This Sunday at 10am I’ll be giving a lecture called Defending Homeopathy in the 21^st Century for the Homeopathic Medical Association. There is no doubt that homeopathy needs defending in the UK at the moment as the attacks on it, while lacking innovation, have been relentless and vicious with little space granted to us in the media to defend ourselves.

The drivel written about homeopathy has been so egregious that I feel it is not only necessary to refute what has been said but also to explain what exactly homeopathic doctors do.

Our opponents repeat one mantra: “The medicines cannot work because they are placebo.” Then they say that ‘good results’ obtained by homeopaths must therefore be purely due to placebo and meta-analyses confirm this etc. etc. They focus on the pills and impossible dilutions and choose to eschew homeopathic philosophy completely.

What you never hear described is the homeopathic process – ie. what happens when you consult a homeopathic doctor.

• Do homeopathic doctors examine you?
• Do homeopathic doctors ever use ordinary medicines such as antibiotics?
• Do homeopathic doctors believe in surgery?
• Do homeopathic doctors believe in vaccination?

The answers are “YES to all of the above.”

So how about these questions?

• How then do homeopathic and their orthodox colleagues differ?
• What do homeopathic doctors do that conventional doctors do not?
• What questions do homeopathic doctors ask you that orthodox doctors don’t?
• What is the purpose of these questions?
• What can I expect when I consult a homeopathic doctor?
• How much time will a homeopathic doctor spend with me?

For the answers to these questions watch the vodcast please.

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It is possible to view the human body as a complex organism which is more than the sum of its parts and only partially understandable in its functions. Medical scientists can never repair the body with the confidence with which a motor mechanic may fix a car. This is because the mechanic has a complete work manual for the car setting out the function of every nut and bolt. Medical doctors do not enjoy the luxury of having the manufacturer’s work manual for each and every human body. The marvellous textbooks on anatomy, physiology and pathology will never have all the answers.

It is obvious however that there is an essential difference between fixing a machine and repairing the human body. The human body is capable of repairing itself. After a motor accident the bodywork of a car will require the attention of a panel beater but the driver’s bruises will go away by themselves. The body heals (which means ‘makes whole’) itself of bruises and broken skin, colds and flu, headaches, ulcers and numerous other conditions.

When the body does not appear to be doing a satisfactory job of healing itself, one goes to the doctor for help and is treated accordingly. But when the body is capable of healing itself but for some reason is not doing so, would it not make sense first to try to persuade or stimulate it to get on with the job of healing? A stimulus to the body to persuade it to heal itself is generally applied to the whole person and has been aptly described by Dr Eric Ledermann as an holistic stimulus.

Many alternative medical approaches are based on the concept of the holistic stimulus. As this aims to treat the whole person the holistic doctor will need to know a great deal about the patient’s life as well as all the details of the illness itself. Here are some examples of ways in which an holistic stimulus may be applied.

In HOMEOPATHY the principle is to prescribe a medicine which not only suits the symptoms of the illness but also the general physical and mental characteristics of the patient. The classical homeopathic physician will take a very detailed history from the patient asking him or her about all systems of the body, their likes and dislikes with regard to diet, their sleeping habits and their personality. This gives the doctor subtle information about how the whole body is functioning. He or she is then in a position to prescribe a homeopathic remedy which may be able to stimulate the body to heal itself. A successful prescription, being aimed at the whole human being as well as at the illness, will result in the person feeling better in himself as well as in an improvement of the illness.

The remedies themselves are derived from a large variety of natural sources and are given in minuscule doses. If these same medicines were to be given in larger doses they would cause the symptoms that with minute doses they cure. Hence the central principle of homeopathy being ‘let likes be cured by likes’.

In ACUPUNCTURE the central principle is that there is an energy called Chi which circulates all round the surface of the body on invisible lines called meridians. If the movement of this energy is harmonious, the person is healthy. In an ill person the acupuncturist can detect abnormalities in the flow of Chi along the meridians by careful questioning and a subtle examination of the pulse. Along these meridians, which can be compared to train lines, are the acupuncture points, which can be compared to stations. The acupuncturist places very fine needles into carefully selected points on the skin to harmonise the flow of Chi and thus allow the body to heal itself. The application of acupuncture needles can be seen as a type of holistic stimulus leading to increased general health of the patient as well as an improvement of the specific illness.

Homeopathy and acupuncture are two of the best-known forms of therapeutics based on the concept of an holistic stimulus, but there are many others. Massage in its many forms can have a powerful positive effect on the whole person and this may include an improvement in their illness. Osteopathy and Chiropractic in helping to create a healthier spine and joints may also benefit the whole individual. There are many other examples of this type of holistic stimulus and what they each have in common is that the patient is still a passive recipient of treatment. He or she is not necessarily encouraged to participate actively in the application of the holistic stimulus.

Holistic Approach with an active patient:

The patient plays an active role in applying the holistic stimulus to himself or herself.

Here the role of the doctor is to help the patient find ways in which he or she can help himself or herself become healthier generally, in addition to alleviating or eradicating illness.

In REMEDIAL DIETETICS a change in one’s eating habits can act as a powerful, holistic stimulus to health. This is because the food we eat is not only fuel for the body but also the raw material out of which the body must regenerate itself. Thus a healthier diet or even a short, medically supervised fast on fruit and vegetable juices can result in major changes in health and amelioration of symptoms. In this way changes in diet become the treatment or remedy but it is essential that the diet be carefully tailored to suit the needs of the individual.

STRESS RELEASE is another important holistic stimulus. There is little doubt that stress is an important aggravating and even causative factor in many illnesses such as irritable bowel syndrome, stomach ulcers, chronic headaches and high blood pressure. Meditation, breathing techniques, relaxation tapes and Autogenic Training – a powerful stress-releasing and stress-proofing technique – can allow people to release a lot of tension, feel more relaxed and on the path to good health. This can result specifically in great improvements in their illnesses.

Regular EXERCISE, as we all know, makes us feel fitter and more vibrant in ourselves. This can result in an improvement in many of our symptoms. Hatha Yoga is a very sophisticated form of physical education stimulating not only the heart, lungs and muscles but also the internal organs of the body. Tai Chi is a refined series of movements causing the participant to feel energised and relaxed. The Alexander Technique teaches us to use our bodies more gracefully, helps to conserve energy and reduces wear and tear. Any form of sport or exercise, even a ten minute walk every morning, can act as an holistic stimulus and have a positive impact on health.

When we take on the responsibility for doing things to make us feel better, the renewed energy and positive attitude acts as an holistic stimulus on the whole body and can actually activate the healing process.

There are many other therapies in which we can actively participate in making ourselves healthier. Many of these may be used at the same time as using holistic therapies such as homeopathy and acupuncture or conventional medication. Furthermore, different types of treatment used simultaneously may also complement each other – hence the term ‘Complementary medicine’. A sufferer from irritable bowel syndrome, for example, does not have to come off the prescribed medication to try an holistic approach. He may be prescribed a homeopathic medicine, encouraged to learn a deep relaxation technique and to eat a healthier diet all at the same time. As he begins to feel better and the symptoms of the illness improve, it will become clear to both doctor and patient that less and less medication is needed until sometimes it can be dispensed with altogether.

Mind Your Health

Most doctors and health practitioners agree that many illnesses are strongly related to our state of mind. In fact most GPs believe that up to 70% of their consultations are for psychosomatic complaints. This is not to suggest that all these patients are hypochondriacs. Many severe conditions such as stomach ulcers can be psychosomatic in origin, that is a state of mind (‘psycho’) which leads to changes in the body (’soma’), causing disease (or ‘dis – ease’).

The good news about this relationship between mind and body is that it works both ways. If our minds are capable of making our bodies ill, then they are also able to stimulate our bodies to heal themselves. We know that people sometimes lose the will to live after the loss of their life partner. Others survive the most severe illnesses by sheer determination and have written books about how they overcame life-threatening disease by changing their lifestyles. In almost every case the person who recovered changed their very way of being by releasing pent-up emotions, by finding a more fulfilling way of doing their job or by sorting out relationship problems.

Doctors can help patients recover in these ways by listening carefully and asking questions not only about the illness but also about the achievements, disappointments, shocks and happy or unhappy relationships that form part of all of our lives. Many people have nostalgic memories of the ‘good old-fashioned GP who made housecalls in the middle of the night’ and looked after several generations of their families. These doctors are missed because in getting to know a great deal about the lives and families of their patients, they were able to see the psychological conflicts that were aggravating or causing illness. A few gentle, well-chosen words are sometimes enough to make people feel better about themselves and their lives. When this happens their bodies often feel better as well.

In spite of the wonderful advances in technological medicine that have transformed the face of modern medicine and saved millions of lives, many present day doctors have somehow found themselves in a health system whereby they do not have sufficient time to listen to the stories of their patients’ lives. The system is geared to the prescription of drugs.

The family doctor of the future will have time to listen to his or her patients. He or she will have not only the full range of medical and surgical techniques at his or her disposal but also the holistic techniques of complementary medicine. Both systems are valid. The benefits of holistic medicine – with its aim of stimulating the body to heal itself, its less invasive character and fewer side effects – will enhance and expand the therapeutic tools at his or her disposal.

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Health Matters: A Modern Approach

The face of medical care is changing. At the very time modern medical technology is making the most incredible advances, more and more people are choosing ‘Alternatives’ rather than Orthodox medicine. The swing has been so significant that alternative medicine has been said to be the second most successful new industry in Europe in recent times – second only to the microchip. To understand the reasons for this swing we should examine the underlying principles of both conventional medicine and ‘Alternative’ or ‘Complementary’ medicine.

Conventional Medicine: The Use of Mechanistic Tools

Medical schools are in reality sophisticated technical colleges. Their goal is to teach the mechanics of the body by understanding the structure (anatomy), the functioning (physiology), the diseases (pathology) and the treatment (therapeutics). The tools used in the treatment of the body are largely mechanistic and the approach is very similar to that used when repairing a very sophisticated machine.

For example in SURGERY when an inflamed appendix is removed, the body recovers from a dangerous situation and may continue to function normally. This is not dissimilar from removing a buckled mudguard from a bicycle and cycling without it. Surgeons can replace damaged parts such as hips and kidneys with dramatic results, just as a car mechanic may replace a damaged, worn-out tyre or broken generator. Surgery is a high skill, carried out by very special individuals but the mechanistic analogy is valid.

In the use of DRUGS the body is also viewed as a mechanical system. Imagine a situation where water is being pumped into a simple plumbing system and for some reason the pressure in the pipes has become dangerously high and they are in danger of bursting. The condition of high blood pressure may be seen in this way where the heart represents the pump and the arteries represent the pipes. The physician tackles the problem in the same way as would a plumber. He uses drugs to affect the heart beat – that is, he regulates the force of the pump. He uses other drugs to dilate the arteries – that is, he increases the diameter of the pipes. And with diuretics he reduces the total volume of the blood by causing the person to pass a greater volume of urine – that is, he decreases the amount of water in the system. The treatment of a very important problem is essentially mechanistic.

I am not suggesting that doctors perceive their patients as machines – far from it. Most doctors are thoughtful, kind people who care profoundly about their patients. However the tools of modern orthodox medicine mainly reflect a mechanistic approach. What we should ask is “Are these always the best available tools?” I do not believe they are and this is why people all over the world are turning in their thousands to alternative forms of medicine.
We must not reject surgery and drugs. As the main tools of the modern doctor they are spectacularly successful and indispensable in the treatment of numerous, dangerous, acute conditions such as physical trauma, appendicitis, meningitis, pneumonia and many, many others. Nevertheless in many chronic diseases such as eczema, arthritis, asthma, migraine headaches and irritable bowel syndrome, the treatment is more palliative than curative. The doctor, accepting that he cannot cure the troubling, ongoing condition does his best to ease the suffering of the patient with medication. Thus is the eczema soothed by steroid creams, the inflammation and pain of the arthritis reduced with anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications, and the asthma eased by inhalers.

Some people are content with palliation but many are not so satisfied and remain concerned about possible drug dependency and unwelcome side effects. While drugs are aimed at a particular part of the body they are usually taken by mouth eventually reaching the bloodstream and ending up just about everywhere in the body. Where they are not needed they may have adverse effects and the drug manuals are full of lists of these possible side-effects. Thus the unfortunate arthritis sufferer may also suffer a severe upset stomach and the taker of antidepressants may suffer with an uncomfortable dryness of the mouth.

Although the tools of modern medicine have been wonderful in treating many conditions especially acute illnesses, there are numerous chronic diseases where they fall short of the mark. Is there an alternative? If an alternative does exist it must be based on a different principle from the mechanistic model of orthodox medicine.

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A Woman in Severe Pain

I remember a case of a colleague, Dr. Denis Somper, that illustrates this well. Dr. Somper is a classical homeopathic physician and a gentleman of the ‘old school’. He is a retiring and private man and can seldom be persuaded to teach, much to the disadvantage of many doctors studying homeopathy. However I will always associate the word ‘unsolicited’ with him. Over and over he stressed the value of ‘unsolicited’ information from the patient over anything obtained by a direct question. A woman in acute pain had consulted him. He had asked her to describe the pain which she began to do. Eventually she remained silent. As is his custom, he remained comfortable in that silence and waited for the next ‘unsolicited’ symptom. The silence continued….

Eventually the patient could take no more of it and thumping her fist on the desk she yelled at Dr. Somper: ‘ Don’t just sit there, do something!’ Dr. Somper’s description of what he did will remain forever etched in my memory. ‘I gave her Chamomilla and it did something!’ This was unsolicited information of the highest order. The patient did not tell him that she had the symptom, angry when in pain she demonstrated it right in front of him. And this would not have happened if he had spoken instead of remaining silent – even though he must have been aware that his patient was not exactly as comfortable with the silence as he was.

A Case of Passive Aggression?

“The consultation was a normal GP consultation. Husband and wife came in. The wife did all the talking initially and said that she had decided she couldn’t live with her husband any longer. He was stifling her by his neediness and that she was going to leave him but she was worried that this had put him into a suicidal state and could I sort it out please?

So already at this stage I was feeling intensely irritated and cross by the wife and the man who hadn’t even uttered a word at this moment, and was thinking that I was going to tell them to go to Relate and to leave me alone, basically. But because she mentioned suicide I again crossly thought that at least I would have to assess the man’s risk but I was feeling so irritated and angry by the whole situation, it started to set off alarm bells in my head. That made me do something I do in that situation when I’m feeling that I’m really in my stuff and not in the patient’s and I said a little prayer that I say to myself which is “Your eyes please?” It is my way of saying “Can I see this person as You would see him?” So without all my stuff getting in the way, and almost immediately, there was a very big change in the energy in the room from my point of view and I immediately felt a lot more cantered in myself. I looked up at this man and instead of feeling this intense irritation towards him that I’d felt before, I could just see a really frightened person sitting there, which opened me up to compassion instead of irritation, so suddenly I was present for this guy and not trying to throw him out the room.

I then, for no obvious reason, it was just the question that came straight into my mind, asked “Could you tell me about your parent’s marriage?” This guy was still very defended, very cross-legged, sitting back grumpily, sort of saying “I don’t see how that’s relevant.” So I said “Well, could you tell me anyway, I’d like to know something about it, it may be relevant” and he said “As far as I know it was happy” and all his answers were very monosyllabic and closed, closing me off more really but because I wasn’t reacting to that. I was still in my sort of inquiring, gentle space, I suppose. I pursued and just gently carried on with the questioning and said “You say it was happy, are your parents still alive?” which he just said “No, my father’s dead, he died when I was 12″. I said ” Well that was very long ago, it must have been very difficult for you, do you know what happened?” “He committed suicide” so I said “that must have been an awful thing, can you tell me some more about that?”

And there were all these very long silences before my questions. I always wait a bit, he was not forthcoming at all, and he then told me how he’d come home from school and found is father hanging in the kitchen, and again he just sort of stopped dead after telling me that, there was no emotion, still folded arms, quite dispassionate, so I was obviously quite shocked to hear it. I can remember not feeling shocked at the time, I was kind of still fine with it, so I said, “How old was your father?” and he said “44″ and I said “how old are you?” again, with long pauses in between each question, and he said “44″ and I said “Are you frightened you won’t make 45?” at which stage he completely …..he just started sobbing and sobbing and sobbing and it all just sort of, big release and after he’d sobbed for quite a long time……it then all came out, the story, of how he’d found his dad, how that day he hadn’t come straight home from school, he’d disobeyed his parents, he’d gone to play football with his friends in the park and if only he hadn’t done that, if he’d come straight home from school, he might have got there early enough and how this sense of it that it had all been his fault for being this disobedient child…… and he then told me about a recurrent nightmare that he had, where he, it was never about his father, that situation, he said the situations were different every time but it was always the same ending, and the ending of the nightmare was that he was always just too late and so, I wasn’t doing homeopathy at that time so I didn’t have a remedy to give him, nor knowledge of a remedy but it was just sort of real outpouring within about…..a normal GP conversation 15 minutes ……it was getting right to the center of the case in a very short space of time, in a very intense exchange somehow but it was all created by this extra energy that somehow came from somewhere else when I got out of my space, it kind of liberated up a lot of room for things to happen in….”

Story told to Dr Kaplan by homeopathic Doctor in supervision group

She now knew that:
– the husband, as well as feeling suicidal, was fearful of death rather than angry.
– he was keeping the fear hidden behind a mask of passive aggression and had probably not talked to anyone about it.
– he had suffered a significant grief in his life which had probably also been suppressed.
– he felt guilty and irrationally responsible for his father’s death

If she had been even a beginner homeopath at the time, this information would obviously be central to a homeopathic prescription. (Natrum muriaticum came to her mind on reflecting on the case although other remedies such as Aurum metallicum also come into consideration. (A few questions about general symptoms and physical complaints would probably make the choice of remedy clear.)

All this crucial information became available in a second. It was not the length of the consultation that produced it, but the change in the doctor when she said to herself: ‘Your eyes, please?’ I do not know the religion of this student and I did not ask her as it is not important because the actual words of her prayer are clearly non-denominational. What she had asked or prayed for was simply to be without prejudice. Her little prayer had worked and for one glorious moment she had managed to eliminate herself and her ego from the process. For an instant she was able to be totally objective rather than subjective. In that instant everything was clear and she knew that she had made a quantum leap in her understanding of the case. This was a wonderful breakthrough in the consultation. At times like this, we homeopaths, feel truly at ease with ourselves and we understand what it is to be of service in our profession.

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Ten Useful homeopathic Remedies to have in your Medical Chest

1. ARNICA: The great remedy for trauma, bruising and after childbirth and surgery. It is useful and safe in almost any accident or injury. A dose every few hours after the event can be most helpful.
2. ACONITE:
   1. The famous remedy for shock especially if the patient is fearful and restless. Of course conventional treatments are essential as well but a quick dose of Aconite from your home kit can be invaluable.
   2. A useful remedy to treat colds and ‘flu at the earliest possible stage. As soon as you feel that you are ‘about to come down with something’, start taking Aconite every hour. It is especially applicable when you have been exposed to a chill or cold wind and feel that you are starting to get ill.
3. CHAMOMILLA: A very helpful medicine for teething. It is especially effective if the child is very irritable (almost always the case!) and has a reddish cheek or concomitant diarrhoea.
4. LEDUM: Good for insect bites and other piercing type skin injuries.
5. RHUS- TOX: Use in strains and sprains to tendons and muscles especially if they are worse in cold and damp weather. Arnica is usually the best remedy immediately after the event but if discomfort persists Rhus often becomes necessary.
6. CANTHARIS: It has two useful applications in the home.
   i) For burns and scalds. A dose every half hour for a while.
   ii) For burning on urination and other cystitis like symptoms. Of course if these persist even for more than a few hours, a visit to a doctor and investigation of the urine is imperative.

   
   

7. THUJA:
   i) A useful remedy for any ill-effects of a vaccination. A few doses can be taken prophylactically after any vaccination.
   ii) Thuja is a renowned homeopathic remedy for the treatment of warts and verrucae. Here a dose may be taken twice a day for several weeks.

   
   

8. COCCULUS: A great remedy for car and sea sickness. One dose an hour before the journey and one every hour or so during it.
9. GELSEMIUM:
   i) A good remedy for influenza or ‘flu-like symptoms’ especially if the patient is drowsy, lethargic, thirstless and has aching muscles and joints.
   ii) Can be taken for apprehension before important events like examinations or stage fright.

   
   

10. CALENDULA CREAM: The best homeopathic cream for grazes and scalds. It is sometimes used for rashes of various kinds but these really need expert attention if they do not resolve in a few days.

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Homeopathy is a useful therapeutic tool for all members of the family but it is not a complete medical system which can totally replace the conventional approach. homeopathic remedies can however act as holistic stimuli which are capable of triggering a healing response in the body.

In any given situation a decision must be made to decide what type of treatment is in the best interest of the patient. In life-threatening conditions such as appendicitis and meningitis, there is simply no alternative to orthodox scientific medicine. In addition where there is any risk at all of irreversible damage, we are obliged to use surgery or orthodox drugs immediately.

However most conditions seen in general practice do not fall into the above categories, and therefore homeopathy has a place in the following:

• most chronic diseases (migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, skin conditions, arthritides and many others.)
• a disposition to recurrent attacks of acute illnesses (tonsillitis, otitis media, frequent colds and ‘flu)
  
  
• acute conditions which are not treatable by conventional medication or where the patient or his/her parent would prefer if possible to avoid drugs (colic, teething, colds and ‘flu, gastroenteritis)

The School Child

Most homeopathic doctors agree that children seem to respond particularly well to this form of treatment. The homeopathic doctor takes a careful history of the main complaint but also asks many questions about the personality of the child as well as what their favourite foods are, what weather they prefer and many other factors. Parents and relatives can provide further information (with the patient’s permission of course!) Finally a remedy is chosen not only for the illness but to suit the child as a “whole person”.

Children may be wary of doctors and during the homeopathic consultation the child has the opportunity to develop a relationship with the doctor, to ask many questions and will also be encouraged to talk about him or herself. In this way the homeopathic doctor can build an objective detailed physical and psychological profile of the patient and identify the best remedy for that person. The powders themselves are sweet tasting and do not have the clinical look sometimes associated with conventional medicines.

In all illnesses it is preferable to have the remedy chosen by an expert homeopath, but it is possible to treat some conditions at home with the help of homeopathic books and the advice of an homeopathic doctor. (See later).

Adults and the Elderly

Homeopathy is an excellent therapeutic tool for people of all ages. Most patients appreciate the comprehensive history taken by homeopathic doctors. The first visit may take an hour, but when one is ill, one may feel vulnerable, anxious and even very scared. In a homeopathic interview one is given the space and time to describe one’s symptoms in great detail. Importance is given to the psychological reaction to being ill. All this information is essential in finding the appropriate remedy but the whole process of the interview is often therapeutic as the patient really feels listened to. Cynics and critics often say that this is how homeopathy works, but this by implication suggests that all doctors should take histories like homeopaths do!

Homeopathic doctors are convinced that the remedies themselves are powerful therapeutic tools and more and more double blind clinical trials are beginning to demonstrate this.

Obviously a consultation with a homeopathic doctor is the most reliable way of getting the best treatment for yourself but it is possible to treat yourself at home in selected conditions. We will discuss ten useful homeopathic remedies to have in your medical chest but homeopathic books can be useful in selecting remedies for yourself.

The following books are recommended:

1. Gemmel, Dr David: Everyday homeopathy. A Safe Guide for Self Treatment. pub. Beaconsfield 1987.
2. Lockie, Dr Andrew: The Family Guide to Homoepathy. The Safe Form of Medicine for the Future. Hamish Hamilton 1990.
3. Herscu, Paul. homeopathic Treatment of Children Pediatric constitutional types. North Atlantic books 1991. This book describes eight of the most useful remedies prescribed for the ‘whole child’ in fascinating detail.
4. Lockie, Dr Andrew and Geddes, Dr Nicola: The Woman’s Guide to homeopathy. The Natural Way to a Healthier Life for Women. Hamish Hamilton, 1992.

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Making a home kit of Homeopathic remedies.

Most of the above remedies are available at most chemists and health food shops. However they are sold in quite large bottles which may not be convenient for travel. A homeopathic pharmacist will be able to make you a very neat kit of these medicines which can easily be slipped into a briefcase or handbag. For a list of homeopathic pharmacies and homeopathic doctors one should contact:

The British Homeopathic Association
27a Devonshire Street
London
W1N 1RJ
+44 207 935 2163
Web: trusthomeopathy.org

How to take Homeopathic Remedies

The most appropriate potency for homeopathic remedies in the home is the sixth centesimal strength i.e.: 6c. Conveniently, most homeopathic remedies sold over the counter in pharmacies and health food shops will be the 6c strength. They will be in the form of white tablets which should be taken according to the following rules.

• Empty one tablet into the lid of the container and pop into the mouth without handling the tablet. Suck or chew the tablet and swallow.

• Try to take the remedies on a clean mouth which means at least 10 minutes away from eating, drinking or brushing the teeth.

• Coffee, menthol, eucalyptus and camphor can antidote homeopathic remedies and should be avoided if possible when taking the medicine.

• The medicines should be kept in the same container with the lid firmly shut and kept out of the sun. With this care, they will remain active for decades.

• There is no harm in taking a homeopathic remedy at the same time as conventional medicine. They will not ‘clash’ with each other, but it is always preferable and courteous to let your doctor know that you are doing so

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The preconceptual period

Women who are planning on become pregnant are naturally concerned to keep themselves in good health in preparation for such an important physiological and psychological event in their lives. They may well stop smoking, reduce their alcohol consumption, eat healthily and try to get some exercise.

Homeopathy can be useful in this period because a homeopathic remedy can be prescribed constitutionally. This means that a remedy is chosen for the whole woman rather than any specific condition. The homeopathic doctor will take a very detailed history of all previous diseases, any current illnesses or symptoms as well as the usual homeopathic information about dietary habits, sleep and personality as well as many other good features. If the doctor thinks that there is a good reason to prescribe a homeopathic remedy for the patient, homeopaths believe that a correctly prescribed constitutional remedy for the patient, homeopaths believe that a correctly prescribed constitutional remedy can help the patient in general by lifting her energy, helping her sleep and even make her feel better psychologically.

Infertility

Homeopathy is sometimes useful for couples with fertility problems. Of course, orthodox, investigations are essential in cases of infertility, but in many couples all these tests are normal but the woman just does not fall pregnant. We have all heard of a case where eventually the couple adopt a child and soon afterwards the wife becomes pregnant. Homeopathic treatment of both partners can maximise their health in a general way and it is reasonable that optimal health in a person would include higher fertility.

Pregnancy

Most women are naturally concerned about consuming medications during pregnancy. Homeopathic remedies are generally completely safe in pregnancy and can, therefore, be useful in treating some the the troublesome symptoms that often accompany this state.

Morning sickness

Homeopathic remedies such as Colchicum (especially if the smell of food aggravated the problem), Cocculus (when car sickness is also a factor) and Sympharicarpus racemosa, as well as many others, are useful when trying to treat this problem. Ideally the remedy should be chosen by a trained homeopath to suit the individual as well as her particular symptoms.

Before labour

The remedy Caulophyllum is useful in preparing the uterus for labour and can be given daily for the last few weeks of pregnancy.

Labour

Homeopathic remedies are safe and useful during all three stages of labour. Caulophyllum can be used to optimise the action of the uterine muscles. Other remedies can be chosen to suit any symptoms occurring during this challenging physiological episode.

Inevitably labour causes bruising of the soft tissues of the mother. Arnica, the famous homeopathic remedy for bruising and injury, is an effective remedy and can be used routinely after labour. It can be given in a 30c strength daily for a week starting as soon as possible after birth whether it is a vaginal or by Caesarean section. Most surgery leads to internal bruising and the same Arnica regimen can safely be given after any surgical procedure.

It is not unnatural for a woman who has given birth by section or had an episiotomy to feel slightly resentful about being “cut” in this way. Homeopathy places great emphasis on such psychological symptoms and uses them in selecting the most appropriate for the patient. In these cases the remedy Staphysagria can be most helpful. This remedy can be used after any surgical procedure where the patient resents having to be subjected to the discomfort or inconvenience. This resentment may not be freely volunteered as patients may recognise intellectually the necessity of the procedure but unconsciously still resent having it done to them. This is why homeopaths have to question their patients very carefully and comprehensively, especially with regard to how they feel psychologically about what is happening to them.

The postnatal period

Postnatal depression

A carefully chosen remedy for the patient as a whole can be effective in this condition. This requires taking a comprehensive homeopathic history, as different mothers have different reasons for being depressed. Some cases are very severe and may well need orthodox medication as well as counselling. However, there is no harm in trying homeopathy initially in these cases and only using conventional medication if results are unsatisfactory.

This principle is important for homeopathic doctors in treating any condition. If a patient is not responding to homeopathy, we can always revert back to surgery or drugs. If a patient has a life-threatening disease (or one where there is a risk of irreversible tissue damage) such as meningitis or appendicitis then there is no time for homeopathy, and antibiotics and surgery respectively should be implemented. However, in most conditions there is time first to try the holistic stimulus of a homeopathic remedy to attempt to persuade the body to heal itself. This is in contradistinction to a prevailing “enlightened” attitude towards homeopathy in that “there is no harm in trying it when orthodox treatment can do more for the patient”.

Breast feeding

Problems with breast feeding such as failure to produce enough milk or failure of the milk to “dry up” after breast feeding has ceased can often respond to homeopathic medicines. The remedy Lac caninum is often considered in these sort of problems. Sore nipples often respond well to the application of homeopathic Calendula cream. It is quite safe for mothers who are breast feeding to take suitably prescribed homeopathic remedies. A healthier mother means a healthier baby.

Homeopathy for the under-fives

Neonates

If labour has been quite traumatic and long and if forceps have been used it is reasonable to assume that the baby has been quite bruised physically and even psychologically. Frederick Leboyer in his book Birth Without Violence emphasise the need for making the experience of birth as gentle as possible for the baby. Even the psychological state of those present at the birth is considered important. This book and others has led to a swing towards home deliveries as well as gentler ways of dealing with labour and in much less clinical and more home-like environments.

However, clinical procedures are often necessary for a satisfactory labour. If the infant has had a long traumatic labour and experienced forceps on its head, which cannot be very comfortable and certainly causes some bruising, then Arnica is again a very useful remedy to give the baby. One can just sprinkle a few granules of Arnica 30c or 200c on the baby’s tongue. A single dose if often enough to optimise the body’s attempts to heal its wounds.

Babies

Unfournately homeopaths cannot ask babies a long list of questions in order to choose the best homeopathic remedy for any particular condition. But we can ask the parents questions about the baby as well as observing the baby most carefully. The aim is to choose a remedy to suit the condition as well as the infant. Chubby babies require different constitutional remedies from thin babies, as do babies who sleep through the night compared to those who do not.

It is, however, sometimes possible to prescribe a remedy for a specific condition. For example, problems with teething often respond to the remedy Chamomilla. A few granules of Chamomilla 30 on the tongue every hour can be tried routinely and especially if the baby is extremely irritable, as teething babies often are!

Young children

Many parents are understandably reluctant about their children taking conventional drugs. In many situations, homeopathy can provide a safe and effective alternative to drugs. This applies to acute, recurrent and chronic illness.

Acute illness

Many viral illnesses such as colds and flu against which we do not have effective conventional medication, can be helped by carefully chosen homeopathic remedies. It is possible to treat various aches, pains and headaches where no clear conventional diagnosis can be made. This is because homeopathic remedies are chosen on the specific symptoms of the patient. Of course it is preferable to make an orthodox diagnosis, but this is not a sine qua non for the prescription of a homeopathic remedy which may be helpful.

Recurrent illness

A child with acute tonsillitis may well respond to penicillin. However, when the problem recurs several times every winter one begins to sense that the problem is not only the causative bacteria but the fact that the child is susceptible to infection of the tonsils. It is this sort of susceptibility that homeopaths hope to rectify by prescribing a remedy for the whole patient as well as the tonsils.

Chronic conditions

Unfortunately we seem to be seeing an increase in childhood chronic diseases such as eczema and asthma. In these conditions orthodox treatment is mainly symptomatic with the use of steriod creams in eczema and steroid and bronchodilating inhalers in asthma. A homeopathic doctor wall not only take a history about the chronic illness, but also about the physical, general and mental characteristics of the patient. Homeopathic doctors believe that correctly chosen remedies are often able to stimulate the body’s innate healing ability leading to an improvement of chronic conditions.

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Homeopathy 1: – What is it?

Homeopathy is available under the National Health Service in certain hospitals. As well as medically qualified homeopaths, there are also “lay homeopaths” and training is available for both medical and non-medically qualified homeopaths.

The word homeopathy is often understood to be synonymous with natural medicine. In fact it is a very specific form of medical therapeutics which was discovered by a physician called Samuel Hahnemann in the early 19th Century.

During Hahnemann’s time medicine was at a very primitive stage with frequent use of bleeding and leeches for most conditions. One of the few medicines that were very effective was quinine in treatment of malaria. Hahnemann decided to experiment by taking some quinine himself. To his astonishment he found himself developing the typical relapsing fever of malaria. Thus he had discovered the central principle of homeopathy – of likes being able to treat likes, or that medicines capable of curing symptoms are also able to produce those same symptoms in a healthy person. Homeopathy means “like disease”.

Homeopathy and conventional medicine

Homeopathy is by no means a complete alternative system of therapeutics to conventional medicine. In my opinion there is no alternative system of therapeutics to conventional medicine. There is no alternative to antibiotics in meningitis, surgery for appendicitis, chemotherapy for Hodgkin’s disease and there are many other examples where any alternative to conventional treatment has no place at all. However, in many disorders where there is no immediate risk of mortality or irreversible damage to the tissues, homeopathy can often be useful in acute and chronic conditions such as viral infections, headaches, premenstrual tension, irritable bowl syndrome, arthritis, migraine, headaches, eczema, and many others.

Stimulating the immune sytem

In homeopathic medicine, we are treating the whole person rather than the disease itself. The human body has an innate healing ability which can be stimulated by a homeopathic remedy. The aim is to stimulate the immune system to fight the illness. Therefore, in prescribing a remedy, we take into consideration many features of the patient as well as a detailed history of the main complaint. Homeopathic doctors ask their patients about the foods they like or dislike, what side of the body they sleep on, whether they like sympathy when they are ill or whether they want to be left alone, and much more. The history alone often takes an hour as the doctor builds a detailed profile of both illness and patient. Finally a homeopathic remedy is prescribed to suit both patient and symptoms.

The remedies come from over 2,000 sources including herbs, metals and poisons, and they are used in very minute dilutions. The medicines are far too dilute to cause harmful effects, but homeopaths believe they are capable of giving the body the specific stimulus it needs to initiate a healing response. Rather than treating the disease, we are encouraging the body to heal itself. How homeopathic remedies do this remains a mystery, but in practise they appear to be effective.

Is homeopathy a placebo response?

The opponents of homeopathy claim that homeopathic medicines are too dilute to cure, and if they do appear to work, then homeopathy works by the placebo effect. There are two responses to this. Firstly, if a successful placebo effect has taken place then surely this is a preferred method than a toxic alternative from conventional medicine? Secondly, there have been some double-blind trials proving the effectiveness of homeopathy – one shows that the remedies are statistically more effective than placebo. Readers are referred to a major article in the British Medical Journal which reviews 107 clinical trails of homeopathic medicine.

Safe medicines

Homeopathic remedies are very safe medicines and they can be used in pregnancy and for very young babies. Side-effects are almost non-existent although very occasionally the patient’s symptoms are aggravated before they improve. They can safely be given alongside orthodox medication and there is no reason why first-aid homeopathy cannot be prescribed by qualified nurses.

The remedies may be prescribed as powders, pills or tinctures. They dissolve easily in the mouth and are pleasant-tasting and therefore popular with children. They can safely be taken in conjunction with orthodox medication. In general, homeopathic doctors would not alter their patients’ existing medications initially. It is prudent to advise the patient to remain on all their current treatment and to take the homeopathic remedy in addition. When the symptoms improve one can consider slowly weaning patients off their conventional medicine (with their general practitioner’s knowledge and consent, of course).

Medical, lay and “classical” homeopaths

Homeopathy is practised in the UK by a wide variety of people. The Faculty of homeopathy has a membership examination for doctors, MFHom, which indicates proficiency in homeopathic prescribing. People in the UK are entitled by an Act of Parliament to homeopathic medicine, prescribed by medical doctors, on the National Health Service. This can be obtained at NHS hospitals in London and Glasgow as well as homeopathic clinics in several other cities. All that is required is a referral form from the patient’s general practitioner. The Faculty can provide lists of the growing number of homeopathic doctors in private practise.

In addition there are many practising homeopaths who are not medical doctors. They are sometimes referred to as “lay homeopaths” or “professional homeopaths” and there are over 20 colleges in the UK for people wishing to train in homeopathy.

“Classical” homeopathy implies the prescription of one homeopathic remedy for the patient at any single occasion, based on the principle of “likes curing likes”. The purists will assert that this is the only form of homeopathy. However, homeopathic remedies are sometimes prescribed using all sorts of diagnostic machines which tend not be trusted by classical homeopaths.

Self-prescribed medicines tend to have variable success and a visit to a homeopath is generally recommended for all conditions besides very basic first aid. Many homeopathic remedies are available over the counter to the general public. Some are actually recommended for specific conditions such as diarrhoea or headaches. These may be single homeopathic remedies or combinations of many remedies.

Homeopathy has been patronised by The Royal Family for many generations in this country and is enjoying a major resurgence worldwide. Together with acupuncture, osteopathy and chiropractic it is one of the four most widely sought forms of alternative medicine in the UK.

Nurses and homeopathy

Nurses are able to work and learn about homeopathy at various NHS homeopathic hospitals in this country but are not admitted to be trained to be homeopathic prescribers by the Faculty of Homeopathy. However, it is possible for nurses to study homeopathy part-time at other homeopathic instutiomns. The training of nurses encourages “whole person” -orientated medicine, and this is a very good starter for nurses to begin their study of homeopathy.

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Homeopathy

Homeopathy and homeopathic medicines are forms of alternative medicine, becoming a more and more popular forms of treatment. Homeopathic medicines are prescribed to treat the medical condition of the patient but to suit the mental and physical attributes of the patient as well. Through natural remedies, homeopathy seeks to cure the patient medically, at the same time treating the whole of the patient, body and mind.

The word “homeopathy” comes from the Greek words “homeo” and “pathos”, meaning “similar” and “suffering”. Samuel Hahnemann coined the word, 200 years ago and since then homeopathy has been maligned, and vilified, and homeopaths have been charged as liars and frauds. All this in spite of 200 years of therapeutic successes.

Homeopathy is designed on a distinct set of principles that recognize an innate healing capacity which all people have. It is this energy that promotes, protects, and initiates our defensive mechanisms in response to adverse conditions. It then controls and guides the natural healing process. Homeopathic medicines are used to treat patients for this energy which homeopathy calls the “vital force”. Without this vital force, there is no sensation, no function, no self-preservation, no life. It is the vital force that is the agent of cure.

Homeopath

Homeopath Dr Brian Kaplan is a doctor prescribing holistic treatment through complimentary medicine. Dr Brian Kaplan, a registered UK homeopath points out that health is often directly linked to the state of the mind so through homeopathy and holistic treatments the mind and body can be treated for a medical condition.

UK homeopaths have based their techniques on the work of ancient medical theories, which despite an improved understanding of the workings of the human body, knowledge about the nature of disease, in particular what caused it, remained firmly tied to the notion of a mystical force.

Homeopathy was founded way after early discoveries by perhaps the first unofficial homeopath Paracelsus which was not until the early 16th century and the work of the Swiss doctor Paracelsus (1493-1541) who discovered that the causes of disease were linked to external forces, such as contaminated food and drink. Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim changed his name to Paracelsus as a mark of respect for Celsus and also to imply that he had surpassed Celsus in his abilities. One of Paracelsus’ greatest achievements as a homeopath was laying down the foundations for modern chemistry and homeopathy by concentrating on practical experimentation rather than alchemy and its quest to transform base metals into valuable ones. He believed that plants and metals contained active ingredients that could be prescribed to match an illness. This belief was based in part on the notion that the external appearance of a plant gave an indication of the ailments it would cure, a theory that became known as the Doctrine of Signatures. For example, Chelidonium majus (celandine) was used to treat the liver and gall-bladder because the yellow juice of the plant looked like bile. Paracelsus also believed that a poisonous substance that causes disease could also cure the disease, if given in very small doses, and that physicians should take into account the body’s own natural ability to heal itself. Again, the “like can cure like” principle was advocated but was ignored by Paracelsus’ fellow physicians. It did not gain popularity for another 300 years, when homeopathy was founded.

Hence we have the work of Dr Brian Kaplan.

Samuel Hahnemann

Samuel Hahnemann developed the idea of homeopathy in 1810, choosing to treat patients through alternative medicine such as diet and exercise rather than medicines. Through complimentary medicine he tried to treat patients in the best way, looking after their minds as well as their bodies.

What Samuel Hahnemann did was to propose remedies — free from all harmful effects — as agents of cure. He offered objectivity, simplicity, originality, and independence in an era of medical arrogance and brutality.

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