Naturally (one off payment, this course is added to as additional topics are requested and created for no additional charge).

]]><![CDATA[What is the "Direction of Cure"]]>Sat, 02 May 2026 19:13:43 GMThttps://www.dawnwaterhouse.co.uk/blog/what-is-the-direction-of-cureTHE DIRECTIONS OF CURE – (Also known as Herings Law)
(The video at the end of this blog explains this in more detail)
In homeopathy, the “direction of cure” refers to a principle often called Hering’s Law of Cure, named after the 19th-century physician Constantine Hering.

It describes the pattern in which healing is believed to unfold when the correct remedy is given. According to this concept, symptoms resolve in a specific order There are four directions that this will happen in.

1 - From the inside, outward
Deeper, more vital organs improve first (e.g., mental/emotional state), then physical symptoms, moving toward the surface (like skin).

2 - From the top, down
Symptoms higher in the body (head, chest) improve before those lower down (legs, feet).

3 - From more vital organs to less vital organs
Life-critical systems (heart, lungs, nervous system) stabilize before less critical areas (skin, joints).

4 - In reverse order of appearance
Old symptoms may briefly reappear as part of the healing process, then resolve.

For Example, someone may experience healing as follow:
1 - improved mood and energy
2 - Then a reduction in chronic internal symptoms
3 - A temporary return of an old skin rash before it finally clears
Homoeopathically, the body “pushing disease outward.”

]]><![CDATA[What is Homeopathic Potency?]]>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:24:07 GMThttps://www.dawnwaterhouse.co.uk/blog/what-is-homeopathic-potencyHomeopathic potency is the number of times a remedy has been diluted and succussed (shaken).

They are diluted and “succussed” (a process of vigorous shaking and mixing) many times. Over-the–counter remedies are usually strength 6C. This means that the substance has undergone 6 steps in a series of dilutions, where each step involves taking 1 part of the remedy and diluting it in 99 parts of alcohol. This process is called potentisation. (In this dilution, the C represents the centesimal series, if the letter were an X, it would represent the decimal series).

The first vial is the crude substance (coffee in this example). The second vial is diluted and shaken, with 1 drop of substance to 99 drops of liquid, this is the 1c, This process is repeated again and again, so the third vial is the 2c, and the 4th vial is the 3c. The curative effects are not released by just diluting the substance. By experimentation, Hahnemann (the founder of Homeopathy) discovered that succussing the remedies released the healing potential, whilst at the same time keeping the toxic qualities at bay.

This results in the production of safe substances. An important aspect of homeopathy is its safety and minimal side effects.

A fascinating but as yet unexplained characteristic of homeopathic remedies is that the more dilute a remedy, the more effective it is. For example, a remedy diluted 30 times by a factor of 100 (strength 30C) is much more potent than a 6C remedy, even though it contains much less of the original substance.

I explain more about potency in the video below.

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