Homeopathy

Homoeopathy is a safe, natural and alternative method of treating and supporting the body through illness and disease via the administration of remedies made from the plants, animals and minerals that surround us in the natural world.

HOW DOES HOMEOPATHY WORK?

It works on the principle of “like cures like” - that is, a substance that would cause symptoms in a healthy person is used to cure those same symptoms in illness. For example, one remedy which might be used in a person suffering from insomnia is coffea, a remedy made from coffee.

HISTORY

Homoepathy with comparison to other alternative therapies is a relatively recent practice and has only been around for a little over two hundred years. Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician, (1755 – 1843), conceived the idea of homoeopathy in the late 18th century. Whilst translating a major medical textbook of the time he read about the positive effects of Cinchona, a Peruvian bark, on the symptoms of malaria. (We now know that the active ingredient of cinchona bark is quinine.) Hahnemann began to research the claims of it’s effectiveness on the human organism by self-application. He was amazed to note that it evoked the symptoms of malaria within him and concluded that if given to a person with symptoms the effect would be curative. This led him to propose a healing principle: “that which can produce a set of symptoms in a healthy individual, can treat a sick individual who is manifesting a similar set of symptoms.” The principle ‘like cures like’ became the basis for his approach to medicine, to which he gave the name Homeopathy. The original Greek spelling Homoeopathy comes from ‘homoeos’ meaning similar, now more universally spelt Homeopathy.

HOW ARE REMEDIES MADE?

Hahneman found that ingesting substances would invariably produce toxic effects, so to alleviate this problem he explored diluting the compounds he was testing. His technique of succussing (systematic mixing through vigorous shaking) and potentization were still successful in producing symptoms in a healthy individual but without the toxic effects of the pure substance.

Homeopathic medicines are produced at Homeopathic pharmacies and are made according to Hahnemann’s instructions using potentization and succussion. In the past the remedies were made in this way and administered as a powder, which is ingested. Nowadays the remedies are made to an appropriate medicated potency in liquid form which is then dropped onto sucrose tablets, which absorb the liquid remedy. These are then prescribed by a homeopath as required.

Each new homeopathic medicine undergoes a particular process called a ‘proving’. Volunteers or ‘provers’ take the new substance until they experience symptoms. All symptoms that result from taking the substance are recorded in detail. In this way a huge variety of natural substances are tested for their healing and curative properties and can be added to the homeopathic pharmacy. Unlike orthodox drugs, homeopathic medicines are not tested on animals. 

WHAT HAPPENS IN A CONSULTATION?

 I will ask the patient questions about their specific symptoms taking into account anything that may be particular to them as an individual this may be on any level; physical, mental, emotional or spiritual. All are geared to finding an appropriate remedy picture that matches the individual. Subsequent consultations will involve you discussing the changes that have occurred, so that I can understand how you have responded to the prescription and what the next step of your treatment will be. The first consultation is an hour and any follow ups are 30 minutes.

HOMEOPATHY FIRST AID COURSES

I also run first aid courses in Homeopathy to help people understand how and when it’s appropriate to use homoeopathy in and around the home in first aid situations.

The first aid course (five to six weeks' duration) is very much aimed at parents of babies and young children and mothers-to-be. Here we explore the principles and philosophy of homeopathy through examples and practical applications to daily problems, with special regards to illnesses encountered in babies, toddlers and young children for example; chicken pox, fevers, teething, nappy rashes, bumps, cuts and bruising etc.

In order to find out more about where and when these courses are running please contact me.