Homeopathy

 

What is Homeopathy

Homeopathy is a long established and gentle system of medicine which treats each person as a whole.  As a scientific system of medicine it differs from all others in both its preparation and application of medicines – in that individuals are treated with individual medicines.

When selecting a homeopathic remedy for a patient – the name of the disease is considered secondary to the symptoms the patient exhibits.  For example five people may have a headache – but the symptoms are regarded as the results of the dis-ease rather than the disease itself.  To use an analogy, it is not the snow that causes the winter but the winter which causes the snow.  In the same way it is not the symptoms which cause the disease but the disease which causes the symptoms.  Homeopathy tries to treat what is causing the symptoms.  It stimulates your body’s own healing powers and immune system to clear your system of any imbalance.  It is therefore a very deep and lasting healing system.

Natural Law

Homeopathy is based on a law of nature called the Law of Similars: What a substance can cause it can cure.  For example when we cut an onion we may experience stinging runny eyes and nose and a particular soreness in the throat.  The homeopathic remedy made from the onion can cure someone with these specific symptoms eg Hay fever. 

This law was known by Hippocrates, the father of medicine, in 500 BC.  The homeopathic application of this law was discovered 200 years ago by a brilliant German physician, Samuel Hahnemann.   He introduced a controlled system whereby all homeopathic medicines were tested on healthy people (not the infirm or animals).  He found that the medicines produced specific symptoms in healthy people.  An ill person displaying similar symptoms will be cured by that medicine.

Treatment

The duration of treatment will depend on the nature of your illness.  After taking the medicines your may experience initial slight tiredness, aggravation of symptoms or return of old symptoms.  You may find yourself saying ‘the pain is better and I feel better in myself’.  These are all signs that the self healing process has begun.  The response may be subtle or marked.

The result will be the balancing and the improvement of your health as a whole person.

Medicines (remedies)

There are over 200 homeopathic medicines or remedies which are made from a variety of sources, principally plants and minerals.  They come in the form of a little white tablet or drops to put directly into the mouth.  They are made at a Homeopathic Pharmacy by a process called potentisation under strictly controlled laboratory conditions.  This involves diluting and shaking the medicine may times.  The more this is done the more powerful or strong the medicine is.  They are totally free from side effects commonly associated with orthodox drugs – thus they are completely safe to use with children and during pregnancy and breast feeding.  They can also be used alongside orthodox drugs.

What does Homeopathy treat

Homeopathy treats a wide range of illnesses both chronic and acute.  Examples range from anxiety to arthritis, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, ‘women’s issues’, behavioural and learning difficulties in children, ME, skin problems, hay fever, coughs, colds, flu and pregnancy and child birth to name but a few.

The Homeopathic consultation

The initial visit to a homeopath is often an unexpected though thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing experience for new patients.  The presenting problem, family history, mental and emotional tendencies together with other facts seemingly unrelated to the condition will be covered in detail.  This enables the homeopath to obtain a full symptom picture which in turn ensures the highest quality of treatment.  Consequently the first visit will often take one to one and a half hours.  The homeopath will take into considerations orthodox medical diagnosis and prognosis, drugs and any underlying pathology when making an assessment of each individual cases.