Homeopathy Explained

Homeopathy is a system of medicine which acts by giving a powerful boost to the body's own natural healing process. It is safe, gentle and effective. People suffering from all kinds of illnesses can be helped by homeopathy to regain good health and a sense of well being.

Homeopathy can be used at home to treat acute ailments such as minor injuries, colds, coughs, flu, sore throats, earaches, digestive upsets, headaches and childhood illnesses. There are several good books to refer to which I can recommend and I also run regular courses in Homeopathic First Aid - usually one evening a week over six weeks.

For chronic, long term illnesses, or a recurring tendency to some of the above conditions, treatment should be given by a qualified practitioner, preferably a homeopath with the qualification RSHom, i.e. registered with the Society of Homeopaths.

Homeopathy has been in use for 200 years. It is the practice of treating like with like, so for example Coffea, the remedy derived from coffee (which produces sleeplessness) is used to promote restful sleep. The substance used in preparing the remedy is extremely dilute - usually to the point where there is no material trace of the original substance left - so there are no side-effects. Current findings in Quantum Physics are beginning to provide us with an explanation of how homeopathy works.

The homeopath treats the whole person, and prescribes by taking everything about the patient into account - ranging from the present complaint and medical history to the patient's emotions, likes and dislikes, sleep patterns and food preferences.

The response to treatment is different for each individual. For long term conditions, the healing process is likely to be gradual, and related to the length of time a patient has had the condition, its severity, the amount of medication taken, the patient's age, vitality, lifestyle and family history. So return to health can take months (sometimes years) rather than weeks, but some improvement should be felt from the beginning of treatment.

Following treatment, there may be a temporary worsening of symptoms which is known as the homeopathic aggravation. It is also possible that the patient may feel better and then worse, sometimes with a return of old symptoms, emotional or physical. These are the signs of improved health and the way I prescribe helps to keep any suffering of this kind to a minimum. It may be helpful to think that we have acquired ill-health throughout our life in layers - the treatment helps with the presenting layer and then the next layer emerges for treatment, and so on until we arrive at stable health and well-being.

I work part-time and as I cannot guarantee being available for emergencies, I advise patients who would wish to use homeopathy in this way to attend my First Aid in Homeopathy courses. There is also a Homeopathic helpline open everyday 9am-midnight on 09065 343404, to which calls cost approximately £1.50 per minute.

The first consultation usually lasts for 90 - 120 mins and follow-up consultations for 45 - 60 mins.

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