Homeopathy
WHAT IS HOMEOPATHY?
Homeopathy is a system of medicine which assists the body in healing itself. It is a holistic medicine, in other words mental, emotional and physical symptoms form part of the whole picture of a patients health.
Homeopathy was developed by Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician, in the late eighteenth century. Hahnemann’s medical discoveries stemmed from the belief that human beings have a natural capacity to heal themselves and that the body constantly attempts to restore harmony. Symptoms, which are expressed when an individual is ill, are the body’s way of overcoming disease or disharmony in a person body’s ability to overcome it, thereby healing itself.
The Homeopath’s role is to discover the cause of the disease and to stimulate the body’s ability to overcome it, thereby healing itself. It is not to suppress those symptoms and thereby merely cosmetically remove the appearance of the disease and not the disease itself.
WHAT CAN IT TREAT?
Some of the symptoms that are commonly brought to a Homoeopath include: psoriasis, arthritis, migraines and headaches, IBS and general stomach and bowel troubles, eating disorders, recurring infections, low immune resistance, side-effects from vaccinations, effects of trauma including sleep problems and nightmares, as well as women's hormonal imbalances of the menstrual cycle, and menopause, anxiety, depression, shock, grief and children's problems including behaviour, asthma, eczema,
It may be used to treat an ailment on a once-off basis or adopted as a primary healthcare system for you and your family. Remember, homeopathy is a complete system of medicine and can be used to treat people with problems that have no clear diagnosis.
It is also suitable for all aspects of pregnancy such as morning sickness & emotional upheaval it is renowned in assisting many aspects of labour such as pain-relief and recovery.
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM HOMEOPATHY?
Homeopathy treats the person and not the disease? As such every “person” can benefit from homeopathy, men and women, children, infants, the elderly. It is especially helpful during pregnancy and labour as women are unable to take many forms of conventional medicine.
WHAT HAPPENS IN A TREATMENT?
The first homeopathic consultation or case-taking typically lasts between 1 and 11/2 hours. During this time the client discusses in detail many aspects of their symptoms and how they are affected by them. Your homeopath may also ask you about your anxieties, mood changes, sleep, appetite, thirst and body temperature. A follow-up appointment lasts approx 30 minutes and assesses your reaction to the remedy, and how best to continue your treatment.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOU TAKE HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE?
In Constitutional treatment (i.e. the treatment of a chronic complaint), once you have taken your homeopathic medicine, a period of time is allowed for it to act. Reactions to homeopathic medicines vary with the individual. Some experience a clear improvement in their general health and in their symptoms straight away. Others find that, before improving, their symptoms may intensify for a time (this is known as an aggravation and is a sign the medicine is working). It is important to note that intensification of symptoms is short-lived and you should then begin to feel the benefits of the treatment.
In first aid or acute treatment (i.e. the treatment of a new complaint such as the flu, a toothache, fever, cystitis etc.) the response to the remedy can be very quick, with a noticeable improvement in symptoms after just a couple of doses.
HOW LONG DOES TREATMENT TAKE?
This depends very much on the individual. Acute complaints such as fevers, bugs, infections generally respond very quickly, while chronic complaints may require more prolonged treatment