Oak: A powerful remedy that provides strength and stability in difficult times of tension, overstrain and burden

I prescribe this remedy often when patients are going through tough times, as it offers assistance and support with all things that cause burden and strain, and understandably, due to the current world circumstances I’ve been prescribing it much more often, especially since the lockdowns began. It’s really been working wonders at helping people handle the immense challenges that they’re been faced with right now. Despite everything that’s been thrown at them, they’ve all noted that they’ve felt much stronger more able to cope with everything they’re going through since taking it.

Oak can generally support you in any difficult time that you’re faced with, but it may also help in the following scenarios:

Working in crisis mode, key workers, being unable to visit loved ones in care homes, dealing with sick family members in hospital and being unable able to visit them, being unable to visit family overseas, caring for a sick loved one at home, loss of loved ones and friends, coping with a chronic illness with reduced access to medical care, coping with social isolation, struggling to provide for yourself and your family, relying on food banks, losing your job, trying to maintain your job and home-schooling children alongside everything else - and much more.

Symptoms also include pain and tension in the neck and shoulders, backache and a refusal to stop or take time out.

Take 30c daily during crisis. You may want to take it 3 times weekly for on-going support. Try it for a fortnight, if it helps you can continue, but re-assess it week by week by trying one week on one week off so you can really feel it’s effects. Once you feel you no longer need the remedy, you can stop taking it. This is important so you don’t start proving the remedy (when we take a remedy that we don’t have symptoms of regularly and for a long period of time, we can start producing symptoms of it, but don’t worry, this will stop once we stop taking it). It also works alongside other homeopathic remedies you may be taking too.

If this only offers temporary relief but you find you’re really struggling to cope, consider seeing a homeopath for deeper support as there may be underlying root causes that need healing and treatment first. Sometimes just sharing your experience regularly with someone can really help.

For further support these organisations are also on hand to offer advice and assistance to anyone struggling to cope right now:

CALM

CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably. A charity providing a mental health helpline and webchat.

Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight)

Website: www.thecalmzone.net

Men's Health Forum

24/7 stress support for men by text, chat and email.

Website: www.menshealthforum.org.uk

Mental Health Foundation

Provides information and support for anyone with mental health problems or learning disabilities.

Website: www.mentalhealth.org.uk

Mind