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I was first
introduced to homeopathy 8 yrs ago when my then 8 year old son
developed a dry wheezy cough that refused to dissipate. He had
had it for a period of 5-6 months over the summer 2000. As my
father had been an asthma sufferer and my husband also had a
family history of asthma I considered asthma a possibility.
However as his symptoms were not very severe and I was keen to
try a natural and holistic approach first, a friend recommended
I see a homeopath. Within 2 weeks of commencement of treatment
with homeopathy his cough had disappeared and has not returned.
Homeopathy has continued to be our primary form of health-care
ever since.
My
fascination with homeopathy grew while observing its curative
powers on my own children and family. But I became hungry to
know more and so in 2003 I began a part-time course at The
Centre for Homeopathic Education at Regents College, London.
 I
qualified as a Homeopath in June 2007 and I am a Licensed Member
of The Alliance of Registered Homeopaths (ARH) which monitors
the standards of clinical and ethical practice.
What is Homeopathy?
Homeopathy
is a holistic medicine. It treats the body as a whole, taking
into account mental and emotional aspects as well as physical
aspects. Homeopathy translates from the Latin to mean ‘similar
suffering’ and works on the principle of ‘like cures like’ where
the properties of the homeopathic remedy are matched to the
symptoms of the individual person. A well chosen remedy aims to
stimulate the natural and intelligent tendency of the body to
heal itself by raising its vitality and energy. A homeopath
uses a similar potentised medicine to stimulate the dynamic
energy of the patient, so that the body itself can bring about a
cure. Homeopathic remedies are safe and gentle, and
non-addictive. They won’t cause toxic side effects because the
remedies are made in infinitesimal small doses. Homeopathy is
therefore suitable for treating all ages and all conditions.
The
philosophy behind homeopathy actually goes back two and a half
thousand years to Hippocrates, the ‘Father of Medicine’ who
wrote that there were 2 methods of healing: by ‘opposites’ and
by
‘similars’. The ancient principal of ‘similars’ or ‘like curing
like’ in fact was commonly used in many other cultures in folk
and herbal medicines. However it is Samuel Hahnemann, born in
Germany in 1755 who is considered to be the “Father of
Homeopathy”. A contemporary of Mozart, Schiller and Goethe,
Hahnemann studied and then practised medicine for 9 years.
Increasingly however, he became disillusioned by the cruel and
ineffective treatments of his time which included
blood-lettings, purging and the use of poisonous drugs such as
arsenic, belladonna and mercury which were often more lethal
than the ailments they were trying to cure.
 Homeopaths
use a variety of substances to make their remedies. These are
obtained from plants, minerals, metals, and animals.
Hahnemann’s first experiments were with Peruvian Bark (China)
from which quinine is derived. This was commonly used at that
time for the treatment of malaria. He discovered that by taking
regular doses of China he was able to produce symptoms in
himself very similar to malaria. He further discovered that by
dilution and potentisation of a substance, past the point that
anything of the original substance was left, the dynamic energy
of that substance still remained. So by dilution and
potentisation of substances, some of which are often poisoness
even in small doses, homeopaths are able to make them ‘safe’ to
take and so to stimulate the body into appropriate action.
Examples of
homeopathic plant remedies are: Bellis perennis (the common
daisy);
Allium Cepa
(Onion); Chamomilla (German chamomile); Digitalis (Foxglove);
Gelsemium (Yellow Jasmine); Belladonna (Deadly Nightshade);
Arnica (Leopard’s bane); Hypericum (St. John’s Wort).
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Examples of some mineral homeopathic remedies:
Phosphorus; Arsenicum; Aurum (gold); Argentum
(silver); Natrum Muriaticum (Salt).
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Examples of some animal homeopathic remedies are:
Apis (bee sting); Sepia (cuttle fish ink) and
Tarantula. |
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What can Homeopathy treat?
 There
are many acute and first aid conditions that can be treated
safely yourself. It is a good idea to have a little homeopathic
first aid kit ready to hand at home. Bumps, bruises, minor
burns, coughs, colds, flu, tummy upsets are all things you can
treat at home with homeopathy. My two boys play rugby and don’t
leave home without Arnica in their kit bags for themselves and
their friends!
Chronic
conditions must be treated by a professional homeopath.
Homeopathy can be used alongside other medicine. Many people
are already on conventional medicine but homeopathic remedies
can help them get to a point where they can consider reducing
their medication – in conjunction with their GP or consultant.
Examples of
some chronic conditions that are helped and treated very well
with homeopathy are:
Acne;
allergies – hayfever and asthma; eczema and psoriasis; digestive
problems and IBS; grief; hyperactivity and ADHD; indigestion
heartburn; migraines and headaches; insomnia; ME and chronic
fatique; MS; menstrual disorders, ‘PMT’, fertility, thyroid
conditions, blood pressure, depression and anxiety, eating
disorders, rheumatism and arthritis, urinary disorders and
cystitis. Homeopathy can also give support during other times in
our lives like during PREGNANCY and BIRTH, MENOPAUSE, TRAVELLING
(jet lag or motion or altitude sickness) GIVING UP SMOKING
What to expect from a visit to a homeopath?
The initial
consultation with a professional homeopath will take around an
hour and a half. They will take a full medical history but will
also ask details about significant events in your life. They
will be interested in body temperature, sleep patterns, food
likes and dislikes, diet and digestion and of course mental and
emotional symptoms. The second consultation will normally take
place 4-6 weeks later and will be shorter – probably about an
hour long. Frequency of appointments really depends on what
needs to be treated and how long the patient has been suffering
with their condition. A long standing case of eczema will take
more visits, whereas some people visit their homeopath just once
a year for a general ‘MOT’ and constitutional remedy.
Because
homeopathy is such a gentle form of medicine it is suitable for
everyone, from newborn
babies, children and teenagers through into adult life and old
age. It can often help with health issues that conventional
medicine can’t really deal with and recurrent chronic conditions
that you need help with, or perhaps require you to take a
medication that you would like to reduce or rather not be on.
I grew up
in Guernsey and was educated at The Ladies’ College. I moved
to Luxembourg in 1988 where I had my two children.
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