One reason why homeopathy has become so popular worldwide is that patients and practitioners have repeatedly found that not only can it relieve symptoms, but it can also address the underlying cause of disease, improving the health of the whole person. Homeopaths frequently find that a major part of their work is in cases that have not been helped by conventional medicine.
Homeopathy is a very safe and non-toxic form of natural medicine. First aid remedies and kits can be purchased in many health food shops and pharmacies and it can be very empowering for people to discover this way of taking charge of their health. However it is not advisable to continue taking a homeopathic remedy for more than 2 weeks without consulting a qualified homeopath.
Long-term problems (also known as chronic) such as those listed below will almost certainly need the help of a professional homeopath to address the underlying condition:
- Respiratory problems, asthma, bronchitis etc.
- Ear, nose and throat complaints.
- Muscular strains and sports injuries etc.
- Slow healing of broken limbs.
- Migraine
- Chronic Fatigue and M. E.
- Digestive problems such as IBS, diverticular disease and ulcerative colitis
- Uterine/hormonal disorders such as PMT, painful periods and menopause
- Skin conditions such as acne, excema and psoriasis
- Pyschological disorders such as panic attacks, anxiety, depression and OCD.
- Allergies and hay fever
The difference between acute and chronic prescribing
Acute diseases are diseases that are self-limiting. They come on quickly, follow a typical pattern and come to a clear end with either recovery or death. Examples of common acute illnesses:
- Common cold,
- coughs
- sore throats
- Earache
- Toothache
- Stomach upsets
Healthy people will catch fewer acute diseases and get over them more quickly. Very often the stronger the person the stronger the symptoms because the body is capable of a stronger reaction. So for example a healthy person might have a higher fever when they catch a cold but it doesn’t then develop into a cough and is finished relatively quickly. After the acute which will only last a few days or a couple of weeks at most, the person is fully recovered with no trace of the original disease left.
Incidentally, it is healthier for you to have one or two colds a year than none at all as they provide a great workout for the immune system and rid the body of toxic build up.
When symptoms don’t go away after a couple of weeks the disease is termed ‘chronic’ and starts to become part of that person’s everyday existence. If the symptoms continue or they improve to begin with only to return later, your body is expressing an underlying chronic condition that requires expert treatment from a qualified homeopath.
A chronic condition is a sign that your body is trying to tell you something and having a homeopathic consultation will help you to get to the root cause or core of what the problem is. A homeopath will take into consideration your medical history and any significant emotional and physical traumas and also the impact of your inherited disease patterns and traumas. Once your homeopath has gathered the information they need they will select remedies that will help remove the ‘blocks’ in the way of the vital force because it is the vital force or energy of the body which has the power to reestablish good health.
When to consult a professional homeopath:
- When self-prescribing is not working
- When acute illness keeps repeating itself
- If you feel out of balance mentally and emotionally
- After an acute illness such as influenza to rebalance
- If you have a range of minor complaints
- To maintain a good level of health