What is Homeopathy?
The usual answer that you will come across is, Homeopathy is an alternative system of medicine. However, this says nothing about Homeopathy. In fact, Homeopathy is both an art as well as science of observations. A Homeopathic Physician (or a Homeopath) studies the patient as a whole and not just the disease. For a Homeopath, symptoms are most important. Manifestation of the disease depends on the constitution of the patient and therefore visible symptoms give important clues to the Homeopath about the patient. However, symptoms, in general, include physical, emotional as well as mental responses to the ailment and even these are important for a Homeopath in arriving at appropriate remedy for the health problem of a person. It is therefore important for a Homeopath to interact with the patient and cooperation of the patient is vital in prescribing accurate remedy for the ailment.
Why should you go for Homeopathy?
A patient often visits a physician at the recommendation of a friend or a relative. Many times the patient is asked to take several strong medicines along with a diet plan. However, often there are worse side effects both of short term as well as long term. Homeopathy, on the other hand, is a safe medicine system with no harmful side effects provided it is prescribed by a registered practitioner with a detailed study of the patient. There are many advantages of visiting a Homeopath first. The Homeopath gives good audience to the patient as well as takes down detailed case history. The Homeopath is also a keen observer who prescribes the remedy after taking all the inputs into account. Often patients visit Homeopath only after trying out other medicine systems yielding no positive results. This usually complicates matter for the patient because strong medicines suppress the symptoms rather than curing them and in addition lead to harmful side effects. In Homeopathy, remedies are supposed to stimulate your body to fight the disease from within rather than pumping a whole lot of medicines in to the body and suppressing the disease temporarily. Homeopathic medicines are simple to administer, and in fact, can even be given to infants, pregnant or lactating women as well as to old people. Homeopathic medicine is in dilute form and in classical homeopathy; the physician prescribes single remedy for the patient. Homeopathic Remedies are proved on healthy humans of both genders and of various ages.
Is Homeopathy safe?
It is extremely safe and gentle. All the remedies are made from plants, animals and minerals. Medicines are potentized but highly diluted doses. The purpose of these dilute doses is to stimulate the body’s natural energy, which in turn combats external infections. There is no danger of addiction. In the process of potentization curative properties of the remedies are enhanced and poisonous and undesirable side effects are ameliorated. Homeopathy therefore is an important part of health plan that includes additional health modalities and health therapies.
What can you expect from a Homeopathy consultation session?
Your first visit to a homeopath is almost as important as going for a your first job interview. You should be prepared to answer all kinds of questions a homeopath would ask. She is going to enquire about various details including your family history, past history. She is not only going to listen to everything that you will say, but also the way you express yourself, because that is important for the homeopath. This includes your feelings, sensations and moods as well. You will be given full audience by the homeopath and I request you to feel free to unfold yourself. The homeopath will listen to you very carefully, your each sentence is important for her because it will help her to arrive at the appropriate remedy for you. I can guarantee you will experience the same kind of relief and relaxation, you get when you unfold yourself to a close friend. As a result, your first meeting is, for sure, going to be longer, at least about 1& 1/2 hr to 2 hr in duration. The subsequent meetings will be shorter than this, and may occasionally extend beyond 45 min. But remember throughout your visits whatever you say is most important because a homeopath will derive conclusions from what is informed (revealed) by the patient. Only your cooperation can help the homeopath can find the best remedy for you. It is important to note that the homeopath will keep all the information given by you confidential and will use only for determining best remedy for you.
How long does it take to see any improvement?
For first aid and acute illnesses, Homeopathy acts extremely quickly. The duration of treatment depends on the illness and recovery depends on reactivity of the patient which differs from one person to other. It also depends on age, health of the person and strength of the dose. Recovery is faster if the treatment is accompanied by good basic diet. During the treatment the patient should reduce intake of sugar, fat and alcohol. Sometimes during the treatment earlier symptoms reappear, but this is, in fact, a good sign because re-emergence of old symptoms signify that they are no longer suppressed. It is also indicative of the original reason for the current illness. In case the symptoms are of chronic nature, improvement may take longer but you will notice the positive change in you within a few visits. You will experience a definite change in your energy level and will have a distinct sense of general well-being. This is due to enhancement of vital energy in your body due to Homeopathic remedies.
Can Homeopathic medicines be taken with conventional medicines?
If you are taking medicines for health problems like Diabetes, Blood Pressure, Hormonal Therapy, you will have to continue taking these medicines along with the Homeopathic remedy. Depending upon your response to Homeopathic remedies, other medicines can be tapered off slowly. However, it is best to let the Homeopath take this decision after monitoring patient’s response to Homeopathic remedies. Same is applicable to other acute health problems.
Is Homeopathy only for chronic diseases or does it work for acute conditions?
We have already explained that homeopathy is not only for Chronic diseases. In homeopathy individuality of a person is more important than the disease itself. In acute diseases only temporary symptoms are observed carefully and selection of the remedy is done accordingly. An individual is relieved of acute symptoms depending on age and reactivity. However, sometimes these acute symptoms keep on returning and do not completely disappear. This repetition of the symptoms is an indication that a chronic disease is the deeper condition of all the acute symptoms. In other words, in chronic disease we have to treat the underlying acute manifestations of the individual. That is the reason why it takes longer time to come to the final conclusion of the remedy, which we call the constitutional remedy for the individual.
Will I be able to pay by my insurance?
Your health insurance can cover part or all of your visit to a Homeopathic practitioner, if the practitioner has a medical or other health care license. Some insurance companies may take care of all the expenses, it is best to enquire with your health insurance provider.