Homeopathy
Homeopathy
What is Homoeopathy?
A German doctor, Samuel Hahnemann, became disenchanted with orthodox medicine as he found it practised during the 18th Century. Looking for a better way to treat his patients, he read a book on the effect of the side-effects of taking herbs and realised that these so-called side-effects were actually very similar to the symptoms of many diseases he had to treat.
In 1796 he published his first ideas on this and over the next 50 years he taught, practised and wrote about his system of medicine. As news of his successes spread, he was visited by the rich and famous from across Europe. Eventually his ideas spread to America, and nowadays his system of medicine is used in many countries world-wide.
Expensive? NO!
Why? Because although homoeopathy is difficult to learn and practise, it is comparatively cheap to produce the homoeopathic medicines, or 'remedies' as they are known. This makes it very attractive to third-world countries.
How does it work?
Hahnemann realised that a very small amount of something that in a large quantity would damage you can have the opposite effect in a small quantity. The noise of a thousand animals bellowing and roaring can be overpowering whereas the rustle of a single, small mouse in the quiet of the night has the power to arouse you quite disproportionately. Falling unclad into the Arctic Sea in winter will lead rapidly to your death from cold, whereas a splash of cold water on your face quickly wakes you up.
Homoeopathic 'remedies' work in a similar way. Homoeopathy is made up of two Greek words: 'homo' meaning 'similar', and 'pathy' meaning 'suffering' or 'pain'. Hence the phrase "Like cures like".
A note on the spelling of the word homoeopathy. You will often see it spelled 'homeopathy. The two words mean the same thing but the original and more correct spelling is with 'oeo' in the middle. Just to be pernickety, we've spelled it that way, although in the heading we use the other way, which most people now use.
For example, if you visited your doctor for an infection, he might give you a medicine to cool you down and another to combat the bacteria, or combine both in one. The medicines, if they work, will then have to be broken down and disposed of by your body, and sometimes this produces unpleasant side-effects. But the principal is that for an infection with a bacterium, you take an antibiotic. If you have some kind of inflammation, you doctor will give you an anti-inflammatory medicine. If you have depression, he'll give you an anti-depressant.
If you have been brought up with this system of medicine, homoeopathy will seem to make no sense, because for an inflammation, you would take a homoeopathic remedy that, in sufficient quantity, would cause a similar inflammation.
For depression, you'd take a remedy that would cause in you a similar depression. For an infection, you'd take a homoeopathic remedy that would bring about similar symptoms to the infection you have. Who wants to take medicine that makes them worse?!
But it works. Just because we don't understand the precise mechanism doesn't mean it doesn't work or that we can't use it. The principle behind how aspirin worked wasn't discovered until recently, but we've been using it for 200 years, and there are many drugs used by doctors which have never received thorough testing for the purposes for which they are used.
In homoeopathy, the patient is given a minute dose of a substance (the remedy) which the homoeopath has decided is homoeopathic for him or her. Because the dose is minute, the body doesn't have to detoxify itself, and the only 'side-effects' are those which naturally belong to the remedy and the patient. The remedy works by stimulating your body's own healing power.
What happens at your first homoeopathic consultation?
After noting your personal details (name, address, etc) you will be invited to talk about your problem, your past health, and your family health. Your homoeopath will want to know as much as possible about you so as to find a remedy that fits you.
Anything that you can tell your homoeopath that is typical of who you are will help this process, even if it seems totally unrelated to the illness.
Tell your homoeopath about your energy level, about how you live your life, what sort of holidays you like, how the weather affects you, how tidy (or not) you are - and so on. Everything you say will be treated in complete confidence. This can take an hour or more, but it's very important.
Eventually the homoeopath may ask you some questions and then do a physical examination, if necessary.
Please make sure you tell your homoeopath about any medicine or supplement that you are taking or has been prescribed for you by your doctor, or which you take regularly. And don't forget to mention any recent of impending medical or dental treatment, or other surgery; these can interfere with the action of any remedy you are given.
Taking the remedy
Then you'll be given a homoeopathic remedy, usually in the form of a tablet or tablets, occasionally as powders, (or a liquid). Allow these to dissolve in your mouth, making sure that you don't have anything else in your mouth for at least 20 minutes on either side, not even toothpaste or a cigarette.
Usually you'll be asked to avoid coffee and strong-smelling substances like peppermint, or preparations containing menthol, eucalyptus and camphor, all of which can interfere with the action of the remedy.
You may be given instructions about your diet too, if the homoeopath considers you are harming yourself and your chances of health by eating the wrong foods.
Keeping homoeopathic remedies
If you buy or are asked to keep remedies at home, store them in a cool dark place, away from anything with a strong smell, and away from strong electro-magnetic influences, like your mobile or the television. When travelling, do not let the remedies go through the X-ray machine.
What happens after you take the homoeopathic remedy?
We hope you'll notice a change in your health! Sometimes this feels like a period of exceptional well-being and optimism. Sometimes your symptoms seem to get worse for a short time - which is usually a good sign that the remedy is taking effect. Sometimes you get a cold, or a rash or a discharge as your body cleans itself up.
Old symptoms, some of which you may have forgotten about, may reappear for a while. They won't last indefinitely, so don't worry, and their reappearance is regarded by homeopaths as a very important part of the healing process.
However, if your response to the treatment concerns you, do contact your homoeopath.
Please keep a note of these changes. It isn't that your homoeopath needs to see your notes, but they may jog your memory when describing what happened - and as you'll find out, the questions your homoeopath asks can sometimes be quite searching!
How many treatments do you need?
There's no general answer to this as it depends on your condition and lifestyle, so it isn't usually realistic for us to assess this until we can see how you are responding to the remedies you are prescribed. If a rule can be made, it is that diseases that took many years to develop will take many months to get better, whereas acute illnesses may go very quickly.
Also, homoeopathy cures from the inside so skin conditions are usually not the first symptoms to clear and may be the last. But please be patient because as your health improves you'll start to feel much better and you'll understand that when your skin clears it will be your body putting the finishing touches to its work.
Diet and Lifestyle
You'll be asked about this and changes may be suggested if it seems something you do or eat is contributing to your condition.
Keep in contact with your GP
Although homoeopathy works in ways very different from those of your normal GP, do please maintain contact with your GP, whom you'll still need from time to time and who has access to very fine ways of keeping you alive in emergencies like accidents.
Can you treat yourself with homoeopathic medicines?
Yes you can, and as you continue having treatment you may find that your homoeopath suggests you attend a course about this and keep some useful remedies at home for your family.
However, bear in mind that if you are ill or distraught, you may not be the best person to describe objectively over the phone what is happening to you or your loved one.
Can homoeopathy be used to vaccinate people?
No, it's not equivalent to vaccination. If you are travelling to a country that requires you to have a vaccination certificate, you must be vaccinated the ordinary way and receive a certificate from the doctor who does it.
If you are considering having your baby vaccinated - and considerable influence will be exerted on you to do this - you may want to consider homoeopathic treatment instead.
But homoeopathic treatment isn't the same as vaccinating your child, though homoeopaths would argue that your child's health is often better if he or she isn't vaccinated until later, say after the age of 2, against the usual mumps, measles, chicken pox, rubella and so on.
Your baby can benefit from homoeopathic treatment from birth. (Indeed, homoeopaths think it is better to treat the parents before the child is conceived, and during the pregnancy, so that both mother and child benefit to the maximum.) Many babies and children are treated by homoeopaths to preserve and enhance their health so that, if they should catch one of the childhood diseases, they will survive it much better than otherwise.
Homoeopaths also treat many children who appear to have suffered as a result of vaccination.
The whole question of whether or not to vaccinate your baby is a big one and we advise you to listen to the arguments for and against in detail before you decide what to do.
Read more about what homoeopathic remedies are and what they can do here.
Finding a good homoeopath
Jonathan Clogstoun-Willmott was for many years a member of the Society of Homeopaths but after the Scottish Association of Professional Homoeopaths was formed he transferred his membership to it.
Both organisations have high standards, require many years of training of their members who must have passed stringent academic and clinical assessments before admission to the Register, and expect their members to maintain their skills with continuing professional development modules, and to hold professional insurance to practise. In addition, they require their members to practise in accordance with a Code of Ethics and Practice.
Cost of Treatment
The initial consultation is charged on a time basis, at £45 per half-hour, pro-rata.
Subsequent sessions last up to 30 minutes and are charged at £45 each.
Payment
Is requested at the time of the appointment, or sometimes beforehand, in cash or cheque.
Making an appointment
Ring 07950-012501 or 0131 346 8186 for an appointment.
Alternatively, email: info@enhc.co.uk