HOMEOPATHY FAQS
What is Homeopathy?
Although it was first described by Hippocrates 2,500 years ago, Homoeopathy as it is practised today evolved 200 years ago. The word comes from the Greek and means similar suffering. This refers to the central philosophy that a substance that can produce symptoms in a healthy person, can cure those symptoms in a sick person.
For example a person suffering from hayfever, might be given a remedy prepared from an onion, because a healthy person chopping an onion usually experiences watering eyes and irritation. Similarly, someone suffering from insomnia might be given a homoeopathic dose of coffee.
Is homoeopathy safe?
Yes. As long as the 2 basic principles of Homeopathy are followed, The Law of Similars and The Law of the Minimum Dose., homeopathic remedies are safe. Since the substances are given in minute doses unwanted side-effects are avoided, making them safe to use even in situations where conventional drugs would be dangerous or inadvisable, for example during pregnancy or when treating infants.
How does it work?
Although there is a great deal of empirical evidence that homoeopathy does work, nobody yet knows how. Those who are sceptical point out that homoeopathic remedies are often so dilute that not even a molecule of the original substance remains and so conclude that any beneficial response is probably due to the placebo effect. This explanation seems unlikely as experiments have shown homoeoapthic medicines to be equally effective in the treatment of animals.
The answer to this mystery is likely to be found by those studying so-called “new Physics” and electro-magnetism. The production of homoeopathic medicines involves two processes; namely dilution and succussion (shaking and bashing!). It is thought likely that these combined processes leave an imprint of the original substance’s energy pattern in the dilutant. This energy imprint, given in homoeopathic medicine, somehow stimulates the body’s own healing energy to start working.
How does homoeopathy differ from conventional medicine?
Homoeopathy is an holistic medicine. This means that it focusses on the whole person and believes that spiritual,mental, emotional and physical factors are all completely inter-connected and should not be regarded in isolation. It is based on the idea that symptoms are not the cause of disease, they merely show that “dis-ease” exists. Symptoms are the body’s way of warning us that all is not well and attempting to restore balance.
A simple analogy is to imagine that you are driving your car and the red oil warning-light comes on. You know nothing about cars so you decide to take it to the garage. When you come to pick up the car, the light is no longer on, so, having paid the bill, you drive off quite happily. You naturally assume the problem is fixed, but would you feel so satisfied if you later discovered that the garage had merely unscrewed the warning-light bulb?
Homoeopathy is a truly holistic medicine because it uses symptoms as helpful indicators which can be used as guides to treating the individual and their “dis-ease”. Instead of merely removing the symptoms, it removes the central disturbance in the individual’s energetic balance. Once this has been done the symptoms disappear anyway, because the warnings they were trying to give have become unnecessary.
Can I take homoeopathic medicine if I’m already taking other medication?
Yes, it is perfectly safe to do so. However, you should not attempt to reduce your other medication without supervision from your doctor.
What kind of things can I treat myself?
As you will see from this booklet, with very little effort, the home-prescriber can treat a wide variety of injuries or acute illnesses. To qualify as “acute” an illness should develop quickly and have three phases. At first, you just don’t feel quite right; then there are strong recognisable symptoms; followed later by the convalescent stage where the symptoms begin to improve. Examples of acute illnesses are coughs; colds; conjunctivitis; cystitis; food poisoning; flu; gastric flu; measles; mumps; chickenpox; travel sickness etc.
Why should I have a broad selection of remedies at home?
Injuries and acute illnesses, by their very nature, happen at unpredictable times when it may be difficult or impossible to obtain what you need. It is therefore a very good idea to have a complete range of medicines on standby. The more remedies you have available, the easier it will be to make the best match between the symptoms and the remedy that can cure them. If you are going away from home remember to pack them.
When should I consult a qualified homoeopath?
If you have a serious or recurring condition or you have had a number of acute illnesses recently, it is always best to see a qualified homoeopath. Remember homoeopathy can be used to treat anything, even problems that have no clear diagnosis, because it treats the individual rather than the disease. For a description of how homeopaths work, see below.
Before you begin to prescribe:
There are two important laws that you need to follow to use Homoeopathic medicines successfully:
THE LAW OF SIMILARS means matching the symptom picture of an illness or injury to the symptom picture of the medicine.
To help you do just that, this guide has two distinct sections. Complaints you can treat are described first, followed by a Mini Materia Medica. This describes, briefly, the symptom picture of 36 frequently-needed remedies. Begin by looking up the complaint you want to treat and noting which remedies may help. Next, before prescribing, turn to the Mini Materia Medica and see which description most closely fits the person you are treating.
If you have given two or three doses of a particular remedy without any reaction, it was probably the wrong choice. It won’t have done any harm, but you should try to find a remedy that matches the over-all picture better.
THE LAW OF THE MINIMUM DOSE means using as little of a medicine as possible to stimulate the body’s own healing mechanism.
Give one dose (in this case one small pill) and wait to see what relief it brings. If you have a reaction to the remedy (either an improvement or an aggravation of symptoms) do not take any more medicine. Only repeat the dose if the symptoms stop improving before a full recovery is reached or if the same symptoms return (i.e. the case relapses). If the symptoms change significantly select a new remedy to fit the new picture. If in any doubt, wait. Giving the body more medicine than it needs will not improve or speed up the action of the medicine, if anything it may stop the medicine from being effective.
By using these two laws homoeopathy provides a completely individual prescription and dosage that treats each person’s “dis-ease” as unique to them.
OTHER FACTORS TO CONSIDER: ANTIDOTING
Certain substances are known to antidote certain homoeopathic medicines in some people. It is therefore advisable to avoid these substances if possible: Coffee (including decaffeinated), mint (notably in toothpaste), camphor, menthol, eucalyptus (often found in vapour rubs and cold remedies). Keep remedies in a cool dark place away from strong smells (and small children).
TAKING THE MEDICINES
Homoeopathic medicines are delicate and need careful handling.Touch them as little as possible. Shake one pill into the lid of the bottle and put it onto the palm of the person taking the medicine.
They should put it straight into their mouth allowing it to dissolve under the tongue. If possible the dose should be taken fifteen minutes before or after having anything to eat or drink, cleaning your teeth or smoking. Obviously this does not apply in an emergency where it should be taken as soon as possible. You can crush and dissolve remedies in water and sip them, but do not swallow the pill down with water, tea or coffee. Before repeating the dose, please consider the Law of the Minimum Dose carefully.
If symptoms show no improvement or return persistently always consult a qualified homoeopath. Homoeopaths have more than 1,000 remedies at their disposal and can treat the underlying weakness in the individual’s constitution. If you already see a homoeopath regularly, please discuss self-prescribing with them.
SAFETY FIRST
Serious injuries and illnesses should never be treated without seeking expert advice. Use your instincts and common sense, if you are worried call for help first, then give the appropriate remedy whilst you are waiting for help to arrive. If in any doubt check for these…
WARNING SIGNS
If the person you are treating has any of the following seek expert medical help immediately:
backache, or fever, with urinary infection
bleeding, heavy or unexplained
breathing, rapid shallow or difficult
burns, severe or larger than your hand
chest pain, severe
confusion, following trauma or over-exposure to sun
consciousness, lost or impaired
convulsions
delireum
dehydration, especially in babies, small children and elderly
drowsiness, unexplained or unexpected
headache, severe
fever, above 103.5F / 40C or persistent or with stiff neck
fits
fluid, watery / bloody, from ears or nose following head injury
movement, full range, lost or impaired
puncture wounds, near vital organs
speech, lost or impaired
stool, pale or white
streaks, red running towards body
swelling, rapid or severe (especially of mouth or throat)
thirstlessness, prolonged with fever or diarrhoea or vomiting
urine, profuse or scanty or bloody
vision, lost or impaired
vomiting, unexpected and repeated
wheezing, severe
yellowness, of skin or eyes
Other important aspects of healthcare.
Society tends to focus on the purely physical aspect of looking after our health namely: avoiding smoking; minimising caffeine and alcohol intake; eating a healthy, balanced diet; taking regular exercise and getting regular sleep. This is part of a general tendency to look at the body as if it were a machine. The idea is that it will work well, provided it is maintained correctly.
Emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of our being are often overlooked, but holisitic medicine sees these aspects as inseparable from the physical.
Although all of the suggestions listed above are valid, they can often seem impossible to someone who feels depressed, under stress or lacking in self-esteem. Being aware of, and expressing, emotions is vital to health and well-being. Supressed emotions will find other ways of expressing themselves, maybe as an “angry” rash or an ulcer or, more seriously, as apathy and depression.
Negative thoughts can also be very debilitating. Fortunately in the past decade or more many people have realised they can dramatically alter and improve their health and their lives by breaking this cycle of negativity. This involves retraining the mind (through affirmations, visualisations and various other means) to focus on what can be acheived rather than what can’t.
However, perhaps it is spirituality that is the most neglected aspect of all in modern society. Being in touch with our spirituality brings a feeling of connection, of oneness and a sense of purpose.
For some this feeling comes from being a member of an organised religion, for others it comes during quiet moments of meditation or through experience of Nature and the changing seasons. Expressing creativity through music, drama or painting is another way to experience this connection. Allowing time and space for this to happen, can be deeply life-enhancing.
By beginning to examine and work on the emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of our nature, the well-publicised list of “Dos and Don’ts” relating to our physical well-being may eventually seem less like an obligation and more like a desirable and natural way of life.
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