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ARHHomeopathy: Healthy Medicine

A guide to getting the most out ofyour homeopathic treatment

What is homeopathy?Homeopathy is one of the mostwidely used forms of medicine inthe world today, because peopleare discovering the benefits of asystem of medicine which is safe,effective and treats them as uniqueindividuals.

Homeopathy is a complete sys-tem of medicine which treats men-tal, emotional and physical illness.Homeopathic medicines are chosento treat the whole person, because,according to the principles of home-opathy, the mind and body operateas one, so you cannot treat one partof the body without affecting thewhole. Medicines are chosen to fit all

the characteristics of the patient, sophysical disorders are considered inrelation to an individual’s mental andemotional state.

Homeopathy works on a principleknown as ‘the law of similars’ or ‘likecures like’. This law states that asubstance which can cause a particu-lar set of symptoms to appear, canalso be used to bring relief to some-one experiencing a similar set ofsymptoms. For example, coffee – orCoffea as it is known in Latin – is astimulant which can bring about tem-porary insomnia. Coffea, when pre-pared as a homeopathic remedy,can be helpful to some people experi-encing the symptoms of insomnia.Another example is that choppingonions can make your eyes waterand your nose run. The red onion –Allium cepa – can be used homeo-pathically to help treatcolds and hayfeverwhere the mainsymptoms includewatery eyes anda runny nose.

How does homeopathy work?

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Over two hundred years ago, a German doctorand chemist, named Samuel Hahnemann,

developed a system of medicine which wenow call homeopathy. He had a verylogical, clear and humane approach tothe practice of medicine:

The founding father of homeopathy

‘The highest ideal of cure is rapid,gentle and permanent restoration ofhealth, or removal and annihilationof the disease in its whole extent,in the shortest, most reliable and

most harmless way, based on easilycomprehensible principles.’

(Samuel Hahnemann, The Organon of Medicine)Samuel Hahnemann

How homeopathic medicines are madeHomeopathic medicines are sourced from a range of substances whichoccur naturally in the plant, mineral and animal kingdoms. Hahnemann firstexperimented with the healing properties of Peruvian bark (Chinchonaofficinalis), from which quinine was extracted as a treatment for malaria. Heobserved that if he took small doses of the bark himself, he began to developsymptoms very similar to those of malaria. If he stopped taking the bark, thesymptoms disappeared. Hahnemann had discovered that the bark wasproducing malaria like symptoms in an otherwise healthy individual(himself). This important observation marked the beginning of the develop-ment of homeopathy as we know it today.To maximise the healing potential of the medicines he used, Hahnemannprepared them in a very specific manner. This involved diluting the sub-stance concerned, then shaking it vigorously with impact. This sequence ofactions is known as succussion. A substance can be diluted and suc-cussed many times, and Hahnemann termed this process potentisation.Hahnemann observed that potentisation made the medicines more effectiveand reduced the likelihood of unwanted effects. Each newhomeopathic medicine undergoes a particular process calleda ‘proving’. Volunteers or ‘provers’ take the new substanceuntil they experience symptoms. All symptoms that resultfrom taking the substance are recorded in detail. In this waya huge variety of natural substances are tested for theirhealing and curative properties and can be added to thehomeopathic pharmacopoeia. Unlike orthodox drugs, homeo-pathic medicines are not tested on animals.

Chinchona

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Your first consultation may take between one and two hours, with follow-upconsultations lasting between twenty to forty five minutes. Your practitionerwill need to build up a complete picture of your condition, including your pastmedical history, so you will be asked detailed questionsabout yourself. Prescriptions for acute illnesses, suchas fever, vomiting or flu, can usually be assessedmuch more quickly.To be sure to prescribe the best medicine for yourparticular problem, your homeopath needs to under-stand your individual needs. You will be asked aboutmany aspects of your life, such as your emotionalstate, your sleep patterns and how you cope withstress. Your homeopath will choose a medicine foryou that most closely matches your unique pattern ofsymptoms. Homeopathic medicines are usually supplied in tablet, powder orliquid form. As with all medicines, they need to be stored safely and appropri-ately. Patients often feel a sense of well-being, optimism and relaxation aftertaking their homeopathic medicine.The speed with which you feel relief will depend on the condition beingtreated. In acute ailments, this can be very fast indeed. In more chronicconditions, your recovery rate will depend on the nature and duration of theillness, and on your individual vitality.

Homeopathic treatment

Homeopathic medicines promote the body’snatural ability to heal

Homeopathic medicines are safe Homeopathic medicines are non-addictive� Homeopathic medicines are non-toxic

Calendula

What are homeopathic medicines made from?Homeopathic medicines are known by their Latinnames and are made from a wide range of naturallyoccurring substances, including plants, minerals andanimal products. For example, Sulphur is a frequentlyused homeopathic remedy, which originates as aproduct of volcanic eruption. The healing propertiesof Sulphur have been recognised for centuries, and ithas been used since ancient times to treat a varietyof skin disorders.Stromboli erupting

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ARHHomeopathy for allHomeopathy can be used effectively by everyone, from babies and childrento adults, including women during pregnancy. Homeopathic medicines pro-mote the body’s natural ability to heal. When prescribed appropriately, theyare safe, non-toxic and non-addictive. They can be taken alongside drugsprescribed by your doctor and will not interfere with their beneficial action.As your condition improves, you may be able to safely reduce your conven-tional medication, thereby avoiding the unwanted effects that sometimesaccompany the long-term use of drugs.

Please note that you should always consult with your GPbefore making changes to your conventional medication.

DisclaimerAll material in this publication is provided for your information only and should not be construed asmedical advice or instruction. Readers should always consult with an appropriately trained andqualified health practitioner on any matters relating to their health and wellbeing. While every care istaken in preparing this material, the publisher cannot accept any responsibility for harm or damagecaused by any treatment, advice or information contained in this publication.© Alliance of Registered Homeopaths 2013

For more information about the effectiveness of homeopathy, we suggestyou read the report entitled:‘Effectiveness, Safety and Cost Effectiveness of Homeopathy inGeneral Practice – Summarized Health Technology Assessment’.This substantial survey, comprising over three hundred pages, was firstpublished in Switzerland in 2006. It is available in an English translation.Its conclusions highlight some of the many benefits homeopathy can bringto patients .

To find your nearest registered homeopath, go to;www.a-r-h.org

For a complete list of registered homeopaths go to;www.findahomeopath.org.uk

Published by the Alliance of Registered Homeopaths,Millbrook, Millbrook Hill, Nutley, East Sussex, TN22 3PJ

Tel: 01825 714506 - Email: info@a-r-h.org - Website: www.a-r-h.org