Homeopathy Basics

7/31/2019 Homeopathy Basics

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Homeopathy Basics

On the Choice of a HomeopathTwo hundred and fifty years ago, Hahnemann, the Founder of Homeopathy, wrote to a Prince

who was his patient and asked for advice as how to select a reputable physician, a letter on the subject,

“On the Choice of a Family Physician.” Hahnemann’s words ring through now just as much as then

for anyone who must choose a homeopath or other health practitioner. I have taken the liberty to use

his essay as a foundation and adapt it to modern times, when you have the all-important question:

“What do I look for if I want to consult a reliable homeopathic practitioner?”

As Hahnemann stated, “Without being yourself a physician (homeopath), it is impossible to

form an immediate judgment respecting the scientific attainments of a homeopath. Therefore, as a

layperson, in order to select a really good homeopathic practitioner, you must have recourse to some

facts which much guide you to your object with no less certainty than if you had attended a

homeopathic school yourself.”

Here are some of the homeopaths you should not visit:

Homeopath A :Answers your questions with a disdainful air and a few short words. He talks about the

important persons he treated in his office and pays little attention towards heartbreaking and serious

situations of his patient, as he continues to have the same air of the important man he is in every

situation, at home, in the street or in the office. Not even the greatest misery of his patients produces

any change in his frigid professional manner. He has the stethoscope dangling around his neck and his

white coat bears his important name and credentials. While taking your case, he is too immersed in

studying his computer, looking important and barely paying attention to you, the patient. His questions

are short and demand a “yes” or “no” as he is not interested in the details of “how you became sick.”

His office is the model of fashion and his furniture is in the best expensive taste. Such

homeopath plays a role: he is an important actor who has rehearsed his character on a daily basis and

surely finds it tiresome to listen to all the details of your disease. But all he does is hide his limited

homeopathic knowledge behind a thick mask of his profession: any uninvited inquiry obtained by the

patient’s own research is arrested immediately with, “Did you go to medical school or homeopathic

school, or did I?”

Homeopath B :Seems at first a better catch and I am almost half inclined to advise you to select him. His daily

calendar is full of patients for which he has set out ten minutes a visit. After all, he is a superior

practitioner who can understand you and prescribe for, in the small amount of time set apart for your

personal case.

Additional questions at the end of your ten minutes are waved away “as not being necessary”

as the remedy is clear to him. He tells you that he has been twenty years in practice and that he can

recognize the remedy you need upon setting eyes on you. The receptionist hurries you in the office and

the homeopath asks you a couple of questions, and hardly waiting for a reply, he reaches for pen and

paper, and after seemingly deep reflection for two seconds in his chair, he suddenly dashes off theelusive secret remedy and politely hands it over to you. He rubs his hands together, waves you



goodbye and sends you packing in the waiting room that seems to be fuller than ever. Of course, he

already had received a warning from the receptionist that your ten minutes were up.

His presence and help is in such great request that he is perfectly unable to devote a longer

period to each patient. Even in your assigned ten minutes time slot, he had to be interrupted by five

“urgent” calls. All day long, he seems to dispense in profusion prescriptions, advice,

recommendations—like tickets for the theatre. What you need to know is that such a homeopath

cannot attend to any of his patients properly, cannot in a few minutes maturely reflect upon all the

circumstances of your case, and still less find the proper remedies for it, in spite of having the latest

computer software. Even for the “infallible” computer, the dictum is, “Garbage in, Garbage out.”

Without any doubt, this is the homeopath who you will consider to be a fleeting phantom: he never

returns your calls, does not answer any emails and berates you for your “irrelevant questions and

concerns.” Well after this short discourse, I presume you will be inclined to look out for someone else.

Homeopath C :Perhaps you should have a look at this one. After all, he will let you know that he has attended

the best homeopathic school, studied “under” the greatest homeopaths, although it simply means “thathe studied his books, but has not made the effort to really attend any or very few of his lectures.” This

does not stop him of dropping the name of the world renowned homeopath, connecting his website to

the master homeopath as to make sure you understand his own intimate connection to greatness. He

assures you that he practices exactly like his teacher has dictated (according to truly classical

homeopathy), but upon simple investigation he sins against every principle of true homeopathy. He

claims that he has found his own method, necessary because these are new and trying times and

therefore even Hahnemann would have approved of his inventions. Yet this “important” looking

statement only hides his incompetence and laziness to truly study this difficult topic continuously. He

attended a few seminars and now thinks is possessed of a knowledge that no longer needs fine-tuning.

He prescribes for every patient a “protocol,” similar to his well-learned allopathic physicians,

forgetting that to cure a patient the individuality must be taken into account.

According to his conviction--for Disease A, there is “protocol A” which should be applied for

several months. It is a secret wish of someone who wanted to be an allopathic physician or at least

attain his stature, as he seeks to imitate those who practice contrary to anything that stands for

homeopathy. But of course he tells you about the enormous “successes” he had. In reality, he does not

know what a “true cure” stands for: the freedom of any mental, emotional and physical suffering, and

the prevention of recurrence of your disease or transference to another disease. He is sure that his

“genius” will be recognized and that the next Nobel prize in medicine is his. There is no lack of

delusions here.

These stories might be amusing but they are actually derived from many situations I have seenand read. These pseudo-homeopaths are a disgrace to the profession and surely will turn away many

patients from much needed help.

What must you look for?Search for the plain man of common sense, who takes great pain not only to take note of all

your complaints, but also takes time to explain them as he sees it. He might recommend a book to read

as to foster communication, and therefore the chance on finding the right remedy, greater. He gives

you clear and condensed information respecting everything that belongs to the art of homeopathy. He

never shows anger, irritability or impatience when you ask him questions. He listens attentively to thecomplaints of those who seek his help and does not pronounce an opinion without mature reflection.



In order to find someone who has learned the most advanced methods in

homeopathy, pay attention to the following:

1) The good homeopath prescribes ONE remedy only.

2) He puts your remedy in a bottle of water, quantity to be determined by the homeopath. Those who

advise to take your remedy in dry doses have not studied and mastered the most advanced

homeopathic methods, and therefore not only slow down your cure, but often prevent it.

3) The good homeopath tells you to take a test dose that evening and to report within the next two

days as to the result. Do not repeat before you hear from him.

4) He will at this point determine how often you can repeat this therapy, as to make sure your illness

is resolved in the fastest and most gentle way.

5) Avoid those who claim, “You must first go through a strong aggravation of your symptoms before

you can get better,” as well as those who claim, “You must stop first your allopathic medication”

before I can treat you. This is not only untrue, but right-out dangerous as the patient will suffer

withdrawal symptoms. A good homeopath recommends changing the amount and dose of the

allopathic meds ONLY after improvement on the homeopathic remedy is perceived.

6) Avoid those who give you the single remedy dry (take 3 pellets on the tongue) and let you repeat

this every month for a year without changing the strength (potency) of your remedy. This “watch

and Wait” period is NOT Hahnemann’s most advanced method, although practiced by most

homeopaths.

7) The homeopath wants to see you in his office at least every month once but also insists on getting

a report (telephone, fax, email) every week. This way he can do changes when he needs to do so.

8) Avoid those who claim when you bring them informed knowledge of advanced methods, and say,

“I already know all that,” but his actions contradict his words.

9) Avoid those who never return your phone calls or emails or leave on an extended vacation withouthaving anyone backing them up for emergencies.

10) Unfortunately in general, names of schools attended, degrees obtained and masters under whom

they studied, means little. Even the assurance that “he has been in the business of doing

homeopathy for twenty years,” does not assure success. Some homeopaths remain beginners for

the rest of their lives. As in any profession, everything depends on the consciousness and

industriousness of the practitioner and their true desire to help people. Listen to those patients who

he has treated: What was the outcome? How much was he available? How did he treat you? How

was he as a human being? Could he connect to the suffering of the patient?

11) Avoid that homeopath who changes your remedy at every visit or who prescribes several remedies

in rapid succession within weeks. Most likely he has no idea what your remedy really is.

12) Avoid the homeopath who claims that there is no need to treat serious acute events and that your

chronic remedy will take care of any acute situation. It goes against all principles of good

homeopathy. But don’t make the mistake neither to treat every physical trifle with a remedy from

your remedy kit. While under chronic treatment of a good homeopath, communicate with him as to

what acute events need an intervention. Don’t start your own treatment.

13) Avoid the homeopath who tells you that you only need ONE constitutional remedy for the rest of

your life, no matter what happens. This goes against all the principles of homeopathy.

14) Avoid the homeopath who during your consultation is continuously interrupted to take calls. You

paid for that visit, you deserve the attention.15) Avoid the homeopath who in spite of no progress after one to two years, refuses to retake your

case and rather continues with the same remedy in the stubborn belief that he cannot be mistaken.



16) A good homeopath tells you from the beginning what to expect. He tells you when the next in

office visit should take place, and gives you means of communication in between successive visits,

in order to assure the best possible follow up. Help him through careful observing any change in

your symptoms, pen it down and communicate this once a week.

17) Avoid the homeopath who spends half of your consultation time with berating his “incompetent”

colleagues in a malicious review.

18) Avoid the homeopath who gives you two remedies, one to be taken in the morning and one to betaken in the evening. He assures you that even Hahnemann alternated remedies (He did so for a

short time to find that it was NOT helpful and abandoned the idea within the year).

19) Avoid any practitioner, homeopath included that is judgmental.

20) The excellent homeopath is humble, industrious, and sympathetic to your plight; he is patient and

alive during the consultation and not preoccupied with things not pertaining to your suffering. In

other words he loves homeopathy and people. He treats the poor just like the rich, and spends

some of his time to give to the unfortunate, in his own country or abroad.

Antidotes that Interfere with Homeopathic Treatment

Nancy's migraines were completely relieved by Natrum muriaticum, but they returned at three

month intervals like clockwork. This was a mystery until we matched her frequency of having her hair

permed. Whenever she had a permanent wave, her migraines came back.

Not every person is affected by potentially antidoting substances in the same way. Antidoting

may occur at any time, even two years after a remedy has been given, if the effect of the exposure is

strong enough to affect your vital force. There is general agreement among homeopaths that thesubstances and influences below often antidote homeopathic remedies. Many practitioners give their

patients a list of which substances to avoid. Others decide not to make antidotion an issue unless it

actually occurs, so as to not limit their patients' freedom unnecessarily.

What to Avoid While Under Homeopathic Treatment:

1) Coffee: This is the one substance which is most often responsible for homeopathic antidotion.

Even one sip of coffee or a small amount of coffee ice cream, kahlua, or coffee bean candy may

antidote a homeopathic remedy. It appears to be the oils in coffee rather than the caffeine alone

which is the culprit. Although caffeinated tea is not a problem with homeopathy, stronglycaffeinated substances like Zoom or No-doz should also be avoided as well as guarana and mate

(caffeinated beverages from South America).

2) Electric blankets: They affect remedies by altering your body's electromagnetic field.

3) Aromatic substances: Avoid camphor, eucalyptus, menthol, and any products which contain them

including Vick's, Noxema, Tiger Balm, Ben Gay, Calamine lotion, and cough drops and lozenges

containing these substances. This includes menthol and other aromatic mouthwashes; and Vicco

Ayurvedic toothpaste.

4) Citronella oil, pennyroyal, and other aromatic herbal mosquito repellants, all thuja and tea tree

(melaleuca) products, peppermint oil, and lavender oil may antidote remedies due to theiraromaticity. Chapstick, Blistex, and other aromatic lip balms should also be avoided. Strong fumes

from oil-based paint, turpentine, paint thinner and certain household cleaning agents such as Pine

Sol, Lysol, and strong-smelling industrial chemicals may also interfere with remedies.



5) Medications: Homeopathic medicines will not prevent prescription drugs from working, but

prescription drugs may interfere with homeopathic remedies. These include antibiotics, cortisone,

and antifungals, whether topical or oral. Consult with your practitioner about any drugs which you

are taking. If you experience severe pain, aspirin or Tylenol usually do not interfere with

homeopathic remedies.

6) Immunizations: Immunizations may interfere with remedies. Whether you take them or not is your

personal choice, however you may want to discuss their effects with your practitioner.7) Dental work: Homeopathic remedies are often antidoted by dental drilling and the use of

novocaine. It is preferable, if possible, to wait at least three or four months after taking a remedy to

have dental work done. In the case of emergency dental work, have it done and call your

practitioner afterwards. In many cases, homeopathic remedies will relieve dental pain until you

have a chance to visit your dentist.

8) Drugs: Avoid all recreational drugs including marijuana, cocaine, LSD, barbituates, amphetamines

and prescription pain medications. Alcohol in moderation will not interfere with homeopathic

remedies.

9) Other homeopathic remedies: Do not use Bach Flower remedies, cell salts, or other homeopathic

remedies without discussing them with your homeopath first.

10) Herbs: Check with your homeopath before using herbs for specific medicinal purposes while you

are under homeopathic treatment. Herb teas for beverage use, when varied from day, to day are

fine as are culinary herbs. Chinese herbs and moxa may antidote remedies. If you've been given

Natrum muriaticum, you will be advised to avoid peppermint in all forms, including tea. The

remedy Sulphur may be antidoted by chamomile tea and Sepia by vinegar.

11) Vitamins: Let your homeopath know which vitamins you are taking. Taking a particular vitamin to

eliminate a particular symptom may make it difficult for your homeopath to evaluate your

symptoms. Multivitamins and minerals do not disturb homeopathic treatment.

12) Beauty treatments: Permanent waves often antidote remedies because of the harsh and aromaticchemicals. Some skin products and facial treatments will antidote remedies if they contain

aromatic substances.

13) Other therapies: Acupuncture and therapeutic ultrasound have been found to often antidote

homeopathic treatment. Some homeopaths have found certain forms of bodywork, including

shiatsu and rolfing, to antidote their patients' remedies in some cases.

Helpful Guidelines for taking Homeopathic RemediesHow to take the remedy:Try not to touch the pellets as they can be antidoted by something you've touched earlier. First, pour

them into the cap or the extra cap found inside the tube. Then, pour these into your mouth and under

your tongue and allow them to slowly dissolve there.

When to take the remedy:If you are taking a remedy several times a day, try to schedule some of the doses before bed, upon

waking and during the day. Whenever possible take a remedy at bedtime, as the body is at rest. During

the day try to take the remedy away from meals, at least 1/2 hour before eating, and at least one hour

after eating because while the body is busy digesting food there can be a digestive upset with certainremedies. In an acute case, such as an injury, take the remedy immediately no matter when you have



eaten. The mouth should also be free of any strong tastes. You may drink liquids 15 minutes before

and after taking a remedy.

Homeopathic Recovery:According to Hering's homeopathic "law of cure," in the course of cure during homeopathic treatment,

the symptoms improve from the inside outward, from above downwards, from the most vital to the

less vital organs, and in the reverse order of their original onset of appearance. The vital force, energy,and the most commonplace symptoms such as general emotions, improve before physical symptoms.

It is common during homeopathic treatment for the earlier suppressed symptoms to reappear briefly.

This is actually beneficial because the re-emergence of old symptoms shows that they are no longer

suppressed and can indicate the original factors of the recent illness and be treated. The chronic

longstanding symptoms take longer to cure than recent and acute maladies.

When to Stop or Change the remedy:While the remedy is acting on your symptoms, you do not repeat the dosage. You must wait to

take the next dose until the remedy has stopped acting (that is, when you experience the dip). If your

symptoms disappear, you do not need the remedy any longer. If the symptoms change, you may need a

different remedy. You must therefore become aware of what is going on in your body. So, be moreaware than usual. This is not the usual pill-popping.

When the symptoms are cured, stop taking the remedy. If the symptoms change, change to

another remedy according to the new symptoms. If a remedy doesn't help your symptoms it will not

hurt you, but if within a day or two there is no improvement at all, try a different appropriate remedy.

The Importance of ModalitiesThere are so many homeopathic remedies for each disorder, that simply looking for "PAIN"

will not find the most closely matching remedy for your specific pain. The fact that your ailment hurts

is not sufficient to tell you which remedy to use. But the modalities of the pain – the kind of pain it is,where the pain is, and when it hurts most – will help enormously. These are some of the factors you

need to address. For example: if the pain pulsates and burns in your leg in addition to having certain

modalities such as worse on the left side and in the evening and better from cold applications, then you

will be able to find the most curative remedy for your leg pain.

Modalities are always very important factors in choosing the most closely matching

homeopathic remedy to the totality of the simillimum. They can be the deciding factors between

several remedies which may be strongly indicated. Modalities are the modifying influences and

circumstances which either ameliorate (influences which make the symptoms of a condition feel

better), or aggravate (influences which make the symptoms of a condition feel worse). Modalities

include many factors and stimuli as perceived by the patient. Modalities may have to do withtemperature, weather, climate, movement, activity, time, right and left side, sensations, physical

contact, foods, drinks, etc. They are the sensory manner and mode of how the symptoms are felt by the

individual, and they are a most important criterion in choosing the right remedy.



Definitions of Common Homeopathic Terms

CLASSICAL HOMEOPATHY - the practice of finding the Simillimum for a person and giving one

remedy at a time.

SIMILLIMUM - the remedy that most closely matches to a person's set of unique symptoms.

ACUTE - Short-term illness or sudden recent health problems with temporary symptoms are termed

ACUTE in Homeopathy. With ACUTE illness we often use low potencies that can be repeated safely.

CHRONIC - Long-term illness which is chronic or recurring in nature.

CELL SALTS - homeopathic potenized minerals used by cells. Can be used regularly for general

maintenance, or for specific health problems.

COMBINATION PRODUCT - a homeopathic product containing more than 1 homeopathic remedy.

Combination remedies are both obtainable in dry and liquid form, but are not used in proper classical

homeopathy applied according to the principles and teachings by Dr. Hahnemann.

POTENCY - the strength of a homeopathic remedy. Homeopathy makes substances into healing

remedies by diluting and succussion (shaking).

Diluting negates any problems with substances that may be harmful in their raw state.

Succussion enhances the healing properties of substances.

The Potency strength is shown after the remedy name as a Roman Numeral along with a number that

indicates the repetitions of dilutions and succussing.

Decimal designation is X.

Centesimal designation is C.

Millesimal designation is M.

DECIMAL - potency based on the ratio of 1 part substance to 10 parts dilution. Designated with a X

(in Europe designated with a D) after the remedy name. X potencies are considered low potencies.

They stay in the body a short period of time and are useful when frequent dosing and monitoring of patient is required. X potency is often used for children, sudden illness and first aid treatment.

CENTESIMAL - potency based on the ratio of 1 part substance to 99 parts dilution. Designated with a

C (or left blank in Europe) after the remedy name. C potencies are considered medium potencies. C

potency is often used for seasonal problems and chronic conditions.

MILLESIMAL - potency based on the ratio of 1 part substance to 1000 parts dilution. Designated with

a M after the remedy name. M potencies are considered high potencies. M potency is used by

practitioners for constitutional treatment.

MOTHER TINCTURE- the original standardized preparation of a substance from which homeopathic

potencies are made. Mother tincture is indicated by Q or MT (mother tincture). Mind you, LM

potencies are also called Q potencies.

DOSE - One dose is generally considered to be - 3 tablets / 3 pellets regardless of potency.

Do not confuse dose with potency by thinking you can take more pellets because the potency is low.

Do not think that you can equal a 200C with increasing the dose of a lower potency - you cannot.

A dose is how much you consume at one time. So whether you take 3 pellets, 20 pellets, or one bottle,

when taken at one sitting, it is considered as one dose.

What is difference/similarity in effect of Decimal to Centecimal scale of same potency?6x equals approx. 3c and 12x equals approx. 6c etc. Decimal potencies indicated by x (and in some

countries by D) are less powerful than C potencies (centesimals). So 1x is less powerful than 1c., 2x

less than 2c and so on.The decimal process is a method for obtaining intermediary potencies, i.e. potencies between

centesimal levels (e.g. 5x is between 2c and 3c in dilution).



Examples of the Disorders & Diseases that Homeopathy can improve or cure:

Acute Diseases & Disorders

Injuries & Accidents such as:

o Sports related injuries

o Paino Strains

o Sprains

o Fractures

o Blows & Concussion

o Dislocations

o Herniated Discs

o Crushed Fingers & Toes,

o Torn Ligaments & Tendons

o Burns

o Bruises

o Cuts & Lacerationso Puncture Wounds

o Black Eye

o Nosebleeds

o Emergencies

Acute Diseases such as:

o Influenza

o Colds

o Coughs

o Earaches

o Fever

o Sore Throats

o Bell's Palsy

o Dengue Fever

o Surgery

o Adverse Reactions to drugs and

vaccinations

Acute Problems from: Insects, Animals, and

Plants

o Stings, Bites, Poison Ivy or Poison

Oak

Sudden Problems from:

o Trauma

o Grief

o Shock

o Food Poisoning & Dysentery

o Travel, Motion & Altitude Sickness

o Violence

Chronic Disorders & Diseases such as:

Addictions to Alcohol & Drugs

Allergies, Hypersensitivity, M.C.S.

Anxiety/Fear/Phobias Arthritis, Rheumatism

Asthma

Back Problems

Bladder and Kidney Problems

Bone Problems

Bowel and Rectum Problems

Candida, Yeast Infections

Chronic Fatigue and Immune Disorders

CFIDS (CFS & M.E.)

Dental and Mouth Problems

Depression Ear and Hearing Problems

Eye and Vision Problems

Female Problems:

o Menstrual

o Menopause

Gastric Disorders

Gulf War Sickness

Headaches, Migraine

Herpes Virus Eruptions, Shingles

HIV, and diseases related to AIDS & ARC

Insomnia & Sleep Problems Joint, Muscle and Nerve Problems

Liver Problems

Lyme’s disease

Malaria

Male Problems

Mental & Emotional Problems

Motor and Sensory Disorders

Multiple Sclerosis

Nose and Sinus Problems

Paralysis

Pregnancy, problems during & lactation

Repetitive Stress Injury

o Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Skin Disorders

Stress

Trauma

Throat and Vocal Problems

Vertigo

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