Homeopathy in the Homeopathy in the medical professionalmedical professional

By Gabrielle TraubBy Gabrielle Traub

DiscussionDiscussion

1)1) How does Homeopathy fit into How does Homeopathy fit into the medical system?the medical system?

2)2) What do we want from the What do we want from the medical profession?medical profession?

3)3) How can we benefit them?How can we benefit them?

What emotions commonly come What emotions commonly come up when dealing with the up when dealing with the

medical profession?medical profession?

When dealing with the medical world we may When dealing with the medical world we may experience some of the following emotions:experience some of the following emotions:

AngerAnger FrustrationFrustration RespectRespect Feelings of InferiorityFeelings of Inferiority Feelings of SuperiorityFeelings of Superiority Wanting acceptance or approvalWanting acceptance or approval Wanting them to agree with our views and Wanting them to agree with our views and

philosophies.philosophies. Wanting to convince them that we are rightWanting to convince them that we are right

In the past homeopathy has been shunned, In the past homeopathy has been shunned, banned, outcast by the medical profession, thus banned, outcast by the medical profession, thus

these feelings are justified and normalthese feelings are justified and normal

Many of us have had negative experiences when Many of us have had negative experiences when dealing with the medical profession.dealing with the medical profession.

As homeopaths, we hear about the negative As homeopaths, we hear about the negative experiences our patients and friends have had.experiences our patients and friends have had.

We are aware of the short comings of medicine We are aware of the short comings of medicine and we often have homeopathic solutions.and we often have homeopathic solutions.

However….However….Many doctors ARE interested in hearing what we have to Many doctors ARE interested in hearing what we have to

say, for a number of reasons:say, for a number of reasons:o They realize the shortcomings of medicineThey realize the shortcomings of medicineo CAM and homeopathy is very much in vogue and is CAM and homeopathy is very much in vogue and is

becoming increasingly more popular.becoming increasingly more popular.o Patients are asking about homeopathyPatients are asking about homeopathyo Doctors don’t like to be ignorant when patients ask Doctors don’t like to be ignorant when patients ask

questions. This is especially true when their patients questions. This is especially true when their patients know more than they do.know more than they do.

o I meet more and more medical professionals who want I meet more and more medical professionals who want to know more about homeopathy. I see more and more to know more about homeopathy. I see more and more patients who are doctors, pharmacists, nurses, patients who are doctors, pharmacists, nurses, surgeons, etc. (although they do walk into my office surgeons, etc. (although they do walk into my office wearing dark glasses ;D)wearing dark glasses ;D)

When interacting with the medical world, When interacting with the medical world, their impression of YOU will form the basis their impression of YOU will form the basis of their impression of homeopathy in of their impression of homeopathy in general.general.

Each and everyone of us is an Each and everyone of us is an ambassador, a representative of ambassador, a representative of Homeoptahy.Homeoptahy.

Everything you say and do will have a Everything you say and do will have a lasting impression.lasting impression.

The majority of doctors I meet really want The majority of doctors I meet really want to help their patientsto help their patients

Criticizing what they are doing will only Criticizing what they are doing will only make them defensive and impermeable make them defensive and impermeable to anything you have to say.to anything you have to say.

If you are receiving a lecture, giving a If you are receiving a lecture, giving a lecture, or merely engaging in lecture, or merely engaging in conversation with a medical professional, conversation with a medical professional, the chances are that they REALLY ARE the chances are that they REALLY ARE INTERESTED in what you have to say.INTERESTED in what you have to say.

Tips when arguing your point:Tips when arguing your point:

Keep your emotions out of itKeep your emotions out of it Don’t talk above the personDon’t talk above the person Listen to what he or she has to say and give them a Listen to what he or she has to say and give them a

opportunity to respond.opportunity to respond. Don’t be aggressiveDon’t be aggressive Don’t self-depreciate (you will lose credibility)Don’t self-depreciate (you will lose credibility) Don’t be intimidated. Trust that you CAN hold your Don’t be intimidated. Trust that you CAN hold your

ground. As little as you may know about medicine, they ground. As little as you may know about medicine, they probably know less about homeopathy.probably know less about homeopathy.

Use correct medical terminology, without being verbose. Use correct medical terminology, without being verbose. Keep it simple and succinct.Keep it simple and succinct. Admit when you don’t know something.Admit when you don’t know something. Acknowledge when they have a point.Acknowledge when they have a point. Fight fairlyFight fairly

When listening to a lecture or when in a debate:When listening to a lecture or when in a debate: If you’re not certain as to exactly what you want If you’re not certain as to exactly what you want

to say, write down your question or argument to say, write down your question or argument first, until it makes sense to you. Then wait for first, until it makes sense to you. Then wait for the right cues, before posing your question. the right cues, before posing your question.

This way you can argue your point with authority This way you can argue your point with authority and conviction, knowing exactly what you want and conviction, knowing exactly what you want to say and anticipating their response and your to say and anticipating their response and your counter-response. The same goes for when in a counter-response. The same goes for when in a debate.debate.

Try not to interrupt the lecturer.Try not to interrupt the lecturer. Even when engaged, try to not get into a Even when engaged, try to not get into a

monologue conversation with the lecturer as it monologue conversation with the lecturer as it alienates the rest of the group.alienates the rest of the group.

I once brought in a nurse to come talk to my I once brought in a nurse to come talk to my students. The homeopathic students practically students. The homeopathic students practically crucified her on the spot and let out all their crucified her on the spot and let out all their frustrations with medicine on her.frustrations with medicine on her.

They were doing to her exactly what they don’t They were doing to her exactly what they don’t want to experience for themselves. Quite want to experience for themselves. Quite understandably, the nurse didn’t want much to understandably, the nurse didn’t want much to do with homeopathy after that.do with homeopathy after that.

Try to show interest in what they have to say. Try to show interest in what they have to say. Perhaps you’ll learn something. If they say Perhaps you’ll learn something. If they say something you agree with, let them know.something you agree with, let them know.

Keep to the topic at hand. Don’t bring up ALL the Keep to the topic at hand. Don’t bring up ALL the downfalls in medicine when arguing a topic. i.e. downfalls in medicine when arguing a topic. i.e. if talking about cancer or hepatitis, stick to if talking about cancer or hepatitis, stick to cancer or hepatitis, or at least to liver disease.cancer or hepatitis, or at least to liver disease.

Don’t criticize medical professionals for things Don’t criticize medical professionals for things they have no control over, for example criticizing they have no control over, for example criticizing medical doctors for the corruption of medical doctors for the corruption of pharmaceutical companies or criticizing pharmaceutical companies or criticizing dermatologists for the over-prescription on dermatologists for the over-prescription on antidepressants.antidepressants.

The medical field is very specialized and The medical field is very specialized and specialists tend to have limited knowledge about specialists tend to have limited knowledge about other fields. other fields.

Memorize at least one research study to Memorize at least one research study to refer to where homeopathy has been refer to where homeopathy has been proven to work. Be able to provide the proven to work. Be able to provide the source of the information when asked.source of the information when asked.

I try to present concepts that my audience can I try to present concepts that my audience can relate to. For example, I refer to the relate to. For example, I refer to the vital forcevital force as the as the immune systemimmune system. While the two are not . While the two are not entirely the same, I find that I am still be able to entirely the same, I find that I am still be able to get my point across, while I am better get my point across, while I am better understood and received.understood and received.

Most allopaths are NOT familiar with terms like Most allopaths are NOT familiar with terms like allopathic medicine, suppression, etc. Feel free allopathic medicine, suppression, etc. Feel free to explain these terms to them, however do not to explain these terms to them, however do not bombard them with homeopathic or holistic bombard them with homeopathic or holistic jargon without an explanation. You will lose your jargon without an explanation. You will lose your audience.audience.

Homeopathy is a science, founded on the basis Homeopathy is a science, founded on the basis of rigid German experimentation.of rigid German experimentation.

Try not to alienate your audience by using new Try not to alienate your audience by using new age terminology unless appropriate. age terminology unless appropriate.

Dress professionally when lecturing and Dress professionally when lecturing and attending conferences.attending conferences.

Unfortunately we all stereo-type people. The Unfortunately we all stereo-type people. The audience will have an easier time accepting audience will have an easier time accepting what you have to say if they can relate to you as what you have to say if they can relate to you as a person. a person.

Be careful not to make claims that homeopathy Be careful not to make claims that homeopathy is a cure-all or superior to any other modality. is a cure-all or superior to any other modality.

Try not to portray homeopathy as better than Try not to portray homeopathy as better than what they do. Rather present it as another what they do. Rather present it as another option.option.

Use the phrase: “In my experience, this is what I Use the phrase: “In my experience, this is what I have seen…” or “The literature shows that…”have seen…” or “The literature shows that…”

Show your appreciation for the benefits of Show your appreciation for the benefits of orthodox medicine. If I had a car accident, I’d orthodox medicine. If I had a car accident, I’d want a paramedic around. Homeopathy can want a paramedic around. Homeopathy can work hand-in-hand with the modern medicine for work hand-in-hand with the modern medicine for the benefit of mankind.the benefit of mankind.

I have found this attitude to be well embraced by I have found this attitude to be well embraced by medical professionals. medical professionals.

Our patients benefit by having their health care Our patients benefit by having their health care professionals on the same page, working professionals on the same page, working together to help them.together to help them.

There is a place for all of us. Neither need There is a place for all of us. Neither need take away from one another. There is no take away from one another. There is no need for either party to feel threatened.need for either party to feel threatened.

If we work together, both worlds are more If we work together, both worlds are more complete.complete.

At the same time, it is important to stand At the same time, it is important to stand your ground and not allow yourself to be your ground and not allow yourself to be mistreated. mistreated.

If you feel that a doctor has acted in an If you feel that a doctor has acted in an unprofessional manner, contact your unprofessional manner, contact your council or organisation and have them council or organisation and have them write a letter to their council.write a letter to their council.

Educate…. IntegrateEducate…. Integrate

Go to conferences (not just homeopathic)Go to conferences (not just homeopathic) Join their boards and committeesJoin their boards and committees InfiltrateInfiltrate Don’t just complain, make changes from Don’t just complain, make changes from

the INSIDEthe INSIDE

The need for standardsThe need for standards

The majority of Hpathy readers studied hard to become The majority of Hpathy readers studied hard to become homeopaths. The fact that you are reading this shows homeopaths. The fact that you are reading this shows that you are interested in learning more.that you are interested in learning more.

It is disturbing that in many countries people can practice It is disturbing that in many countries people can practice homeopathy professionally with very little training. homeopathy professionally with very little training.

Like in the medical profession, it is imperative that Like in the medical profession, it is imperative that Homeopaths develop international standards, to protect Homeopaths develop international standards, to protect both the public and ourselves.both the public and ourselves.

While we do have homeopathic organizations and While we do have homeopathic organizations and certification boards, in the United States, for example, it certification boards, in the United States, for example, it is not compulsory for homeopaths to become affiliated or is not compulsory for homeopaths to become affiliated or certified. certified.

We need to:We need to:

Stand togetherStand together Support one anotherSupport one another There will always be different styles and There will always be different styles and

trends in homeopathytrends in homeopathy Homeopathy is an ever changing, evolving Homeopathy is an ever changing, evolving

sciencescience

Badmouthing other practitionersBadmouthing other practitioners Homeopaths, myself included, tend to develop a certain Homeopaths, myself included, tend to develop a certain

level of arrogance when we get good resultslevel of arrogance when we get good results Classical homeopathy can be hard: it takes the utmost Classical homeopathy can be hard: it takes the utmost

attention to detail, understanding of our patients and attention to detail, understanding of our patients and knowledge of materia medica.knowledge of materia medica.

Homeopaths like to out do each other. At many Homeopaths like to out do each other. At many conferences the lecturer will present a cured case using conferences the lecturer will present a cured case using a remedy that nobody else would have ever considered a remedy that nobody else would have ever considered and we all applaud him for his brilliance.and we all applaud him for his brilliance.

We tend to put down others, not only the medical field, We tend to put down others, not only the medical field, but also each otherbut also each other

The reality about badmouthing:The reality about badmouthing:Badmouthing other homeopaths or other doctors:Badmouthing other homeopaths or other doctors: Is unprofessionalIs unprofessional Reflects badly on youReflects badly on you Reflects badly on our profession. How are others Reflects badly on our profession. How are others

supposed to support us if we cannot support each other.supposed to support us if we cannot support each other. Is illegal in most professionsIs illegal in most professions Patients see right through itPatients see right through it Patients feel more secure when their healthcare Patients feel more secure when their healthcare

providers are working as a team. They feel a greater providers are working as a team. They feel a greater level of support. It is confusing if their doctors are all level of support. It is confusing if their doctors are all telling them different things.telling them different things.

At my clinic the health care professionals have regular At my clinic the health care professionals have regular treatment team meetings to discuss how best to help our treatment team meetings to discuss how best to help our patients.patients.

Why is it important to build ties with Why is it important to build ties with your fellow homeopaths?your fellow homeopaths?

You are a source of support to each otherYou are a source of support to each other We are a minorityWe are a minority We can help one anotherWe can help one another Study groups keep us learning no matter Study groups keep us learning no matter

how long we’ve been practicing.how long we’ve been practicing. Many of us go through the same Many of us go through the same

difficultiesdifficulties

This lecture was brought to you by This lecture was brought to you by

Gabrielle Traub Gabrielle Traub

in the celebration ofin the celebration of

World Homeopathy Awareness WeekWorld Homeopathy Awareness Week

www.worldhomeopathy.orgwww.worldhomeopathy.org