PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION

Homeopathy by Sara Smyth

• Like Cures Like
• The Minimum Dose
• Individuality
• Totality of Symptoms
• About the Consultation
• What Can Homeopathy Treat?
• Where does Homeopathy come from?

Like Cures Like
The word homeopathy comes from ancient Greek and means "similar suffering", that is "like cures like". Thus a substance that causes certain symptoms can also be used to cure those symptoms. For example, coffee stimulates the nervous system and causes sleeplessness if taken last thing at night, but if taken in minute quantities it can do exactly the opposite and soothe the nervous system to help promote sleep.

The Minimum Dose
The substance is selected from natural sources such as herbs, animals or minerals. Through a process called "potentisation" it is diluted to minute quantities. Hahnemann discovered that through this process, the more dilute the substance, the more powerful the effect. He surmised that the remedy was working at an energetic level, on the non-material "vital force" of the person. These remedies have a powerful therapeutic action and stimulate the body's own self healing mechanism.

Individuality
In homeopathy we aim to see each individual as clearly as possible and respect every person's unique qualities. So we treat the very particular symptoms that a person has. For example, one child's eye infection may be thick, bland and yellow and the child may be thirstless and clingy. The Pulsatilla may be the right remedy. But another child may have a burning discharge which is better for warm applications, and the child is restless and anxious. Then Arsenicum may be a good choice.

Totality of Symptoms
Symptoms can be seen as a mirror reflecting the internal essence of a person's vital force. Whereas conventional medicine treats each of these symptoms separately, in homeopathy we try to find the common pattern that links them. Homeopathy is holistic and takes the whole being into consideration.

About the Consultation
Homeopaths understand that establishing good health involves treating both the mind and the body, therfore time is taken to observe and listen to your physical symptoms and emotional state. In homeopathy the patient plays an active role in the healing process, and works together with the practitioner and the remedies.

The first consultation will last one hour, to an hour and a half, in which you will be asked questions about your symptoms, previous medical history, your lifestyle as well as your personality and emotional patterns, sleep, energy levels and appetite.

Follow up consultations are after 3-6 weeks, and will last for 45 minutes. The couse of treatment recommended will depend on factors such as how long you have had the complaint, if you are on medication and how you respond to the treatment. Some people experience an almost immediate sense of well-being and positivity, alongside an improvement of symptoms. Others may experience a more gradual improvement. Sometimes, symptoms can seem more intense for a while, but this should only be temporary, and is often a positive sign that the remedy is taking effect.

"In the healthy condition, the spiritual vital force rules with unbounded sway so that our indwelling, reason-gifted mind can freely employ this living, healthy instrument for the higher purpose of our existence."
-Samuel Hahnemann (The Organon)

What Can Homeopathy Treat?
Homeopathy is a safe medicine that is non-toxic and has no side effects. It can be used for most physical and emotional complaints and is popular with everyone including pregnant women, children and babies. It can also help where conventional medicine cannot find anything wrong, but when you know something is not right. Depending on the illness and symptoms, it can be used as an alternative to, or alongside, conventional drugs.

• Acute Illnesses - sore throats, 'flu, infections, stomach upsets
• Babies and Children's Ailments - teething, colic, glue ear, earaches, persistent colds, behaviour problems, bedwetting
• Chronic Conditions - arthritis, backache, chronic fatigue, ME, migraine, allergies
• Circulatory Problems - high and low blood pressure, angina, varicose veins, haemorroids
• Digestive Disorders - indigestion, heartburn, colitis, IBS, constipation
• Hormonal Imbalances - period pain, menstrual problems, PMT, menopausal problems, polycystic ovaries, thyroid problems, infertility
• Respiratory Complaints - coughs, catarrh, sinusitis, hayfever, asthma, bronchitis
• Recurrent Infections - tonsillitis, sore throughts, 'flu, ear and eye infections, cystitis, thrush, herpes, mouth ulcers, abcesses
• Skin Problems - eczema, acne, rashes, psoriasis, articaria, prickly heat
• Stress and Emotional Problems - insomnia, anxiety, irritability, depression, grief, berevement, panic attacks, phobias, trauma

Where does Homeopathy come from?
Homeopathy is a gentle, natural and holistic healing system of medicine created by a brilliant German Physician, Samuel Hahnemann, over 200 yers ago. Homeopathy is a hightly systematic form of medicine which works according to natural laws. It has been tested for over two centuries on humans rather than animals. There are now well over 2,000 remedies available, made from plants, minerals, and other natural sources.

"The highest ideal of cure is rapid, gentle and permanent restoration of health... in the shortest, most reliable and most harmless way."
-Samuel Hahnemann (The Organon).

Sara Smyth practices Homeopathy at the Haelan Clinic.

For Clinic times, contact details and information about the Haelan Clinic practitioners see The Practitioners page .

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