Homeopathy recognizes that all symptoms of ill health are expressions of disharmony within the whole person and that it is the patient who needs treatment not the disease. As a new patient, these ideas may be new to you, but homeopathy has been established for over 200 years. The way of opposites (conventional medicine or allopathy), is to treat this by giving a drug to bring on an artificial sleep. This frequently involves the use of large or regular doses of drugs, which can sometimes cause side effects or addiction. The way of similars, the homeopathic way, is to give the patient a minute dose of a substance, such as coffee, which in large doses causes sleeplessness in a healthy person. Perhaps surprisingly, this will help the patient to sleep naturally. As the body builds immunity to the remedy it also builds immunity to the illness. Homeopathic remedies cannot cause side effects and you cannot become addicted to them. This is because only a very minute amount of the active ingredient is used in a specially prepared form. Your homeopath will give you a homeopathic medicine or remedy that matches your symptoms as you experience them, as well individual characteristics: emotional and physical. How does it work? Homeopathic medicines work by stimulating the healing systems of the body. Once your healing system is strong and functioning effectively, many of your ailments will naturally disappear. Illness can not persist in a body that is strong bur rather only when there is susceptibility to that illness. What will your homeopath need to know? Homeopathy realizes that each and every one of us is completely unique. Thus in order to find the right remedy for you, a detailed understanding of who you are, what your complaints are, and how you experience them, is needed to accurately assess your case. Your homeopath will ask you many questions. Not only will you be asked about your presenting complaint, you will also be asked about your general energy level, your past medical history and about your lifestyle. Everything you tell your homeopath will be treated in the strictest confidence. The initial consultation will take up one and a half hours. What to expect? A number of changes typically occur after taking your homeopathic remedy. For an acute case such as the flu or eat infections the patient should be about 60% better in one day. For chronic ailments some patients experience a period symptoms appearing to get worse for a short time (about one day) and then 40% to 60% better in a week. This is a good sign that the remedy is taking effect. Old symptoms can reappear, usually for a short period. These symptoms will pass, and must not be treated, as they are a very important part of the healing process. Some patients do not notice any changes at all in the beginning of their treatment. In this case a change in the dosage and or selection of remedy may be necessary. If any response to your treatment concerns you, be sure to discuss this with your homeopath. You might find it helpful to make notes of any changes and take them with you to discuss at your next appointment. How long does the treatment take? This depends on a number of factors:
1) What type of illness you are suffering from
2) How long you have had the illness
3) Your age and overall health
The longer you wait before seeking treatment, the longer it takes to treat. When your body starts to show signs of imbalance or disease, don’t hesitate, get help right away. For acute (short-term) ailments, treatment can be very rapid. Long standing complaints take time to treat. Homeopathy cures from the inside, and often outer symptoms such as a skin complaint, are the last to clear. Be patient! In the long term it is much better to address the underlying imbalance than merely relieving or suppressing the symptoms. Will I need to change my diet or lifestyle? A healthy diet, regular exercise, enough sleep and relaxation are all part of being healthy. Sometimes old habits are difficult to break however. Many of my patients remark that after homeopathic treatment they are much healthier both physically and emotionally, and are able to make healthy choices in a way that feels natural and effortless. I am available to give you advice about your diet and lifestyle to help you attain and maintain a level of optimum health. What about seeing a General Practitioner? I recommend maintaining a relationship with your primary care doctor. I work together with doctors and specialists on a daily basis. I believe in working together as a team in helping you achieve your health goals. Homeopathic medicines are non-toxic. Homeopathic medicines are non-habit forming. Homeopathic medicines are easy and pleasant to take. Homeopathic medicine is based on three principles:
1. The single remedy. It is best to only use one medicine at a time. If this medicine or
2. The minimum dose: As the body is already reacting to the illness it only needs a small dose to make this reaction stronger.
3. The Similar Remedy: The remedy has to match nearly all of the patients symptoms. This is why the interview is so detailed. Who uses homeopathy? Anyone can use homeopathy: babies, pregnant women, the elderly. Homeopathy is used to treat both physical and mental and emotional conditions. The use of homeopathy is advocated by the world health organization. Famous people who have used homeopathy successfully include: The Royal Family of Great Britain, Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Mark Twain, Tina Turner, John D. Rockefeller Sr and Paul McCartney just to name a few. In fact Homeopathy is common place in many countries, including: England, Australia, New Zealand, India, Brazil, etc
In the United Kingdom, around 42 percent of physicians refer patients to homeopathic practitioners, and homeopathic training is the most popular post-graduate training program. There are homeopathic hospitals world-wide, including London, Scotland, India, etc.
