Frequently Asked Questions
What can be treated?
Homeopathy has much to offer all kinds of health problems, whether there is a long standing illness (mental or physical), a short illness like a cough, cold or injury or a specific problem such as irritable bowel, menstrual pain, eczema, asthma, depression, anxiety and so on. People may find that as well as treating their physical symptoms, their enjoyment of life and energy increases after a successful course of homeopathic treatment.
What happens at an appointment? Homeopathic treatment is tailored to the individual and considers the person as a whole. I will take time to listen to you, and treat you as the individual you are, taking into account your mental and emotional state and your physical condition, and will prescribe the remedies that are most appropriate to you.
At the first consultation we will talk about your complaint or condition in detail. It is helpful for me to know when it started, and anything that makes it better or worse. I will also ask you about your family's medical history as well as your own personal health history.
Information about your personality, lifestyle, moods, reactions to different situations, and your relationships, fears and dreams, as well as your life history, including emotional shocks and problems will all help me to build up my overview of you as a whole person.
Whatever is discussed in the consultation is private and confidential, and I abide by the Alliance of Registered Homeopath’s Code of Ethics and Practice.
What happens at the end of the consultation?
At the end of the first appointment, I will evaluate your case, discuss your course of treatment with you, and how many appointments you are likely to need. Appointments are usually monthly at first.
You will then be prescribed a safe and effective course of homeopathic treatment that is carefully tailored to you and based on your current health priorities. I will give you your remedy or remedies at the consultation, or else your prescription will be sent to you in the post shortly afterwards, with instructions.
I may include Flower Essences with the homeopathic prescription where relevant.
Once the main problem has been resolved, many patients like to come back periodically for preventative treatment.
At the end of the first appointment, I will evaluate your case, discuss your course of treatment with you, and how many appointments you are likely to need. Appointments are usually monthly at first.
You will then be prescribed a safe and effective course of homeopathic treatment that is carefully tailored to you and based on your current health priorities. I will give you your remedy or remedies at the consultation, or else your prescription will be sent to you in the post shortly afterwards, with instructions.
I may include Flower Essences with the homeopathic prescription where relevant.
Once the main problem has been resolved, many patients like to come back periodically for preventative treatment.
What results can I expect?Your reaction may take various forms:
- A rapid improvement in energy and well-being, along with a diminishing of symptoms.
- An initial slight flare up of existing symptoms followed by an improvement.
- A brief return of symptoms from the past, followed by an improvement.
These are all indications that the body is responding to the stimulus of the remedy, and it is usually best to leave the process to work through to completion.
How long might the treatment take to work?
Homeopathic treatment involves a process in which your body and emotions are encouraged towards finding the best possible level of health for you as an individual.
As a general rule, a problem that has been around for many years will take longer than a more recent one. For instance, in first aid and acute illnesses, homeopathy can be extremely quick and effective. With longer-term conditions, a safe and gradual return to health may take longer and require several appointments. Ulimately, the time taken depends on the individual and how they respond to treatment.
I like to work by taking an initial case and following up at least twice. Many of my clients like to return on a regular basis after their initial problem has been resolved, because they find that they benefit in terms of sleep quality, energy levels and raised immunity, but there is no obligation.
Homeopathic treatment involves a process in which your body and emotions are encouraged towards finding the best possible level of health for you as an individual.
As a general rule, a problem that has been around for many years will take longer than a more recent one. For instance, in first aid and acute illnesses, homeopathy can be extremely quick and effective. With longer-term conditions, a safe and gradual return to health may take longer and require several appointments. Ulimately, the time taken depends on the individual and how they respond to treatment.
I like to work by taking an initial case and following up at least twice. Many of my clients like to return on a regular basis after their initial problem has been resolved, because they find that they benefit in terms of sleep quality, energy levels and raised immunity, but there is no obligation.
Can homeopathy be combined with conventional medicine?Homeopathic remedies can be taken either on their own as an alternative, or alongside conventional medicine as a complement.
People taking an over-the-counter, self-prescribed medicine on an "as-needed" basis may find that homeopathic remedies work just as well, enabling them to reduce or dispense with their previous medicine.
Prescribed medication for a more serious or complicated illness that is under the control of the GP should not be reduced unless this has been carefully discussed and checked with your healthcare provider. I always ask which medicines you are currently taking so that I can take these into account. However, sometimes patients do come with a list of prescription drugs that they would like to discontinue using. In some cases this can be achieved gradually over time in conjunction with their healthcare provider, so that potential withdrawal symptoms are minimised or avoided.
What about side effects?
Side effects as most people know them, are usually to be found listed in a leaflet that comes with a pharmaceutical drug, detailing all the potential side effects of that drug.
In the case of pharmaceutical drugs, a powerful material chemical has been introduced into the body with the aim of influencing a particular organ or system of the body in a positive way. Side effects can occur because the chemical is not necessarily of benefit to other parts or systems of the body.
For example:
Generic drug name: 'Ibuprofen' Brand name: 'Nurofen' and others
Drug mechanism: A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug commonly used to treat pain, swelling, and fever.
Side effects: The most common side effects from Ibuprofen are rash, ringing in the ears, headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhoea, constipation and heartburn.
Interactions with other drugs: Ibuprofen is associated with several suspected or probable interactions that can affect the action of other drugs. Ibuprofen may increase the blood levels of lithium. Increased levels of lithium may lead to lithium toxicity. Ibuprofen may reduce the blood pressure–lowering effects of drugs that are given to reduce blood pressure. Individuals taking oral blood thinners or anticoagulants should avoid Ibuprofen because Ibuprofen also thins the blood, and excessive blood thinning may lead to bleeding.
Source: www.medicinenet.com/Ibuprofen/article.htm
In comparison, because Homeopathy is an energy medicine, we are not introducing material substances into the body, so there are no side effects in the above way, nor are there any interactions with other drugs.
Secondly, Homeopathic remedies treat the whole body, so do not work on one organ whilst potentially ‘upsetting’ another.
Sometimes, when a remedy is given to promote balance, the body can seem to react in a way that may feel undesirable. A good example of this is the body getting rid of toxins via the bowels or the skin. While this may seem undesirable and even unpleasant at the time, it shouldn’t last more than 48 hours and long term, is in the body’s interest. Such reactions are known as ‘aggravations’ and are not common. I take special care that the chance of aggravation is minimised in my own practice by the way I prescribe and by effective case management.
Side effects as most people know them, are usually to be found listed in a leaflet that comes with a pharmaceutical drug, detailing all the potential side effects of that drug.
In the case of pharmaceutical drugs, a powerful material chemical has been introduced into the body with the aim of influencing a particular organ or system of the body in a positive way. Side effects can occur because the chemical is not necessarily of benefit to other parts or systems of the body.
For example:
Generic drug name: 'Ibuprofen' Brand name: 'Nurofen' and others
Drug mechanism: A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug commonly used to treat pain, swelling, and fever.
Side effects: The most common side effects from Ibuprofen are rash, ringing in the ears, headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhoea, constipation and heartburn.
- Reduces the ability of blood to clot and therefore increase bleeding after an injury... may cause ulceration of the stomach or intestine.
- Reduces the flow of blood to the kidneys and impair function of the kidneys. The impairment is most likely to occur in patients who already have impaired function of the kidney or congestive heart failure.
- Fluid retention (oedema), blood clots, heart attacks, hypertension and heart failure have also been associated.
Interactions with other drugs: Ibuprofen is associated with several suspected or probable interactions that can affect the action of other drugs. Ibuprofen may increase the blood levels of lithium. Increased levels of lithium may lead to lithium toxicity. Ibuprofen may reduce the blood pressure–lowering effects of drugs that are given to reduce blood pressure. Individuals taking oral blood thinners or anticoagulants should avoid Ibuprofen because Ibuprofen also thins the blood, and excessive blood thinning may lead to bleeding.
Source: www.medicinenet.com/Ibuprofen/article.htm
In comparison, because Homeopathy is an energy medicine, we are not introducing material substances into the body, so there are no side effects in the above way, nor are there any interactions with other drugs.
Secondly, Homeopathic remedies treat the whole body, so do not work on one organ whilst potentially ‘upsetting’ another.
Sometimes, when a remedy is given to promote balance, the body can seem to react in a way that may feel undesirable. A good example of this is the body getting rid of toxins via the bowels or the skin. While this may seem undesirable and even unpleasant at the time, it shouldn’t last more than 48 hours and long term, is in the body’s interest. Such reactions are known as ‘aggravations’ and are not common. I take special care that the chance of aggravation is minimised in my own practice by the way I prescribe and by effective case management.
I can’t see the answer to a question I have; what can I do?
Please do get in touch with me if you have a question, either by email or on the phone. I offer a free friendly chat though please be aware during the day my phone is on answer phone and I generally return my calls in the evening.
If this is not convenient, please email me to arrange a mutually convenient time to chat.
Please do get in touch with me if you have a question, either by email or on the phone. I offer a free friendly chat though please be aware during the day my phone is on answer phone and I generally return my calls in the evening.
If this is not convenient, please email me to arrange a mutually convenient time to chat.
Privacy Policy
The information collected from customers or those enquiring about services, is for contact only and used solely for that purpose. Your details will not be shared with other organisations or used for commercial purposes and I ensure that all personal information supplied is held securely.
The information collected from customers or those enquiring about services, is for contact only and used solely for that purpose. Your details will not be shared with other organisations or used for commercial purposes and I ensure that all personal information supplied is held securely.
