What is homeopathy?
Homeopathy is a form of complementary therapy based on the idea of treating like with like. Homeopathy is an holistic form of medicine that aims to support or stimulate the body’s natural fight against disease in order to promote healing and restore general well-being.
What does homeopathy involve?
Homeopathy involves using extremely small doses of substances that mimic the symptoms of a condition in order to help the body heal itself and regain its natural balance and function. Homeopathic treatments occasionally aggravate symptoms before they achieve the desired outcome.
Homeopathic medicines are derived from mineral, vegetable and animal extracts. These medicines are the result of original substances being diluted many times with alcohol and water. They are highly individualised to the exact features of the problem and the characteristics of the patient.
What problems can homeopathy help and not help?
There are homeopathic treatments to help with many ailments from insect stings to stress related complaints and stomach problems. Homeopathy appears to be particularly effective in helping skin complaints, allergies and the symptoms of arthritis. When performed by an appropriately qualified practitioner homeopathic treatment is safe. However, you should never take the treatments for longer than prescribed. Homeopathic treatments should not be used in isolation to treat serious medical conditions but may be used to complement traditional medical care.
You should also consult your GP before commencing homeopathic treatment if you have any concerns about your medical condition or if you are pregnant.
What will happen during a treatment session?
Before deciding if you will benefit from homeopathic treatment, your homeopath will discuss your symptoms, when they started and how often they occur. He or she will also ask you many more questions than you might be used to about your general well-being, your personality, lifestyle and reactions to different situations or stimuli.
A medically qualified homeopath may also undertake a physical examination. Your answers to these questions will help the homeopath build up a picture of your condition and prescribe the best treatment for you. If your homeopath identifies causes of your problem for which homeopathic treatment is not appropriate, you will normally be referred back to your GP with an explanatory letter.
Homeopathic treatments will normally be prescribed one at a time and the treatments may alter as your condition progresses. Your homeopath will probably tell you how they believe a particular treatment will help you.
When taking the treatment, you may be advised not to touch it, but pour it on to a spoon or tip a tablet under your tongue. You may be asked to take the treatment for up to a month before attending for a follow-up appointment to check your progress. You may also be asked to refrain from eating strong foods such as curries or drinking some drinks like coffee, whilst taking the treatment, if the practitioner believes they will lessen the effect of treatment.
How many sessions might I need?
The number of times you need to see the homeopath will depend on your condition and how quickly your body responds to the treatments prescribed. For minor ailments, you may notice an improvement within a week and merely need to see the practitioner for a follow-up visit.
If you need different or progressive treatments in order to obtain the desired outcome, treatment may take longer. Less specific or long standing conditions may only improve gradually and you may need to make other lifestyle changes at the same time.