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Homeopathy

by admin_ben — last modified 2008-01-24 03:04

Homeopathy uses tiny amounts of a substance that causes an illness in order to treat the sick person's symptoms. The dose is made up of plant, animal or mineral material, and is soaked in alcohol and shaken. The theory is that "like cures like" and the treatment dates back to ancient Greece.

According to the 'Law of Similars' the patient's symptoms are used as a guide to determine the best homoeopathic remedy for a cure. Patients are also classified by their 'constitutional type', i.e. certain physical, mental and emotional characteristics that may make a person particularly vulnerable to certain types of imbalance.

Research into homeopathy
The British Medical Journal looked at over 100 homeopathic studies and concluded that 80% showed homeopathy to be effective but that many of the studies had design flaws. Studies carried out at Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital show homeopathy to effectively treat hay fever. Other studies have shown benefits from homeopathy for asthma, skin disease, colds and flu, high blood pressure, whooping cough, insomnia, irritable bowel and depression.

What happens when I go to see a homeopath?
You have a 1-2 hour consultation where the homeopath asks you about:

  • Your physical health
  • Your mental health
  • Your emotional health
  • Your lifestyle
  • Your fears
  • Your preferences
  • If you are taking any other herbs, remedies, essential oils or medication.


They then analyse your answers and decide which constitutional ‘type’ you are and classify your symptoms. They then give you a remedy, which could be small pills, tablets or granules or a liquid.

When you start taking a remedy you may find you feel slightly worse before you get better. This state is known as the ‘healing crisis’ and is believed to show that the body is trying to rebalance itself. However if you suffer any unusual change in symptoms contact your practitioner or GP immediately. You should start to feel better within a few days.

To find a registered professional practitioner in your area visit The Society of Homeopaths website.

Disclaimer
All content in the Healthy Ideas section is for general information only and is not intended to replace medical advice. Always consult your GP if you are concerned about your health. SPAN is not responsible or liable for any actions taken by a user of this site. SPAN is not liable for the contents of any external sites listed, nor does it endorse any advice, products or services mentioned on these sites.

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