These questions cover the topics which often come up when people are thinking of consulting me. If your question is not here please feel free to call me on 01763 848039 for further information or email me info@localhomeopath.co.uk
Homeopathy treats the person with a disease according to how he or she is affected. This individual approach means that people with a whole variety of problems can benefit from homeopathy.
A first consultation can take up to 1½hrs. During this time I build up a personal picture that is typical of you and how your complaint affects you, noting any significant past health problems in you and your family. After consultation I assess all the information and prescribe a medicine which is allowed to act for an appropriate length of time before reviewing progress.
The medicine is usually either virtually tasteless tablets which should be left to dissolve in the mouth, or granules to make up in water and take in liquid form. An essential part of treatment is reviewing progress at a follow-up appointment, enabling the treatment to be modified if necessary.
In between appointments I can be contacted for support if you have any concerns. Otherwise it may be helpful for you to note down changes as they occur and bring the notes to your review appointment.
The initial consultation will cost £45 including a remedy. The follow on consultation which is an essential part of treatment (enabling it to be modified if necessary) is £28 including any remedy.
During my ringing in times and via email I provide free support to existing patients. Subsequent consultations are dependent on and agreed according to individual requirements and progress. For more details see the Fees page on this site .
Pregnancy is a good time to have constitutional homeopathic treatment. Homeopathic medicines are so dilute that few or no molecules of the original substance from which they are derived remain in them. They work at an energetic level to stimulate your body's own healing powers and vitality, which should also benefit the baby. They do not have side effects.
Homeopathy can offer remedies for morning sickness and other discomforts, such as heartburn and constipation. It can also be used as an effective form of alternative pain relief, or for other problems in labour. Afterwards you can use remedies to speed healing, help breastfeeding problems and treat your baby.
I'm currently taking other medicines - can I use homeopathy as well?
If you are already taking prescribed medicines to help manage long term health problems, you can still benefit from homeopathic treatment. It can help with symptoms not helped by your medication and unwanted side effects. Over time, homeopathy may lessen or even remove the need for some or all of your existing medication.
In some cases it is possible, and indeed desirable to monitor the effect of any homeopathic treatment and improvement before considering any change in your current medicines. I would always advise you to discuss the matter with the GP or consultant who prescribed them, before making any change.
In other instances, for example if the other medicine you are taking is likely to mask any effect of your homeopathic treatment, you may be advised to leave a period of time after discontinuing other medicines before you start homeopathic treatment. Again, if you are considering stopping any prescribed medication you should always discuss this with your GP first.
Nothing has really helped my condition - is there any point trying homeopathy?
Yes, there is. Homeopathy stimulates your own healing powers to overcome the imbalance or disorder which resulted in your current symptoms, and it would be treating the cause rather than just treating the symptoms themselves. By assisting your own healing powers, your susceptibility to the condition would be reduced. The longer you have been ill, the more gentle the process of healing would need to be, so it would be longer before you reach your optimum state of health.
Is homeopathic treatment covered by private healthcare plans?
Yes, some private healthcare companies provide cover for homeopathic treatment. You will have to check with your own insurer to confirm this. If required I provide receipts for insurance companies free of charge .
Yes, many everyday ailments and first aid situations can be helped using a basic knowledge of homeopathy and an understanding of when to seek professional advice. Basic remedy kits are available. For chronic diseases and recurrent patterns of ill health I would advise you to consult a professional homeopath. You can contact me using any of the links on this site.
Although homeopathic remedies do not themselves interact with drugs, if you are on medication you should not try to treat yourself with homeopathic remedies. Please see Q5. Again, please contact me if you would like to discuss your individual circumstances.
This can vary and several factors need to be taken into account in answering this. One of them is how long you have had your problem, and I am more likely to be able to give you an indication after the review appointment, when we discuss how you have responded to the first remedy.
Although you are likely to notice some improvement quite soon after starting treatment, I cannot generalise further because everyone is different. It would be realistic to expect improvement to progress gradually over a period of quite a few months if you have had your complaint for years rather than months. See also Q6.
Is it true that the remedies are made from plants?
The remedies are derived from mostly natural substances, many of which are from the plant kingdom, but some also come from the mineral and animal kingdoms. It is different from herbal medicine even though many of the remedies are made using plants.
Homeopathy uses the method of preparation called “potentisation” to release the power of the medicine. Once it is potentised, only a tiny amount of the original substance is left in the remedy. Homeopathic medicines are not tested on animals, but are subjected to a system of "proving".
It is important that you are comfortable with the manner and approach of your homeopath in order to get the most out of your treatment. Obviously one good way of finding out about this is through personal recommendation, which many of my clients have chosen. Another way is to have a preliminary chat with the homeopath, either by phone or in person - I am happy to offer this free at my clinics by prior arrangement.
You will want to be sure that your homeopath is qualified and insured.
The Society of Homeopathsis the largest professional organisation registering homeopaths in the UK. Registration with them is indicated by the designation RSHom after our names. This denotes full homeopathic training and assessment for competence in practice. Society members practice according to the Society's Code of Ethics and are fully insured.
12. What can I expect to happen when I take the remedy?
Often one of the first things you may notice is a feeling of improved wellbeing and energy. Homeopaths recognise that during the healing process symptoms move from the more serious to the less serious, which is usually from within outwards. This observation can help us both in assessing how you are progressing.
Nothing contained on this website should be considered as individual medical advice, or as a substitute for consulting your professional homeopath or healthcare practitioner.
