Homoeopathy A Brief Introduction

Homoeopathy is based on the law of similars. This states that any substance which can cause symptoms, whether physical, emotional or mental, to appear in a healthy person, can also restore to health an individual showing similar symptoms when they appear as a deviation from the normal functioning of that person. Or, in simpler word’s: Like Cures Like.

For example: Belladonna, taken in its natural form as the common hedge-row Deadly Nightshade produces in a person, high restless fever, thirst, irritability and a burning sore throat. Belladonna, taken in its Homoeopathic form, is curative for a person with similar symptoms. A person who is: restless, has a high fever, is thirsty, burning hot, irritable and with a inflammatory sore throat. Therefore to cure you, the homoeopath has to find the remedy which matches your symptoms.

You will find that the major difference between Homoeopathy and Orthodox medicine, is that in homoeopathy the whole person is treated and not just the condition. We take into account: mental, emotional and physical characteristics, previous medical history, family medical history as well as the presenting symptoms in the patient. This is done in order to get the most complete individual picture of the individual and their illness. After all this information is taken, the homoeopath then searches for the remedy that covers the complete picture. When this similar remedy is given it stimulates the individuals healing process, this in turn causes the curative process to begin.

There are over 3,000 Homoeopathic remedies, most of which are derived from either the animal, plant or mineral kingdoms. A sophisticated process of dilution and succession is used to develop the healing properties inherent in these substances.

You will probably be asked to wait at least one month before returning for a follow up appointment. This is in order to give the remedy plenty of time in which to trigger your body’s natural healing process. During this period of time you may notice several changes. Sometimes there is a reaction after the remedy which will often take the form of some kind of discharge i.e. a cold. This is because the body has been stimulated into throwing out toxins. Likewise a person may experience a temporary release of emotional symptoms. You may also notice old, sometimes forgotten symptoms reappearing briefly. Please don’t rush off to your Doctor for treatment you used to have for these symptoms. Homoeopathically this is a good sign and it means that the body is dealing with conditions that were previously suppressed or not dealt with in the past.

If, during visits, you have an minor illness for which you would normally visit the Doctor, please contact me first, because the taking of antibiotics etc. could antidote the remedy and may weaken your immune system. This minor illness could represent the surfacing of symptoms as a result of taking the remedy.

Often the question arises: ‘How long will it be before I am cured?’ This is impossible to predict, because each individual case, like each person is different and cure depends on how much there is to unravel. Deep seated ailments, which may have been around for years, don’t disappear overnight, so please be patient.

Generally, after receiving the remedy, you should start to feel better in yourself, and your energy and enjoyment of life should increase. As Homoeopathy treats the whole of the person, and not just one specific illness, you will find that not only your symptoms are cured but also your quality of life should also increase dramatically.

Wherever we are in our lives, we all have steps to take and what frequently happens is that the remedy acts as a catalyst for allowing this to occur.

Remedies – how to take them and how to store them

You will usually be given a remedy in pill form to take. You should not touch the pills with your hands, when homoeopathic remedies are prepared they are put into a liquid form onto the tablets. They are, in essence, what the tablets are coated in and if touched by hand the skin on your hand will get the remedy and not your body!

• The tablets should be taken with a clean mouth, do not have food, drink, tobacco, or use any form of toothpaste or mouth wash etc. 10 minutes either before and after taking a tablet.
• When taking the remedy the tablets should be flipped under the tongue and left to dissolve naturally.
• Remedies should be absorbed in the mouth so do not take them with water.
• The remedies should also be stored out of daylight and in a place that has no strong smells. Smells such as TCP, eucalyptus, aromatherapy oils etc. can neutralise the remedy and make it inactive so they are best stored well away from such products.
• If given a remedy in a powder form this should be placed under the tongue and left to dissolve.
• A dose of tablets is one or two tablets or pills, one powder or one or two drops of liquid remedies.

Stop taking a remedy when ANY reaction occurs – if in doubt refer to your homoeopath

Bibliography:
If you are new to Homoeopathy and want to know more about it, you might to buy, or borrow from your local library, one of the following introductory books:

• The Complete Homoeopathy Handbook by Miranda Castro
• Homoeopathy: Medicine of the New Man by George Vithoulkas
• Homoeopathy: Medicine for the 21st Century by Dana Ullman