FAQs

Here are answers to some of the questions practitioners get about homeopathy:
 
What is Homeopathy?

Homeopathy is not the same as naturopathy, nor is it aromatheraphy, reflexology, supplements or herbs.

Homeopathy is a complete system of medicine which enhances the body's natural healing abilities, rather than working against them as conventional medicine tends to do (eg anti-biotics - "anti" means against).

Homeopathic medicines stimulate the immune system to work a little harder, to return balance to the system.  This can happen on the physical level in the case of a cold or ear infection (acute illnesses) or arthritis (chronic illness) or on the mental/emotional level in the case of depression or anxiety, or where a physical problem actually stems from an emotional issue.
 
Why can't you give the same remedy to everyone with the same illness?

Homeopathy is individualized.  It treats the person – not just their symptoms. We look at and help the whole person - mental, emotional and physical.  We get better results looking at our patient this way than just treating their physical symptoms.
 
What is in the remedies?
 
Remedies can be made from almost anything on the planet and generally for home prescribing we use remedies made from animals (bees), plants (Belladonna, Aconite or Monkshead, Pulsatilla, Arnica) and minerals (Arsenicum, Mercurius, Silica).
 
Aren't some of these substances poisonous?
 
Some of the things we make homeopathics from are very toxic in a material dose, but because of the way remedies are made, they become safe to give and very effective.
 
How are remedies made?
 
Homeopathics are made by special pharmacies.  They undergo a process of succussion (banging) and dilution once the original substance has been obtained.

The dilution makes the remedy safe and the succussion actually makes it stronger. This is one of the sticking points for homeopathy to be dismissed by some people, but it has been proven by quantum physics to produce a trackable unique frequency in each remedy.
 
Practitioners buy their remedies from the pharmacy and make them up as either pilules or drops.
 
I've heard people say homeopathy is energy medicine?

Chemical testing will not pick up the physical substance in a homeopathic medicine because it has been diluted so many times. We are working with energy or resonant frequency - not a physical substance. The human body is energetic, with a distinct electrical system - homeopathy is energy medicine and can be measured as an electrical current. 

But homeopathy is placebo isn't it?
 
There have been enough studies done to show that homeopathy is not placebo, but a safe, effective and powerful system of medicine.  It saves peoples lives where other forms of medicine have failed, and works on babies, animals and plants.
 
Can I use homeopathy if I am taking medicines from my doctor?

Because homeopathy is energy medicine it will not interact with conventional medicine or other alternative medicines.  It works in a different way to physical medicines.  However, if you are unsure do consult a homeopath before use.
 
Can I use homeopathy for during my pregnancy or for my newborn?

Homeopathy is non toxic, has no side effects, and is safe for babies & during pregnancy.  If in doubt, do consult a homeopath about your own situation.

How do I go about choosing a remedy?

Here's a little potted version of a talk I regularly give to home prescribers on choosing a remedy.
 
We choose a remedy based on the Law of Similars;  any substance which can cause symptoms of illness in a healthy person, can cure those same symptoms in a sick person - eg if we drink too much coffee and have insomnia, shaking, nervous excitement, etc, Coffea (homeopathic coffee) would help with these symptoms or if we have a cold or hayfever with runny nose and eyes, similar to when we peel an onion, Allium Cepa (homeopathic onion) would help.

When we are choosing a homeopathic remedy we are really looking at all the ways the person has changed through their illness - what new symptoms do they have since they got sick?  Eg fever, irritability, weepiness, strong thirst, desire for milk or pickles, sensitivity to cold, etc.  These new symptoms are what lead us to the correct medicine.

How much do I give and how often?
 
Minimum dose – we try to give the least number of doses required to stimulate the body to bring about improvement in symptoms.  This might be one dose only – which can often be enough for improvement to take place - or 3 times a day for 3 days, or once a day for a week.
 
Size of Dose  - This is actually fairly irrevelant because homeopathy is about quality of what you give, rather than quantity, but as a guide:
  0-6 years – 1 or 2 drops  
  over 6 years – 3 or 4 drops   
  pilules – 1 or 2 pilules any age

Frequency of Dose – for acute symptoms dose hourly for the first day, 2 hourly the second day if improving and 4 hourly on day 3.  Then continue once or twice a day if you still need to give a remedy.  You can put the drops or 1 pilule in the child’s drink bottle for school.  For less acute symptoms, give 3 times a day for 3 days.

 
What is potency and what potency should I use?
 
Potency – this indicates how many times the remedy has been diluted and succussed (banged) when it has been made by the pharmacy.  For home prescribing use 6x, 6c or 30c – the same frequency of dose as above for any of these potencies.  These potencies are also the most available and will work well in the majority of cases.

Higher potencies (ie 200c, 1M, 10M) will need less doses and are only sometimes required in acute prescribing.
 
How do I know if my remedy is working?

Change can be subtle such as a child falling asleep or seeming a bit brighter or it can be instant with fever reducing, tooth pain or tummy ache resolving. 

Sometimes the improvement is very quick, other times it may take hours or a number of days depending on the symptoms you are treating. You will know that something has changed if the remedy is right.
 
When should I change the remedy?

Only change the remedy if the symptoms change and the remedy doesn’t seem to be working anymore.  If you’ve given five or six doses over a few hours and nothing has happened at all, consider changing your remedy or call your homeopath.  Be aware, however, that change can be subtle!
 
 
DISPENSING & ADMINISTRATION NOTES

GENERAL

- Homeopathic remedies are safe to give to any age group, including newborns & to use during pregnancy.

- Remedies do not interact with other forms of medication and can safely be used alongside Panadol and other drugs.

- If you cannot choose between 2 remedies, alternate them rather than give together (see below).

- In the case of a fever or other acute illness, give the remedies a chance to work before you try the Panadol etc. It is better to let the fever break without suppressing it, as this gives the best outcome and strengthens the immune system.  If in doubt consult your homeopath or medical practitioner.

- If you are anxious about giving pilules whole, crush between two clean teaspoons and tap a little into baby’s mouth. 

- If you find pilules difficult to administer, put 1 pilule in 1/4 glass of water.  Stir vigorously and give 1 teaspoon as the dose.

- For animals and birds, remedies can be made up as above and if unable to give by mouth, drop on the beak, top of the head or other area where the remedy can contact the skin.  Some books say to drop in the eye.

- Remedies can also be made up in liquid.   Please ask when remedies are dispensed, but be aware that remedies will not last as long when made up in liquid and can be easily contaminated if the mouth touches the dropper.

- Remember to look for mental or emotional changes (moods etc) in your patient, and also consider whether there are changes in thirst, appetite or sleep symptoms as well as the physical problem you want to treat.  This way your remedy is more likely to work.

- Remedies can be subtle in their differences so sometimes it may be a close choice between two remedies.  You can either give them separately - try one for a few doses, then the next - or you can alternate them - give them 10 or 15 minutes apart.

DOSE

The dose for remedies is 1 or 2 pilules or 3 or 4 drops as required until improvement is felt.  With homeopathics the quantity is less important than how often you give the remedy.

If the situation is severe take one dose every 10-15 minutes then spread out to hourly, 2 hourly and 4 hourly as improvement is seen.

If there is no reaction after five doses the remedy is probably incorrect. Select another remedy or consult your homeopath.

CARE OF YOUR REMEDIES

1. Do not touch the remedies with your hands.  Roll into lid of container and drop under tongue. Remedies are absorbed in the mouth, so  allow to dissolve there if possible.  The remedy will still work if this is not possible due to age or condition.

2. Try to take remedies 10 minutes before or after food, drink, smoking, and brushing teeth. This promotes the best remedy action, but in a really acute situation just give the remedy!

3. Discard any pilules which are dropped as they may be contaminated.

4. Store remedies away from direct light & heat, strong smells (such as essential oils) and electrical appliances.  Try not to leave in a hot car or store next to a mobile phone or microwave.

Any information given for the remedies does not replace advice from your doctor or homeopath and we advise you to seek medical help and diagnosis as appropriate.

BUILDING A CASE
 
If you are becoming experienced with using your remedies, here are some things to think about when choosing a remedy.  If you have got to this stage I am assuming you will have some reference books at home.
 
How to Begin

1.  Identify factors which may have contributed to onset of the illness - eg exposure to cold, received bad news, too much alcohol/food, insufficient sleep.

2.  Note the main symptoms - take note of any changes they have experienced from their healthy state - ie become pale in the face, increased thirst, craving for milk, irritability

3.  Any emotional changes since onset - irritable, weepy, angry, clingy

4.  Ask questions which relate to their strongest symptoms, try to fill in the gap - eg diarrhea - nature of stool, pain, better or worse for what?  Remember to find out what makes them or their symptoms feel better or worse - heat, cold, fresh air, cold drinks, lying down, crying. Is time of significance to the illness, eg worse at 9pm, started at 3pm.

5.  Ask question about their system as a whole - are they more hot or cold, feeling tired, or more sweaty.

6.  Be observant - what can you see, hear, feel, smell, taste!!

7.  If still insufficient information to select a remedy, start at head and move down: light sensitive, nasal discharge, earache, mouth ulcers, bad taste, sore throat.

Organize your information

Arrange into the order of importance or strength of symptoms.  Indicate the strength with a number from 1-3.  Keep the 'better' or 'worse' for symptoms separate.

Most valuable symptoms are the Strange, Rare, Striking or Peculiar - ie those that make you sit up and think. EG burning pains better for hot applications, dry mouth without any thirst, nausea better for eating.

Now look for a suitable remedy 

Try to avoid looking for a remedy that just fits the physical symptoms.

Focus on: 

  Emotional state
  What makes them better or worse
  Thirst or lack of
  Sleep symptoms
  Any food desires or aversions they may have since ill
  Time of onset or time they are worse

Then once you narrow down to a couple of remedies, look at the physical symptoms as well and pick a remedy!