FAQ
What is Homeopathy?
Homeopathy is that healing art and science of medicine which has
been clinically developed from the principles discovered by Samuel
Hahnemann and described in his treatise 'The Organon' The practice
of homeopathy involves the selection and prescription of a single
remedy, which through prior testing on healthy people and from clinical
experience, is known to produce a similar symptom picture to that
of the patient. The remedy is prescribed in the minimum dosage required
to bring about healing.
Taken from ECCH Constitution p2 section 2.7 http://www.homeopathy-ecch.org
Is homeopathy the same as herbal medicine?
Homeopathic medicines are made not only from plants but from a
wide range of substances, for example salt and gold. Additionally,
the process of potentisation used
to prepare these medicines differentiates it from herbalism where
plants are used in crude doses. Furthermore, homeopathy uses the
symptoms as a guide to what is sick in the person and prescribes
according to the totality of the symptoms and what they reflect,
whereas herbalism addresses individual or small groups of symptoms
directly. The principle here is that homeopathy looks to treat the
cause and herbalism, like many other therapies, treats the result.
What can homeopathy treat?
It is a very normal question to ask “Can homeopathy treat
my complaint?” Why do homeopaths hesitate when answering?
The reason is because homeopathy does not treat complaints. Complaints
usually comprise a group of symptoms and the symptoms or even the
group of symptoms are only an outward reflection or representation
of the internal imbalance, which is the true suffering. So a homeopath
does not treat symptoms; he uses them as a guide to understand what
is truly wrong.
The answer to the question for us is, if the patient has the vitality
to express symptoms that can guide to what is truly wrong, then
he can be treated homeopathically, irrespective of what name has
been given to his complaint.
(See article: What can homeopathy treat?
By Paul Hudson)
What does ‘suitability for treatment’ mean?
A homeopathic prescription is based on symptoms, mental, emotional
and physical, as these represent an outward reflection of the internal
disorder. Therefore, it follows that a prescription cannot be made
unless there are symptoms present. In some advanced cases of disease,
a person may show insufficient symptoms for a successful prescription
to be made. Symptoms can also be distorted by invasive treatments
such as major surgery or by powerful medicines, such as steroids
or evening primrose oil. Addiction to alcohol or drugs could also
diminish the prognosis. Each case is assessed individually and the
homeopath will decide on suitability according to prevailing conditions.
There should always be a trusting relationship between practitioner
and patient.
(See article: What is a symptom? by
Suzan Dean)
What is a homeopathic remedy?
A homeopathic remedy is that substance which, through prior testing
on healthy people, known as ‘proving', and from clinical experience,
is known to produce a similar symptom picture to that of the patient.
The majority of remedies are prescribed in a potentised state
produced by a standardised process of trituration, serial dilution
and succussion known as ‘potentisation’. Potentisation
increases the potential therapeutic action of remedies. A remedy
is homeopathic only by virtue of its ability to produce similar
symptoms in the healthy to that of the patient it is prescribed
for.
Taken from ECCH Constitution p2 section 2.8 http://www.homeopathy-ecch.org
How does a homeopathic remedy work?
In order for a remedy to be effective, there are two essential
factors: similarity and strength. By similar, we mean that the remedy
must be capable of producing a similar set of symptoms when tested
or proved on a healthy person. A
medicine can only be considered a homeopathic remedy once it has
been shown that it is working homeopathically according to the Law
of Similars.
The notion of similarity lies in the fact that the medicine can
affect a particular totality of symptoms. This affinity gives it
the power to effect change. Thus the medicine can both produce symptoms
in a proving or remove them during the healing process.
Strength, in homeopathy, is termed potency.
This means that the power of the remedy can be adjusted to be stronger
than the natural illness and, in this way can overcome it with the
help of the Vital Force.
It is said that homeopathic remedies are so dilute, there is no
active ingredient. So how can it work?
The preparation of a homeopathic medicine involves not only dilution
but the unique process of succussion. This requires the systematic
shaking of the medicine between each dilution so as to liberate
the subtle energy inherent in the substance. The transformation
of what was material into latent energy allows the medicine to work
on that more subtle level, in other words through the vital force
or life energy of the person. This in fact renders the therapeutic
agent more powerful, not less, as it is now able to affect the indwelling
forces where symptoms originate.
Will I get worse before I get better?
Some symptoms may briefly increase in intensity for some hours
or even days. This signals a positive response to the treatment.
(See article: What is the Homeopathic
Aggravation? by Lesley Isaacson)
Can I have other treatments after I have taken a remedy?
After taking a remedy, during the early stage of your healing,
you will be in a sensitive state. It is best to leave this process
unhindered. Any other treatments could interfere with the restorative
work of the remedy. This includes conventional, complementary and
alternative treatments as well as dietary supplements. When considering
any treatment designed to remove symptoms without reference to the
whole, it is useful to bear in mind that the remedy is aimed at
the totality and the process is already in a state of change. Maximum
benefit will be gained by allowing this to happen without interference.
If in doubt, ask your homeopath.
(See article: Homeopathy: The Exclusive
Treatment by Suzan Dean)
What about my diet?
Good nutrition is always important in any healing process. During
this time it is preferable to eat and drink sensitively and moderately,
abstaining from all strong foods including for example spices, raw
onion and garlic. Consumption of stimulants, such as alcohol, coffee
and tea, is best avoided.
You should also avoid anything specific which you know aggravates
you. It may be that for you chocolate triggers a headache, so this
especially should be avoided.
These are general guidelines and specific details can be discussed
with your homeopath.
(See article: Live to Eat or Eat to
Live? by Lesley Isaacson)
How long will treatment last?
Homeopathic treatment is an alternative to conventional or other
treatments and therefore constitutes health care for life. The frequency
of prescription depends on each individual case, on the assessment
of progress by the practitioner and on the patients presenting for
further prescriptions. The length of time each individual prescription
lasts also varies. In acute cases, it may last only a few hours.
In long-standing chronic cases it may last months and in some cases
years.
How Do You Treat Someone With Burns?
Although we are always urged to place burnt parts in cold water,
this is a myth. Nearly two hundred years ago two English doctors
researched what was the best way to treat burns. Their subjects
were miners who had suffered terrible injuries. They found that
the application of heat rather than cold remarkably diminished the
recovery time and reduced the incidence of secondary complaints
and scarring. Their findings were all recorded and can be found
in The Bodleian Library, Oxford.
There are two aspects to a burn: the burn itself, which can most
speedily be resolved by the application of heat, and secondly, the
reason in the first place as to why the person burnt himself. If
this is not resolved then this tendency will lead to the person
burning himself again and again.
Please see the article, click
here.
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