What can you expect from Homeopathy?
Chronic (long-term) health problems may improve very quickly in some cases or gradually in others. In some cases only one remedy will be all that is needed and in other cases an integrated approach utilizing dietary, nutritional and botanical medicines along with homeopathy will be required over a period of months to achieve the deepest effect.
These differences depend on many factors aside from the accuracy of the medicines selected. These include the basic state of health, the severity and duration of the condition, and the use of standard medicines. We typically allow two weeks to detect a response. In general, children respond quickly as compared with adults.
In some cases old symptoms return for a brief visit. This is a natural part of a true healing process and is a positive sign of a curative direction.
What will a visit be like?
A first visit involves an interview of one to one and a half hours for adults and approximately half this for children. Knowing about you as a person is very important in homeopathy. Along with a detailed look at your symptoms, it is likely we will explore something of your nature and personality, your likes and dislikes, moods and feelings. The purpose is to develop a thorough picture of you that will help in the selection of the most appropriate homeopathic remedy.
Sometimes patients comment that a visit to a homeopath can be somewhat like seeing a psychologist. In homeopathy it has been observed and verified that if the remedy suits the unique personality structure of the patient, it is more likely to work then if it only relates to superficial physical symptoms.
Our extensive counseling experience can be of great benefit in identifying patterns of thinking and behavior that cause distress. In some cases, we offer creative solutions to help you grow in self-awareness and find new skills for success in the game of life. Health is freedom and freedom of being is the greatest freedom.
While some basic physical exam may be performed, tests or procedures that we are not able to offer will be referred.
Counseling in areas of diet and lifestyle that may present obstructions to the healing process will be discussed through the course of your visits. Specialized supplementation, botanical medicines, or other therapies, are often integrated into our treatment plan, though our overall goal is simplicity of approach. We believe that a few well-chosen medicines can be so much more effective than extensive programs. It is also easier to monitor the effect on the individual of each medicinal applied.
Follow-up visits are usually scheduled for three to six week intervals and last 20 to 40 minutes. When progress is well established, visits are less frequent.
Usually, a homeopathic remedy will be given at the conclusion of the interview, though sometimes a case will be studied before prescribing. Often there is phone or email contact between visits. The homeopathic remedy may be prescribed in one dose, in several doses or for daily use.
The homeopathic remedy does not cause a crude biochemical effect, but instead appears to act as a catalyst, stimulating the self-healing forces of the body. The process initiated by a few doses of the correct remedy may last for months. This is positive evidence of the body's ability to heal itself when given the correct stimulus.
Patience with the process is important. Selection of the correct remedy is not always easy. If after three or four remedies there has been no change, information will be reviewed with the patient very thoroughly and in some cases another homeopathic practitioner will be consulted.
The role of diet
The quality of the diet is a critical factor in the overall picture of health. Of course, some cases can be helped with dietary changes alone, while the best of diets has little effect for others. In certain cases, dietary habits may be a definite obstruction to cure and advice can be expected in such instances.
If you have questions on diet, please be sure to ask. We are happy to help you discover new dietary patterns suited to your needs and circumstance.
Regenerative nutrition is choosing food in a manner that supports repair in the body and prevents damage. We always recommend a diet that is high in vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fruits and berries, nuts & seeds. Plant foods should be at least eighty percent of the diet.
