Homoeopathy

Homoeopathy is a complete system of medicine that works on all levels: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.

People suffering from all kinds of illnesses, from depression to arthritis, migraine to ulcers, and now the more 'modern illnesses' such as ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis), can be helped by homoeopathy to regain a good health.

Homoeopathy is a holistic medicine which means that a homoeopath will attempt to cure you rather than merely alleviate your symptoms.  Paracelsus, a 16th Century philosopher and physician, said, 'Those who merely study and treat the effects of disease are like those who imagine that they can drive away the winter by brushing the snow from the door.  It is not the snow that causes the winter, but the winter that causes the snow' .

Homoeopaths understand that symptoms of illness are evidence of the body's natural efforts to heal itself and, in homoeopathy, symptoms are used as a guide to help find the correct remedy for each individual person.

To find the correct remedy a person may be asked questions about all sorts of apparently minor deviations from health and about character and personality traits, in order to arrive at a clear understanding of the whole picture of the person's state of health.

Homoeopathic remedies work on the principle of 'like cures like' indicating that nay substance that can produce symptoms in a healthy person can also cure a person with those same symptoms.  Remedies are made from many different sources, about three quarters coming from plants.  All are potentised by a process of dilution and succession in homoeopathic pharmacies. This generally takes the remedy beyond material substance so it no longer works by chemical reaction the way a drug does but instead triggers an energetic process in the body.

Remedies will be given to you either in tablet, powder or liquid form with specific instructions.  Only take the remedies in a clean dry mouth (nothing to go into mouth 10-15mins before or after the remedy). Avoid coffee and any other drugs as well as strong-smelling substances like peppermint, menthol, eucalyptus and camphor.  Remedies should be stored in a cool dark place.

It is important to tell your homoeopath about any medication you take regularly, including the Pill and HRT, and any other treatment you may be undergoing.

Homoeopathic remedies do not cause side-effects. Sometimes physical symptoms worsen for a short time. This is generally a good indication  for it means the remedy has triggered a healing response.  A sense of well-being or increased energy  also shows the remedy has taken effect, although some people find they need more sleep at first, especially if they have been overdoing things recently.

Sometimes old symptoms can reappear briefly but they will pass and it is important to leave them untreated as they are an important part of the healing process.  How long it takes to get better varies for each individual and is not easily predicted.