What is Homeopathy?
Homeopathy is an effective alternative system of medicine used around the world for over 200 years and the second most used medical system in the UK. It provides a natural and gentle way to help our bodies getting back into balance and health by triggering our own self-healing process all our bodies are capable of.
It can be used:
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by newborns, children, teenagers, adults, pregnant or menopausal women, new mothers, elderly people;
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alone or in combination with other therapies or conventional medicine.
We are all so very different so shouldn't our medical treatment reflect that?
Homeopathy treats the whole person – on a PHYSICAL, MENTAL and EMOTIONAL level. It is a highly individualised treatment reflecting the fact that we all have been on a different life journey, carrying different hereditary information and being triggered by different events with different reactions to these events. In short, we are all different.
Human beings are not “one fits all” species and therefore, in homeopathic treatment, 5 people suffering from the same condition can be given 5 different remedies helping them all to get better. It is because homeopathy treats THE PERSON who is experiencing the disease, not the disease itself.
Are all or some of our complaints connected?
Homeopathy views a patient as ONE ORGANISM working in constant communication towards maintaining a balance, rather than separating body parts or systems often done by conventional medicine. This is particularly important for the treatment of chronic conditions and finding the root cause. Even more so when we explore the body/mind connection. For example, just think about the way hormonal disbalance may affect our weight, mood and subsequently everything else in our life. Or how having a physical trauma/accident may affect our mental health. How often have we heard of someone who developed a chronic condition shortly after having a huge emotional shock.
So how does homeopathy work?
It works on the basis of “like cures like” and it does so by finding the closest remedy which has, in a healthy person, produced very similar set of symptoms. The remedy then triggers the body’s own self-healing process.
For example, the remedy APIS MELLIFICA, made from a honey bee will produce similar symptoms to when stung by a bee (redness, swelling, itching, pain) and will then relieve similar set of symptoms associated with a bee sting. Another example is a remedy called ALLIUM CEPA made from an onion, that is used to treat symptoms associated with cutting onions (watery and burning eyes, nose, sneezing etc) found for example in hay fever.
How are homeopathic remedies made?
Homeopathic remedies are made from a range of natural substances such as minerals and plants. Each remedy is produced from a small amount of material which is crushed, highly diluted and shaken, and therefore are completely safe without the typical side effects we associate with pharmaceutical medicine. All homeopathic remedies are tested on human beings so we know exactly which symptoms they are targeting. They are also incredibly sustainable and cheap.
Can I still use conventional medicine or other therapies?
Absolutely! Perhaps, the word "complimentary" should be used for all the medical systems out there as they should compliment each other. If you break your leg, your homeopath will be the first person to send you to the emergency room immediately as homeopathy, of course, is not able to fix fractures. However, it will definitely help you dealing with the shock your body is going through, with remedies like Arnica Montana or Aconite and you will most likely be recommended other remedies like Symphytum to use daily AFTER the bone has been set to support and speed up the healing of the fracture.
Conventional medicine is totally amazing and life saving in many acute situations and there is absolutely no question about that. It is also incredibly helpful for diagnostic purposes; being examined and having had diagnostic tests done is often helpful for homeopathic treatment too. The major difference between conventional medicine and homeopathy is the approach when it comes to chronic, long-term illnesses and the connection between different problems of the patient (physical, mental and emotional). As a homeopath, I often hear patients say: "I went to the doctor because I am not feeling right, I know something is going on, I am exhausted, I have pains, I feel unwell etc. but they run all the tests and said everything was within the normal range so there is no problem". In homeopathy, we don't need to wait for a diagnosis to start treating you, on the contrary, a diagnosis can be avoided if the right homeopathic treatment is commenced straight away.
Many patients have been on a long-term medical treatment and it does not stop them from using homeopathy. Homeopaths would never recommend to stop your current treatment, for example the use of corticosteroids for eczema or any hormonal treatments. Stopping or reducing medicine is always the patient's decision made along with their medical doctor and homeopathy can be incredibly supportive of this process.
Where can I get more information on homeopathy?
I have seen first hand what homeopathy can do and how undoubtedly powerful it can be, especially when addressing long standing chronic conditions. The proof is in the millions of patients around the world who use homeopathy again and again. It is really beautiul to see a long standing condition or complaint to shift and the difference it makes in people's life. I will be sharing some patient stories (anonymously and with permission) in my blog section.
For more reading, a great source of information is the Homeopathy Research Institute | HRI (hri-research.org)
How does homeopathy compare to conventional medicine? Homeopathy and conventional medicine: an outcomes study comparing effectiveness in a primary care setting - PubMed